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 With legislation intended to reform the Massachusetts public records law headed to a vote today on Beacon Hill, open government groups — including the New England First Amendment Coalition — are calling for passage in the House. The new bill released by the House Ways and Means Committee is the product of […]
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 The Massachusetts Freedom of Information Alliance is asking public record requesters to complete a survey designed to identify weaknesses in the state’s public records law. MassFOIA — consisting of the ACLU of Massachusetts, Common Cause Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association, the New England First Amendment Coalition, and other like-minded organizations — created the survey and will use the results […]
Detroit Free Press v. U.S. Dept. of Justice (Dec. 23, 2016) Does the Freedom of Information Act require disclosure of booking photos of publicly named, federal indictees who have already appeared in open court? In Re Gawker Media, LLC (Dec. 5, 2016) The liquidation plan in this proceeding contains third-party release and injunction provisions that […]
Our freedom to learn about our leaders and to speak about what matters most is always at risk. The New England First Amendment Coalition is celebrating 10 years of protecting those freedoms and helping to hold our government accountable. Help us now prepare for another decade of advocacy. #GivingTuesday is a global day of giving […]
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 […]
By Justin Silverman The Massachusetts Senate released this week a bill that could help fix our broken public records law. While the legislation (S.2120) is much stronger than the lackluster proposal by the House last year, the Senate needs to now decide the fate of the many proposed amendments that could drastically affect the future […]
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 […]