New Nebraska law will expand public records access for Nebraskans

Nebraska residents should have easier access to public records under a bill that, in effect, overrules a recent Nebraska Supreme Court decision allowing the state to charge high amounts for retrieving public records.

Gov. Jim Pillen signed Legislative Bill 43, adopting the First Freedom Act and new public record provisions, on Wednesday, March 27, after it unanimously passed in the Legislature, 39-0. The bill went into immediate effect due to an emergency clause.

The emergency clause was added to an amendment inspired by Lincoln Sen. Danielle Conrad earlier this legislative session. The bill w...