The bill amends the Freedom of Information Act of 1967 to enhance definitions and introduce new public records exemptions. It adds several definitions, including "governmental agency," "public appointee," "public employee," "public official," and "public servant," to clarify the roles and responsibilities of individuals and entities involved in public governance. Additionally, the bill specifies new exemptions for public records, such as communications between public servants and legal counsel, records prepared in anticipation of litigation, and deliberative process records that contain opinions or policy formulations. It also includes provisions for proprietary data related to research conducted by governmental agencies or institutions of higher education.

Furthermore, the bill revises requirements for custodians processing public records requests, extending the timeframe for making records available from three to ten working days. It allows custodians to charge for personnel time exceeding eight hours for fulfilling requests and mandates that they provide written notice of any delays in retrieving records. The bill also updates the conditions under which executive sessions may be held, specifically allowing discussions related to cybersecurity matters. Overall, these amendments aim to balance transparency with the need to protect sensitive information and streamline the process for accessing public records.

Statutes affected:
HB 1726: 25-19-103, 25-19-105(b), 25-19-105(d), 25-19-105(e), 25-19-106(c)