Colorado Governor Jared Polis vetoed a bill on Thursday that would increase costs for open records requests for anyone not in the media and give agencies more time to respond. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Cathy Kipp, sought to extend response times and increase fees for requests. Critics, including media organizations, have slammed the bill, saying it limits transparency.
If lawmakers attempt to override the governor’s veto, it would be the first time in his seven-year tenure. The House and Senate both had enough votes to potentially override the veto, but it remains to be seen if they will try.
Polis stated in his veto letter that the bill would create different classes of open records requests based on who is making the request, putting too much power in the hands of records custodians. He emphasized his support for openness and transparency in government, despite signing other measures that critics say have weakened open records laws in the state.
In recent years, Polis has signed legislation that limits open records and open meetings laws, including exemptions for college athletes and the General Assembly. Despite his concerns, Polis signed these bills but emphasized the need for transparency to be addressed in future legislative sessions. Overall, Polis remains committed to promoting openness and transparency in Colorado’s government.
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