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Freedom of information in the United States

December 13, 2023

Freedom of information in the United States relates to the public's ability to access government records, meetings, and other information. In the United States, freedom of information legislation exists at the federal level and at the local level.

Federal level edit

Since the founding of the United States, the public's right to know the affairs of their government has been foundational democracy. James Madison wrote during the United States Constitutional Convention, "The right of freely examining public characters and measures and free communication, is the only effective guardian of every other right."[1][2]

Several federal laws have strengthened the public's ability to access public records.

Federal legislation edit

Main article: Freedom of Information Act (United States)

The most important was the Freedom of Information Act, signed into law on July 4, 1966, by President Lyndon Johnson.

Proposed legislation edit

Miscellaneous Authoritative Federal Sources edit

U.S. Attorney General Memoranda edit

History edit

The Holder Memo is part of series of policy memos on how federal agencies should apply FOIA exemptions. Beginning in 1977 with Attorney General Griffin Bell, and continued by Attorney General William French Smith in 1981 and Attorney General Janet Reno in 1993, U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced how the executive branch should approach FOIA, its application, and DOJ's defense of agency's actions. In other words, DOJ's position on when they would defend in a FOIA suit has seesawed for about the last three decades.

Reno Memo edit

The Reno Memo[6] established a "presumption" in favor of disclosure by providing that "it shall be the policy of the Department of Justice to defend the assertion of a FOIA exemption only in those cases where the agency reasonably foresees that disclosure would be harmful to an interest protected by that exemption". It encouraged all government agencies to review FOIA requests in a manner most favorable to openness and to release information, even though it might fall within one of the nine exemption categories, if no "foreseeable harm" would result from the disclosure. The goal was to achieve the "maximum responsible disclosure".

Ashcroft Memo edit

On October 12, 2001, Attorney General John Ashcroft issued a policy memorandum on FOIA to all federal executive agencies. The AG declared the Department of Justice (DOJ) would defend agencies' decisions to withhold documents from a FOIA requester under one of the statute's exemptions "unless they lack a sound legal basis or present an unwarranted risk of adverse impact on the ability of other agencies to protect other important records".

The Ashcroft Memorandum reversed the Reno standard. Agencies were told that in making discretionary FOIA decisions they should carefully consider the fundamental values behind the exemptions—national security, privacy, government's interests, etc.—and to lean in their favor whenever possible. The Ashcroft Memo[7] with its "sound legal basis" standard encouraged (or at least seemed to support) greater use of FOIA exemptions by federal agency personnel.

AG Holder Memo edit

The Ashcroft Memo was rescinded by Attorney General Eric Holder on March 14, 2009. The AG Holder Memo[8] appears to have reinstated the Reno Memo standard and extends the policy. The policy of the executive branch is to be open, responsive, transparent, and accountable. The current memo encourages the maximum disclosure possible in discretionary exemptions and to, whenever possible, reasonably segregate exempt information and release the rest.

State legislation edit

All fifty U.S. states and the District of Columbia also have freedom of information laws that govern the public's access to government records at state and local levels.[9] These laws go by many different names including Sunshine Laws, Public Records Laws, Open Records Laws, etc. Additionally, Open Meeting Laws govern the public's access to meetings of public officials or appointed boards.[10]

All Freedom of Information style laws supports the ideal that in a democracy, people have the right to know the business of their government. However, the laws vary in scope and strength among jurisdictions.[1] For example, Florida's Sunshine Law creates both a statutory and constitutional right to access whereas many states only provide the statutory right.[2] Additionally, while a state may have strong legislation the state's compliance with its own laws may negatively impact the public's ability to access records.[11]

