FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker yesterday vetoed $30 million in the general government infrastructure bond bill (H.5065) that the Legislature authorized for grants to expand remote and hybrid access to public meetings in municipalities throughout the state. Advocates — including the New England First Amendment Coalition, ACLU […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition today published a resource page on its website to increase public awareness of secret clerk-magistrate hearings in Massachusetts. Clerk-magistrate hearings — also called “show cause” hearings” — began in 1943 and were intended as a way to resolve minor […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition expressed concern today about actions taken by the Isle La Motte Select Board that violated the Vermont Open Meeting Law and firmly-established First Amendment press protections. The Select Board met on August 1 to address recent vandalism to LGBTQ pride […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition joined other Massachusetts advocates today to call for state funding needed to support municipalities planning to offer hybrid access to their meetings. The Senate recently established a new line item that allocates $20 million in a general bond bill to […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The Massachusetts legislature has extended the option for public bodies subject to the Open Meeting Law to continue conducting meetings virtually, with remote access for members of the public. The option to hold virtual public meetings was set to expire statewide today. Advocates — including […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition joined other Massachusetts advocates today to support legislation making permanent both in-person and remote access to government meetings. H.4991 would require public bodies subject to the Open Meeting Law to allow members of the public to attend in person […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org With the option to hold virtual public meetings set to expire in Massachusetts on July 15, the state House of Representatives today voted to extend remote access to public meetings until March 31, 2023. The House also amended the bill to require public meetings to […]
The New England First Amendment Coalition launched last year a monthly educational series featuring short, practical lessons on journalism and the First Amendment. The goal of the program — called “30 Minute Skills” — is to provide reporters and other citizens knowledge they can use immediately in newsgathering, data collection, storytelling and other areas of journalism […]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition recently called on the federal government to make specific changes that would increase transparency and protect the public’s right to know. In a June 17 letter drafted by Demand Progress, NEFAC and other advocates outlined three priorities the U.S. […]
June 27 | 5:30 p.m. ET Feathered Friend Brewing 231 South Main Street, Concord, N.H. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org Do social media companies unfairly censor speech, or allow misinformation to flourish? This spring, Texas passed a law preventing companies like Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and TikTok from discriminating against online […]