Bill > SB2540

This bill revises how Tennessee government entities handle requests for public records and the fees associated with them. It clarifies that a written request is generally not required to view public records, and requests can be made in person, by phone, fax, mail, email, or through an internet portal if the government entity uses these methods for official business. The bill also states that if a public record contains confidential information that must be removed (redacted), the cost of redacting and copying these records will be the responsibility of the person requesting them, and this redaction does not create a new record. Furthermore, it allows government entities to charge reasonable costs for producing records for inspection and for making copies, with these costs to be determined according to guidelines established by the office of open records counsel, which will create a schedule of reasonable charges for citizens requesting public records.