Colorado Lawmakers Abandon Veto Override of Public Records Bill

Colorado lawmakers have abandoned efforts to override Gov. Jared Polis' veto of Senate Bill 77, which would have extended response times for public records requests and set different timelines depending on the requester, including special provisions for journalists. The bill faced strong opposition from transparency advocates, who argued it would significantly reduce government transparency by creating delays and potentially allowing governments to decide who qualifies as a journalist. Governor Polis, in his veto, emphasized the importance of maintaining and increasing openness, stating the measure would weaken the Colorado Open Records Act. Sponsors of the bill acknowledged the concerns raised and indicated they will work with critics over the summer to craft a new proposal for the next legislative session. The failed override attempt highlights the difficulty of achieving a two-thirds majority and the political sensitivity of transparency and access to public information. As a result, current open records timelines and procedures remain unchanged for now.