Both houses of the New Jersey Legislature today passed a bill that changes the state’s Open Public Records Act to make it more difficult for the public to access government records — and to place an obstacle for data miners. Gov. Phil Murphy will now decide whether to sign the bill.
The Senate passed the bill by 21-10 votes, and the Assembly approved the measure, 42-27.
Democrats did not have the votes on their own, gaining three Republican votes in the Senate and seven in the Assembly to make it over the top.
Two Assembly Democrats who initially voted yes, Dave Bailey, Jr. (D-Woodstown) and Rosy Bagolie (D-Livingston), wound up voting no. That allowed the Assembly to pass the bill with one vote to spare.
Democratic Assemblymembers in the 3rd, 8th, 14th, and 16th districts avoided a yes vote.
