Bill > HB05250

This bill, effective October 1, 2026, implements recommendations from the Freedom of Information Commission to revise the Freedom of Information Act, a law that governs public access to government records and meetings. Key changes include updating the training requirements for public agency members to cover a broader range of statutes, clarifying that a "hand-held scanner" can include devices like mobile phones or cameras used to capture images of public records, and modifying the process for appealing denials of access to certain records, specifically naming the chief executive officer of the agency and the commissioner who issued the directive to withhold the record as respondents in such appeals. Additionally, the bill clarifies the definition of "governmental function" to determine when entities performing services for the government are subject to public record disclosure requirements, and it updates the notice procedures for special meetings, requiring electronic transmission or mail delivery to members and allowing for electronic waivers of notice.