Metro Nashville must pay nearly $57K in attorneys fees in public records case
Senior Judge Robert E. Lee Davies ordered Metro Nashville to pay nearly $57K in attorneys fees to a public records requester, saying that the city “misinterpreted and ignored the ‘promptness’ Continue...
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 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 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 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 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 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...
View ArticleEmail bill rolls one week in House committee
A bill that would require government entities to accept public records requests they receive by email, if they already use email as an official mode of communication, was rolled a Continue Reading...
View ArticleHouse committee passes bill allowing requests by email with some limits for...
The House State Government committee unanimously passed H.B. 58 this week, which would make clear that citizens may send records requests by email to records custodians. The email bill also contains...
View ArticleEmail bill passes the House 96-0
A bill that would make clear that public records requesters can make their requests via email passed the House 96-0 last night. See video from presentation of the bill on the Continue Reading Tennessee...
View Article5 things to watch in public records policies
To influence government, citizens must have access to information. In Tennessee, an important safeguard to that access is the state’s public records law. But sometimes that law gets ignored or Continue...
View ArticleNew laws passed in 2017 affect access to public records
TCOG Legislative Report 2017 Following is a summary of new laws affecting access to government information. They include 7 new exceptions to the Tennessee Public Records Act, 2 existing exemptions...
View ArticleWhy requiring a driver’s license to look at public records is often a waste...
Requiring a driver’s license as an unbending condition to access public records is like hunting dragonflies with a shotgun. It’s overkill. And a little silly. Requiring a citizen to produce Continue...
View ArticleState agencies in full swing establishing public records rules
If you are journalist or citizen who makes public records requests to state agencies, now is the time to pay attention to the public records rules being developed regarding that Continue Reading...
View ArticleQuestions about photography ban, ID requirement prompts committee to stop...
The Joint Government Operations Committee voted today to ask the Department of Financial Institutions to hold a public hearing on its rules related to public records requests after questions about...
View ArticleBill to punish “harassing” public records requesters delayed until first...
Proposed legislation that would allow a government entity in Tennessee to get an injunction to stop public records requesters whose requests constituted “harassment” has been delayed until next year....
View ArticleTennessee Tech Trustees say students IDs not sufficient for public records...
By Vanessa Curry, Instructor and Student Newspaper Adviser at Tennessee Tech The general rule of thumb in requesting anything from a governing board is to ask for the moon in Continue Reading Tennessee...
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