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On May 26, 2021, Governor Abbott signed HB 54, a new law prohibiting the production of police ride-along reality television programs. It permanently halts the production of shows like
Live PD,
COPS, and (name notwithstanding)
Alaska State Troopers, versions of which have aired with varying degrees of acclaim and ridicule for decades.
Named Javier Ambler’s Law, HB 54 provides that “[a] law enforcement agency may not authorize a person to accompany and film a peace officer acting in the line of duty for the purpose of producing a reality television program.” A “reality television program” is defined as a “nonfictional television program that features the same live subjects over the course of more than one episode primarily for entertainment purposes . . . .” In an attempt to narrow the law’s reach, it expressly excludes “reporting on a matter of public concern by a journalist” as journalist is defi
Transparency bills on the move in the Texas Legislature: Kelley Shannon
Kelley Shannon
Transparency bills are moving forward in the Texas Legislature with bipartisan support to promote open government and correct public information access problems that arose amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
Texas Open Meeting Act improvements
House Bill 2683 by Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, won unanimous approval in the Texas House of Representatives. It addresses online meetings allowed under the Texas Open Meetings Act. Though the virtual meetings provision of the law worked well for many governments during the pandemic, in some cases rules for public comment were unfairly imposed and telephone call-in lines were not provided to accommodate those without Internet. HB 2683 corrects those problems. It now moves to the Senate.
Transparency bills are moving forward in the Texas Legislature with bipartisan support to promote open government and correct public information access problems that arose amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
With about five weeks left in the legislative session, here’s a status report on bills backed by the Freedom of Information Foundation of Texas, the Texas Press Association, the Texas Association of Broadcasters and other members of the Transparent and Accountable Government Coalition:
Texas Open Meeting Act improvements
House Bill 2683 by Rep. Terry Canales, D-Edinburg, won unanimous approval in the Texas House of Representatives. It addresses online meetings allowed under the Texas Open Meetings Act. Though the virtual meetings provision of the law worked well for many governments during the pandemic, in some cases rules for public comment were unfairly imposed and telephone call-in lines were not provided to accommodate those without Internet. HB 2683 corrects those problems. It
Sen. Zaffirini files suite of open government reforms proposals
Courtesy of the Office of Sen. Zaffirini
March 3, 2021
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Zaffirini/
Senator Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, filed a series of bills Tuesday, March 2 to reform the state’s open government laws, specifically the Texas Open Meetings Act (TOMA) and Texas Public Information Act (TPIA). Seven proposals were filed as Senate Bills (SB) 924-930 and also were combined into an omnibus bill, SB 923, captioned “relating to open government.”
“Transparency is essential to preserving democratic governance,” Senator Zaffirini said. “Texans need to know what happens in the halls of power to hold their leaders accountable. I’m delighted to champion not only these proposals, but also the cause of open government generally.”