H-0154.1
HOUSE BILL 1055
State of Washington
69th Legislature
2025 Regular Session
By Representatives Abbarno, Low, Leavitt, Penner, Marshall, and Pollet
Prefiled 12/12/24. Read first time 01/13/25. Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Relations.
AN ACT Relating to enhancing access to public records through studying the efficacy of establishing the Washington office of transparency ombuds as an independent state agency; creating new sections; and providing an expiration date.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:
NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. It is the intent of the legislature to reaffirm its commitment to open, transparent, and accountable governance through commissioning a broad-based study on the establishment of the Washington office of transparency ombuds as a nonpartisan and independent agency. The legislature finds that residents of Washington have every right to know how their elected officials and government agencies come to critical decisions which impact their livelihoods so greatly. Barriers to accessing these records only act as a disservice to the public. The legislature further intends to build upon the foundation set by the voters through their adoption of Initiative Measure No. 276, also known as the public records act, by ensuring individuals have an independent advocate holding lawmakers and public agencies accountable as stewards of official public records.
NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the joint legislative audit and review committee, in coordination with the joint legislative committee on transparency established under section 3 of this act, a representative from the office of the attorney general who works in the area of open government, and the public records exemptions accountability committee created under RCW 42.56.140 , shall conduct a study on the efficacy of establishing the Washington office of transparency ombuds as an independent state agency to assist individuals with accessing public records.