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Committee adopts multiple amendments to public-records bill (HB100) and passes it as amended
Summary
House Bill 100, requested by the Department of Administration to clarify public-records processing and fees, received five friendly amendments in executive action — including a $25-per-hour cap on agency processing charges and a provision limiting duplicate charges — and passed the committee as amended.
Miss Power, staff for the committee, summarized House Bill 100, which revises procedures for public-records requests and adjusts agency fees and billing practices. The Department of Administration requested the bill as a follow-up to prior legislative work.
Key amendments included technical corrections and policy clarifications: a correction of subsection references; a provision making the first hour of work after a $20 filing fee free; a limitation that agencies may charge a particular cost only once when responding to a request; and a $25-per-hour cap on agency processing charges. Staff noted that the amendments under consideration were supported by the sponsoring department and were viewed as friendly.
The committee voted on individual amendments by voice vote and then moved to pass HB100 as five-times amended. Representative Bertolio moved that HB100 do pass as amended; the chair recorded that HB100, with the five amendments, passes committee.
Why it matters: The bill alters administrative practice for public records and could affect the speed and cost of public-records responses across state agencies. Supporters argued the amendments provide clearer limits and reduce duplicate charges; some members asked clarifying questions about how the 'charge-once' language applies to coordinated requests.
Next steps: HB100 as amended advances to the House floor for consideration.
