This bill amends existing public records laws in Wyoming to enhance the process for acknowledging and releasing public records. Key changes include a requirement for governmental entities to acknowledge receipt of public records requests within three business days and to release readily available records immediately upon acknowledgment. The timeframe for releasing public records has been reduced from thirty days to ten days, with provisions for extensions granted by the ombudsman if necessary. Additionally, the bill specifies that if a release date cannot be agreed upon, the ombudsman can intervene, and the governmental entity may refer matters to the attorney general or district attorney for enforcement.

The bill also introduces new fee structures for public records, mandating that non-state governmental entities adhere to uniform fees established by the department of administration and information unless they can justify lower or higher fees. Furthermore, the penalties for knowingly violating the provisions of this act have been increased from $750 to $2,000, and courts are authorized to award reasonable attorney fees to prevailing applicants. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
26LSO-0051 v0.4: 16-4-202, 16-4-203, 16-4-204, 16-4-205