FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition testified today in support of expanding the Massachusetts public records law to include the state’s legislature, governor’s office and judiciary. “No matter how strongly the public records statute may be written, it still only covers a small fraction of […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition today released comments on recently proposed regulations governing the new Massachusetts public records statute. The regulations are intended to reflect the first significant changes to the state’s public records law in more than 40 years. The comments were submitted jointly on behalf […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker signed into law today legislation that will improve access to public records and provide recourse to citizens unjustly denied government information. The New England First Amendment Coalition, a steering member of the Massachusetts Freedom of Information Alliance, has been a leader in […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The Massachusetts State Senate today released legislation to reform the Massachusetts public records law and announced a vote on the subject next week. Open government groups which comprise the steering committee of the Massachusetts Freedom of Information Alliance — including the New England First Amendment Coalition […]
By Amanda Palmeira With legislation intended to reform the Massachusetts public records law expected to be addressed soon by the state Senate, a group not often associated with the effort recently emphasized the importance of transparency beyond the interests of attorneys and journalists. The Massachusetts Genealogical Council — representing genealogists, historical societies, librarians and researchers […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Secretary William F. Galvin filed on Monday an initiative petition to revise the state public records law. The Massachusetts Freedom of Information Alliance (MassFOIA), a network of more than 40 groups committed to reforming the state public records law, including the New England First Amendment Coalition, does not support the petition. Rather, […]
NEFAC, Open Government Groups Call Memo to Cabinet Secretaries a Positive, But Limited Step The Massachusetts Freedom of Information Alliance, a network of more than 40 groups committed to reforming the state public records law, today commended Gov. Charlie Baker for issuing guidance to improve state executive agencies’ handling of requests for information, but emphasized […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | justin@nefac.org | 774.244.2365 Our work to improve the Massachusetts public records law nearly paid off last week. The House of Representatives scheduled a vote on HB 3665, legislation that would broaden access to public records and provide enforcement measures in the law where currently there are none. The New England First […]
The Massachusetts Freedom of Information Alliance today applauded the first enforcement of the public records law in five years by the Attorney General’s Office. MassFOIA is a network of more than 40 groups, including the New England First Amendment Coalition, committed to reforming the state public records statute. The Boston Globe recently reported that Attorney […]
New England First Amendment Coalition Executive Director Justin Silverman provided testimony today to the Massachusetts Legislature’s Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight. Silverman testified in support of legislation that would improve access to public records. More information on that legislation and NEFAC’s work as part of the Massachusetts Freedom of Information Alliance can […]