ECD posts online database of FastTrack grants, but leaves out job creation
The Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development has posted online a searchable database of FastTrack grants since 2011, but has left out key information it gathers on job creation. Mike...
View ArticleTCOG files amicus brief in Sumner County case over emailed public records...
The Tennessee Coalition for Open Government has filed an amicus curiae brief with the Court of Appeals in Nashville in a case in which the Sumner County Board of Education argues Continue Reading...
View ArticleTCOG, League of Women Voters to host body camera forum in December
The Tennessee Coalition for Open Government and the Nashville Chapter of the League of Women Voters will host a body camera forum, “Police Body Cameras: From Privacy to Accountability — Continue...
View ArticleLaw requiring public records policy
T.C.A. § 10-7-503(g) (g) No later than July 1, 2017, every governmental entity subject to this section shall establish a written public records policy properly adopted by the appropriate governing...
View ArticleTCOG encourages citizens to comment on draft model public records policy
The Office of Open Records Counsel is giving the public a chance to review and comment on a draft of a statewide model public records policy. A new law requires Continue Reading Tennessee Coalition for...
View ArticleRead TCOG’s comments on proposed model public records policy
Tennessee Coalition for Open Government provided written feedback Wednesday on the Office of Open Records Counsel’s proposed “Best Practices & Guidelines and Model Public Records Policy.” This...
View ArticlePublic records request reveals county dropped the ball in monitoring PILOT...
Ten years ago, two Japanese companies agreed to bring jobs and investment to Washington County if the county gave them 10 years worth of tax breaks on their property, buildings Continue Reading...
View ArticleHendersonville Standard: Legal bills climb to $238K in Sumner Schools public...
The Hendersonville Standard recently reported that Sumner County School Board had another $125,237 in legal bills after voting to appeal a public records ruling, bringing the total cost of the Continue...
View ArticleOhio Supreme Court rules dash cam videos are public records
In ruling that rejects a blanket investigatory exemption for police records, the Ohio Supreme Court ruled last week that dash cam video is in general a public record, subject to Continue Reading...
View ArticleRead TCOG’s comments to proposed changes, additions to Office of Open Records...
The Office of Open Records Counsel, in addition to creating a model public records policy, is proposing changes to the Schedule of Reasonable Charges, model forms and advisory opinions guidelines....
View ArticleKnight Foundation survey seeks feedback on FOI laws
The Knight Foundation is conducting a national survey to better understand the freedom of information landscape in the United States and what might be done to improve it. The Knight Continue Reading...
View ArticleBristol newspaper gets lottery data in Virginia, but same records are secret...
The Bristol Herald Courier reported in a Sunday story a geographical sales analysis of lottery data. But it could only tell half the story. Why? While it could report data Continue Reading Tennessee...
View ArticleNashville police chief publicly blasts DA spokesman who released name of...
The Nashville Police Chief publicly blasted a spokesman in the District Attorney’s office for releasing a police incident report to a TV station that contained the name of a housekeeping employee who...
View ArticleOhio Supreme Court finds delayed release of body camera footage “reasonable”
The Ohio Supreme Court, which recently ruled that not all police records fall under the state’s investigatory exemption, ruled this week in a separate case about body camera footage in a Continue...
View ArticleOffice of Open Records Counsel finalizes model public records policy
The Office of Open Records Counsel has published a new model public records policy that can be used by government entities in establishing records policies, which are required by law Continue Reading...
View ArticleDA’s shutdown of public records on Gatlinburg fire goes too far
On Dec. 15, the district attorney for Sevier County issued a remarkable letter. In the most horrific disaster to ever afflict Gatlinburg, a firestorm on Nov. 28 swept into the Continue Reading...
View ArticleBill to scale back confidentiality of lottery sales
Legislation has been filed that would remove an exemption that makes the location of lottery sales secret under state law. The proposed bills (S.B. 563 / H.B. 575) by state Sen. Continue Reading...
View ArticleLegislation would require government to accept records requests via email
State Rep. Courtney Rogers, R-Goodlettsville, has filed a bill that would end the practice of some government entities in Tennessee refusing to accept public records requests by email. The legislation,...
View ArticleWith some pushback, House subcommittee passes bill to allow public records...
The House State Government Subcommittee passed with a voice vote on Wednesday a bill that would clarify the public records statutes to say that citizens could use email to send in their Continue...
View ArticleEditorial: Bill would make public records access easier
From the Knoxville News Sentinel Editorial Board, on a bill to make public records access easier: A legislative effort to make it easier for Tennesseans to file public records requests Continue Reading...
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