Wyoming Lawmakers Debate How Open Public Records Should Be

Transparency was the hot topic at the Capitol this week, as Wyoming lawmakers and residents clashed over how quickly — and how broadly — public records should be released.

On Thursday, the Legislature’s Joint Corporations, Elections and Political Subdivisions Committee spent more than four hours listening to testimony from people across the state. The message from residents: Wyoming’s open records laws aren’t strong enough. The pushback from local officials: tighter rules could swamp small governments with paperwork they can’t keep up with.

Jackson resident Sandy Ress told lawmakers the state’s public records and meetings laws are “too skeletal” to be effective. Ress, who sued St. John’s Health’s board last year over alleged closed-door business, said both acts need far more detail so officials clearly understand what is — and isn’t — allowed.

Others echoed his frustration. But local government leaders pointed out that many offices already turn requests around before the current 30-day deadline. Cheyenne Mayor Patrick Collins said his city clerk has processed more than 2,000 records requests this year, and now spends a quarter of her job on nothing but paperwork.

One bill draft under discussion would speed things up even more: requiring agencies to acknowledge requests within three days and hand over documents in just 10, unless they get an extension from the state’s public records ombudsman. It would also standardize fees and impose tougher penalties for late responses.

Collins wasn’t optimistic.

“Honestly, that’s just asking for failure,” he said. “We can’t handle that volume in 10 days. We’re going to have to rush, and I’m not sure we’ll do as good a job.”

A second draft, which didn’t survive the meeting, would have forced government associations — groups made up of elected officials — to open their budgets and lobbying positions to the public. Supporters said taxpayers deserve to see how those associations spend money and influence legislation.

“These associations are invisible and unaccountable,” argued Rep. Marlene Brady, R-Green River, who blasted the Western Governors Association for backing renewable energy policies she says hurt Wyoming.

The committee left with one bill still alive — the one tightening deadlines — ensuring the debate over how transparent Wyoming should be is far from over.

The original story by Jasmine Hall for the Jackson Hole News&Guide.