Advocates, lawmakers outline changes to strengthen, clarify Rhode Island’s open records law

This article originally appeared in the Rhode Island Current on February 8, 2024 and was written by Nancy Lavin.  

“Public records aren’t public if the public can’t access them,” said John Marion, executive director for Common Cause Rhode Island, speaking at an event at the State House on Thursday.

Indeed, while the Access to Public Records Act (APRA) has been on the state’s books since 1978, with substantial changes in 2012, journalists, residents and community groups too often find themselves getting shot down, or overcharged, on requests for public information.

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