Public Records Laws
54 articles
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Alabama Public Records Law: Requests, Deadlines, and Denials
How Alabama public records requests work after Act 2024-278: the resident-only rule, the 10-day acknowledgment, the 15-business-day response, fees, and appeals.
Alaska Public Records Act: How to Request Records and Appeal a Denial
The Alaska Public Records Act explained: any person may request, executive-branch state agencies get 10 working days under 2 AAC 96.325, plus fees and appeals.
Arizona Public Records Law: Requests, Fees, and Special Actions
Arizona public records requests explained: any person may request, the promptness and deemed-denial rules in A.R.S. 39-121.01, fees, and court remedies.
Arkansas Freedom of Information Act: Deadlines, Fees, and Appeals
The Arkansas FOIA explained: the resident-only rule, immediate production as the default, actual-cost fees, a real fee waiver, and the 7-day court hearing.
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California Public Records Act: The 10-Day Rule, Fees, and Police Records
The California Public Records Act after the 2023 recodification: Gov. Code 7920.000 et seq., the 10-day determination rule, fees, and superior court petitions.
Colorado Open Records Act (CORA): Deadlines, Fees, and Denials
How CORA works: the three-working-day presumption, the 25-cent page cap and $41.37 hourly research rate, and why police records sit under a separate act.
Connecticut Freedom of Information Act: Requests and FOI Commission Appeals
Connecticut FOI Act explained: a written denial is due in four business days, copy fees are capped, and appeals go to the binding FOI Commission.
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Delaware FOIA: 15 Business Days, Fees, and Attorney General Petitions
Delaware Freedom of Information Act explained: the 15-business-day response rule in 29 Del. C. 10003(h)(1), the nuanced access language, fees, and two remedies.
District of Columbia FOIA: Deadlines, Bodycam Rules, and Mayoral Appeals
D.C. FOIA explained: any person may request, 15 days for records and 25 days for body-worn camera footage, tiered fees, and an optional appeal to the Mayor.
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Fifth Circuit Revives FOIA Reading-Room Case Against FEMA
On October 22, 2026 the Fifth Circuit held FOIA's remedial provision allows prospective relief for ongoing reading-room violations, and remanded the FEMA case.
Florida Public Records Laws: The Public Records Act (Chapter 119) Explained
How Florida's Public Records Act works: who can request, the good-faith response standard, 15-cent copy caps, bodycam exemptions, and the Sunshine Law.
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Georgia Public Records Laws: The Georgia Open Records Act Explained
Georgia agencies get 3 business days to produce records, and out-of-state requesters are covered. Fees, exemptions, mediation, and 50-18-74 penalties explained.
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Hawaii Public Records Laws: The UIPA (HRS Chapter 92F) Explained
How Hawaii's Uniform Information Practices Act works: the 10-business-day rule in HAR 2-71, the $30 fee floor, the $60 public-interest waiver, free OIP appeals.
How to File a FOIA Request (Step by Step, 2026)
How to file a federal FOIA request step by step: pick the right agency, describe the records, handle fees and waivers, file at foia.gov, and appeal a denial.
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Idaho Public Records Laws: Title 74 and the Resident vs Non-Resident Clock
Idaho lets anyone request public records but splits deadlines by residency: 3 working days for residents, 21 days for non-residents. Fees, exemptions, appeals.
Illinois Public Records Laws: The Illinois FOIA (5 ILCS 140) Explained
How to request public records in Illinois under the state FOIA: the 5-business-day deadline, first 50 pages free, the 6(c) fee waiver, binding PAC opinions.
Indiana Public Records Laws: The Access to Public Records Act (APRA) Explained
Indiana APRA explained: no numeric deadline, an advisory-only Public Access Counselor, body camera access under IC 5-14-3-5.2, fees, exemptions, and appeals.
Iowa Public Records Laws: Iowa Code Chapter 22 Explained
Iowa has no fixed public records deadline, and the 10-day figure is not one. The real standard, the free under-30-minutes rule, and how IPIB complaints work.
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Kansas Public Records Laws: The Kansas Open Records Act (KORA) Explained
How KORA works: any person may request, a denial needs written grounds within 3 business days, fees are actual cost, and bodycam viewing runs on K.S.A. 45-254.
Kentucky Public Records Laws: The Open Records Act (KRS 61.870) Explained
Kentucky's Open Records Act is resident-only: who qualifies, the 5-day response rule, KRS 61.874 fee caps, KRS 61.168 bodycam access, and the AG appeal.
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Louisiana Public Records Law: Deadlines, Fees, and How to File a Request
How Louisiana's Public Records Law works: who can request, the three-day and five-day clocks, free inspection, indigency fee relief, and suing under R.S. 44:35.
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Maine Freedom of Access Act: Deadlines, Fees, Waivers, and How to Appeal
Maine's FOAA explained: the 5 working day acknowledgment, the 10 cent per page cap, the indigency and public-interest fee waivers, and the court appeal.
Maryland Public Information Act: Deadlines, Fees, and the Two-Stage Appeal
Maryland PIA explained: the 30-day determination deadline, the 10 working day notice rule, fee waivers, and appeals via the Ombudsman and PIA Compliance Board.
Massachusetts Public Records Law: 10 Business Days, Fees, and Supervisor of Records Appeals
How the Massachusetts Public Records Law works: the 10 business day response, the 5 cent per page cap, fee waivers, and the Supervisor of Records appeal.
Michigan Freedom of Information Act: 5 Business Days, Fees, and How to Appeal
Michigan FOIA explained: the 5 business day deadline, capped fees and the mandatory $20 indigency waiver, the internal appeal, and the body camera exemption.
