Alabama

Open Government Guide

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Author

J. Evans Bailey
Rushton, Stakely, Johnston, & Garrett, P. A.
184 Commerce Street (36104)
Post Office Box 270 (36101)
Montgomery, Alabama
334-206-3100

Last updated Sept. 5, 2023

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Foreword

Before 1923, there was no statutorily protected right of access to public records in Alabama. See Excise Comm'r of Citronelle v. State ex rel. Skinner, 179 Ala. 654, 60 So. 812 (Ala. 1912). At common law, however, the records of judicial proceedings were open to inspection by any citizen, and there was a qualified common law right of access to nonjudicial records. 60 So. at 813.

The Alabama Code of 1923 included the state's first open records statute: "Every citizen has a right to inspect and take a copy of any public writing of this state, except as otherwise expressly provided by statute." Ala. Code § 2695 (1923). This provision continued unchanged until 1983, when the Alabama Legislature added a provision exempting from public access the registration and circulation records of public, public school, and college and university libraries. Another change came in 2004, when the law (hereinafter "the Public Records Law") was amended to exempt records concerning security plans, procedures, assessments, measures, or systems, and any other records relating to, or having an impact upon, the security or safety of persons, structures, facilities, or other infrastructures, including without limitation, information concerning critical infrastructure and critical energy infrastructure information, the public disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to be detrimental to the public safety or welfare, and records the disclosure of which would otherwise be detrimental to the best interests of the public. Ala. Code § 36-12-40.

When compared to other states' public records statutes, section 36-12-40 is a sweeping statement of public policy concerning the right of citizens to inspect public records. Because of its breadth, however, the law regarding access to public records in Alabama has received substantial gloss by judicial decision, with the Alabama Supreme Court recognizing a number of possible grounds for denying access even where there is no express statutory provision for doing so. See Stone v. Consol. Publ’g Co., 404 So. 2d 678 (1981) (establishing the basic grounds for possible withholding of records absent an express statutory basis for doing so). The court also has insisted that these possible grounds of exclusion be narrowly construed, however, so that the Public Records Law will continue to be liberally applied in favor of public access. See Chambers v. Birmingham News Co., 552 So. 2d 854 (Ala. 1989).  The Public Records Law is also unwieldy in practice as it contains no deadlines for response(s), no express remedies for violations (judicial or otherwise), no uniform statement of costs associated with production, and numerous exceptions, exemptions, and privileges are scattered elsewhere in the Code.

The right of access to public meetings in Alabama was first guaranteed by legislative enactment in 1915 and became sections 5254 and 5255 of the Alabama Code of 1923.. The 1923 statutes were combined into a single statute in 1975, Ala. Code § 13-5-1 (1975), and the provisions of the 1923 Code remained, almost verbatim, at section 13A-14-2 (1994) of the Alabama Code until 2005.

In 2005, the Alabama Legislature passed the Alabama Open Meetings Act, which repealed section 13A-14-2. See Ala. Code § 36-25A-1 et seq. The Alabama Open Meetings Act provided a much higher level of detail than the former open meetings law, and while it provided more exceptions than the former law, it has also tightened judicially created loopholes in the former law.

The Open Meetings Act was further amended in 2015.  See 2015 Ala. Acts 2015-340. Court decisions interpreting the 2005 Act etched away at notions of citizen standing to sue and allowed public bodies to conduct secret “serial” meetings to avoid gathering a quorum at one time. See, e.g., Slagle v. Ross, 125 So. 3d 117 (Ala. 2012) (allowing serial meetings); Ex parte Ala. Educ. Television Comm'n, 151 So. 3d 283, 288 (Ala. 2013), as modified on denial of reh'g (Jan. 24, 2014) (finding lack of standing under former Ala. Code § 35-9A-9(g)). The 2015 amendments addressed both issues and made clear that citizens had standing to sue, and serial meetings violated the Act.  See Ala. Code § 36-25A-1 (prohibiting the use of serial meetings or email to circumvent the Act), 36-25A-2(13) (defining “serial meeting”); id. § 36-25A-9(a) (clarifying that citizens may file suit for enforcement of the Act if they plead a specific, personal impact of the alleged violation that is greater than the impact on the public at large).  However, a plaintiff alleging a violation of the Open Meetings Act must still allege that a specific meeting has occurred that violated the Act.  Walker Cnty. Comm'n v. Kelly, 262 So. 3d 631, 638 (Ala. 2018).

In addition to these general statutes, the Alabama Code, Constitution, and Administrative Code contain specific provisions regarding access to particular records and meetings. See, e.g., 1901 Ala. Const. art. I, § 13 (stating that all courts shall be open); id. art. IV, § 57 (stating that the doors of the legislature shall be opened). Most of the specific provisions that call for public access are redundant (since the meetings and records in question would be open under the general statutes) or are circular. See, e.g., 10 Ala. Admin. Code r. 450-1-1-.09(1) (2013) (noting all public records of the Highway Department not exempted by federal or state law shall be made available for copying and inspection). The specific provisions that call for confidentiality, and many of the specific provisions that call for public access, are noted in the applicable categories of the Alabama outlines below.

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Open Records

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I. Statute

The primary legislative statement regarding the right of individuals to inspect and copy public records of the State of Alabama is contained in Alabama Code § 36-12-40:

Every citizen has a right to inspect and take a copy of any public writing of this state, except as otherwise expressly provided by statute. Provided, however, registration and circulation records and information concerning the use of the public, public school or college and university libraries of this state shall be exempted from this section. Provided further, any parent of a minor child shall have the right to inspect the registration and circulation records of any school or public library that pertain to his or her child. Notwithstanding the foregoing, records concerning security plans, procedures, assessments, measures, or systems, and any other records relating to, or having an impact upon, the security or safety of persons, structures, facilities, or other infrastructures, including without limitation information concerning critical infrastructure (as defined at 42 U.S.C. § 5195c(e) as amended) and critical energy infrastructure information (as defined at 18 C.F.R. § 388.113(c)(1) as amended), the public disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to be detrimental to the public safety or welfare, and records the disclosure of which would otherwise be detrimental to the best interests of the public shall be exempted from this section. Any public officer who receives a request for records that may appear to relate to critical infrastructure or critical energy infrastructure information, shall notify the owner of such infrastructure in writing of the request and provide the owner an opportunity to comment on the request and on the threats to public safety or welfare that could reasonably be expected from the public disclosure of the records.

In Stone v. Consolidated Publishing Co., 404 So. 2d 678 (Ala. 1981), the Supreme Court of Alabama defined "public writing" to include both:

[A]ll written, typed or printed books, papers, letters, documents and maps made or received in pursuance of law by the public officers of the state, counties, municipalities and other subdivisions of government in the transactions of public business and shall also include any record authorized to be made by any law of this state belonging or pertaining to any court of record or any other public record authorized by law or any paper, pleading, exhibit or other writing filed with, in or by any such court, office or officer[,]

Ala. Code § 41-13-1 (2000), and "such a record as is reasonably necessary to record the business and activities required to be done or carried on by a public officer so that the status and condition of such business and activities can be known by our citizens." 404 So. 2d 678, 681 (Ala. 1981); see also Walsh v. Barnes, 541 So. 2d 33, 35 (Ala. Civ. App. 1989) (referring to and applying the two Stone standards — the stricter standard ("required by law to be kept") and the lesser standard ("reasonably necessary").

Two additional statutes specifically require public officers and servants to make and keep records and to produce those records upon request, as follows:

All public officers and servants shall correctly make and accurately keep in and for their respective offices or places of business all such books or sets of books, documents, files, papers, letters and copies of letters as at all times shall afford full and detailed information in reference to the activities or business required to be done or carried on by such officer or servant and from which the actual status and condition of such activities and business can be ascertained without extraneous information . . . .

Ala. Code § 36-12-2 (2001); see also Ala. Code § 36-12-41 (2001) ("Every public officer having the custody of a public writing which a citizen has a right to inspect is bound to give him, on demand, a certified copy of it, on payment of the legal fees therefor . . . .").

The Supreme Court of Alabama also established the following rules of statutory construction, presumptions, and burden of proof for the Public Records Law:

1. "It is clear from the wording of § 36-12-40 that the legislature intended that the statute be liberally construed," Chambers v. Birmingham News Co., 552 So. 2d 854, 856 (Ala. 1989);
2. "There is a presumption in favor of public disclosure of public writings and records expressed in the language of § 36-12-40," 552 So. 2d at 856; and
3. "[B]ecause there is a presumption of required disclosure, the party refusing disclosure shall have the burden of proving that the writings or records sought are within an exception and warrant nondisclosure of them," 552 So. 2d at 856-57.

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A. Who can request records?

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1. Status of requester

By the express terms of the Alabama Public Records Law, the right to inspect and take a copy of public writings of the State of Alabama inures to the benefit of every citizen. See Scott v. Culpepper, 220 Ala. 393, 393-94, 125 So. 643, 644 (1930) (noting that the law "gives every citizen a right to inspect and take a copy" of public records). Although the statute does not contain a definition of the term "citizen," that term should indicate that the statute was intended to apply to United States citizens, since the Alabama Legislature could easily have limited the statute to citizens of Alabama by express language but did not do so. However, the attorney general has opined that only citizens of the State of Alabama are entitled to public records.  Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 2018-030.

In Person v. State Department of Forensic Sciences, 721 So. 2d 203 (Ala. Civ. App. 1998), the Court of Civil Appeals held that although section 36-12-40 of the Alabama Code gives every citizen the right to inspect and to copy public records, it does not require that state agencies make copies of the records and mail them to prisoners who have asked to review them. Furthermore, the court held, the Department of Forensic Sciences can require an inmate to give reasonable grounds for wanting to inspect public records relating to protocols for drug testing to ensure that the inmate wants the information for a legitimate or proper purpose. Id. at 205.

The "news media" have a right of access under Alabama's Public Records Law, whether the requester is a company or corporation or other business form. See Stone v. Consol. Publ’g Co., 404 So. 2d 678, 681 (Ala. 1981) (by implication). A professional organization has standing to bring suit for access to public records under the law, Birmingham Educ. Ass'n v. Birmingham City Bd. of Educ., CV 4-637 at 2-3 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Nov. 15, 1995) ("BEA, and any other citizen, is a proper plaintiff with standing to seek [records under Alabama's Public Records Law]."), as does a requester who seeks access to public records for "a commercial purpose," Walsh v. Barnes, 541 So. 2d 33, 35 (Ala. Civ. App. 1989) (stating that Alabama's Public Records Law "makes no distinction between disclosure for profit or otherwise").  Media outlets or other entities should take care, in light of a recent attorney general opinion, that the individual or entity requesting public records is an Alabama citizen.  Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 2018-030.

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2. Purpose of request

The Alabama Public Records Law contains no provision with respect to whether a requester's purpose can affect the right of access to public writings. In Holcombe v. State ex rel. Chandler, 240 Ala. 590, 200 So. 739 (1941), the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that although the public has the right of a reasonable and free examination of public records, this privilege does not exist where "the purpose is purely speculative or from idle curiosity." Holcombe, 200 So. at 746. The Holcombe court expressly recognized the legitimacy of media interest in public records, however, as follows:

[P]ersons engaged in the publication of newspapers have such an interest in the public records of public officers as to entitle them to a due or reasonable inspection of such public records. The function of the press in gathering information for the public to enable public affairs to be intelligently discussed is of great importance.

240 Ala. at 597, 200 So. at 746.

Alabama courts have also recognized the legitimacy of commercial purpose in a request for access to public records. The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals has noted that section 36-12-40 "makes no distinction between disclosure for profit or otherwise," and refused to create a distinction where the statute had not. Walsh v. Barnes, 541 So. 2d 33, 35 (Ala. Civ. App. 1989) ("There is no exception under § 36-12-40 disallowing one to inspect or copy public writings simply because one desires to use such for personal gain[,]" thus, an insurance agent was entitled to a copy of a retirement system's actuarial tables).

A 1991 decision of the Supreme Court of Alabama affirmed the right of the custodian of public records in the City of Hoover to require the requester to complete a written request form that includes (1) specification of the documents sought and (2) the reasons for the document request. Blankenship v. City of Hoover, 590 So. 2d 245 (Ala. 1991). As a concurring/dissenting justice pointed out in a separate opinion in that case, the mere fact of asking for a reason for the request could have a chilling effect on the right of access to public records. 590 So. 2d at 251-52 (Adams, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part). Members of the news media have been granted access to public records routinely, however, since the City of Hoover began requiring the written request form, simply by identifying their reason as "public records request pursuant to Alabama law" or some similar statement.

The Supreme Court of Alabama has held “a requester is not required to demonstrate good cause before he or she is entitled to inspect public writings.”  Ex parte Perch, 17 So. 3d 649, 651 (Ala. 2009) (holding that an inmate did not have to prove that his requests for public records were relevant or necessary for him to challenge the validity of his conviction).

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3. Use of records

The Alabama Public Records Law does not restrict the manner in which public records may be used. Walsh v. Barnes, 541 So. 2d 33, 35 (Ala. Civ. App. 1989).

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4. Can an individual request records on behalf of a third party or organization?

There is no express prohibition on proxy requestors in the Public Records Law, and the notion records can be requested for any purposes implies that proxy requests should not be prohibited.

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B. Whose records are and are not subject to the Act

The Alabama Public Records Law does not classify or list those officers and entities that are or are not subject to its provisions. Other statutes, however, require "[a]ll public officers and servants" to make and keep such records "as at all times shall afford full and detailed information in reference to the activities or business required to be done or carried on by such officer or servant and from which the actual status and condition of such activities and business can be ascertained without extraneous information," Ala. Code § 36-12-2 (2001), and "[e]very public officer having custody of a public writing which a citizen has a right to inspect" to make a certified copy available on demand "on payment of the legal fees therefor," Ala. Code § 36-12-41 (2001).

Furthermore, section 36-12-1 defines "public officer or servant" broadly as including, "in addition to the ordinary public offices, departments, commissions, bureaus and boards of the state and the public officers and servants of counties and municipalities, all persons whatsoever occupying positions in state institutions." See also Scott v. Culpepper, 220 Ala. 393, 393, 125 So. 643, 643 (1930) ("[E]very one who is appointed to discharge a public duty and receives compensation therefor, in whatever shape, is a 'public officer'"; applying Public Records Law). The Public Records Law, or its predecessor, has been applied to the entities and officers listed by category below.

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1. Executive branch

All records of the executives themselves (governor, mayor, etc.), the executive bodies, and their functions are presumptively subject to the Public Records Law, although the Law itself is silent on this point.  There are numerous examples throughout this guide applying the Public Records Law to the executive branch.

In early 2023, Governor Ivey entered Executive Order 734 in an effort to streamline the public records request process in the executive branch.  Order 734, discussed more below, sets deadlines for responses in the executive branch and costs for copies.

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2. Legislative bodies

All legislative bodies are presumptively subject to the Public Records Law, although the Law itself is silent on this point. One trial court has applied the Law to the following legislative officers: the Clerk of the State House and Secretary of the State Senate. See Birmingham News Co. v. Swift, CV 88-1390 G (Cir. Ct. Montgomery Cnty., Ala., Aug. 31, 1988) (discussing remote access telephone assignment records).

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3. Courts

1. All Alabama courts and judicial system bodies are presumptively subject to the Public Records Law, although the Law itself is silent on this point. Court decisions have applied the law, or common law prior to enactment of the 1923 Public Records Law, to the following judicial system entities or officers, among others:

a. Circuit court clerk: Subpoena docket of witnesses. Jackson v. Mobley, 157 Ala. 408, 47 So. 590 (1908). Case-action-summary sheets, indictments, plea agreements, explanation-of-rights forms, and sentencing orders. Ex parte Perch, 17 So. 3d 649 (Ala. 2009).

b. County probate judge: Petition for liquor referendum, State ex rel. Kernells v. Ezell, 291 Ala. 440, 282 So. 2d 266 (1973); license tags for state vehicles, Birmingham News Co. v. Hobbie, 12 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1687 (Cir. Ct. Montgomery Cnty., Ala., Dec. 20, 1985).

c. Municipal courts: Judicial records, Mobile Press Register, Inc. v. Lackey, 938 So. 2d 398 (Ala. 2006).

d. State courts: Judicial records, Byrd v. First Real Estate Corp., No. CV-95-N-3087-S (N.D.Ala. 1998) (action to open court record that included documents relating to a settlement agreement); Holland v. Eads, 614 So. 2d 1012 (Ala. 1993) (action to open court file sealed pursuant to settlement agreement); Duck Head Apparel Co. v. Hoots, 659 So. 2d 897 (Ala. 1995) (challenge to protective order sealing entire record in order to keep financial data submitted at post trial hearing confidential); see also Ex parte Consol. Publ'g Co., 601 So. 2d 423 (Ala. 1992); Ex parte Birmingham News Co., 624 So. 2d 1117 (Ala. Crim. App. 1993).

2. Alabama attorney general opinions have applied the Public Records Law to the following judicial system entities or officers, among others:

a. County circuit court: Jury lists for criminal cases. 200 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 16 (July 22, 1985). Grand Jury Reports. Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 151 (April 26, 1994)

b. County circuit court register's office: Register's office records. 190 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 33 (Mar. 7, 1983); see also Ala. Code § 12-17-119 (1995) (registers' records open).

c. County district court clerk's office: Executed search warrants and arrest warrants. 197 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 13 (Oct. 10, 1984).

d. Municipal court: Municipal court records. 208 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 28 (Sept. 2, 1987). Executed arrest warrants. Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2008-030, 2007 Ala. AG LEXIS 97 (Dec. 28, 2007).

e. Probate judge's office: County voting lists and applications, 202 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 19 (Jan. 24, 1986); lists from which poll workers are appointed, 210 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 45 (June 3, 1988); military discharge certificates filed in probate court, Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2002-331, 2002 Ala. AG LEXIS 241 (Sept. 5, 2002).

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4. Nongovernmental bodies

The Public Records Law is silent on this point, and we know of no decisions addressing the question.

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5. Multi-state or regional bodies

The Public Records Law is silent on this point, and we know of no decisions addressing the question. Presumably, Alabama would adopt the records requirements, if any, of such bodies that it joins. See, e.g., Ala. Code § 40-27-1, art. VIII(6) (2003): Multistate Tax Compact: "Information obtained by an audit pursuant to this article shall be confidential and available only for tax purposes to party states, their subdivisions or the United States."

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6. Advisory boards and commissions, quasi-governmental entities

1. The Public Records Law is silent on this point, but court decisions have applied the Law to the following advisory boards, commissions, and quasi-governmental entities, among others:
2. Birmingham Racing Commission:Financial records. Birmingham News Co. v. Birmingham Racing Comm'n, CV 87-501-622 MC (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Equity Div., June 16, 1987):

[T]his court is not willing to so readily accept the proposition that The Commission is not some form of governmental body. Whether it is a state, county, or municipal agency, or some hybrid thereof, the Commission was created by the state and helps serve in a process designed to generate excess revenues for the benefit of the state . . . . As a public corporation of the state, charged with both legislative and judicial functions, The Commission falls within the purview of § 36-12-40.

Id. Some racing commission records were made confidential by statute after this decision; see Ala. Code §§ 11-65-10(10), -15, -18 (1994).

1. Health Care Authorities: Sales contracts. Care Auth. of Lauderdale Cnty., 61 So. 3d 1027 (Ala. 2010).
2. J.S.U. Reserve Public Relations Corporation:Financial records. Stone v. Consol. Publ'g Co., 404 So. 2d 678, 680 (Ala. 1981) (trial court found corporation to be alter ego for public university; see Consol. Publ'g Co. v. Stone, 6 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2273, 2273-74 (Cir. Ct. Calhoun Cnty., Ala., Dec. 1, 1980)).
3. Water Works Board of the Town of Parrish:Books and records. Water Works Bd. of Town of Parrish v. White, 281 Ala. 357, 202 So. 2d 721 (1967).
4. Water Works & Sewer Board of the City of Talladega: Records. Water Works & Sewer Bd. of the City of Talladega v. Consol. Publ'g Inc., 892 So. 2d 859 (Ala. 2004).
5. State Universities: Books and records. Kendrick v. Advertiser Co., 213 So. 3d 573, 577 (Ala. 2016) (but holding particular request for student information was pre-empted/protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g).
6. Alabama attorney general opinions have applied the Public Records Law to the following advisory boards, commissions, and quasi-governmental entities:
7. Alabama Peace Officers' Annuity and Benefit Fund: Records, including the names and mailing addresses of its members. Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2002-186, 2002 Ala. AG LEXIS 80 (Mar. 27, 2002); see alsoAla. Acts No. 2021-268 (exempting Peace Officer Training Commission database records from disclosure under Section 36-12-40 of the Open Records Act).
8. Cahaba Heights Fire District:Computer database, minutes, contracts and other records. 227 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 42 (June 3, 1992).
9. City Water Boards:Water board records. 197 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 24 (Nov. 27, 1984). Board member salaries. Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2006-076, 2006 Ala. AG LEXIS 39 (Mar. 27, 2006).
10. East Alabama Water, Sewer, and Fire Protection District:District records. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2007-016, 2007 Ala. AG LEXIS 143 (Dec. 4, 2006).
11. Emergency Management Communications Districts: Records. Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2001-086 (Jan. 26, 2001).
12. Health Care Authorities: Executive salaries. Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2008-004, 2007 Ala. AG LEXIS 118 (Oct. 2, 2007).
13. Randolph County Hospital Board:Board minutes. 217 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 26 (Nov. 16, 1989).
14. Shoals Industrial Development Authority:Names and resumes of applicants for executive director of Authority, 222 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 48 (Mar. 20, 1991); biographical information from consulting firm regarding applicants for executive director of Authority, 223 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 19 (May 17, 1991).
15. State Universities:Athletic coach contracts. Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2007-067, 2007 Ala. AG LEXIS 40 (Apr. 3, 2007).
16. Wiregrass Mental Health Board Inc.:Employee lists and salary schedules. 171 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 14 (Apr. 12, 1978).
17. Cleburne County Volunteer Fire Department: Business records. Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 16 (Dec. 12, 2012).
18. State Ethics Commission: Statements of economic interest.  Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 13 (Dec. 6, 2012).
19. Alabama Credit Union Administration: Enforcement orders. Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 42 (Apr. 22, 2015).

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7. Others

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C. What records are and are not subject to the act?

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1. What kinds of records are covered?

The Alabama Public Records Law does not define "public writing," which are the operative words in the Law. A statute in a different section of the Alabama Code purports to define the term "public records" as including:

[A]ll written, typed or printed books, papers, letters, documents and maps made or received in pursuance of law by the public officers of the state, counties, municipalities and other subdivisions of government in the transactions of public business and shall also include any record authorized to be made by any law of this state belonging or pertaining to any court of record or any other public record authorized by law or any paper, pleading, exhibit or other writing filed with, in or by any such court, office or officer.

Ala. Code § 41-13-1 (2000) (emphasis added). The definition of "public records" in section 41-13-1 is limited by its terms, however, to the article in which the definition appears.

In Stone v. Consolidated Publishing Co., 404 So. 2d 678, 680-81 (Ala. 1981), the Supreme Court of Alabama held that a "public writing" within the meaning of Alabama's Public Records Law includes those documents that are within the definition of "public record" in section 41-13-1, but also includes any such "record as is reasonably necessary to record the business and activities required to be done or carried on by a public officer so that the status and condition of such business and activities can be known by our citizens." Stone, 404 So. 2d at 681 (emphasis in original).

The Attorney General has opined that draft administrative rules and legislation and internal and external correspondence from the Department of Revenue regarding possible actions of the Department are not subject to disclosure. Ala. Op. Att’y Gen. 36 (Jun. 20, 2017).  However, the Alabama Supreme Court rejected this opinion and found drafts can be public records in Health Care Authority for Baptist Health v. Central Alabama Radiation Oncology, LLC, 292 So.3d 623 (Ala. June 28, 2019).  The Attorney General has since opined that while the court’s statements regarding “draft” records in Health Care Authority are dicta, draft minutes distributed at a public meeting are public records.  Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 2020-039.

The Alabama Public Records Law has been held to require disclosure of documents such as the following:

1. Actuarial tables used to calculate teacher retirement benefits, Walsh v. Barnes, 541 So. 2d 34 (Ala. Civ. App. 1989).
2. Arrest reports, Birmingham News Co. v. Deutcsh, CV 85-504-132 JDC (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Equity Div., Aug. 19, 1986).
3. Minutes, Int'l Ass'n of Firefighters v. City of Sylacauga, 436 F. Supp. 482 (N.D. Ala. 1977).
4. Municipal internal audit reports, Bedingfield v. Birmingham News Co., 595 So. 2d 1379 (Ala. 1992).
5. Petitions,State ex rel. Kernells v. Ezell,291 Ala. 440, 282 So. 2d 266 (1973).
6. Preliminary report prepared at the request of a state university concerning the alleged misconduct of one of its employees, Advertiser Co. v. Auburn Univ.,17 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1907 (Cir. Ct. Lee Cnty., Ala., Mar. 29, 1990), aff'd,579 So. 2d 645 (Ala. Civ. App. 1991) (denial of attorneys' fee was only issue on appeal).
7. Resumes and employment applications, Chambers v. Birmingham News Co., 552 So. 2d 854 (Ala. 1989).
8. State court records, Holland v. Eads, 614 So. 2d 1012, 1015 (Ala. 1993).
9. State vehicle license tag records, Birmingham News Co. v. Hobbie, 12 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1687 (Cir. Ct. Montgomery Cnty., Ala., Dec. 20, 1985).
10. Well-bound books containing jail dockets, Holcombe v. State ex rel. Chandler, 240 Ala. 590, 200 So. 739 (1941).

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2. What physical form of records are covered

In defining public writing to include "such a record as is reasonably necessary to record the business and activities . . . [of] a public officer," Stone, 404 So. 2d at 681 (emphasis in original), the Supreme Court of Alabama's interpretation of the Public Records Law arguably extends to audio-visual materials and computerized information as well as traditional paper documents.

A 1984 state attorney general's opinion concluded that a computer printout bound in book form satisfied the requirement that sheriffs keep a "well-bound book" in their offices to be subject to the inspection of the public during office hours pursuant to Alabama Code § 36-22-8 (1991). 197 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 21 (Nov. 16, 1984). That opinion notes that "the Legislature when enacting a statute cannot take in account modern equipment which is not in existence when a statute is written . . . . [A]s long as the purpose of the statute is carried out, there is no reason that the simplest method of achieving that purpose cannot be used." Id. at 22.  In 1987, the attorney general determined that computer records maintained by a public agency are public records that are to be supplied to citizens under reasonable conditions.  Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 47 (November 4, 1987); see also Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 157 (June 4, 1998); Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 108 (April 1, 2004) (finding computerized mugshots are public records).

At least one trial court in Alabama has found that when a public agency keeps its records on computer, the computer records themselves are "public writings" under Alabama law. See Birmingham News Co. v. Perry, 21 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2125, 2125-26 (Cir. Ct. Montgomery Cnty., Ala., July 22, 1993) (motor vehicle records [hereinafter "MVRs"] kept on computer) (as of Sept. 13, 1997, access to MVRs is governed by 18 U.S.C. § 2721). Some of the most recent legislation regarding public records explicitly permits access to public records in various forms. See, e.g., Ala. Code § 22-9A-21(f) (1997) (noting that when records of birth and death become "nonrestricted public records," "[t]he records may be made available for viewing in photographic, digital, electronic, or other suitable format as provided for by the rules of the [State Board of Health])”; see also Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration 31 (dissemination of computer-based court information).

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3. Are certain records available for inspection but not copying?

By the terms of the Public Records Law, public records in Alabama are available for inspection and copying. Ala. Code § 36-12-40. The Public Records Law, however, does not require the state to research, inspect, identify, copy, assemble, or make arrangements to deliver the documents to the citizen.  Ex parte State of Alabama, 985 So. 2d 446, 451 (Ala. 2007).

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4. Telephone call logs

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5. Electronic records (e.g., databases, metadata)

The Alabama Public Records Law provides access to "public writings," without more definition, but recent statutes, case law, and attorney general opinions have recognized that the term includes electronic records. See, e.g., Ala. Code § 22-9A-21(f) (1997) ("The [nonrestricted public birth] records may be made available for viewing in photographic, digital, electronic, or other suitable format as provided for by rules of the [State Board of Health].");  Tenn. Valley Printing Co. v. Health Care Auth. of Lauderdale Cnty., 61 So. 3d 1027 (Ala. 2010) (holding that emails between public employees regarding the sale of public assets were subject to disclosure under the Public Records Law).; 227 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 42 (1992) (redacted data from fire district computer database due to be disclosed); 217 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 29 (Nov. 17, 1989) and 197 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 21 (Nov. 16, 1984) (computer printout of executions and sales is "well-bound book" as required by statute); 209 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 29 (Nov. 4, 1987) ("The reasoning applicable to documentary records in [the tax assessor's] office also applies to information provided by your office through the use of computers."); see also Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 157 (June 4, 1998); Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 108 (April 1, 2004) (finding computerized mugshots are public records); Executive Order 734 (4)(c) (discussing fees related to production of electronic records from executive branch).

