Bill > HF400

This bill modifies Iowa's public records law to establish more specific requirements for how government agencies must respond to public records requests. The bill requires that when a records custodian receives a request, they must: 1) quickly acknowledge the request (defined as using "reasonable, good-faith efforts" considering the circumstances), 2) provide contact information for the designated official handling the request, 3) give an estimated date for when they will provide an expense estimate and/or the requested records, and 4) notify the requester of any anticipated delays in producing the records. The bill also reinforces existing provisions that custodians should try to provide records at no cost beyond basic copying expenses when possible, and that requests can be made through various methods including writing, telephone, or electronic means. The changes aim to improve transparency and communication in the public records request process by setting clearer expectations for how government agencies should handle and respond to such requests, ensuring requesters receive timely and informative responses about the status of their public records inquiries.

Government Affairs

State Government (House)

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=HF400