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ME LD1645

ME LD1645
An Act to Improve Legislative Access to Public Information


summary

Introduced
04/11/2025
In Committee
04/11/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
05/28/2025

Introduced Session

132nd Legislature

Bill Summary

This bill amends the Freedom of Access Act by requiring a request submitted by 3 or more Legislators to be complied with within 20 working days as long as at least 3 of the Legislators are members of the Legislature's government oversight committee and one of those 3 members is one of the chairs of that committee. Current law requires the agency or official receiving the request to make a good faith effort to comply with the request within a nonbinding estimate of time provided by the agency or official.

AI Summary

This bill amends the Freedom of Access Act by creating a new expedited process for public record requests made by legislators. Specifically, if at least three legislators from the government oversight committee (including at least one committee chair) submit a request for public records, the agency or official in possession of those records must respond and provide the requested documents within 20 working days. This is a change from the current law, which previously only required agencies to make a "good faith effort" to respond within a non-binding estimated timeframe. The bill aims to increase legislative transparency and provide a more structured mechanism for legislators to access public information by establishing a clear, time-bound requirement for responding to records requests from key legislative oversight members.

Committee Categories

Justice

Sponsors (3)

Last Action

Pursuant to Joint Rule 310.3 Placed in Legislative Files (DEAD) (on 05/28/2025)

bill text


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