Shawn Stephenson
Alabama public records are government-created documents, data, and materials maintained by public officers and agencies that are accessible to Alabama residents under the Alabama Open Records Act, codified at Ala. Code §§ 36-12-40 through 36-12-46. Public records include all “written, typed or printed books, papers, letters, documents and maps made or received in pursuance of … Read more
Iowa public records are government-created documents, data, and communications maintained by government bodies that are accessible to any person under Iowa’s Open Records Law, codified at Iowa Code Chapter 22. Iowa public policy declares that “every person shall have the right to examine and copy a public record and to publish or otherwise disseminate a … Read more
Mississippi public records are government-created documents, recordings, and data maintained by public bodies that are accessible under the Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983, codified at Miss. Code Ann. §§ 25-61-1 through 25-61-19. The Act declares that “public records must be available for inspection by any person unless otherwise provided by this act” and that … Read more
Arkansas public records are government-created documents, recordings, and data maintained by governmental bodies that are accessible under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at Ark. Code Ann. §§ 25-19-101 through 25-19-112. First enacted on February 14, 1967 — Valentine’s Day — the Arkansas FOIA is considered one of the strongest open-records laws in … Read more
Massachusetts public records are government-created documents, data, and communications maintained by public agencies that are accessible under the Massachusetts Public Records Law, codified primarily at M.G.L. Chapter 66, Section 10, with the definition of public records at M.G.L. Chapter 4, Section 7, Clause 26. The law provides that all records made or received by a … Read more
Kansas public records are government-created documents, data, and communications maintained by public agencies that are accessible to any person under the Kansas Open Records Act (KORA), codified at K.S.A. 45-215 et seq. Kansas public policy declares that “public records shall be open for inspection by any person unless otherwise provided, and this act shall be … Read more
Utah public records are government-created documents, data, and communications maintained by governmental entities that are accessible under the Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA), codified at Utah Code Title 63G, Chapter 2. GRAMA is unique among state public records laws — it is not merely an access statute but a comprehensive framework that governs … Read more
Nevada public records are government-created documents, data, and communications maintained by governmental entities that are accessible to any person under the Nevada Public Records Act (NPRA), codified at Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 239. Nevada’s legislature declared that “the purpose of this chapter is to foster democratic principles by providing members of the public with prompt … Read more
Oregon public records are government-created documents, data, and communications maintained by public bodies that are accessible to any person under the Oregon Public Records Law, codified at ORS Chapter 192. The law declares: “Every person has a right to inspect any public record of a public body in this state.” Oregon’s Public Records Law covers … Read more
Connecticut public records are government-created documents, data, and communications maintained by public agencies that are accessible to any person under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at Chapter 14 of the Connecticut General Statutes (C.G.S. §§ 1-200 et seq.). Enacted in 1975, Connecticut’s FOI Act declares that “the actions taken by public agencies … Read more