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Bill > HB868
PA HB868
PA HB868In procedure, further providing for exceptions for public records; and, in judicial review, further providing for fee limitations.
summary
Introduced
03/11/2025
03/11/2025
In Committee
03/11/2025
03/11/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2025-2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
Amending the act of February 14, 2008 (P.L.6, No.3), entitled "An act providing for access to public information, for a designated open-records officer in each Commonwealth agency, local agency, judicial agency and legislative agency, for procedure, for appeal of agency determination, for judicial review and for the Office of Open Records; imposing penalties; providing for reporting by State-related institutions; requiring the posting of certain State contract information on the Internet; and making related repeals," in procedure, further providing for exceptions for public records; and, in judicial review, further providing for fee limitations.
AI Summary
This bill modifies Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law in two key areas: public records exceptions and fee limitations. First, the bill adds a new exception that allows agencies to withhold records that are "reasonably burdensome" to produce, giving government agencies more discretion in responding to information requests. Second, the bill introduces new provisions regarding fees for records requests, specifically allowing agencies to charge additional fees for requests from for-profit entities. Under the new rules, agencies can require for-profit requesters to pay fees in advance, must notify requesters of fee requirements within five business days, and can ask about the purpose of the request to determine if the requester is a for-profit entity. Notably, newspapers, magazines, and broadcast outlets are exempted from these additional fees. The bill is designed to provide government agencies more flexibility in managing public records requests while potentially deterring overly broad or resource-intensive information requests from commercial entities. The changes will take effect 60 days after the bill's passage.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (8)
Pat Harkins (D)*,
Missy Cerrato (D),
Scott Conklin (D),
José Giral (D),
Carol Hill-Evans (D),
Joe McAndrew (D),
Steve Mentzer (R),
Ben Sanchez (D),
Last Action
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs & Operations (on 03/11/2025)
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