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a. Can the requester choose a format for receiving records?

The statute is silent on this point. The attorney general has stated that a state agency is not required to produce information electronically that is already available in paper format.  See Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2007-001, 2006 Ala. AG LEXIS 119 (Oct. 2, 2006).  It should follow that a state agency is not required to produce information on paper when it is already available electronically. The requestor may also use its own equipment to generate copies of records as long as the chosen method does not unduly interfere with the operations of the requestee.  Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 76 (June 10, 2009).  See also Executive Order 734 (4)(c) (discussing fees related to production of electronic records from executive branch).

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b. Can the requester obtain a customized search of computer databases to fit particular needs

Presumably yes. Executive Order 734 (4)(c) permits the executive branch to charge actual costs associated with searching electronic databases as long as that cost is communicated to the requestor beforehand. Long before this Executive Order, in Birmingham News Co. v. Perry, 21 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2125 (Cir. Ct. of Montgomery County, Ala., July 22, 1993), the trial judge ordered the Alabama Department of Public Safety to produce the requested motor vehicle records from its databases and "to create any new computer program required to comply with any such request." He also ordered The Birmingham News Company to pay the Department "the actual, reasonable cost incurred by the Department" to create such a computer program. Id. at 2125 (as of Sept. 13, 1997, access to MVRs is governed by 18 U.S.C. § 2721). But see Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2007-001, 2006 Ala. AG LEXIS 119 (Oct. 2, 2006) (agency did not have to produce information in the electronic form requested); Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 88-00079 (Dec. 16, 1987) (diskette of personnel data requested; agency need not produce the data in diskette form nor compile or assimilate the information); Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration 33 appendix (UJS Computer Data Dissemination Requests-Procedures; "nonavailable data" — i.e., data "made to order" rather than in current retrievable format — is not subject to public disclosure, unless the Administrative Director of Courts ("ADC") determines that the requested "made to order" information possesses significant potential for enhancement of the judicial system).

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c. Does the existence of information in electronic format affect its openness?

No. The statute is silent on this point, but the Supreme Court of Alabama has treated email as public records subject to the Public Records Law. See Tenn. Valley Printing Co. v. Health Care Auth. of Lauderdale Cnty., 61 So. 3d 1027 (Ala. 2010) (holding that emails between public employees regarding the sale of public assets were subject to disclosure under the Public Records Law). The Alabama attorney general has also stated that a state agency is not required to produce information electronically that is already available in paper format.  See Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2007-001, 2006 Ala. AG LEXIS 119 (Oct. 2, 2006).  It should follow that a state agency is not required to produce information on paper when it is already available electronically. The requestor may use its own equipment to generate copies of records as long as the chosen method does not unduly interfere with the operations of the requestee.  Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 76 (June 10, 2009). See also Executive Order 734 (4)(c) (discussing fees related to production of electronic records from executive branch).

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d. Online dissemination

The State of Alabama has a website at http://www.alabama.gov. The State Agencies portion of the site (http://info.alabama.gov/) has links to websites for over 200 State departments and agencies.  The content of these sites varies a great deal, from public relations and descriptive information about the particular agency or department to more substantive information, e.g., maps, statistics, and resource material and citations. There is no fee for these sites.

Under Executive Order 734, each executive branch agency is required to establish an agency public records webpage to facilitate public records requests.

Case action summaries for pending civil and criminal actions in all Alabama trial courts, with search capability are available on alacourt.com. The cost is a one-time fee of $150, and a monthly fee of $84 to $134, depending on the number of users. Access is available for free to Alabama State Bar members at a limited number of county courthouse libraries.

Appellate decisions from Alabama Appellate Courts may be found at judicial.alabama.gov.

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6. Email

The Supreme Court of Alabama has treated emails between public employees regarding the sale of public assets as subject to the Public Records Law. Tenn. Valley Printing Co. v. Health Care Auth. of Lauderdale Cnty., 61 So. 3d 1027 (Ala. 2010).

However, the attorney general has opined that internal and external email regarding possible state department actions are not subject to disclosure.  Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 36 (June 20, 2017). Emails that perpetuate, communicate, or formalize knowledge are subject to disclosure.  Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 2020-034.

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7. Text messages and other electronic messages

We know of no request for text or instant messages under the Alabama Public Records Law, but there is no reason for that form of record to be treated any differently from any other form, especially since access to emails has already been established in this State. See Tenn. Valley Printing Co. v. Health Care Auth. of Lauderdale Cnty., 61 So. 3d 1027 (Ala. 2010).

When law enforcement requests cell phone location data, only the name of the officer making the request and the date of the request are subject to the Open Records Act, and can only be disclosed after the conclusion of the criminal investigation or prosecution.  Ala. Code § 15-5-55(i).

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8. Social media posts

We know of no request for social media postings and messages under the Alabama Public Records Law, but there is no reason for that form of record to be treated any differently from any other form, especially since access to emails has already been established in this State. See Tenn. Valley Printing Co. v. Health Care Auth. of Lauderdale Cnty., 61 So. 3d 1027 (Ala. 2010).

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9. Computer software

We know of no request for software under Alabama’s Public Records Law.

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10. Can a requester ask for the creation or compilation of a new record?

The state is not obligated to make new records at the behest of a requestor.  The Alabama attorney general has declared:

It is not [a public agency's] responsibility or duty to provide the information to [the requester] in a particular form nor must [the agency] necessarily compile or assimilate the information for the public. Your responsibility is to provide reasonable access to the information and for the information to be a reasonable form (e.g. legible copies if possible or in regular language rather than a code form a person outside the office would not be familiar with).

Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 88-00079 at 5 (Dec. 16, 1987) (diskette of personnel data requested; the requested data need not be provided in that particular form). Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2007-001, 2006 Ala. AG LEXIS 119 (Oct. 2, 2006) (“Because a state agency may regulate the manner in which public records are produced, inspected, and copied, a state agency . . . is not required to distribute public records in the manner that a requestor specifies.”).

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D. Fee provisions

The Public Records Law has no specific fee provisions.  Various statutes provide for specific fees for different public bodies or agencies or different types of requests, like probate court records. A recent executive order imposes specific fee provisions on the executive branch.  Unless a statute or executive order provides otherwise, fees must be “reasonable.”

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1. Types of assessable fees (e.g., for search, review, duplication) and levels or limitations on fees

Alabama Code § 36-12-41 (2001) provides as follows: "Every public officer having the custody of a public writing which a citizen has a right to inspect is bound to give him, on demand, a certified copy of it, on payment of the legal fees therefor . . . ." The Alabama Public Records Law includes no schedule or level of fees for the copying of public records without certification; therefore, the custodian in question is at liberty to fix a reasonable fee to be charged, unless the fee is set by statute or rule. See, e.g., Birmingham News Co. v. Peevy, 21 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2125, 2125 (Cir. Ct. Montgomery Cnty., Ala., July 22, 1993) (statutory fee of $5.75 per individual driver's record requested, despite existence of computer database with all driving records) (as of Sept. 13, 1997, access to motor vehicle records is governed by 18 U.S.C. § 2721).

One Alabama attorney general opinion states the following policy regarding fees:

If possible, a public agency should provide free copies of public records. However, if budgetary constraints prevent this, then a public agency may charge a nominal fee, if necessary, to cover its costs in providing copies of public records. One may inspect public records without paying a fee unless a substantial amount of an employee's time is required.

251 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 38 (June 12, 1998); see also 184 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 27, 28 (Aug. 15, 1981); 200 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 25, 26 (Aug. 20, 1985) (explaining that the agency was "entitled to receive a nominal fee for the reproduction of any requested information"). A reasonable fee may be assessed for the actual cost of providing copies and for retrieving information. Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2007-067, 2007 Ala. AG LEXIS 40 (Apr. 3, 2007); see also 202 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 19, 20 (Jan. 24, 1986); 208 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 28, 30 (Sept. 2, 1987); 209 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 29 (Nov. 4, 1987); 212 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 26, 27 (Aug. 1, 1988).

The Alabama attorney general has stated that the cost of seeking legal advice regarding a records request may not be included in the cost charged by the agency for providing access to or copying the requested records. Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2008-073, 2008 Ala. AG LEXIS 43 (Apr. 21, 2008).

The attorney general has also stated that a request to photograph public records shall not be refused in order to avoid a copying fee.  However, use of personal electronic devices (such as personal copiers) to duplicate records can be subject to reasonable limitations so as not to unduly interfere with the operations of the office.  Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 76 (Jun. 10, 2009); Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 154 (Feb. 3, 1992).

The executive branch may impose a reasonable fee for document retrieval and preparation of no more than $20.00 per hour.  Executive Order 734 (4)(a). It may charge upt to $.50 for standard 8.5x11 copies, and actual reasonable costs for processing or responding to public records requests (like the costs of flash drives, special paper, or search costs for electronic databases. Id. at (4).  The executive branch may not charge a per-page fee for documents provided electronically or a fee for legal review or redaction. Id.

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2. Particular fee specifications or provisions

There are no particular fee provisions by rule or statute for searches of public records. Attorney general opinions have implied that a fee may be charged for a search if "a substantial amount of an employee's time is required." 184 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 27, 28 (Aug. 15, 1981); 251 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 38 (June 12, 1998); see also 2009 Ala. AG LEXIS 60 (June 10, 2009) (state agency may charge a retrieval fee).

Particular fee provisions for duplication of public records are included in only a few Alabama statutes, rules and decisions, as follows:

1. Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC):Fees not to exceed $25. Ala. Code § 41-9-644 (2000).
2. Appellate court records:$5.00 for one to ten pages; $.50 per page for more than ten pages. Ala. Court Order Adopting Schedule of Fees for Photocopies (Oct. 29, 1991).
3. Department of Public Safety records:A fee not to exceed $15 for each record or report, unless a different fee is otherwise prescribed by law. Ala. Code § 32-2-8.
4. Motor vehicle records:$5.75 for each individual driving record, Ala. Code § 32-7-4 (effective Sept. 13, 1997, access to MVRs is governed by 18 U.S.C. 2721).
5. Probate Court records: Copies of various probate court records can be obtained in exchange for certain fees. Ala. Code § 12-19-90. However, if an individual uses their own camera or electronic device to make copies, the probate court may not assess the statutory fees. Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 2009-076.

A public entity may not recover attorneys' fees incurred in determining whether public writings are subject to an exception that would prevent their release to the public. 251 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 38 (June 12, 1998).

The executive branch may impose a reasonable fee for document retrieval and preparation of no more than $20.00 per hour.  Executive Order 734 (4)(a). It may charge upt to $.50 for standard 8.5x11 copies, and actual reasonable costs for processing or responding to public records requests (like the costs of flash drives, special paper, or search costs for electronic databases. Id. at (4).  The executive branch may not charge a per-page fee for documents provided electronically or a fee for legal review or redaction. Id.

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3. Provisions for fee waivers

Neither the Public Records Law nor any other Alabama statute contains a provision for waiver of the cost of search for or duplication of public records for citizen requesters, and we know of no decision that has addressed this point. Executive branch agencies are permitted to waive fees for “standard” requests that would require less than eight hours of staff time for a response.  Executive Order 734 (3)(a)(ii).

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4. Requirements or prohibitions regarding advance payment

Rule 30(D) of the Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration requires advance payment or obligations for payment for copies of records.

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5. Have agencies imposed prohibitive fees to discourage requesters?

This practice appears to be on the rise. While the attorney general has advised several government agencies that duplication of public records is subject to reasonable fees, departments and agencies have added administrative and convenience fees to public records requests in an effort that could be perceived as undermining the right of access. See, e.g., Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2007-067, 2007 Ala. AG LEXIS 40 (Apr. 3, 2007); 212 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 26 (Aug. 1, 1988); 208 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 28 (Sept. 2, 1987). A prohibitively and unreasonably high fee should be subject to attack as effectively undermining the statutory right of access.

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6. Fees for electronic records

Executive branch agencies are prohibited from charging per-page fees for records stored in electronic format.  Executive Oder 734(4)(b).

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E. Who enforces the Act?

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1. Attorney General's role

The statute contains no specific enforcement role for the Attorney General or any other government body.  Enforcement is obtained through civil suits brought by individuals or media.  However, as noted throughout, the Attorney General regularly opines on open records matters.

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2. Availability of an ombudsman

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3. Commission or agency enforcement

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F. Are there sanctions for noncompliance?

The Public Records Law itself does not reference sanctions for noncompliance.

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G. Record-holder obligations

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1. Search obligations

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2. Proactive disclosure requirements

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3. Records retention requirements

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4. Provisions for broad, vague, or burdensome requests

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II. Exemptions and other legal limitations

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A. Exemptions in the open records statute

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1. Character of exemptions

Alabama's Public Records Law contains two general and two specific exemptions.

Both the general and the specific exemptions are mandatory.

Alabama's exemptions are not patterned on the federal Freedom of Information Act.

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2. Discussion of each exemption

The Public Records Law specifically exempts from disclosure: (1) "registration and circulation records and information concerning the use of the public, public school or college and university libraries of this state"; and (2) "records concerning security plans, procedures, assessments, measures, or systems, and any other records relating to, or having an impact upon, the security or safety of persons, structures, facilities, or other infrastructures . . . the public disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to be detrimental to the public safety or welfare." Ala. Code § 36-12-40.

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B. Other statutory exclusions

1. Accountants
2. Accountants:All records prepared by a CPA or public accountant in the performance of a practice monitoring program or peer review conducted by the Board of Public Accountancy, except pursuant to court proceedings, Board investigations, or ethical investigations conducted by private professional organizations. Ala. Code § 34-1-21.
3. Board of Public Accountancy:Any records, information, or writings obtained or kept by the Board of Public Accountancy in connection with a peer review program or obtained or kept by the Board in connection with a disciplinary investigation, exceptto the extent necessary to carry out the peer review or disciplinary investigation, pursuant to a court order, or pursuant to litigation involving the Board. Ala. Code § 34-1-3(n).
4. Agriculture
5. Agricultural cooperative marketing associations:Annual reports filed with the Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. Ala. Code § 2-10-28. Report of investigation of associations by the Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries. Ala. Code § 2-10-29.
6. Livestock market annual permit applications:Information on applications filed with the Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries regarding the amount or volume of business conducted. Ala. Code § 2-15-62(e).
7. Meat and poultry inspections:Annual reports, answers, and information gathered or received by the Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries during inspections, for those engaged in intrastate commerce, unless used in a judicial proceeding to enforce this statute. Ala. Code § 2-17-24(a)(2).
8. Milk-processing establishments:Information received by the Alabama Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries in examination of records of establishments. Ala. Code § 2-13-92.
9. Investigative Reports: Investigative reports of the Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture except when called upon to testify in court or proceedings at law. Ala. Code § 2-2-6.
10. Seeds:Records of receipts, sales and deliveries of seed sold in Alabama, for auditing by the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries. Ala. Code § 2-26-10(d).
11. Attorneys and Judges
12. Attorney discipline:Subpoenas issued in connection with a confidential proceeding under the Alabama Rules of Disciplinary Procedure for attorneys. Alabama Rules of Disciplinary Procedure 17(a).
13. Attorney discipline:The affidavit required of an attorney who is disbarred by consent under Alabama's disciplinary rules, except upon order of the Disciplinary Board of the Alabama State Bar. Alabama Rules of Disciplinary Procedure 23(c).
14. Attorney discipline:Information contained in any file inventoried pursuant to the appointment of a trustee or supervising lawyer by the Disciplinary Board or Disciplinary Commission of the Alabama State Bar to protect the interests of a lawyer and the lawyer's clients, unless the client to whom the file relates consents. Alabama Rules of Disciplinary Procedure 29(b).
15. Attorney discipline:All disciplinary proceedings of the Alabama State Bar until the respondent pleads guilty or the Disciplinary Commission makes a finding of guilty, except (1) petitions for reinstatement, (2) proceedings for transfer to disability inactive status, (3) proceedings for interim suspension, (4) character and fitness appeal, (5) all matters regarding surrender of license or public probation, or (6) if the respondent makes the matter public or requests that it be made public. Alabama Rules of Disciplinary Procedure 30(a).
16. Attorney specialization:The files and records of certifying agencies concerning lawyers certified or seeking certification, except as directed by the board. Alabama State Bar Rules of Specialization 5(5.03).
17. Attorneys:Communications with clients. Ala. Code § 12-21-161; see also Advertiser Co. v. Auburn Univ., 17 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1907, 1910-11 (Cir. Ct. Lee Cnty., Ala., Mar. 29, 1990) (recognizing attorney-client privilege of Alabama Code § 12-21-161 (1995) as ground for nondisclosure of public record, but finding privilege waived by prior disclosure); Ala. Code § 34-3-20 (attorney's duty to maintain client confidentiality).
18. Client Security Fund:The result of an investigation under the Alabama State Bar Security Fund Rules regarding an application for reimbursement, together with all evidence in connection therewith, until the Client Security Fund Committee authorizes reimbursement. Alabama Client Security Fund Rules III(B)(i).
19. Contract counsel and/or public defender for defense of indigents:Attorney-client communications. Ala. Code § 15-12-44.
20. Judicial Inquiry Commission:All proceedings, including records, except the filing of a complaint by the Commission with the Court of the Judiciary. Ala. Const. of 1901, amend. 328, § 6.17.
21. Judicial Inquiry Commission:All proceedings, except the filing of a complaint by the Commission with the Court of the Judiciary. Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission Rule 5.
22. Banking/Finance
23. Bank acquisitions:Records regarding applications filed with the State Superintendent of Banks for acquisition of banks by majority of voting shares. Ala. Code § 5-5A-44(b).
24. Banking Department Bureau of Loans:Records, reports and other data submitted by any licensee to the Supervisor of the State Bureau of Loans and the reporting of all investigations. Ala. Code § 5-2A-80.
25. Bank examinations:Reports and records of examinations by the State Superintendent of Banks, the State Banking Board, or any bank examiner or other state employee; records reflecting action of the bank taken pursuant thereto; and records and minutes of the State Banking Board that relate to a bank or several specific banks. Ala. Code § 5-3A-3; § 5-3A-11; § 5-3A-34.
26. Foreign banks:Records regarding examination and investigation of foreign banks by the State Superintendent of Banks, unless the Superintendent deems that publication will serve the public advantage. Ala. Code § 5-13B-105(a).
27. Securities and Exchange Commission: All information or reports obtained by the Commission from an applicant are confidential. Ala. Code § 8-7A-21.
28. Computer Services
29. Alabama Supercomputer Authority:Data collected, stored, processed, or disseminated through utilization of the supercomputer system pursuant to sections 41-10-390 through 41-10-406 of the Alabama Code. Ala. Code § 41-10-399(b).
30. Computer-based court information maintained by the Administrative Office of Courts ("AOC"):Records sealed, exempted, or restricted by law or rule, except by court order; juvenile matters; adoption matters; mental proceeding matters; personnel matters; criminal matters involving sexual offenses committed on a minor under age 18; and data "made to order" rather than in current retrievable format, unless the Administrative Director of Courts ("ADC") determines that the requested "made to order" information possesses significant potential for enhancement of the judicial system. Alabama Rules of Judicial Administration 33 appendix (UJS Computer Data Dissemination Requests — Procedures).
31. Criminal Justice Information Center:Records and information that identify an individual about whom information pertains, except on a "need to know" or "right to know" basis. Ala. Code § 41-9-642. See generally Ala. Code §§ 41-9-594; 41-9-620 et seq.; see also Ex parte Ala. Criminal Justice Info. Ctr. Comm'n, 572 So. 2d 487, 489 (Ala. Civ. App. 1990):

The ACJIC is not an agency for public access. Its purpose is to provide law enforcement and other governmental agencies with highly confidential information concerning certain crimes and criminals. The ACJIC Enabling Act disallows public use of the information and requires the Commission to 'ensure that adequate safeguards are incorporated so that data available through this system is used only by properly authorized persons and agencies.

