Texas public records law: how to make a request
Public Information Act, Texas Government Code chapter 552. Rules below are quoted or closely paraphrased from the linked official pages, and each shows the date it was last checked (2026-10-17). Jurisdiction code: TX.
Build a request letter Official source
Statute and who may ask
The Public Information Act is to be liberally construed in favor of granting a request for information. "Public information" is information written, produced, collected, assembled or maintained under a law or ordinance or in connection with the transaction of official business by or for a governmental body, and includes electronic communications on any device when in connection with official business. (Gov't Code §§ 552.001, 552.002)
Source: Texas Government Code ch. 552 (Texas Legislature statutes site; read sections 552.001-552.117 only) · last verified 2026-10-17The Attorney General says a public information request must be in writing to the governmental body you believe maintains the information, and must be for information that already exists. A governmental body is not required to answer questions, perform legal research, or create new information.
Source: Texas Attorney General: How to Request Public Information · last verified 2026-10-17Since September 1, 2019 (§ 552.234), a request may be made only by delivering it by U.S. mail, email, hand delivery, or another method approved by the governmental body to the body's public information officer or the officer's designee. Keep a copy of the request and proof of receipt if you can.
Source: Texas Attorney General: How to Request Public Information · last verified 2026-10-17The definition of "governmental body" in § 552.003 excludes the judiciary; access to judiciary information is governed by rules of the Supreme Court of Texas and other law (§ 552.0035).
Source: Texas Government Code ch. 552 (Texas Legislature statutes site; read sections 552.001-552.117 only) · last verified 2026-10-17A governmental body may ask you to clarify an unclear request and, if a large amount of information is requested, may discuss how the scope might be narrowed, but may not inquire into the purpose for which the information will be used. (AG handbook citing § 552.222)
Source: Texas Attorney General: Public Information Act Handbook 2024 (PDF) · last verified 2026-10-17
Response deadline
The officer for public information must "promptly" produce public information, meaning as soon as possible under the circumstances, within a reasonable time, without delay. The handbook calls it a common misconception that a governmental body may wait ten business days. (Gov't Code § 552.221(a); AG handbook)
Source: Texas Attorney General: Public Information Act Handbook 2024 (PDF) · last verified 2026-10-17If the officer cannot produce the information for inspection or duplication within ten business days after the date it was requested, § 552.221(d) requires the officer to certify that fact in writing to the requestor and set a date and hour within a reasonable time when the information will be available.
Source: Texas Attorney General: Public Information Act Handbook 2024 (PDF) · last verified 2026-10-17If a governmental body wants to withhold information under an exception, it generally must within ten business days of receiving the request ask the Attorney General for a ruling (§ 552.301(b)). The Attorney General must decide not later than the 45th business day after receiving the request for a decision, and may extend by ten business days by telling the body and the requestor the reason (§ 552.306).
Source: Texas Attorney General: Public Information Act Handbook 2024 (PDF) · last verified 2026-10-17"Business day" excludes Saturdays, Sundays, national holidays and state holidays; a governmental body may designate up to 10 nonbusiness days each calendar year. (§ 552.0031)
Source: Texas Government Code ch. 552 (Texas Legislature statutes site; read sections 552.001-552.117 only) · last verified 2026-10-17A request is considered withdrawn if the requestor does not respond in writing to a governmental body's written request for clarification within 61 days. (AG handbook citing § 552.222)
Source: Texas Attorney General: Public Information Act Handbook 2024 (PDF) · last verified 2026-10-17
Fee rules
Under the Attorney General's cost rules (1 Tex. Admin. Code § 70.3), a standard paper copy costs $.10 per page or part of a page, and each side with recorded information counts as a page.
