Freedom of information in the United States

{{Short description|none}} {{Use American English|date=February 2026}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2026}} '''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 all levels of government: federal level, state level, and local level.

==Federal level== Since the founding of the United States, the public's right to know the affairs of their government has been foundational to 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."<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" />

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

===Federal legislation=== {{main|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 [https://uslaw.link/citation/us-law/public/79/404 PL 79-404; 1946] * Freedom of Information Act [https://uslaw.link/citation/us-law/public/89/487 PL 85-619; 1966] * Federal Advisory Committee Act [https://uslaw.link/citation/us-law/public/92/463 PL 92-463; 1972] * Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act [https://uslaw.link/citation/us-law/public/93/344 PL 93-344; 1974] * Government in the Sunshine Act [https://uslaw.link/citation/us-law/public/94/409 PL 94-409; 1976] * Inspector General Act [https://uslaw.link/citation/us-law/public/95/452 PL 95-452; 1978] * Ethics in Government Act [https://uslaw.link/citation/us-law/public/95/521 PL 95-521; 1978] * Presidential Records Act [https://uslaw.link/citation/us-law/public/95/591 PL 95-591; 1978] * Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments [https://uslaw.link/citation/us-law/public/104/231 PL 104-231; 1996]

===Proposed legislation=== * 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.<ref name=politicoGold>{{cite web |last=Gold |first=Hadas |title=House unanimously passes FOIA bill |url=https://www.politico.com/blogs/media/2014/02/house-unanimously-passes-foia-bill-184049 |access-date=19 April 2015 |website=Politico |date=26 February 2014 |type=blog }}</ref><ref name=1211sum>{{cite act |title=FOIA |type=Act |number=H.R. 1211 |date=25 February 2014 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/1211 |access-date=19 April 2015 }}</ref>

===Miscellaneous Authoritative Federal Sources=== * 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the_press_office/Freedom_of_Information_Act/|via=National Archives|work=whitehouse.gov|title=Freedom of Information Act|date=21 January 2009 }}</ref>

===U.S. Attorney General Memoranda===

====History====

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=====

The Reno Memo<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usdoj.gov/oip/foia_updates/Vol_XIV_3/page3.htm|title=FOIA Update: Attorney General Reno's FOIA Memorandum|date=13 August 2014 }}</ref> 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=====

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<ref>{{cite web|url=https://fas.org/sgp/foia/ashcroft.html|title=New Attorney General FOIA Memorandum Issued}}</ref> 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===== {{Update|inaccurate=yes|date=February 2018}} The Ashcroft Memo was rescinded by Attorney General Eric Holder on March 14, 2009. The AG Holder Memo<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 19, 2009 |title=Memorandum for Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies |url=http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/foia-memo-march2009.pdf |url-status=dead |access-date=October 2, 2025 |archive-date=March 19, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319231733/http://www.usdoj.gov/ag/foia-memo-march2009.pdf }}</ref> 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== {{expand section|date=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.<ref>{{cite web |title=State Public Record Laws |url=http://www.foiadvocates.com/records.html |publisher=FOIAdvocates}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Citation |last=Kaye |first=Janet |title=Open Meetings Law |date=2008-06-05 |url=https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9781405186407.wbieco010 |encyclopedia=The International Encyclopedia of Communication |pages=wbieco010 |editor-last=Donsbach |editor-first=Wolfgang |access-date=2023-03-16 |place=Chichester, UK |publisher=John Wiley & Sons, Ltd |language=en |doi=10.1002/9781405186407.wbieco010 |isbn=978-1-4051-8640-7|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

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.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Stewart |first=Daxton R. "Chip" |date=2010-07-08 |title=Let the Sunshine In, or Else: An Examination of the "Teeth" of State and Federal Open Meetings and Open Records Laws |url=https://doi.org/10.1080/10811680.2010.489858 |journal=Communication Law and Policy |volume=15 |issue=3 |pages=265–310 |doi=10.1080/10811680.2010.489858 |s2cid=144106823 |issn=1081-1680|url-access=subscription }}</ref> For example, Florida's Sunshine Law creates both a statutory and constitutional right to access whereas many states only provide the statutory right.<ref name=":3">{{cite book |last=Edwards |first=K. |date=2003 |chapter=Freedom of information laws |url=https://search.credoreference.com/content/entry/estimc/freedom_of_information_laws/0?institutionId=5600 |title=Encyclopedia of International Media and Communications |pages=53–67 |doi=10.1016/B0-12-387670-2/00100-X |isbn=9780123876706 |via=Elsevier Science & Technology|url-access=subscription }}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2007 |title=States Failing FOI Responsiveness – National Freedom of Information Coalition |url=https://www.nfoic.org/states-failing-foi-responsiveness/ |access-date=2023-03-17 |language=en-US}}</ref>

