Open Records

Alaska’s public records law is the Alaska Public Records Act (APRA), found at Alaska Statutes §§ 40.25.100-40.25.295. It applies to all state and local government agencies in Alaska and makes public records open for inspection and copying unless a specific exception applies. Note: the federal Freedom of Information Act does not apply to Alaska state or local records – APRA is the controlling law here, not FOIA.

Who can request records

APRA does not restrict who can request records or how the records will be used. Alaska’s administrative code specifically bars public agencies from asking a requester why they want the records.

How to request

– Submit a written request to the agency that holds the records – Alaska law doesn’t mandate a specific format, and requests can be submitted in hard copy or electronically. – Oral requests are allowed too, but if an oral request isn’t fulfilled within 5 days, the only way to appeal is to resubmit the request in writing. – Being as specific as possible – naming the subject matter, date range, and any known custodians or participants – speeds up the response. – Some agencies (for example, the Department of Public Safety) offer electronic request forms that can speed up tracking and response.

Response deadlines

Most Alaska state executive branch agencies must provide an initial response within 10 working days of receiving a request. That initial response may provide the records, deny all or part of the request, ask for clarification, or notify the requester the agency is handling it under the separate electronic-services-and-products provision (AS 40.25.115). Agencies may extend the response period with proper notice in certain circumstances.

Fees

– If fulfilling a request takes 5 or fewer personnel-hours in a calendar month for a given requester, Alaska’s “five-hour rule” generally means the records are provided free. – Beyond that 5-hour threshold, the agency can charge the requester its actual personnel costs (salary and benefits, not marked up) for the additional search and copying time, and can require payment before releasing records or even before starting the search. – Agencies may reduce or waive fees when doing so serves the public interest, and must apply that waiver policy uniformly to similarly situated requesters. A fee of $5 or less can be waived automatically if it would cost the agency more to process the payment than the fee itself is worth. – A requester can also seek fee relief if they can show the records would meaningfully contribute to public understanding of government operations – this requires describing the specific activities the records relate to and how the requester plans to share the records broadly. – Note: as of mid-2026, a legislative proposal (HB 377) to change the five-hour rule and shift more cost onto requesters has stalled in the Alaska House after public pushback – worth rechecking periodically since this framework could still change.

Exemptions

Alaska Statute § 40.25.120 sets out the exceptions to public access – records outside those exceptions are presumed open. Available public records include court records, criminal records, census data, property information, bankruptcy rulings, tax liens and judgments, and unpublished policy statements and staff manuals that affect the public.

If your request is denied or delayed

Alaska’s public records law provides pathways to appeal decisions and push agencies toward timely responses; consult the Alaska Department of Law’s APRA guidance or an attorney for the specific appeal process for a given agency.

A note on terminology

Alaska’s law is officially the “Alaska Public Records Act,” commonly abbreviated APRA – distinct from the federal FOIA, which does not apply to Alaska state and local government records.