Source: Texas Attorney General: Public Information Act Handbook 2024 (PDF) · last verified 2026-10-17Labor is charged at $15 an hour for locating, compiling, manipulating data and reproducing. No labor charge may be billed for requests of 50 or fewer pages of paper records unless the documents are in two or more separate buildings not physically connected or in a remote storage facility. An overhead charge of 20% of labor may apply, and is not made on requests of 50 or fewer standard paper copies unless a labor charge applies. (1 Tex. Admin. Code § 70.3, as printed in the 2024 handbook)
Source: Texas Attorney General: Public Information Act Handbook 2024 (PDF) · last verified 2026-10-17If charges will exceed $40.00, the governmental body must give a written itemized statement of estimated charges before doing the work. The statement must say the request will be treated as withdrawn unless within ten business days you accept the charges, modify the request, or send a complaint about the charges to the Attorney General. (AG handbook)
Source: Texas Attorney General: Public Information Act Handbook 2024 (PDF) · last verified 2026-10-17If the governmental body determines that providing the information is in the "public interest" because it will primarily benefit the general public, it shall waive or reduce the charges; that determination rests solely with the governmental body. (§ 552.267(a), per the AG handbook)
Source: Texas Attorney General: Public Information Act Handbook 2024 (PDF) · last verified 2026-10-17The handbook lists the Attorney General's Cost Hotline for questions about charges at (888) 672-6787 and says the Open Government Hotline is (877) 673-6839. Check the Attorney General's site for current numbers.
Source: Texas Attorney General: Public Information Act Handbook 2024 (PDF) · last verified 2026-10-17
Appeal path and remedies
The Act has no appeal to the agency head. If a governmental body withholds information it generally asks the Attorney General for a ruling; any person may submit written comments on why the information should or should not be released before the Attorney General decides. (§ 552.304, per the AG handbook)
Source: Texas Attorney General: Public Information Act Handbook 2024 (PDF) · last verified 2026-10-17Informal help: the Attorney General's Open Government Hotline, (877) 673-6839, answers questions and handles written informal complaints about requests; the handbook describes this as an informal alternative to the legal remedies.
Source: Texas Attorney General: Public Information Act Handbook 2024 (PDF) · last verified 2026-10-17A requestor (or the Attorney General) may sue for a writ of mandamus to compel release if the governmental body refuses to seek a ruling, refuses to release public information, or refuses to follow an Attorney General decision; a requestor's suit is filed in the district court of the county where the body's main offices are. (§ 552.321)
Source: Texas Attorney General: Public Information Act Handbook 2024 (PDF) · last verified 2026-10-17A person may also file a formal complaint with the district or county attorney (or, for a state agency, the Travis County district attorney), which is a required step before a § 552.3215 suit by the prosecutor or Attorney General. The court shall assess costs of litigation and reasonable attorney's fees for a plaintiff who substantially prevails. (§§ 552.3215, 552.323, per the AG handbook)
Source: Texas Attorney General: Public Information Act Handbook 2024 (PDF) · last verified 2026-10-17
Request-letter wording notes
Put the request in writing and deliver it by mail, email or hand delivery to the governmental body's public information officer or designee. Check the body's website for a standard form and keep proof of receipt. (Texas Attorney General)
Source: Texas Attorney General: How to Request Public Information · last verified 2026-10-17Ask only for information that already exists; the body does not have to answer questions or create new information. (Texas Attorney General)
Source: Texas Attorney General: How to Request Public Information · last verified 2026-10-17You do not need to say why you want the information; the body may not ask about purpose, though it may ask you to clarify or narrow the request. (AG handbook)
Source: Texas Attorney General: Public Information Act Handbook 2024 (PDF) · last verified 2026-10-17Ask for an itemized estimate before charges above your limit, and watch the ten-business-day windows: both the officer's certification date under § 552.221(d) and your own response to a cost estimate. (AG handbook)
Source: Texas Attorney General: Public Information Act Handbook 2024 (PDF) · last verified 2026-10-17
Not yet researched or not verified
- Changes made by the 2025 legislative session: the handbook read is the 2024 edition, and the Legislature's statute site could be read only for sections 552.001-552.117, so re-check sections 552.221-552.3215 on the Legislature's site
- Whether a governmental body's own request form or fee schedule differs (each body sets its own forms)
- Texas rules for vital records, deeds and probate (not yet researched)
This is legal information from public sources, not legal advice. Laws and agency practices change; read the linked official source and consult a lawyer about your situation. Local agencies may have their own forms and contacts.