State senators on Tuesday gave their first approval to legislation that open government advocates say threatens to roll back access to public records in Florida.
The bill (SB 80) would let judges decide whether or not to force government agencies to pay attorney fees when they illegally block access to records. Current law requires that agencies pay for the lawyers of members of the public who successfully sue them over records.
Senators on the Government Oversight and Accountability Committee approved the bill on a 4-3 party line vote Tuesday morning with Republicans in favor and Democrats opposed.