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Vermont committee hears testimony on proposed Public Records Act changes as agencies cite heavy workload
Summary
Journalists and state agency records officers told the House Government Operations & Military Affairs Committee that digital records, discovery‑style keyword searches and automated requests are producing large volumes of work; witnesses disagreed over measures such as extended reply windows and charging for staff time.
BURLINGTON — At a Thursday morning hearing of the House Government Operations & Military Affairs Committee, journalists and state agency officials testified about strains on Vermont’s Public Records Act and debated proposed changes that would affect response times and fees.
Tommy Gardner, publisher and editor of the Vermont Community Newspaper Group, told the committee his reporters routinely seek a wide range of records — meeting minutes, budget spreadsheets, property cards and police logs — and said informal requests (email, text or in‑person) are common. He warned against expanding fees or creating a ‘‘paywall’’ for public information, saying, "Simply put, erecting a paywall to public information places an undue financial burden on people to access their government and get the information they need and hold their public servants accountable." (Tommy Gardner, testimony.)
Kim McManus, legislative and policy attorney and records officer for the Department of…
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