The state House passed a major rewrite of the state's sunshine laws Monday that could affect public and media access to meetings and government records.

Attorney General Sam Olens pushed House Bill 397, which would increase penalties for those who break the state's sunshine laws and make it easier to obtain civil sanctions against open records or meetings violators.

It would also add protection to governments against harassing requests for records and impose some new costs on obtaining records. Governments also would have the right to vote in closed sessions on settlements of suits, though once a settlement is affirmed, the government would have to vote for its acceptance in open session.

The bill now goes to the Senate for consideration.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Election signs for Marqus Cole and Akbar Ali are shown outside of a voting precinct at the Praise Community Church in Lawrenceville, during the state house runoff in District 106, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Jason Getz/AJC)

Credit: Jason Getz/AJC

Featured

Austin Walters died from an overdose in 2021 after taking a Xanax pill laced with fentanyl, his father said. A new law named after Austin and aimed at preventing deaths from fentanyl has resulted in its first convictions in Georgia, prosecutors said. (Family photo)

Credit: Family photo