What are the laws regarding access to public information?

In Washington, the law regarding access to public information is known as the Public Records Act (PRA). This law states that all public records maintained by the state and local governments must be open to the public, unless they meet certain criteria that allow them to be closed off or restricted. This means that any person has the right to access, review, and copy any public records of a state or local government. The PRA also outlines what type of information can be withheld from the public. This includes records that contain privileged or confidential information, such as personal or financial information. Additionally, records related to litigation, pending or active investigations, or security procedures of public entities cannot be released to the public. The PRA also outlines procedures for obtaining public records. Requests for public records must be made in writing, and can be sent to the agency or organization that is responsible for the record. Depending on the size of the request, the agency can take up to 3 days to respond to the request. Additionally, fees may be charged for the records, though some records may be exempt from fees. The PRA is an important law to ensure that citizens are able to access the information they need from their government. By understanding what the law allows and requires, citizens can better understand their rights and how to access public records.

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What are the laws regarding access to public information?

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