Utah Legislature Embraces Voluntary Open Email Policy

Utah lawmakers are taking a proactive approach to government transparency by opening their e-mail accounts to the public. The state will launch an online repository in January that will house legislator correspondence on the Utah Legislature’s website, giving citizens a closer look at the daily communications of their elected officials.

The increased access was authorized by legislation signed by Gov Gary Herbert (R-UT) in March 2013.The Utah Legislature joins a small but growing list of governments expanding access to email and other forms of electronic communication. Orange County (FL) implemented a data retention and tracking system earlier in 2013 designed to capture text messages and digital communications from the mobile devices of elected officials’ and county employees. Texas enacted two separate laws that provide further transparency to state and local level officials’ communications.

(Nov 22)