Senate Update

In January, several historic open records reforms went into effect that will expand the public’s access to information on how their tax dollars are being spent. Government operates best when it meets the highest level of accountability and transparency, and I was proud to work with my colleagues in the General Assembly to bring an unprecedented level of access to state and local government information. 

The most important reform makes all state government records available to the public unless they fall under a few narrow exceptions (such as documents that include an individual’s Social Security number or medical history, or information that would affect a pending criminal investigation). In the past, individuals who were denied a record request had to prove that they should have access to the record. Under the new law, the burden to prove that a document should be exempt from a record request falls on the state, rather than the individual. 

The new law also expands the types of records that are available to the public. Under the new law, records would be made available from all levels of state government, including the Legislature, the judicial branch, the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA), and all state agencies. Last month, the state also established the Open Records Clearinghouse, an agency that will serve as the first point of appeal for citizens if a records request is denied.  

The new open records law is one of the strongest in the nation, and I am proud that we are now able to provide the public with more information on the operations of state government. Pennsylvanians have a right to know how their tax dollars are being spent, and this new law will provide citizens with greater confidence in their state government. As Chairman of the Senate State Government Committee, I will continue to work in the coming weeks and months to ensure that state government operates in the best interests of its citizens.