Washington Open Records 
Washington laws and court cases
State Statute
Open Government Guide to Washington's Open Records Law by The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
Attorney General's Open Government Internet Manual
Attorney General's Model Rules on Public Records (Paper Records)
Attorney General's Model Rules on Public Records (Electronic Records)
Attorney General's Open Government Ombudsman
Letter Generator
Generate an open records request that conforms to Washington's requirements
Sunshine Troublemaker of the Week
Washington is lucky enough to have two of it's very own Sunshine Troublemakers. Click here to read their stories, and see who's been stirring up trouble in other states. Og-Blog in Washington also covered Douglas' story: Douglas Moore: Sunshine Troublemaker of the Week
Exemptions
Document types exempted from public access in Washington.
Contacts (where to send your request)
WA City Contacts
WA County Contacts
WA School Districts
Legal Resources (links to resources) by Allied Law Group
State Salary Database
in Washington, one man by the name of Louis Bloom has assembled (via FOIA) a very thorough listing of 2007 Washington State Employees, Job Title and Salaries
To see what other states have salary databases, click here.
Blogs, websites and resources that use open records
(add yours!)
Evergreen Freedom Foundation
Liberty Live the Evergreen Freedom Foundation blog
OG-Blog Open-Government Blog
Washington Coalition for Open Government
The Chrome Documents
Press
Head to Sunshine Review for the most recent open record updates in Washington.
2008
October 20, 2008: Investigators: Did Bellevue break the law in push to pass parks levy?
October 11, 2008: Paper asks Supreme Court to review ruling
October 4, 2008: Franklin County judge changes order decision in Parmelee records case
September 19, 2008: Sun Public Records Request Prompts Two Lawsuits
September 17, 2008: The price of information too much for some
September 16, 2008: Toledo man loses Thurston County court public records lawsuit
September 15, 2008: Washington Supreme Court closes records of 'unsubstantiated' sexual misconduct accusations against teachers
September 4, 2008: Western State chief apparently forced out
September 3, 2008: Mesa's court defeat is case for better training
August 29, 2008: Sonics fight cost city $2.9 million
August 26, 2008: Oberquell records request called 'exceptional'
August 17, 2008: $140,000 paid out in probe of Everett teacher
August 15, 2008: Bicyclist sues State Patrol over open records access
August 4, 2008: Teacher privacy ruling a dangerous misstep
August 3, 2008: Unsubstantiated accusations in the Internet age
August 1, 2008: Judge agrees to unseal records of costly murder trial
August 1, 2008: Port officials at fault on open records issue
July 31, 2008: WA court protects identities of some teachers
July 24, 2008: Port told to release files
July 21, 2008: Puyallup aims to do better on public records inquiries
July 14, 2008: So-called Sunshine
July 11, 2008: Paralegal wages 'sunshine' battle
July 3, 2008: WA court: public records can be kept from inmates
July 1, 2008: Ruling keeps attorney billing records sealed
June 30, 2008: COURTS: Arsonist cannot access Franklin County sheriff's records
June 27, 2008: Convicted arsonist seeks data on Franklin County jail workers
June 24, 2008: Education key to openness
June 21, 2008: YH-R files public records lawsuit against Yakima County
June 20, 2008: Yakima newspaper suing county for public records
June 15, 2008: No easy answers in public records case
June 12, 2008: Restrict, don’t ban felons’ records demands
June 11, 2008: Prosser businessman, city in court over public records
June 9, 2008: Wash AG says felons have no right to public records
June 9, 2008: AG says felons have no right to public records
June 9, 2008: Seattle vows open door
May 31, 2008: Missteps on records detailed
May 26, 2008: New watchdog effort targets government secrecy in WA
May 20, 2008: Public records requests successful, audit says
May 20, 2008: Audit faults Seattle's response to requests
May 19, 2008: Auditor: Records-request audit is done
May 19, 2008: Auditor finds government compliance with records requests
May 16, 2008: Disclosure law's first test goes to Olympia activist
May 1, 2008: Court rules Tri-City Animal Control acts as public agency
April 24, 2008: County praised on records requests
April 22, 2008: Open records laws are for citizens, too
April 21, 2008: Selah Hands Over More Documents on Former Selah Police Chief
April 21, 2008: Federal Way man has won thousands in public records lawsuits
April 20, 2008: Most governments, agencies in compliance with law
April 18, 2008: DOC pays $107,500 to settle prison cases
April 15, 2008: Selah, police chief staying quiet
April 13, 2008: Fine demonstrates need for open records
April 11, 2008: City takes action to ensure openness in government
April 11, 2008: State withheld records on abused boy, suit says
April 10, 2008: County’s resistance to audit is regretful
April 1, 2008: Thurston shows well in draft audit
April 1, 2008: any 2007 news stories required access to government documents
April 1, 2008: County rates poorly in state public records audit
March 27, 2008: More public disclosure is good for state
