Arizona’s Public Records Law

Arizona law requires all officers and public bodies to maintain records reasonably necessary to provide an accurate accounting of their official activities and of any government funded activities.

Any record in the custody of an Arizona government entity that has a substantial nexus to government activity is considered a public record and is presumed to be subject to disclosure.  Griffis v. Pinal Cnty., 215 Ariz. 1, 4, ¶ 10, 156 P.3d 418, 421 (2007).  Pursuant to A.R.S. section 39-121, the public has a right to inspect (i.e. view in person) public records.  Pursuant to A.R.S. section 39-121.01, the public has a right to obtain copies of public records, subject to reasonable copy fees.

REQUESTS TO OMBUDSMAN-CITIZENS’ AIDE OFFICE

Pursuant to A.R.S. section 39-171, entities subject to the public records law must make available on their websites “the name, telephone number, and email address of an employee or department that is authorized and able to provide the information requested or able to forward the request to an employee or department that is authorized and able to provide the information requested.”

Pursuant to this section, please direct all public records requests for Ombudsman-Citizens’ Aide office records* to:

 

LEGISLATION

Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Regular Session:

[Updated 2/20/2025).]

Bills in italics did not pass.

Bills in bold were signed into law.

  • HB2123 – Would amend A.R.S. sections 39-123 and -124 to widen the definition for “eligible person” to include “religious leader.”  This would protect the home address and home phone number in government personnel records from disclosure.
    • This bill is scheduled for Committee of the Whole on 2/20/25.
  • HB2156 – Would amend A.R.S. section 41-1609.03 to make “[a] private contractor that contracts with any governmental entity to provide detention or incarceration services for offenders” a public body subject to the public records law.
    • This bill was second read on 1/29/25.
  • HB2278 — Although this bill does not pertain directly the public records law or government entities, it would alter the law governing access to condominium association financial records by amending A.R.S. section 33-1258.
    • This bill was scheduled for second reading in the House on 1/22/2025.
  • HB2321 – Would amend A.R.S. sections 8-413, 12-4434, and 39-123.01 essentially permitting the name of a witness of a crime contained within a record created or received by law enforcement to be redacted under certain circumstances.
    • This bill has not advanced beyond being introduced.
  • HB2514 – would amend A.R.S. section 15-142 and affect disclosure of some student information.
    • This bill is scheduled for third read on 2/20/25.
  • HB2653 — This bill is very similar to HB2321.
    • This bill is scheduled for Committee of the Whole on 2/20/25.
  • HB2716 — This bill would add A.R.S. section 41-5706 and make “school building blueprints and floor plans” exempt from disclosure under the public records law.
    • This bill is scheduled for Committee of the Whole on 2/20/25.
  • HB2927 — This bill would amend A.R.S. sections 39-121.01, -121.02, and -171.
    • Would require government entities to provide electronic copies of records “on request” and limit fees for electronic copies to “be based on material costs only.”
    • Would requires courts to review de novo any questions of law under public records law, as well as redactions/denials based on exceptions to disclosure.
    • Would require that five-day request receipt response include date request was received, contact information required by section 39-171, and expected date request will be processed.
    • Imposes financial penalties for entities that “willfully or intentionally refuse[] to comply” with section 39-171 or “act in bad faith.”
    • Would require that if entity does not fulfill request within 15 business of receipt of request, it must “provide an estimated date that the request will be completed.”
    • This bill is scheduled for the House Government Committee on 2/20/25.
  • SB1104 — Would amend A.R.S. section 39-127 to entitle victims (or their representatives under certain circumstances) of certain crimes to a free copy of the police report and video recordings from the “charging prosecutorial agency.”  Currently, the law only entitles the victims to receive the free records from the “investigating law enforcement agency.”  The bill would also amend A.R.S. section 8-386 to require that certain victims be informed of these rights.
    • This bill was third read in the Senate on 2/12/25 and passed by a vote of 28-0-2.  It was transmitted to the House on the same day.
  • SB1220 — Would amend A.R.S. sections 8-386, 13-4405, and 39-121.02 to entitle victims of certain crimes to audio recordings (in addition to the present right to obtain video recordings) from the “investigating law enforcement agency at no charge.”  It would also permit a victim who is denied access to certain records in the course of a criminal case to “appeal the denial through a special action within the criminal case.”
    • This bill received a Yes in majority and minority caucuses on 2/11/25.
  • SB1233 — Would amend A.R.S. section 15-154 to make school building blueprints and floor plans “not public records” and exempt from disclosure under the public records law.
    • This bill is was scheduled for the Senate Appropriations Committee on 2/18/25.
  • SB1280 — Would add A.R.S. section 16-407.04, which would require county recorders, one hour after the closing election polls, to make publicly available a record containing the name, ID number, and political party of each voter and “the cast vote record in a sortable format.”  This information would “constitute a public record.”
    • This bill is scheduled for Committee of the Whole on 2/20/25.
  • SB1283 — Similar to SB1233, but would amend A.R.S. section 15-155 to make school building blueprints and floor plans “not public records” and exempt from disclosure under the public records law.
    • This bill was second read on 1/28/25.
  • SB1372 — Would amend A.R.S. section 39-121.01 to require requesters requesting records for a non-commercial purpose to provide “a statement affirming that the public record is not for a commercial purpose.”
    • This bill was scheduled for the Senate Government Committee on 2/19/25.
  • SB1533 — Would amend A.R.S. sections 39-123 and -124, as wells as several in Title 13, to add family members of justices, judges, commissioners, and hearing officers to the definition of “eligible person.”
    • This bill received a Yes from majority and minority caucuses on 2/18/25.
  • SB1633 — Would amend A.R.S. section 15-181 to require that “charter schools, charter school governing bodies, charter school sponsors, charter holders, charter school operators, corporate boards of directors of charter school operators and management organizations that contract with charter schools” comply with the public records law and open meeting law.
    • This bill was second read on 2/11/25.
  • SB1634 — Would add A.R.S. section 41-5706 making school building blueprints and floor plants “not public records and exempt” from the public records law.
    • This bill was second read on 2/11/25.
  • SB1675 — Would create a new article in Title 38 governing law enforcement officer cameras and recordings.  It would require nearly all law enforcement officers who have contact with the public to wear body cameras and run them in most situations involving the public.  For complaints of peace officer misconduct made by another peace officer, a civilian or a nonprofit organization, the law enforcement agency must release “all unedited video and audio recordings of incident […[ to the public within twenty-one days after the [law enforcement agency] receives the complaint of misconduct.”  Release in these situations can be delayed under certain circumstances.  All recordings of a death caused by a peace officer “must be provided on request to the victim’s spouse, parent, legal guardian, child, sibling, grandparent, grandchild, significant other or other lawful representative and the requesting person shall ben notified of the person’s right to receive and review the recordings at least seventy-two hours before public disclosure of the video or audio recording.”  The bill also required redaction or blurring to protect certain “substantial” privacy interests and certain conduct/information.
    • This bill was second read on 2/11/25.

 

News

  • 1/13/2025 — The Legislature is now in session.

Public Records – PUBLICATIONS

Public Records – RESOURCES

Public Records – STATUTES