Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Committee approves expedited review for auditor privilege disputes; sponsors, auditors and AG spar over process
Summary
Lawmakers advanced a substitute to SB 154 to create a fast arbitration process for disputes over asserted attorney‑client privilege in legislative audits; the legislative auditor and sponsor said it will curb over‑designation, while the attorney general's office urged use of courts and stressed protections for privilege.
The Senate Judiciary, Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Standing Committee voted unanimously to advance Senate Bill 154 after adopting a first substitute and an amendment that narrow the bill’s procedures for resolving privilege disputes arising in legislative audits.
Sponsor Senator Daniel Brammer said the bill addresses an increase in claims of attorney‑client privilege that, in his view, have impeded the legislative auditor’s ability to report to the legislature. He noted the constitutional basis for the auditor’s role — Article 6, Section 33 — and described auditors’ concerns that privilege and withheld documents have delayed audits and limited oversight.
“I'm not going to put up with over designation anymore,”…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat
