Nearly a dozen states have recently passed or discussed laws that would allow them to take these requesters to court if they deem the requests disruptive, vexatious, malicious or overly broad.

Tennessee allows agencies to seek an injunction if they think someone is submitting a request meant to disrupt government operations. The injunction option was scheduled to sunset last year but the legislature extended it.

Iowa passed a similar bill, allowing for injunctions against individuals who filed “vexatious requests,” which would be defined as “would clearly not be in the public interest.” And Maine followed suit, allowing agencies more time to file for an “action of protection” against requesters. The move was recommended by its Right to Know Committee earlier this year.

California debated a similar restriction, where agencies could petition a court for a determination that a requester was acting “with malicious intent.” That language was pulled from the bill following widespread opposition.

At least six states did not pass bills, but did debate the issue this legislative session. South Carolina and Virginia would have allowed agencies to petition courts for additional time to respond.

Several others – Rhode Island, New Jersey and Ohio – would have allowed agencies to seek some kind of court intervention between them and what they see as a vexatious requester. Washington also briefly discussed this for a request that is not necessarily malicious but is overly broad.

Posted: July 13, 2026
Category: Brechner News
Tagged as: Secrecy Tracker