Iowa
Iowa Public Records Laws: Iowa Code Chapter 22 Explained
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 4, 2026). · Law checked current as of August 9, 2026. · 8 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Iowa's open records law is chapter 22 of the Iowa Code. Every person may request, there is no residency requirement, and there is no fixed response deadline anywhere in the chapter. Iowa also gives requesters something most states do not: a state board that accepts complaints and can issue orders with the force of law.
Information last verified on 2026-08-04. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed lawyer.
This page covers Iowa state law only. For records held by a federal agency, see our guide on how to file a FOIA request. To compare Iowa with other states, start at the public records laws by state hub.
The Iowa Open Records Law
Iowa Code chapter 22 governs access to records held by Iowa state agencies, counties, cities, school districts, universities, and other government bodies. Its foundational grant is in Iowa Code 22.2(1): every person shall have the right to examine and copy a public record and to publish or otherwise disseminate a public record or the information contained in a public record.
Two things in that sentence do more work than they look like they do. Every person means exactly that, with no residency limit and no requirement that you explain your purpose. And the right to publish or disseminate confirms that Iowa records are yours to use once you have them; the state does not attach conditions to reuse.
Chapter 22 sits alongside chapter 21, the open meetings law, and chapter 23, which creates the Iowa Public Information Board that oversees both. That three-chapter structure is what gives Iowa a stronger enforcement path than its lack of a deadline would suggest.
Iowa Has No Response Deadline, and the 10-Day Figure Is Not One
This is the most commonly misstated fact about Iowa public records law, and it is worth getting right before you rely on it.
Chapter 22 contains no fixed number of days for a custodian to respond to or fulfill an ordinary request. The requirement is structural rather than numeric, and it is worth being precise about where it comes from, because the phrase everyone quotes is not statutory text.
Iowa Code 22.3(1) grants the right to examine and copy a public record under the custodian's supervision, and directs the custodian to adopt reasonable rules regarding the work necessary to protect records. Iowa Code 22.8(4) then governs when a delay is lawful at all: a good-faith, reasonable delay is permitted only for the purposes that subsection enumerates, such as determining whether the record is a public record or whether a confidentiality provision applies. Those two provisions are the actual standard. The familiar shorthand that access must come without unreasonable delay is a gloss on them, useful for explaining the rule but not a phrase you should quote as statute.
The 10-day and 20-day figures that circulate come from a different provision doing a different job. Iowa Code 22.8(4) addresses when a delay in producing records is authorized, and its subsection (d) states that a reasonable delay for the purpose of determining whether a record is confidential shall not exceed twenty calendar days and ordinarily should not exceed ten business days.
Read that carefully. It is a ceiling on a specific kind of justified delay, not an affirmative deadline for ordinary requests. It does not mean a custodian has 10 days to answer you. It means that if a custodian delays in order to work out whether material is confidential, that delay is not reasonable past those limits.
The practical consequences run in both directions. A simple request for a readily available record should not take 10 days just because that number exists somewhere in the chapter; unreasonable delay is unreasonable even at day 3. And a custodian who is 20 calendar days into deciding whether a record is confidential has exhausted the outer bound the statute allows for that purpose.
If you write to an Iowa custodian citing a 10-day deadline, you are citing something that is not there. The stronger framing is to cite Iowa Code 22.3(1) and 22.8(4), note that a delay is authorized only in good faith and only for one of the purposes 22.8(4) enumerates, ask for an estimated completion date, and raise the 22.8(4)(d) limit only if the agency tells you it is reviewing for confidentiality.
What Iowa Public Records Requests Cost
Iowa Code 22.3 keeps costs unusually low for small requests.
The headline rule: a custodian shall make every reasonable effort to provide a public record at no cost other than copying costs for a record that takes under 30 minutes to produce. For a great many ordinary requests, that means the bill is either nothing or the price of photocopies.
Beyond that, fees are limited to the actual reasonable cost of examination and copying. The statute carves specific things out of that calculation. Ordinary overhead cannot be loaded in, which expressly excludes items such as employee benefits, depreciation, maintenance, electricity, and insurance. The cost of supervision time may be included. Legal-service costs may be billed only for the review and redaction of legally protected confidential information, not for general handling of the request.
Iowa does not offer a federal-style public-interest fee waiver you can apply for. Readers frequently assume one exists because the federal FOIA has one. The under-30-minutes rule functions as the built-in equivalent for most requesters, and it applies automatically rather than on application. These provisions are current as of August 2026.