March 26, 2008: King Co. judge declines to block arsonist's records requests
March 25, 2008: WA Sunshine Committee recommends first public records changes
March 25, 2008: Be specific, avoid jargon when asking for public records
March 19, 2008: City attorney pits public records, police
March 19, 2008: Here’s how to see public records in Washington
March 13, 2008: Letters illuminate controversial firing of police chief by Ruston mayor
March 11, 2008: County adjusts records policy to include e-mail requests
March 3, 2008: When it comes to open government, a sledgehammer is sorely needed
March 3, 2008: Storage options for public records could be costly for Benton County
February 20, 2008: Records audit is not a 'sting' operation
February 12, 2008: Auditor’s records stand riles treasurer
February 12, 2008: Right to know crumbles with attorney-client privilege ruling
February 7, 2008: Challenge ruling that counters open records law
February 5, 2008: Bill would require taping of closed sessions
January 29, 2008: Three measures focus on access to records
January 29, 2008: County considers records ordinance
January 29, 2008: Arsonist's case tests limits of Wash. Public Records Act
January 29, 2008: E-mail ruling raises open-records issues
January 28, 2008: Sneak attack on public records
January 25, 2008: Secrecy a threat to public records
January 24, 2008: Open union negotiations, Our views
January 24, 2008: Measure exempts too many records from public access
January 23, 2008: Throw open city records? State insurer says no way
January 22, 2008: Open the door to public records
January 20, 2008: Police safety at crux of new bill
January 10, 2008: Abused foster girls accuse state of hiding documents
January 6, 2008: Court flubbed records ruling
2007
December 28, 2007: Court ruling keeps records from public
December 27, 2007: WA high court reaffirms attorney-client privilege in school case
December 14, 2007: Citizens group, AG settle lawsuit over newspaper dispute records
December 6, 2007: Carr wreck
December 2, 2007: Hooray for open government as a hot campaign issue
November 19, 2007: Child care truths shrouded by WA regulators
November 18, 2007: Public records exemptions not solved yet
November 12, 2007: Judge refuses to penalize builders group
November 8, 2007: Olympian wins 2007 Ted Natt Award
November 6, 2007: Precinct tallies will stay secret until certification
November 4, 2007: National study gives Washington a big, fat 'F' in easing access to government information
October 31, 2007: Department of Corrections settles e-records dispute for $65,000
October 28, 2007: Telltale e-mails tracked down to ex-official
October 18, 2007: A government that's open, accessible and responsive (Editorial)
October 16, 2007: Two-newspaper group sues attorney general
October 15, 2007: Let the spotlight shine on legislative records exemption
October 14, 2007: Pipeline records should not be kept from public
October 14, 2007: Sunshine Committee ready for first batch of open-records reviews
October 13, 2007: Counter suit filed in records request
October 9, 2007: Attorney General Rob McKenna receives Freedom's Light award for open government work
October 3, 2007: Data on pipelines off-limits to public
September 29, 2007: Electronic records belong to the public
September 22, 2007: Governor: Open electronic records
September 21, 2007: Let the sun shine
September 18, 2007: Cost not criteria in review of records exemptions
September 9, 2007: Gregoire made right choice releasing records (Opinion column)
September 8, 2007: Court: E-mails were OK to delete
September 7, 2007: Gregoire changes course, releases 'Sunshine' applications
September 6, 2007: Negotiation Documents Are Public Record, Judge Rules
September 3, 2007: Exemptions to state's law on open records need review (Editorial)
August 31, 2007: Are e-mails public records?
August 30, 2007: Gregoire won't release 'Sunshine Committee' documents
August 26, 2007: Watching out for your interests requires access to public records
August 26, 2007: Committee must shine light on public records law
August 21, 2007: Public records must be open (Opinion column)
August 18, 2007: Open records suit delays shutdown of monorail agency
August 17, 2007: Gregoire to appoint Seattle city atty to lead open records panel
August 16, 2007: Auditor's test clearly gauges performance of agencies
August 15, 2007: Building Industry Association of Washington could be right in fight with auditor (Opinion column)
August 13, 2007: Seattle police policy on disciplinary records ripe for challenge
August 11, 2007: County commissioner at odds with audit methods
August 9, 2007: A way to discourage illegal secret meetings
August 7, 2007: Settlement ends feud over records
August 5, 2007: Judge to rethink records ruling. Trade group believes files indicate voter-registration fraud
July 13, 2007: School board's 'winds of change' also must bring openness
July 9, 2007: Court fails to adapt to time (Opinion)
June 9, 2007: State Must Pay Half A Million to Paper for Withholding Records
May 29, 2007 State’s open records law bares its teeth in Spokane (Opinion column)
May 11, 2007: Request for EPD records bogs down in paperwork
May 2007: Record seekers treated with respect
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