The Vermont House has advanced a bill making it easier for someone denied access to public records who sues and wins to collect attorneys’ fees.
The bill won preliminary approval Wednesday on a 134-5 vote, and sets up a new panel to study more than 200 exemptions from the public records law to determine if some of them can be scrapped.
Supporters of the bill say it will promote transparency both in state and local government agencies. Opponents argued it would make it too easy to harass government entities and officials that make decisions when someone is dissatisfied.
The measure comes up for final House action today.