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Split testimony as committee considers Public Records Act task force bill
Summary
Supporters representing school districts and cities urged the creation of a balanced task force to study burdens from overbroad or harassing public records requests; open-government groups and journalists warned the proposal could curtail transparency and urged modernization through resourcing and technology instead.
The House State Government and Tribal Relations Committee took testimony on House Bill 2661, which would establish a temporary task force to examine frivolous, harassing or retaliatory public records requests and make recommendations to balance transparency with agency burdens.
Desiree (OPR staff) told the committee the bill directs the task force to study the nature and impact of abusive requests, possible deterrents, judicial discretion, out-of-state approaches, and safeguards that preserve broad public access to records. She noted prior JLARC reporting requirements and that a fiscal note had been requested but not yet provided.
Representative (speaker who introduced the bill) said the measure grew from concerns raised by K–12…
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