TESTIMONY TO THE HOUSE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

SB 644 State Government - Open Data Policy - Council on Open Data

POSITION: Support

BY:  Susan Cochran, President

DATE: March 26, 2014

Members of the League of Women Voters nationwide believe that democratic government depends upon an informed citizenry and that governmental bodies must protect that right by making public records accessible.  This legislation is an important step in assuring that citizens have available the information necessary to become, and remain, informed on the actions of their government and that this information is available in an accessible format.  

We urge the committee to issue a favorable report and are looking forward to approval of this legislation by both houses of the General Assembly and by the Governor.  These actions will assure that open data is the policy of all Maryland governing bodies.