Utah House Democrats Condemn the Passage of H.B. 69 Government Records and Information Amendments.

For Immediate Release:

February 19, 2025

Contacts:

Aldo Ramirez

Utah House Democratic Caucus

801-597-2946 | aramirez@le.utah.gov

Utah House Democrats Condemn the Passage of H.B. 69 Government Records and Information Amendments

SALT LAKE CITY - The Utah House Democratic Caucus released the following statement on H.B. 69 Government Records and Information Amendments:

“The Utah House Democrats condemn the passage of H.B. 69 Government Records and Information Amendments, a bill that obstructs and weakens the public's ability to hold their government accountable by making it harder for Utahns to access public records.

Under H.B. 69, government entities would no longer have to pay legal fees when they lose open records cases unless they acted in "bad faith," a nearly impossible standard to prove. This means individuals and journalists seeking public information would have to take on costly legal battles with little hope of recovering expenses, even when they’re in the right. Over the years, transparency lawsuits have uncovered critical information about government spending, law enforcement actions, and public officials' conduct. This bill would discourage those efforts, making it easier for important information to remain hidden without opportunity to surface.

Government transparency is a fundamental right and any law affecting it should be carefully considered, not rushed through the legislative process. We will continue to fight and uphold the public’s right to access information without unnecessary obstacles.”

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