Bill > SF389

This bill amends Iowa's public records law to establish more specific requirements for government agencies when responding to public records requests. The bill requires that when a government agency (referred to as the "lawful custodian") receives a public records request, they must: (1) promptly acknowledge the request, which is defined as using reasonable, good-faith efforts to respond within the context of the current circumstances, and provide contact information for the designated representative handling the request; (2) provide an estimated date for when they will give the requester an estimate of expenses and either release the requested records or respond to the request; and (3) inform the requester about any anticipated delays in producing the requested records. The bill also reinforces existing provisions that agencies should make reasonable efforts to provide records at no cost beyond basic copying expenses, especially for requests that take less than 30 minutes to fulfill. These changes aim to improve transparency and communication in the public records request process by setting clear expectations for both government agencies and citizens seeking access to public information.

Government Affairs

State Government (Senate)

https://www.legis.iowa.gov/legislation/BillBook?ga=91&ba=SF389