Freedom of Information Laws by US State edit

State Freedom of Information Law Code Section[12] First Enacted Who May Request Records[12]
Alabama Alabama Public Records Law Al. Code §§ 36-12-40; 36-12-41 1923[13] Any citizen
Alaska Alaska Public Records Act A.S. §§ 40.25.110 to 40.25.125; 40.25.151 1900[14] Any person
Arizona Arizona Public Records Law A.R.S. §§ 39–121.01 to 39–121.03 1901[15] Any person
Arkansas Arkansas Freedom of Information Act Ark. Code Ann. §§ 25-19-101 to 25-19-111 1967[16] Citizens of the state/commonwealth
California California Public Records Act Gov’t Code §§ 6250 to 6276.48 1968[17] Any person
Colorado Colorado Open Records Act C.R.S. §§ 24-72-200.1 to 24-72-205.5 1969[18] Any person
Connecticut Connecticut Freedom of Information Act Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 14 §§ 1–200 to 1-242 1975[19] Any person
Delaware Delaware Freedom of Information Act Tit. 29, §§ 10001 to 10007; 10112 1977[20] Citizens of the state/commonwealth
Florida Florida Sunshine Law Fla. Stat. §§ 119.01 to 119.19 1967[21] Any person
Georgia Georgia Open Records Act O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-103 1959[22] Citizens of the state/commonwealth
Hawaii Uniform Information Practices Act (Modified) Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 92F-1 to 92F-43 1975[23] Any person
Idaho Idaho Public Records Act Idaho Code §§ 74–101 to 74-126 1990[24] Any person
Illinois Illinois Freedom of Information Act ILCS 5 §§ 140/1 to 140/11.6 1984[25] Any person
Indiana Access to Public Records Act IN Code §§ 5-14-3-1 to 5-14-3-10 1983[26] Any person
Iowa Iowa Open Records Law Iowa Code §§ 22.1 to 22.16 1967[27] Any person
Kansas Kansas Open Records Act KSA §§ 45–215 to 45-524 1984[28] Any person
Kentucky Kentucky Open Records Act Kentucky Revised Statute Chapter §§ 61.870 to 61.884 1976[29] Residents of the state/commonwealth
Louisiana Louisiana Public Records Law La.R.S. §§ 44:31 to 44:41 1940[30] Any person 18 or older
Maine Maine Freedom of Access Act Tit. 1, §§ 400 to 434 1959[31] Any person
Maryland Maryland Public Information Act Gen. Provis. §§ 4–101 to 4-601 1970[32] Any person
Massachusetts Massachusetts Public Records Law Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 66, §§ 1 to 21 1897[33] Any person
Michigan Michigan Freedom of Information Act Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. §§ 15.231 to 15.246 1977[34] Any person
Minnesota Minnesota Data Practices Act Minn. Statutes §§ 13.01 to 13.99 Ch. 13 Appendix 1974[35] Any person
Mississippi Mississippi Public Records Act Miss. Code Ann. §§ 25-61-1 to 25-61-19 1983[36] Any person
Missouri Missouri Public Records Act Mo. Code §§ 109.180; 610.010 to 610.225 1961[37] Citizens of the state/commonwealth
