Nebraska Public Records: A Complete Research Guide

Nebraska public records are government-created documents, databases, filings, and communications maintained by state and local agencies that are generally accessible to the public under the Nebraska Public Records Statutes, codified at Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 84-712 through 84-712.09. The law establishes a strong presumption that all government records are open, and Nebraska courts have directed … Read more

West Virginia Public Records: A Complete Research Guide

West Virginia public records are government-created documents, filings, databases, and communications maintained by state and local agencies that are generally accessible to the public under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act, codified at W. Va. Code §§ 29B-1-1 et seq. The law establishes a broad presumption that all government records are open to inspection … Read more

Louisiana Public Records: A Complete Research Guide

Louisiana public records are government-created documents, recordings, and data maintained by public bodies that are accessible under the Louisiana Public Records Law, codified at Louisiana Revised Statutes (La. R.S.) Title 44, Chapter 1. Louisiana is uniquely distinguished by having its public records right constitutionally guaranteed — Article XII, Section 3 of the Louisiana Constitution states: … Read more

Kentucky Public Records: A Complete Research Guide

Kentucky public records are government-created documents, data, and materials maintained by public agencies that are accessible under the Kentucky Open Records Act (KORA), codified at Kentucky Revised Statutes (KRS) 61.870 through 61.884. The Act, enacted in 1976 and substantially revised in 1986, 1992, and 1994, declares that “the free and open examination of public records … Read more

South Carolina Public Records: A Complete Research Guide

South Carolina public records are government-created documents, recordings, and data maintained by public bodies that are accessible under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), codified at S.C. Code Ann. §§ 30-4-10 through 30-4-55. The Act declares that “it is vital in a democratic society that public business be performed in an open and … Read more

Alabama Public Records: A Complete Research Guide

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: A Complete Research Guide

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: A Complete Research Guide

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: A Complete Research Guide

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: A Complete Research Guide

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