CaliforniaSigned law sets 10 business days for agencies to decide public record copy requests
A signed California law would give state and local agencies 10 business days to decide whether they hold public records they can share when someone asks for copies.
What it does
For requests for public record copies, state and local agencies would have 10 business days to decide whether they hold records they can share. They must still promptly explain their decision.
When unusual circumstances make extra time necessary, agencies could add up to 14 business days to the decision deadline for public record copy requests. They must explain the delay in writing.
Argument forCounting business days could give agencies more time to check large sets of records before deciding whether they can share requested copies.
Argument againstPeople asking for public record copies could wait longer for a decision because agencies would count 10 business days after receiving a request.
More detail
State and local agencies would have 10 business days to decide whether they hold requested public records they can share. This applies when someone asks a California state or local agency for copies of public records. Agencies must still promptly explain their decision and give an estimated availability date if they can share the records. The 10 business days begin when the agency receives the request.
Agencies could extend the deadline for deciding requests for public record copies by up to 14 business days. This applies to California agencies handling requests for copies of public records. Unusual circumstances must make extra time reasonably necessary for the request. The agency head or a delegate must give the requester written reasons and the expected decision date. The expected decision date may be no more than 14 business days beyond the regular deadline.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 30Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 899, Statutes of 2026.Latest
- Sep 30Approved by the Governor Gavin Newsom.Became Law
- Aug 31Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.To Governor
- Aug 25Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 50. Noes 3. Page 6506.).Major
- Vote recorded AB 1821 Pacheco Concurrence in Senate Amendments. Result: pass.Lower
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading AB1821 Pacheco By Cabaldon. Result: pass.Upper
- Aug 25In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending.
- Aug 25Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 39. Noes 0.).Passed Senate
- Aug 4Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Aug 3From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.Minor
- Jul 1From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (June 30). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Jun 30
- Vote recorded Do pass, but first be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Upper
- Jun 25From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.Major
- Jun 10From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on JUD.Major
- Jun 10Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- May 28In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.Minor
- May 27Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 55. Noes 12. Page 5439.)Passed Assembly
- Vote recorded AB 1821 Pacheco Assembly Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 23Read second time. Ordered to third reading.Minor
- Apr 22From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (April 22).Minor
- Vote recorded Do pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 15From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 2.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.Minor
- Apr 14
- Vote recorded Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 7Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Apr 6From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 17Re-referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Mar 16From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.Major
- Mar 16Referred to Com. on JUD.Minor
- Feb 12From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.
- Feb 11Read first time. To print.Introduced
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