6. Conservation and Environmental Control
7. Air pollution control:Records, reports and information required by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management under this chapter, upon a satisfactory showing that disclosure would divulge production or sales figures or unique methods, processes, or production, trade secrets, or other competitive information. Ala. Code § 22-28-20(a).
8. Fees for disposal of hazardous waste:Fee report of any operator submitted to the Alabama Department of Revenue; reports and information secured by the Alabama Department of Revenue for the purpose of determining fees. Ala. Code § 22-30B-15(a), (c).
9. Forever Wild Land Trust Board:Confidential information, where necessary. Ala. Const. of 1901, amend. 543, § 5(k)(1).
10. Hazardous waste management:Records, reports and information required by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management under this chapter, upon a satisfactory showing that disclosure would divulge production or sales figures or unique methods, processes, or production, trade secrets, or other competitive information. Ala. Code § 22-30-18.
11. Hazardous wastes management:Any records, reports, or information obtained by a duly designated officer, employee or representative of the Environmental Management Department from any person under this section, to the extent required by sections 22-30-9 and 22-30-18 concerning trade secrets and confidentiality. Ala. Code § 22-30-19(d).
12. Underground tank and wellhead protection:Records, reports and information required by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management under this chapter, upon a satisfactory showing that disclosure would divulge production or sales figures or unique methods, processes, or production, trade secrets, or other competitive information. Ala. Code § 22-36-8.
13. Water pollution control:Records, reports and information (other than effluent data) required by the Alabama Department of Environmental Management under this chapter, upon a satisfactory showing that disclosure would divulge production or sales figures or unique methods, processes, or production, trade secrets, or other competitive information. Ala. Code § 22-22-9(c).
14. Courts
15. Civil court mediation:All sessions (and records of sessions), unless the parties and mediator consent otherwise. Alabama Civil Court Mediation Rule 10.
16. Civil court mediation:All information disclosed in the course of mediation, including oral documentary or electronic information. Alabama Civil Court Mediation Rule 11(b)(1).
17. Civil court mediation:There shall be no record made of the mediation proceedings. Alabama Civil Court Mediation Rule 12.
18. Grand jury:Evidence, exhibits, information. Ala. Code §§ 12-16-215 & 216. But see Burnham Broad. Co. v. City of Mobile, CV 92-2752 (Cir. Ct. Mobile Cnty., Ala., Aug. 4, 1992) (public records remain public records even if same records are also made exhibits before grand jury).
19. Juror lists:Names drawn for grand and petit juries. Ala. Code § 12-16-70.
20. Master jury box:Names drawn by county jury commissions for juror qualification. Ala. Code § 12-16-59(a).
21. Criminal Procedure
22. 911 Audio Recordings:911 audio recordings are not subject to public disclosure (1) absent a court order finding that the right of the public to the release of the recording outweighs the privacy interests of the individual who made the 911 call or any person involved in the facts or circumstances relating to the 911 call, or (2) if the caller or the legal representative of the caller’s estate submits a sworn affidavit requesting same. Ala. Code § 11-98-12(a) & (b).  Transcripts of 911 calls are available upon request and payment of the costs of transcripts.  Ala. Code § 11-98-12(d).
23. Criminal procedure:Portions of records disclosing the identity of confidential informants. Ala. R. Crim. P. 3.9(a).
24. Criminal procedure:Unexecuted search warrants. Ala. R. Crim. P. 3.
25. Criminal procedure:Reports of court-appointed mental health professionals made pursuant to Rule 11.3 regarding mental health examinations of the defendant. Ala. R. Crim. P. 11.5(a).
26. Criminal procedure:Grand jury information and documents. Ala. R. Crim. P. 12.3(c)(4)(iii). But see Burnham Broad. Co. v. Mobile, CV 92-2752 (Cir. Ct. Mobile Cnty., Ala., Aug. 4, 1992) (public records remain public records even if same records are submitted to grand jury).
27. Criminal procedure:Reports by mental health experts who have personally examined the defendant or any evidence in the case, and the results of any mental examinations, scientific tests, experiments or comparisons, including all written reports or statements made by mental health experts in connection with the case, unless otherwise ordered by the court. Ala. R. Crim. P. 25.5(a).
28. Criminal procedure:Presentence reports, diagnostic evaluation reports, and physical and mental health examination reports. Ala. R. Crim. P. 26.5(c).
29. Director of Forensic Sciences:DNA records collected and maintained for the purpose of the identification of criminal suspects or offenders shall be disclosed only to criminal justice agencies, in judicial proceedings, and to the defendant.  Unauthorized disclosure is a Class C felony. Ala. Code §§ 36-18-27 & 28.
30. Pardons, paroles and probation:State prisoner files, except for entry by each member of the State Board of Pardons and Paroles of reasons for favoring a pardon, parole, remission of fine or forfeiture, or restoration of civil and political rights. Ala. Code § 15-22-36(b); see also Ex parte Ala. Bd. of Pardons & Paroles, 814 So. 2d 870 (Ala. 2001) (holding that section 15-22-36(b) "clearly and unambiguously establishes an absolute privilege that the Board is legally bound to obey and the circuit court is under a duty to uphold" and vacating circuit court's order to produced privileged records).
31. Pardons, paroles and probation:Reports, records and data assembled by probation officer regarding cases referred to the officer by any court or by the State Board of Pardons and Paroles and referred to the court, except upon order of the court to which this information is referred. Ala. Code § 15-22-53(b).
32. State crime victim counselors:Communications with crime victims up until the victim’s death. Ala. Code § 15-23-42(a) & (c).
33. State Crime Victims Compensation Commission:Investigative reports and information obtained from law enforcement officers and agencies by the Commission. Ala. Code § 15-23-5(4).
34. State crime victims petition hearing:Court file information regarding crime victim that reveals address, telephone number, place of employment, and other related information about the victim, including in some circumstances the victim's name. Ala. Code § 15-23-69.
35. Domestic Abuse
36. Domestic violence facilities:Information identifying individuals or facilities received by the office, the circuit court, any district attorney or the district attorney's employees, or by authorized persons employed by or volunteering services to a facility, through files, reports, inspection or otherwise, and information about the location of domestic violence centers. The privilege expires upon the death of the victim. Ala. Code § 30-6-8.
37. Protection from abuse:The home and business address and telephone number of a plaintiff asserting a claim under the Alabama Protection from Abuse Act, the home and business address and telephone number of any member of the plaintiff's family or household, or an address that would reveal the confidential location of a shelter for victims of domestic violence as defined in section 30-6-1. Ala. Code § 30-5-5(f)(1).
38. Elections
39. Voter registration:Applications and written answers, except with written consent of the person who filed the answers or pursuant to order of a court of competent jurisdiction in a proper proceeding. Ala. Code § 17-3-52. But see Op. Att'y Gen. Ala., No. 2005-185, 2005 Ala. AG LEXIS 150 (Aug. 23, 2005) (concluding that "[t]he boards of registrars and probate judges may provide only the names and precincts of registered voters to persons or entities," but that political parties are "entitled to obtain all voter registration information in the possession of the boards of registrars or probate judges, except for social security numbers").
40. Energy Department
41. Alabama Department of Energy:Information of a proprietary nature. Ala. Code § 41-6A-4(8).
42. Alabama Department of Energy:Abstracts of proposals for energy-related grants sent to the department for information and coordination purposes. Ala. Code § 41-6A-7.
43. Fire Marshal
44. State Fire Marshal:In the discretion of the Fire Marshal, any testimony taken in an investigation under the provisions of this chapter. Ala. Code § 36-19-25.
45. State Fire Marshal:Any information furnished pursuant to this article, until such time as its release is required pursuant to a criminal or civil proceeding. Ala. Code § 36-19-43(b).
46. Geologists
47. Geologists:Individual test scores and applications for licensing under the Alabama Professional Geologists Licensing Act and material relating thereto, including letters of reference relating to the application. Ala. Code § 34-41-15(c).
48. Government
49. Code of Ethics:A complaint filed pursuant to this chapter of the Fair Campaign Practices Act and all other information and documents and any vote taken by the Commission relative to the issuance of a subpoena. Ala. Code § 36-25-4(c); § 36-25-4(h).
50. Governor:All reports, advice, counsel or recommendations of the governor's councilor. Ala. Code § 36-13-13(b).
51. Legislative Services Agency:All requests for assistance shall be prepared only for a member of the Legislature, Lieutenant Governor, or their authorized representative. Ala. Code § 29-5A-21(b). Any information needed to complete an annual tax expenditure report.  Ala. Code § 29-5A-46(c)
52. Handicapped Persons
53. Interpreters for speech/hearing defective persons:Information gathered by interpreters for a deaf person, equal with attorney-client privilege, unless the speech/hearing defective person wants disclosure of such information. Ala. Code § 12-21-131(i).
54. Health Care
55. Bill of Rights for Persons with Developmental Disabilities and Traumatic Brain Injury:Personal, financial and medical records. Ala. Code § 38-9C-4(9).
56. Commissioner of Mental Health:Information that could identify a reported or reporting person under the commission's authority to receive data for research. Ala. Code § 22-50-61(b).  Any record, report, case history, memorandum or other information, oral or written, which may have been acquired, made or compiled in attending or treating any patient of mental health facilities in a professional character, when such information was necessary in order to evaluate or treat said patient or to do any act for him or her in a professional capacity, unless a court of competent jurisdiction shall order disclosure for the promotion of justice.  Ala. Code § 22-50-62.
57. Dentists, chiropractors, and physicians' utilization and quality control committees, peer review committees, and professional standards review committees:Records and proceedings. Ala. Code § 6-5-333(d).
58. Health Care Service Utilization Review Act:Medical records. Ala. Code § 27-3A-2(5).
59. Health Care Service Utilization Review Act:Individual medical records. Ala. Code § 27-3A-5(a)(7).
60. Health maintenance organizations:Trade secrets and privileged or confidential commercial or financial information that appears on applications, filings and reports required by this chapter; documents and other evidence required to be submitted to the State Commissioner of Insurance or State Health Officer in connection with enforcement of this chapter; and any examination or investigation report, at the discretion of the State Commissioner of Insurance or State Health Officer, so long as deemed necessary to protect the person examined from unwarranted injury or to be in the public interest. Ala. Code § 27-21A-24.
61. Health maintenance organizations:Any data or information pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment or health of any enrollee or applicant obtained from such person or from any provider by any HMO, except to the extent necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter, or with the express consent of the enrollee or applicant, or pursuant to court order, or in the event of a claim or litigation between such person and the HMO wherein such data or information is pertinent. Ala. Code § 27-21A-25.
62. Hospital records:Subpoenaed, certified records procured by a litigant, unless and until ordered published by the court trying the case at the time of the trial. Ala. Code § 12-21-6(a).
63. Hospitals and other health care facilities:Materials regarding accreditation, quality assurance, and credentialing. Ala. Code § 22-21-8(b).
64. Hospitals and other health care facilities:Information regarding health care facilities received by the State Board of Health other than by inspection, except in a proceeding involving the question of licensure or revocation of license. Ala. Code § 22-21-30.
65. Impaired Professionals' Committee:All information and documents furnished to or produced by the Alabama Impaired Professionals' Committee and any findings, recommendations, etc.; all records and proceedings of such committee (regarding impairment of dentists, dental hygienists and pharmacists), except for records made in the regular course of business of an individual. Ala. Code § 34-38-6.
66. Licensed professional counselors and certified counselor associates:Communications with clients, the same as attorney-client privilege of confidentiality. Ala. R. Ev. 503; see also Ala. Code § 34-8A-21 (2002).
67. Licensed psychologists and psychiatrists:Communications with clients, the same as attorney-client privilege of confidentiality. Ala. Code § 34-26-2; see also Ex parte Rudder, 507 So. 2d 411, 412–416 (Ala. 1987) (applying statutory psychiatrist-client privilege, Ala. Code § 34-26-2, to deny media access to psychiatric records of patient for use in libel case; "[i]nformation recognized as privileged is not available to the public").
68. Medicaid program:Records that reveal names of recipients of benefits. Ala. Code § 22-6-9(b). All notices provided to the Medicaid Agency regarding the appointment of a personal representative or filing of a petition under Ala. Code § 43-2-692 and all reports, records, databases, and other documents generated by the Agency related to same are exempt from the Open Records Act. Ala. Code § 43-2-697.
69. Medical liability insurers for Alabama physicians and health care providers:Reports rendered to respective state licensing agencies pursuant to the requirements of this section; any and all information and documents produced by the respective state licensing boards as a result of any investigation of the subject matter of the reports; and all records, reports and other documents of the licensing board, except that any such records otherwise public from the original sources are not to be construed as confidential merely because they were presented to or considered by the licensing board. Ala. Code § 27-26-5(c).
70. Mental health direct care providers:Any criminal history background information requested and secured under this article. Ala. Code § 22-50-91.
71. Mental Health Consumers' Rights Act:All information in the consumer's mental health, medical and financial records. Ala. Code § 22-56-4(b)(6).
72. Notifiable diseases:Medical and statistical information and reports required by this chapter. Ala. Code § 22-11A-2.
73. Notifiable diseases:Required reports to county and state health officers regarding tuberculosis. Ala. Code § 22-11A-9.
74. Notifiable diseases:Required reports to county and state health officers regarding sexually transmitted diseases, except in "proceedings to compel the examination, testing, commitment, or quarantine of any person or upon the written consent of the patient." Ala. Code § 22-11A-14(e).
75. Notifiable diseases:Medical records regarding persons infected with sexually transmitted diseases, except in commitment proceedings or with written consent of the patient. Ala. Code § 22-11A-22; see also State Dep't of Pub. Health v. Wells, 562 So. 2d 1315 (Ala. Civ. App. 1989) (exception to confidentiality of test results for inmate compelled to submit to testing did not apply to HIV test results conducted with cooperation by and at request of inmate being tested).
76. Notifiable diseases:Any information required pursuant to this chapter. Ala. Code § 22-11A-38(j).
77. Notifiable diseases:Medical test results regarding HIV infection or a specific sickness or medical condition derived from such infection. Ala. Code § 22-11A-54.
78. Notifiable diseases:Pleadings and court documents regarding appeal by infected health care worker from decision of trial court regarding notifiable disease. Ala. Code § 22-11A-64(h) & (i).
79. Notifiable diseases:Information collected during investigation of an infected health care worker. Ala. Code § 22-11A-68(b).
80. Notifiable diseases:Records and documents related to the investigation and review of any infected health care worker. Ala. Code § 22-11A-69(a).
81. Nurses:All records of a licensee who successfully completes the disciplinary alternative program of the State Board of Nursing for impaired nurses. Ala. Code § 34-21-25(l)(6).
82. Physicians, practitioners of healing arts:All hearings, witness testimony, exhibits, and pleadings in hearings by the commission.  Ala. Code § 34-24-361.1.
83. Physicians, practitioners of healing arts:All information and documents furnished to or produced by the Alabama Physician Wellness Committee and any finding, recommendation, etc. of such committee; all records and proceedings of such committee; but documents made in the regular course of business of a health care provider or hospital or available from original sources are not immune from discovery or use in a civil proceeding "merely because they were presented or considered during the proceedings of the Alabama impaired physicians committee." Ala. Code § 34-24-404.
84. Residential Health Care Recipient Ombudsman:Information regarding a complaint resolution proceeding. Ala. Code § 22-5A-6(d).
85. Statewide Cancer Registry:Information gathered for cancer registry. Ala. Code § 22-13-33(a) & (d).
86. Vital statistics:Birth and death records, until 125 years after the date of birth or 25 years after the date of death, when such records become nonrestricted public records. Ala. Code § 22-9A-21(f).
87. Horse and Greyhound Racing
88. Horse and greyhound racing commissions:Financial, net worth, and other confidential information submitted to the commission by licensee or operator; information from investigations by commission or received from other law enforcement agencies, if necessary or desirable. Ala. Code § 11-65-10(10)(a).
89. Horse and greyhound racing facility license application:Information on application regarding confidential financial information, percentage of ownership, and the information protected in section 11-65-10. Ala. Code § 11-65-15.
90. Horse and greyhound racing operator's license application:Information on application regarding confidential financial information, percentage of ownership, and the information protected in section 11-65-10. Ala. Code § 11-65-18.
91. Insurance
92. Life and Disability Insurance Guaranty Association:The request to the Association Board for examination of a member insured for impairment or insolvency, until the release of the examination report to the public. Ala. Code § 27-44-12.
93. Insurance holding company systems:Upon request of the person filing a statement for approval of merger or other acquisition of control of an insurance holding company system, the identity of the lender that is the source of consideration to be used in effecting the merger or other acquisition. Ala. Code § 27-29-3(1)(b). Notice of proposed divesture of a controlling interest in a domestic insurer until the conclusion of the transaction or at the Commissioner’s discretion. Ala. Code § 27-29-3(a)(2).
94. Insurance holding company systems:All information and documents obtained by or disclosed to the State Commissioner of Insurance or any other person in the course of an examination or investigation made pursuant to section 27-29-6, parts of section 27-29-3, and section 29-7-5. Ala. Code § 27-29-7.
95. State Disclosure of Material Transactions Act:All reports obtained by or disclosed to the State Commissioner of Insurance pursuant to this section, unless prior written consent of insurer to which the report pertains is obtained. Ala. Code § 27-2A-2(d).
96. State Risk-based Capital for Insurers Act:All RBC reports, to the extent the information therein is not required to be set forth in a publicly available annual statement schedule, and RBC plans, including the results or report of any examination or analysis of an insurer performed pursuant hereto and any corrective order issued by the State Commissioner of Insurance pursuant to examination or analysis, with respect to a domestic insurer or foreign insurer which are filed with the Commissioner, unless disclosed by the Commissioner pursuant to enforcement actions taken by the Commissioner pursuant to the chapter or any other provision of the insurance laws of this State. Ala. Code § 27-2B-9(a).
97. Juveniles
98. Adoption of children:All records regarding subsidized adoption. Ala. Code § 26-10-28.
99. Adoption of children:All records regarding a finalized adoption, except as otherwise provided in this section and section 22-9A-12(c). Ala. Code § 26-10A-31(c).
100. Alabama Adoption Code:The original birth certificate and the evidence of adoption, after the new birth certificate has been issued except upon order of the court. Ala. Code § 26-10A-32(c).
101. Alabama Adoption Code: putative father registry except as provided in this section.  Ala. Code § 26-10C-1.
102. Alabama Uniform Parentage Act:Information that could jeopardize the disclosure of identifying information of the child or other individual, such as addresses, telephone numbers, places of employment, Social Security numbers, and the child’s day-care facility and school. Ala. Code § 26-17-105.
103. Childcare:Records regarding admission, progress, health, and discharge of children at child-care facilities. Ala. Code § 38-7-7(a)(7).
104. Childcare:Records regarding children and facts learned about children and their relatives by childcare facilities and the State Department of Human Resources. Ala. Code § 38-7-13; see also Birmingham News Co. v. Hornsby, CV 94-103 TH (Cir. Ct. Montgomery Cnty., Ala., Mar. 18, 1994) (access to copies of administrative hearing officer's final report regarding child abuse/neglect investigative hearing denied because of jeopardy to statutory provisions for confidentiality).
105. Childcare position applicants:All information, including any criminal conviction record, procured by the State Department of Human Resources or an approved agency pursuant to this chapter. Ala. Code § 26-1-4(a).
106. Child custody and support proceedings:If the court so orders, the address of the child (whether or not visitation is allowed) or the address of the victim of family or domestic violence. Ala. Code § 30-3-135(c).
107. Crime records of employees supervising children:All reports, records and statements required to be made by this chapter. Ala. Code § 38-13-8.
108. Delinquent, in need of supervision, and dependent children:Juvenile legal files and social, medical, psychiatric, and psychological records, including reports of preliminary inquiries and predisposition studies, and court records regarding such children subject to various exceptions in this section. Ala. Code § 12-15-133.
109. Education of exceptional children:Records of case history, classification and placement of exceptional children. Ala. Code § 16-39-8.
110. Juvenile appellate procedure:Identity (in appellate opinions, the style of the case, motions and briefs) of juveniles who have been the subject of a proceeding in the juvenile court system, persons granted youthful offender status, victims of child abuse, and victims of a sex offense. Ala. R. App. P. 52.
111. Juvenile law enforcement:Records, subject to various exceptions. Ala. Code § 12-15-134.
112. Juvenile procedure:Summons or other notice, except in a proceeding to terminate parental rights. Alabama Rules of Juvenile Procedure 13(A)(2).
113. Parental consent to performing abortion:In all pleadings or court documents, the minor shall be identified by initials only. Ala. Code § 26-21-4(o).
114. Parental consent to performing abortion:Records and information involving court proceedings conducted pursuant to section 26-21-4 (procedure for waiver of consent requirement to perform abortion on an unemancipated minor). Ala. Code § 26-21-8(a).
115. Reporting of child abuse or neglect:The reports and records of child abuse and neglect, except as permitted for specific purposes to authorized persons under this section. Ala. Code § 26-14-8(c); see also Birmingham News Co. v. Hornsby, CV 94-103 TH (Cir. Ct. Montgomery Cnty., Ala., Mar. 18, 1994) (access to final decisions of administrative hearing officer in child abuse/neglect investigative hearing denied because of jeopardy to statutory provisions for confidentiality).
116. Victims of sexual abuse or exploitation under age 18:Court records regarding such individuals. Ala. Code § 15-1-2(b).
117. Youth Services Department:Information concerning any youth for whom the department provides social services or care in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. Ala. Code § 44-1-39(a).
118. Youthful offenders:Fingerprints, photographs and other records of person adjudged to be youthful offender, unless the court, in its discretion, permits inspection of these records or the youthful offender is treated as an adult sex offender. Ala. Code § 15-19-7(b) (1995); Clerk of Municipal Ct. of Cordova v. Lynn, 702 So. 2d 166 (Ala. Civ. App. 1997) (names of defendants adjudicated as youthful offenders are not subject to disclosure absent good cause).
119. Library Services
120. Alabama Public Library Service:Records regarding public library use by an individual. Ala. Code § 41-8-10.
121. Mining
122. Surface coal mining and reclamation:Records, reports or information required to be submitted to the regulatory authority by a licensee or permittee under this chapter that, upon verified representation, would reveal certain production or financial data, unique processes, or other anti-competitive information. Ala. Code § 9-16-100.
123. Surface coal mining and reclamation permits:Information on application for permit pertaining to the analysis of the chemical and physical properties of the coal, unless potentially toxic. Ala. Code § 9-16-83(b)(16) (2001).
124. Surface coal mining and reclamation permits:Information submitted for permits as confidential trade secrets or privileged commercial or financial information that relates to the competitive rights of the person or entity intended to explore the described area. Ala. Code § 9-16-87(b) (2001).
125. Surface coal mining reclamation plan:Information submitted with a mining application and reclamation plan pertaining to analysis of the chemical and physical properties of the coal (unless potentially toxic) and, upon verified representation, any report, record, or information the disclosure of which would reveal certain production or financial data, unique processes, or other anti-competitive information. Ala. Code § 9-16-84(a)(12) (2001).
126. Motor Vehicles and Traffic
127. Motor vehicle accidents:All proof-of-financial-responsibility accident reports made by persons involved in accidents or by garages, except that the Director of the State Department of Public Safety may disclose the identity of a person involved in an accident when such identity is not otherwise known or when such person denies being present at such accident. Ala. Code § 32-10-11. Also, reports and data compiled or collected for identifying, evaluating, or planning safety for potential accident sites, or hazardous roadway conditions are protected from discovery in civil litigation based on federal law. Ex parte Ala. Dep't of Transp., 757 So. 2d 371 (Ala. 1999). Accident reports are available to the press only, subject to redactions, for 30 days after an accident.  Ala. Code § 32-10-7.  After the 30 days has run, only certain individuals may obtain a copy of a redacted accident report subject to Ala. Code § 32-10-7(b)(1) & 18 U.S.C. § 2725.  See Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 2020-033.
128. Motor vehicle licenses and registration:Reports or records received or made by the Driver License Medical Advisory Board or any of its members or by the Director's office pursuant to this division for the purpose of assisting the director in determining whether a person meets the medical, physical, or mental standards to be licensed as a driver, except in a proceeding under section 32-5A-195 (driver’s license cancellation, suspension, or revocation). Ala. Code § 32-6-43.
129. Tolls: Information collected by the government or a private toll entity for the purpose of establishing and monitoring electronic toll collection counts is not subject to the Open Records Act. Ala. Code § 23-2-174.
130. Ridesharing Applications: any record or information provided to the state commission that would identify rideshare drivers or riders are not public records. Ala. Code § 32-7C-33(e).
131. Navigation and Vessels
132. Navigation and watercourse registration and operation of vessels:All accident reports made by operators of vessels involved in accidents, except that the State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources may disclose the identity of a person involved in an accident when such identity is not otherwise known or when such person denies being present at such accident. Ala. Code § 33-5-25(c).
133. Public Welfare
134. State Department of Human Resources:Case records of recipients of public welfare, applicants, payments and services, confidential information concerning children and their families, etc. Ala. Code § 38-2-6(8); see also Birmingham News Co. v. Hornsby, CV 94-103 TH (Cir. Ct. Montgomery Cnty., Ala., Mar. 18, 1994) (access to copies of administrative hearing officer's final reports in child abuse/neglect investigative hearing denied because of jeopardy to statutory provisions for confidentiality).
135. State Department of Human Resources:Public welfare case records, cancelled public welfare checks, etc. Ala. Code § 38-2-12(b).
136. State protection of aged or disabled adults:Any record of the State Department of Human Resources or other agency pertaining to an aged or disabled adult pursuant to this chapter. Ala. Code § 38-9-6(e).
137. State public welfare:Any records pertaining to adoptions or to children placed in foster homes for adoption or for other purposes. Ala. Code § 38-1-4(b).
138. Railroads
139. Railroad preservation:Confidential information supplied to the State Highway Department by railroads as necessary to the planning process. Ala. Code § 37-10-5(c).
140. Real Estate Appraisers
141. Real estate appraisers:Residence addresses of real estate appraisers on file with the State Board of Real Estate Appraisers. Ala. Code § 34-27A-16(c).
142. Taxation
143. Alabama Taxpayers' Bill of Rights:Tax returns, information and records, unless the taxpayer gives written permission subject to exceptions for various taxes and license fees. Ala. Code § 40-2A-10 (2003).
144. Alabama Taxpayers' Bill of Rights and Uniform Revenue Procedures Act:Taxpayer assistance officers shall have full access to State Revenue Department's records subject to confidentiality restrictions of this chapter. Ala. Code § 40-2A-4(b)(1); see also Brown v. State, 740 F. Supp. 819, 822-23 (N.D. Ala. 1990) (regarding introduction of evidence regarding trial judge's tax returns into public court record without consent of trial judge; referring to predecessor confidentiality statutes).
145. Alabama Taxpayers' Bill of Rights and Uniform Revenue Procedures Act:Name, address, titles, figures, and other information which might identify the taxpayer. Upon written request of the taxpayer, trade secrets and other confidential information contained in revenue rulings issued by the State Revenue Department. Ala. Code § 40-2A-5(d).
146. Drugs and controlled substances excise tax:Information and documents obtained pursuant to this chapter, except in connection with a proceeding involving taxes due under this chapter, unless such information is independently obtained. Ala. Code § 40-17A-13(a).
147. Income taxes:Information obtained by a claimant agency from the State Department of Revenue in accordance with the provisions of this article. Ala. Code § 40-18-107(b).
148. Multistate Tax Compact:Information obtained by an interstate audit pursuant to this article may be available only to the party states, their subdivisions, and the United States for tax purposes. Ala. Code § 40-27-1, art. VIII(6).
149. Providers of medical services privilege tax:Information and documents secured from pharmaceutical providers pursuant to this article. Ala. Code § 40-26B-5(b).
150. Providers of medical services privilege tax:Information and documents secured from nursing facilities pursuant to this article except as necessary to administer Medicaid or the administration of the privilege assessments in this article. Ala. Code § 40-26B-24(b).
151. Tax Incentive Reform Act of 1992:The agreement of a private user of industrial development property or of a major addition to same, as required by this section, unless consent by the private user is given in writing. Ala. Code § 40-9B-6(c).
152. Veterinarians
153. Veterinarians:The records of meetings of Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners closed "to prepare, approve, or grade examinations or to deliberate qualifications of a proceeding to discipline a licensed veterinarian." Ala. Code § 34-29-66(b)(6), (8) (2002).
154. Veterinarians:Information received by the Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners through inspections and investigations, except in a proceeding involving the question of license. Ala. Code § 34-29-68.
155. Workers' Compensation
156. Unemployment compensation:Information on covered persons regarding employment, wages, hours, unemployment, and related matters, except to the extent necessary for proper presentation of the contest of a claim. Ala. Code § 25-4-116.
157. Workers' compensation:Records and information related to the functioning of this article, except to the extent necessary for the proper presentation of the contest of a claim. Ala. Code § 25-5-294(a). Also, all information, interviews, reports, statements, memoranda and test results, written or otherwise, received by the employer through a substance abuse testing program, except with written consent by the person tested, when release of information is compelled by a state agency or court of competent jurisdiction, or when deemed appropriate by a professional or occupational licensing board in a related disciplinary proceeding. Ala. Code § 25-5-339(a), (b), (c).

Other records that are open to the public by specific law, case law or attorney general opinion:

1. Aeronautics
2. Civil Air Patrol:current lists of license tags in each county issued to amateur radio operators licensed by the Civil Air Patrol. Ala. Code § 32-6-92.
3. Agriculture
4. Alabama Agricultural and Conservation Development Commission:all records of the Commission. Ala. Code § 9-8A-3(e).
5. Conservation and Natural Resources
6. State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources:all records, except confidential reports and accident reports for vessels. Ala. Code § 33-5-7.
7. Courts
8. Circuit court register's office:records of the office, when not in use by the register. Ala. Code § 12-17-119.
9. County juror commissions:master list of jurors. Ala. Code § 12-16-57(c).
10. County Probate Judge's Office:records "regarding license plates issued for state vehicles other than unmarked state vehicles that are used for investigative or surveillance work in law enforcement." Birmingham News Co. v. Hobbie, 12 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1687, 1688 (Cir. Ct. Montgomery Cnty., Ala., Dec. 20, 1985); see also Ala. Code § 12-13-50 (1995) ("The records of the office [of probate judge] must be free for the examination of all persons when not in use by the judge, whether such persons are interested in such records or not.").
11. Criminal Procedure
12. Sheriff's office:records of prisoners, execution or order of sale of property, and sales of property. Ala. Code § 36-22-13; pistol licenses. TV Alabama Inc. v. Woodward, No. CV-9707688 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Dec. 17, 1997); the front side of incident/offense reports. Wash. Cnty. Publ'ns v. Wheat, No. CV-99-94 (Cir. Ct. Washington Cnty., Ala., May 1, 2000). However, personal identifiers in pistol permits should be redacted when requested for non-law enforcement purposes.  Ala. Code § 13-11-75(f).
13. State Department of Corrections:inmate work release rosters, including the inmate's name, the specific location of the inmate, the inmate's place of employment, and the crime for which the inmate is incarcerated. 200 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 25 (Aug. 20, 1985).
14. Environmental Control
15. State Air Pollution Control Act:records, reports and information gathered pursuant to agency authority, except for trade secrets. Ala. Code § 22-28-20(a).
16. State Hazard Waste Management Act:records, reports and information gathered pursuant to agency authority, except for trade secrets. Ala. Code § 22-30-18.
17. State Underground Storage Tank and Wellhead Protection Act:records, reports and information gathered pursuant to agency authority, except for trade secrets. Ala. Code § 22-36-8.
18. Water Pollution Control Commission:records and reports gathered pursuant to agency authority, except for trade secret, profit, production and sales information. Ala. Code § 22-22-9(c).
19. Fire Marshal
20. Alabama Fire Fighters' Personnel Standards and Education Commission:bylaws and regulations. Ala. Code § 36-32-6.
21. State Fire Marshal:records of all fires occurring in the state, except that testimony taken in a fire investigation may be withheld at the Marshal's discretion. Ala. Code § 36-19-25.
22. Government, Local
23. Board of adjustment:minutes of proceedings, including the vote of each member upon each question, and records of examinations and other actions. Ala. Code § 11-52-80(b).
24. City council in mayor-council form of government:a record of the proceedings of every meeting. Ala. Code §§ 11-44C-28; 11-44E-51; 11-44B-6(f).
25. City council in council-manager form of government:a journal of proceedings of every meeting. Ala. Code §§ 11-43A-24; 11-43A-86; 11-43A-90.
26. Municipal planning commissions:record of resolutions, transactions, findings and determinations. Ala. Code § 11-52-4.
27. Government, State
28. Administrative procedure: contested cases:the recording or stenographic notes of oral proceedings or the transcription thereof, except in cases where private hearings are authorized by law, or where the proceedings are ordered sealed by order of court or are required to be sealed by statute. Ala. Code § 41-22-12(h).
29. Alabama Housing Finance Authority Board of Directors:all records of the Board. Ala. Code § 24-1A-4(d); see also Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2001-063 (Jan. 5, 2001).
30. State Ethics Commission:reports and statements filed with commission shall be available during regular business hours and online via the internet. Ala. Code § 36-25-4(a)(5).
31. Health Care
32. Alabama Board of Examiners of Counseling:records, orders and judgments. 4 Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-1-.07.
33. Alabama Medicaid Agency:uniform cost reports filed by providers with the Agency. 184 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 27 (Aug. 25, 1981).
34. State Nursing Board:names of nurses whose licenses have been revoked. 167 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 28 (May 4, 1997) (based upon statutory provisions that have been revised and replaced by Alabama Code § 34-21-25, but arguably still good law for this point); see Ala. Code § 34-21-25 (j)(6) ("The records of a licensee who fails to comply with the program agreement or who leaves the state prior to the successful completion of the program shall not be deemed confidential.").
35. Highway Department
36. State Highway Department:files and records, including plans and specifications. Ala. Code § 23-1-34.
37. Railroads
38. Northeast Mississippi-Northwest Alabama Railroad Authority Compact Board of Directors:records of the Authority and the Board. Ala. Code § 37-11A-1 art. IV.
39. Veterinarians
40. Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners:complete and accurate records of all meetings, except the records of closed meetings to prepare, approve, administer or grade examinations or to deliberate qualifications of a proceeding to discipline a licensed veterinarian. Ala. Code § 34-29-66(b)(8).

Compare

C. Court-derived exclusions, common law prohibitions, recognized privileges against disclosure

Criminal judicial records are subject to federal constitutional rights of access and particular required procedures for closure of such records. See Ex parte Birmingham News Co., 624 So. 2d 1117, 1132-35 (Ala. Crim. App. 1993) (required procedure for closure of criminal records set forth, applying First Amendment right of access); Ex parte Consol. Publ’g Co., 601 So. 2d 423, 433-34 (Ala. 1992).

Civil judicial records are subject to common law right of access, see Brewer v. Watson [Brewer I], 61 Ala. 310, 311 (1878), and access under Alabama's Public Records Law, see Holland v. Eads, 614 So. 2d 1012, 1015 (Ala. 1993). The Holland court held that a motion to seal civil court records can be granted only after the trial court (a) conducts a hearing and (b) makes:

a written finding that the moving party has proved by clear and convincing evidence that the information contained in the document sought to be sealed:

(1) constitutes a trade secret or other confidential commercial research or information; or

(2) is a matter of national security; or

(3) promotes scandal or defamation; or

(4) pertains to wholly private family matters, such as divorce, child custody, or adoption [citing Holcombe v. State ex rel. Chandler, 240 Ala. 590, 200 So. 739 (1941); Ex parte Balogun, 516 So. 2d 606 (Ala. 1987)];

(5) poses a serious threat of harassment, exploitation, physical intrusion or other particularized harm to the parties to the action; or

(6) poses the potential for harm to third persons not parties to the litigation.

614 So. 2d at 1016 (citations deleted; emphasis added).

Nonjudicial public records in Alabama are subject to the following categories of court-derived and common law exclusions — which are precatory, not mandatory — that may justify keeping otherwise-public records confidential, despite the absence of an express statutory exclusion to the Public Records Law:

1. When undue interference or hindrance in the discharge of a public officer's duties would result. See Holcombe v. State ex rel. Chandler, 240 Ala. 590, 597, 200 So. 739, 746 (1941); see also Munger v. State Bd. for Registration of Architects, 607 So. 2d 280, 284 (Ala. Civ. App. 1992);  Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 1988-079 at 5 (Dec. 16, 1987); 190 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 33, 33 (Mar. 7, 1983).
2. When speculation or idle curiosity is the sole purpose of the request. Holcombe v. State ex rel. Chandler, 240 Ala. 590, 597, 200 So. 739, 746 (1941). As early as the Holcombedecision, however, the media were said to have such a legitimate interest in public records that this exclusion would not apply to media requests. 240 Ala. at 597-99. The "speculation or idle curiosity" exclusion has its roots in the common law principle barring requesters who do not have a "proper purpose" for their request. See Blankenship v. City of Hoover, 590 So. 2d 245, 247-48 (Ala. 1991). The "proper purpose" exclusion has, fortunately, become greatly attenuated and probably now would bar access only to those who sought access to the records in order to destroy or despoil them. See 590 So. 2d at 249-50.
3. Recorded information received in confidence by a public officer. See Stone v. Consol. Publ'g Co., 404 So. 2d 678, 681 (Ala. 1981) (a precatory, not mandatory, exclusion; subject to judicial rule of reason);  Birmingham News Co. v. Muse [Muse II, 2d appeal], 669 So. 2d 138, 139 (Ala. 1995) (access to Auburn University's response to NCAA letter of inquiry held properly denied where disclosure would result in breach of numerous promises of confidentiality to participants in response); 200 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 25, 26 (Aug. 20, 1985) (information regarding inmates that should not be public includes "information received in confidence from law enforcement agencies"); 227 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 42, 48 (June 3, 1992) ("[A]ddresses and telephone numbers received [by the fire district from residents] under a promise of confidentiality should not be . . . released".).

