Hanson, Patricia

Wisconsin Open Records Law

Wisconsin Statute 19.21 et seq.

The Wisconsin Open Records Law, first enacted in 1982, is a series of laws designed to guarantee that the public has access to public records of government bodies at all levels. Wisconsin defines record as any document, regardless of physical form, that "has been created or is being kept by" an agency.

In general, "any requester has a right to inspect any record." (Wis. Stat. 19.35(1)(a)). However, people who are incarcerated and people who have been involuntarily committed to a mental institution are restricted in their rights of access to public documents. A statement of purpose is not required and the statute for how records can be used states, "A requester shall comply with any regulations or restrictions upon ... use of information which are specifically prescribed by law." The Wisconsin Open Records Law does not specify a time requirement for responses to records requests.