by cobbxcounsel | Apr 9, 2021 | Public Information Act Requests
The Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA) requires meetings of governmental bodies to be open to the public, except for expressly authorized closed sessions. TOMA provides criminal penalties—including possible jail time—for violations of certain provisions, making Texas one...
by cobbxcounsel | Mar 24, 2021 | Public Information Act Requests
2019 was a good year for open government legislation—in the wake of court rulings that advocates say weakened Texas open government laws, lawmakers approved measures to repair holes in the state’s Public Information Act and shore up the Open Meetings Act....
by cobbxcounsel | Mar 4, 2021 | Public Information Act Requests
From February 12-18, 2021, a devastating winter storm knocked out power for millions of Texans, leaving many in the dark for days in frigid temperatures. During that period, the commissioners of the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC)—the agency that regulates...
by cobbxcounsel | Feb 22, 2021 | Public Information Act Requests
Social media has become “the modern public square,” in the words of the U.S. Supreme Court. Facebook, Twitter, and other platforms are a cost-effective and efficient way for governments to communicate with the public, and they allow regular people to engage directly...
by cobbxcounsel | Sep 17, 2020 | Public Information Act Requests
Yes, Under These Exceptions to the Texas Open Meetings Act. The Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA) requires meetings of governmental bodies to be open to the public. TOMA was enacted to encourage “good government” by ending closed-door sessions in which deals are cut...
by cobbxcounsel | Aug 24, 2020 | Public Information Act Requests
Typically, a request under the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) involves two parties: the governmental body that holds the information and the person requesting it. The government, however, holds a great deal of information from people and companies doing business...
