The Joint Committee on Ways and Means approved the budget for the Office of the Public Records Advocate and recommended the bill be reported out due pass as amended.

Representative Smith presented Senate Bill 5535, the budget bill for the Office of the Public Records Advocate. The office provides education, training, assistance and dispute resolution services under Oregon public records law. The legislature established the office in 2017 under the Department of Administrative Services and required it to be independent in 2021; the 2025–27 biennium request is the second submitted as an independent agency.

The general government subcommittee approved a budget of $1,172,941 other funds and two positions (2.0 FTE). The recommendation reflects current service level funding with newly established key performance measures and targets. The committee recorded no objections during the work session and accepted the subcommittee recommendation.

Why it matters: the office is intended to promote government transparency and assist both requesters and public bodies in applying Oregon public records law; the independent agency status and dedicated staffing provide continuity and a single point of contact for public records issues statewide.

The committee closed the work session and moved on to agency reports.