Montana Montana Public Records Act Montana Code §§ 2-6-101 to 2-6-1020 1895[38] Any person
Nebraska Nebraska Public Records Law Nebraska Statutes §§ 84–712 to 84-712.09 1866[39] Any person
Nevada Nevada Open Records Act N.R.S. §§ 239.010-239.340 1911[40] Any person
New Hampshire Right to Know Law R.S.A. Ch. 91-A:1 to 91-A:10 1967[41] Any citizen
New Jersey New Jersey Open Public Records Act N.J.S.A. §§ 47:1A-1 to 47:1A-13 2002[42] Citizens of the state/commonwealth
New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act NMSA §§ 14-2-1 to 14-2-12 1993[43] Any person
New York New York Freedom of Information Law Pub. Off. §§ 84 to 90 1974[44] Any person
North Carolina North Carolina Public Records Law NCGS Chapter 132–1 to 132-11 1995[45] Any person
North Dakota Open Records Statute NDCC §§ 44-04-18 to 44-04-32 1957[46] Any person
Ohio Ohio Open Records Law Ohio Rev. Code §§ 149.43 to 149.45; 2743.75 1963[47] Any person
Oklahoma Oklahoma Open Records Act Title 51 Oklahoma Statutes §§ 24A.1 to 24A.32 1999[48] Any person
Oregon Oregon Public Records Law O.R.S. §§ 192.311 to 192.513 1973[49] Any person
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Right to Know Law 65 Pennsylvania Statute §§ 67.101 to 67.1310 1957[50] Citizens of the state/commonwealth
Rhode Island Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act P.L. §§ 38-2-1 to 38-2-16 1979[51] Any person
South Carolina South Carolina Freedom of Information Act S.C. Code Ann. §§ 30-4-10 to 30-4-165 1974[52] Any person
South Dakota South Dakota Sunshine Law SDCL Chapter 1-27-1 to 1-27-48 2009[53] Any person
Tennessee Tennessee Open Records Act Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 10-7-503 to 10-7-508 1957[54] Citizens of the state/commonwealth
Texas Texas Public Information Act Gov't §§ 552.001 to 552.376 1973[55] Any person
Utah Government Records Access and Management Act Utah Code Title 63G-2-101 to 63G-2-804 1991[56] Any person
Vermont Vermont Open Records Law Vermont Statute Tit. 1, §§ 315 to 320 1976[57] Any person
Virginia Virginia Freedom of Information Act Code of Virginia §§ 2.2-3700 to 2.2-3715 1968[58] Citizens of the state/commonwealth
Washington Washington Public Records Act RCW §§ 42.56.001 to 42.56.904 1972[59] Any person
West Virginia West Virginia Freedom of Information Act W.Va. Code §§ 29B-1-1 to 29B-1-7 1977[60] Any person
Wisconsin Wisconsin Open Records Law Wisconsin Statute §§ 19.21 to 19.39 1981[61] Any person
Wyoming Wyoming Sunshine Law Wyo. Stat. §§ 16-4-201 to 16-4-205 1983[62] Any person
District of Columbia Freedom of Information Act[63] DC Official Code §§ 2–531 to 2-540 1974[64] Any person

