Atlas v0.1 · Right to information · Right to service
United States
United States of America · ISO USA
United States has a rated national right-to-information law (adopted 1966, scored 82/150 by the RTI Rating, checked 2026-07-05), and its service-rights route is verified against an official source. Subdivision entries below marked “to confirm” are tasks, not facts.
Your first move, anywhere
Request legal route, responsible officer, fees, timeline, appeal route, and one high-value record: budget, contract, land, hospital stock, service standard, audit, court delay, police complaint, or procurement payment.
Convert the legal right into a citizen test: receipt, tracking number, statutory deadline, written reasons, actual record release, appeal, and proactive publication.
Capture flags to watch: Delay; discretion; opacity; fragmentation; fear; patron dependency; counterfeit transparency
Right to information
Sourced
National lawFreedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552 Official text still to confirm before you rely on it.
Constitutional provisionNo general constitutional right to federal records; statutory FOIA framework
Oversight and appeal bodyAgency FOIA officers; Office of Government Information Services; federal courts
RTI Rating score82/150 · rank 78 · Moderate legal framework
Where the law is strong and weakRight of access 2/6 · Scope 18/30 · Requesting procedures 15/30 · Exceptions and refusals 17/30 · Appeals 14/30 · Sanctions and protections 4/8 · Promotional measures 12/16
Source: RTI Rating country data · last checked 2026-07-05
Right to service
Sourced
StatusVerified federal improvement statute
Legal familyFederal service-delivery improvement statute + APA/state service standards
Legal hookPublic Law 118-231 improves federal service delivery capacity; it is not a general citizen deadline/penalty RTS statute.
The usability test to runReceipt + tracking + deadline + written reason + appeal + remedy + claimant protection
NoteDo not count a Public Service Commission as RTS unless it creates enforceable service standards for citizens.
Sources: United States Government Service Delivery Improvement Act
Inside United States: 57 subdivisions
Where a subdivision shows a cited law, the citation comes from the named source and the official text still needs confirming. Where it shows nothing, the national law may apply and the local rules are unconfirmed.
What to confirm at your local office, whichever subdivision you are in
- Verify statutory deadline and extension rule.
- Verify filing fee, copying fee, waiver, and electronic access rule.
- Verify internal review, independent review, judicial review, and silence-as-refusal rule.
- Verify relevant information commission, ombudsman, court, tribunal, or internal appeal body.
- Verify official web portal or responsible officer contact.
Records that should already be published: Budget; procurement; contract awards; payment status; public land; service standards; audit reports; subsidies; court/police/hospital/school records.
| Code | Subdivision | Type | Access-law status | Source · checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US-AK | Alaska | State | AK Stat. § 40.25.110 · Public Record Disclosures Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-AL | Alabama | State | AL Code § 36-12-40 et seq. · Rights of citizens to inspect and copy public writings; exceptions Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-AR | Arkansas | State | AR Code Ann. § 25-19-101 et seq. · Freedom of Information Act of 1967 Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-AS | American Samoa | Outlying area | No local law confirmed · national law may apply: Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552 To confirm | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-AZ | Arizona | State | AZ Rev. Stat. § 39-121.01 · Public Records, Printing and Notices Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-CA | California | State | CA Govt. Code § 7920 et seq. · California Public Records Act Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-CO | Colorado | State | CO Rev. Stat. Ann. § 24-72-200 et seq. · Colorado Open Records Act Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-CT | Connecticut | State | CT Gen. Stat. § 1-200 et seq. · Freedom of Information Act Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-DC | District of Columbia | District | D.C. Code § 2-531 et seq. · District of Columbia Freedom of Information Act Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-DE | Delaware | State | 29 Del. Laws, c. 100 § 10001 et seq. · Freedom of Information Act Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-FL | Florida | State | FL Stat. § 119.01 et seq. · Public Records Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-GA | Georgia | State | O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq. · Open Records Law Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-GU | Guam | Outlying area | No local law confirmed · national law may apply: Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552 To confirm | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-HI | Hawaii | State | HI Rev. Stat. § 92F-1 et seq. · Uniform Information Practices Act Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-IA | Iowa | State | IA Code § 22.1 et seq. · Examination of Public Records (Open Records) Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-ID | Idaho | State | ID Stat. § 74-101 et seq. · Public Records Act Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-IL | Illinois | State | 5 ILCS 140/1 · Freedom of Information Act Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-IN | Indiana | State | IN Code § 5-14-3-1 et seq. · Access to Public Records Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-KS | Kansas | State | K.S.A. § 45-215 et seq. · Open Records Act Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-KY | Kentucky | State | KRS § 61.870 et seq. · Open Records Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-LA | Louisiana | State | LA Rev. Stat. § 44:1 et seq. · Public