Use our Open-Government Resources
FAC’s handbooks provide overviews of California’s primary freedom-of-information laws.
Accessing public records in California
By Paloma Esquivel
A guide to publicly available data in California on criminal justice, education, the environment, state and local finances and more.
This is a live document that will regularly updated. Access the most recent version here.
First Published: January 29, 2026
By Thadeus Greenson
A guide to help reporters understand their access rights on and around Election Day.
By Thadeus Greenson
Por Paloma Esquivel
Esta guía está diseñada para ayudar a los periodistas que cubren la inmigración en California a comprender el acceso a los registros públicos estatales y locales, las cortes de inmigración y los centros de detención.
By Paloma Esquivel
This guide is designed to help reporters covering immigration enforcement in California understand access to state and local public records, immigration courts and detention centers.
The Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act is the public meetings law that applies to California state boards, committees, and commissions.
A template for submitting your own Freedom of Information Act request.
The Ralph M. Brown Act, one of California’s main sunshine laws, is intended to provide public access to meetings of local government agencies.
This resource is designed to help you navigate the law to access police use-of-force and officer misconduct records under the California Public Records Act.