Public records · Texas

How to file a public records request in Texas

Want to know what your city’s Flock cameras do with your data? Pick a topic, pick the office, and copy a request you can send today under the Texas Public Information Act. It is written in your browser. Nothing is sent to us or saved.

  • 10business days: when an office must give a written delay notice or ask to withhold
  • $40is the line above which the office must send an itemized estimate
  • FreeNothing is sent to us or saved. What you type stays on your device.
Nothing sent or savedStatutes last checked October 2, 2026
  1. Topic
  2. Office
  3. Your request

What records do you want?

Pick the closest topic. For Flock cameras, pick the first one. You can change the questions in the text at the end.

What records do you want?

What happens after you send a public records request?

Each step has two parts. First, a summary in plain English. Under it, the exact words of the Texas law it comes from, copied from the Legislature’s website. If the two ever seem to disagree, go by the law’s words.

  1. Send your request to the office’s own designated address or portal. A body that posts its address does not have to answer a request sent anywhere else.

    The statute says“is not required to respond to a written request ... unless the request is received: (1) at one of those addresses; (2) by hand delivery; or (3) by a method described by Subsection (a)(4) that has been approved by the governmental body.”

    Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.234(d)Read October 2, 2026

  2. The office must produce public information promptly: as soon as possible, within a reasonable time, without delay.

    The statute says“shall promptly produce public information for inspection, duplication, or both on application by any person to the officer. In this subsection, "promptly" means as soon as possible under the circumstances, that is, within a reasonable time, without delay.”

    Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.221(a)Read October 2, 2026

  3. If the office cannot produce the information within 10 business days, it must tell you in writing and set a date and hour when it will be available.

    The statute says“If an officer for public information cannot produce public information for inspection or duplication within 10 business days after the date the information is requested under Subsection (a), the officer shall certify that fact in writing to the requestor and set a date and hour within a reasonable time when the information will be available for inspection or duplication.”

    Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.221(d)Read October 2, 2026

  4. If the office wants to withhold something, it must ask the Attorney General for a decision and name the exceptions, no later than the 10th business day after it gets your written request.

    The statute says“The governmental body must ask for the attorney general's decision and state the specific exceptions that apply within a reasonable time but not later than the 10th business day after the date of receiving the written request.”

    Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.301(b)Read October 2, 2026

  5. In that same 10 business days it must also send you a written statement that it wants to withhold the information and has asked for a decision, plus a copy of its request to the Attorney General.

    The statute says“must provide to the requestor within a reasonable time but not later than the 10th business day after the date of receiving the requestor's written request: (1) a written statement that the governmental body wishes to withhold the requested information and has asked for a decision from the attorney general about whether the information is within an exception to public disclosure”

    Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.301(d)(1)Read October 2, 2026

  6. If the office skips those steps, the information is presumed public and must be released unless there is a compelling reason to withhold it.

    The statute says“the information requested in writing is presumed to be subject to required public disclosure and must be released unless there is a compelling reason to withhold the information.”

    Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.302Read October 2, 2026

  7. If the charges will be more than $40, the office must send a written, itemized estimate. You then have 10 business days to answer in writing, or the request is considered withdrawn.

    The statute says“will result in the imposition of a charge under this subchapter that exceeds $40 ... the governmental body shall provide the requestor with a written itemized statement that details all estimated charges that will be imposed ... is considered to have been withdrawn by the requestor if the requestor does not respond in writing to the itemized statement by informing the governmental body within 10 business days after the date the statement is sent to the requestor”

    Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.2615(a), (b)Read October 2, 2026

  8. The office may ask you to clarify or narrow a request. It may not ask why you want the records.

    The statute says“the governmental body may ask the requestor to clarify the request ... but the governmental body may not inquire into the purpose for which information will be used.”

    Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.222(b)Read October 2, 2026

  9. If the office does not respond as required, you may send a written complaint to the Attorney General, with your original request and any replies you got.

    The statute says“If a governmental body fails to respond to a requestor as required by Section 552.221, the requestor may send a written complaint to the attorney general. (b) The complaint must include: (1) the original request for information; and (2) any correspondence received from the governmental body in response to the request.”

    Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.328(a), (b)Read October 2, 2026

If you get stuckThe Attorney General runs a free Open Government Hotline and an online page for open records complaints.
Open Government Hotline, toll free(877) 673-6839
Attorney General: Open Government resources and hotlineAttorney General: open records complaint portal

Common questions about Texas public records requests

How do I ask for Flock camera records?

Pick the first topic, Flock and other plate-reader cameras, then pick the police department or sheriff’s office. The tool writes a request for the contract, how many cameras there are and where, how long data is kept, who it is shared with, who can search it and the audit logs, and the written policies. Copy it and send it the way the office says. Anyone can ask under the Texas Public Information Act (Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.221).

Do I have to say why I want the records?

No. The statute says an office may ask you to clarify what you want, but it “may not inquire into the purpose for which information will be used.” You can leave your reasons out (Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.222).

Does it cost anything?

Sometimes. An office can charge for copies. If the charge will be more than $40, it has to send you an itemized estimate in writing, and you have 10 business days to answer it. Asking for electronic copies and a narrow date range keeps a request small (Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.2615).

What if the office says it will not give me something?

It generally has to ask the Attorney General for a decision, say which exceptions it relies on, and tell you it did so. The Attorney General’s office then rules. Some records, such as certain parts of active investigations, can be withheld under the law’s exceptions. That is the law working as written, not a sign the request was wrong (Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.301).

Does this tool send the request for me?

No. It writes the text in your browser. You copy it and send it yourself. We never see what you type and we do not keep it.

Is this legal advice?

No. It is a writing aid. For advice about your situation, ask a lawyer.

Not legal adviceThis tool helps you write a request. It is not legal advice, 806 Connect is not a law firm, and we do not send, file or follow up on your request. Offices can have their own forms or portals, and the law has exceptions this page does not list. For questions about the Act itself, start with the Attorney General.

Sources

Every legal line on this page was read from these pages. We update the date when we re-read them.

Written in your browser. Nothing sent, nothing saved. Statutes last checked October 2, 2026.

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