foia-requests

# FOIA and public records requests Workflows and templates for obtaining government records through freedom of information laws. ## Understanding FOIA landscape ### Jurisdiction overview | Level | Law | Scope | |-------|-----|-------| | Federal | Freedom of Information Act (5 U.S.C. § 552) | Federal executive branch agencies | | State | Varies by state (e.g., OPRA in NJ, FOIL in NY) | State and local agencies | | Local | Often covered by state law | Municipal, county, school boards | ### Key federal exemptions (U.S. Federal FOIA) ```markdown ## The 9 federal FOIA exemptions 1. **National security** - Classified information 2. **Internal personnel rules** - Agency housekeeping matters 3. **Statutory exemptions** - Other laws prohibit disclosure 4. **Trade secrets** - Confidential business information 5. **Inter/intra-agency memos** - Deliberative process privilege 6. **Personal privacy** - Personnel, medical files 7. **Law enforcement** - Could interfere with proceedings 8. **Financial institutions** - Bank examination reports 9. **Geological data** - Oil and gas well information Note: Agencies must segregate and release non-exempt portions ``` ## State public records laws All 50 states have enacted laws requiring certain government records to be open to the public. ### State-specific resources ```markdown ### State public records resources #### Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press - Open Government Guide: rcfp.org/open-government-guide - State-by-state a...