Bill > HB1260

This bill establishes a state policy for open data, meaning that government information should be machine-readable and easily accessible to the public, often through online portals. To oversee this, it creates a Council on Open Data, comprised of various state secretaries and officials, along with representatives from local entities and the private sector. This Council will be responsible for developing guidance and recommendations to promote the open data policy, including best practices for data sharing, coordinating data efforts across state agencies, advising on funding for open data initiatives, and encouraging local governments and other branches of government to adopt similar open data practices. The bill also mandates that when state entities purchase new data processing devices or systems, they must consider compatibility with the open data policy and existing technology, and it sets a deadline for the Council to establish purchasing guidelines for such procurements.