See also edit

Individuals edit

U.S. edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Stewart, Daxton R. "Chip" (2010-07-08). "Let the Sunshine In, or Else: An Examination of the "Teeth" of State and Federal Open Meetings and Open Records Laws". Communication Law and Policy. 15 (3): 265–310. doi:10.1080/10811680.2010.489858. ISSN 1081-1680. S2CID 144106823.
  2. ^ a b Edwards, K. (2003). "Freedom of information laws". Encyclopedia of International Media and Communications: 53–67. doi:10.1016/B0-12-387670-2/00100-X. ISBN 9780123876706 – via Elsevier Science & Technology.
  3. ^ Gold, Hadas (26 February 2014). "House unanimously passes FOIA bill". Politico (blog). Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  4. ^ "FOIA". Act No. H.R. 1211 of 25 February 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  5. ^ "Freedom of Information Act". whitehouse.gov. 21 January 2009 – via National Archives.
  6. ^ "FOIA Update: Attorney General Reno's FOIA Memorandum". 13 August 2014.
  7. ^ "New Attorney General FOIA Memorandum Issued".
  8. ^ http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/foia-memo-march2009.pdf[bare URL PDF]
  9. ^ "State Public Record Laws". FOIAdvocates.
  10. ^ Kaye, Janet (2008-06-05), "Open Meetings Law", in Donsbach, Wolfgang (ed.), The International Encyclopedia of Communication, Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd, pp. wbieco010, doi:10.1002/9781405186407.wbieco010, ISBN 978-1-4051-8640-7, retrieved 2023-03-16
  11. ^ "States Failing FOI Responsiveness – National Freedom of Information Coalition". 2007. Retrieved 2023-03-17.
  12. ^ a b National survey of state laws. Richard A. Leiter, Wendy Leiter (9th ed.). Getzville, NY: William S. Hein & Co., Inc. 2022. pp. 807–816. ISBN 978-0-8377-4269-4. OCLC 1343162981.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  13. ^ "Open Government Guide Alabama - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  14. ^ "Open Government Guide Alaska - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  15. ^ "Open Government Guide Arizona - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  16. ^ "Open Government Guide Arkansas - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  17. ^ "California Public Records Act FAQs". post.ca.gov. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  18. ^ "Open Government Guide Colorado - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  19. ^ "Open Government Guide Connecticut - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  20. ^ "Open Government Guide Delaware - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  21. ^ Kalil, Earl L. (1975). "Florida Sunshine Law". Florida Bar Journal. 49 (2): 72–116 – via HeinOnline.
  22. ^ "Open Government Guide Georgia - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  23. ^ "Open Government Guide Hawaii - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  24. ^ Younger, Cally (2015). "In Year 25 Idaho's Public Records Law Gets a Checkup by Idaho's Public Records Ombudsman". Advocate (Idaho State Bar). 58 (2): 32–34 – via HeinOnline.
  25. ^ "Open Government Guide Illinois - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  26. ^ Office of the Public Access Counselor (2022). "Handbook on Indiana's Public Access Laws" (PDF). Access to Public Records Act. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  27. ^ "Open Government Guide Iowa - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  28. ^ "Open Government Guide Kansas - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  29. ^ "Open Government Guide Kentucky - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  30. ^ "Open Government Guide Louisiana - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.
  31. ^ "Open Government Guide Maine - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  32. ^ "In new report, Maryland open-records officials urge greater transparency". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
  33. ^ "Open Government Guide Massachusetts - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  34. ^ "Open Government Guide Michigan - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  35. ^ "Open Government Guide Minnesota - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  36. ^ "Open Government Guide Mississippi - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  37. ^ "Missouri". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  38. ^ "Open Government Guide Montana - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  39. ^ "Outline of Nebraska Public Records Statutes". Attorney General Mike Hilgers. 2023. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  40. ^ "Open Government Guide Nevada - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  41. ^ "Open Government Guide New Hampshire - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  42. ^ "Open Government Guide New Jersey - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  43. ^ "Open Government Guide New Mexico - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  44. ^ "Open Government Guide New York - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  45. ^ "Open Government Guide North Carolina - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  46. ^ The State and Local Division, Office of Attorney General (2022). "Open Records Manual" (PDF). North Dakota Office of Attorney General. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  47. ^ "Open Government Guide Ohio - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  48. ^ "Open Government Guide Oklahoma - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  49. ^ "Oregon". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  50. ^ Pileggi, Dominic (2007). "The Right to Know Law" (PDF). The Office of Open Records. Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  51. ^ "Open Government Guide Rhode Island - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  52. ^ "Open Government Guide South Carolina - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  53. ^ "Open Government Guide South Dakota - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  54. ^ "Open Government Guide Tennessee - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  55. ^ "Open Government Guide Texas - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  56. ^ "Open Government Guide Utah - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  57. ^ "Vermont State Archives & Records Administration". Vermont Secretary of State. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  58. ^ "Open Government Guide Virginia - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  59. ^ "Open Government Guide Washington - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  60. ^ McGraw, Jr., Darrell V. (2011). "The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act" (PDF). Retrieved March 9, 2023.
  61. ^ "Open Government Guide Wisconsin - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-06.
  62. ^ "Open Government Guide Wyoming - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-09.
  63. ^ Office of Open Government. "Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)". Open DC. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  64. ^ "Open Government Guide District of Columbia - Reporters Committee". The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Retrieved 2023-03-05.

