Calif. Senate approves cost-limiting bill

The California Senate unanimously approved a bill to prevent judges from ordering plaintiffs to pay governments' legal costs in open records and meetings lawsuits, the AP reported. Newspaper publishers supported the effort.

The cost of fighting for access to public records and meetings would be limited under a bill approved by the Senate.

Sen. Leland Yee's bill would bar judges from ordering plaintiffs to pay governments' legal costs in open records and meetings lawsuits. Yee, a Democrat from San Francisco, says high costs have "a chilling effect" on such public interest lawsuits.

For instance, the nonprofit Center for Public Forum Rights near Sacramento paid $80,000 in government attorneys' costs last year after it sued Orange Unified School District for allegedly altering video of a public meeting.

More here.