How to File an Iowa Open Records Request
There is no statewide portal. Requests go to the lawful custodian at the agency holding the record.
- Identify the agency and its records custodian. Chapter 22 puts the duty on the lawful custodian, and most agencies designate one publicly.
- Put the request in writing. Chapter 22 does not require writing, but written requests create the timeline you will need if you later file a complaint.
- Describe the records specifically. Narrow date ranges and named departments both improve response speed and help keep you inside the under-30-minutes cost rule.
- Ask for electronic delivery where possible.
- Ask for an estimated completion date if you do not get a quick answer, since Iowa has no deadline to point to.
- Keep the request and every follow-up. A complaint to the Iowa Public Information Board has a 60-day filing window, so dates matter.
Our free FOIA request generator builds an Iowa-specific letter citing chapter 22. Nothing entered into it is stored or transmitted.
Exemptions Under Iowa Code 22.7
Iowa's confidential-records list at Iowa Code 22.7 is long, running to dozens of enumerated categories. It covers personal information in medical and hospital records, student records, library circulation records, trade secrets, certain personnel information, appraisals and valuations in ongoing property acquisitions, security procedures and emergency preparedness information, and a wide range of program-specific records.
Two structural points matter more than memorizing the list. First, the categories are specific rather than general, so an agency claiming confidentiality should be able to name the subsection. Ask it to. Second, confidentiality attaches to information, so a record containing confidential material should be redacted and released rather than withheld in full.
Police Records and Body Camera Footage
Iowa's treatment of law enforcement records sits in Iowa Code 22.7(5), and the provision has a carve-out that most requesters do not know about.
The confidentiality rule covers peace officers' investigative reports, privileged records or information specified in Iowa Code 80G.2, and specific portions of email and telephone billing records of law enforcement agencies, but only if that information is part of an ongoing investigation, and except where disclosure is authorized elsewhere in the Code.
Then the carve-out. The date, time, specific location, and immediate facts and circumstances surrounding a crime or incident shall not be kept confidential under this section, except in unusual circumstances where disclosure would plainly and seriously jeopardize an investigation or pose a clear and present danger to the safety of an individual.
That means the basic facts of an incident are public even while an investigation is open. An agency that refuses to tell you when and where something happened, and the immediate circumstances, is asserting the narrow unusual-circumstances exception and should say so.
On body cameras, Iowa is genuinely different from Illinois, Kansas, and Kentucky. Chapter 22 contains no body-camera-specific provision at all. There is no dedicated Iowa statute in the open records chapter setting out who may view footage or on what timeline, and no equivalent of Kansas's 20-day viewing right or Kentucky's KRS 61.168.
What that leaves is the general rule. Body camera footage tied to an ongoing investigation would be analyzed under the peace officer investigative report provision in 22.7(5), with the date, time, location, and immediate-circumstances carve-out still applying to the underlying incident information. This is how the general rule applies rather than a dedicated statutory answer, so treat an agency's position on specific footage as something to test through the complaint process rather than something the statute settles in advance.
For 911 audio and dispatch records, see our page on whether 911 calls are public records.
Enforcement: The Iowa Public Information Board and the Courts
Iowa gives you two real paths, and the administrative one is stronger than commonly described.
The Iowa Public Information Board
The Iowa Public Information Board is created by Iowa Code chapter 23, separately from chapter 22 itself. It is not merely an advisory body.
Under Iowa Code 23.7(1), any aggrieved person, any taxpayer or citizen, the Attorney General, or a county attorney may file a complaint with the board alleging a violation of chapter 21 or chapter 22. The filing window is 60 days, which is why keeping your dates matters.
Under Iowa Code 23.8, the board reviews the complaint and either accepts it, notifying the parties in writing, or declines it. A declination is not a form letter: the section requires the board to issue a written order explaining its reasons for declining. Under Iowa Code 23.6(4), the board may investigate, decide whether there is probable cause, and if it finds probable cause, prosecute the respondent before the board in a contested case proceeding.
The important part is Iowa Code 23.6(8), which authorizes the board, after appropriate proceedings, to issue orders with the force of law determining whether there has been a violation, requiring compliance, and imposing civil penalties equivalent to those in Iowa Code 21.6 or 22.10. Iowa Code 23.10(3) reinforces this, directing the board to issue any appropriate order to ensure enforcement, including orders requiring or prohibiting specified action. The enforceability language specifically sits in Iowa Code 23.10(3)(d): a final order of the board may be enforced by the board in court, and it is subject to judicial review.
