Office of Open Government: Advisories and Relevant Attorney General Opinions

​​​Open Government ​Advisories

Title​
Date Published

Marsy's Law and Public Records ​

This document addresses the applicability of the public records law in light of Marsy's Law, the constitutional amendment to Article I, section 9m, of the Wisconsin Constitution, which created additional rights and protections for crime victims in Wisconsin.		May 13 2021

Sunshine Week Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Open Meetings Advisory 

This document encourages governmental bodies to make open meetings accessible remotely until the pandemic is over and, following the pandemic, to continue using practices developed during the pandemic that increase transparency.		Mar 15 2021

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Open Meetings advisory 

This document addresses technological and practical issues that governmental bodies should consider in advance of meetings.		Mar 20 2020

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Open Meetings Advisory 

This document addresses the application of the open meetings law during the public health situation regarding COVID-19.
Mar 16 2020

Fee Advisory

This document addresses permissible fee practices under the public records law.		Aug 8 2018

School Safety Grant Application Advisory

This document addresses the release of school safety grant application materials under the public records law.		Apr 24 2018​

Open Government Attorney General Opinions and Memoranda

​Title
Date Published

OAG-02-18 

This formal opinion addresses four issues regarding the administration of Wis. Stat. § 19.356(2)(a)(1) and (9), provisions of the Wisconsin Public Records Law pertaining to notice.		Feb 23 2018

OAG-07-14 

This formal opinion provides guidance on the application of Wis. Stat. § 19.356(9), which requires notice to public officials before an authority permits access to certain records.		Oct 15 2014

OAG-05-14 

This formal opinion discusses applicability of Wisconsin's open meetings law to the activities of the election canvassing board.		Oct 15 2014

Memorandum 

The Wisconsin Supreme Court decision Juneau County Star-Times v. Juneau County is explained in this informational memorandum.		Jan 14 2013

Memorandum 

This memorandum addresses how 2011 Wisconsin Act 283 relates to the Wisconsin Public Records Law.		Apr 27 2012

Memorandum 

The practical impact of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision in Schill v. Wisconsin Rapids School District on public records custodians and public records requesters is discussed.		Jul 28 2010

I-06-09 

This informal opinion discusses how the content of a social website maintained by a government official and used to discuss government business likely is a public record.		Dec 23 2009

OAG 7-09 

This formal opinion answers questions about Wis. Stat. § 12.13(5) prohibition against disclosure of certain records and investigative information related to possible violations of Wisconsin elections, lobbying, and ethics laws.		Nov 16 2009

I-02-09 

This informal opinion provides guidance for analyzing whether an entity constitutes a “quasi-governmental corporation” that is an “authority” subject to the Wisconsin Public Records Law.		Mar 19 2009

I-02-08 

The intersection of the Wisconsin Public Records Law with the federal Driver’s Privacy Protection Act is discussed in this informal opinion.		Apr 29 2008

I-03-07 ​

This informal opinion discusses the intersection of federal medical records privacy rules and Wisconsin law regarding access to records.		Sep 27 2007


All formal Attorney General opinions may be found in the opinion archive​.



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