RALEIGH, N.C. – A North Carolina House committee has cleared legislation that would allow people who are illegally denied requests for public documents to get their legal fees paid by the offending government agency.

The House judiciary committee on Thursday unanimously approved a bill that in most cases would eliminate the discretion of judges whether or not to award the legal fees. Government agencies could avoid payouts if they relied on an appeals court ruling or advice from the attorney general’s office that was later overturned.

Lobbyists for two local government associations said their trade groups opposed the measure. They said attorneys working for local governments also ought to be authoritative sources of legal opinions.