So a complaint to the board can end in an enforceable order, not just an opinion. That puts Iowa closer to the Illinois model than to the advisory-opinion model used in most states. The board also issues advisory opinions, and a custodian who reasonably relies on one has a good-faith defense to damages in a chapter 22 enforcement action. Those advisory opinions are a separate function from the complaint process, and the two are easy to confuse.
Filing with the board costs nothing and does not require a lawyer, which makes it the sensible first move for most requesters.
Court Enforcement
Chapter 22 rights are also independently enforceable in court. Iowa Code 22.5 provides for enforcement of the rights the chapter creates, and Iowa Code 22.10 sets out the civil enforcement action, available by mandamus or injunction in district court. For records of an agency subject to the Iowa Administrative Procedure Act, judicial review under chapter 17A is another route.
The remedies have teeth, and the damages run in two distinct tiers under Iowa Code 22.10(3)(b) rather than on a single sliding scale. A defendant who did not knowingly violate the chapter faces damages of not less than $100 and not more than $500. A defendant who knowingly violated it faces not less than $1,000 and not more than $2,500. The court also awards reasonable attorney fees to a successful plaintiff, and orders removal from office for a person who has previously violated the chapter.
Records Chapter 22 Does Not Reach
Birth, death, and marriage certificates are vital records held by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services under a separate statutory scheme with eligibility limits on who may obtain a certified copy. A chapter 22 request will not produce one. Our Iowa death records guide explains who qualifies.
Deeds and land records are county recorder records, covered in our Iowa property records guide. Court case files and warrants are court records rather than agency records; see Iowa warrant search.
Related articles
Disclaimer
This article provides general legal information about Iowa Code chapters 22 and 23 as of August 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes, board procedures, and fee practices change. If a public records dispute affects your legal rights, consult an attorney licensed in Iowa about your specific situation.
Last updated: 2026-08-04.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Iowa have a deadline for responding to public records requests?
No. Iowa Code chapter 22 contains no fixed response deadline for ordinary requests. The phrase everyone quotes, without unreasonable delay, is not statutory text; it is gloss on two provisions. Iowa Code 22.3(1) grants access under the custodian's supervision, and Iowa Code 22.8(4) permits a delay only where it is in good faith and for one of the purposes that subsection enumerates. Cite those two rather than the phrase.
Isn't the Iowa deadline 10 business days or 20 calendar days?
No, and this is the most common misstatement about Iowa's law. Those figures come from Iowa Code 22.8(4)(d), which caps how long a good-faith delay to determine whether a record is confidential may last, stating that such a delay shall not exceed twenty calendar days and ordinarily should not exceed ten business days. That is a ceiling on one kind of justified delay, not a deadline for answering a request. A simple request should not take 10 days merely because that number appears in the chapter.
Do I have to live in Iowa to file a records request?
No. Iowa Code 22.2(1) grants every person the right to examine and copy a public record. There is no residency requirement and no requirement to state a purpose.
How much does an Iowa public records request cost?
For a record that takes a custodian under 30 minutes to produce, the custodian must make every reasonable effort to provide it at no cost other than copying costs. Beyond that, charges are limited to the actual reasonable cost of examination and copying. Ordinary overhead such as benefits, depreciation, maintenance, electricity, and insurance may not be included, and legal-service costs may be billed only for reviewing and redacting legally protected confidential information.
Is there a public-interest fee waiver in Iowa?
Not in the federal sense. Iowa does not have a waiver you apply for on public-benefit grounds. The under-30-minutes reasonable-effort rule in Iowa Code 22.3 does that work automatically for most ordinary requests.
Can I complain to the Iowa Public Information Board, and can it actually do anything?
Yes to both. Under Iowa Code 23.7(1) any aggrieved person, taxpayer, or citizen may file a complaint with the board within 60 days. Under Iowa Code 23.8 the board either accepts the complaint, notifying the parties in writing, or declines it by written order explaining its reasons. It may investigate, find probable cause, and prosecute the matter in a contested case proceeding. Under Iowa Code 23.6(8) the board may issue orders with the force of law requiring compliance and imposing civil penalties, and Iowa Code 23.10(3)(d) provides that a final board order may be enforced by the board in court and is subject to judicial review.
