H5405

Committee report recommends no action on initiative petition to improve public records access.

The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions reviewed Initiative Petition 25-14, House 5004, which seeks to improve access to public records by subjecting the Governor’s office and the Legislature to the public records law. The Committee heard testimony from experts, proponents, and opponents, and noted that the legislative process is already publicly accessible. The Committee concluded that the proposed changes raise significant constitutional concerns, particularly around legislative speech and debate protections, and could impose substantial administrative burdens on the state.