But see Bedingfield v. Birmingham News Co., 595 So. 2d 1379, 1381 (Ala. 1992) (need for confidentiality of communications in internal audit will not be presumed as necessary to ensure that public officials will be truthful); Birmingham News Co. v. Muse [Muse II, 1st appeal], 638 So. 2d 853, 861 (Ala. 1994) ("If this Court allowed a promise of confidentiality to end the inquiry, any state official could eliminate the public's rights under the Public and Private Writings Act.") (Houston, J., concurring in part and dissenting in part); Consol. Publ'g Co. v. Smith, CV 92-500197 (Cir. Ct. Calhoun Cnty., Ala., Oct. 16, 1992):

The promise of confidentiality not to disclose the terms of [a settlement] agreement [between former City employees and the City] is not sufficient to preclude disclosure . . . . Upholding a pledge of confidentiality under these circumstances would be contrary to public policy because it would allow an office policy of [the City's] insurance carrier to circumvent the Open Records Law when the records would otherwise be open.

221 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 24, 26-27 (Oct. 24, 1990) ("[W]hen public policy considerations in favor of disclosure are weighed against requests [by applicants for county administrator's position] to keep a resume confidential, the presumption in favor of disclosure outweighs a request of confidentiality unless the resume contains sensitive material, the release of which would cause undue harm or embarrassment to the applicant.").

4. Sensitive personnel records. See Stone v. Consol. Publ’g Co., 404 So. 2d 678, 681 (Ala. 1981) (a precatory, not mandatory, exclusion; subject to judicial rule of reason); see also Advertiser Co. v. Auburn Univ., 17 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1907, 1909 (Cir. Ct. Lee Cnty., Ala., Mar. 29, 1990) (investigatory report by attorneys into alleged wrongdoing of public official not information "from a personnel record"; sensitivity of information sought is not dispositive);  227 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 60 (June 11, 1992) (names, titles and compensation of county employees are not sensitive personnel records); Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 96-00003 at 4, 1995 Ala. AG LEXIS 59 (Oct. 4, 1995) ("In general, applications, disciplinary actions, and memoranda of reprimand are documents reasonably necessary to conduct business, and thus subject to disclosure[,]" as are salary expenditure, race, current assignment, rank and type of teaching certificate, employment experience record, employee's salary, areas of endorsement, sex, date of hire, date employee attained tenure).

But see; Blankenship v. City of Hoover, 590 So. 2d 245, 250 (Ala. 1991) (W-2 forms of public employees are sensitive personnel records in that they "would disclose whether or not an individual employee has elected to participate in income-deferral plans, insurance plans, or similar benefits which are more personal than public in nature") (quoting trial court opinion); Kendrick v. Advertiser Co., 213 So. 3d 573, 578 (Ala. 2016) (finding student financial aid records protected from disclosure by FERPA); ; Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 88-00079 at 4 (Dec. 16, 1987) ("information such as psychological evaluations, family history, religious affiliation or political opinions or activities" could be sensitive personnel records) (in dicta); 212 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 26, 27 (Aug. 1, 1988) (employees' home address is private matter); Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 96-00003 at 4, 1995 Ala. AG LEXIS 59 (Oct. 4, 1995) (marital status, medical history, confidential recommendations for employment, and drug or alcohol testing results "will, in most cases, fall under the sensitive personnel records exception set out in Stone . . . [but] the party refusing to disclose should remember it has the burden of proving the information requested falls within an exception to the Open Records Act").

5. Records of a criminal investigation. Ala. Code § 12-21-3.1. Something Extra Publ’g, Inc. v. Mack, 2021 Ala. LEXIS 103 (Sep. 2021) But, public records do not become confidential simply because they are given to law enforcement. Water Works & Sewer Bd. v. Consol. Publ'g, Inc., 892 So. 2d 859, 866 n.4 (Ala. 2004).
6. Records privileged by common law. See Horne v. Patton, 291 Ala. 701, 708-09, 287 So. 2d 824, 829-30 (1973) (recognizing common law doctor-patient privilege).

The nonstatutory exceptions to the Public Records Law (often referred to as the Stone exceptions, from Stone v. Consolidated Publishing Co., 404 So. 2d 678 (Ala. 1981)), are limited by the presumptions, statutory construction, and burdens of proof that were established in Chambers v. Birmingham News Co., 552 So. 2d 854 (Ala. 1989), as follows:

1. The Public Records Law is to be liberally construed.
2. "It is clear from the wording of § 36-12-40 [the Public Records Law] that the legislature intended that the statute be liberally construed. In addition, we note, statutes intended for the public benefit are to be construed in favor of the public." 552 So. 2d at 856.
3. "[T]he judiciary has to apply the 'rule of reason.' However, it must be noted that this 'rule of reason' shall not be applied so as to hamper the liberal construction of § 36-12-40." 552 So. 2d at 856.
4. There is a presumption of disclosure under the Public Records Law.
5. "There is a presumption in favor of public disclosure of public writings and records expressed in the language of § 36-12-40." 552 So. 2d at 856.
6. "[B]ecause there is a presumption of required disclosure, the party refusing disclosure shall have the burden of proving that the writings or records sought are within an exception and warrant nondisclosure of them." 552 So. 2d at 856-57.
7. Exceptions to the Public Records Law must be narrowly construed.
8. "The exceptions set forth in Stonemust be strictly construed . . . ." 552 So. 2d at 856.
9. "[T]he Stoneexceptions should not come into play merely because of some perceived necessity on the part of a public official or established office policy." 552 So. 2d at 856.
10. "[W]e emphasize that these exceptions must be narrowly construed and their application limited to the circumstances stated herein, for it is the general rule, and has been the policy of this state for a number of years, to advocate open government. The Stoneexceptions were not intended, nor shall they be used, as an avenue for public officials to pick and choose what they believe the public should be made aware of." 552 So. 2d at 857.
11. “[T]here is no exception under Alabama[‘s open records law] based on a public entity's own conception of relevance.” Health Care Auth. for Baptist Health v. Cent. Ala. Radiation Oncology,LLC, 292 So. 3d 623, 634 (Ala. 2019).

Two further factors weigh in the balance after a court finds that one of the Stone exceptions applies, as follows:

The exceptions set forth in Stone must be strictly construed and must be applied only in those cases where it is readily apparent that disclosure will result in undue harm or embarrassment to an individual, or where the public interest will clearly be adversely affected, when weighed against the public policy considerations suggesting disclosure.

Chambers v. Birmingham News Co., 552 So. 2d 854 (Ala. 1989) (emphasis added).

"Undue harm and embarrassment" and "adverse to the public interest" are not separate exceptions, but only factors for the court to consider after an exception to disclosure has been proven. See, e.g., Advertiser Co. v. Auburn Univ., 17 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1907 (Cir. Ct. Lee Cnty., Ala., Mar. 29, 1990) ("The matters sought are, of course, sensitive. The disclosure of the report in this case would not be detrimental to the best interests of the public."); State ex rel. Kernells v. Ezell, 291 Ala. 440, 282 So. 2d 266 (1973), quoting and applying Excise Commission of Citronelle v. State ex rel. Skinner, 179 Ala. 654, 60 So. 812 (1912):

In the present case, . . . whatever personal embarrassments might result from the disclosure of the names of those who have signed this recommendation must be regarded as matters of private interest; and, although they might become, in some sense, matters of public concern, even so, they are wholly subordinate to that paramount public interest — the maintenance and enforcement of public law.

Id. at 660 (ordering the recommendations be disclosed) (common law case prior to Public Records Law).

But see 221 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 24 (Oct. 24, 1990) (applying "undue harm or embarrassment" to "sensitive personnel records" ground for exclusion); 222 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 48 (Mar. 20, 1991) and 223 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 19 (May 17, 1991) (applying "undue harm or embarrassment" to "records received in confidence" ground for exclusion);  223 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 16 (Apr. 18, 1991) (explaining "there is not a state privacy law" with respect to pistol permits on file in sheriff's office, which are public records).

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D. Protective orders and government agreements to keep records confidential

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E. Interaction between federal and state law

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1. HIPAA

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2. DPPA

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3. FERPA

In Kendrick v. Advertiser Co., 213 So. 3d 573, 574 (Ala. 2016), the court found that FERPA took precedence over the state Open Records Act and protected student-athlete financial aid forms from disclosure.

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4. Other

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F. Segregability requirements

The Alabama Public Records Law does not expressly provide for access to segregable portions of records that contain exempt material, but numerous statutes provide for partial exclusion, see, e.g., Ala. Code § 9-16-83(b)(16) (2001) (applications for surface coal mining and reclamation permits open except for information pertaining to the coal seam itself); Ala. R. Civ. P. 5.1 (redaction of personal identifiers in court filings).Executive Order 734 contemplates redaction of “legally protected information” from Executive Branch responses to Pulic Records requests. Id. at (2) & (4)(a). Redaction has also been permitted, sanctioned, or ordered in the following cases and attorney general opinions:

1. Arrest reports:Complainant names and witness names may be blocked out or otherwise precluded from access. Birmingham News Co. v. Deutcsh, CV 85-504-132 JDC (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Equity Div., Aug. 19, 1986).
2. Complaint reports:Specific information, or entire reports, may be withheld if "the divulging of such information or complaint reports would actually interfere with the conduct of the efforts of respondents in enforcing the criminal law or would actually hamper law enforcement." Birmingham News Co. v. Watkins, CV No. 38389 at 4 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Oct. 30, 1974) (applying First Amendment newsgathering right, not Public Records Law); see also Washington Cnty. Publ'ns v. Wheat, No. CV-99-94 (Cir. Ct. Washington Cnty., Ala., May 1, 2000) (incident/offense reports are available for public inspection subject to the right of the sheriff to withhold or redact certain information on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature of the case, the status of the investigation, whether the victim would be subject to threats or intimidation, or when public disclosure would hinder the investigation of a case).
3. National Fire Incident Reporting System forms: Home addresses, telephone numbers and the material status of persons involved in an incident may be withheld from public inspection. Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2006-134, 2006 Ala. AG LEXIS 97 (Aug. 17, 2006).
4. Personnel records:Psychological profiles in inmate personnel file, 200 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 25 (Aug. 20, 1985); employees' home addresses, 212 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 26 (Aug. 1, 1988); confidential material in a resume the release of which would cause undue harm or embarrassment, 222 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 48 (Mar. 20, 1991); addresses or telephone numbers received under a promise of confidentiality, 227 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 42 (June 3, 1992); marital status, medical history, confidential recommendations of employment, and drug or alcohol testing, Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 96-00003, 1995 Ala. AG LEXIS 59 (Oct. 4, 1995).
5. Prison Incident Reports: The Department of Corrections was permitted to redact information that would subject a person to a specific threat or harm or if the release of the information would jeopardize a pending criminal investigation or violate any state or federal law.  Allen v. Barksdale, 32 So. 3d 1264 (Ala. 2009).
6. State license tag records:Information regarding state license tags for undercover vehicles to be blocked out. Birmingham News Co. v. Hobbie, 12 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1687, 1688 (Cir. Ct. Montgomery Cnty., Ala., Dec. 20, 1985).
7. Transcript of pretrial proceedings:Materials involving ongoing grand jury proceedings are to be kept under seal, by redaction of references to these materials from the transcript of pretrial proceedings. Ex parte Birmingham News Co., 624 So. 2d 1117, 1127-29 (Ala. Crim. App. 1993) (applying common law and First Amendment right of access to criminal court records).

Alabama courts have also refused to order redacted disclosure in at least two cases.  Birmingham News Co. v. Muse [Muse II, 2d appeal], 669 So. 2d 138, 139 (Ala. 1995) (redaction and disclosure of Auburn University's response to NCAA letter of inquiry denied because "[i]f the promises [of confidentiality] are to be honored, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to edit out th[e] material [received under promise of confidentiality] and release a response that made sense") (quoting and adopting trial court's findings).

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G. Agency obligation to identify basis of redaction or withholding

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III. Record categories - open or closed

Beyond the categories listed below, the following records are also available to the public by specific law, case law, or attorney general opinion:

1. Aeronautics

a. Civil Air Patrol: current lists of license tags in each county issued to amateur radio operators licensed by the Civil Air Patrol. Ala. Code § 32-6-92.

2. Agriculture

a. Alabama Agricultural and Conservation Development Commission: all records of the Commission. Ala. Code § 9-8A-3(e).

3. Conservation and Natural Resources

a. State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources: all records, except confidential reports and accident reports for vessels. Ala. Code § 33-5-7.

4. Courts

a. Circuit court register's office: records of the office, when not in use by the register. Ala. Code § 12-17-119.

b. County juror commissions: master list of jurors. Ala. Code § 12-16-57(c).

c. County Probate Judge's Office: records "regarding license plates issued for state vehicles other than unmarked state vehicles that are used for investigative or surveillance work in law enforcement." Birmingham News Co. v. Hobbie, 12 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1687, 1688 (Cir. Ct. Montgomery Cnty., Ala., Dec. 20, 1985); see also Ala. Code § 12-13-50 (1995) ("The records of the office [of probate judge] must be free for the examination of all persons when not in use by the judge, whether such persons are interested in such records or not.").

5. Criminal Procedure

a. Sheriff's office: records of prisoners, execution or order of sale of property, and sales of property. Ala. Code § 36-22-13; pistol licenses. TV Ala. Inc. v. Woodward, No. CV-9707688 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Dec. 17, 1997); the front side of incident/offense reports. Washington Cnty. Publ'ns v. Wheat, No. CV-99-94 (Cir. Ct. Washington Cnty., Ala., May 1, 2000). However, personal identifiers in pistol permits should be redacted when requested for non-law enforcement purposes.  Ala. Code § 13-11-75(f).

b. State Department of Corrections: inmate work release rosters, including the inmate's name, the specific location of the inmate, the inmate's place of employment, and the crime for which the inmate is incarcerated. 200 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 25 (Aug. 20, 1985).

6. Environmental Control

a. State Air Pollution Control Act: records, reports and information gathered pursuant to agency authority, except for trade secrets. Ala. Code § 22-28-20(a).

b. State Hazard Waste Management Act: records, reports and information gathered pursuant to agency authority, except for trade secrets. Ala. Code § 22-30-18.

c. State Underground Storage Tank and Wellhead Protection Act: records, reports and information gathered pursuant to agency authority, except for trade secrets. Ala. Code § 22-36-8.

d. Water Pollution Control Commission: records and reports gathered pursuant to agency authority, except for trade secret, profit, production and sales information. Ala. Code § 22-22-9(c).

7. Fire Marshal

a. Alabama Fire Fighters' Personnel Standards and Education Commission: bylaws and regulations. Ala. Code § 36-32-6.

b. State Fire Marshal: records of all fires occurring in the state, except that testimony taken in a fire investigation may be withheld at the Marshal's discretion. Ala. Code § 36-19-25.

8. Government, Local

a. Board of adjustment: minutes of proceedings, including the vote of each member upon each question, and records of examinations and other actions. Ala. Code § 11-52-80(b).

b. City council in mayor-council form of government: a record of the proceedings of every meeting. Ala. Code § 11-44C-28; § 11-44E-51; § 11-44B-6(f).

c. City council in council-manager form of government: a journal of proceedings of every meeting. Ala. Code § 11-43A-24; § 11-43A-86; § 11-43A-90.

d. Municipal planning commissions: record of resolutions, transactions, findings and determinations. Ala. Code § 11-52-4.

9. Government, State

a. Administrative procedure: contested cases: the recording or stenographic notes of oral proceedings or the transcription thereof, except in cases where private hearings are authorized by law, or where the proceedings are ordered sealed by order of court or are required to be sealed by statute. Ala. Code § 41-22-12(h).

b. Alabama Housing Finance Authority Board of Directors: all records of the Board. Ala. Code § 24-1A-4(d); see also Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2001-063 (Jan. 5, 2001).

c. State Ethics Commission: reports and statements filed with commission shall be available during regular business hours and online via the internet. Ala. Code § 36-25-4(a)(5).

10. Health Care

a. Alabama Board of Examiners of Counseling: records, orders and judgments. 4 Ala. Admin. Code r. 255-X-1-.07.

b. Alabama Medicaid Agency: uniform cost reports filed by providers with the Agency. 184 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 27 (Aug. 25, 1981).

c. State Nursing Board: names of nurses whose licenses have been revoked. 167 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 28 (May 4, 1997) (based upon statutory provisions that have been revised and replaced by Alabama Code § 34-21-25, but arguably still good law for this point); see also Ala. Code § 34-21-25 (j)(6) ("The records of a licensee who fails to comply with the program agreement or who leaves the state prior to the successful completion of the program shall not be deemed confidential.").

11. Highway Department

a. State Highway Department: files and records, including plans and specifications. Ala. Code § 23-1-34.

12. Railroads

a. Northeast Mississippi-Northwest Alabama Railroad Authority Compact Board of Directors: records of the Authority and the Board. Ala. Code § 37-11A-1 art. IV.

13. Veterinarians

a. Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners: complete and accurate records of all meetings, except the records of closed meetings to prepare, approve, administer or grade examinations or to deliberate qualifications of a proceeding to discipline a licensed veterinarian. Ala. Code § 34-29-66(b)(8).

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A. Autopsy and coroners reports

Most autopsies in Alabama are performed by the State Department of Forensic Sciences, and records of those autopsies are expressly public by statute. Ala. Code § 36-18-2 (2001) ("The director [of the Department of Forensic Sciences] shall keep photographed or microphotographed reproductions of original reports of all investigations that he conducts in his office. Reproductions of such materials shall be public records and shall be open to public inspection at all reasonable times."). County coroners may also require autopsies to be performed, pursuant to their duty to hold inquests under Alabama Code § 11-5-4 (1998). See also Ala. Code § 15-4-2 (1995) (examination of body and report by coroner; autopsy).

Since a county coroner is a public officer, see Ala. Code § 36-12-1 (2001), records of the county coroner's autopsies are public records subject to disclosure under the Public Records Law, unless there is a pending criminal investigation and the disclosure of their information will compromise the investigation. See Stone v. Consol. Publ’g Co., 404 So. 2d 678, 681 (Ala. 1981); Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. No. 2007-015, 2006 Ala. AG LEXIS 142 (Dec. 4, 2006). But, in Something Extra Publ’g, Inc. v. Mack, the court upheld the non-disclosure of autopsy records requested from law enforcement under Ala. Code § 12-21-3.1(b), without specific analysis of its interplay with Ala. Code § 36-18-2. 350 So. 3d 663, 665 (Ala. 2021).

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B. Administrative enforcement records (e.g., worker safety and health inspections, or accident investigations)

We know of no statutory provision or reported case law regarding public access to this category of records.

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C. Bank records

Records of the State Banking Department of Alabama, the Banking Board of Alabama, the Bureau of Savings and Loan, and the Bureau of Credit Unions are public writings within the meaning of the Alabama Public Records Law unless an express statutory provision makes particular bank records confidential. The following statutes provide for confidentiality of particular bank records:

1. Ala. Code § 5-3A-11: All reports of an examination of a bank by the State Superintendent of Banks, all records reflecting the action of any bank taken pursuant to such an examination, and those portions of minutes of meetings of the Banking Board that relate to a specific bank or banks except those subject to a grand jury subpoena.

2. Ala. Code §§ 5-3A-3(a), 5-5A-43: A bank customer's financial records except when subject to subpoena, summons, warrant or court order.

3. Ala. Code § 5-2A-80: Records, reports and other data submitted by a licensee to the Supervisor of the Bureau of Loans, and the reporting of all investigations made under the Small Loan Act.

4. Ala. Code § 5-3A-3(a): The condition or affairs of any bank ascertained by examination of such bank and any report or information regarding depositors or debtors of such bank, except as authorized or required by law.

5. Ala. Code § 5-5A-44: Records regarding applications for acquisition of banks by a majority of voting shares.

6. Ala. Code § 5-13B-105(a): Records regarding examination and investigation of foreign banks, unless the Superintendent of Banks deems that publication will serve the public advantage.

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D. Budgets

We know of no statutory provision or reported case law regarding public access to this category of records.  Presumably, budgets, which document the expenditure of public funds, are public.

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E. Business records, financial data, trade secrets

The Alabama Code contains numerous provisions for the confidentiality of business information, financial data, trade secrets, and other proprietary information that is gathered or required to be filed with state agencies, including such information as is related to or included in records involving the following matters:

1. Agricultural cooperative marketing associations.  Code § 2-10-28; § 2-10-29.
2. Ala. Code § 5-2A-80; § 5-3A-11; § 5-3A-3(a); § 5-5A-44(b); § 5-13B-105(a).
3. Department of Energy matters.  Code §§ 41-6A-4(8) & 41-6A-7.
4. Environmental pollution control.  Code § 22-22-9(c); § 22-28-20(a); § 22-30-18; § 22-30-19(d).
5. Health maintenance organizations.  Code § 27-21A-24; § 27-21A-25.
6. Horse and greyhound racing.  Code § 11-65-10(10), 11-65-15, 11-65-18.
7. Livestock markets.  Code § 2-15-62(e).
8. Meat and poultry.  Code § 2-17-24(a)(2).
9. Milk-processing establishments.  Code § 2-13-92.
10. Revenue rulings.  Code § 40-2A-5(d).
11. Ala. Code § 2-26-10(d).
12. Surface coal mining.  Code § 9-16-83(b)(16); § 9-16-84(a)(14); § 9-16-87(b); § 9-16-100.
13. Underground tank and wellhead.  Code § 22-36-8.

Alabama courts also protect the confidentiality of proprietary information and trade secrets in court records in appropriate cases. See Holland v. Eads, 614 So. 2d 1012, 1016 (Ala. 1993); Duck Head Apparel Co. v. Hoots, 659 So. 2d 897, 916-17 (Ala. 1995); see also Ala. Code § 8-27-1, et seq.

The following otherwise-private financial and business information is subject to public disclosure:

1. The data on financial disclosure statements that public officials in the state are required to file with the Alabama Ethics Commission. Ala. Code § 36-25-4(a)(5).
2. Documents filed by a taxpayer in support of a protest of property valuation. 215 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 39, 41 (June 14, 1989).

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F. Contracts, proposals and bids

Documents relating to the award of public contracts in Alabama—whether by the state, county, municipality or a public corporation, and whether the contracts are required to be bid—are open to public inspection. See, e.g., Ala. Code § 9-15-78(a) (sale or lease of public lands); Ala. Code § 9-14-22(b) (all documents pertaining to award of contracts for concessions at state parks); and Ala. Code § 41-16-24(b); § 41-16-54(b); § 41-16-57(e); 200 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 23 (Aug. 19, 1985) (Medicaid fiscal agent contract); 227 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 42 (June 3, 1992) (fire district contracts); 237 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 18 (Oct. 11, 1994) (all documents relating to the award of the contract, including correspondence with references to check the bidder's credibility). However, if the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency determines that a contract has a direct impact on the security or safety of persons or facilities and requires confidential handling, records of bidding and award are not public and remain confidential.  Ala. Code § 39-2-2(g); see also Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 2019-048 & 2020-015.

Some records related to the State’s procurement of services and supplies are exempt from disclosure including: (1) commercial or financial information designated as confidential by a third party; (2) evaluative documents, bids, or proposals prior to an award; (3) when public disclosure would be detrimental to safety, security, or the public interest as determined by the Chief Procurement Officer; and (4) any procurement information identified by the Chief Procurement Officer as provided by statute.  Ala. Code §§ 41-4-115(a) & (b); see also Ala. Acts No. 2021-296.

Settlement agreements entered into by a public entity are also public contracts, notwithstanding a confidentiality clause in the settlement agreement. Consol. Publ’g Co. v. Smith, CV 92-500197 (Cir. Ct. Calhoun Cnty., Ala., Oct. 16, 1992).

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G. Collective bargaining records

We know of no statutory provision or reported case law regarding public access to this category of records.

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H. Economic development records

Alabama has adopted statutes which denote various economic development records as confidential including initial notices of projects (Ala. Code § 41-29-3(a)(1)) and project proposals (Ala. Code § 41-29-3(b); § 41-29-285).  See also Ala. Acts No. 2021-455 (providing that third-parties who enter into contracts with the Alabama Innovation Corporation do not automatically become subject to the Open Records Act).

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I. Election Records

The following election records are closed pursuant to statutory, case law or Alabama attorney general opinion authority:

1. Voter registration applications. Ala. Code § 17-3-52; 202 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 19 (Jan. 24, 1986). But seeOp. Att'y Gen. Ala., No. 2005-185, 2005 Ala. AG LEXIS 150 (Aug. 23, 2005) (concluding that "[t]he boards of registrars and probate judges may provide only the names and precincts of registered voters to persons or entities," but that political parties are "entitled to obtain all voter registration information in the possession of the boards of registrars or probate judges, except for social security numbers").
2. The list of registered voters that is used at the polling place in an election, which is marked to indicate the persons voting. Advertiser Co. v. Hobbie, 474 So. 2d 93, 95 (Ala. 1985); see alsoAla. Code § 17-9-12 ("The poll list shall be sealed in an envelope before the inspectors begin to count the vote and shall not be opened.").

The following election records are open pursuant to statutory, case law or Alabama attorney general opinion authority:

1. Lists of registered voters, with names and polling places only. Ala. Code § 17-4-1; Op. Att'y Gen. Ala., No. 2005-185, 2005 Ala. AG LEXIS 150 (Aug. 23, 2005) (concluding that "[t]he boards of registrars and probate judges may provide only the names and precincts of registered voters to persons or entities," but that political parties are "entitled to obtain all voter registration information in the possession of the boards of registrars or probate judges, except for social security numbers."); 202 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 19 (Jan. 24, 1986).
2. Candidate statements, finances, organization of political committee, expenditures, contributions, etc. Ala. Code § 17-5-8.
3. Lists of absentee voters. Ala. Code § 17-11-5. In a 1994 election dispute that involved the counting of absentee votes, the federal court judge in Roe v. Mobile Cnty. Appointing Bd., CV 94-885-AH-S, 904 F. Supp. 1315 (S.D. Ala. 1995), entered a permanent injunction, at the plaintiffs' request, to seal the absentee voter lists in all sixty-seven counties of Alabama in order to protect the lists from alteration or destruction. In April of 1996, The Birmingham News Company filed a petition for access to the lists, citing Alabama Code § 17-10-5 (the predecessor to § 17-11-5) and asking the court to vacate its permanent injunction sealing the lists. By order of April 15, 1996, the court granted the motion and amended the permanent injunction to provide access to the absentee voting lists in Alabama's counties. The court also ordered the State Attorney General's Office to "continue to protect and maintain the original absentee voting lists from the 1994 elections." Roe v. State, CV 94-885-AH-S, Dkt. 346 (S.D. Ala., Apr. 15, 1996).
4. Lists from which poll workers are appointed. 210 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 45 (June 3, 1988).

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J. Emergency Medical Services records

911 records kept in the usual course of business are public. Ala. Code § 11-98-12(c).  911 calls in audio or transcript form are public in limited circumstances discussed below.

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K. Gun permits

Personal identifiers of applicants and permittees for concealed carry are exempt from disclosure; however, information concerning the number of permittees or applicants, revenue figures, and “any other fiscal or statistical data” are public writings subject to disclosure.  Ala. Code § 13-11-75(f). The exemption from disclosure of personal identifies is abrogated if a permittee is charged with a felony involving the use of a pistol.

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L. Homeland security and anti-terrorism measures

In 2004, the Public Records Law was amended to include the following language:

[R]ecords concerning security plans, procedures, assessments, measures, or systems, and any other records relating to, or having an impact upon, the security or safety of persons, structures, facilities, or other infrastructures, including without limitation information concerning critical infrastructure (as defined at 42 U.S.C. §  5195c(e) as amended) and critical energy infrastructure information (as defined at 18 C.F.R. §  388.11(c)(1) as amended), the public disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to be detrimental to the public safety or welfare, and records the disclosure of which would otherwise be detrimental to the best interests of the public shall be exempted from this section. Any public officer who receives a request for records that may appear to relate to critical infrastructure or critical energy infrastructure information, shall notify the owner of such infrastructure in writing of the request and provide the owner an opportunity to comment on the request and on the threats to public safety or welfare that could reasonably be expected from public disclosure of the records.

Ala. Code § 36-12-40.

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M. Hospital reports

The following records for medical institutions in Alabama that are organized as public corporations are open pursuant to statutory authority:

1. Certificate of incorporation. Ala. Code § 22-21-172-173; § 11-95-3-4.
2. Annual fiscal year financial statement. Ala. Code § 22-21-187.
3. Audit reports. Ala. Code § 22-21-4(b).

The following records for public and private medical institutions in Alabama are open pursuant to statutory and Alabama attorney general opinion authority:

1. Information received by the state board of health through on-site inspections conducted by the state licensing agency. Ala. Code § 22-21-30.
2. Uniform cost reports of Medicaid providers. 184 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 27 (Aug. 15, 1981).

The following records for public and private medical institutions in Alabama are closed pursuant to statutory, case law or administrative rule authority:

1. Accreditation, quality assurance credentialing, and similar materials. Ala. Code § 22-21-8(b).
2. Patient records. Horne v. Patton,291 Ala. 701, 708-09, 287 So. 824, 829-30 (1973) (physician-patient privilege); Ala. Code § 34-26-2 (psychologist/psychiatrist-patient privilege); see also Ex parte Rudder, 507 So. 2d 411 (Ala. 1987) (psychiatrist-patient privilege).
3. Hospital patient records produced pursuant to subpoena duces tecum, "until ordered published by the court trying the case at the time of trial." Ala. Code § 12-21-6(a).
4. Reports by insurance companies of judgments and settlements of medical liability claims, which are required to be filed with state licensing entities. Ala. Code § 27-26-5(c).