How is the board's complaint process different from its advisory opinions?
They are separate functions. The complaint process can end in an enforceable order against an agency. Advisory opinions are guidance, and a custodian who reasonably relies on one gains a good-faith defense to damages in a chapter 22 enforcement action. Conflating the two understates what a complaint can accomplish.
Can I sue instead of going to the board?
Yes. Iowa Code 22.5 and 22.10 provide for enforcement in district court by mandamus or injunction, and chapter 17A judicial review is available for agencies covered by the Iowa Administrative Procedure Act. Iowa Code 22.10(3)(b) sets damages in two tiers rather than on a sliding scale: not less than $100 and not more than $500 where the defendant did not knowingly violate the chapter, and not less than $1,000 and not more than $2,500 where the violation was knowing. It also provides attorney fees to a successful plaintiff and removal from office for a person who previously violated the chapter.
Can I get police body camera footage in Iowa?
Iowa Code chapter 22 has no body-camera-specific provision, unlike Kansas or Kentucky. Footage connected to an ongoing investigation would be analyzed under the peace officer investigative report rule in Iowa Code 22.7(5). Because the statute does not address footage directly, an agency's position on a particular recording is something to test through a complaint to the Iowa Public Information Board rather than something the statute answers in advance.
Can police withhold everything about an open investigation?
No. Iowa Code 22.7(5) makes investigative reports confidential while part of an ongoing investigation, but it expressly provides that the date, time, specific location, and immediate facts and circumstances surrounding a crime or incident shall not be kept confidential, except in unusual circumstances where disclosure would plainly and seriously jeopardize an investigation or pose a clear and present danger to someone's safety.
Can I use an open records request to get an Iowa death certificate?
No. Vital records are administered by the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services under a separate statutory scheme with eligibility limits on who may receive a certified copy. A chapter 22 request to an agency will not produce one.
Updates
Corrected a key takeaway that described Iowa's under-30-minutes fee rule as a flat no-charge entitlement; Iowa Code 22.3(1) requires the custodian to make every reasonable effort to provide such a record at no cost beyond copying costs, which is a best-efforts duty rather than an absolute bar on charges.
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Iowa Code, Chapter 22: EXAMINATION OF PUBLIC RECORDS
§ 22.2Right to examine public records — exceptions.In force
1. Every person shall have the right to examine and copy a public record and to publish or otherwise disseminate a public record or the information contained in a public record. Unless otherwise provided for by law, the right to examine a public record shall include the right to examine a public record without charge while the public record is in the physical possession of the custodian of the public record. The right to copy a public record shall include the right to make photographs or photographic copies while the public record is in the possession of the custodian of the public record. All rights under this section are in addition to the right to obtain a certified copy of a public record under section 622.46. 2. A government body shall not prevent the examination or copying of a public record by contracting with a nongovernment body to perform any of its duties or functions. 3. If feasible, the custodian of a public record may provide for the electronic examination and copying of a public record in lieu of requiring in-person examination and copying of a public record.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-02 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
§ 22.3Supervision — fees.In force
1. The examination and copying of public records shall be done under the supervision of the lawful custodian of the records or the custodian’s authorized designee. The lawful custodian shall not require the physical presence of a person requesting or receiving a copy of a public record and shall fulfill requests for a copy of a public record received in writing, by telephone, or by electronic means. Although fulfillment of a request for a copy of a public record may be contingent upon receipt of payment of reasonable expenses, the lawful custodian shall make every reasonable effort to provide the public record requested at no cost other than copying costs for a record which takes less than thirty minutes to produce. In the event expenses are necessary, such expenses shall be reasonable and communicated to the requester upon receipt of the request. A person may contest the reasonableness of the custodian’s expenses as provided for in this chapter. The lawful custodian may adopt and enforce reasonable rules regarding the examination and copying of the records and the protection of the records against damage or disorganization.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 5 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Rathmann v. Board of Directors of the Davenport Community School District (Supreme Court of Iowa 1998, 580 N.W.2d 773)“…a school board member. 4 The court found that Iowa Code section 22.3 was “broad enough to cover retrieval ex…”
