House Closes Loopholes in S.C. Public Records Law

Legislation closing loopholes in South Carolina's open records law is poised to become law, but without a key provision that would have enabled the public to get data from obstinate government agencies without hiring a lawyer.

The Senate on Thursday approved a bill designed to strengthen the public's access to government records after stripping out a section creating a hearing officer to quickly and cheaply settle disputes.

Walterboro Democratic Sen. Margie Bright Matthews insisted on the change, saying she opposed the new division's estimated $140,000 cost.

The bill's House co-sponsors say they're disappointed but urged their colleagues to accept the changes rather than risk it dying again. Reps. Weston Newton and Bill Taylor say the bill still represents progress.

An 89-0 House vote sent the bill to Gov. Henry McMaster.