Investigative reports regarding patient injuries and death prepared by the Bureau of Special Investigations, the investigative division of the Alabama Department of Mental Health, are considered "law enforcement investigative reports" within the meaning of Alabama Code § 12-21-3.1, and are therefore entitled to protection from civil subpoena, except upon a showing that the information contained in the report cannot be obtained from other sources without undue hardship. Lambert v. Ala. Dep't of Mental Health & Mental Retardation, 840 So. 2d 863 (Ala. 2002); Ex parte Ala. Dep't of Mental Health & Mental Retardation, 840 So. 2d 876 (Ala. 2002).

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N. Personnel records

In Stone v. Consolidated Publishing Co., 404 So. 2d 678 (Ala. 1981), the Alabama Supreme Court included "sensitive personnel records" as one category of records that might not be open to public disclosure, depending upon the facts of the case, despite the absence of an express statutory exclusion of such records from the Public Records Act. Notwithstanding that invitation for exclusion, most personnel records should be presumptively open.

Examples of records and information that are not "sensitive personnel records" include: Advertiser Co. v. Auburn Univ., 17 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1907, 1909 (Cir. Ct. Lee Cnty., Ala., Mar. 29, 1990) (investigatory report by attorneys into alleged wrongdoing of public official not information "from a personnel record"; sensitivity of information sought is not dispositive);  Univ. of Montevallo Educ. Ass'n v. Vickery, CV 86-121 (Cir. Ct. Shelby Cnty., Ala., Nov. 2, 1987) ("Official Appointment Form," "Appointment Form, Limitations and Contingencies," "UM Fringe Benefits, A Worksheet," and "Job Description" regarding state university employees ordered disclosed) (affirmed without opinion in Vickery v. Univ. of Montevallo Educ. Ass'n, 527 So. 2d 125 (Ala. 1988)); 227 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 60 (June 11, 1992) (names, titles, and compensation of county employees are not sensitive personnel records); Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 96-00003 at 4, 1995 Ala. AG LEXIS 59 (Oct. 4, 1995) ("In general, applications, disciplinary actions, and memoranda of reprimand are documents reasonably necessary to conduct business, and thus subject to disclosure" as are salary expenditure, race, current assignment, rank and type of teaching certificate, employment experience record, employee's salary, areas of endorsement, sex, date of hire, date employee attained tenure).

Examples of records and information that may be "sensitive personnel records" include:  Blankenship v. City of Hoover, 590 So. 2d 245, 250 (Ala. 1991) (W-2 forms of public employees are sensitive personnel records in that they "would disclose whether or not an individual employee has elected to participate in income-deferral plans, insurance plans, or similar benefits which are more personal than public in nature") (quoting trial court opinion); Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 88-00079 at 4 (Dec. 16, 1987) ("information such as psychological evaluations, family history, religious affiliation or political opinions or activities" could be sensitive personnel records); 212 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 26, 27 (Aug. 1, 1988) (employees' home address is private matter); Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 96-00003 at 4, 1995 Ala. AG LEXIS 59 (Oct. 4, 1995) (marital status, medical history, confidential recommendations for employment, and drug or alcohol testing results "will, in most cases, fall under the sensitive personnel records exception set out in Stone . . . [but] the party refusing to disclose should remember it has the burden of proving the information requested falls within an exception to the Open Records Act"); Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2001-269, 2001 Ala. AG LEXIS 165 (Aug. 29, 2001) ("Information such as an employee's marital status, medical history, confidential recommendations for employment, and drug or alcohol testing results will, in most cases, fall under the sensitive personnel records exception in Stone.").

Alabama Code § 36-26-44 (2001) provides that the records of the State Personnel Department and Merit System shall be open to the public except for such records as the Department's rules require to be confidential by reason of public policy. The Department's rules provide as follows:

“The records of the Department are public records and are open to public inspection during normal working hours,” Ala. Admin. Code r. 670-x-17-.03, but the following shall be confidential: (a) Applications for examination of persons who have not been employed; (b) Lists of eligibles who have competed successfully on examinations; (c) Test materials such as written tests or forms or instructions which if known to an applicant might give him an advantage in competing for appointment or promotion; (d) any information listed in Ala. Code § 41-13-7; and (e) any recorded information received by a public officer in confidence, sensitive personnel records, pending criminal investigations, and records which, if disclosed, would be detrimental to the best interest of the public. See id.

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1. Salary

Pervasive Alabama attorney general authority states that lists of public employees and employee salaries are subject to disclosure under the Public Records Law. See, e.g., Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. No. 88-00079 (Dec. 16, 1987); 212 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 26 (1988); Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. No. 96-00003, 1995 Ala. AG LEXIS 59 (Oct. 4, 1995) (teacher lists); 210 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 20 (1988) (county employee lists); 171 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 14 (1978) (employee list of a mental health board); Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2006-076, 2006 Ala. AG LEXIS 39 (Mar. 27, 2006) (salary of Water and Sewer Board Members); Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2007-067, 2007 Ala. AG LEXIS 40 (Apr. 3, 2007) (contract terms of state university athletic coaches); Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2008-004, 200 Ala. AG LEXIS 118 (Oct. 2, 2007) (Health Care Authority executive salaries).

W-2 forms are closed. Blankenship v. City of Hoover, 590 So. 2d 245, 250 (Ala. 1991).

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2. Disciplinary records

The following disciplinary records are open pursuant to case law or Alabama attorney general opinion authority:

a. Revocation of a nurse’s license. 167 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 28, 29 (May 4, 1977).

b. A report of an investigation concerning alleged misconduct of an employee of a State university. Advertiser Co. v. Auburn Univ., 17 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1907 (Cir. Ct. Lee Cnty., Ala., Mar. 29, 1990), aff’d, 579 So. 2d 645 (Ala. Civ. App. 1991) (attorneys’ fee award was the only question on appeal).

c. Records regarding appeal to the State Tenure Commission from a private or public hearing before the local board of education, except for those portions of the record from any proceedings before the State Tenure Commission, if any, that were conducted in closed hearing to discuss the character or good name of an individual. 224 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 109 (July 25, 1991).

d. Minutes of State Tenure Commission meetings, regardless of whether the teacher had a private or public hearing at the local level. 224 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 109 (July 25, 1991).

e. Lists of teachers and other personnel to be given notice of transfer, nonrenewal of contract, termination, suspension or dismissal. Birmingham Educ. Ass'n v. Birmingham City Bd. of Educ., CV 94-2637 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Nov. 15, 1995).

f. Documents in teacher personnel files regarding disciplinary actions and memos of reprimand. Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. No. 96-00003, 1995 Ala. AG LEXIS 59 (Oct. 4, 1995).

The following disciplinary records are closed pursuant to Alabama attorney general opinion authority: Disciplinary charges and proceedings of the State Nursing Board. 167 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 28, 29 (May 4, 1977).

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3. Applications

The following application records are open pursuant to case law and Alabama attorney general opinion authority:

1. Applications and resumes for county water and sewer coordinator. Chambers v. Birmingham News Co., 552 So. 2d 854 (Ala. 1989).
2. Resumes of applicants for county administrator’s position. 221 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 24 (Oct. 24, 1990).
3. Names and resumes of applicants for executive director of industrial development authority. 222 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 48 (Mar. 20, 1991).
4. Biographical information from independent agency regarding applicants for executive director of industrial development authority. 223 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 19 (May 17, 1991).
5. Application for licensure as a nursing home administrator, including education, past employment history, and previous licensure. 226 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 15 (Jan. 15, 1992).

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4. Personally identifying information

There is no statutory or case law addressing this issue in the context of personnel reports, but the Alabama attorney general has stated that this information may be redacted from other types of public records. Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2006-134, 2006 Ala. AG LEXIS 97 (Aug. 17, 2006) (home addresses, telephone numbers, and marital status of individual may be removed from National Fire Incident Reporting Systems forms); see also Ala. R. Civ. P. 5.1.

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5. Expense reports

There is no statutory or case law addressing this issue.

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6. Evaluations/performance reviews

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7. Complaints filed against employees

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8. Other

Alabama attorney general opinions have indicated or opined that the following material in a personnel file would not generally be open: psychological evaluations, family history, religious affiliation or political opinions or activities, Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. No. 88-00079 (Dec. 16, 1987); marital status, medical history, confidential recommendations for employment, and drug or alcohol testing results, Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. No. 96-00003, 1995 Ala. AG LEXIS 59 (Oct. 4, 1995); Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2001-269, 2001 Ala. AG LEXIS 165 (Aug. 29, 2001).

Information about employees that is gathered from employers by the Director of Unemployment Compensation is held confidential except as necessary for the proper presentation of the contest of an unemployment claim. Ala. Code § 25-4-116.

The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals has held that state agencies must allow inspection of nonidentifying hiring and training records.  Graham v. Ala. State Employees Ass’n, 991 So. 2d 710 (Ala. Civ. App. 2007) (requiring the Alabama State Personnel Department to produce records related to the hiring and training of administrative law judges).

The Alabama attorney general has stated that employee time sheets are public records subject to inspection under the Public Records Law.  Certain sensitive information contained in the time sheets, such as doctors' excuses, time off for medical reasons, or personal vacation time is confidential. In addition, other information that may be contained in the records requested, such as medical history, confidential recommendations for employment, drug or alcohol testing results, home addresses, telephone numbers, Social Security numbers, and marital status of public employees, are not public records and are not subject to disclosure. The custodian of records responding to these requests for public records should ensure that the aforementioned sensitive personnel information is redacted from any publicly disclosed records. Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2008-073, 2008 Ala. AG LEXIS 43 (Apr. 21, 2008).

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O. Police records

Since police departments and their officers are considered "public officers and servants of counties and municipalities" within Alabama Code § 36-12-1, and thus are required to "correctly make and accurately keep in and for their respective offices and places of business all such books or sets of books, documents, files, papers, letters and copies of letters," pursuant to Alabama Code § 36-12-2, all police records that are not expressly made confidential by statute or tor not subject to the investigative privilege should presumptively be open.  Ala. Code § 12-21-3.1. Something Extra Publ’g, Inc. v. Mack, 350 So. 3d 663 (Ala. 2021). For example, the front side of Alabama Uniform Incident/Offense reports are open subject to the right of the law enforcement to withhold or redact certain information on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature of the case, the status of the investigation, whether the victim would be subject to threats or intimidation, or when public disclosure would hinder the investigation. Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. No. 97-00043 (Nov. 27, 1996) (Alabama Uniform Incident/Offense Report is public record, but “portions of such reports may be kept confidential and not subject to public disclosure, especially any portion the disclosure of which would compromise criminal investigations, result in potential harm to innocent persons or infringe upon the constitutional rights of the accused”); Wash. Cnty. Publ’ns v. Wheat, No. CV-99-94 (Cir. Ct. Washington Cnty., Ala., May 1, 2000).  Note that the investigative privilege is quite broad and could possibly extend to records in closed cases.  See Mack, supra.

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1. Accident reports

Accident reports (Alabama Uniform Traffic Reports) are available at a fee of $15.00 per report. Ala. Code § 32-2-8.

The following proof-of-financial-responsibility accident reports are confidential by statute:

a. Motor vehicle accident reports made by persons involved in the accidents or by garages, except that the Director of Public Safety may disclose the identity of a person involved in an accident when such identity is not otherwise known or when such person denies being present at such accident. Ala. Code § 32-10-11. Accident reports are available to the press only, subject to redactions, for 30 days after an accident. Ala. Code § 32-10-7.  After the 30 days has run, only certain individuals may obtain a copy of a redacted accident report subject to Ala. Code § 32-10-7(b)(1) & 18 U.S.C. § 2725.  See Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 2020-033.

b. Watercourse vessel accident reports made by persons involved in the accidents, except that the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources may disclose the identity of a person involved in an accident when such identity is not otherwise known or when such person denies being present at such accident. Ala. Code § 33-5-25(c).

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2. Police blotter

The police blotter is a public record under the authority of Birmingham News Co. v. Watkins, No. 38389 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Oct. 30, 1974) (based upon First Amendment, not Public Records Law, with discretion for police department to withhold portions of records or entire records if and as necessary to prevent “actual interference” with law enforcement); see also Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. No. 97-00043 (Nov. 27, 1996) (Alabama Uniform Incident/Offense Report is public record, but “portions of such reports may be kept confidential and not subject to public disclosure, especially any portion the disclosure of which would compromise criminal investigations, result in potential harm to innocent persons or infringe upon the constitutional rights of the accused”); Birmingham News Co. v. Jones, CV-00-677 (Cir. Ct. Shelby Cnty., Ala., Oct. 27, 2000) (back side of Alabama Uniform Incident/Offense Report is work product of officer and therefore not subject to public inspection; front side is generally public record but sensitive information, such as social security numbers, may be redacted on case-by-case basis).

The sheriff’s department is required to expunge identifying information from its records and website, including the booking photograph, of individuals who are released without being charged or cleared of an offense. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2007-052, 2007 Ala. AG LEXIS 25 (Feb. 26, 2007).

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3. 911 tapes

Ala. Code § 11-98-12 provides for the production of audio recordings or transcripts of 911 calls under certain circumstances with transcripts being more generally available upon request and payment of the costs of transcription.  Ala. Code § 11-98-12(d) Audio recordings are available pursuant to a court order finding that the right of the public to the release of the recording outweighs the privacy interests of the individual who made the 911 call, the victim, or any person involved in the facts or circumstances relating to the 911 call.  Ala. Code § 11-98-12(a).  The audio recording can be released without a court order if the requestor signs an affidavit indicating their voice is on the recording or they are the legal representative of the caller and the release is pertinent to the investigation of a legal matter. Ala. Code § 11-98-12(b).  911 providers are not required to investigate or ask law enforcement whether sensitive information is contained in the requested transcript of a 911 call before it is release. Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 2023-0007.

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4. Investigatory records

Law enforcement “investigative reports and related investigatory material” are not public records. Ala. Code § 12-21-3.1(b); Something Extra Publ’g, Inc. v. Mack, 2021 Ala. LEXIS 103 (Ala. 2021). There is authority for closure of the following records:

(1) Records regarding pending criminal investigations. Stone v. Consol. Publ’g Co., 404 So. 2d 678, 681 (Ala. 1981) (establishing a precatory, not mandatory, exclusion).  See also Mack, supra (extending statutory investigative privilege to a closed case).

(2) Search warrants, arrest warrants, supporting affidavits and depositions, until the search warrant or arrest warrant is executed and returned. 197 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 13 (Oct. 10, 1984).

(3) Prison incident reports with information regarding a pending criminal investigation. Allen v. Barksdale, 32 So. 3d 1264 (Ala. 2009).

(4) Autopsy reports that relate to a pending investigation. Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2007-015, 2006 Ala. AG LEXIS 142 (Dec. 4, 2006).

(5) National Fire Incident Reporting Systems forms that relate to a pending investigation. Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2006-134, 2006 Ala. AG LEXIS 97 (Aug. 17, 2006).

There is authority for public access to the following records of active investigations:

(1) Complaint reports, including the front side of incident/offense reports subject to the right of the sheriff to withhold or redact certain information on a case-by-case basis depending on the nature of the case, the status of the investigation, whether the victim would be subject to threats or intimidation, or when public disclosure would hinder the investigation. Wash. Cnty. Publ’ns v. Wheat, No. CV-99-94 (Cir. Ct. Washington Cnty., Ala., May 1, 2000); Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. No. 2000-197, 2000 Ala. AG LEXIS 112 (July 19, 2000); Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. No. 2000-004, 1999 Ala. AG LEXIS 89 (Oct. 7, 1999)

(2) Search and arrest warrants, with supporting affidavits and depositions, after a search warrant or arrest warrant is executed and returned. 197 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 13 (Oct. 10, 1984); see also Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2008-030, 2007 Ala. AG LEXIS 97 (Dec. 28, 2007).

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5. Arrest records

There is authority for public access to the following arrest records:

a. Arrest reports, with redaction of witness identification and witness reports at the discretion of the police department, are open. Birmingham News Co. v. Deutcsh, CV 85-504-132 JDC (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Equity Div., Aug. 19, 1986) (consent order).

b. Arrest warrants and search warrants, with supporting affidavits and depositions, are open after execution and return. 197 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 13 (Oct. 10, 1984).

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6. Compilations of criminal histories

Compilations of criminal histories by the Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center (ACJIC) are available to only those persons with a “right to know” or “need to know” as determined by the ACJIC Commission.  Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2005-042, 2005 Ala. AG LEXIS 9 (Jan. 18, 2005); Ala. Code §§ 41-9-590 et seq. (2000); Ala. Code § 41-9-636 to 642 (2000); 4 Ala. Admin. Code chapter 265-X-2. Criminal history information from the Alabama Department of Public Safety is not a matter of public record and is not open to public inspection without the written permission of the individual whose criminal history is sought. Ala. Code § 32-2-61(a).

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7. Victims

There is statutory or case law authority for closure of the following records regarding crime victims:

a. Court file regarding crime victim’s petition hearing that reveals the victim’s address, telephone number, place of employment, and related information. Ala. Code § 15-23-69.

b. Crime Victims Compensation Commission reports and information obtained from law enforcement officers and agencies. Ala. Code § 15-23-5(4).

c. Child abuse reports and records. Ala. Code § 26-14-8(c).

d. Complainant identification on arrest reports. Birmingham News Co. v. Deutcsh, CV 85-504-132 JDC (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Equity Div., Aug. 19, 1986).

Alabama attorney general opinions have approved closure of information gathered about a crime victim who is also a witness to a crime. Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2000-225, 2000 Ala. AG LEXIS 166 (Aug. 30, 2000); Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2000-203, 2000 Ala. AG LEXIS 136 (Aug. 8, 2000).

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8. Confessions

There is no statutory or case law addressing this issue.

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9. Confidential informants

Rule 3.9 of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure protects the identity of confidential informants when sworn testimony is taken to support the issuance of a search warrant.   Something Extra Publ’g, Inc. v. Mack, and Ala. Code § 12-21-3.1 would also presumably close investigative records related to confidential informants. 350 So. 3d 663, 663 (Ala. 2021)

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10. Police techniques

There is no statutory or case law addressing this issue.

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11. Mugshots

A mug shot in a police computer database is a public record.  Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2004-108, 2004 Ala. AG LEXIS 35 (Apr. 1, 2004).

State law requires each sheriff to keep in the sheriff’s office, subject to public inspection during office hours, a well-bound book in which must be entered a description of each prisoner received into the county jail. Ala. Code § 36-22-8.

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12. Sex offender records

Sex offender registration records have been made expressly open by statute.  Ala. Code § 15-20A-8.

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13. Emergency medical services records

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14. Police video (e.g, body camera footage, dashcam videos)

Something Extra Publishing, Inc. v. Mack permitted restricting access to body camera footage, when such footage constitutes an “investigative record”under Ala. Code § 12-21-3.1. 350 So. 3d 663, 663 (Ala. 2021).  Under a law passed in June 2023, an individual or personal representative thereof who appears in a body camera or dash camera video may send a written request to law enforcement to view relevant portions of the video, but the individual is forbidden from recording or copying the video if police choose to disclose it. 2023 Alabama House Bill No. 289.  Additionally, the law does not obligate law enforcement to release the record, nor does it require law enforcement to provide requesters a reason for denial.  See id.; Mike Cason, Alabama’s New Law on Police Body Camera Videos Does Not Require Public Disclosure, AL.com (June 22, 2023).

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15. Biometric data (e.g., fingerprints)

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16. Arrest/search warrants and supporting affidavits

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17. Physical evidence

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P. Prison, parole and probation reports

1. City jail records: The Docket Book with information regarding the arrest of each person booked at the jail — including name, birth date, home address, charges, bonds, fines, etc. — is a public record. Inter-Office Communication from Birmingham Law Department attorney Charles H. Wyatt, Jr., to Birmingham’s Chief Jail Administrator, Major Frank Alexander, confirming public record status of City Jail Docket, Aug. 1, 1985; see also Deutcsh v. State, 610 So. 2d 1212, 1224 (Ala. Crim. App. 1992) (Birmingham “Chief Jail Administrator Frank Alexander testified that the index book and the docket book are public records.”).

2. County jail records: A well-bound book regarding prisoners detained in county jails is required to be kept available for public inspection. Ala. Code § 36-22-8; see also Holcombe v. State ex rel. Chandler, 240 Ala. 590, 200 So. 739 (1941).

3. Department of Corrections records: An Alabama attorney general opinion, applying the Stone balancing test, has declared the following records public: “[T]he work release roster including the inmate’s name, the specific location of the inmate, the inmate’s place of employment, and the crime for which the inmate is incarcerated,” and the following records nonpublic: An inmate’s “psychological profiles, information received in confidence from law enforcement agencies and other information which clear policy dictates should be maintained in confidence or that other statutes require to [remain] confidential.” 200 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 25 (Aug. 20, 1985).

The Alabama attorney general has also held that prison incident and investigation reports maintained by the Department of Corrections are subject to inspection under the Public Records Law. Allen v. Barksdale, 32 So. 3d 1264 (Ala. 2009).

4. Municipal court probation officer records: The records of these officers concerning their charges are closed except upon order of the court. Ala. Code § 12-14-13(f).

5. Pardon and Parole Board records: Prisoner files are closed except for that portion in which each member of the Board records any decision affecting the prisoner’s liberty, property, or civil rights and the reasons, in detail, for such a decision. Ala. Code § 15-22-36(b); see also Ex parte Ala. Bd. of Pardons & Paroles, 814 So. 2d 870 (Ala. 2001) (holding that section 15-22-36(b) "clearly and unambiguously establishes an absolute privilege that the Board is legally bound to obey and the circuit court is under a duty to uphold" and vacating circuit court's order to produce privileged records).

6. Pardon and Parole Board records: Minute books and Board orders pertaining to pardons before the Board are public records.  Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2002-136, 2002 Ala. AG LEXIS 30 (Feb. 8, 2002).

7. Probation and parole officer records: Reports, records, and data assembled by these officers regarding their charges is closed to the public except by order of the court. Ala. Code § 15-22-53(b); § 15-22-73 (1995).

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Q. Professional licensing records

1. Attorney discipline: All disciplinary proceedings of the Alabama State Bar are closed until the respondent pleads guilty or the Disciplinary Commission makes a finding of guilty, except (1) petitions for reinstatement, (2) proceedings for transfer to disability inactive status, (3) proceedings for interim suspension, (4) character and fitness appeals, (5) all matters regarding surrender of license or public probation, or (6) if the respondent makes the matter public or requests that it be made public. Alabama Rules of Disciplinary Procedure 30(a).

2. Geologists: Individual test scores and applications for licensing under the Alabama Professional Geologists Licensing Act and material relating thereto, including letters of reference relating to the application are closed. Ala. Code § 34-41-15(c).

3. Nurses: All records of a licensee who successfully completes the disciplinary alternative program of the State Board of Nursing for impaired nurses are closed. Ala. Code § 34-21-25(j)(6).

4. Physicians, practitioners of healing arts: All hearings, witness testimony, exhibits, and pleadings in hearings by the commission are closed.  Ala. Code § 34-24-361.1.

5. Veterinarians: The records of meetings of Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners "to prepare, approve, or grade examinations or to deliberate qualifications of a proceeding to discipline a licensed veterinarian" are closed. Ala. Code § 34-29-66(b)(6), (8).

6. Veterinarians: Information received by the Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners through inspections and investigations, except in a proceeding involving the question of a license are closed. Ala. Code § 34-29-68.

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R. Public utility records

1. Alabama Public Services Commission: The Commission is required to “keep a record of all their proceedings, which shall be open at all times to the inspection of the public.” Ala. Code § 37-1-8.

2. Alabama Public Utilities Commission: “[A]ll reports, records and accounts in the possession of the [Commission] shall be open to inspection by the public at all times . . . .” Ala. Code§ 37-1-62.

3. Publicly owned public utilities: The records of these utilities are open. 197 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 24 (Nov. 27, 1984).

4. Telephone records (ATTNet remote access) for members of the Alabama Senate and House of Representatives: In 1989, a Montgomery County trial court ordered the State Finance Director, the Clerk of the State House, and the Secretary of the State Senate to preserve the “records that reflect, by ATTNet remote access code number, the quantity, duration, and cost of long-distance telephone calls logged per month against each remote access code number assigned to the Alabama Senate and House of Representatives,” as well as the “records that identify, by individual name and ATTNet remote access code number, the members or staff of the Alabama Senate [or Alabama House of Representatives] to whom ATTNet remote access code numbers have been assigned” “for at least one year after any change in the assignment of ATTNet remote access code numbers to the Alabama Senate and House of Representatives.” The court also ordered that those records be made available for inspection and copying. Birmingham News Co. v. Swift, CV 88-1390 G (Cir. Ct. Montgomery Cnty., Ala., Sept. 7, 1988). An amendment to state law thereafter, however, requires the Alabama Telecommunications Division of the Department of Finance to “destroy and discard from its system all records of telephone usage six months following the payment of the billing for that usage period.” Ala. Code § 41-4-284(9) (2000).

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S. Real estate appraisals, negotiations

1. County boards of equalization: The records of these boards are public records. 215 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 39 (June 14, 1989).

2. County real estate maps and plat books: Maps and plat books of all real estate in each county are required to be kept in the office of the county’s tax assessor “open to the inspection of the public at all times when not in use by the assessor or the board of equalization.” Ala. Code § 40-7-41 (2003).

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1. Appraisals

There is no statutory or case law addressing this issue.

Note that maps and plat books of all real estate in each county are required to be kept in the office of the county’s tax assessor “open to the inspection of the public at all times when not in use by the assessor or the board of equalization.” Ala. Code § 40-7-41 (2003).

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2. Negotiations

There is no statutory or case law addressing this issue.

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3. Transactions

Records regarding bids for the sale or lease of public lands are open. Ala. Code § 9-15-78 (2001). Contracts and documents related to the sale of public assets are subject to disclosure under the Public Records Law. See Tenn. Valley Printing Co. v. Health Care Auth., 61 So. 3d 1027 (Ala. 2010).

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4. Deeds, liens, foreclosures, title history

Probate records are available for examination of all persons when not in use by the judge.  Ala. Code § 12-13-50.

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5. Zoning records

The Supreme Court of Alabama has implicitly held zoning records to be public records.  See Riverchase Homeowners Protective Assoc. v. Hoover, 531 So. 2d 645 (Ala. 1988) (holding that the master development plan of a suburban mall was a public record).

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T. School and university records

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1. Athletic records

a. Athletic Coach Contracts: Jacksonville State University was required to disclose the contracts of its coaches to a newspaper pursuant to a request under the Public Records law. Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2007-067, 2007 Ala. AG LEXIS 40 (Apr. 3, 2007).

b. NCAA Letter of Inquiry to State University: The NCAA letter of inquiry must be disclosed, but disclosure may be deferred until after the time for the university to file its response to the letter. Birmingham News Co. v. Muse [Muse I], 21 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1094, 1095 (Cir. Ct. Lee Cnty., Ala., Dec. 7, 1992); Birmingham News Co. v. Sayers, 23 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2473, 2479-80 (Cir. Ct. Tuscaloosa Cnty., Ala., May 16, 1995).

c. NCAA Self Reports: The self-report of NCAA violations submitted by Alabama State University to the NCAA with student information redacted was subject to inspection under the Public Records Law. The Advertiser Co. v. Lee, CV 06-900013 (Cir. Ct. Montgomery Cnty., Ala., Apr. 28, 2007.

d. State University’s Response to NCAA Letter of Inquiry: Auburn University was permitted to keep its Response confidential because “the majority of the statements which are part of the Response were received under express promises of confidentiality,” and that confidential material and information was so intertwined with nonconfidential material that “[i]f the promises [of confidentiality] are to be honored, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to edit out this material and release a response that made sense.” Birmingham News Co. v. Muse[Muse II, 2d appeal], 669 So. 2d 138 (Ala. 1995); see also Birmingham News Co. v. Muse [Muse II, 1st appeal], 638 So. 2d 853 (Ala. 1994) (quoting and adopting trial court’s findings).

e. Athlete Financial Aid Forms: Alabama State University did not have to disclose requested financial aid forms for football players. The requested records were protected from disclosure under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g. Kendrick v. Advertiser Co., 213 So. 3d 573, 574 (Ala. 2016).

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2. Trustee records

There is no statutory or case law addressing this issue.

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3. Student records

a. Library registration and circulation records: These records are closed under the Alabama Public Records Law itself. Ala. Code § 36-12-40; see also Ala. Code § 41-8-10 (2000) (confidentiality of library registration and circulation records).

b. Student academic and other records: Under federal law, most students' records — including academic records — are not open to the public if the educational institution in question receives federal funds. 20 U.S.C. § 1232g (2010).

c. Financial aid/Scholarships: Loss or reduction of athletic scholarships for students were held not to be public records under FERPA. Kendrick v. Advertiser Co., 213 So. 3d 573 (Ala. 2016).

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4. School foundation/fundraising/donor records

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5. Research material or publications

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6. Other

a. Local board of education and public school system records:

(1) Letters and documents of such agencies are open. 170 Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 20, 21 (Feb. 1, 1978).

