This year, open-government advocates are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the passage of Connecticut’s groundbreaking Freedom of Information Act (FOI Act). It’s a big deal because the law has resulted in unprecedented government transparency and ensured that data, meetings and hearings are available and open to the public and the news media. Without a robust open government law, the public and reporters would be greatly handicapped in their efforts to access information critical to a well-functioning democracy.
However, the FOI Act is under attack. Daily occurrences such as political assassinations, data breaches and hateful messaging have shifted our society toward privacy rights. That has rendered the FOI Act increasingly vulnerable.
CCFOI, in conjunction with the Freedom of Information Commission (FOI Commission) and our effective and respected lobbyist, Elizabeth Gemski, have fended off a torrent of bills in recent years aimed at curtailing government openness. At the state Capitol, CCFOI and the FOI Commission have been the last line of defense in battling these attempts.
But we need your help. Historically, CCFOI has been funded by the state’s news outlets. However, the industry has undergone a consolidation and the number of outlets has been steadily shrinking.
Please consider making a contribution – most people give $50 but any amount is appreciated – and help protect the public’s access to information for the future.
CCFOI operates on a shoestring budget, with 100 percent of its money going toward its lobbying efforts and a once-a-year awards reception to honor champions of open government. CCFOI board members are volunteers; they don’t get paid for testifying or submitting written testimony during the General Assembly session.
During the 2025 session, there were more than a dozen major proposals that would have eroded the FOI Act and many more bills that had public hearings but didn’t get a committee vote because of CCFOI’s efforts. Only three bills were approved by the House and Senate and even then, CCFOI managed to mitigate their corrosive effect on the FOI Act. The proposals that were killed ranged from an exemption for all reports, research and data associated with the state’s public colleges and universities to one that would have allowed school boards to go into executive session whenever a superintendent addressed them. (A sampling of the FOI bills can be viewed here.)
As someone who supports the public’s right to know, please consider giving $50 in honor of the 50th anniversary of the passage of the FOI Act. You can send your contribution via our website or by mailing a check payable to CCFOI to 12 Bethpage Drive, Bethel, CT 06801.
By supporting CCFOI you will be helping to guarantee the public’s right to know and the news media’s ability to access vital information and uncover wrongdoing.
Sincerely,
Michele Jacklin
CCFOI President