This bill could give Californians an ally on public record requests

By Sameea Kamal, September 12, 2023

A bipartisan bill would create a state ombudsperson to intervene when public records requests are denied. But an advocacy group is concerned that it will encourage state agencies to go to court.

While his previous bills failed, Assembly Bill 469 has passed unanimously through committees and the full Assembly. It has a Democratic co-author, Assemblymember Buffy Wicks of Oakland.

At least 18 other states have a similar office or process to resolve public records disputes, according to the Reporter’s Committee for Freedom of the Press.