H4638
An Act relative to the free flow of information
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- Passed House
- Passed Senate
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Bill overview
This bill, An Act relative to the free flow of information, aims to ensure transparency and access to information held by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. It seeks to clarify and expand the scope of information that must be readily available to the public, promoting accountability and informed decision-making. The bill addresses potential limitations on public access to government records and data. It is currently under consideration by the House Ways and Means Committee.
Key provisions
- Expands the definition of ‘information’ subject to public access.
- Addresses limitations on the release of government data.
- Clarifies procedures for requesting and obtaining public records.
- Establishes guidelines for redaction of sensitive information.
- Requires agencies to proactively disclose certain information.
Who is affected
- The general public
- State government agencies
- The Massachusetts Legislature
- The Executive Branch
- Massachusetts residents
Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
Primary sponsor
Joint Committee on the Judiciary
Cosponsors
Adrianne Pusateri Ramos
James B. Eldridge
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Bill H.4638 194th (Current)
An Act relative to the free flow of information
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Bill Information
Bill Information
Sponsor: Joint Committee on the Judiciary Status: Referred to House Committee on Ways and Means
Tabs
Bill History Cosponsors Committee Vote Committee Summary
Bill History
Displaying 3 actions for Bill H.4638
| Date | Branch | Action |
| 10/23/2025 | House | Reported from the committee on The Judiciary |
| 10/23/2025 | House | New draft of H1738 |
| 10/23/2025 | House | Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on House Ways and Means |
Similar Bills
H.1738 194th (Current)
An Act relative to the free flow of information
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