The Public School Access and Transparency Act aims to enhance transparency and accountability in public education by amending the Freedom of Information Act of 1967. The bill introduces new definitions and provisions to ensure that learning materials used in public schools are accessible to residents. Specifically, it defines "learning materials" to include various instructional resources and mandates that access to these materials cannot be denied on the grounds of copyright infringement. Additionally, it prohibits public school officials from entering agreements that restrict public access to these materials based on copyright or intellectual property rights.

Key amendments include the clarification that all learning materials maintained by public schools are considered public records, and it establishes that residents have the right to inspect and copy these materials without being required to sign nondisclosure agreements. The bill also emphasizes that access to digital learning materials should not be denied and provides guidelines for residents to physically inspect these materials if copying is impractical. Overall, the act seeks to prevent the misuse of copyright claims by public records custodians and to ensure that educational resources remain transparent and accessible to the public.

Statutes affected:
Old version HB1919 Original - 3-31-2025 01:36 PM: 25-19-103(7), 25-19-103, 25-19-105
Old version HB1919 V2 - 4-9-2025 10:31 AM: 25-19-103(7), 25-19-103, 25-19-105
HB 1919: 25-19-103(7), 25-19-103, 25-19-105