This bill revises various aspects of public records law in Wyoming, including the definition of "official public records," which now explicitly includes plea agreements and nonconfidential portions of sentencing memoranda. It establishes new timeframes for acknowledging public records requests, requiring governmental entities to acknowledge receipt within three business days. Additionally, it reduces the maximum time for releasing public records from thirty days to ten days after acknowledgment, unless an extension is granted by the ombudsman for good cause, which can extend the release date by up to thirty additional days.

The bill also introduces new provisions for penalties and attorney fees, increasing the maximum penalty for violations from $750 to $2,000, and allowing courts to award reasonable attorney fees to prevailing applicants. Furthermore, it mandates that all governmental entities adhere to uniform fees for public records established by the department of administration and information, with exceptions for lower fees or approved higher fees. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 16-4-201, 16-4-202, 16-4-203, 16-4-204, 16-4-205