===Freedom of Information laws by state and territory=== {{sticky header}} {| class="wikitable sortable sticky-header" !State !Freedom of Information Law !Code Section<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=National survey of state laws |publisher=William S. Hein & Co., Inc. |others=Richard A. Leiter, Wendy Leiter |year=2022 |isbn=978-0-8377-4269-4 |edition=9th |location=Getzville, NY |pages=807–816 |oclc=1343162981}}</ref> !First Enacted !Who May Request Records<ref name=":0" /> |- |Alabama |Alabama Public Records Law |Al. Code §§ 36-12-40; 36-12-41 |1923<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Alabama - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/alabama/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any citizen |- |Alaska |Alaska Public Records Act |A.S. §§ 40.25.110 to 40.25.125; 40.25.151 |1900<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Alaska - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/alaska/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |American Samoa |American Samoa Public Records Act |A.S.C.A. §§ 2.0101 et seq. |1984<ref>{{Cite web |title=American Samoa Code Annotated |url=http://www.asbar.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=68&Itemid=172 |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=American Samoa Bar Association}}</ref> |Any person |- |Arizona |Arizona Public Records Law |A.R.S. §§ 39–121.01 to 39–121.03 |1901<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Arizona - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/arizona/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Arkansas |Arkansas Freedom of Information Act |Ark. Code Ann. §§ 25-19-101 to 25-19-111 |1967<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Arkansas - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/arkansas/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Citizens of the state/commonwealth |- |California |California Public Records Act |Gov't Code §§ 7920.000 to 7931.000{{efn|Originally Gov't Code §§ 6250 to 6276.48 until January 1, 2023.}} |1968<ref>{{Cite web |title=California Public Records Act FAQs |url=https://post.ca.gov/california-public-records-act-faqs |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=post.ca.gov}}</ref> |Any person |- |Colorado |Colorado Open Records Act |C.R.S. §§ 24-72-200.1 to 24-72-205.5 |1969<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Colorado - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/colorado/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Connecticut |Connecticut Freedom of Information Act |Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 14 §§ 1–200 to 1-242 |1975<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Connecticut - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/connecticut/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Delaware |Delaware Freedom of Information Act |Tit. 29, §§ 10001 to 10007; 10112 |1977<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Delaware - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/delaware/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Citizens of the state/commonwealth |- |District of Columbia |Freedom of Information Act<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Office of Open Government |title=Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) |url=https://www.open-dc.gov/freedom-information-act |access-date=March 3, 2023 |website=Open DC}}</ref> |DC Official Code §§ 2–531 to 2-540 |1974<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide District of Columbia - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/district-of-columbia/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Florida |Florida Sunshine Law |Fla. Stat. §§ 119.01 to 119.19 |1967<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kalil |first=Earl L. |date=1975 |title=Florida Sunshine Law |url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.barjournals/florbarj0049&i=73 |journal=Florida Bar Journal |volume=49 |issue=2 |pages=72–116 |via=HeinOnline}}</ref> |Any person |- |Georgia |Georgia Open Records Act |O.C.G.A. §§ 50-18-70 to 50-18-103 |1959<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Georgia - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/georgia/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Citizens of the state/commonwealth |- |Guam |Guam Sunshine Reform Act of 1999 |5 GCA §§ 10101 to 10125 |1999<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guam Sunshine Reform Act of 1999 |url=https://www.guamcourts.org/CompilerofLaws/GCA/title5.html |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=Compiler of Laws of Guam}}</ref> |Any person |- |Hawaii |Uniform Information Practices Act (Modified) |Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 92F-1 to 92F-43 |1975<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Hawaii - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/hawaii/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Idaho |Idaho Public Records Act |Idaho Code §§ 74–101 to 74-126 |1990<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Younger |first=Cally |date=2015 |title=In Year 25 Idaho's Public Records Law Gets a Checkup by Idaho's Public Records Ombudsman |url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/P?h=hein.barjournals/adisb0058&i=104 |journal=Advocate (Idaho State Bar) |volume=58 |issue=2 |pages=32–34 |via=HeinOnline}}</ref> |Any person |- |Illinois |Illinois Freedom of Information Act |ILCS 5 §§ 140/1 to 140/11.6 |1984<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Illinois - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/illinois/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Indiana |Access to Public Records Act |IN Code §§ 5-14-3-1 to 5-14-3-10 |1983<ref>{{Cite web |last=Office of the Public Access Counselor |date=2022 |title=Handbook on Indiana's Public Access Laws |url=https://www.in.gov/pac/files/pac-handbook-update-draft-3-1-2022.pdf |access-date=March 3, 2022 |website=Access to Public Records Act}}</ref> |Any person |- |Iowa |Iowa Open Records Law |Iowa Code §§ 22.1 to 22.16 |1967<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Iowa - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/iowa/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Kansas |Kansas Open Records Act |KSA §§ 45–215 to 45-524 |1984<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Kansas - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/kansas-2/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Kentucky |Kentucky Open Records Act |Kentucky Revised Statute Chapter §§ 61.870 to 61.884 |1976<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Kentucky - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/kentucky/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |From Kentucky: "''an individual residing in Kentucky, a domestic business with a location in Kentucky (or an out-of-state business registered with the Secretary of State), a person who works in Kentucky, a person or business that owns real property within Kentucky, a person or business authorized to act on behalf of a Kentucky resident, or a news-gathering organization''"; inmates have some restrictions; non-Kentucky people may request records, but their requests can be denied |- |Louisiana |Louisiana Public Records Law |La.R.S. §§ 44:31 to 44:41 |1940<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Louisiana - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/louisiana/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person 18 or older |- |Maine |Maine Freedom of Access Act |Tit. 1, §§ 400 to 434 |1959<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Maine - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/maine/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Maryland |Maryland Public Information Act |Gen. Provis. §§ 4–101 to 4-601 |1970<ref>{{Cite news |title=In new report, Maryland open-records officials urge greater transparency |language=en-US |newspaper=Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/maryland-news/in-new-report-maryland-open-records-officials-urge-greater-transparency/2020/01/03/82eafc06-2c04-11ea-9b60-817cc18cf173_story.html |access-date=2023-03-07 |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> |Any person |- |Massachusetts |Massachusetts Public Records Law |Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 66, §§ 1 to 21 |1897<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Massachusetts - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/massachusetts/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Michigan |Michigan Freedom of Information Act |Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. §§ 15.231 to 15.246 |1977<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Michigan - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/michigan/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Minnesota |Minnesota Data Practices Act |Minn. Statutes §§ 13.01 to 13.99 Ch. 13 Appendix |1974<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Minnesota - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/minnesota/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Mississippi |Mississippi Public Records Act |Miss. Code Ann. §§ 25-61-1 to 25-61-19 |1983<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Mississippi - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/mississippi/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Missouri |Missouri Public Records Act |Mo. Code §§ 109.180; 610.010 to 610.225 |1961<ref>{{Cite web |title=Missouri |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/missouri/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Citizens of the state/commonwealth |- |Montana |Montana Public Records Act |Montana Code §§ 2-6-101 to 2-6-1020 |1895<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Montana - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/montana/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Nebraska |Nebraska Public Records Law |Nebraska Statutes §§ 84–712 to 84-712.09 |1866<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023 |title=Outline of Nebraska Public Records Statutes |url=https://ago.nebraska.gov/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Attorney General Mike Hilgers |language=en}}</ref> |Any person |- |Nevada |Nevada Open Records Act |N.R.S. §§ 239.010-239.340 |1911<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Nevada - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/nevada/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |New Hampshire |Right to Know Law |R.S.A. Ch. 91-A:1 to 91-A:10 |1967<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide New Hampshire - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/new-hampshire/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any citizen |- |New Jersey |New Jersey Open Public Records Act |N.J.S.A. §§ 47:1A-1 to 47:1A-13 |2002<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide New Jersey - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/new-jersey/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Citizens of the state/commonwealth |- |New Mexico |Inspection of Public Records Act |NMSA §§ 14-2-1 to 14-2-12 |1993<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide New Mexico - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/new-mexico/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |New York |New York Freedom of Information Law |Pub. Off. §§ 84 to 90 |1974<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide New York - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/new-york/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |North Carolina |North Carolina Public Records Law |NCGS Chapter 132–1 to 132-11 |1995<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide North Carolina - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/north-carolina/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |North Dakota |Open Records Statute |NDCC §§ 44-04-18 to 44-04-32 |1957<ref>{{Cite web |last=The State and Local Division, Office of Attorney General |date=2022 |title=Open Records Manual |url=https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/sites/ag/files/documents/OpenRecordsManual.pdf |access-date=March 9, 2023 |website=North Dakota Office of Attorney General |archive-date=December 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208203500/https://attorneygeneral.nd.gov/sites/ag/files/documents/OpenRecordsManual.