Apr 11 2013

European governments agree to open up public data

Member states of the European Union have endorsed new rules for opening up publicly-funded data to developers, businesses and citizens.

News From NFOIC

NFOIC supports New York coalition’s effort to mandate the posting of public meeting minutes May 4, 2021

The National Freedom of Information Coalition has endorsed a letter written by the New York Coalition for Open Government, urging the state to mandate that minutes of public meetings be posted online within two weeks of a meeting. “It is important to have a written record of who attended a meeting; what motions were made...More

In partnership with Uncovered, NFOIC provides public records training to cold-case solvers May 4, 2021

The National Freedom of Information Coalition conducted a three-part “Public Records Bootcamp” training program in partnership with Uncovered: A Cold Case Platform. The Bootcamp, conducted three Thursday evenings in April 2021, each engaged more than 40 participants interested in using public records to help solve cold cases. “Working with NFOIC to provide this level of...More

Loophole allows Wisconsin legislators to destroy emails; ‘Obviously it’s troubling,’ FOI council leader says April 30, 2021

Unlike other public officials in Wisconsin, state legislators can destroy documents to avoid records requests, according to a report by the Racine County Eye. State legislators must comply with the state’s Open Records Law — if they have the requested documents in their possession. There’s nothing preventing them from destroying documents, and one state representative...More

Far from perfect, but ‘better than nothing,’ says Michigan coalition director of bill touted as a transparency measure April 30, 2021

Unlike lawmakers in most states, Michigan legislators aren’t required to disclose their financial interests. A bipartisan bill would change that — kind of. The bill would require lawmakers to disclose their financial information to a legislative committee, which would be exempt from the state’s Open Meetings and Freedom of Information acts. Only if the committee...More

New law in Virginia a ‘rare victory for open access’ to police records, editorial says April 30, 2021

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Ensuring open meetings and enhancing police transparency top coalitions’ policy priorities April 29, 2021

The National Freedom of Information Coalition, a national 501(c)3 nonprofit, nonpartisan organization, surveyed and questioned its state and local affiliates in the Winter and Spring of 2021 to obtain each affiliate’s top policy priorities and top perceived threats to transparency. The NFOIC released some results of its online survey in its “States of Denial” report,...More