{"id":2166,"date":"2026-06-22T17:08:27","date_gmt":"2026-06-22T17:08:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hometransferguide.com\/?p=2166"},"modified":"2026-06-22T17:08:27","modified_gmt":"2026-06-22T17:08:27","slug":"california-democrat-pushes-bill-increasing-cost-for-government-records-requests","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hometransferguide.com\/?p=2166","title":{"rendered":"California Democrat Pushes Bill Increasing Cost For Government Records Requests"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A California State Assembly bill has been amended to increase the difficulty and burden for Californians seeking government records.<\/p>\n

Read more The One Cost Voters Keep Thinking About<\/a><\/p>\n

Democrat California Assemblywoman Blanca Pacheco amended CA AB 1821, named the California Public Records Act on June 10 to allow public agencies to delay and increase charges for \u201ccommercial use\u201d records requests. The bill, first introduced in February, was amended to require a $22.35-per-hour administrative fee and a $66.26-per-hour professional fee to be used as compensation for record searches determined to be for \u201ccommercial use.\u201d Both fees can also increase by \u201ca cost-of-living adjustment.\u201d Supporters have defended it as a necessary change for local governments while critics have argued it creates an unprecedented burden for residents to secure transparency. (RELATED: SCOOP: Blue State Democrat Voted For Own Union\u2019s Agenda)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The amended bill also allows an agency to petition the superior court for a determination of whether a records request was submitted with \u201cmalicious intent,\u201d such as an attempt to delay the agency, thus suspending the agency\u2019s duty to respond to the request while awaiting the court\u2019s ruling. If malicious intent is proven, the agency could still impose fees to cover the search and review, in addition to \u201cother applicable fees.\u201d<\/p>\n

The legislation notes that current California law requires that state or local agencies promptly answer reasonable records requests while charging for the copying costs as well as applicable statutory fees. California agencies typically charge between 10 cents and $1\u00a0per page.<\/p>\n

Pacheco told CalMatters that she hopes the changes would curb bad actors while not slowing down legitimate requests. \u201cTransparency is important to me,\u201d Pacheco said. \u201cWe just want it to run efficiently, and these are just minor amendments or minor tweaks to the Public Records Act.\u201d<\/p>\n

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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA \u2013 OCTOBER 14: Assembly Member Blanca Pacheco speaks on stage at the Los Angeles Equality Awards at The Westin Bonaventure Rooftop on October 14, 2023 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rich Polk\/Getty Images for Equality California)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Along with Pacheco, the latest adjustments were reportedly co-written by the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties, according to CalMatters.<\/p>\n

An attorney representing the League of California Cities, Donald Larkin, allegd that someone had requested emails from California Bay Area city officials to train an AI model to market to local governments in 2023.<\/p>\n

The CEO of the California State Association of Counties, Graham Knaus, also alleged that a Fresno prankster had once requested five years of 911 operator calls only to not reach out again.<\/p>\n

Read more Trump Admin Threatens To Pull Critical Federal Funds Unless States Adopt Election Integrity Measures<\/a><\/p>\n

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\u201cTaxpayers should not be forced to bear the cost of an AI business model or those that are attempting to overwhelm public agencies just for fun,\u201d Knaus told CalMatters.<\/p>\n