Oklahoma Public Records Laws and Regulations

Learn more about which agencies control and provide access to Oklahoma state public records

Oklahoma public records laws and regulations control the access that the public has to records on individuals such as criminal background, immigration status and Oklahoma vital records. These laws also apply to government records such as meeting minutes and voting records.

Laws on public records in Oklahoma may be grouped according to the aspect of public records that they address. These include the following three general areas:

1. Laws on OK public records that regulate the manner in which public information may be accessed. These laws may specify issues such as the length of time the state has to respond to information requests, any fees an agency is allowed to charge and whether the requestor must provide a reason for wanting the information.
2. Laws that define what information on an individual may be considered public. These laws control the personal information that may be accessed by an individual or party designated by the individual.
3. Laws that specify what government records may be accessible to the public. These laws are usually intended to permit journalists to perform an Oklahoma court case search or to allow private citizens to provide input on government decisions.
   

 

Review the procedures for accessing an Oklahoma public record

Access to Oklahoma court records and public records covered by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) in Oklahoma is typically handled by the Attorney General. County and municipal courts may also provide access to Oklahoma criminal records and Oklahoma county public records.
Try: Oklahoma State University School of Journalism and Broadcasting provides a primer on the Open Records Act, which regulates the disclosure of public records in Oklahoma. City of Tulsa has the complete text of the Oklahoma Open Records Act.

Learn about the laws regulating access of Oklahoma public records for individuals

Public records for individuals typically include vital records such as birth certificates, marriage licenses and death certificates. Individuals may only be able to access their own personal records.
Try: The Oklahoma State Department of Health provides specific information on obtaining death certificates under Oklahoma law. The Oklahoma Department of Libraries offers the specific procedures for accessing each type of vital record for individuals in Oklahoma.

Look for Oklahoma public records laws on government records

Government records may include meeting minutes, budget reports and real estate sales. Some government departments provide many different types of government records, while others may be dedicated to a specific type of record.
Try: The City of Oklahoma City provides a variety of government records to the public, such as meeting minutes. The City of Lawton has a policy that regulates the release of government records according to Oklahoma law.

 

• Oklahoma public records law is generally guided by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This federal legislation was signed into law by President Lyndon Johnson in 1966. The FOIA was amended by the Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments in 1996 which controls the electronic access the public has to these records.

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