Public records access laws by jurisdiction
Every US state has an open records law — sometimes called a freedom of information act, public records act, or right-to-know law. These laws give the public the right to request and access records held by government agencies.
Open records laws are essential tools for lawyers, businesses, journalists, and citizens who need government information. Common uses include due diligence on government contracts, litigation support, regulatory monitoring, and competitive intelligence.
At the federal level, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) applies to federal agency records. Each state has its own statute with different scope, exemptions, timelines, and enforcement mechanisms. Some states — like Florida and California — have exceptionally broad open records laws. Others have more limited frameworks.
Federal open records law is built around two statutes: FOIA (5 U.S.C. § 552) gives the public the right to access records held by federal executive-branch agencies. The Privacy Act of 1974 (5 U.S.C. § 552a) limits how agencies may collect, use, and disclose records about individuals — and creates an individual right to access and correct one’s own records.