NC Open Government

From the Raleigh News and Observer (5/4/09): A bill that would make it easier for people to collect attorneys' fees if they won public records lawsuits has cleared a key House committee intact.

From the Morganton News-Herald (4/30/09): City and county government officials, including their chief law enforcers, had to strong-arm school board Chair Tracy Norman into moving Monday's board of education meeting to a larger site and allowing almost unlimited public comments.

From the Charlotte Observer: Gov. Bev Perdue has sent a letter to appointees on state boards and commissions reminding them that they must comply with the Open Meetings Law.

From the Charlotte Observer (4/30/09): A state House committee cleared legislation Thursday that would improve the odds that people illegally denied requests for public documents could get their legal fees paid by the offending government agency.

Below, find five bills regarding open government, open meetings and public records that are before the North Carolina State Legislature.

From the Raleigh News & Observer (4/12/09): The N.C. Bowhunters Association and members of the state Wildlife Resources Commission have been in a feud about access to meetings.

From (Greensboro) Rhinotimes.com (4/10/09): One member of the Guilford County Board of Education this week said the school board has fallen into a pattern of dealing with important issues facing Guilford County Schools in secret since School Superintendent Mo Green started work full time in September 2008.

From the Asheville Citizen-Times (4/9/09): A bill introduced in the North Carolina House would represent, if it passes, a big step toward more open government.

From the Greensboro News and Record (4/7/09): A government agency that illegally withheld public records or documents would have to award reasonable legal fees under a bill introduced in the state House.

From the Charlotte Observer (4/5/09): Whenever the question of public records arises, Charlotte city officials bring up Jay Morrison.