Articles Tagged: Open records

A former state public health spokeswoman alleged she was fired in 2020 for fulfilling open records requests to journalists during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Materials to help local government officials implement a new state law that requires training on Iowa’s open meetings and records laws are on the way from the state board that oversees the laws.

The Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board and Iowa Public Information Board are in the process of hiring new executive directors.

The suit, filed by Gov. Kim Reynolds and announced by her office Friday, aims to stop the release of several office communications to the Des Moines Register on the grounds of “executive privilege.”

Also in Capitol Notebook: Gov. Kim Reynolds’ child care and preschool proposal passes the Iowa Senate

This week on the podcast: We cover a couple of topics as we pretend anything else is anywhere near as important as Gov. Kim Reynolds announcing she’s not running for re-election next year.

Legislation adding new requirements to Iowa's open records laws was amended in the Iowa Senate on Thursday to bar the public from accessing Iowa Capitol security camera footage.

Last month, Appanoose County District Court Judge Mark Kruse ruled the school board violated state law when members gathered in closed session last year to discuss the resignation of a staffer suspected of improper contact with students.

The Iowa Public Information Board issued the advisory opinion this week after a question was posed by the Benton County Attorney’s Office

Auditor Rob Sand’s office withheld nine emails between his off and two journalists, citing an open records law exemption for records that are part of an audit. The Iowa Supreme Court disagreed with that characterization and said Sand’s office must provide more evidence to justify withholding the emails from the conservative organization seeking their release.

Also, a bill that combines a ban on automated traffic enforcement cameras with a requirement for only hands-free use of mobile devices while driving advanced.

The Iowa Public Information Board opted against advancing the proposal at its meeting Thursday, but plans to continue researching and discussing the topic.

The Iowa Public Information Board says it is considering to propose a change to state law to accommodate local governments that say they field open records requests that are “abusive and harassing.” Government transparency advocates warn the proposal would “seriously erode” the state’s open records law.

The governor’s office agreed to allow a state District Court to resolve any future open records disputes with three plaintiffs that may arise over the next year.

Under a condition of one settlement, the courts will resolve any future open records disputes with the plaintiffs — two Iowa news organizations and an advocacy group for government transparency — over the course of one year.