Police incident report — Madison, Wisconsin
Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39
- What to type
- "Police incident report for the incident at 123 Main St in Madison, WI on May 1, 2025."
- Jurisdiction
- Wisconsin (Wisconsin Public Records Law)
- What the draft pins
- Opening citing Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39; required phrase "public records request under Wis. Stat. §§ 19.31–19.39"; custodian directed to Madison Police Department if you confirm that agency at Step 1.25.
- Timing
- Wisconsin requires "as soon as practicable and without delay" — no fixed day count. Follow up in 10 business days if silent.
- Watch for
- Redactions under Wis. Stat. § 19.36(2) for incident detail. Ask for a segregable release and a specific basis for each withholding.
City budget — Austin, Texas
Texas Public Information Act
- What to type
- "2024 municipal budget breakdown for the City of Austin, TX."
- Jurisdiction
- Texas (Government Code Chapter 552)
- What the draft pins
- Opening under the Texas Public Information Act; required phrase "public information request under the Texas Public Information Act"; routes to Austin City Council if confirmed at the agency step.
- Timing
- 10 business days to produce or seek an Attorney General ruling. If the agency asks the AG for withholding, add 45 days to your calendar.
- Watch for
- Big exports can trigger programming fees under § 552.231. Ask for a fee estimate before work begins; request native spreadsheet exports to avoid "special research" pricing.
Federal agency records — USDA
5 U.S.C. § 552 (FOIA)
- What to type
- "USDA inspection reports for pork processing facilities in Iowa, Jan 2024 – Dec 2024."
- Jurisdiction
- Federal FOIA
- What the draft pins
- Opening under 5 U.S.C. § 552; required phrase "Freedom of Information Act request pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 552"; fee cap prompt asking to be notified before fees exceed $50.
- Timing
- 20 business days to respond. Expedited processing available on a narrow "urgency" showing — don't count on it.
- Watch for
- Agencies often invoke Exemption 5 (deliberative process) or 7 (law enforcement). Ask for segregable release and a Vaughn-style index if denial is broad.
Records with a fee-gotcha — Los Angeles, California
California Public Records Act
- What to type
- "LAPD body-worn camera footage for incident report #12345 on 2025-03-10."
- Jurisdiction
- California (Gov. Code §§ 7920 et seq.)
- What the draft pins
- Opening under the California Public Records Act; required phrase "request for public records under the California Public Records Act"; prompt to produce electronic records in their native format.
- Timing
- 10 days for a determination, with a 14-day extension available. Production follows the determination — not the same deadline.
- Watch for
- Video redaction labor can be billed. Ask for the unit rate and a time estimate before authorizing. Under SB 1421/748, some officer-misconduct records are subject to broader disclosure — cite them if applicable.
FOIL for meeting minutes — New York
New York Freedom of Information Law
- What to type
- "Meeting minutes and resolutions from the NYC Department of Education's Panel for Educational Policy, Jan–Jun 2025."
- Jurisdiction
- New York (Public Officers Law §§ 84–90)
- What the draft pins
- Opening under NY FOIL; required phrase "FOIL request under the New York Freedom of Information Law"; ask for electronic records when available.
- Timing
- 5 business days to acknowledge, then a reasonable date to produce. If the agency gives no date or a date > 20 business days out without explanation, treat it as a constructive denial and appeal.
- Watch for
- Inter-agency material is often withheld under § 87(2)(g). Push back on wholesale withholding — factual portions are disclosable.