Minnesota Government Data Practices Act: Access, Fees, and Body Camera Rules
Minnesota classifies government data rather than exempting records. Chapter 13 explained: free inspection and redaction, the 25 cent copy cap, and no deadline.
Mississippi Public Records Act: 7 Working Days, Fees, and the Ethics Commission Route
Mississippi's Public Records Act explained: the 7 working day production deadline and 14 working day cap, actual-cost fees, and chancery court review.
Missouri Sunshine Law: Three Business Days, Fees, and Police Video Rules
Missouri's Sunshine Law explained: the third business day deadline, the ten cent per page cap, the public-interest fee waiver, and police body camera video.
Montana Right to Know: Public Records Deadlines, Fees, and How to Sue
Montana's constitutional right to examine documents plus the Title 2 chapter 6 rules: the 5 business day acknowledgment, the production clock, and fee caps.
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Nebraska Public Records Law: How to Request Government Records (2026)
Nebraska public records law requires a written response in four business days. Learn who can request, what it costs, and how to appeal to the Attorney General.
Nevada Public Records Act: How to Request Records (2026)
The Nevada Public Records Act gives any person access to state and local records on a five-business-day clock. Learn fees, appeals, and body-camera rules.
New Hampshire Right-to-Know Law: Records Requests (2026)
New Hampshire RSA 91-A gives you a response in five business days. Learn who can request, what copies cost, and how the Right-to-Know Ombudsman route works.
New Jersey OPRA: How to Request Public Records (2026)
New Jersey OPRA gives any person access to government records in seven business days. Learn the 2024 amendments, fees, and GRC and court appeal routes.
New Mexico IPRA: Inspection of Public Records Act Guide (2026)
New Mexico IPRA requires inspection within 15 calendar days and a written explanation in 3 business days. Learn fees, the $1 per page cap, and fee shifting.
New York FOIL: Freedom of Information Law Requests (2026)
New York FOIL requires a response in 5 business days, but that is an acknowledgment duty, not a production deadline. Learn fees and Article 78 appeals.
North Carolina Public Records Law and Body-Camera Access (2026)
North Carolina public records must be furnished as promptly as possible, with no fixed deadline. Learn fees, mandatory mediation, and the body-camera track.
North Dakota Open Records Law: Requests and AG Opinions (2026)
North Dakota open records law sets no deadline, but a free Attorney General opinion enforces it. Learn fees, the $25 per hour cap, and body-camera rules.
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Ohio Public Records Act: Requests and Court of Claims Appeals (2026)
Ohio public records must be provided promptly, with no fixed deadline. Learn fees, the $75 per hour video cap, and why damages need mandamus, not a $25 filing.
Oklahoma Open Records Act: How to Request Public Records
How the Oklahoma Open Records Act works: who can request, the prompt access standard, 25 cent per page fee caps, and Public Access Counselor review.
Oregon Public Records Law: How to Request Public Records
Oregon public records requests explained: the 5 business day acknowledgment and 10 business day completion clock, actual cost fees, and AG or DA appeals.
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Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law: How to Request Public Records
Pennsylvania Right-to-Know requests explained: the 5 business day agency deadline, deemed denials, the Office of Open Records appeal, and fee limits.
Public Records Laws by State: FOIA Guide for All 50 States (2026)
Compare public records and FOIA laws in all 50 states and DC: statute, who can request, response deadline and appeal path, plus how the federal FOIA works.
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Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act (APRA): How to Request Records
Rhode Island APRA requests explained: the 10 business day deadline and deemed denial rule, the 15 cent per page and 15 dollar per hour fee caps, and appeals.
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South Carolina Freedom of Information Act: How to Request Public Records
South Carolina FOIA explained: the 10 or 20 business day determination, the 30 or 35 day production clock, fee caps, and why body camera footage is excluded.
South Dakota Public Records Law: How to Request Records (SDCL 1-27)
South Dakota public records requests explained: the 10 business day deadline and deemed denial rule under SDCL 1-27-37, and hearing examiner review.
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Tennessee Public Records Act: Who Can Request and How
Tennessee restricts public records access to citizens of the state. Learn the statutory language, what an out-of-state requester can do, and the 7 day clock.
Texas Public Information Act: How to Request Public Records
Texas Public Information Act requests explained. Section 552.221 requires prompt production, not a 10 day turnaround; that figure is the AG ruling deadline.
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Utah GRAMA Requests: How to Get Government Records in Utah
Utah GRAMA requests explained: the 10 business day deadline and 5 day expedited track, what a request must contain, fee limits, and the appeal ladder.
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Vermont Public Records Act: How to Request Records (2026)
Vermont Public Records Act guide: any person may request, agencies respond within 3 business days, fees are capped at actual cost, and denials go to court.
Virginia Freedom of Information Act: Who Can Request and How (2026)
Virginia FOIA is a state law, not federal FOIA. It opens records to citizens of the Commonwealth, sets a 5 working day deadline, and is enforced by mandamus.
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Washington Public Records Act: Requests, Fees, and Body Camera Video (2026)
Washington Public Records Act guide: agencies cannot distinguish among requesters, must respond in 5 business days, and face $100 per day penalties for denials.
West Virginia Freedom of Information Act: Requests and Fees (2026)
West Virginia FOIA gives every person a right to records, sets a 5 business day deadline, and expressly bars agencies from charging search or retrieval fees.
Wisconsin Public Records Law: No Fixed Deadline, Real Penalties (2026)
Wisconsin has no fixed records deadline: authorities must act as soon as practicable. Fees are capped at actual cost, and a prevailing requester recovers fees.
Wyoming Public Records Act: Deadlines, Fees, and Appeals (2026)
Wyoming Public Records Act guide: records are due within 30 calendar days, and § 16-4-202(c)(v) lets you take a denial to a free ombudsman or district court.