Relating to public records requests

Sponsored by the Senate State Government (companion To Hf 400 By Committee on State Government) Committee

Proposed by the Public Information Board, Iowa · their explanation · all agency proposals

Topics:State government

Same legislation: HSB 76, SSB 1086, HF 400

Write your legislators about it

Official bill page Lobbyist declarations One-pager to print

Where it is now

Done: IntroducedFebruary 4, 2025
Done: SubcommitteeFebruary 4, 2025
Done: Senate committeeFebruary 19, 2025
Stopped: Passes the SenateDied when the General Assembly ended
Next: House committeeFunnel: by March 20, 2026
Next: Passes the House
Next: To the Governor
Next: Signed into law

Died when the session ended The 2026 session adjourned on May 3, 2026, the General Assembly’s last regular session. Bills that didn’t pass both chambers died. What’s a funnel?

What’s in it

AI summary When someone asks for public records, the person in charge must quickly let them know they received the request. They must also give the requester a contact person, an estimated date for when they will get the records, and an idea of any costs involved. If there will be a delay in getting the information, the official must inform the person asking.¹

Read the official explanation

This bill provides that upon receipt of a public records request, the lawful custodian shall (1) promptly, as defined in the bill, acknowledge the request and provide the contact information of the lawful custodian’s authorized designee, (2) provide an approximate date for a response and an estimate of any reasonable fees associated with the request, and (3) inform the requester of any expected delay in production of the public record.

Why it matters. People requesting public records would receive a prompt acknowledgment, an estimated response date, an estimate of any fees, and notice of any expected delays. Lawful custodians of public records would be required to provide this information and the contact details for their authorized designee upon receiving a request.²

Full bill text³

Senate subcommittee

Named February 4, 2025 (as SSB 1086). On February 18, 2025 it recommended passage.

Three legislators hear a bill first and recommend what the committee should do; it’s the best time to weigh in. How to take part

1 written public comment to its subcommittee: February 18, 2025 (1) · on the Legislature’s site

Iowa Code it changes

Amends§22.3 §22.4

How the Code works⁴

Lobbying

7 for · 0 against · 24 undecided · Who →

Family tree

Tried before

SF 202Cleared committee90th GA HF 350Passed a chamber90th GA

Study bill

HSB 76Renumbered SSB 1086Renumbered

91st General Assembly

HF 400Cleared committeefrom HSB 76 SF 389Cleared committeefrom SSB 1086

Earlier and later bills are matched by wording or an identical title.

Tried before

This idea has been filed in an earlier General Assembly. None became law, though one got through a chamber.

HF 350 Relating to public records requests
90th General Assembly · Passed House · same title
Passed a chamber
SF 202 Relating to public records requests
90th General Assembly · Approved by committee · same title
Cleared committee

Similar bills this General Assembly

HF 2330 Relating to public records requests
91st General Assembly · Passed House
Nearly identical

Matched by wording or an identical title.