IDOG

Idaho’s open-meeting law would be revised for the first time in 17 years, under a measure backed by Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden and media groups.

Supporters said the bill will make the 35-year-old law clearer for public officials to understand while strengthening the safeguards against violations. It passed the Senate unanimously last week and is expected to receive a hearing soon in the House State Affairs Committee.

From the Twin Falls Times-News

BOISE, Idaho (AP) – The Idaho Senate has passed a bill to toughen the state’s open meeting laws.

Boise Republican Sen. Kurt McKenzie said Thursday the bill will be easier to understand and will have punishments that can be enforced. The bill, SB 1142, was approved unanimously. It now goes to the House.

From the Associated Press

This is Sunshine Week across America. It began in 2002 as an effort by the Florida Society of Newspaper Editors to draw attention to state legislators’ attempts to create exemptions to Florida’s public records law.

It’s really great to see local government providing so much easily accessible light on records these days. Nampa city and now Canyon County are opening up their financial records to the Idaho Freedom Foundation and the public. Read the details here.

From the Idaho Press-Tribune

Earlier this week, I wrote about Idaho’s lackluster efforts in making public records available online. I researched the issue on behalf of Sunshine Week, a national organization that spotlights the value of public access to government records. Idaho wound up tied for No. 40 in a national ranking of online records access.

Now to a double serving of good news from Monday’s Senate State Affairs Committee meeting. The committee introduced a bill that would require elected officials to file financial disclosure reports, and approved a bill to put some teeth into the open meetings law.

From the Idaho Statesman

We’re No. 40. When it comes to online access to public records, we could do better.

Editorial from the Idaho Statesman

On his first day in office, President Barack Obama directed his Administration to develop recommendations for an “Open Government Directive” that moves government towards being “transparent,” “participatory” and “collaborative.”