Check this page regularly for a collection of the most interesting and informative articles related to public records issues.

The Foilies 2023: Recognizing the worst in government transparency
Celia Ffrench Celia Ffrench

The Foilies 2023: Recognizing the worst in government transparency

“Misbehavior like this is why we created The Foilies, our annual tongue-in-cheek “awards” for agencies and officials that thwart the public’s right to government information or otherwise respond outrageously to requests for documents and records. Each year, the Electronic Frontier Foundation and MuckRock News, in partnership with the Association of Alternative Newsmedia, publish this list of ne’er-do-wells to celebrate Sunshine Week (March 12-18)—an annual event to raise the profile of the democratic concept of government transparency.”

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ProPublica reporter wins 2023 Brechner Freedom of Information Award
Celia Ffrench Celia Ffrench

ProPublica reporter wins 2023 Brechner Freedom of Information Award

Most experts agree that 911 call analysis is junk science. But Murphy’s reporting documented more than 100 cases in 26 states where law enforcement used the results of 911 call analysis against defendants, often outside proper legal discovery obligations and without scrutiny.

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Data: A Force for Good
Celia Ffrench Celia Ffrench

Data: A Force for Good

Many Americans, if asked how data impacts them personally, would likely point to the convenience of social media, email, and online sales. But the societal benefits of data are manifold—and growing by the day. Understanding how data fosters economic opportunity, innovation, and a better quality of life is necessary to inform smart policymaking on issues like data privacy and security.

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Sunshine Week 2023: Three major threats to government transparency — and three big wins
Celia Ffrench Celia Ffrench

Sunshine Week 2023: Three major threats to government transparency — and three big wins

In the past year, we’ve seen numerous threats to transparency that endanger the public’s right to know about the actions of government officials, from state lawmakers rewriting rules to hide their communications to public officials’ use of auto-deleting messaging apps.In the past year, we’ve seen numerous threats to transparency that endanger the public’s right to know about the actions of government officials, from state lawmakers rewriting rules to hide their communications to public officials’ use of auto-deleting messaging apps.

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An attempt to weaken Arkansas public records law fails in committee
Celia Ffrench Celia Ffrench

An attempt to weaken Arkansas public records law fails in committee

After nearly three hours of testimony, much of it from citizens who identified themselves as Republicans, the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee rejected a proposal that would have “disemboweled” the state’s public records law, as one opponent described it.

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Despite a progressive reputation, California is where public records laws are abused | Opinion
Celia Ffrench Celia Ffrench

Despite a progressive reputation, California is where public records laws are abused | Opinion

At the national level, we have a strong Freedom of Information Act. But as anyone who’s made a FOIA request to a federal agency can tell you, the bureaucrats in federal agencies habitually resist disclosing records, responding to FOIA requests with delays at best and flimsy denials at worst. Lloyd Chapman, president of the American Small Business League, a small business advocacy group which has fought and won dozens of FOIA lawsuits, says agencies either drag their feet or invoke weak excuses to avoid disclosing information about things as basic as the federal budget.

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Montana Senate passes public record request bill
Celia Ffrench Celia Ffrench

Montana Senate passes public record request bill

The likelihood of both of those things happening is looking good: SB 232 sponsor Sen. Janet Ellis, D-Helena, worked with Gov. Greg Gianforte to develop a record request framework that both parties could live with, and an amended version of the bill unanimously passed the Senate March 2.

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Watchdog:  There’s an Open Government Crisis in New York State
Celia Ffrench Celia Ffrench

Watchdog:  There’s an Open Government Crisis in New York State

72% of towns are not posting meeting documents online as required by law.

25% of towns are not posting meeting minutes or recordings online as required by law.

39% of counties failed to acknowledge a FOIL request within five business days as required by law.

28% of counties never acknowledged our FOIL request.

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An extensive investigation by Hearst Media into violations of public records laws in Bridgeport, CT
Celia Ffrench Celia Ffrench

An extensive investigation by Hearst Media into violations of public records laws in Bridgeport, CT

The following is a three-story example of the importance of public records, a free press, and holding government accountable. The first highlights an extensive investigation by the Hearst Media company into violations of the public records laws in Bridgeport, CT. The second covers Bridgeport’s immediate response, promising to fix the violations and issues after the story ran. The last details how the CT legislature is debating the need for better state laws to ensure records access and compliance in Bridgeport and all Connecticut jurisdictions.

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Rhode Island Lawmakers Seek to Expand RI’s Public Records Law
Celia Ffrench Celia Ffrench

Rhode Island Lawmakers Seek to Expand RI’s Public Records Law

State Senator Louis DiPalma told The Providence Journal that he’d experienced some of the challenges of obtaining public records firsthand in his previous role as the chair of the Senate Oversight Committee. He also noted that the Access to Public Records Act has not been updated in 10 years, and in that time “technology has certainly changed.”

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Want to know what your government is up to? Texas law on public records needs update | Opinion
News Celia Ffrench News Celia Ffrench

Want to know what your government is up to? Texas law on public records needs update | Opinion

The Sunshine Coalition aims to shore up the Public Information Act so that taxpayers can view “super public” information and other key provisions in government contracts; uniformly define “business days” to determine when governments must respond to public records requests, even on days of remote work; require that governments provide certain data to requestors in searchable and sortable spreadsheets; and restore public access to dates of birth in criminal-justice and political-candidate records.

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The Sunshine Blog: Free The Public’s Public Records Requests in Hawaii
Celia Ffrench Celia Ffrench

The Sunshine Blog: Free The Public’s Public Records Requests in Hawaii

Making public records easier for the public to access: The House Finance Committee on Tuesday unanimously approved a measure to limit the amount of money state and local government agencies can charge when documents are requested in the public interest. The bill now goes to the full House for consideration.

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Left for Dead: NBC 5 Suing Over Public Records in Hit-and-Run Crashes
Celia Ffrench Celia Ffrench

Left for Dead: NBC 5 Suing Over Public Records in Hit-and-Run Crashes

Linda Mensch was killed in a hit-and-run crash while leaving the Garfield Park Conservatory in August 2021. Investigators quickly released a photo of the van that hit her as well as its license plate. But for reasons Chicago police refuse to explain – they would not even question the vehicle’s registered owner.

It’s a pattern found in case after case and crash after crash.

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Gov. Kay Ivey orders state agencies to respond to requests for public records
Celia Ffrench Celia Ffrench

Gov. Kay Ivey orders state agencies to respond to requests for public records

The order requires all executive branch agencies to post a public records page on their websites that includes a records request form. It requires agencies to designate a public records coordinator to help people with requests. The order requires agencies to acknowledge receipt of a request within two business days. The order sets deadlines for when agencies must provide substantive responses depending on the nature of requests.

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