This list is the result of a lot of time and effort to put it together initially and to maintain it on a constant basis. Please do not copy or reproduce this list. Use the link to refer back to it whenever you need it or to share it with others 🙂 I appreciate you!
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Did I miss one or is a link broken? Please e-mail me at lmc@perfectlyparalegal.com and let me know.
All links updated/verified 11/5/2026
Public Records Request Resources
Public records requests are a routine part of litigation support, investigations, and due diligence, whether the records sit with a federal agency, a state office, or a local government body. For federal records, the starting point is the National FOIA Portal at FOIA.gov, listed below. Every state has its own public records law and its own request process, so the state list below links to the official guide or the law itself for each state and the District of Columbia, plus the statewide online request portal in the states that run one.
Federal (FOIA)
- FOIA.gov, the National FOIA Portal: The federal government’s comprehensive FOIA website. Learn how the FOIA works, find agency FOIA contacts and records already posted online, and submit a request to a federal agency from one site.
- Department of Justice, Office of Information Policy: FOIA Resources: FOIA guidelines, the FOIA statute, fee guidelines, and compliance resources from the office that oversees FOIA administration across the federal government.
- National Archives: How to File a FOIA Request: How to request archival and operational records held by the National Archives and Records Administration, including where to send the request.
State Public Records Laws and Requests
Select your state:
Alabama
Code of Alabama, public records provisions (Alabama Legislature) (Public records law)
Alabama executive branch online records request portal (Request portal)
Alaska
Alaska Public Records Act (Department of Law) (Attorney General guide)
Arizona
Arizona Public Records Law booklet, 2026 edition (Ombudsman guide)
Arkansas
Arkansas Attorney General presentations and publications, including the FOIA Handbook (Attorney General guide)
California
Public Records, California Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Colorado
Colorado Open Records Act FAQ, Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Connecticut
Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, 2025 FOI Act (Freedom of Information Commission) (Public records law)
Delaware
Open Government, Delaware Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Delaware FOIA online request portal (Request portal)
District of Columbia
Open Government and FOIA, DC Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
DC Public FOIA Portal (Request portal)
Florida
Citizen Guide to Public Records and the Sunshine Law, Florida Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Georgia
Open Government FAQ, Georgia Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Hawaii
Hawaii Office of Information Practices, Uniform Information Practices Act (Office of Information Practices)
Idaho
Public Records, Idaho Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Illinois
Public Access Counselor, Illinois Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Indiana
Office of the Indiana Public Access Counselor (Public Access Counselor)
Iowa
Sunshine Advisories: Open Records Index, Iowa Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Kansas
Kansas Open Records Act FAQ, Kansas Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Kentucky
Open Records and Open Meetings, Kentucky Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Louisiana
Louisiana Public Records Law, Revised Statutes Title 44, Chapter 1 (Louisiana Legislature) (Public records law)
Maine
Maine Freedom of Access Act, Frequently Asked Questions (Attorney General guide)
Maryland
Maryland Public Information Act Manual, Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Massachusetts
Making a Public Records Request, Secretary of the Commonwealth (Secretary of the Commonwealth)
Michigan
FOIA, Michigan Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Minnesota
Data Requests, Minnesota Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Mississippi
Public Records Act, Mississippi Ethics Commission (Ethics Commission)
Missouri
Sunshine Law, Missouri Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Montana
Office of Public Information Requests, Montana Department of Administration (Office of Public Information Requests)
Montana online public information request portal (Request portal)
Nebraska
Nebraska Public Records Statutes, Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Nevada
Nevada public records law, NRS Chapter 239 (Nevada Legislature) (Public records law)
New Hampshire
RSA Chapter 91-A, Access to Governmental Records and Meetings (New Hampshire General Court) (Public records law)
New Jersey
Government Records Council, Frequently Asked Questions (OPRA) (Government Records Council)
OPRA Central, request government records online (Request portal)
New Mexico
Inspection of Public Records Act, New Mexico Department of Justice (Attorney General guide)
New York
Your Right to Know, Committee on Open Government (Committee on Open Government)
Open FOIL NY, request records from New York State agencies (Request portal)
North Carolina
Open Government, North Carolina Department of Justice (Attorney General guide)
North Dakota
Open Records and Meetings, North Dakota Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Ohio
Sunshine Laws, Ohio Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Oklahoma
Open Records Request, Oklahoma Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Oregon
Public Records Toolkit, Oregon Department of Justice (Attorney General guide)
Pennsylvania
Right-to-Know Law Citizens Guide, Office of Open Records (Office of Open Records)
Rhode Island
Open Government, Rhode Island Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
South Carolina
Freedom of Information Act, South Carolina Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
South Dakota
Open Government, Public Records, South Dakota Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Tennessee
Office of Open Records Counsel, Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury (Office of Open Records Counsel)
Texas
Open Government for Members of the Public, Texas Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Utah
GRAMA records requests, Utah Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Vermont
Guidance for Making a Public Records Request, Vermont Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Virginia
Virginia FOIA, Rights of Requesters and Responsibilities of the Attorney General Office (Attorney General guide)
Washington
Obtaining Records, Washington Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
West Virginia
Freedom of Information (FOIA), West Virginia Attorney General (Attorney General guide)
Wisconsin
Wisconsin Public Records Law Compliance Guide, Department of Justice (June 2025) (Attorney General guide)
Wyoming
Wyoming Public Records Act text, sections 16-4-201 to 16-4-205 (Wyoming Legislature) (Public records law)