THUMBS UP to Wilson County’s state senator for lending his support to a crucial open government reform effort.
Sen. Buck Newton, R-Wilson, has signed on as a primary sponsor of Sen. Norman Sanderson’s Government Transparency Act of 2025. Sanderson, R-Pamlico, filed the eight-page piece of legislation as Senate Bill 299 on Monday. Like previous versions of the Government Transparency Act, SB 299 would open state and local government employee performance reviews to taxpayer scrutiny and require agencies to provide a general description of the reasons behind demotions, suspensions, transfers and terminations.
The North Carolina Press Association supports the bill because our state is an outlier when it comes to government secrecy. A leader in national rankings for business climate, economic outlook and population growth from in-migration, North Carolina brings up the rear for public records access. Forty-five other states disclose basic accountability data for government employees upon request.
“This measure takes a modest step toward allowing public access to government employee disciplinary records at the state and local levels,” NCPA legislative counsel John Bussian writes in a guest column. “Against the backdrop of national ‘Sunshine Week,’ Sanderson’s bill tries to lift North Carolina from the bottom five open government states and move it to the top.”
“Sunshine” is public policy shorthand for open government, a nod to Justice Louis Brandeis’ observation that sunlight is often the best disinfectant. A nationwide campaign to advocate for transparency and public access, Sunshine Week began Sunday and continues through Saturday this year.
Newton’s seniority in the Senate and influence on the flow of legislation as a Judiciary Committee chair make his support for SB 299 all the more valuable. Whatever outcome the legislation meets, we’re proud to report that your voice in the General Assembly’s upper chamber has sided decisively with your right to know.
Should SB 299 advance to the House, we hope Rep. Dante Pittman, D-Wilson, will join his Senate counterpart in standing up for open government.