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Bill would clarify open-records requests go to agencies expending public funds, not to contractors
Summary
After a state Supreme Court decision involving a contractor for Georgia Tech, lawmakers reviewed a bill that clarifies open-records requests should be directed to the public agency that expends public funds; sponsors said the change does not alter timelines or types of records available.
The committee considered Senate Bill 12, which clarifies that open-records requests should be directed to the public agency that expends public funds rather than to private contractors performing work for that agency. The sponsor said the measure responds to a recent Georgia Supreme Court ruling involving a contractor working for Georgia Tech and aims to make the legal obligation clearer.
According to the sponsor’s presentation, the bill does not change what records may be requested nor the timelines for agency responses; it instead confirms that the public agency that expends the funds is the proper recipient of a request. The First Amendment Foundation and the Georgia Press Association sought tweaks during the bill’s drafting and, per the sponsor, were neutral after changes. The sponsor also listed business and local government supporters, including the Georgia Chamber of Commerce, Metro Atlanta Chamber, the Association County Commissioners of Georgia (ACCG) and the Georgia Municipal Association (GMA).
The sponsor asked for favorable consideration. No committee vote on the bill was recorded in the transcript.
