Bill > HB2202

This bill establishes an open data policy for Washington state government, aiming to make government data more accessible and usable by the public. It defines "data" as factual, alphanumeric information that agencies regularly create or maintain, and "open data" as freely available, machine-readable information structured for easy discovery and use. The bill mandates the creation and expansion of an "open data portal," managed by the office of the chief information officer (CIO), where public data sets will be published in "open formats" (free, unrestricted file types). Agencies will be required to designate data officers, develop compliance plans to catalog and make their public data sets available as open data, and prioritize data for publication based on factors like public benefit and ease of conversion. While state agencies are required to comply, local governments and other branches of state government are encouraged to participate. The bill also outlines legal policies regarding the use of this data, stating that it is provided for informational purposes and that the state does not warranty its completeness or accuracy, nor is it liable for deficiencies. The CIO is prohibited from altering source data posted by agencies.