The bill amends the Wyoming Public Records Act to enhance the transparency and accessibility of public records. It introduces a new definition for "public records request," which refers to inquiries for one or more related public records. The role of the ombudsman is expanded to include investigating complaints, conducting in-camera reviews of denied records, and issuing orders for compliance with the act. Additionally, the bill establishes specific limits on fees for copying and producing public records, including provisions for free electronic records and a structured fee schedule for paper copies. It also prohibits charging fees for the time spent preparing records for inspection.

Furthermore, the bill increases penalties for violations of the act, raising the maximum penalty from $750 to $2,000 for intentional violations. It allows individuals to file petitions for compliance and mandates that courts award attorneys' fees to prevailing applicants. A daily civil penalty of $250 is imposed on governmental entities that fail to comply with court orders, and punitive damages of up to $7,500 may be awarded in cases of bad faith denial of access to records. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, with provisions for agency rules to be updated by that date.

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