All too often, it seems as though I am attacking Republicans for the sake of attacking Republicans on the “Bills to Watch” series – but I am not above giving credit where credit is do. Indeed, Representative Christopher Herrod’s (R – Provo – District 62) HB 278 – Government Records Access and Management Amendments is one of those good bills that never seem to get enough credit.

This bill would allow the transmission of government records to be distributed to individuals through electronic means if the requester wishes to receive the information electronically and if the information exists in an electronic format.

In short, this bill would allow people greater access to how their government works.  Furthermore, the bill would reduce paper usage and make it much easier to search the mounds of information that can come along with making government records request.  Finally, this bill would reduce government costs as fewer resources would need to be used to do the peoples business.

I am glad to see that there are efforts being made to make government more available and bills like this should be encouraged.

Click here to send Representative Herrod a piece of electronic mail.