Bill Sponsor
California Assembly Bill 1821
Session 20252026
California Public Records Act: agency response time.
Introduced
Introduced
Introduced in Assembly on Feb 11, 2026
First Action
Feb 11, 2026
Latest Action
Apr 23, 2026
Origin Chamber
Assembly
Type
Bill
Bill Number
1821
State
California
Session
20252026
Sponsorship by Party
Democrat
Author
Assembly Votes (2)
Motion Text
Do pass.
Summary
Existing law, the California Public Records Act, requires each state or local agency, upon a request for a copy of records that reasonably describes an identifiable record or records, to make the records promptly available to any person upon payment of fees covering direct costs of duplication, or a statutory fee if applicable, except with respect to public records exempt from disclosure by express provisions of law. Existing law requires each agency, within 10 days of a request for a copy of records, to determine whether the request seeks copies of disclosable public records in possession of the agency and to promptly notify the person of the determination and the reasons therefor. Existing law authorizes that time limit to be extended by no more than 14 days under unusual circumstances, as defined. This bill would instead require each agency to determine whether the request seeks copies of disclosable public records in possession of the agency and to promptly notify the person as described above within 10 business days of a request for a copy of records. The bill would instead authorize the time period for each agency to respond to be extended by no more than 14 business days. The California Constitution requires local agencies, for the purpose of ensuring public access to the meetings of public bodies and the writings of public officials and agencies, to comply with a statutory enactment that amends or enacts laws relating to public records or open meetings and contains findings demonstrating that the enactment furthers the constitutional requirements relating to this purpose. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect. Existing constitutional provisions require that a statute that limits the right of access to the meetings of public bodies or the writings of public officials and agencies be adopted with findings demonstrating the interest protected by the limitation and the need for protecting that interest. This bill would make legislative findings to that effect.
Actions (10)
04/23/2026
Assembly
Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
04/22/2026
Assembly
From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (April 22).
04/15/2026
Assembly
From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 8. Noes 2.) (April 14). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
04/07/2026
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
04/06/2026
Assembly
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
03/17/2026
Assembly
Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
03/16/2026
Assembly
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on JUD. Read second time and amended.
03/16/2026
Assembly
Referred to Com. on JUD.
02/12/2026
Assembly
From printer. May be heard in committee March 14.
02/11/2026
Assembly
Read first time. To print.
Sources
Record Created
Feb 12, 2026 8:39:35 AM
Record Updated
Apr 25, 2026 8:37:38 AM