Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas

06/01/2026

Have you encountered a roadblock when making a Texas Public Information Act request? Tell us about it. We're collecting examples of the law not working as it should so that we can improve it. Here's a handy form to submit your example and explain why it matters to the public:

The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, in preparation for the 90th Texas Legislature, is gathering data on compliance problems citizens and journalists are having with the Texas Public Information Act or other open government issues. Please fill out the form below.

05/29/2026

Texas journalists: Tomorrow, May 30, is the deadline to submit Spirit of FOI Award contest entries. Send us your best work showcasing government transparency! Contest details at:

The Nancy Monson Spirit of FOI Award award recognizes outstanding work in promoting open government and the public’s right to know. The contest is open to newspaper, broadcast and online media in Texas. The deadline for submissions is May 30, 2026. Nominations must be for work published or broadca...

05/28/2026

KXAN reports on DPS use of a secret messaging app in the recent arrest and ICE detention of an Austin student and the transparency concerns raised by open government advocates. Police body cam footage revealed the use of the app Signal.

A Texas Department of Public Safety trooper used an encrypted messaging app to communicate with, what appears to be, federal immigration agents during a traffic stop that led to the detention of an…

05/11/2026

Watch this link for a super TEDx Talk on free speech by First Amendment attorney Laura Prather of the Haynes and Boone law firm and the FOI Foundation board. Prather discusses the growing threat of SLAPPs, or Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation, meant to intimidate those who exercise their free speech rights. Feel free to share and comment on it!

In this talk, Laura Prather shares how her belief in free speech sparked by a high school teacher was tested when she witnessed the legal system used to sile...

05/05/2026

Congrats to Will Fry, a journalism major at Texas Tech University and recipient of the Ralph Langer Scholarship, and Casey McKee, a law student at the University of Houston Law Center and recipient of the Joel White Scholarship. These awards for the 2026-27 academic year honor FOIFT's early leaders and boost journalism and First Amendment legal careers. More details here:

For Immediate Release April 30, 2026 FOI Foundation announces 2026-27 journalism and law school scholarship recipients AUSTIN – Journalism student William Fry of Texas Tech University has been selected to receive this year’s Ralph Langer Scholarship awarded by the nonprofit Freedom of Informatio...

04/27/2026

Central Texas transportation officials try to keep public comments about a highway expansion secret from the public.

Austin’s toll agency is trying to keep MoPac expansion comments under wraps, sparking backlash over whether public input can be kept from the public.

04/16/2026

https://foift.org/2026/04/16/open-government-seminar-planned-for-may-19-in-el-paso/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 15, 2026 FOI Foundation of Texas to hold Open Government Seminar on May 19 in El Paso AUSTIN – The Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas is holding an Open Government Seminar in El Paso on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, featuring training in state open meetings

03/29/2026

Journalism and FOIFT leader Diana Fuentes was remembered as force for free press, open government and optimism at her memorial service in Del Rio on March 28. A celebration of Fuentes' life will also be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday, April 12, in San Antonio. See details on the San Antonio event in the comments below.

Updated March 28, 2026: DEL RIO, Texas - FOI Foundation of Texas board member and past president Diana "DeeDee" Fuentes, who died unexpectedly after an accidental fall in Washington, D.C., was remembered at her Texas memorial service March 27 as an ardent advocate for a free press and open governmen...

03/25/2026

We will greatly miss Griff Singer, a longtime UT-Austin professor, journalism mentor and friend to so many. He died early today. Griff was a supporter of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. He participated in our annual state conference and helped to promote the FOIFT mission of protecting the public's right to know and First Amendment rights. Thank you, Griff, for all you did for journalism and information rights.

02/25/2026

https://fortworthreport.org/2026/02/24/families-frustrated-by-secrecy-over-fort-worth-isds-future-leadership/?utm_source=ActiveCampaign&utm_medium=email&utm_content=Who%20will%20run%20FWISD%3F%20State%20secrecy%20leaves%20families%20anxious&utm_campaign=Daily%20Report%20Wednesday%202026-02-25

Texas Education Agency officials won’t release board applicants’ names, worrying FWISD parents facing uncertainty over kids’ schools.