We engage in oversight of the legislative process, working with legislators and committee staffs, and providing testimony in support of First Amendment-friendly bills, and against bills that would turn the clock back. In a major effort, the Coalition authored and sponsored FOI legislation, ultimately put before the voters and enacted in 2004 as “Proposition 59,” to amend the California constitution to include a right to open-government.
Senate Bill 254 would ensure journalists have meaningful access to California prisons and local jails and the ability to seek interviews with incarcerated people.
It’s about accountability We are writing to alert you to legislation pending in California that would take the wrong lesson from the pandemic and weaken open-government laws under the guise
Our priorities for the 2021 California Legislative session focus on advancing police transparency, strengthening press protections and opposing government secrecy.
“The widespread use of rubber bullets and tear gas against protesters following the death of George Floyd have made it clear that limitations on the use of these tactics are necessary.”