- Robert Teig v. Vanessa Chavez, Alissa Van Sloten, Patricia G. Kropf, Elizabeth Jacobi, Brad Hart, and Teresa Feldmann (Supreme Court of Iowa 2024)“…o examine or copy.” Id. at 777 (emphasis omitted) (quoting Iowa Code § 22.3 (1995)). We found the phrase “all expen…”
- Jacob Hackman v. Suellen Kolbet, as Custodian for the New Hampton Municipal Light Plant (Court of Appeals of Iowa 2017)“…e Plant is entitled to judgment as a matter of law because Iowa Code section 22.3 (2013) and the Plant’s written fee pol…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 22.8Injunction to restrain examination.In force
1. The district court may grant an injunction restraining the examination, including copying, of a specific public record or a narrowly drawn class of public records. A hearing shall be held on a request for injunction upon reasonable notice as determined by the court to persons requesting access to the record which is the subject of the request for injunction. It shall be the duty of the lawful custodian and any other person seeking an injunction to ensure compliance with the notice requirement. Such an injunction may be issued only if the petition supported by affidavit shows and if the court finds both of the following: a. That the examination would clearly not be in the public interest. b. That the examination would substantially and irreparably injure any person or persons. 2. An injunction shall be subject to the rules of civil procedure except that the court in its discretion may waive bond. 3.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 23 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2025
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Marcus v. Young (Supreme Court of Iowa 1995, 538 N.W.2d 285)“…and that examination would not be in the public interest. Iowa Code § 22.8 (1). The section further provides actio…”
- Northeast Council on Substance Abuse, Inc. v. Iowa Department of Public Health (Supreme Court of Iowa 1994, 513 N.W.2d 757)“…it of temporary and permanent injunction. See Iowa Code § 22.8 . NECSA sought to enjoin the department…”
- Upon the Petition of Kent D. Langholz (Supreme Court of Iowa 2016, 887 N.W.2d 770)“…t an injunction to restrain the examination of the record. Iowa Code § 22.8(1). This injunction is an equitable re…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 22.7Confidential records.In forcecited in 9 of our articles
The following public records shall be kept confidential, unless otherwise ordered by a court, by the lawful custodian of the records, or by another person duly authorized to release such information: 1. Personal information in records regarding a student, prospective student, or former student maintained, created, collected or assembled by or for a school corporation or educational institution maintaining such records. This subsection shall not be construed to prohibit a postsecondary education institution from disclosing to a parent or guardian information regarding a violation of a federal, state, or local law, or institutional rule or policy governing the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance if the child is under the age of twenty-one years and the institution determines that the student committed a disciplinary violation with respect to the use or possession of alcohol or a controlled substance regardless of whether that information is contained in the student’s education records.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-09-03 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 72 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):Iowa courts have marked the limits of section 22.7. Marcus v. Young (1995) held it creates no private cause of action for negligently releasing student records; Burton v. University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics (1997) held its exemption list is not the only source of confidentiality, so another statute can still permit withholding.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Marcus v. Young (Supreme Court of Iowa 1995, 538 N.W.2d 285)✓A former medical student sued after the University of Iowa released his academic records under a subpoena; the court held section 22.7 creates no private cause of action for negligent release, leaving the chapter 22 injunction as the remedy.
- Burton v. University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics (Supreme Court of Iowa 1997, 566 N.W.2d 182)✓A requester sought a state hospital's hospital-acquired infection summaries; the court held section 135.41 gave the hospital discretion to withhold them notwithstanding chapter 22, so the section 22.7 exemption list is not the only source of confidentiality.
