FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org With the option to hold virtual public meetings set to expire statewide on March 2025, the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight today advanced a bill (H.4771) that would update the Open Meeting Law to require hybrid meetings, guaranteeing members of the public the ability […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition will honor Connecticut resident Daniel Dunn with its 2024 Antonia Orfield Citizenship Award. The award is given to an individual from New England who has fought for information essential to the public’s understanding of what its government is doing […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition will recognize Maine Trust for Local News later this month with its annual Michael Donoghue Freedom of Information Award. Maine Trust for Local News — which includes publications such as the Sun Journal, Portland Press Herald and Kennebec Journal […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition will honor Sarah-Ann Shaw, the late trail-blazing journalist and community advocate who mentored a generation of young reporters, with its 2024 Stephen Hamblett First Amendment Award. Named after the late publisher of The Providence Journal, the Hamblett Award is […]
Register Now for New Round of FOI Lessons The New England First Amendment Coalition is continuing its freedom of information lessons with new classes on remote and hybrid access to government meetings. The lessons build on the information provided in NEFAC’s growing library of open meeting law classes which can be viewed here. They will be […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org Access/RI — a coalition of open government groups including the New England First Amendment Coalition — recently cautioned against Rhode Island legislation that would keep the municipalities of judicial officials secret. House Bill 7758 would exempt from the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act the […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition is pleased to announce two law school legal fellows and three undergraduate interns who will be supporting the organization throughout the summer: • Sophia Brown | Rising second-year law student at New England Law | Boston and a graduate […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition and a group of Rhode Island open government advocates are expressing serious concerns about a bill requiring police departments to keep secret certain body-worn camera footage that would otherwise be subject to the state’s public records law. Two companion […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition continued its international outreach today with a civics and legal program for Middle Eastern and African leaders. The U.S. State Department sponsors short-term visits to the United States for foreign officials, executives and journalists to learn about a variety […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition joined a group of Rhode Island open government advocates today to insist that certain transparency protections are required for the state’s Long Term Care Coordinating Council. The council develops state policy concerning all forms of long-term health care for […]