Kentucky lawmakers advanced a bill Wednesday that would ensure public officials’ personal emails and texts about their official business are off limits under the state’s Open Records Act.

The lead sponsor of the GOP-backed legislation says there won't be any changes to what documents citizens can now get under the state's right-to-know statute. 

The unanimous ruling allows indigent people who were convicted of traffic, misdemeanor and some non-violent felony cases to have them cleaned from their record without paying a $50 filing fee and $250 expungement cost.

An attorney for WDRB argues the public has a right to know what's happening in the high-profile case.

Critics say Senate Bill 48, which now heads to Gov. Andy Beshear’s desk, will create untold problems for public agencies that could have to strike details related to police officers, judges and prosecutors from public documents.

Gov. Andy Beshear had vetoed House Bill 312, a measure he said 'defeats the entire purpose of the Kentucky Open Records Act.'

Indiana Public Access Counselor Luke Britt found that an ‘unobtrusive microphone can be placed near, or even on, a council table during a public meeting because it constitutes the reasonable use of a recognized means of recording.’

A Senate bill wasn't voted on Thursday, but a measure that critics say harms public access to records is awaiting a House vote.