Des Moines, Iowa — A state law that goes into effect July 1st sets new parameters for what government agencies and officials may charge for access to public records.
Senator Waylon Brown of Osage says the bill sets a reasonable standard of what the custodians of public records are to charge for copies.
Representative Mary Mascher of Iowa City says it’s a consumer protection law.
Representative Megan Jones of Sioux Rapids says the law strikes a balance between state and local governments and the requesters of public records, but it’s also an important check on some corporations that go on data mining expeditions through public records.
The Iowa Broadcasters Association and the Iowa Newspaper Association registered in favor of the proposal. The bill passed the Senate unanimously in February and cleared the House on a 93-to-zero vote in March. The governor approved it this week.
