Gov. Holcomb's veto blocks public records search fee bill

“Providing access to public records is a key part of the work public servants perform and is important from a government transparency standpoint. I do not support policies that create burdensome obstacles to the public gaining access to public documents,” Holcomb’s letter read.

House Bill 1523, authored by Rep. Kathy Richardson, R-Noblesville, would have allowed state and local government agencies to charge the lesser of $20 per hour or the hourly wage of the employee completing the search, after the first two hours of free search.

Holcomb did however express his support for the bill’s provision requiring public agencies to provide electronic copies of public records in electronic format (such as emails) if requested.

Former Gov. Mike Pence vetoed a similar measure two years ago, saying, “The cost of public records should never be a barrier to the public’s right to know.”