NC H685

Expands public access to government personnel records by requiring state agencies, schools, counties, cities, and community colleges to disclose employee performance records, reasons for personnel actions (promotions, demotions, suspensions, dismissals), and employment contract terms.

Requires all closed sessions of public body meetings to be recorded in their entirety by audio or video and preserved until lawful confidentiality reasons no longer apply.

Allows prevailing parties in public records disputes to recover reasonable attorneys' fees from government agencies; permits courts to assess fees against individual public officials who knowingly or intentionally violated disclosure laws.

Creates the Open Government Unit within the Department of Justice to provide public education, mediate disputes, maintain resource collections on public records laws, and annually report recommendations to the General Assembly on improving access to government information.

Establishes individual civil liability for public officers who refuse to disclose public records without good cause, allowing courts to assess daily penalties up to $50 per day of noncompliance.