OLYMPIA, WA – Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown has announced the creation of a new Public Records and Open Government Unit within his office to strengthen transparency and improve access to government information.

The new unit will be led by the state’s first Chief Transparency Counsel, a position designed to modernize public records and retention processes, enhance staff training, and develop new approaches to managing requests. According to the Attorney General’s Office, the unit will consolidate more than ten existing employees who currently handle public records, constituent services, and related functions under a single organizational structure.

“Transparency is a key part of the work we do every day to protect and support Washingtonians,” Brown said. “At a time of widespread mistrust in government, public access is as crucial as ever to let the public see our work for themselves.”

Public records requests to the Attorney General’s Office have doubled over the past decade, from 528 in 2014 to 1,032 in 2024. The new unit will explore strategies to manage this growth, improve response times, and increase efficiency in processing requests. The Chief Transparency Counsel will also provide agencywide training and guidance to ensure consistent implementation of updated procedures.

In addition to forming the new unit, the Attorney General’s Office has proposed revisions to the model rules guiding government responses to Public Records Act requests. A public hearing on these amendments is scheduled for Thursday from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the John A. Cherberg Building in Olympia, with both in-person and online participation options available.

Applications for the Chief Transparency Counsel position close today, and the Attorney General’s Office expects to select a candidate by the end of the year. Brown described the effort as a step toward improving the public’s understanding of state government operations.

For more information, visit the Attorney General’s website at www.atg.wa.gov.