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Debate over creating a transparency ombuds office surfaces as committee hears House Bill 1055 study proposal
Summary
The State Government & Tribal Relations Committee on Jan. 15 took testimony on House Bill 1055, which would create a joint legislative committee and direct JLARC, the attorney general and the Sunshine Committee to study whether Washington should establish an independent transparency ombuds office to assist public‑records requesters.
The State Government & Tribal Relations Committee on Jan. 15 took testimony on House Bill 1055, which would create a Joint Legislative Committee on Transparency and direct the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (JLARC), the attorney general’s office and the Sunshine Committee to study whether an independent Washington Office of Transparency Ombuds should be established to help the public access public records.
Desiree Omley, OPR staff, briefed the committee on the bill’s scope. The study would compare other states’ public‑records laws to Washington’s, evaluate independent agencies in other states, examine whether litigation decreased and whether access increased, and determine potential cost savings and duties for the proposed office. JLARC would…
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