News & Analysis as of September 1, 2025

Freedom of Information Act › New Legislation

+ Follow

The Freedom of Information Act is a United States federal statute enacted in 1966 to promote government transparency and the free exchange of public information. Under FOIA, any individual can request federal agency records and enforce that right in a court of law. However, not all agency records can be requested; there are nine exempt categories of information. In addition to the federal law, many states have passed their own freedom of information acts. These acts are often similar but not always identical to the federal version. less -

Big News for Virginia Litigation: Jurisdictional Limits in General District Court Increased to $50,000

Offit Kurman on 5/29/2025

As of March 21, 2025, the Virginia General Assembly and Governor have approved a significant change to Virginia’s civil and commercial court system. Every business owner, real estate professional, attorney, and claims...more

South Carolina’s New NIL Law and What it Means for Collegiate Athletes in the State

Womble Bond Dickinson on 6/12/2024

On Tuesday, May 21, 2024, South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster signed bill H. 4957 into law after it was approved unanimously by state lawmakers earlier in the year. Similar NIL (“Name, Image, and Likeness”) bills to H....more

2023 Legislative Update: Summary of Changes in School Law

Franczek P.C. on 12/20/2023

As we approach the new year, Franczek is pleased to recap the new legislation applicable to K-12 schools that passed in 2023. Below you will find our compilation of this year’s legislative changes. A PDF version of the 2023...more

New York Enacts Requirement for Healthcare Entities to Provide Notice of “Material Transactions”

Goodwin on 5/22/2023

On May 3, 2022, the New York Legislature passed legislation to regulate certain “material transactions” involving healthcare providers and others who provide administrative or management services to other healthcare...more

Top 10 Developments and Headlines in Trade Secret, Non-Compete, and Computer Fraud Law for 2019 & 2020

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on 2/27/2020

Continuing our annual tradition, we have compiled our top developments and headlines for 2019 & 2020 in trade secret, non-compete, and computer fraud law. Here’s what you need to know to keep abreast of the ever-changing law...more

Illinois Workplace Transparency Act Imposes New Obligations on Local Government Employers

Holland & Knight LLP on 12/20/2019

Illinois Public Act 101-0221 (Public Act) creates extensive and significant new protections for employees and imposes new obligations on all Illinois employers. This Holland & Knight alert identifies unique requirements...more

2019 Legislative Update: Summary of Changes in School Law

Franczek P.C. on 10/2/2019

Franczek P.C. is pleased to announce the publication of its annual Legislative Update for schools. With the flood of legislative changes in Illinois this year, it is more imperative than ever for education stakeholders to...more

This Is Not a Drill: School Districts Now Required to Create Threat Assessment Teams and Implement Threat Assessment Procedures

Franczek P.C. on 9/18/2019

Governor Pritzker recently signed into law Public Act 101-0455 amending the School Safety Drill Act (105 ILCS 128/1) to require threat assessment procedures and the creation of threat assessment teams in school districts...more

On the Cutting Edge of the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act: 2019 Legislative Changes and Updates

Mitchell, Williams, Selig, Gates & Woodyard,... on 8/21/2019

As is the case seemingly anytime that the General Assembly is called to session, this year they made some notable changes to the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. Several of those changes went into effect last month, and...more

Top 10 Developments and Headlines in Trade Secret, Non-Compete, and Computer Fraud Law in 2018/2019

Seyfarth Shaw LLP on 1/29/2019

Continuing our annual tradition, we have compiled our top developments and headlines for 2018-2019 in trade secret, non-compete, and computer fraud law....more

ALERT - CT Legislative Update

Pullman & Comley, LLC on 8/3/2018

The 2018 Regular Session of the Connecticut General Assembly passed bills that, among other things: (1) revise the Student Data Privacy Act; (2) address budgetary issues stemming from attempts at reducing and rescinding...more

Connecticut Enacts Law Revising Various Department of Public Health Statutes

Robinson+Cole Health Law Diagnosis on 6/29/2018

On June 13, 2018, Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy signed into law Public Act No. 18-168 “An Act Concerning the Department of Public Health’s Recommendations Regarding Various Revisions to the Public Health Statutes” (PA...more

FOIL Request Denials Could Come with a Cost to NYS Agencies and Municipalities

Harris Beach Murtha PLLC on 1/12/2018

State agencies and New York State municipalities must have a reasonable basis to deny Freedom of Information Law (“FOIL”) requests or they will be subjected to mandatory attorney’s fees when a denial is successfully...more

Municipal Legal News

Dickinson Wright on 10/4/2016

On September 21, Governor Snyder signed a package of bills (2016 PA 281-283) that significantly expands the types of medical marijuana facilities permitted under state law, and establishes a licensing scheme similar to the...more

Local Government Travel and Entertainment Expenses Come Under Greater Scrutiny with New Law

Franczek P.C. on 8/2/2016

Over the past few years there has been no shortage of FOIA requests and media attention on how school districts and other units of local government spend or reimburse spending on conferences, dining, and travel. Last week...more

Open Wide: FOIA Reform Expands Public Access to U.S. Government Information

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP on 7/5/2016

On June 30, 2016, President Obama signed the bipartisan Freedom of Information Improvement Act of 2016 (S. 337). The bill most notably requires that the government operate under a “presumption of openness” in federal law and...more

Florida Public Records Law and Government Contractors 2016 Legislature Makes Significant Changes

Carlton Fields on 3/16/2016

Chapter 119, Florida Statutes (“the Act”), requires that every “agency” make its records available for inspection and copying to any member of the public who makes a request. Either refusal to provide such access or an...more

New Police Procedures Laws for Illinois Municipalities

Holland & Knight LLP on 12/31/2015

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner signed Public Act 99-352 into law on Aug. 12, 2015, amending several Illinois statutes concerning local police operations and procedures. The law takes effect on January 1, 2016. Several aspects of...more

The FOIA, Charter Schools and “Charter Management Organizations:” The FOIC and the Legislature (Sort Of) Speak

Pullman & Comley - School Law on 9/8/2015

As noted previously, the intersection between Connecticut’s Freedom of Information Act [“FOIA”] and charter schools has been the source of much noise. Notwithstanding some shrill voices, charter schools have always been...more

Significant Changes to Michigan FOIA Laws Coming In July

Miller Canfield on 1/19/2015

Michigan governmental entities will face significant new regulations on how they charge for responses to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests beginning July 1, 2015. ...more

20 Results

View per page

Page: of 1

Freedom of Information Act › New Legislation

"My best business intelligence, in one easy email…"