Proposal would cap copy fees for Wyoming public records requests

Government entities would have to follow set maximum fees for copies and could not charge for most staff time spent preparing records. These rules would cover requests to state agencies, local governments, and other entities subject to Wyoming's Public Records Act. Electronic copies sent by email or download would have no copy fee; programming and computer services needed to construct electronic records could still be charged. An entity could charge $20 for electronic records on an entity-supplied storage device, 15 cents per paper page for up to 666 pages, and 5 cents for each additional page. Mail charges could include postage and shipping materials, up to comparable United States Postal Service rates. An entity could not split one related request solely to charge additional fees. These rules would apply to requests made on or after July 1, 2026, if the bill became law.

The ombudsman would be able to review denied records and issue orders directing a government entity to comply with the public records law. The review would concern records a government entity had denied access to. An order could require the release of records, waive or refund fees, or direct another action needed to ensure compliance. These provisions would apply to requests made on or after July 1, 2026, if the bill became law.

People could seek court enforcement in certain cases, and courts could impose penalties for violations of the public records law. These remedies would apply to people seeking to enforce the public records law against a governmental entity. A person affected by a missed mutually agreed release date or an unheeded ombudsman order could ask a court to compel compliance; a winning applicant would receive attorneys' fees and court costs. The text sets a penalty of up to $2,000 for knowing or intentional violations and $250 for each business day an entity disobeys a final court order, starting the first business day after its deadline. For bad faith, a court could award up to $7,500 in additional punitive damages. Listed examples include knowingly denying clearly public records, imposing unlawful fees to discourage requests, unjustified delays, or hiding or destroying records to prevent disclosure. These remedies would apply to requests made on or after July 1, 2026, if the bill became law. A daily penalty would begin the first business day after the court's compliance deadline.