Open records requests in Maine

How the Maine Freedom of Access Act (FOAA) works

Maine's Freedom of Access Act (1 M.R.S. § 400 et seq.) establishes the right of any person to inspect and copy public records of Maine's governmental bodies. The law covers state agencies, municipalities, school administrative units, and courts (with some exceptions). Maine's FOAA is comprehensive, with a clear presumption of openness: all public records are available unless a specific exemption is established by the legislature. Agencies must respond within five business days, providing a projected timeline if records cannot be produced immediately.

Fees may be charged at a reasonable rate for searching, retrieving, and copying records, and fee waivers are available for requests in the public interest. Maine's Attorney General and the courts handle enforcement. Requesters who prevail may recover attorney's fees. Common exemptions include personnel records, attorney-client privileged materials, ongoing law enforcement investigation records, and information constituting an unwarranted invasion of privacy.