External links edit

  • Sunshine Week
  • The Open Government Guide of the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press.
  • The National Freedom of Information Coalition
  • The Joseph L. Brechner Center for Freedom of Information at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications

December 13, 2023
freedom, information, united, states, relates, public, ability, access, government, records, meetings, other, information, united, states, freedom, information, legislation, exists, federal, level, local, level, contents, federal, level, federal, legislation, . Freedom of information in the United States relates to the public s ability to access government records meetings and other information In the United States freedom of information legislation exists at the federal level and at the local level Contents 1 Federal level 1 1 Federal legislation 1 2 Proposed legislation 1 3 Miscellaneous Authoritative Federal Sources 1 4 U S Attorney General Memoranda 1 4 1 History 1 4 1 1 Reno Memo 1 4 1 2 Ashcroft Memo 1 4 1 3 AG Holder Memo 2 State legislation 2 1 Freedom of Information Laws by US State 3 See also 3 1 Individuals 3 2 U S 4 References 5 External linksFederal level editSince the founding of the United States the public s right to know the affairs of their government has been foundational democracy James Madison wrote during the United States Constitutional Convention The right of freely examining public characters and measures and free communication is the only effective guardian of every other right 1 2 Several federal laws have strengthened the public s ability to access public records Federal legislation edit Main article Freedom of Information Act United States The most important was the Freedom of Information Act signed into law on July 4 1966 by President Lyndon Johnson Administrative Procedure Act PL 79 404 1946 Freedom of Information Act PL 85 619 1966 Federal Advisory Committee Act PL 92 463 1972 Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act PL 93 344 1974 Government in the Sunshine Act PL 94 409 1976 Inspector General Act PL 95 452 1978 Ethics in Government Act PL 95 521 1978 Presidential Records Act PL 95 591 1978 Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments PL 104 231 1996Proposed legislation edit FOIA Oversight and Implementation Act of 2014 H R 1211 113th Congress would amend the FOIA to speed up the response time and ease of making a FOIA request among other changes 3 4 Miscellaneous Authoritative Federal Sources edit Executive Order 13233 drafted by Alberto R Gonzales and issued by George W Bush on November 1 2001 is used to limit the FOIA by restricting access to the records of former presidents Executive Order 13392 Improving Agency Disclosure of Information 5 U S Attorney General Memoranda edit History edit The Holder Memo is part of series of policy memos on how federal agencies should apply FOIA exemptions Beginning in 1977 with Attorney General Griffin Bell and continued by Attorney General William French Smith in 1981 and Attorney General Janet Reno in 1993 U S Department of Justice DOJ has announced how the executive branch should approach FOIA its application and DOJ s defense of agency s actions In other words DOJ s position on when they would defend in a FOIA suit has seesawed for about the last three decades Reno Memo edit The Reno Memo 6 established a presumption in favor of disclosure by providing that it shall be the policy of the Department of Justice to defend the assertion of a FOIA exemption only in those cases where the agency reasonably foresees that disclosure would be harmful to an interest protected by that exemption It encouraged all government agencies to review FOIA requests in a manner most favorable to openness and to release information even though it might fall within one of the nine exemption categories if no foreseeable harm would result from the disclosure The goal was to achieve the maximum responsible disclosure Ashcroft Memo edit On October 12 2001 Attorney General John Ashcroft issued a policy memorandum on FOIA to all federal executive agencies The AG declared the Department of Justice DOJ would defend agencies decisions to withhold documents from a FOIA requester under one of the statute s exemptions unless they lack a sound legal basis or present an unwarranted risk of adverse impact on the ability of other agencies to protect other important records The Ashcroft Memorandum reversed the Reno standard Agencies were told that in making discretionary FOIA decisions they