Arizona and Utah Advance Public Records Bills

Efforts to change public records laws are underway in both Arizona and Utah, with varying approaches and controversies. In Arizona, Rep. Michael Carbone's bill aims to enhance transparency by mandating timely responses to public records requests and imposing fines for non-compliance, though critics argue it places an undue burden on small agencies. Meanwhile, Utah's legislature is considering SB 277, which proposes replacing the State Records Committee with a governor-appointed attorney, a move criticized for potentially reducing transparency and accountability. Additionally, Utah's HB 69, which alters the conditions under which citizens can recover attorneys' fees in public records disputes, is seen by critics as making it more difficult and expensive to access government documents. These legislative efforts reflect broader tensions between the need for government transparency and the challenges faced by agencies in managing records efficiently.