The Public Records Exemptions Accountability Committee (sometimes called the Sunshine Committee) could get some added flexibility with a new bill scheduled for a hearing this week.

SB 5049, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Wilson (R–Longview), clarifies that the Sunshine committee must meet at least 4 times a year instead of once per calendar quarter. It also clarifies that committee members are subject to public service ethics laws.

A similar bill in 2024 would have made similar changes to the Sunshine Committee, in an effort to make it easier for legislative members of the committee to attend meetings and for committee meetings to have a quorum, a problem in recent years. In 2024, controversy was generated by some members of the Sunshine Committee as they resigned in protest of inaction on some of the committee’s recommendations.

The Sunshine Committee was created in 2007 and is tasked with periodically reviewing the over 600 exemptions that are now part of the Public Records Act. After review, the committee makes recommendations to the legislature as to which exemptions should be repealed or amended. Members of the committee are selected by the Governor, Attorney General, State Auditor, President of the Senate, and Speaker of the House for four-year terms.

Dates to remember

SB 5049 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate State Government, Tribal Affairs, & Elections Committee on January 24 at 10:30 am.