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> |Any person |- |Northern Mariana Islands |Open Government Act of 1992 |1 CMC §§ 9901 to 9910 |1992<ref>{{Cite web |title=Northern Mariana Islands Commonwealth Code |url=https://cnmilaw.org/ |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=NMI Law Revision Commission}}</ref> |Any person |- |Ohio |Ohio Open Records Law |Ohio Rev. Code §§ 149.43 to 149.45; 2743.75 |1963<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Ohio - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/ohio/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Oklahoma |Oklahoma Open Records Act |Title 51 Oklahoma Statutes §§ 24A.1 to 24A.32 |1999<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Oklahoma - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/oklahoma/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Oregon |Oregon Public Records Law |O.R.S. §§ 192.311 to 192.513 |1973<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oregon |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/oregon/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Pennsylvania |Right-to-Know Law |65 Pennsylvania Statute §§ 67.101 to 67.1310 |1957<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pileggi |first=Dominic |date=2007 |title=Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law |url=https://www.openrecords.pa.gov/Documents/RTKL/PA_Right-To-Know_Law.pdf |access-date=March 9, 2023 |website=The Office of Open Records}}</ref> |Any legal resident of the United States |- |Puerto Rico |Puerto Rico Transparency and Access to Public Information Act |Law No. 141-2019 |2019<ref>{{Cite web |title=Puerto Rico Transparency and Access to Public Information Act |url=https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=3f8bb43c-0670-4294-beb6-c8be3279c7d2 |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=Lexology}}</ref> |Any person |- |Rhode Island |Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act |P.L. §§ 38-2-1 to 38-2-16 |1979<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Rhode Island - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/rhode-island/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |South Carolina |South Carolina Freedom of Information Act |S.C. Code Ann. §§ 30-4-10 to 30-4-165 |1974<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide South Carolina - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/south-carolina/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |South Dakota |South Dakota Sunshine Law |SDCL Chapter 1-27-1 to 1-27-48 |2009<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide South Dakota - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/south-dakota/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Tennessee |Tennessee Open Records Act |Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 10-7-503 to 10-7-508 |1957<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Tennessee - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/tennessee/ |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Citizens of the state/commonwealth |- |Texas |Texas Public Information Act |Gov't §§ 552.001 to 552.376 |1973<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Texas - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/texas/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Utah |Government Records Access and Management Act |Utah Code Title 63G-2-101 to 63G-2-804 |1991<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Utah - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/utah/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Vermont |Vermont Open Records Law |Vermont Statute Tit. 1, §§ 315 to 320 |1976<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vermont State Archives & Records Administration |url=https://sos.vermont.gov/vsara/learn/public-records-act/background/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Vermont Secretary of State}}</ref> |Any person |- |Virginia |Virginia Freedom of Information Act |Code of Virginia §§ 2.2-3700 to 2.2-3715 |1968<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Virginia - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/virginia/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Citizens of the state/commonwealth |- |Virgin Islands |Virgin Islands Sunshine Act |V.I. Code tit. 3, §§ 881–884 |1976<ref>{{Cite web |title=Virgin Islands Code |url=https://law.justia.com/codes/virgin-islands/ |access-date=2025-06-21 |website=Justia Law}}</ref> |Any person |- |Washington |Washington Public Records Act |RCW §§ 42.56.001 to 42.56.904 |1972<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Washington - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/washington/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |West Virginia |West Virginia Freedom of Information Act |W.Va. Code §§ 29B-1-1 to 29B-1-7 |1977<ref>{{Cite web |last=McGraw, Jr. |first=Darrell V. |date=2011 |title=The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act |url=https://privacy.wv.gov/SiteCollectionDocuments/Intersection%20of%20FOIA%20and%20Privacy/FOIAHandbook2011.pdf |access-date=March 9, 2023}}</ref> |Any person |- |Wisconsin |Wisconsin Open Records Law |Wisconsin Statute §§ 19.21 to 19.39 |1981<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Wisconsin - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/wisconsin/ |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |- |Wyoming |Wyoming Sunshine Law |Wyo. Stat. §§ 16-4-201 to 16-4-205 |1983<ref>{{Cite web |title=Open Government Guide Wyoming - Reporters Committee |url=https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-guide/wyoming/ |access-date=2023-03-09 |website=The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press |language=en-US}}</ref> |Any person |}

=== Individuals === * Jason Leopold * Ryan Shapiro

=== U.S. === * Moynihan Commission on Government Secrecy * ''McBurney v. Young'' * MuckRock * National Archives and Records Administration * NSA warrantless surveillance controversy * Patriot Act * The Black Vault * U.S. reclassification program * ''United States v. Reynolds'' * ''State ex. rel. Quolke v. Strongsville City School District''

== References == {{reflist|2}}

==External links== *[https://www.newsleaders.org/sunshine-week-about Sunshine Week] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230315224400/https://www.newsleaders.org/sunshine-week-about |date=2023-03-15 }} *[http://www.rcfp.org/ogg/index.php The Open Government Guide of the Reporters Committee for the Freedom of the Press]. *[http://www.nfoic.org/ The National Freedom of Information Coalition] *[https://brechner.org/ The Joseph L. Brechner Center for Freedom of Information at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications]

Category:Freedom of information in the United States Category:Law of the United States Category:Classified information