Public Records
The Nebraska Public Records Statutes provide citizens of this state and all other interested persons the right to obtain access to, and copies of, public records in the custody of public agencies in the state. The information below details Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 84-712 through 84-712.09 (2014, Cum. Supp. 2022).
LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION FOR FISCAL RECORDS
REQUESTS FOR ACCESS TO OR COPIES OF PUBLIC RECORDS RESPONSE REQUIRED IN FOUR BUSINESS DAYS
DENIAL OF ACCESS TO PUBLIC RECORDS; EXPLANATION
DENIAL OF RIGHTS REGARDING PUBLIC RECORDS; REMEDIES
VIOLATIONS OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS STATUTES; PENALTIES
Open Meetings
The Nebraska Open Meetings Act guarantees that every meeting of a public body shall be open to the public in order that citizens may exercise their democratic privilege of attending and speaking at meetings of public bodies. The information below details Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 84-1407 through 84-1414 (2014, Cum. Supp. 2022).
PUBLIC BODIES COVERED UNDER THE ACT
PUBLIC MEETINGS; NOTICE AND AGENDA REQUIRED
PUBLIC MEETINGS BY VIRTUAL CONFERENCING
PUBLIC MEETINGS; RIGHTS OF THE PUBLIC ATTENDING
PUBLIC MEETINGS; MINUTES AND VOTING PROCEDURES
CLOSED SESSIONS OF A PUBLIC BODY
Submitting a Public Records Petition
If you have made a written request for public records and the public body has denied your request in whole or in part, you may petition the Attorney General to determine if the records were properly withheld or if the public body has otherwise failed to comply with the public records statutes in responding to the request. You may also petition the Attorney General to determine whether any fees estimated or charged by the custodian to obtain public records are authorized by statute. The Attorney General must decide the petition within 15 calendar days after it is received. If you wish to submit a petition requesting the Attorney General to review any of the above actions by a public body relating to your public records request, please fill out the form below.
Submitting an Open Meetings Complaint
“The Attorney General and the county attorney of the county in which the public body ordinarily meets” enforce the Open Meetings Act. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-1414(2). The legislative history of the Open Meetings Act shows the Legislature intended the county attorney to be responsible for enforcement in matters involving public bodies at the local level, and that the Attorney General would be responsible for enforcement against state entities. Floor Debate on LB 325, 84th Leg., 1st Sess. at 4620 (May 14, 1975).
If you have a complaint that the public body of a local governmental unit (i.e., county, city, village, township, school district, Natural Resources District, etc.) has violated the Open Meetings Act, provide that information to the county attorney of the county in which the public body usually holds its meetings.
If you have a complaint that a state entity (i.e., a state agency, board, commission, committee or other part of state government) has violated the Open Meetings Act, you may submit your complaint to this office using the form below.
Disposition Letters
Disposition letters arise out of the Attorney General’s express enforcement authority over the Nebraska Public Records Statutes, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 84-712 through 84-712.09 (2014, Cum. Supp. 2022), and the Open Meetings Act, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 84-1407 through 84-1414 (2014, Cum. Supp. 2022). These letters are written in response to a discrete set of facts and circumstances presented in petitions and complaints filed under those statutes. Disposition letters in no way constitute an opinion of the Attorney General.
