Call the Open Records Division Hotline at (512) 478-6736 or toll
free at (877) 673-6839.
Top Five Tips for Successful Open Records Requests
Your request must be in writing. Only written requests trigger a
governmental body's obligations under the Public Information Act.
Your request should be for documents or other information that is
already in existence. Governmental bodies are not required to answer
questions, perform legal research, or comply with a continuing request
to supply information on a periodic basis as such information is
prepared in the future.
We recommend that all requests be sent by U.S. mail and that a copy
of the original request and proof of its receipt by the governmental
body be kept.
We recommend that all requests be addressed to the Officer for
Public Information or the chief administrative officer of the
governmental body. Requests made by facsimile or electronic mail must be
addressed to the Officer for Public Information or the chief
administrative officer in order to trigger an obligation under the
Public Information Act.
If you believe that a governmental body has not responded as
required by the Public Information Act, we recommend that you contact
the Open Records Division Hotline at (512) 478-6736 or toll-free (877)
673-6839, your local District Attorney, or local County Attorney.