Skip to content
National Association of Attorneys General
  • Issues
    • Issues
      • Anticorruption
      • Antitrust
      • Bankruptcy
      • Charities
      • Civil Law
    • Issues
      • Consumer Protection
      • Criminal Law
      • Cyber and Technology
      • Disaster Preparedness & Response
      • Elder Justice
    • Issues
      • Ethics
      • Human Trafficking
      • Medicaid Fraud
      • Powers & Duties
    • Issues
      • Public Health
      • The U.S. Supreme Court
      • Tobacco
      • Veterans & Military
  • Our Work
    • Training & Research
    • Centers
      • NAAG Center for Excellence in Governance
      • NAAG Center for Supreme Court Advocacy
      • NAAG Center for Tobacco & Public Health
      • NAGTRI Center for Consumer Protection
      • NAGTRI Center for Ethics & Public Integrity
      • NAGTRI Center for International Partnerships & Strategic Collaboration
      • NAGTRI Center for Leadership Development
      • NAGTRI Center for Legal Advocacy & Faculty Development
    • Committees
    • Initiatives
      • Presidential Initiative
      • Strategic Partnerships
      • ConsumerResources.org
      • International Fellows
      • COVID-19
    • Bankruptcy
    • Policy & Advocacy
  • Events & Training
    • Event Calendar
    • Attorney General Symposium
    • Presidential Summit
    • Capital Forum
    • Region Meetings
    • NAGTRI Trainings
    • Online Learning
    • NAGTRI Faculty
    • Video Library
  • News & Resources
    • Attorney General Journal
    • Reports & Publications
    • Newsroom
    • NAAG Policy Letters
    • Podcasts
    • Online Learning
    • Research & Data
    • Member Directory
  • Attorneys General
    • What Attorneys General Do
    • AGs in the News
    • Who is my Attorney General?
    • Research & Data
    • Awards & Recognition
    • Careers in Attorney General Offices
  • About NAAG
    • NAAG Staff
    • NAGTRI
    • NAAG Leadership
    • NAAG Member Services
    • NAAG Regions
    • NAAG FAQs
    • SAGE
    • NAMFCU
    • Newsroom
    • Careers at NAAG
  • Find my AG
  • NAGTRI
  • Contact Us
  • Log In
National Association of Attorneys General
  • Find My AG
  • NAGTRI
  • Consumer Complaints
  • Contact Us
Log In
  • Issues
    • Issues
      • Anticorruption
      • Antitrust
      • Bankruptcy
      • Charities
      • Civil Law
    • Issues
      • Consumer Protection
      • Criminal Law
      • Cyber and Technology
      • Disaster Preparedness & Response
      • Elder Justice
    • Issues
      • Ethics
      • Human Trafficking
      • Medicaid Fraud
      • Powers & Duties
    • Issues
      • Public Health
      • The U.S. Supreme Court
      • Tobacco
      • Veterans & Military
  • Our Work
    • Training & Research
    • Centers
      • NAAG Center for Excellence in Governance
      • NAAG Center for Supreme Court Advocacy
      • NAAG Center for Tobacco & Public Health
      • NAGTRI Center for Consumer Protection
      • NAGTRI Center for Ethics & Public Integrity
      • NAGTRI Center for International Partnerships & Strategic Collaboration
      • NAGTRI Center for Leadership Development
      • NAGTRI Center for Legal Advocacy & Faculty Development
    • Committees
    • Initiatives
      • Presidential Initiative
      • Strategic Partnerships
      • ConsumerResources.org
      • International Fellows
      • COVID-19
    • Bankruptcy
    • Policy & Advocacy
  • Events & Training
    • Event Calendar
    • Attorney General Symposium
    • Presidential Summit
    • Capital Forum
    • Region Meetings
    • NAGTRI Trainings
    • Online Learning
    • NAGTRI Faculty
    • Video Library
  • News & Resources
    • Attorney General Journal
    • Reports & Publications
    • Newsroom
    • NAAG Policy Letters
    • Podcasts
    • Online Learning
    • Research & Data
    • Member Directory
  • Attorneys General
    • What Attorneys General Do
    • AGs in the News
    • Who is my Attorney General?
    • Research & Data
    • Awards & Recognition
    • Careers in Attorney General Offices
  • About NAAG
    • NAAG Staff
    • NAGTRI
    • NAAG Leadership
    • NAAG Member Services
    • NAAG Regions
    • NAAG FAQs
    • SAGE
    • NAMFCU
    • Newsroom
    • Careers at NAAG
  • Find my AG
  • NAGTRI
  • Contact Us
  • Log In

Public Records

Home / Issues / Civil Law / Public Records

Every state or territory has laws addressing access to public records and open meetings. Public record disclosure laws grant the public the right to inspect almost any government record related to the conduct of the public’s business. Similar laws allow the public access to most meetings conducted by public bodies.  