should carefully consider the fundamental values behind the exemptions national security privacy government s interests etc and to lean in their favor whenever possible The Ashcroft Memo 7 with its sound legal basis standard encouraged or at least seemed to support greater use of FOIA exemptions by federal agency personnel AG Holder Memo edit This article s factual accuracy may be compromised due to out of date information Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information February 2018 The Ashcroft Memo was rescinded by Attorney General Eric Holder on March 14 2009 The AG Holder Memo 8 appears to have reinstated the Reno Memo standard and extends the policy The policy of the executive branch is to be open responsive transparent and accountable The current memo encourages the maximum disclosure possible in discretionary exemptions and to whenever possible reasonably segregate exempt information and release the rest State legislation editThis section needs expansion You can help by adding to it November 2013 All fifty U S states and the District of Columbia also have freedom of information laws that govern the public s access to government records at state and local levels 9 These laws go by many different names including Sunshine Laws Public Records Laws Open Records Laws etc Additionally Open Meeting Laws govern the public s access to meetings of public officials or appointed boards 10 All Freedom of Information style laws supports the ideal that in a democracy people have the right to know the business of their government However the laws vary in scope and strength among jurisdictions 1 For example Florida s Sunshine Law creates both a statutory and constitutional right to access whereas many states only provide the statutory right 2 Additionally while a state may have strong legislation the state s compliance with its own laws may negatively impact the public s ability to access records 11 Freedom of Information Laws by US State edit State Freedom of Information Law Code Section 12 First Enacted Who May Request Records 12 Alabama Alabama Public Records Law Al Code 36 12 40 36 12 41 1923 13 Any citizenAlaska Alaska Public Records Act A S 40 25 110 to 40 25 125 40 25 151 1900 14 Any personArizona Arizona Public Records Law A R S 39 121 01 to 39 121 03 1901 15 Any personArkansas Arkansas Freedom of Information Act Ark Code Ann 25 19 101 to 25 19 111 1967 16 Citizens of the state commonwealthCalifornia California Public Records Act Gov t Code 6250 to 6276 48 1968 17 Any personColorado Colorado Open Records Act C R S 24 72 200 1 to 24 72 205 5 1969 18 Any personConnecticut Connecticut Freedom of Information Act Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 14 1 200 to 1 242 1975 19 Any personDelaware Delaware Freedom of Information Act Tit 29 10001 to 10007 10112 1977 20 Citizens of the state commonwealthFlorida Florida Sunshine Law Fla Stat 119 01 to 119 19 1967 21 Any personGeorgia Georgia Open Records Act O C G A 50 18 70 to 50 18 103 1959 22 Citizens of the state commonwealthHawaii Uniform Information Practices Act Modified Haw Rev Stat 92F 1 to 92F 43 1975 23 Any personIdaho Idaho Public Records Act Idaho Code 74 101 to 74 126 1990 24 Any personIllinois Illinois Freedom of Information Act ILCS 5 140 1 to 140 11 6 1984 25 Any personIndiana Access to Public Records Act IN Code 5 14 3 1 to 5 14 3 10 1983 26 Any personIowa Iowa Open Records Law Iowa Code 22 1 to 22 16 1967 27 Any personKansas Kansas Open Records Act KSA 45 215 to 45 524 1984 28 Any personKentucky Kentucky Open Records Act Kentucky Revised Statute Chapter 61 870 to 61 884 1976 29 Residents of the state commonwealthLouisiana Louisiana Public Records Law La R S 44 31 to 44 41 1940 30 Any person 18 or olderMaine Maine Freedom of Access Act Tit 1 400 to 434 1959 31 Any personMaryland Maryland Public Information Act Gen Provis 4 101 to 4 601 1970 32 Any personMassachusetts Massachusetts Public Records Law Mass Gen Laws ch 66 1 to 21 1897 33 Any personMichigan Michigan Freedom of Information Act Mich Comp Laws Ann 15 231 to 15 246 1977 34 Any personMinnesota Minnesota Data Practices Act Minn Statutes 13 01 to 13 99 Ch 13 Appendix 1974 35 Any personMississippi Mississippi Public Records Act Miss Code Ann 25 61 1 to 25 61 19 1983 36 Any personMissouri Missouri Public Records Act Mo Code 109 180 610 010 to 610 225 1961 37 Citizens of the state commonwealthMontana Montana Public Records Act Montana Code 2 6 101 to 2 6 1020 1895 38 Any personNebraska Nebraska Public Records Law Nebraska Statutes 84 712 