From: "Jim O'Donnell" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Fri, 8 Mar 2024 20:04:08 -0700

The Senate finally passed the "minibus" this evening, still, to the best of
my knowledge, uncluttered by the provision that would have outright
forbidden funding for Nelson memo-inspired steps towards open access.  The
situation is, however, slightly more complicated than my earlier posting
made clear.

There is clearly some skepticism directed towards the cost of full
implementation, so the requirement that OSTP report within three months on
the anticipated costs of implementation still stands. Absent such a report,
funding for implementation would be forbidden, but the obvious implication
is that a report compliant with this requirement will be scrutinized and,
should the numbers be as high as some expect, made the occasion for further
debate and potential restriction on the policy.

What is not clear to me is whether the report requirement comes from the
same skeptics as the outright ban or a different/overlapping community.

Jim O'Donnell
ASU