HB 1073 (2022)
Allow access to attorney-client records under the right-to-know law
Removes records protected under the attorney-client privilege and the attorney work product doctrine from the list of governmental records exempted under the right-to-know law.
The House amended the bill so that records protected under the attorney-client privilege and the attorney work product doctrine are still on the list of records exempt from the right to know law, but add the phrase "consistent with the public's right to know." According to Rep. Kurt Wuelper, writing on behalf of the House Judiciary committee, "The majority recognizes these privileges are very important for public bodies’ ability to function effectively, but also sees an inherent conflict between those privileges and the constitutional promise of transparency embodied in the public's right-to-know. We believe the addition of this phrase will provide guidance to the courts by establishing both the privilege and the conflict in the law."