Finance committee adopts amendment to make township records subject to Freedom of Information Act

The Minnesota Senate Finance Committee on May 4 adopted Amendment 16 to Senate File 4059 that would require townships to be treated like other government bodies under the Freedom of Information Act, the committee chair said. Sen. Friends moved the amendment and explained it with a constituent example involving chemical spraying that the senator said affected a resident’s family.

The amendment’s sponsor, Sen. Friends, described a case in which township spraying drifted “60 feet” into a yard where a constituent’s daughter, he said, “was in a coma and she would often spend time out on the deck.” The sponsor said officials had been slow to provide details about what chemical was used and that the amendment would “require the township to be treated like other government body when it comes to [the] Freedom of Information Act,” allowing physicians and others to request records relevant to treatment.

Sen. Graham acknowledged the policy was “tricky” but said he would continue to look for other bills and, given the circumstances described, was “okay with accepting the amendment.” The committee put the motion to adopt the amendment to a voice vote and the motion prevailed.

After adopting Amendment 16, the committee voted to recommend Senate File 4059 as amended to the full Senate and instructed staff to make technical and conforming changes before floor consideration. No roll-call vote totals were specified in the committee record provided.

The chair announced the committee’s next meeting for 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, at which members plan to consider the claims bill, an outdoor heritage bill, a cannabis bill, a workers’ compensation advisory council bill and other rate-related items. The meeting then adjourned.