Tennessee to get better public records law
Tennessee will have a stronger open records law, including setting a seven-day time limit to respond to a public records request and creation of a records ombudsman office. The bill, which awaits signing by the governor, improves access in Tennessee, according to Frank Gibson, executive director of the Tennessee Coalition for Open Government (see story and summary by the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press). Pennsylvania also underwent major improvements in its public records law. It's been a good year nationally, more or less, compared to the past 10 years, with more laws opening government instead of fostering secrecy.