(2) Names of teachers whom the board has voted to give notice of transfer, proposed cancellation, non-renewal of contract, or suspension or dismissal must be disclosed, but not before the affected employees receive notice of these decisions. Birmingham Educ. Ass'n v. Birmingham City Bd. of Educ., CV 94-2637 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Nov. 15, 1995).

(3) Proposed organizational chart for a school may be withheld if the injury to the school board outweighs the benefit to the public. Mobile Press Register, Inc. v. Jordan, CV 95-1593 (Cir. Ct. Mobile Cnty., Ala., June 2, 1995).

(4) Reports of annual school bus inspections conducted by the State Department of Education must be made public by the local school board as each bus inspection is completed. Mobile Press Register, Inc. v. Jordan, CV 95-1593 (Cir. Ct. Mobile Cnty., Ala., June 2, 1995).

b. Names of applicants for state university president: Such information is closed when in the hands of a citizen advisory committee that contains no university board of trustee’s members and that gathers facts about the applicants but does not eliminate any candidates. Birmingham News Co. v. Bartlett, CV 88-504-403 MC (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Nov. 15, 1988, and Jan. 17, 1989).

c. State university public relations corporation records: The records of such a corporation that contributes financial benefit to the school are open. Stone v. Consol. Publ'g Co., 404 So. 2d 678 (Ala. 1981) (trial court found public relations corporation to be alter ego of university).

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U. State guard records

n/a

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V. Tax records

a. Documents filed by a taxpayer in support of a protest of property valuation are open. 215 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 39, 41 (June 14, 1989).

b. Alabama Taxpayers' Bill of Rights: Tax returns, information and records are closed, unless the taxpayer gives written permission subject to exceptions for various taxes and license fees. Ala. Code § 40-2A-10 (2003).

c. Alabama Taxpayers' Bill of Rights and Uniform Revenue Procedures Act: Taxpayer assistance officers shall have full access to State Revenue Department's records subject to confidentiality restrictions of this chapter. Ala. Code § 40-2A-4(b)(1); see also Brown v. State, 740 F. Supp. 819, 822-23 (N.D. Ala. 1990) (regarding introduction of evidence about trial judge's tax returns into public court record without consent of trial judge; referring to predecessor confidentiality statutes).

d. Alabama Taxpayers' Bill of Rights and Uniform Revenue Procedures Act: Name, address, titles, figures, and other information which might identify the taxpayer are closed. Upon written request of the taxpayer, trade secrets and other confidential information contained in revenue rulings issued by the State Revenue Department are closed. Ala. Code § 40-2A-5(d).

e. Drugs and controlled substances excise tax: Information and documents obtained pursuant to title 40, chapter 17A of the Alabama Code are closed, except in connection with a proceeding involving taxes due under that chapter, unless such information is independently obtained. Ala. Code § 40-17A-13(a).

f. Income taxes: “[I]nformation obtained by a claimant agency from the [State Department of Revenue] in accordance with the provisions of this article” are closed. Ala. Code § 40-18-107(b).

g. Multistate Tax Compact: Information obtained by an interstate audit pursuant to article eight of the Multistate Tax Compact may be available only to the party states, their subdivisions, and the United States for tax purposes. Ala. Code § 40-27-1, art. VIII(6).

h. Providers of medical services privilege tax: Information and documents secured from pharmaceutical providers pursuant to title 40, chapter 26B, article 1 of the Alabama Code are closed. Ala. Code § 40-26B-5(b).

i. Providers of medical services privilege tax: Information and documents secured from nursing facilities pursuant to title 40, chapter 26B, article 2 are closed except as necessary to administer Medicaid or the administration of the privilege assessments in this article. Ala. Code § 40-26B-24(b) .

j. Tax Incentive Reform Act of 1992: The agreement of a private user of industrial development property or of a major addition to such property are closed, unless consent by the private user is given in writing. Ala. Code § 40-9B-6(c) .

k. State Auditor: Tax ledger. Brewer v. Watson [Brewer I], 61 Ala. 310, 311 (1878) (books in executive department are open only to those who have an interest in them and when the disclosure sought would not be detrimental to the public interest).

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W. Vital Statistics

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1. Birth certificates

Birth certificates become “nonrestricted public records” “[w]hen 125 years have elapsed after the date of birth,” but are not public records before that date. Ala. Code § 22-9A-21(f).

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2. Marriage and divorce

Marriage and divorce certificates “in the custody of the State Registrar [of Vital Statistics] shall be considered nonrestricted public records.” Ala. Code § 22-9A-21(e) (1997).

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3. Death certificates

Death certificates become “nonrestricted public records” when “25 years have elapsed after the date of death but are not public records before that date. Ala. Code § 22-9A-21(f) (1997).

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4. Infectious disease and health epidemics

Reports and records kept of sexually transmitted and other infectious diseases are confidential by statute and not subject to inspection under the Public Records Law. See Ala. Code § 22-11A-1, et. seq.

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IV. Procedure for obtaining records

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A. How to start

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1. Who receives a request?

Alabama's Public Records Law is silent as to the procedure for obtaining public records. Typically, the request is made initially in person or by telephone to the office that holds the records. If a more formal, written request is necessary, that request is typically made to the custodian of the records, the governmental entity or officer that holds the records, or (if the request has reached the "lawyering" stage) to the attorney for the governmental entity or officer that holds the records.

The statute that immediately follows the Public Records Law in the Alabama Code requires that "[e]very public officer having the custody of a public writing which a citizen has a right to inspect is bound to give him, on demand, a certified copy of it, on payment of the legal fees therefor." Ala. Code § 36-12-41. The Code also requires public officers and servants to make and keep these records at their office, as follows:

All public officers and servants shall correctly make and accurately keep in and for their respective offices and places of business all such books or sets of books, documents, files, papers, letters and copies of letters as at all times shall afford full and detailed information in reference to the activities or business required to be done or carried on by such officer or servant and from which the actual status and condition of such activities and business can be ascertained without extraneous information, and all of the books, documents, files, papers, letters, and copies of letters so made and kept shall be carefully protected and safely preserved and guarded from mutilation, loss or destruction.

Ala. Code § 36-12-2 (quoted, adopted, and applied in Stone v. Consol. Publ’g Co., 404 So. 2d 678 (1981), as an element of the definition of "public writing" for purposes of the Public Records Law); see also 223 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 25 (May 22, 1991) ("Public records must be kept in the office where created or in a depository approved by the state or local records commission.").

Under Executive Order 734, each executive-branch agency must have in place a public records coordinator responsible for responses to public records requests with a dedicated email address.  Id. at 5(a). Requests to such agencies should be made to the identified coordinator.

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2. Does the law cover oral requests?

Alabama's Public Records Law is silent as to the manner of making the request. In most instances, it is sufficient to make the request initially in person or by telephone. If appropriate, the agency to which the request is made may—but is not required to—give the requested information by telephone. 223 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 16 (April 18, 1991).

Some governmental entities require requesters to complete a written request form. Requiring such a form is permissible if that requirement (a) is not "implemented . . . in order to dissuade or prevent any individual from acquiring access to public documents or records" and (b) does not give the custodian "the power to hinder access or refuse disclosure based on perceived necessity or established office policy." Blankenship v. Hoover, 590 So. 2d 245, 250 (Ala. 1991).

It is important to make some written record (notes, internal memo, etc.) of the dates of the oral request and the refusal so that the history of the request can be narrated in the complaint if a lawsuit is filed for access to the requested records.

A written record should be made and kept of all subsequent steps taken so that the history of the request can be narrated in the complaint if a lawsuit is filed for access to the requested records.

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3. Required contents of a written request

In general, there is no prescribed manner of making a written request, except for the offices that require a request form to be completed. See Blankenship v. Hoover, 590 So. 2d 245 (Ala. 1991). Unless the constraints of time and events dictate otherwise, it is important to follow the denial of an oral request with a written request (typically, a letter to the custodian or governmental entity or official) so that a clear record of the request is established in tangible form — and to give the refusing agency an opportunity to reconsider its initial refusal.

Executive Order 734 provides that for “standard requests” to an executive-branch agency, the requestor need not complete a form.  Id. at 3(a)(i). “Time-intensive requests” require that the requestor complete a form substantially similar to Attachment B to the executive order.  Id. at 3(b)(i).

The description of the requested records should be clear and specific, but broad enough to include all of the records that are sought. A lawsuit for the records might not necessarily be limited to the description in the earlier oral and written requests, but the suing requester will be viewed as fairer if the requester has been clear and reasonably consistent in describing the records that are sought. See Holcombe v. State ex rel. Chandler, 240 Ala. 590, 200 So. 739 (1941) ("We are of opinion and hold that relators had the right, under the statute and their pleadings, to obtain their demand for inspection, and that said demand was not vague or indefinite, but specific."); Attachment B to Executive Order 734 (“requests must be as specific as possible”)

There is no need to address fee issues in the written request unless (a) that issue has been raised by the refusing agency, (b) there is a statutory fee provision for the requested records, or (c) the requester anticipates a problem because of the volume of documents requested, the expense of search and retrieval, or transformation of the requested documents into a different format.  Attachment B to Executive Order 734 asks the requestor to provide the amount they are willing to pay in processing fees without further notice from the agency.

To avoid misunderstanding — and possible obfuscating delay — it is useful for the written request to include a date or time period for the requested records to be made available. If a quick response is needed because of developing events, it is important to include that information in the written request — so that the custodian will be fully and fairly informed and the court, if necessary, will be assured that the custodian was fully and fairly informed.

There is no prohibition on making a request for future records.

Record of delivery of written request: If practicable, a record of delivery of the written request should be made: to whom, what date and time, and where.

In Ex parte Gill, 841 So. 2d 1231 (Ala. 2002), a prison inmate requested from the Circuit Clerk of Morgan County all records related to his criminal trial. The inmate's request was denied. The inmate petitioned the Alabama Supreme Court for a writ of mandamus, citing his right to inspect and copy public records granted to him by section 36-12-40. The court noted that the inmate did not appear personally and did not send an agent on his behalf to inspect and identify the records he requested, and he did not send payment for the requested records. Accordingly, the court held that while the inmate had the right to inspect and copy public records, he did not have the right to shift the burden of inspection and identification of relevant documents to the court clerk, and he did not have the right to get free copies of the requested records. The court further held that section 36-12-40 does not entitle inmates to any relief from their incarceration or to any transportation to the custodian's office to accomplish the inspection and identification of documents and does not entitle them to free copies or to funds to pay for copies.

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4. Can the requester choose a format for receiving records?

The Alabama attorney general has declared:

It is not [a public agency's] responsibility or duty to provide the information to [the requester] in a particular form nor must [the agency] necessarily compile or assimilate the information for the public. Your responsibility is to provide reasonable access to the information and for the information to be a reasonable form (e.g. legible copies if possible or in regular language rather than a code form a person outside the office would not be familiar with).

Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 88-00079 at 5 (Dec. 16, 1987) (diskette of personnel data requested; the requested data need not be provided in that particular form); see also Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2007-001, 2006 Ala. AG LEXIS 119 (Oct. 2, 2006) (“Because a state agency may regulate the manner in which public records are produced, inspected, and copied, a state agency . . . is not required to distribute public records in the manner that a requestor specifies.”). The requestor may use its own equipment to generate copies of records as long as the chosen method does not unduly interfere with the operations of the requestee.  Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 76 (June 10, 2009).

Executive Order 734 provides that an executive agency may not charge per-page fees for electronic records provided electronically.  The agency can charge actual costs for flash drives or similar hardware for producing electronic records and special paper sizes.  Id. at 4(b) & (c).

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5. Availability of expedited processing

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B. How long to wait

There are no deadlines for acknowledgments and responses in the Public Records law. The length of time to wait, and the steps to take next, will in most instances vary with the circumstances for each request. If the relief that is ultimately sought in court is preliminary or permanent injunction, however, care should be taken not to delay unduly and thus jeopardize the claim for "irreparable injury." See Birmingham News Co. v. Chambers, CV 89-186 (Cir. Ct. Shelby Cnty., May 17, 1989) (granting a request for a permanent injunction and ordering records to be released within seven days, but denying application for a preliminary injunction because of perceived delay by newspaper in bringing suit) (permanent injunction affirmed in Chambers v. Birmingham News Co., 552 So. 2d 854 (Ala. 1989)).

A requestor to an executive-branch agencies should wait two business days for an acknowledgement.  Executive Order 734 at (3)(a)(iii) & (3)(b)(iii).

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1. Statutory, regulatory or court-set time limits for agency response

Alabama's Public Records Law contains no prescribed time for an agency to respond to a records request. Some statutes require that particular records be available for inspection at all reasonable times, but even those statutes do not prescribe how quickly the records must be prepared for public availability. Depending upon the circumstances of the request, a continued or repeated delay in response that undercuts the intended "public benefit" of the Public Records Law could be deemed violative of the Law. See Chambers v. Birmingham News Co., 552 So. 2d 854, 856 (Ala. 1989) (explaining that the Public Records Law is intended for public benefit and is to be liberally construed with "a presumption in favor of public disclosure").

Executive-branch agencies are required to acknowledge requests within two business days.  Executive Order 734 at (3)(a)(iii) & (3)(b)(iii).  Standard requests require a response within 15 business days.  Id. at (3)(a)(iii).  Time intensive requests require a response within 45 business days.  Id. at 3(b)(iii).  These responses times can be extended in corresponding increments (presumably indefinitely) with written notice.

The Alabama attorney general has stated that a custodian of records may not cause any unreasonable delays in accommodating a request for public records.  Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2008-073, 2008 Ala. AG LEXIS 43 (Apr. 21, 2008).

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2. Informal telephone inquiry as to status

Not specified.

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3. Is delay recognized as a denial for appeal purposes?

The Muse II (1st appeal) decision does not mean that a delay-equals-denial argument is foreclosed. See 628 So. 2d 853 (Ala. 1994). If an agency delays in producing the requested records so that public benefit of the records is effectively undermined, a good argument can be made for delays being equivalent to denial of access. Furthermore, if the agency refuses to produce the requested records and also refuses to give an overt denial of access to the records, a good case can be made that after a reasonable period of time, under the circumstances, delay is equivalent to denial and the requester can proceed to court without waiting for an overt denial.

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4. Any other recourse to encourage a response

In Alabama, the following tactics have been useful in encouraging a response: (a) publicizing the records request and the delay or refusal as part of regular news coverage, editorials, or letters to the editor; (b) "lawyering" the request with a call by the requester's attorney to the agency's attorney; and (c) educating the agency, directly or through its attorney, by providing copies of governing statutes, Alabama attorney general opinions, and case law.

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C. Administrative appeal

Alabama has no provision for administratively appealing denials of access to public records. A public official who is reluctant to produce the requested records can sometimes be persuaded, however, to seek a ruling from the Alabama attorney general's office, pursuant to Ala. Code § 36-15-1(a), (b).

A written opinion from the Alabama attorney general is advisory, not binding, but it "shall protect such officer and the members of such board, local governing body or agency to whom it is directed or for whom the same is secured from liability to either the state, county or other municipal subdivisions of the state because of any official act or acts heretofore or hereafter performed as directed or advised in such opinion." Ala. Code § 36-15-19; Curry v. Woodstock Slag Corp., 242 Ala. 379, 6 So. 2d 479 (1942).

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1. Time limit to file an appeal

Alabama has no provision for administratively appealing denials of access to public records.

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2. To whom is an appeal directed?

Alabama has no provision for administratively appealing denials of access to public records.

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3. Fee issues

Alabama has no provision for administratively appealing denials of access to public records.

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4. Contents of appeal

Alabama has no provision for administratively appealing denials of access to public records.

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5. Waiting for a response

Alabama has no provision for administratively appealing denials of access to public records.

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6. Subsequent remedies

Alabama has no provision for administratively appealing denials of access to public records.

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D. Additional dispute resolution procedures

The Public Records Law itself does not include any dispute resolution procedures.

The Public Records Law is primarily enforced through the filing of civil actions by citizens, the media and other interested parties. Disputes over access over public records can be resolved through negotiations and mediation (mutually agreed-upon or court ordered).  There are no provisions for arbitrating public records disputes.

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1. Attorney General

The Public Records Law does not give the attorney general a specific role in the enforcement of the act; however, the attorney general could prosecute violators of the Public Records Law under the statute regarding tampering with governmental records discussed above.

As should be clear, the attorney general does have the power to issue advisory opinions when specific questions are raised regarding the proper interpretation of the Public Records Law.  See, e.g., Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. No. 2007-067, 2007 Ala. AG LEXIS 40 (Apr. 3, 2007; 212 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 26 (Aug. 1, 1988); 208 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 28 (Sept. 2, 1987).

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2. Ombudsperson

None.

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3. Other

None.

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E. Court action

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1. Who may sue?

Any citizen, including any member of the news media (whether a corporation or other business form) and any group with an interest or stake in the controversy, may sue for access to public records. See Ala. Code § 36-12-40; Scott v. Culpepper,220 Ala. 393, 393-94, 125 So. 643, 644 (1930) (county citizen); Chambers v. Birmingham News Co., 552 So. 2d 854 (Ala. 1989) (newspaper); Accident Info. Servs. of Ala. Inc., CV 92-9619 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Jan. 11, 1993) (corporation); Birmingham Educ. Ass'n v. Birmingham City Bd. of Educ., CV 94-2637 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Nov. 15, 1995) (professional organization); Walsh v. Barnes, 541 So. 2d 33 (Ala. Civ. App. 1989) (insurance agent).

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2. Priority

There is no specific provision for expedited consideration of public records cases in Alabama. The general provisions for temporary restraining orders (TROs) and preliminary injunctions, when immediate and irreparable injury can be averred, might be available in the appropriate case. Ala. R. Civ. P. 65(b). More likely, the trial court will grant a request for an early hearing (usually within a very few days) of a motion for preliminary injunction, with notice to the individuals and/or agency being sued. The parties often agree to bypass the preliminary injunction hearing and proceed directly to a hearing on the merits of the request for a permanent injunction.

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3. Pro se

An individual, but not a corporation, may bring suit in Alabama without an attorney in state court, Ala. Code § 34-3-19 (2002), or in federal court, 28 U.S.C. § 1654. There are no procedural provisions specific to pro se litigation.

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4. Issues the court will address

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a. Denial

The typical public records case addresses a denial of the request for access to the records. See, e.g., Birmingham News Co. v. Muse [Muse I], 21 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1094 (Cir. Ct. Lee Cnty., Ala., Dec. 7, 1992) (ordering release of NCAA letter of inquiry to public university, but delaying until date for university to file response).

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b. Fees for records

In appropriate cases, the court will address the question of fees for the requested records. See, e.g., Birmingham News Co. v. Peevy, 21 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2125 (Cir. Ct. Montgomery Cnty., Ala., July 22, 1993) (ordering plaintiff to pay actual, reasonable cost of creating a new computer program to retrieve the requested records and the statutorily mandated $5.75 for each driving record identified by named driver) (effective Sept. 13, 1997, access to MVRs is governed by 18 U.S.C. §  2721).

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c. Delays

The Alabama Supreme Court found in Birmingham News Co. v. Muse [Muse II, 1st appeal], 638 So. 2d 853 (Ala. 1994), that the question of delay in the release or ordered release of the requested records was moot and refused to address the issue. The court did not suggest, however, that delay was an inappropriate issue to address, in the proper case.

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d. Patterns for future access (declaratory judgment)

A judicial action for access to public records may include a demand for declaratory judgment, asking the trial court to declare that a particular category of requested records is public under the Public Records Law. Ala. Code § 6-6-220, et seq., and Rule 57 of the Alabama Rules for Civil Procedure provide for an action for declaratory judgment.

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5. Pleading format

There are no special pleading formats or rules for Public Records suits. Alabama follows notice pleading rules.  Ala. R. Civ. P. 8 requires only a short and plain statement of the claim entitling the plaintiff to relief and a demand for judgment. A complaint for declaratory relief and injunction is the typical pleading in most recent cases.  Requests for temporary restraining orders or injunctions should comply with Rule 65 of the Alabama Rules of Civil procedure.

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6. Time limit for filing suit

The governing statute of limitations for actions for access under the Public Records Law is Alabama Code § 6-2-38(l) (1993), which provides that "[a]ll actions for any injury to the person or rights of another not arising from contract and not specifically enumerated in this section must be brought within two years." Since an action for records access typically asks for equitable relief, not money damages, timeliness of the action may also be governed by laches, which bars an action that is not brought within a "reasonable time," even if the statutory two-year period has not run. A defendant who seeks to bar an action by laches, however, must show that the plaintiff's delay in bringing suit resulted in prejudice to the defendant. See, e.g., Hogan v. Carter, 431 So. 2d 1160, 1164 (Ala. 1983).

As a practical matter, timeliness is not usually a problem in records access cases. These actions are typically brought by members of the news media, who want and often need access to the requested records as quickly as possible. A petition for access is often filed within days or weeks of the denial of access, and sometimes within hours of such denial. Undue delay in filing suit may jeopardize the chances of convincing a court to enter a preliminary injunction, however. See Birmingham News Co. v. Chambers, CV 89-186 (Cir. Ct. Shelby Cnty. May 17, 1989) (granting request for permanent injunction and ordering records released within seven days, but application for preliminary injunction denied because of perceived delay by newspaper in bringing suit) (entry of permanent injunction affirmed in Chambers v. Birmingham News Co., 552 So. 2d 854 (Ala. 1989)).

Occasionally, the question of mootness will arise in a records access case. In State ex rel. Kernells v. Ezell, 291 Ala. 440, 282 So. 2d 266 (1973), for example, a citizen asked to inspect a petition for a county liquor referendum, the probate judge refused, and the citizen petitioned for a writ of mandamus, by which time the election on the matter was already completed. The Alabama Supreme Court found that because of the timing of such referendums, the issue was "capable of repetition yet evading review" and rejected the probate judge's mootness argument.

The mootness argument by a state university in Birmingham News Co. v. Muse [Muse II, 1st appeal], 638 So. 2d 853 (Ala. 1994), was more persuasive to the appellate court. The newspaper appealed the trial court's denial of a preliminary injunction, arguing that timeliness of the release of the university's response to the NCAA letter of inquiry was significant in order to give the public an opportunity to be informed about the process in time to participate in it. The Alabama Supreme Court disagreed, noting that the trial court had later entered a permanent injunction granting access to the requested documents: "The only judgment now capable of having any effect is the permanent injunction, and we decline to express an advisory opinion on the preliminary injunction under the circumstances of this case." 638 So. 2d at 854.

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7. What court?

Although we know of no authority that directly addresses this point, a complaint for access to public records in Alabama may be filed in the state circuit court in the county where the custodian of the records resides. See Ala. Code § 6-3-2(b)(3) (1993).

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8. Burden of proof

Government records are presumptively open, so the burden is on the government to show that an exception or exclusion to access applies. Chambers v. Birmingham News Co., 552 So. 2d 854, 856-57 (Ala. 1989).

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9. Judicial remedies available

Injunctive relief is the modern remedy, sometimes coupled with a declaratory judgment.

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10. Litigation expenses

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a. Attorney fees

There is no statutory provision for the award of attorneys' fees in public records cases in Alabama.  There is older case law authority for the award of fees in open-government cases based upon a common-benefit theory. See Bell v. Birmingham News Co., 576 So. 2d 669 (Ala. Civ. App. 1991) (open meetings case; award of attorneys' fees upheld; citizens of Birmingham were benefited generally "by an action which enforces the requirements of the statute that the business of the City Council be conducted in open and public meetings"); Slawson v. Ala. Forestry Comm’n, 631 So. 2d 953, 959 (Ala. 1994) (open meetings case; award of reasonable costs and attorneys' fees "is appropriate when the trial court determines that a case will result in benefit to the general public") (remanded for determination of propriety of awarding fees); Advertiser Co. v. Auburn Univ., 579 So. 2d 645 (Ala. Civ. App. 1991) (recognizing discretionary right of trial court to award fees in public records case in which "a litigant rendered a public service by bringing an improper governmental practice to an end") (denial of fees upheld); Blankenship v. City of Hoover, 590 So. 2d 245, 250 (Ala. 1991) ("In this case, there is no statute or contract providing for the award of attorney fees; and, based on the facts before us, we find no exceptions founded on equitable principles within which to fit this case. Therefore, we hold that the trial court did not err in refusing to award attorney fees.").

A large hurdle in obtaining attorneys' fees in public records cases, however, is section 14 of the Alabama Constitution of 1901. Section 14 provides for state immunity from civil suit and has been interpreted to extend to state agencies. The Alabama Supreme Court has reversed an award of attorneys' fees in a declaratory judgment action (not an open-government case) based on section 14 state immunity. Ex parte Town of Lowndesboro, 950 So. 2d 1203 (Ala. 2006).

When an award of attorneys' fees is granted, it is not an "all-or-nothing" proposition. It is in the trial court's discretion to award a portion of the attorneys' fees. See Tuscaloosa News v. Garrison, CV-99-408, Order (Cir. Ct. Tuscaloosa Cnty., Jan. 15, 2001) (portion of fees granted; case involved both public records and open meetings issues).

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b. Court and litigation costs

The Public Records Law contains no reference to award of costs; therefore, Public Records Law cases are governed by Rule 54(d) of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure, which reads as follows: "Except when express provision therefor is made in a statute, costs shall be allowed as of course to the prevailing party unless the court otherwise directs."

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11. Fines

There are no fines or penalties for violations of the Public Records Law. A number of Alabama statutes provide for fines for the unauthorized or prohibited disclosure of records that are made confidential by law. Some of these statutes purport to extract a fine from any person, arguably including reporters, who discloses the confidential record in question. See, e.g., Ala. Code § 12-15-100 ("Whoever, except for the purposes permitted and in the manner provided by this section, discloses or makes use of or knowingly permits the use of information concerning a child before the [juvenile] court directly or indirectly derived from the records of the court or acquired in the course of official duties, upon conviction thereof, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor."). If the reporter has not obtained the records "wrongfully," the reporter's disclosure of the records should be protected from penalty by federal constitutional law. See Fla. Star v. B.J.F., 491 U.S. 524 (1989) (ruling that the media was not liable for disclosure of rape victim's name in violation of state law). To obtain the protection of Florida Star, the reporter must not knowingly solicit confidential records.

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12. Other penalties

None.

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13. Settlement, pros and cons

Settlement of records access cases in Alabama is often possible and desirable. Denial of access to public records is usually not a popular position for a public official to take in this traditionally populist state; therefore, public officials are sometimes willing to settle in order to avoid the publicity of further litigated controversy. The requester often benefits by a consensual resolution of the controversy because it is less expensive, and more certain, than trial. See, e.g., Moore v. Westover Water Auth., No. CV-96-000810 (Cir. Ct. Shelby Cnty.) (by agreement of the parties, the Water Authority's employment agreements were produced at the request of The Birmingham News, and a portion of the newspaper's attorneys' fees were paid); Birmingham News Co. v. Swift, CV 88-1390 G (Cir. Ct. Montgomery Cnty. Sept. 7, 1988) (by stipulation of parties, State Director of Finance enjoined to preserve certain telephone records of State Legislature and to permit inspecting and copying of said records); Birmingham News Co. v. Birmingham Racing Comm’n, CV 87-501-622 MC (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Equity Div., Aug. 28, 1987) (by stipulation of parties, resolution adopted giving access to certain financial records of Birmingham Racing Commission); Birmingham News Co. v. Deutcsh, CV 85-504-132 JDC (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Equity Div., Aug. 19, 1986 (by consent of parties, access to arrest reports, with agreed-to deletions, ordered). If possible, settlement of a public records case should include agreement to a consent order by the court, as in the above-cited cases.

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F. Appealing initial court decisions

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1. Appeal routes

Generally, appeal in Public Records cases should be made to the Supreme Court of Alabama.  Ala. R. Civ. P. 4(a)(1)(A).  See also Ala. Code § 12-2-7(6)(b) (preserving Supreme Court jurisdiction over questions having statewide impact)  & Ala. Code § 12-2-7(2) (regarding mandamus).  The Alabama Supreme Court may deflect the appeal to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals in some circumstances.  Ala. Code § 12-2-7(6).

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2. Time limits for filing appeals

An appeal from a decision granting or denying preliminary injunctive relief should be made within 14 days to the Supreme Court of Alabama.  Ala. R. Civ. P. 4(a)(1)(A).  Otherwise, a notice of appeal must be filed with the clerk of the trial court within forty-two days (six weeks) of the date of entry of a final  order. The Alabama Supreme Court may expedite an appeal for good cause but may not extend the time for taking an appeal.

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3. Contact of interested amici

Because court decisions on public records issues may have far-reaching consequences, press groups and others may have an interest in filing a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of the requester of records. The filing of amicus curiae briefs is permitted by Rule 29 of the Alabama Rules of Appellate Procedure only with leave of the appellate court. Typically, the amicus brief is filed conditionally with the motion for leave. Amicus briefs must follow the form prescribed for the brief of an appellee in Rule 28(b) of the Alabama Rules of Appellate Procedure, and the brief must be filed within the time allowed to the party whose position on the appeal the amicus curiae brief will support. The motion for leave must identify the interest of the applicant and must state the reasons why the brief of an amicus curiae is desirable. Under Rule 29, an amicus curiae may participate in oral argument only upon motion and leave of the court and, unless additional time is granted, must share the time of the party whose position the amicus curiae supports.