to 84 712 09 1866 39 Any personNevada Nevada Open Records Act N R S 239 010 239 340 1911 40 Any personNew Hampshire Right to Know Law R S A Ch 91 A 1 to 91 A 10 1967 41 Any citizenNew Jersey New Jersey Open Public Records Act N J S A 47 1A 1 to 47 1A 13 2002 42 Citizens of the state commonwealthNew Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act NMSA 14 2 1 to 14 2 12 1993 43 Any personNew York New York Freedom of Information Law Pub Off 84 to 90 1974 44 Any personNorth Carolina North Carolina Public Records Law NCGS Chapter 132 1 to 132 11 1995 45 Any personNorth Dakota Open Records Statute NDCC 44 04 18 to 44 04 32 1957 46 Any personOhio Ohio Open Records Law Ohio Rev Code 149 43 to 149 45 2743 75 1963 47 Any personOklahoma Oklahoma Open Records Act Title 51 Oklahoma Statutes 24A 1 to 24A 32 1999 48 Any personOregon Oregon Public Records Law O R S 192 311 to 192 513 1973 49 Any personPennsylvania Pennsylvania Right to Know Law 65 Pennsylvania Statute 67 101 to 67 1310 1957 50 Citizens of the state commonwealthRhode Island Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act P L 38 2 1 to 38 2 16 1979 51 Any personSouth Carolina South Carolina Freedom of Information Act S C Code Ann 30 4 10 to 30 4 165 1974 52 Any personSouth Dakota South Dakota Sunshine Law SDCL Chapter 1 27 1 to 1 27 48 2009 53 Any personTennessee Tennessee Open Records Act Tenn Code Ann 10 7 503 to 10 7 508 1957 54 Citizens of the state commonwealthTexas Texas Public Information Act Gov t 552 001 to 552 376 1973 55 Any personUtah Government Records Access and Management Act Utah Code Title 63G 2 101 to 63G 2 804 1991 56 Any personVermont Vermont Open Records Law Vermont Statute Tit 1 315 to 320 1976 57 Any personVirginia Virginia Freedom of Information Act Code of Virginia 2 2 3700 to 2 2 3715 1968 58 Citizens of the state commonwealthWashington Washington Public Records Act RCW 42 56 001 to 42 56 904 1972 59 Any personWest Virginia West Virginia Freedom of Information Act W Va Code 29B 1 1 to 29B 1 7 1977 60 Any personWisconsin Wisconsin Open Records Law Wisconsin Statute 19 21 to 19 39 1981 61 Any personWyoming Wyoming Sunshine Law Wyo Stat 16 4 201 to 16 4 205 1983 62 Any personDistrict of Columbia Freedom of Information Act 63 DC Official Code 2 531 to 2 540 1974 64 Any personSee also editFreedom of information laws by country Sunshine Week Open government DeclassificationIndividuals edit Jason Leopold Ryan ShapiroU S edit Moynihan Commission on Government Secrecy McBurney v Young Muckrock National Archives and Records Administration NSA warrantless surveillance controversy Patriot Act U S reclassification program United States v ReynoldsReferences edit a b Stewart Daxton R Chip 2010 07 08 Let the Sunshine In or Else An Examination of the Teeth of State and Federal Open Meetings and Open Records Laws Communication Law and Policy 15 3 265 310 doi 10 1080 10811680 2010 489858 ISSN 1081 1680 S2CID 144106823 a b Edwards K 2003 Freedom of information laws Encyclopedia of International Media and Communications 53 67 doi 10 1016 B0 12 387670 2 00100 X ISBN 9780123876706 via Elsevier Science amp Technology Gold Hadas 26 February 2014 House unanimously passes FOIA bill Politico blog Retrieved 19 April 2015 FOIA Act No H R 1211 of 25 February 2014 Retrieved 19 April 2015 Freedom of Information Act whitehouse gov 21 January 2009 via National Archives FOIA Update Attorney General Reno s FOIA Memorandum 13 August 2014 New Attorney General FOIA Memorandum Issued http www usdoj gov ag foia memo march2009 pdf bare URL PDF State Public Record Laws FOIAdvocates Kaye Janet 2008 06 05 Open Meetings Law in Donsbach Wolfgang ed The International Encyclopedia of Communication Chichester UK John Wiley amp Sons Ltd pp wbieco010 doi 10 1002 9781405186407 wbieco010 ISBN 978 1 4051 8640 7 retrieved 2023 03 16 States Failing FOI Responsiveness National Freedom of Information Coalition 2007 Retrieved 2023 03 17 a b National survey of state laws Richard A Leiter Wendy Leiter 9th ed Getzville NY William S Hein amp Co Inc 2022 pp 807 816 ISBN 978 0 8377 4269 4 OCLC 1343162981 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint others link Open Government Guide Alabama Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 05 Open Government Guide Alaska Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 05 Open Government Guide Arizona Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 05 Open Government Guide Arkansas Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 05 California Public Records Act FAQs post