The Beehive State has had one of the most robust public records laws in the country but state lawmakers chipped away at access over the years.

A bill that would dismantle the citizen committee that decides disputes over the release of government records and replace it with an administrative law judge appointed by the governor narrowly won approval from a Utah Senate committee Tuesday.

Utah lawmakers passed a bill that raises the bar for citizens to win attorneys' fees when challenging a denied public records request — a move critics say will make government less transparent.

The legislation would replace the volunteer State Records Committee with a government appointee to decide whether government records are public or private.