Bill could quicken handover of public data in MN

The quest for public information may soon take less time in Minnesota.

A House Committee on Wednesday approved a bill that would cut the time it can take for citizens and journalists to get public information from the government.

The bill would shift disputes over whether data is public from district courts to a state agency. The agency would have to rule on a request within a few months.

Rep. Gene Pelowski of Winona sponsors the bill. Pelowski says the change would remove time-and-money obstacles that have kept some people from pursuing data in the past.