In October 2023, Tennessee Coalition for Open Government celebrated our 20th Anniversary, looking back on two decades of our work in preserving and promoting open government in Tennessee.

We also honored our founding executive director Frank Gibson. Thank you to NewsChannel 5 for producing this video about Gibson:

 

Some highlights in the past 20 years:

  • 2004 – Trained 112 citizens and journalists to conduct a statewide audit in all 95 counties on requests for commonplace public records. The requests were denied one-third of the time. The results prompted the Legislature to create a study committee.
  • 2008 – Study committee’s suggestions resulted in new laws requiring the government to cite the basis for a public records denial and creating the Office of Open Records Counsel.
  • 2014 – 2023 – Began publishing annual legislative reports on website.
  • 2015 – Mounted successful campaign against proposed legislation to get rid of the “free inspection” option for public records, helping drive turnout at three public hearings across the state.
  • 2015 – Published the first ever citizen’s guide to Tennessee’s public records and open meetings laws, Keys to Open Government, which can be downloaded for free at www.tcog.info.
  • 2017 – Worked with lawmakers and law enforcement to narrow a proposed exemption to the body camera footage.
  • 2018 – Audited public records policies of 306 counties, school districts and cities, finding many had adopted hurdles slowing down or thwarting access to public records, including prohibiting citizens from taking picture of records. The information led to the Joint Government Operations Committee requiring state agencies to allow taking photos of records.
  • 2018 – Provided report to legislative Joint Open Records Ad Hoc Committee, which recommended changes in how exemptions are adopted, including an extra House committee review.
  • 2020 – Wrote successful application for Tennessee to be selected as one of five states for Reporters Committee Freedom of the Press Local Legal Initiative, giving journalists a new source of free legal counsel.
  • 2020-21 – Worked with governor’s office on electronic public meeting protocols during COVID-19. Coordinated joint petition to Tennessee Supreme Court about public/electronic access to courts during the pandemic.
  • 2022-23 2022 – Proposed bills that became law, including one designed to eliminate vague meeting agendas and another requiring better public records on inmate deaths.