ca gov Retrieved 2023 03 05 Open Government Guide Colorado Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 05 Open Government Guide Connecticut Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 05 Open Government Guide Delaware Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 05 Kalil Earl L 1975 Florida Sunshine Law Florida Bar Journal 49 2 72 116 via HeinOnline Open Government Guide Georgia Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 05 Open Government Guide Hawaii Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 05 Younger Cally 2015 In Year 25 Idaho s Public Records Law Gets a Checkup by Idaho s Public Records Ombudsman Advocate Idaho State Bar 58 2 32 34 via HeinOnline Open Government Guide Illinois Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 05 Office of the Public Access Counselor 2022 Handbook on Indiana s Public Access Laws PDF Access to Public Records Act Retrieved March 3 2022 Open Government Guide Iowa Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 05 Open Government Guide Kansas Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 05 Open Government Guide Kentucky Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 05 Open Government Guide Louisiana Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 05 Open Government Guide Maine Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 In new report Maryland open records officials urge greater transparency Washington Post ISSN 0190 8286 Retrieved 2023 03 07 Open Government Guide Massachusetts Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide Michigan Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide Minnesota Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide Mississippi Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Missouri The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide Montana Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Outline of Nebraska Public Records Statutes Attorney General Mike Hilgers 2023 Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide Nevada Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide New Hampshire Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide New Jersey Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide New Mexico Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide New York Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide North Carolina Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 The State and Local Division Office of Attorney General 2022 Open Records Manual PDF North Dakota Office of Attorney General Retrieved March 9 2023 Open Government Guide Ohio Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide Oklahoma Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Oregon The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Pileggi Dominic 2007 The Right to Know Law PDF The Office of Open Records Retrieved March 9 2023 Open Government Guide Rhode Island Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide South Carolina Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide South Dakota Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide Tennessee Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 09 Open Government Guide Texas Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide Utah Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Vermont State Archives amp Records Administration Vermont Secretary of State Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide Virginia Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide Washington Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 McGraw Jr Darrell V 2011 The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act PDF Retrieved March 9 2023 Open Government Guide Wisconsin Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 06 Open Government Guide Wyoming Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 09 Office of Open Government Freedom of Information Act FOIA Open DC Retrieved March 3 2023 Open Government Guide District of Columbia Reporters Committee The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press Retrieved 2023 03 05 External links editSunshine Week The Open Government Guide of the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press The National Freedom of Information Coalition The Joseph L Brechner Center for Freedom of Information at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Freedom of information in the United States amp oldid 1177333577, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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