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Senate amends GRAMA bill, restores 'personal' exemption after debate on email privacy
Summary
Senators removed two lines that raised concerns about making communications to legislators secret and restored the word 'personal' in House Bill 12 to preserve an exemption for private correspondence; the amended bill passed the Senate and was referred to the House.
The Utah Senate voted to amend and advance House Bill 12, legislation that updates the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), after an extended floor debate over electronic communications and constituent privacy.
Senator Jason E. Thomas, sponsor of the floor amendment, told colleagues he moved to strike two lines (lines 4 75 and 4 76) that had been the focus of controversy and to restore the word “personal” into the statutory exemption. “So to restore online 3 25, the word personal,” Thomas said when offering the amendment, explaining that the change was intended to preserve protections for private correspondence with legislators and staff.
Senator Arendt, speaking from the floor, warned of an unintended…
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