by Cobb & Counsel | May 12, 2022 | Public Information Act Requests
The Texas Public Information Act (TPIA) requires the court to award reasonable attorney fees to a requestor who “substantially prevails” in a suit to compel a governmental body to release public information. But there’s a major loophole that can leave the requestor...
by Cobb & Counsel | Apr 28, 2022 | Public Information Act Requests
As a concerned citizen, investigative reporter, or sleuthing competitor, you may want to submit an open records request without revealing your identity to the governmental body. With some limited exceptions, a governmental body can’t refuse to respond to an open...
by Cobb & Counsel | Feb 17, 2022 | Public Information Act Requests
The Attorney General’s office has released an updated handbook on the Texas Public Information Act, including guidance on changes made by the 87th Texas Legislature. While the handbook is a helpful resource, the TPIA is a complex statutory scheme that can be difficult...
by Cobb & Counsel | Jan 19, 2022 | Public Information Act Requests
Thanks to email and the proliferation of online open records portals, submitting an information request to a governmental body in Texas is easier than ever—yet the number of requests submitted to state agencies and state universities is actually decreasing, and...
by Cobb & Counsel | Jan 10, 2022 | Public Information Act Requests
In 2021, the Open Records Division of the Texas Attorney General’s Office issued a record-breaking 36,906 open records letter rulings—a 75% increase since 2012, when the department issued around 21,000 rulings. Considering the sheer number of rulings requested, and...
by Cobb & Counsel | Dec 28, 2021 | Public Information Act Requests
Under the Texas Public Information Act (TPIA), governmental bodies in Texas are obligated to “promptly produce public information” upon request. When they don’t, the requestor can file an informal complaint with the Texas Attorney General. The requestor also has...