- Des Moines Register & Tribune Co. v. Dwyer (Supreme Court of Iowa 1996, 542 N.W.2d 491)“…hered in investigations of General Assembly members. See Iowa Code § 22.7 (30). The legislature thereby acknowled…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Iowa Recording Laws (2026): One-Party Consent Rules, Iowa License Plate Reader Laws (2026), Iowa Court Records: How to Search Iowa Courts Online and How Expungement Works
§ 22.10Civil enforcement.In forcecited in 2 of our articles
1. The rights and remedies provided by this section are in addition to any rights and remedies provided by section 17A.19. Any aggrieved person, any taxpayer to or citizen of the state of Iowa, or the attorney general or any county attorney, may seek judicial enforcement of the requirements of this chapter in an action brought against the lawful custodian and any other persons who would be appropriate defendants under the circumstances. Suits to enforce this chapter shall be brought in the district court for the county in which the lawful custodian has its principal place of business. 2. Once a party seeking judicial enforcement of this chapter demonstrates to the court that the defendant is subject to the requirements of this chapter, that the records in question are government records, and that the defendant refused to make those government records available for examination and copying by the plaintiff, the burden of going forward shall be on the defendant to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this chapter. 3. Upon a finding by a preponderance of the evidence that a lawful custodian has violated any provision of this chapter, a court: a.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 27 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- City of Riverdale, Iowa v. Allen Diercks, Marie Randol, and Tammie Picton (Supreme Court of Iowa 2011, 806 N.W.2d 643)“…ts in the Iowa Rules of Civil Procedure were superseded by Iowa Code section 22.10(3)(c). On November 18, the court…”
- City of Dubuque v. Dubuque Racing Ass'n (Supreme Court of Iowa 1988, 420 N.W.2d 450)“…This is an action for declaratory relief pursuant to Iowa Code section 22.10 (1985) 1…”
- Dr. Allen Diercks and Patricia Lane v. Craig Malin, Davenport City Administrator, City of Davenport, Iowa, an Iowa Municipal Corporation, and Jackie E. Holecek, Davenport City Deputy Clerk (Court of Appeals of Iowa 2016, 894 N.W.2d 12)“…N.W.2d at 652 (quoting Clymer, 601 N.W.2d at 45). Iowa Code section 22.10 “authorizes civil suits by citizens to…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Iowa Police Body Camera Laws: Access & Public Records
§ 22.5Enforcement of rights.In force
The provisions of this chapter and all rights of persons under this chapter may be enforced by mandamus or injunction, whether or not any other remedy is also available. In the alternative, rights under this chapter also may be enforced by an action for judicial review according to the provisions of the Iowa administrative procedure Act, chapter 17A, if the records involved are records of an “agency” as defined in that Act.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 6 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2020
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- City of Riverdale, Iowa v. Allen Diercks, Marie Randol, and Tammie Picton (Supreme Court of Iowa 2011, 806 N.W.2d 643)“…in equity.” (internal quotation marks omitted)); see also Iowa Code § 22.5 (“The provisions of this chapter and a…”
- Gabrilson v. Flynn (Supreme Court of Iowa 1996, 554 N.W.2d 267)“…njunction, “whether or not any other remedy is available.” Iowa Code § 22.5 ; Marcus, 538 N.W.2d at…”
- Gannon v. Board of Regents (Supreme Court of Iowa 2005, 692 N.W.2d 31)“…440 N.W.2d 382, 384 (Iowa 1989); see also Iowa Code §§ 22.5 , .10, 661.3. Because this matter is be…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Iowa Code, Chapter 23: PUBLIC ACCESS TO GOVERNMENT INFORMATION
§ 23.6Board powers and duties.In force
The board shall have all of the following powers and duties: 1. Employ one employee as executive director who is an attorney admitted to practice law in the courts of this state to execute its authority including prosecuting respondents in proceedings before the board and representing the board in proceedings before a court, as appropriate. 2. Adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A calculated to implement, enforce, and interpret the requirements of chapters 21 and 22 and to implement any authority delegated to the board by this chapter. 3. Issue, consistent with the requirements of section 17A.9, declaratory orders with the force of law determining the applicability of chapter 21 or 22 to specified fact situations and issue informal advice to any person concerning the applicability of chapters 21 and 22. 4.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 2 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2021
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Polk County Assessor Randy Ripperger v. Iowa Public Information Board (Supreme Court of Iowa 2021)“…ent any authority delegated to the board by this chapter.” Iowa Code § 23.6(2) (emphasis added). The Board has not…”
- Adam Klein v. Iowa Public Information Board and Burlington Police Department and Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigations (Supreme Court of Iowa 2021)“…e has statutory authority to issue declaratory orders. See Iowa Code § 23.6(3). But Klein did not seek such an orde…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 23.7Filing of complaints with the board.In forcecited in 2 of our articles