Although most records are subject to public record laws, those exempt from mandatory disclosure, include: 

  • Private personnel information 
  • Records compiled for litigation 
  • Certain criminal investigatory materials 
  • Student records 
  • Trade secret information 

Other records that may be exempt under state statutes are adoption records, public utility records, and 911 calls.  

Attorney general offices are subject to public record laws as well but their documents are usually protected by investigatory or attorney-client privilege. Records related to criminal investigations and prosecutions are typically also protected.   

Enforcing Public Record Laws

In many states, attorneys general are responsible for enforcing public record laws and ensuring compliance by state agencies. In states where the attorney general does not have enforcement authority, citizens who request public records and are denied may file a civil suit.  

In the case of a willful violation by a state agency of public records law, attorneys general may have the authority to bring a suit to enforce compliance with those laws. Most importantly, attorneys general are responsible for establishing policies and procedures for state agencies relating to public record laws.

Latest News

  • Attorneys General Urge OfferUp to Stop Sales of Fake Vaccination Cards April 19, 2021
  • COVID-19 Vaccines and Effective Communications Strategies April 15, 2021
  • NAGTRI and IJM Join Forces to Train Prosecutors and Investigators Across Ibero-America April 8, 2021
  • Bipartisan Coalition of Attorneys General Fight Unlawful Sales of Fake COVID-19 Vaccination Cards April 1, 2021
  • Federal Consumer Protection News and Other Items of Interest: March 2021 March 31, 2021

Connect with NAAG and the Attorney General Community

Create a NAAG account to subscribe to our newsletters or mailing lists.

Create Account
Subscribe
Marble columns and the top of a federal building
White Logo for the National Association of Attorneys General

1850 M Street NW
12th floor
Washington, DC 20036

TEL 202-326-6000
EMAIL support@naag.org

  • Issues
    • Issues
      • Anticorruption
      • Antitrust
      • Bankruptcy
      • Charities
      • Civil Law
    • Issues
      • Consumer Protection
      • Criminal Law
      • Cyber and Technology
      • Disaster Preparedness & Response
      • Elder Justice
    • Issues
      • Ethics
      • Human Trafficking
      • Medicaid Fraud
      • Powers & Duties
    • Issues
      • Public Health
      • The U.S. Supreme Court
      • Tobacco
      • Veterans & Military
  • Our Work
    • Training & Research
    • Centers
      • NAAG Center for Excellence in Governance
      • NAAG Center for Supreme Court Advocacy
      • NAAG Center for Tobacco & Public Health
      • NAGTRI Center for Consumer Protection
      • NAGTRI Center for Ethics & Public Integrity
      • NAGTRI Center for International Partnerships & Strategic Collaboration
      • NAGTRI Center for Leadership Development
      • NAGTRI Center for Legal Advocacy & Faculty Development
    • Committees
    • Initiatives
      • Presidential Initiative
      • Strategic Partnerships
      • ConsumerResources.org
      • International Fellows
      • COVID-19
    • Bankruptcy
    • Policy & Advocacy
  • Events & Training
    • Event Calendar
    • Attorney General Symposium
    • Presidential Summit
    • Capital Forum
    • Region Meetings
    • NAGTRI Trainings
    • Online Learning
    • NAGTRI Faculty
    • Video Library
  • News & Resources
    • Attorney General Journal
    • Reports & Publications
    • Newsroom
    • NAAG Policy Letters
    • Podcasts
    • Online Learning
    • Research & Data
    • Member Directory
  • Attorneys General
    • What Attorneys General Do
    • AGs in the News
    • Who is my Attorney General?
    • Research & Data
    • Awards & Recognition
    • Careers in Attorney General Offices
  • About NAAG
    • NAAG Staff
    • NAGTRI
    • NAAG Leadership
    • NAAG Member Services
    • NAAG Regions
    • NAAG FAQs
    • SAGE
    • NAMFCU
    • Newsroom
    • Careers at NAAG
  • Find my AG
  • NAGTRI
  • Contact Us
  • Log In
  • Find My AG
  • NAGTRI
  • Consumer Complaints
  • Contact Us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Privacy & Cookies Notice
  • Sitemap
  • Member Login

About the National Association of Attorneys General

As the nonpartisan national forum for the 56 state and territory attorneys general and their staff, NAAG provides collaboration, insight, and expertise to empower and champion America's attorneys general.
Learn More

© 2021 Copyright National Association of Attorneys General

Website by Yoko Co

Scroll To Top