H.F. No. 5478 Summary

• Establishes a new fee waiver process for public data requests, allowing state agencies to waive fees when data concerns government operations and is likely to increase public understanding of government without primarily serving commercial interests.

• Creates a state electronic document repository requiring the chief information officer to develop and maintain a centralized system for permits, task force documents, rulemaking records, and public health testing data, searchable by agency, date, keyword, and permit or rulemaking number.

• Sets timelines for repository document availability: existing documents without confidential data within 18 months; existing documents with confidential data within 4 years; new documents without confidential data within 1 month; and new documents with confidential data within 3 months of creation.

• Requires state agencies to digitize and retain all correspondence for at least 20 years from creation or receipt, with expanded definition of "correspondence" to include written and electronic communications, meeting materials, and presentations documenting agency business and decisions.

• Appropriates unspecified funding from the general fund in fiscal year 2025 to the chief information officer for creating the state electronic document repository.