1. The board shall adopt rules pursuant to chapter 17A providing for the timing, form, content, and means by which any aggrieved person, any taxpayer to or citizen of this state, the attorney general, or any county attorney may file a complaint with the board alleging a violation of chapter 21 or 22. The complaint must be filed within sixty days from the time the alleged violation occurred or the complainant could have become aware of the violation with reasonable diligence. All complaints filed with the board shall be public records. 2. All board proceedings in response to the filing of a complaint shall be conducted as expeditiously as possible.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
§ 23.10Enforcement.In force
1. If any party declines informal assistance or if informal assistance fails to resolve the matter to the satisfaction of all parties, the board shall initiate a formal investigation concerning the facts and circumstances set forth in the complaint. The board shall, after an appropriate investigation, make a determination as to whether the complaint is within the board’s jurisdiction and whether there is probable cause to believe that the facts and circumstances alleged in the complaint constitute a violation of chapter 21 or 22. 2. If the board finds the complaint is outside the board’s jurisdiction or there is no probable cause to believe there has been a violation of chapter 21 or 22, the board shall issue a written order explaining the reasons for the board’s conclusions and dismissing the complaint, and shall transmit a copy to the complainant and to the party against whom the complaint was filed. 3. a.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 2 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Tammy Thompson, Scott Boylen, Alicia Mullarkey, Linda Appelgate, Larry A. Stone, Mary Damm, and Steve Veysey v. Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Supreme Beef, LLC (Court of Appeals of Iowa 2026)“…was subject to judicial review). But unlike in Klein—where Iowa Code section 23.10(3)(d) permitted judicial review followi…”
- Adam Klein v. Iowa Public Information Board and Burlington Police Department and Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigations (Supreme Court of Iowa 2021)“…Thus, it initiated a contested case proceeding pursuant to Iowa Code section 23.10(3)(a) (“If the board finds the complain…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
§ 23.8Initial processing of complaint.In force
Upon receipt of a complaint alleging a violation of chapter 21 or 22, the board shall do either of the following: 1. Determine that, on its face, the complaint is within the board’s jurisdiction, appears legally sufficient, and could have merit. In such a case the board shall accept the complaint, and shall notify the parties of that fact in writing. 2. Determine that, on its face, the complaint is outside its jurisdiction, is legally insufficient, is frivolous, is without merit, involves harmless error, or relates to a specific incident that has previously been finally disposed of on its merits by the board or a court. In such a case the board shall decline to accept the complaint. If the board refuses to accept a complaint, the board shall provide the complainant with a written order explaining its reasons for the action.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 1 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2021
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Adam Klein v. Iowa Public Information Board and Burlington Police Department and Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigations (Supreme Court of Iowa 2021)“…nt, and . . . notify the parties of that fact in writing.” Iowa Code § 23.8(1). On the other hand, if the Board re…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Iowa Code, Chapter 21: OFFICIAL MEETINGS OPEN TO PUBLIC
§ 21.6Enforcement.In force
1. The remedies provided by this section against state governmental bodies shall be in addition to those provided by section 17A.19. Any aggrieved person, taxpayer to, or citizen of, the state of Iowa, or the attorney general or county attorney, may seek judicial enforcement of the requirements of this chapter. Suits to enforce this chapter shall be brought in the district court for the county in which the governmental body has its principal place of business. 2. Once a party seeking judicial enforcement of this chapter demonstrates to the court that the body in question is subject to the requirements of this chapter and has held a closed session, the burden of going forward shall be on the body and its members to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of this chapter. 3. Upon a finding by a preponderance of the evidence that a governmental body has violated any provision of this chapter, a court: a. Shall assess each member of the governmental body who participated in its violation damages in the amount of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars and not less than five hundred dollars.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 22 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2026
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Peg Hutchison, Dan Johnson, Russ Nichols, Shawn Ripperger, Leigh Ann Swain, and Shelly Vander Tuig v. Douglas Shull, Steve Wilson, Dean Yordi, the Board of Supervisors for Warren County, Iowa, and Warren County, Iowa (Supreme Court of Iowa 2016, 878 N.W.2d 221)“…or reliance on a court opinion or advice of counsel. See Iowa Code § 21.6 (3) (providing remedies for violations…”
- City of Postville, Iowa and Jason Meyer v. Upper Explorerland Regional Planning Commission, Martin Brennan, Kathy Campbell, Ray Whalen, Leon Griebenow, Andrew Wenthe, Karla Organist, Warren Steffen, Michael Kenedy, Janet McGovern, Dean Darling, Les Askelson, and Randy Uhl (Supreme Court of Iowa 2013, 834 N.W.2d 1)“…nment is personally liable for IOMA violations pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.6(3).3 The commission members argued…”
- Service Employees International Union, Local 199 v. State of Iowa, Iowa Board of Regents (Supreme Court of Iowa 2019, 928 N.W.2d 69)“…the validity of the action taken in the closed session. Iowa Code § 21.6 (3)( c ). Here, no open-meetings acti…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Iowa Code, Chapter 80G: UNDERCOVER LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS
