HB 173: Increasing Government Accountability

This bill passed its first committee but did not receive a vote by the full legislature. Review our tracker for more information.

Are you ready to hold government entities accountable for their actions without breaking the bank? 

House Bill 173, sponsored by Representative Kera Birkeland, could help you do just that.

The bill permits a private individual or organization that successfully pursues a legal claim against a government entity, to recover the costs of their legal representation and expert fees.

If passed, this bill would help to level the playing field between individuals and government entities. Currently, private parties may be discouraged from taking legal action against the government because of the associated high costs. By allowing for the potential recovery of attorney and expert fees, this bill would make it more financially viable for private parties to pursue legal action against the government. As a result, it would help to ensure that government officials and entities are held accountable for their actions.

Support should be given to this bill as it aims to protect individual rights and to ensure that government officials and entities are held to the same standards as private parties. By making it more feasible for private parties to pursue legal action against the government, this bill will encourage greater scrutiny of government actions.