McKell’s decision to leave the balancing test in the law did little to blunt the public opposition. Eighteen members of the public testified in opposition to the bill. Just one, a representative from the Utah League of Cities and Towns, supported it.

A bill proposed by Senator Mike McKell would change the way that public records requests are handled in the state of Utah.

The legislation would replace the volunteer State Records Committee with a government appointee to decide whether government records are public or private.

Senate Bill 277, sponsored by Sen. Mike McKell, would undermine government transparency and accountability by disbanding the state records committee, giving the committee's job of adjudicating records disputes to a lawyer appointed by the governor,