Bill > S34

This bill establishes the Massachusetts Open Data Standard, creating a comprehensive framework for state and municipal agencies to make public data accessible online. The legislation appoints a chief data officer responsible for developing an inventory of public data and creating an open data portal, with key objectives including increasing government accountability, improving public knowledge of agency operations, creating economic opportunities, and responding to public data demands. The bill mandates that public data be made available in user-friendly, searchable formats without unnecessary registration requirements, and emphasizes principles of user-centric design, agile management, and data standardization while protecting personal identifying information. Public agencies will be required to submit annual strategic plans detailing their public data and how their technology projects can support the open data standard, with the requirement that agencies report any obstacles to making data publicly available. The bill also includes important disclaimers that the commonwealth is not liable for the completeness or accuracy of the data and that all published data will be in the public domain. Notably, the bill will take effect on July 1, 2025, giving agencies time to prepare for the new requirements. The open data portal will serve as a central platform for transparency, allowing citizens to access government information more easily and facilitating data analysis across different government datasets.

Budget and Finance, Business and Industry

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S34