This bill amends Iowa's public records law to enhance the process for handling requests for public records. It specifies that the lawful custodian of the records or their authorized designee must acknowledge a request promptly, provide contact information, and give an approximate date for when the requester can expect an estimate of any reasonable expenses and a response regarding the release of the public record. Additionally, the custodian is required to inform the requester of any anticipated delays in fulfilling the request.

The bill also clarifies that while the custodian may charge reasonable expenses for fulfilling requests, they should strive to provide records at no cost if the production time is under thirty minutes. The amendments aim to improve transparency and communication between custodians and requesters, ensuring that individuals are kept informed throughout the process of obtaining public records.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 22.3, 22.4