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Attorney General Josh Kaul  \nMessage from the Office of Open Government  \nIt is imperative that we recognize that transparency is the cornerstone of democracy and that citizens cannot hold elected officials accountable in a representative government unless government is performed in the open.  \nThe Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) plays an important role in ensuring Wisconsin’s open government laws are properly and faithfully executed by public officials. The Wisconsin DOJ’s Office of Open Government makes available a snapshot of all public records requests pending each week, average monthly response times for the office, and responses to public records requests that may be of public interest on the Wisconsin DOJ Website. Wisconsin DOJ responds to hundreds of inquiries every year concerning issues related to the open meetings law and the public records law, and instructs on open government at conferences, seminars, and training sessions. In these ways, the Office of Open Government provides resources and services to all state, regional, and local government entities and citizens.  \nWisconsin’s open government laws promote democracy by ensuring that all state, regional and local governments conduct their business with transparency. Wisconsin citizens have a right to know how their government is spending their tax dollars and exercising the powers granted by the people. This guide is a resource for everyone to understand and exercise their right to access their government.  \nThis compliance guide may be accessed, downloaded or printed free of charge from the Wisconsin DOJ website, by visiting [https://www.wisdoj.gov](https://www.wisdoj.gov. Please)[. Please](https://www.wisdoj.gov. Please) share this guide with your constituencies and colleagues.  \nRecords custodians and all those who perform public duties are encouraged to contact the Office of Open Government if we can be of assistance.  \nOffice of Open Government  \nPaul M. Ferguson, Assistant Attorney General  \nWisconsin Department of Justice  \nP.O. Box 7857  \nMadison, WI 53707-7857  \nPublic Records/Open Meetings (PROM) Help Line: (608) 267-2220  \nopengov@widoj.gov  \nDisclaimer  \nThis guide provides an overview of the law and compiles information provided by Wisconsin DOJ in response to inquiries submitted over the course of several decades. This guide is provided pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 19.39 and does not constitute an informal or formal opinion of the Attorney General pursuant to Wis. Stat. § 165.015(1) .  \nThis guide does not provide answers to every question that may arise regarding the public records law. Although this guide is updated periodically, it reflects the current law as of the date of its publication, and it may be superseded or affected by newer versions and/or changes in the law. This guide does not create an attorney-client relationship. You should consult with an attorney for specific information and advice when necessary and appropriate.  \nWisconsin Public Records Law Compliance Guide  \nAttorney General Josh Kaul  \nOffice of Open Government Paul M. Ferguson, Assistant Attorney General  \nLili C. Behm, Assistant Attorney General  \nLaura A. Heim, Paralegal  \nAshley M. Hein, Program and Policy Analyst  \nChelsea K. Steinke, Paralegal  \nThe 2025 edition of the Wisconsin Public Records Law Compliance Guide results from the efforts of the Office of Open Government, as well as the following Wisconsin Department of Justice personnel, all of whom are acknowledged and appreciated:  \nClayton P. Kawski, Assistant Attorney General  \nSteven C. Kilpatrick, Assistant Attorney General  \nAmanda J. Lund, Paralegal  \nAmy Thornton, Law Librarian  \nPage  \nINTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................................................................... 1  \nPUBLIC POLICY AND PURPOSE .....................................","cbCaikcqb9fVnmwd","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaikcqb9fVnmwd","pdf",1755464,101,"English","# Introduction\n## Public Policy and Purpose\n## Sources of Wisconsin Public Records Law\n## Key Definitions\n## Before Any Request: Procedures for Authorities\n## Records Policies\n## Hours for Access","[{\"question\":\"What is the main purpose of the Wisconsin Public Records Law Compliance Guide?\",\"answer\":\"It explains Wisconsin’s open government laws and serves as a resource to understand and exercise the right to access government information.\"},{\"question\":\"Who supports public records requests under Wisconsin’s open government framework?\",\"answer\":\"The Wisconsin Department of Justice’s Office of Open Government provides resources, responds to inquiries related to the open meetings and public records laws, and supports training and conferences.\"},{\"question\":\"Does the guide provide legal advice or formal opinions?\",\"answer\":\"No. It provides an overview of the law and compiled information, but it does not constitute an informal or formal opinion and does not create an attorney-client relationship.\"}]","Wisconsin Public Records Law Compliance Guide - Compliance Guide | PDF",255]