Computerworld: Oregon Bill Touts Open-Source Option

[ Thanks to Matt for this link. ]

"Frustrated by budget woes and incompatible IT systems among state agencies, an Oregon legislator has introduced a bill requiring the agencies to at least consider open-source software when making future IT purchases.

"The idea, said Democratic State Rep. Phil Barnhart, is to offer cheaper and more flexible options to government agencies through the use of open-source, standards-based software rather than proprietary applications.

"Barnhart said he introduced the Open Source Software for Oregon bill, officially known as House Bill 2892, in an effort to reduce costs and lessen the state's dependence on expensive and proprietary IT systems. The bill doesn't mandate that open-source alternatives be chosen. 'What it really does is say, Please think about it as you do your procurement,' Barnhart said in an interview with Computerworld..."

Complete Story

Related Stories:

• Mass High Tech: Great Wide Open (Source)(Mar 11, 2003)
• NewsForge: Oregon Considers Open Source Software Legislation(Mar 06, 2003)
• eWeek: Road to Open Source(Jan 07, 2003)