Public records overhaul advances to address fee waivers and commercial requesters; counties, cities and schools raise concerns

The Senate Committee on Rules on June 4 heard extensive testimony on Senate Bill 10‑77 (dash‑1), a comprehensive proposal to revise public records law in Oregon. The amendment defines “commercial requester,” authorizes a fee structure that can charge more for certain commercial requests, creates a formal process for fee waivers in the public interest, establishes a public records fund to adjudicate appeals, and in many cases transfers review of public records appeals from county district attorneys to the Oregon Attorney General’s civil attorneys.

Senator Kim Thatcher, carrying the bill from the dais, said the dash‑1 amendment is the product of multi‑stakeholder work that began after an earlier bill did not pass in 2023. Supporters including public‑records advocates and newsroom representatives said the bill balances the public’s right to know with the administrative costs of producing records.

Carrie Hawthorne, testifying on behalf of the Oregon District Attorneys Association, supported moving most appellate reviews to the Attorney General and said many county DA offices lack the civil legal…