Amicus curiae participation has been permitted, to substantial benefit, in the following recent records access cases under federal constitutional law in Alabama: Ex parte Consol. Publ’g Co., 601 So. 2d 423 (Ala.), cert. denied, 113 S. Ct. 665 (1992) (amicus brief and oral argument by Alabama Press Association for access to pretrial records in retrial of capital murder case); Ex parte Birmingham News Co., 624 So. 2d 1117 (Ala. 1993) (amicus brief and oral argument by Alabama Press Association for access to pretrial records in criminal trial of Gov. Hunt); and in the following cases under the Public Records Law: Stone v. Consol. Publ’g Co., 404 So. 2d 678 (Ala. 1981) (brief by Alabama Press Association); Chambers v. Birmingham News Co., 552 So. 2d 854 (Ala. 1989) (brief by Alabama Press Association).

Press groups, members of the media and others interested in access to public records may also participate at the trial court level — either by moving to participate as an amicus curiae or by moving to intervene. Unlike a party who intervenes, a party who participates as amicus curiae may not add parties, raise new issues, or otherwise control the litigation. State ex rel. Baxley v. Johnson, 293 Ala. 69, 74, 300 So. 2d 106, 111 (1974). "The amicus curiae may, with permission of the court[,] file briefs, argue the case and introduce evidence." Id.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press often files amicus briefs in cases involving significant media law issues.

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G. Addressing government suits against disclosure

Although we know of no published cases involving a government suit against disclosure of public records, a declaratory judgment action filed by a governmental body under the former open meetings law in Alabama provides guidance if such an action should arise. In Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority v. Huntsville Times, 564 So. 2d 904 (Ala. 1990), the Huntsville-Madison County Airport Authority claimed that the Huntsville Times newspaper "had accused it of conduct in violation of the [former] 'Sunshine Law.'" Id. at 904. The Authority brought a declaratory judgment action against the newspaper seeking answers to questions regarding whether the Authority was governed by the former Sunshine Law and, if so, to what extent. Id. at 905. The newspaper filed a motion to dismiss the action, asserting multiple grounds for dismissal, "including the lack of a justiciable controversy, prohibition against advisory opinions, failure to join indispensable parties, and failure to state a claim upon which relief could be granted." Id. The court granted the newspaper's motion and dismissed the Authority's action, holding that the Authority's complaint did not present a justiciable controversy, but rather sought an advisory opinion. Id.

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Open Meetings

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I. Statute - basic application

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A. Who may attend?

The Alabama Open Meetings Act grants the right to attend meetings covered by the Act to the public generally. Ala. Code § 36-25A-1(a) ("It is the policy of this state that the deliberative process of governmental bodies shall be open to the public during meetings[.]"). The Alabama Open Meetings Act defines the "public" portion of a meeting as that “which has not been closed for executive session,” “for which prior notice was given,” and “which is conducted so that constituents of the governmental body, members of the media, persons interested in the activities of the governmental body, and citizens of this state could, if they desired, attend and observe.” Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(7).

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B. What governments are subject to the law?

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1. State

The Alabama Open Meetings Act applies to boards, bodies, and commissions of the executive and legislative departments of the state or its political subdivisions or municipalities which expend or appropriate public funds; all multimember governing bodies of departments, agencies, institutions, and instrumentalities of the executive and legislative departments of the state or its political subdivisions or municipalities, including, without limitation, all corporations and other instrumentalities whose governing boards are comprised of a majority of members who are appointed or elected by the state or its political subdivisions, counties, or municipalities; all quasi-judicial bodies of the executive and legislative departments of the state; and all standing, special, or advisory committees or subcommittees of, or appointed by, the body.  Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(4). It does not apply to legislative caucuses or coalitions, state appellate or trial courts, or voluntary membership associations comprised of public employees, retirees, counties, municipalities, or their instrumentalities which have not been delegated any legislative or executive functions.

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2. County

The Alabama Open Meetings Act applies to boards, bodies, and commissions of the executive and legislative departments of counties, and to multimember governing bodies of departments, agencies, institutions, and instrumentalities of the executive and legislative departments of counties. Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(4); see, e.g., Op. Att’y Gen. Ala., No. 2006-122 (county hospital board subject to the Alabama Open Meetings Act).

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3. Local or municipal

The Alabama Open Meetings Act applies to boards, bodies, and commissions of the executive and legislative departments of municipalities, and to multimember governing bodies of departments, agencies, institutions, and instrumentalities of the executive and legislative departments of municipalities. Ala. Code §  36-25A-2(4); Op. Att’y Gen. Ala., No. 2006-108 (volunteer fire department subject to the Alabama Open Meetings Act); Op. Att’y Gen. Ala., No.2007-039 (community action agencies subject to the Alabama Open Meetings Act).

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C. What bodies are covered by the law?

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1. Executive branch agencies

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a. What officials are covered?

Individual executive officials are not subject to the Alabama Open Meetings Act except when they meet as members of governmental bodies.

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b. Are certain executive functions covered?

All executive functions are presumptively subject to the Alabama Open Meetings Act when those functions are performed in meetings of governmental bodies.

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c. Are only certain agencies subject to the act?

All multimember agencies of the executive department of the state or its political subdivisions or municipalities are subject the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(4).

The former open meetings law was specifically applied to the following executive agencies:

(1) County personnel board. 205 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 16 (Oct. 29, 1986).

(2) Municipal housing authority. Birmingham News Co. v. Ward, CV 90-9338 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Feb. 20, 1991) (by stipulation).

(3) Municipal solid waste authority. 212 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 50 (Sept. 22, 1988).

(4) State Ethics Commission. Birmingham News Co. v. Cooper, 13 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1655 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Equity Div., Oct. 29, 1986).

(5) Alabama Public Employees Health Insurance Program Board: Swindle v. Remington, No. 1161044, 2019 WL 1090393 (Ala. 2019), reh'g denied, No. 1161044, 2019 WL 2240140 (Ala. 2019).

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2. Legislative bodies

The Alabama Legislature is solely governed by the Alabama Constitution which establishes that the doors of the Legislature shall be open to the public unless a vote is taken that secrecy is required under the circumstances.  Ala. Code § 36-25A-3.  The Legislature is empowered to develop its own rules for access and notice of sessions as long as they are consistent with the state Constitution.  Id.

All boards, bodies, and commissions, and all multimember governing bodies of departments, agencies, institutions, and instrumentalities of the legislative department of the state or its political subdivisions or municipalities are covered by the Alabama Open Meetings Act. It does not apply to legislative caucuses or coalitions.  Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(4).

The former open meetings law was specifically applied to the following legislative bodies:

a. Alabama House and Senate.Ala. Constitution of 1901, art. IV, § 57.

b. Alabama House Committee.165 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 23 (Nov. 17, 1976) ("[L]egislative committee meetings . . . must be open . . . to the public."); 224 Op. Att'y Gen. Ala. 38 (Aug. 22, 1991).

c. Alabama Lieutenant Governor and Ex Officio President of the Alabama Senate. Birmingham News Co. v. Folsom, CV 88-1591 G (Cir. Ct. Montgomery Cnty., Ala., Nov. 30, 1989) (meetings with members of Alabama Senate).

d. Public corporation to which legislative functions are delegated. Birmingham News Co. v. Birmingham Racing Comm'n, CV 87-501-622 MC at 4 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Equity Div., Aug. 28, 1987) ("The Commission, having both legislative and judicial functions, falls within the scope of § 13A-14-2.").

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3. Courts

Article I, Section 13 of the Alabama Constitution provides that “all courts shall be open.”

The Alabama Open Meetings Act specifically excludes from its coverage Alabama appellate and trial courts, except as required by the Constitution of Alabama or any body governed by the rules of the Alabama Supreme Court. Ala. Code § 36-25A-2.

Alabama has a fully developed body of case law that recognizes and adopts procedures to enforce the federal constitutional right to attend criminal court proceedings, including pretrial proceedings. Ex parte Consol. Publ'g Co., 601 So. 2d 423 (Ala.) (qualified First Amendment right of access to pretrial proceedings and court file in criminal cases; requirements for closure), cert. denied, 113 S. Ct. 665 (1992); Ex parte Birmingham News Co., 624 So. 2d 1117 (Ala. Crim. App. 1993) (required procedure for closure of criminal proceedings). However, the court does have some discretion in deciding whether to clear the courtroom under certain circumstances. See P.M.M. v. State, 762 So. 2d 384 (Ala. Crim. App. 1999) (closure of courtroom for the entire trial of a rape, sex abuse, and sodomy case was too broad; the trial court failed to make specific findings to justify total closure); Ex parte Judd, 694 So. 2d 1294 (Ala. 1997) (total closure is justified only in the narrowest of circumstances).

Alabama also adopted one of the earliest provisions for the televising of court proceedings. Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics 3(A)(7A) and (7B) (requirements for televised coverage of trial court and appellate court proceedings in Alabama state courts). Under the governing regulations, however, televised coverage can be effectively vetoed by any party, witness, or juror, as was done (by jurors, at the invitation of the trial judge) in the criminal trial of Gov. Harold Guy Hunt. Ex parte Courtroom Television Network, No. 1920991 (Ala., Apr. 12, 1993, & Apr. 13, 1993).

Juvenile proceedings are closed by separate statute, however. Ala. Code § 12-15-65(a). In addition, Alabama Code § 12-21-9 provides for closure of certain civil cases, as follows:

In all civil cases sounding in damages involving the question of rape, assault with intent to ravish, seduction, divorce or any other case where the evidence is vulgar, obscene or related to the improper acts of the sexes and tends to debauch the morals of the young, the presiding judge shall have the right, in his discretion and on his own motion, or on motion of plaintiffs or defendants or their attorneys, to hear and try the case after clearing the courtroom of all or any portion of the audience whose presence is not necessary.

See also Ala. Code § 12-21-202 (similar); Ala. Code § 12-21-203(d)(1) (in prosecution for criminal sexual conduct, evidence regarding past sexual behavior of complaining witness is first presented in camera, for court's determination as to admissibility).

Closure of divorce proceedings under Alabama Code § 12-21-9 was unsuccessfully challenged in a federal court case, but the opponents of closure in that case did not challenge the constitutionality of the statute itself. Simmons v. Conger, 86 F.3d 1080 (11th Cir. 1996). In the proper case, such a challenge might be successful.

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4. Nongovernmental bodies receiving public funds or benefits

The Alabama Open Meetings Act specifically excludes from coverage "[v]oluntary membership associations comprised of public employees, counties, municipalities, or their instrumentalities which have not been delegated any legislative or executive functions by the Legislature or Governor." Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(4).

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5. Nongovernmental groups whose members include governmental officials

The Alabama Open Meetings Act does apply to all corporations and other instrumentalities whose governing boards are comprised of a majority of members who are appointed or elected by the state or its political subdivisions. See, e.g., Stone v. Consol. Publ’g Co., 404 So. 2d 678 (Ala. 1981) (public records case; personal relations corporation that included officers of state university deemed alter ego of state university).

The Alabama Open Meetings Act specifically excludes from coverage "[v]oluntary membership associations comprised of public employees, counties, municipalities, or their instrumentalities which have not been delegated any legislative or executive functions by the Legislature or Governor." Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(4).

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6. Multi-state or regional bodies

The Alabama Open Meetings Act does not, on its face, apply to multistate or regional bodies, and we know of no reported authority to apply the Act to such bodies.

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7. Advisory boards and commissions, quasi-governmental entities

The Alabama Open Meetings Act applies to advisory boards and commissions of the executive and legislative departments of the state or its political subdivisions or municipalities which expend or appropriate public funds; and to quasi-governmental entities of the state or its political subdivisions or municipalities, including all corporations and other instrumentalities whose governing boards are comprised of a majority of members who are appointed or elected by the state or its political subdivisions or municipalities. Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(4).

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8. Other bodies to which governmental or public functions are delegated

By its terms, the Alabama Open Meetings Act applies to all boards, bodies, and commissions of the executive and legislative departments of the state or its political subdivisions or municipalities which expend or appropriate public funds; all multimember governing boards of departments, agencies, institutions, and instrumentalities of the executive and legislative departments of the state or its political subdivisions or municipalities, including, without limitation, all corporations and other instrumentalities whose governing boards are comprised of a majority of members who are appointed or elected by the state or its political subdivisions or municipalities; and all quasi-judicial bodies of the executive and legislative departments of the state and all standing, special, or advisory committee or subcommittees of, or appointed by, the body. Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(4); Op. Att’y Gen. Ala., No.2006-108 (volunteer fire department subject to the Alabama Open Meetings Act); Op. Att’y Gen. Ala., No. 2006-122 (county hospital board subject to the Alabama Open Meetings Act); Op. Att’y Gen. Ala., No.2007-039 (community action agencies subject to the Alabama Open Meetings Act). But see Op. Att’y Gen. Ala. 2009-006 (Health Care Authority of City of Huntsville specifically exempted from the Alabama Open Meetings Act under Ala. Code § 22-21-316).

The Alabama Open Meetings Act specifically excludes from coverage (1) legislative party caucuses or coalitions; (2) Alabama appellate or trial courts, except as required by the constitution of Alabama or anybody governed by rules of the Alabama Supreme Court; and (3) voluntary membership associations comprised of public employees, counties, municipalities, or their instrumentalities which have not been delegated any legislative or executive functions by the Legislature or Governor. Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(4).

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9. Appointed as well as elected bodies

The Alabama Open Meetings Act makes no distinction been elected and appointed bodies.

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D. What constitutes a meeting subject to the law

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1. Number that must be present

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a. Must a minimum number be present to constitute a "meeting"?

The Alabama Open Meetings Act requires that a "quorum" must be present to constitute a "meeting." Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(6).

"Unless otherwise provided by law, a 'quorum' is a majority of the voting members of a governmental body." Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(12). However, a public body cannot avoid meeting quorum by conducting serial meetings in private between two or more members of the body under certain circumstances.  Ala. Code § 36-25A-13.

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b. What effect does absence of a quorum have?

Without a quorum, there is no "meeting" for purposes of the Alabama Open Meetings Act unless the meeting of less than a quorum constitutes a serial meeting. Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(6); § 36-25A-2(13).

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2. Nature of business subject to the law

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a. "Information gathering" and "fact-finding" sessions

“Training sessions” and sessions where a body does not “deliberate” are not “meetings” subject to the Act.  Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(6)(b). A “training session” which is prearranged, attended by quorum, and included questions and recommendations to/from the board regarding official was found to be subject to the Open Meetings Act in Swindle v. Remington, 291 So.3d 439 (Ala. 2019), reh'g denied (Ala. 2019).  A gathering of a two members of a government body with state or federal officials for reporting or obtaining information or for the sole purpose of discussing an economic, industrial, or commercial prospects or incentives that does not include a conclusion as to recommendations is not a “meeting” subject to the Act.  Ala. Code § 26-25A-2(b)(3).

The Alabama Open Meetings Act also specifically excludes from coverage meetings of a governmental body with state or federal officials for the purpose of reporting or obtaining information or seeking support for issues of importance to the governmental body. Ala. Code § 36-25A-6(b)(2).

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b. Deliberation toward decisions

The Act defines deliberation as:

An exchange of information or ideas among a quorum of members of a subcommittee, committee, or full governmental body intended to arrive at or influence a decision as to how any members of the subcommittee, committee, or full governmental body should vote on a specific matter that, at the time of the exchange, the participating members expect to come before the subcommittee, committee, or full body immediately following the discussion or at a later time.

Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(1). Compare Swindle v. Remington, 291 So. 3d 439 (Ala. 2019) (finding public body deliberated, and held impermissible closed meeting, when members asked questions, shared thoughts and opinions, and heard recommendations), with Casey v. Beeker, 2020 Ala. LEXIS 116, at *14 (Sep. 4, 2020) (finding members did not deliberate during an administrative hearing where they simply heard testimony and “listen[ed] passively”). All deliberations toward decisions must be in open meeting, except that a governmental body may hold an executive (closed) meeting to deliberate upon and discuss evidence or testimony presented during a public or contested case hearing and vote upon the outcome of the proceeding or hearing if the governmental body is acting in the capacity of a quasi-judicial body, and either votes upon its decision in an open meeting or issues a written decision which may be appealed to a hearing officer, an administrative board, court or other body which has the authority to conduct a hearing or appeal of the matter which is open to the public. Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(a)(9);  Op. Att’y Gen. Ala., 2011-014 (stating that board members can meet and deliberate during an open meeting of a committee of the board when quorum of the full board is present).

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3. Electronic meetings

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a. Conference calls and video/Internet conferencing

Utilization of electronic communication is allowed for bodies made up of members from two or more counties as long as the communication is done in a manner that complies with the Act, the public is allowed to be present at a physical location and hear all persons participating remotely unless authorized elsewhere, and three members (or a majority of quorum) are physically present. Ala. Code § 26-25A-5.1. Bodies in counties or municipalities may meet electronically as long as a quorum is physically present, those participating electronically are unable to be physically present due to illness, and the body has adopted a electronic meeting policy detailing procedures.  Ala. Code § 26-25A-5.2. In addition, specific bodies may conduct open meetings electronically if expressly permitted by statute.  See, e.g., Ala. Code § 34-19-12(e) (permitting the State Board of Midwifery to conduct business electronically); Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 2018-049.  Electronic meetings permitted by specific statute must still meet the requirements of public access and notice under Ala. Code § 36-25A-1(a). Id.; Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 2023-020.Otherwise the use of electronic communications to circumvent the Act are prohibited.  Boards are not allowed to meet electronically when conducting a hearing in a quasi-judicial capacity. Ala. Att’y Gen. Opp. 2022-035.

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b. E-mail

Use of electronic communication to circumvent the requirement of open government is a violation of the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Ala. Code § 36-25A-1 ("[E]lectronic communications shall not be utilized to circumvent any of the provisions of this chapter.").

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c. Text messages

Use of electronic communication or e-mail to circumvent the requirement of open government is a violation of the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Ala. Code § 36-25A-1 ("[E]lectronic communications shall not be utilized to circumvent any of the provisions of this chapter.").

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d. Instant messaging

Use of electronic communication e-mail to circumvent the requirement of open government is a violation of the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Ala. Code § 36-25A-1 ("[E]lectronic communications shall not be utilized to circumvent any of the provisions of this chapter.").

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e. Social media and online discussion boards

Use of electronic communication e-mail to circumvent the requirement of open government is a violation of the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Ala. Code § 36-25A-1 ("[E]lectronic communications shall not be utilized to circumvent any of the provisions of this chapter.").

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E. Categories of meetings subject to the law

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1. Regular meetings

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a. Definition

The Alabama Open Meetings Act defines the term "meeting" to include:

(1) The prearranged gathering of a quorum of a governmental body or a quorum of a committee or subcommittee of a governmental body at a time and place which is set by law or operation of law.

(2) The prearranged gathering of a quorum of a governmental body or a quorum of a committee or subcommittee of a governmental body during which the full governmental body, committee, or subcommittee . . . is authorized, either by law or otherwise, to exercise the powers which it possesses or approve the expenditure of public funds.

(3) The gathering, whether or not it was prearranged, of a quorum of a governmental body during which the members of the governmental body deliberate specific matters that, at the time of the exchange, the participating members expect to come before the full governmental body at a later date.

(4) The gathering, whether or not it was prearranged, of a quorum of a committee or subcommittee of a governmental body during which the members of the committee or subcommittee deliberate specific matters relating to the purpose of the committee or subcommittee that, at the time of the exchange, the participating members expect to come before the full governmental body, committee, or subcommittee at a later date.

Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(6); see also id. § 36-25A-2(13) (defining serial meetings).

Several statutes require an entity to hold "regular" meetings at specified intervals. See, e.g., Ala. Code § 11-43C-28 (1994) ("[C]ouncil shall hold regular public meetings weekly[.]").

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b. Notice

The Alabama Open Meetings Act requires that, unless otherwise specified by law, a governmental body subject to the Act must provide seven days’ notice prior to a regular meeting, 24 hours for a “special meeting,” and no less than one hour for an “emergency meeting. .  Ala. Code § 26-25A-3(a) & (b).

Some statutes require specific time and manner of notice for particular meetings. See, e.g., Ala. Code § 11-44-136 (1994) (requiring seven days' notice by publication in a newspaper before a commission may enact a resolution or ordinance granting a franchise, appropriating money, providing for public improvements, or enacting any regulation regarding public comfort, safety or health or of any other general and permanent nature, except in case of an emergency regarding public safety or health).

The Alabama Open Meetings Act does not specify where notice is to be posted by the respective houses of the Alabama Legislature but requires the houses to "develop rules consistent with the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, providing for . . . prior notice" of meetings. Ala. Code § 36-25A-3(a)(1).

Any governmental body with statewide jurisdiction is required to submit notice of its meeting to the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State is then required to post the notice on the Internet and send e-mail notifications to those who have registered with the Secretary of State to receive notification of meetings. Ala. Code § 36-25A-3(a)(2); Op. Att’y Gen. Ala., 2007-086 (explaining that the University of North Alabama does not exercise statewide jurisdiction and thus is not required to provide notice of meetings via Secretary of State).

A municipal governmental body is required to post notice of each meeting on a bulletin board at a place convenient to the public in city hall. A corporation a majority of whose governing board is appointed or elected by a municipality may, in lieu of posting notice in city hall, post notice on a bulletin board at a place convenient to the public in the principal office of the corporation or other instrumentality. Ala. Code § 36-25A-3(a)(3).

Local school boards are required to post notice of each meeting on a bulletin board at a place convenient to the public in the central administrative office of the board. Ala. Code § 36-25A-3(a)(4).

Any other governmental body is required to post notice of each meeting in a "reasonable location" or use a "reasonable method of notice that is convenient to the public." Any change of the location or method for posting notices of meetings shall not take effect until the change has been approved at an open meeting by the members of the governmental body and announced to the public at an open meeting. Ala. Code § 36-25A-3(a)(5).

If practicable, governmental bodies must provide direct notification to any member of the public who has registered with the governmental body to receive notification of meetings. Notice may be transmitted by e-mail, telephone, facsimile, U.S. Mail, or any other method reasonably likely to provide the requested notice. Ala. Code § 36-25A-3(a)(6).

If the government body has created a preliminary agenda, the Alabama Open Meetings Act requires that it be posted as soon as practicable in the same location or manner as the notice of the meeting. Citizens For Better Schs. v. Greene, CV 2007-932 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala. Mar. 19, 2008) (declaring vote null and void and imposing fines and awarding attorneys’ fees based on failure to post preliminary agenda in proper location).  A governmental body may discuss matters not included in the preliminary agenda Ala. Code § 36-25A-3(c); Underwood v. Ala. State Univ., 51 So. 3d 1010 (Ala. 2010). If a preliminary agenda has not been created, the notice must include a general description of the nature and purpose of the meeting.

Notices posted pursuant to the Alabama Open Meetings Act must include the time, date and place of the meeting. Ala. Code § 36-25A-3(c); see also Op. Att'y Gen. Ala., No. 2006-027, 2005 Ala. AG LEXIS 196 (Nov. 15, 2005).

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c. Minutes

The Alabama Open Meetings Act requires governmental bodies to maintain accurate records of their meetings (excluding executive sessions) setting forth the date, time, place, members present or absent, and actions taken at each meeting. Ala. Code § 36-25A-4.

Under the Alabama Open Meetings Act, the minutes are public records, except as otherwise provided by law and must be made available to the public as soon as practicable after approval. Id.

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2. Special or emergency meetings

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a. Definition

The Alabama Open Meetings Act’s “special meetings” include (1) the prearranged gathering of a quorum of a governmental body, a quorum of a committee or a quorum of a subcommittee during which the body, committee or subcommittee is authorized to exercise the powers which it possesses or approve the expenditure of public funds, and (2) the gathering, whether or not it was prearranged, of a quorum of a governmental body, a quorum of a committee or a quorum of a subcommittee during which the members deliberate specific matters that, at the time of the exchange, the participating members expect to come before the body, committee or subcommittee at a later date. See Ala. Code §§ 36-25A-2(6)(a)(2)–(3) & 36-25A-3(b).

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b. Notice requirements

The time limit for giving notice for a “special” meeting is as soon as practicable and at least 24 hours before the meeting is scheduled to begin. The Alabama Open Meetings Act provides exceptions to this rule where notice is prevented by emergency circumstances requiring immediate action to avoid physical injury to persons or damage to property or relates to a meeting to be held solely to accept the resignation of a public official or employee. In those situations, “emergency” notice is to be given as soon as practicable and at least one hour before the meeting is scheduled to begin. Ala. Code § 36-25A-3(b); see also Op. Att'y Gen. Ala., No. 2006-027, 2005 Ala. AG LEXIS 196 (Nov. 15, 2005).

Notice must be given to the public and special notice is to be directed to any person who has registered to receive direct notices from the governmental body. Ala. Code § 36-25A-3(b).

The Alabama Open Meetings Act does not specify where notice should be posted for a "meeting" as defined in Alabama Code § 36-25A-2(6)(a)(2) or (3). Under the former open meetings law the notice of special or emergency meetings was required to be posted where reasonable under the circumstances. Slawson v. Ala. Forestry Comm’n, 631 So. 2d 953, 959 (Ala. 1994).

As with regular meetings, if the governmental body has created a preliminary agenda, the Alabama Open Meetings Act requires that it be posted as soon as practicable in the same location or manner as the notice of the meeting. A governmental body may discuss matters not included in the preliminary agenda. If a preliminary agenda has not been created, the notice must include a general description of the nature and purpose of the meeting. Ala. Code § 36-25A-3(c).

As with regular meetings, notices posted for special or emergency meetings must include the time, date and place of the meeting. Ala. Code § 36-25A-3(c); see also Op. Att'y Gen. Ala., No. 2006-027, 2005 Ala. AG LEXIS 196 (Nov. 15, 2005).

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c. Minutes

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3. Closed meetings or executive sessions

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a. Definition

The Alabama Open Meetings Act defines "executive session" as "[t]hat portion of a meeting of a governmental body from which the public is excluded for one or more of the reasons prescribed in Section 36-25A-7(a)." Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(2).

Per Alabama Code § 36-25A-7, a governmental body may hold an executive session:

(1) to discuss the general reputation and character, physical condition, professional competence or mental health of individuals, or, subject to certain limitations;

(2) when expressly allowed by federal law or state law, to consider the discipline or dismissal of, or to hear formal written complaints or charges brought against a public employee, a student at a public school or college, or an individual, corporation, partnership, or other legal entity subject to the regulation of the governmental body;

(3) to discuss with its attorney the legal ramifications of and legal options for pending litigation, controversies not yet being litigated but imminently likely to be litigated if the governmental body pursues a proposed course of action or to meet or confer with a mediator or arbitrator with respect to any litigation or decision concerning matters within the jurisdiction of the governmental body involving another party, group, or body;

(4) to discuss security plans, procedures, assessments, measures, or systems, or the security or safety of persons, structures, facilities, or other infrastructures, including without limitation, information concerning critical infrastructure and critical energy infrastructure information the public disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to be detrimental to public safety or welfare (this includes data privacy security, Ala. Code § 8-38-3);

(5) to discuss information that would disclose the identity of an undercover law enforcement agent or informer or to discuss the criminal investigation of a person who is not a public official in which allegations or charges of specific criminal misconduct have been made or to discuss whether or not to file a criminal complaint;

(6) to discuss the consideration the governmental body is willing to offer or accept when considering the purchase, sale, exchange, lease, or market value of real property unless the transaction involves a personal interest of a member of the government body and the member participates or a condemnation action involving the real property is pending;

(7) to discuss preliminary negotiations involving matters of trade or commerce in which the governmental body is in competition with private individuals or entities or other governmental bodies in Alabama or in other states or foreign nations or to discuss matters or information of the character defined or described in the Alabama Trade Secrets Act;

(8) to discuss strategy in preparation for negotiations between the governmental body and a group of public employees; and

(9) to deliberate and discuss evidence or testimony presented during a public or contested case hearing and vote upon the outcome of the proceeding or hearing if the governmental body is acting in the capacity of a quasi-judicial body, and either votes upon its decision in an open meeting or issues a written decision which may be appealed to a hearing officer, an administrative board, court or other body which has the authority to conduct a hearing or appeal of the matter which is open to the public.

To convene an executive session, a governmental body must first convene a prearranged "meeting" as defined in Sections 36-25A-2(6)(a)(1) or (2). A majority of the members of the body present must adopt, by recorded vote, a motion calling for the executive session and setting out the purpose for convening the executive session. The vote of each member must be recorded in the minutes. The minutes do not need to reflect, line-by-line, the vote of each member to enter executive session if a roll call vote is taken and all members consent.  Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 2018-014. Prior to calling the executive session to order, the presiding officer must state whether the governmental body will reconvene after the executive session and, if so, the approximate time the body expects to reconvene. Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(b).

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b. Notice requirements

The Alabama Open Meetings Act does not provide a time limit for giving notice of executive sessions beyond the procedural requirements discussed above.