§ 80G.2Law enforcement officer — privilege — confidentiality.In force
1. a. A law enforcement officer shall not be examined or be required to give evidence in any criminal proceeding that requires the disclosure of any records or information relating to any of the following: (1) Identification documents or other documents necessary to conduct a lawful undercover criminal investigation. (2) Personal identifying information about the law enforcement officer or immediate family member of the law enforcement officer, or other information unrelated to the law enforcement officer’s professional duties which could be used to threaten, harm, or intimidate the law enforcement officer or immediate family member of the law enforcement officer, or other information that could reasonably be construed to constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy of the law enforcement officer or immediate family member of the law enforcement officer. Personal information that is knowingly and voluntarily disclosed by the law enforcement officer or immediate family member of the law enforcement officer may be redisseminated. b.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at legis.iowa.gov
Cited in 1 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2019
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Mitchell v. City of Cedar Rapids (Supreme Court of Iowa 2019, 926 N.W.2d 222)“…ports, privileged records or information specified in Iowa Code § 80G.2 are to be kept confidential, but…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 61: GENERAL PROVISIONS AS TO OFFICES AND OFFICERS -- SOCIAL SECURITY FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES -- EMPLOYEES RETIREMENT SYSTEM
§ 61.168Body-worn cameras and video and audio recordings -- Disclosure, retention, and availability for viewing governed by KRS 61.870 to 61.884 and 171.410 to 171.740 -- ExceptionsIn forcecited in 11 of our articles
(1) As used in this section: (a) "Body-worn camera" means a video or audio electronic recording device that is carried by or worn on the body of a public safety officer. This definition does not include a dashboard mounted camera or recording device used in the course of clandestine investigations; (b) "Body-worn camera recording" or "recording" means a video or audio recording, or both, that is made by a body-worn camera during the course of a public safety officer's official duties; (c) "Personal representative" means a court-appointed guardian, attorney, or agent possessing written authorization to act on behalf of a person that is involved in an incident contained in a body-worn camera recording, a person holding a power of attorney for a person that is involved in an incident contained in a body-worn camera recording, or the parent or guardian of a minor child depicted in a body-worn camera recording.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-31 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 2 court opinions in our collectionLatest citing opinion in our collection: 2022
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):Nathaniel Parish v. Kaitlynn Patrice Petter (2020) addressed whether KRS 61.168 controls how a civil litigant obtains police body-worn camera video, holding that the open records processes in the body camera statutes do not supplant discovery under the Rules of Civil Procedure.
Opinions citing this section in our collection:
- Courier Journal, Inc. v. Shively Police Department (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 2022)“…9-month-old infant.” The Courier-Journal notes that while KRS 61.168(4)(g) generally gives an agency discre…”
- Nathaniel Parish v. Kaitlynn Patrice Petter (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 2020)✓A man contesting a protective order subpoenaed police body camera video; the court held KRS 61.168's open records process does not supplant civil discovery, so the family court erred by refusing to apply the civil rules, though it found the error harmless.
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Kentucky Recording Laws (2026): One-Party Consent Rules, Kentucky Laws on Recording Police: Your First Amendment Rights, Kentucky Police Body Camera Laws: KRS 61.168 & Access
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This article also draws on these acts and chapters (opening at their first section): Iowa Code, Chapter 22: EXAMINATION OF PUBLIC RECORDS § 22.1 (Definitions.)
Related law for further reading — not part of this article’s citations.
Sources and References
- Iowa Code chapter 22, Examination of Public Records, Iowa Legislature(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code 22.7, confidential records, including the peace officer investigative report provision at 22.7(5)(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code 22.8, injunction to restrain examination, including the authorized-delay rule in 22.8(4)(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code 22.10, civil enforcement, including the two damages tiers in 22.10(3)(b)(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code 23.6, duties and powers of the Iowa Public Information Board, including orders with the force of law(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code 23.7, filing a complaint with the Iowa Public Information Board(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code 23.10, board orders and enforcement(legis.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Public Information Board, official state agency site(ipib.iowa.gov).gov
- Iowa Code 22.2, right to examine public records, including the foundational grant in 22.2(1)(legis.iowa.gov)
- Iowa Code 22.3, supervision and fees, including the every-reasonable-effort rule for records taking under thirty minutes to produce(legis.iowa.gov)