From NBC Bay Area:
California could become the first state in the nation to require that public agencies provide their records in searchable formats, such as Excel or Word.A bill making its way through the Legislature would establish an open data standard, requiring agencies to buy software that offers data in searchable formats when replacing existing technology. Agencies would also have to use these formats when posting data online or responding to requests for public records.Currently, many agencies provide information in image files that are not searchable even though they also store that data in more easily searchable formats.