Records Law Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-MA | Massachusetts | State | MA Gen. Laws Ch. 66 § 1 et seq. · Public Records Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-MD | Maryland | State | MD General Provisions Code § 4-101 et seq. · Public Information Act Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-ME | Maine | State | ME Rev. Stat. Tit. 1 § 400 et seq. · Freedom of Access Act Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-MI | Michigan | State | MI Comp. Laws § 15.231 · Freedom of Information Act Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-MN | Minnesota | State | MN Stat. § 13.03 · Access to Government Data Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-MO | Missouri | State | MO Rev. Stat. § 610.010 et seq. · Governmental Bodies and Records Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-MP | Northern Mariana Islands | Outlying area | No local law confirmed · national law may apply: Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552 To confirm | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-MS | Mississippi | State | MS Code Ann. § 25-61-1 et seq. · Mississippi Public Records Act of 1983 Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-MT | Montana | State | MT Code Ann. § 2-6-1001 et seq. · Public Records Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-NC | North Carolina | State | NC G.S. § 132-1 et seq. · Public Records Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-ND | North Dakota | State | ND Cent. Code § 44-04-18 et seq. · Access to Public Records Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-NE | Nebraska | State | NE Rev. Stat. § 84-712 et seq. · Public Records Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-NH | New Hampshire | State | NH Rev. Stat. § 91-A:1 et seq. · Access to Governmental Records and Meetings Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-NJ | New Jersey | State | NJ Rev. Stat. § 47:1A-1 et seq. · Open Records Law Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-NM | New Mexico | State | NM Stat. § 14-2-1 et seq. · Inspection of Public Records Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-NV | Nevada | State | NV Rev. Stat. § 239.001 et seq. · Public Records Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-NY | New York | State | NY PBO Article 6 § 84 et seq. · Freedom of Information Law Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-OH | Ohio | State | OH Rev. Code § 149.43 · Availability of Public Records for Inspection and Copying Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-OK | Oklahoma | State | OK Stat. Tit. 51 § 24A.1 et seq. · Oklahoma Open Records Act Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-OR | Oregon | State | ORS § 192.001 et seq. · Public Records Policy Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-PA | Pennsylvania | State | 65 Pa. Stat. § 67.101 et seq. · Right-to-Know Law Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-PR | Puerto Rico | Outlying area | No local law confirmed · national law may apply: Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552 To confirm | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-RI | Rhode Island | State | R.I. Gen. Laws § 38-2-1 et seq. · Access to Public Records Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-SC | South Carolina | State | SC Code § 30-4-10 et seq. · Freedom of Information Act Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-SD | South Dakota | State | SD Cod. Laws § 1-27-1 et seq. · Public Records and Files Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-TN | Tennessee | State | Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503 et seq. · Records Open to Public Inspection Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-TX | Texas | State | TX Stat. Gov. Code § 552.001 et seq. · Open Government, Public Information Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-UM | United States Minor Outlying Islands | Outlying area | No local law confirmed · national law may apply: Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552 To confirm | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-UT | Utah | State | UT Code § 63G-2-101 · Government Records Access and Management Act Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-VA | Virginia | State | VA Code § 2.2-3700 et seq. · Virginia Freedom of Information Act Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-VI | Virgin Islands, U.S. | Outlying area | No local law confirmed · national law may apply: Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552 To confirm | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-VT | Vermont | State | 1 V.S.A. § 315 et seq. · Access to Public Records Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-WA | Washington | State | RCW 42.56 · Public Records Act Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-WI | Wisconsin | State | WI Stat. § 19.21 et seq. · Public Records and Property Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-WV | West Virginia | State | WV Code § 29B · Freedom of Information Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
| US-WY | Wyoming | State | WY Stat. Ann. § 16-4-201 et seq. · State Archives, Museums and Historical Department / public records statute Sourced confirm current official text | source · 2026-07-05 |
Right to service, all 57 subdivisions: Verified federal improvement statute (inherited from the national status above).
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If you can confirm any entry for United States against the official text, send the law's title, the official link or scan, the office you dealt with, and the date. Every submission is reviewed before anything changes on this site; nothing publishes automatically. Route: the contact on the About page.
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The atlas is the open reference layer: every jurisdiction, graded, with unverified entries shown as tasks. The Capture Index is a separate scored product: verified sources only, with right of reply before publication.