HB 4310 – Enhances government transparency

HB 4310 strengthens transparency and oversight by allowing local and state board members to directly access public records relevant to their duties. It ensures these officials can see necessary documents, even if classified as confidential, so long as appropriate safeguards like confidentiality agreements are in place. By empowering elected and appointed officials with information access, the bill helps limit bureaucratic gatekeeping and reduces the likelihood of uninformed or rubber-stamp governance. It also streamlines the process by removing financial barriers—members don’t have to pay for copies or redacted documents. The bill prevents misuse of confidentiality claims to hide government activity. This legislation supports government accountability from within and aligns with principles of open governance without creating new bureaucracies or burdensome costs. For these reasons, TFR supports HB 4310.