HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — From investigating contentious decisions made by local authorities to scrutinizing how those entities utilize taxpayer funds, 13 Investigates relies on open records laws to access internal documents, datasets, emails, and text messages among government officials. This allows us to maintain accountability among our leaders.
This week marks Sunshine Week, a nationwide initiative dedicated to highlighting the significance of public records and transparent governance.
“Sunshine Week is incredibly important, yet not everyone is aware of it,” remarked Kelley Shannon, executive director of the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas. “When government operates in secrecy, citizens are left in the dark about its activities. Therefore, sunshine laws, which promote open government, are vital for everyone in our state.”
Under the Texas Public Information Act, individuals have the right to request information from government agencies and should receive a response within 10 business days.
Responses can vary, from providing requested documents to furnishing a cost estimate or seeking approval from the Texas Attorney General to withhold documents for reasons outlined in the act.
To test the law, 13 Investigates submitted a simple request for employee rosters to two dozen city, county, and state agencies.
Within an hour and 20 minutes of sending our request to Texas City, they provided a list of all their employees. Other entities like the City of Conroe, Conroe PD, Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District, Missouri City, and the City of Galveston fulfilled our request the following day. The remaining responses
