The Vermont House is poised to take up legislation updating the state’s public records law.
The bill, scheduled for debate on Tuesday, contains a key provision sought by open-records advocates. Current law says judges have the option of awarding attorneys’ fees to someone who is denied access to records, goes to court and wins. The bill before the House would require judges to do that, with one exception.
The exception would come if a lawyer for the public agency trying to deny access to records relented within 10 days of his or her first appearance in court on the case.