When the subject of the executive session involves critical infrastructure or critical energy infrastructure information, the owners and operators of the infrastructure are to be given notice and an opportunity to attend the executive session. Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(a)(4).

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c. Minutes

Governmental bodies are not required to keep minutes of executive sessions. Ala. Code § 36-25A-4.

If a meeting or portion of a meeting is properly closed under the Alabama Open Meetings Act, any minutes of such meeting would likely be deemed properly closed as well, unless an argument can be made that the passage of time and/or events nullifies the continued validity of the reasons for closure of the meeting.

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d. Requirement to meet in public before closing meeting

Before convening an executive session, a governmental body must convene a prearranged "meeting" as defined in Sections 36-25A-2(6)(a)(1) or (2).

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e. Requirement to state statutory authority for closing meetings before closure

Before convening an executive session, a governmental body must adopt, by recorded vote, a motion calling for the executive session and setting out the statutory authority for convening the executive session, as provided in Section 36-25A-7(a). Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(b).

Prior to voting to convene an executive session to discuss with an attorney litigation matters, or to meet with a mediator or arbitrator, the governmental body is required to receive a written opinion or oral declaration reflected in the minutes from an attorney licensed to practice law in Alabama that an executive session is proper under the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(a)(3).

Prior to convening an executive session to discuss information that would disclose the identity of an undercover law enforcement agent or informer, or to discuss certain criminal investigations, a law enforcement officer with authority to make an arrest, a district or assistant district attorney, the attorney general, or the assistant attorney general must advise the governmental body in writing or by oral declaration entered into the minutes that the discussions would imperil effective law enforcement if disclosed outside of an executive session. Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(a)(5).

Prior to convening an executive session to discuss preliminary negotiations involving matters of trade or commerce in which the governmental body is in competition with private individuals or entities or other governmental bodies or to discuss matters described in the Alabama Trade Secrets Act, a person involved in the recruitment or retention effort or who has personal knowledge that the discussion will involve matters described in the Alabama Trade Secrets Act must advise the governmental body in writing or by oral declaration entered into the minutes that the discussions would have a detrimental effect upon the competitive position of a party to the negotiations or upon the location, retention, expansion or upgrading of a public employee or business entity in the area served by the governmental body if disclosed outside of an executive session, or would disclose information protected by the Alabama Trade Secrets Act. Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(a)(7).

Prior to convening an executive session to discuss strategy in preparation for negotiations between the governmental body and a group of public employees, a person representing the interests of a governmental body involved in such negotiations must advise the body in writing or by oral declaration entered into the minutes that the discussions would have a detrimental effect upon the negotiating position of the governmental body if disclosed outside of an executive session. Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(a)(8).

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f. Tape recording requirements

There is no requirement to tape record a closed meeting or closed portion of a public meeting under Alabama law.

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F. Recording/broadcast of meetings

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1. Sound recordings allowed

The Alabama Open Meetings Act allows open meetings to be recorded by any person in attendance by means of a tape recorder or any other means of sonic, photographic or video reproduction provided the recording does not disrupt the conduct of the meeting. Ala. Code § 36-25A-6.

The Public Service Commission can prohibit recording at an administrative hearing under Ala. Code § 37-1-89. Casey v. Beeker, 2020 Ala. LEXIS 116, at *9 (Sep. 4, 2020).  Under the circumstances of this case, the “hearing” was not a “meeting” subject to recording because there was no “deliberation” among the Commissioners present.   The Commissioners heard testimony alongside an administrative law judge, asked no questions and only “listen[ed]passively”.

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2. Photographic recordings allowed

The Alabama Open Meetings Act allows open meetings to be recorded by any person in attendance by means of a tape recorder or any other means of sonic, photographic or video reproduction provided the recording does not disrupt the conduct of the meeting. Ala. Code § 36-25A-6.

The Public Service Commission can prohibit recording at an administrative hearing under Ala. Code § 37-1-89. Casey v. Beeker, 2020 Ala. LEXIS 116, at *9 (Sep. 4, 2020).  Under the circumstances of this case, the “hearing” was not a “meeting” subject to recording because there was no “deliberation” among the Commissioners present.   The Commissioners heard testimony alongside an administrative law judge, asked no questions and only “listen[ed] passively”.

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G. Access to meeting materials, reports and agendas

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H. Are there sanctions for noncompliance?

If a court finds a meeting has been held in violation of the Open Meetings Act, it can award a civil penalty of at least $1 but not more than $1,000 or one half of the defendant’s monthly salary, whichever is less, for each meeting held in violation.  Ala. Code § 36-25A-9(g).

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II. Exemptions and other legal limitations

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A. Exemptions in the open meetings statute

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1. Character of exemptions

The Alabama Open Meetings Act contains specific exemptions for executive sessions, discussed in detail above. See Ala. Code § 36-25A-7.

The specific exemptions in the Alabama Open Meetings Act are discretionary: "Executive sessions are not required by this act but may be held by a governmental body for the following purposes . . . ." Ala. Code § 36-25A-7.

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2. Description of each exemption

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B. Any other statutory requirements for closed or open meetings

Many of the statutes listed below contain an express, unconditional requirement that all meetings of the pertinent body be open to the public. The Alabama Supreme Court ruled, however, that these statutes must be read in pari materia with the former open meetings law, which permitted closure when the character or good name of a person was involved. Miglionico v. Birmingham News Co., 378 So. 2d 677, 680 (Ala. 1979). Because the former open meetings law has been repealed, these statutes probably should now be read in pari materia with the Alabama Open Meetings Act.

Likewise, notwithstanding the exceptions in the Alabama Open Meetings Act for closed discussions, a number of statutes specifically provide for closed meetings.

Statutes that provide expressly for open or closed meetings are as follows:

1. Agriculture

a. Open: Alabama Agricultural and Conservation Development Commission: All proceedings except that executive or secret sessions may be held when the character or good name of a person is involved. Ala. Code § 9-8A-3(e).

b. Open: Alabama Agricultural Development Authority: All meetings of the Board of the Authority. Ala. Code § 2-3A-7(b) (1999).

2. Attorneys and Judges

a. Open: Alabama Court of Judiciary: Hearings on a complaint — i.e., a formal written charge filed by the Judicial Inquiry Commission. Rules of Procedure of the Alabama Court of the Judiciary 9.

b. Closed: Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission: All proceedings except the filing of a complaint. Ala. Const. of 1901, amend. no. 328, § 6.17(b); see also id. amend. no. 581.

c. Closed: Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission: All proceedings except the filing of a complaint with the Court of the Judiciary. Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission Rule 5.

d. Closed: Alabama State Client Security Fund Committee: All proceedings involving applications for reimbursement, unless the lawyer whose alleged conduct gave rise to the claim for reimbursement requests that the matter be made public. Alabama State Bar Client Security Fund Rule XI.

3. Banking

a. Closed: State Banking Board: All proceedings regarding unsafe and unsound conditions at a bank and correction of those conditions, including proceedings for removal of a director or officer of a bank. Ala. Code § 5-2A-12(c); Op. Att’y Gen. Ala., 2009-106 (State Banking Board exempted from publicly voting to enter executive session and giving notice of executive session when deliberating issues enumerated in Ala. Code §§ 5-2A-12 and 5-8A-20).

4. Conservation and Environmental Control

a. Open: Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust Board of Trustees: Annual meeting at which annual report is presented. Ala. Const. of 1901 amend. no. 543, § 5(d).

b. Closed: Solid waste disposal authorities: All meetings of the board. Ala. Code § 11-89A-6(c).

c. Open: Solid waste management plan: Meeting at which any determination is made by the local governing body of the proposed issuance of or modification of a permit for a new or existing solid waste management site or the proposal to contract for any services described in the solid waste management plan. Ala. Code § 22-27-48(a).

d. Open: Solid waste management plan: Any meeting at which the governing body of the jurisdiction adopts a request for waiver of a moratorium. Ala. Code § 22-27-49(a).

e. Open: Southeast Interstate Low-level Radioactive Waste Management Compact Commission: All meetings. Ala. Code § 22-32-1, art. IV, § d.

5. Courts

a. Open: Bail: Bail hearings. Ala. Code § 15-13 -143.

b. Closed: Civil court mediation: Mediation sessions. Alabama Civil Court Mediation Rules 10.

c. Closed: Court: Hearing on the merits of a petition to direct that the victim of a crime or any other witness not be compelled to testify or that facts that could divulge the identity of the victim or other related information not be revealed. Ala. Code § 15-23-69.

d. Open: Court: When a defendant in a criminal matter appears via audio-video communication device, rather than being physically present, for any proceeding that is required to be open to the public, television monitors shall be situated in the courtroom and at the place of incarceration to ensure the public, the court, and the defendant a clear view of the proceedings. Ala. Code § 15-26-6.

e. Closed: Grand juries: All proceedings. Ala. Code § 12-16-214.

f. Open: Probate court: All hearings regarding petitions to commit persons to the custody of the Alabama Department of Public Health or such other facility because of a "notifiable disease" problem, unless the person sought to be committed or that person's attorney requests in writing that the hearings be closed. Ala. Code § 22-11A-31(4).

g. Open: Probate court: All hearings, including probable cause hearings, in relation to a petition to involuntarily commit a person to a state mental health institution, unless the subject of the petition or that person's attorney requests in writing that the hearings be closed. Ala. Code § 22-52-9(4).

6. Education

a. Open: County boards of education: Meetings. Ala. Code § 16-8-4.

b. Open: State Board of Education: Meeting at which textbooks are adopted. Ala. Code § 16-36-61.

7. Elections

8. Government, Local

a. Open: Boards of adjustment: All meetings. Ala. Code § 11-52-80(b).

b. Open: City council in council-manager form of government: All meetings. Ala. Code § 11-43A-21.

c. Open: City council in council-manager form of government: Regular meetings, with a regular date and hour publicly announced. Ala. Code § 11-43A-24.

d. Open: City council in council-manager form of government: All meetings, to the extent required by law. Ala. Code § 11-43A-87.

e. Open: City council in council-manager form of government: Regular meetings, with a regular day and hour publicly announced. Ala. Code § 11-43A-90.

f. Open: City council in mayor/commission/city manager form of government in class 5 municipalities: Regular meetings; every meeting at which a resolution, bylaw or ordinance is enacted granting any franchise, appropriating any money for any purpose, providing for any public improvements, concerning the public health, or of any other general or permanent nature. Ala. Code § 11-44E-51.

g. Open: City council in mayor/council form of government: Meetings. Ala. Code § 11-43-49.

h. Open: City council in mayor-council form of government in class 5 municipalities: All meetings. Ala. Code § 11-43C-25.

i. Open: City council in mayor-council form of government in class 5 municipalities: Regular weekly meetings, with a regular hour publicly announced. Ala. Code § 11-43C-28.

j. Open: City council in mayor-council form of government in class 4 municipalities: Regular meetings and adjourned, called, or other meetings, complying with all applicable law concerning open or public meetings. Ala. Code § 11-44B-6(a) and (b).

k. Open: City council in mayor-council form of government in class 2 municipalities: All meetings. Ala. Code § 11-44C-25.

l. Open: City council in mayor-council form of government in class 2 municipalities: Regular weekly meetings, with the hour publicly announced; every meeting at which a resolution, bylaw or ordinance is enacted granting any franchise, appropriating any money for any purpose, providing for any public improvements, regulation concerning the public health, or of any general or permanent nature. Ala. Code § 11-44C-28.

9. Government, State

a. Open: Administrative procedure: Contested cases: Oral proceedings, unless private hearings are otherwise authorized by law. Ala. Code § 41-22-12(h).

b. Open: Alabama Housing Finance Authority Board: All meetings, with notice. Ala. Code § 24-1A-4(d).

c. Open: Alabama Shakespeare Festival Theatre Finance Authority: All meetings for any purpose. Ala. Code § 41-10-205(b).

d. Open: Beautification Board of the State of Alabama: All meetings. Ala. Code § 41-9-494.

10. Handicapped Persons

a. Open: Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind: Meetings at which bids are taken or opened for all contracts for the sale or disposal of tangible personal property or standing timber owned by the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind. Ala. Code § 21-1-80.

11. Health Care

a. Open: Alabama Board of Examiners for Speech Pathologists and Audiologists: All meetings, except meetings for the Board to prepare, approve, grade, or administer examinations or, upon a request of an applicant who has failed an examination, to prepare a response indicating the reason for failure. Ala. Code § 34-28A-40(d).

b. Open: Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners: All meetings, with notice. Ala. Code § 34-30-56.

c. Closed: Alabama Impaired Physicians Committee: All proceedings. Ala. Code § 34-24-404.

d. Open: Alabama Public Health Finance Authority: Meetings to consider reduction of an allocation to a county or municipality by more than five percent or $50,000, whichever is less. Ala. Code § 22-3A-19(c)(3).

e. Open: Alabama State Board of Pharmacy: Meetings, with notice. Ala. Code § 34-23-91.

f. Open: County and municipal hospital authorities: All meetings of the board of directors, except as otherwise provided by law. Ala. Code § 22-21-175(d).

g. Closed: Driver License Medical Advisory Board: Meetings in which reports are received for the purpose of determining the medical condition of an applicant for license and registration. Ala. Code § 32-6-46.

h. Open: Interagency Coordinating Council for Early Intervention for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: Meetings. Ala. Code § 21-3A-4(e).

i. Closed: Physician/dentist/chiropractor peer review, utilization, and quality control committees: All proceedings. Ala. Code § 6-5-333(d).

j. Closed: State Board of Medical Examiners: Hearings of the Medical Licensure Commission. Ala. Code § 34-24-361.1.

k. Open: Statewide Health Coordinating Council: All meetings. Ala. Code § 22-4-7.

l. Closed: State Health Officer: All meetings of an expert review panel established to evaluate an infected health care worker and all hearings, administrative proceedings, and deliberations of the State Committee of Public Health in connection with the appeal from the final order of the State Health Officer regarding the infected health care worker. Ala. Code § 22-11A-63(d) and (g).

m. Closed: State Health Officer: All proceedings related to the investigation and review of any infected health care worker. Ala. Code § 22-11A-69(a).

12. Historic Preservation

a. Open: Historic preservation commissions and architectural review boards: Meetings of the commission, with notice. Ala. Code § 11-68-3(j).

b. Open: Historic preservation commissions and architectural review boards: All meetings of the commission at which applications for certificates of appropriateness are considered by the commission, with notice. Ala. Code § 11-68-9(d).

c. Open: Historic preservation commissions and architectural review boards: Meetings of the board, with notice. Ala. Code § 11-68-13(j).

13. Industry

a. Open: Boards of city commercial development authorities: All meetings for any purpose. Ala. Code § 11-54-178(c).

b. Open: City industrial development boards: Any meeting held for any purpose whatsoever. Ala. Code § 11-54-87(c).

c. Open: Promotion of economic and industrial development in certain counties and municipalities: Any meeting of the governing body of a county or municipality named in the amendment that approves the sale of real property acquired by authority of this amendment for a sale price less than its actual purchase and development cost. Ala. Const. of 1901, amend. no. 429(a).

14. Insurance

a. Optional: Department of Commissioner of Insurance: Hearings of grievances against the Department or its actions may be closed at the Commissioner's discretion, except that a hearing shall be open if so requested in writing by any party to the hearing. Ala. Code § 27-2-30(b).

15. Juveniles

a. Open: Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Board: All meetings, with notice. Ala. Code § 26-16-5(a).

b. Closed: Court: All proceedings regarding a minor's petition for waiver of parental consent to abortion. Ala. Code § 26-21-4(o).

c. Closed: Department of Human Resources: Investigative hearing regarding child abuse or neglect allegedly committed by person connected with a childcare facility. Ala. Code § 26-14-7.1(6).

16. Pardons and Paroles

a. Open: Board of Pardons and Paroles: Any meeting of the Board at which the Board tentatively approves, grants, or orders any pardon, parole, remission of fine or other forfeiture or restoration of civil and political rights. Ala. Code § 15-22-23(b)(1).

17. Parks, Recreation and Racing

a. Open: Municipal racing commissions: All meetings of the host county house or senate delegation called or held to appoint members of the commission. Ala. Code § 11-65-5(a).

b. Closed: Municipal racing commissions: Deliberations to suspend or revoke any license, fine the holder of a license, or review the performance of a licensee, unless otherwise requested by the licensee. Ala. Code § 11-65-21.

c. Open: Public park and recreation boards: Any meeting held for any purpose whatsoever. Ala. Code § 11-60-7.

d. Open: Greater Birmingham Convention and Visitors Bureau: Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 2019-018.

18. Railroads

a. Open: Northeast Mississippi-Northwest Alabama Railroad Authority Compact Board: Meetings. Ala. Code § 37-11A-1, art. IV.

19. State Property and Contracts

a. Open: Alabama Department of Transportation: Meetings at which bids are taken or opened for the sale of surplus personal property. Ala. Code § 23-1-66(c).

b. Open: Competitive bidding on contracts of certain state and local agencies: Meetings at which bids are opened. Ala. Code § 41-16-54(b).

c. Open: Competitive bidding on public contracts: Meetings at which bids are opened. Ala. Code § 41-16-24(b).

d. Closed: Contracts related to security: If the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency determines that a contract has a direct impact on the security or safety of persons or facilities and requires confidential handling, records of bidding and award are not public and remain confidential. Ala. Code § 39-2-2(g); see also Ala. Att’y Gen. Op. 2019-048 & 2020-015.

e. Open: Disposition of surplus personal property owned by state: Meetings at which bids are taken or opened. Ala. Code § 41-16-123(3).

f. Open: State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Parks Division: Opening of all bids for contracts for the maintenance and operation of concessions within state park areas, at the hour stated in the notice. Ala. Code § 9-14-22(b).

g. Open: State Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Lands Division: Acceptance and opening of bids for the sale or lease of state land. Ala. Code § 9-15-78.

20. Veterinarians

a. Open: Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners: Meetings of the Board, except meetings for the Board to prepare, approve, administer, or grade examinations or to deliberate qualifications of a proceeding to discipline a licensed veterinarian or any other person licensed under this article. Ala. Code § 34-29-66(b)(6).

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C. Court mandated opening, closing

The amended Alabama Open Meetings Act took effect in 2015. There have not yet been any court mandated additions or exceptions to the Act.

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III. Meeting categories - open or closed

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A. Adjudications by administrative bodies

The adjudications of state agencies are open "unless private hearings are otherwise authorized by law." Ala. Code § 41-22-12(h) (2000).

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1. Deliberations closed, but not fact-finding

No pertinent authority.

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2. Only certain adjudications closed, i.e. under certain statutes

a. Alabama Impaired Physicians Committee: All proceedings closed. Ala. Code § 34-24-404.

b. Alabama State Bar Client Security Fund Committee: All proceedings involving applications for reimbursement, unless the lawyer whose alleged conduct gave rise to the claim for reimbursement requests that the matter be made public. Alabama State Bar Client Security Fund Rule 11.

c. Driver License Medical Advisory Board: Meetings in which reports are received for the purpose of determining the medical condition of an applicant for license and registration. Ala. Code § 32-6-46.

d. Judicial Inquiry Commission: All proceedings except the Commission's filing of a complaint with the Court of the Judiciary. Ala. Const. of 1901, amend. no. 328, § 6.17(b); Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission Rules 5; see also Ala. Const. of 1901, amend. no. 581.

e. Local boards of education: Hearing regarding cancellation of an employment contract with a teacher on continuing service status shall be public or private at the discretion of the teacher. Ala. Code § 16-24C-6(c).

f. Municipal racing commissions: Deliberations to suspend or revoke any license or fine the holder of a license and review of the performance of each licensee, unless otherwise requested by the licensee. Ala. Code § 11-65-21.

g. Solid waste disposal authorities: All meetings of the board. Ala. Code § 11-89A-6(c).

h. State Banking Board: All proceedings regarding unsafe and unsound conditions at a bank and correction of those conditions, including proceedings for removal of a director or officer of a bank. Ala. Code § 5-2A-12; Op. Att’y Gen. Ala., 2009-106 (State Banking Board exempted from publicly voting to enter executive session and giving notice of executive session when deliberating issues enumerated in Ala. Code §§ 5-2A-12 and 5-8A-20);.

i. State Department of Human Resources: Investigative hearings regarding child abuse or neglect allegedly committed by persons connected with a childcare facility. Ala. Code § 26-14-7.1(6).

j. State Health Officer: All meetings of an expert review panel established to evaluate an infected health care worker and all hearings, administrative proceedings, and deliberations of the State Committee of Public Health in connection with an appeal from the final order of the State Health Officer regarding the infected health care worker. Ala. Code § 22-11A-63(d) and (g).

k. State Health Officer: All proceedings relating to the investigation and review of any infected health care worker. Ala. Code § 22-11A-69(a).

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B. Budget sessions

Budget sessions are presumptively open unless they fall within the statutory exceptions in the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(6)(a)(2). Also, a number of statutes contain an explicit requirement that money cannot be appropriated for any purpose except at an open meeting. See, e.g., Ala. Code §§ 11-44-31, -87, -136.

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C. Business and industry relations

A meeting of a governmental body that deals with business and industry relations is presumptively open under the Alabama Open Meetings Act unless it falls within the statutory exceptions of the Act. An on-site inspection or meeting with applicants for economic incentives or assistance from a government body is not a “meeting” subject to the Act. Ala. Code 36-25A-2(b)(1). Similarly, it is not a “meeting” subject to the Act when two members of a government body gather or the sole purpose of discussing an economic, industrial, or commercial prospect or incentive that does not include a conclusion as to recommendations. Id. at (b)(3). A governmental body may also convene an executive session to discuss preliminary negotiations involving matters of trade or commerce in which the governmental body is in competition with private individuals or entities or other governmental bodies in Alabama or in other states or foreign nations. Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(a)(7).

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D. Federal programs

We know of no statute or case law that directly addresses this point in Alabama; nonetheless if a state entity that deals with federal programs comes within the statutory definition of a governmental body covered by the Alabama Open Meetings Act that body is presumptively subject to the Act. See Ala. Code § 36-25A-1, et seq. A meeting of quorum with federal officials for the purpose of reporting or obtaining information or seeking support for issues of importance to the body is not a “meeting” subject to the Act.  Ala. Code § 36-25A-2(b)(2).

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E. Financial data of public bodies

Meetings that deal with the financial data of public bodies are neither categorically open nor categorically closed under the Alabama Open Meetings Act. If the entity is covered by the Alabama Open Meetings Act, its meetings—including meetings dealing with financial data of the entity—must be open unless they fall within the statutory exceptions of the Act. Ala. Code § 36-25A-1 et seq.; Op. Att’y Gen. Ala., 2009-106 (State Banking Board exempted from publicly voting to enter executive session and giving notice of executive session when deliberating issues enumerated in Ala. Code §§ 5-2A-12 and 5-8A-20); Op. Att’y Gen. Ala., 2006-068 (personal financial records submitted to and considered by regional planning commission as part of determination regarding award of funds does not fall within one of the enumerated exceptions and thus discussions of same cannot be closed).

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F. Financial data, trade secrets, or proprietary data of private corporations and individuals

The Alabama Open Meetings Act allows governmental bodies to convene an executive session to discuss information of the character defined or described in the Alabama Trade Secrets Act. Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(a)(7). See Ala. Code §§ 8-27-1 through 8-27-6 (2002) (Alabama Trade Secrets Act).

Note that personal financial records submitted to and considered by a regional planning commission as part of a determination regarding award of funds do not fall within one of the enumerated exceptions, and thus discussions of same cannot be closed. Op. Att’y Gen. Ala., 2006-068.

Also, financial data is explicitly protected by several statutory provisions regarding records. See, e.g., Ala. Code §11-65-15 (information on applications for racing facility license regarding confidential financial information, percentage of ownership, etc., is not open to the public); Ala. Code § 22-22-9(c) (water pollution control records produced to the Department of Environmental Management that would divulge production or sales figures or unique methods, processes, or production, trade secrets, or other competitive information is not open to the public). Public officials who receive this sensitive material probably will be aware, or will be made aware, that the confidentiality of much of this data is protected by law and will avoid discussion of the data in open meetings in such a way that confidentiality would be breached.

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G. Gifts, trusts and honorary degrees

We know of no authority under state law to close a meeting that is otherwise due to be open simply because the meeting deals with gifts, trusts, and honorary degrees, except to the extent the discussion falls within the reputation, character, and competence exception to the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(a)(1) et seq.; see also Auburn Univ. v. The Advertiser Co. d/b/a The Montgomery Advertiser, 867 So. 2d 293 (Ala. 2003) (holding that discussion of awarding honorary degree was within "character and good name" exception of former open meetings law).

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H. Grand jury testimony by public employees

Under state law, the testimony of grand jury proceedings in Alabama is confidential, with no exception for public employees. Ala. Code §§ 12-16-214, -215, -216.

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I. Licensing examinations

Licensing by written examination is typically administered by the staff of a state agency, not by or at any assembled meeting of a public entity, and thus would not fall within the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Separate statutes close: meetings of the Driver License Medical Advisory Board if reports are "received for the purpose of determining the medical condition of an applicant [for a driver's license] . . . since those reports are confidential under section 32-6-43," Ala. Code § 32-6-46, and hearings of the Medical Licensure Commission of the State Board of Examiners, Ala. Code § 34-24-361.1.

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J. Litigation, pending litigation or other attorney-client privileges

1. Criminal litigation: Rule 9.3(b) of the Alabama Rules of Criminal Procedure states that "[a]ll proceedings shall be open to the public, unless otherwise prohibited by law." Closure of criminal proceedings is primarily a matter of federal constitutional law, which was clearly set out and applied by Alabama's appellate courts in Ex parte Consolidated Publishing Co., 601 So. 2d 423 (Ala.), cert. denied, 113 S. Ct. 665 (1992), and Ex parte Birmingham News Co., 624 So. 2d 1117 (Ala. Crim. App. 1993) (petition for writ of mandamus for access to pretrial proceedings and transcripts of same granted in principal part, denied regarding grand jury proceeding portions only). But see Ala. Code §  12-21-202 (1995) (trial judge has discretion to clear courtroom in prosecutions for rape and assault with intent to ravish or when evidence is vulgar, obscene, etc.); Ex parte Judd, 694 So. 2d 1294 (Ala. 1997) (during the testimony of a child victim of sex abuse and sodomy, the trial court had the discretion to limit access to the courtroom upon a showing of substantial need to exclude some spectators); P.M.M. v. State, 762 So. 2d 384 (Ala. Crim. App. 1999) (trial court failed to make specific findings to justify total closure of the courtroom for the entire trial of a rape, sex abuse, and sodomy case); Ala. Code § 12-21-203(d)(1) (1995) (in prosecution for criminal sexual conduct, evidence regarding past sexual behavior of complaining witness is first presented in camera, for court's determination as to admissibility).

2. Civil litigation: Rule 77(b) of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure states that "[a]ll trials upon the merits shall be conducted in open court, except as otherwise provided by statute, and so far as convenient in a regular court room." A state statute permits a judge to clear the courtroom "where the evidence is vulgar," as follows:

In all civil cases sounding in damages involving the question of rape, assault with intent to ravish, seduction, divorce or any other case where the evidence is vulgar, obscene or relates to the improper acts of the sexes and tends to debauch the morals of the young, the presiding judge shall have the right, in his discretion and on his own motion, or on motion of plaintiffs or defendants or their attorneys, to hear and try the case after clearing the courtroom of all or any portion of the audience whose presence is not necessary.

Ala. Code § 12-21-9 (1995).

Closure of divorce proceedings based upon the authority of Alabama Code § 12-21-9 was unsuccessfully challenged in Simmons v. Conger, 86 F.3d 1080 (11th Cir. 1996). The federal appellate court found that the Alabama state court trial judge had acted "pursuant to a state statute" in closing the court room, and the plaintiffs in the federal action did not challenge the constitutionality of the state statute. 86 F.3d at 1084, 1086. Although the federal court did not invite such a challenge, in the proper case a constitutional challenge to Alabama Code §§ 12-21-9 and -202 (1995) might succeed.

3. Juvenile proceedings: Juvenile proceedings are closed by state law. Ala. Code §  12-15-129 (delinquency, in need of supervision, and dependency hearings for juveniles are closed); Ala. Code § 12-15-408 (involuntary commitment hearings for juveniles are closed); Ala. Code § 26-21-4(o) (all proceedings regarding a minor's petition for waiver of parental consent to abortion are closed); Ala. Code § 26-14-7.1(6) (investigative hearings regarding child abuse and neglect allegedly committed by persons connected with child care facility are closed).

4. Attorney-client meetings: Meetings of governmental bodies may be closed to discuss with their attorney the legal ramifications of and legal options for pending litigation, controversies not yet being litigated but imminently likely to be litigated or imminently likely to be litigated if the governmental body pursues a proposed course of action. Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(a)(3).

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K. Negotiations and collective bargaining of public employees

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1. Any sessions regarding collective bargaining

Meetings of governmental bodies may be closed to discuss strategy in preparation for negotiations between the governmental body and a group of public employees. Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(a)(8).

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2. Only those between the public employees and the public body

No pertinent authority.

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L. Parole board meetings, or meetings involving parole board decisions

Meetings of the Alabama Pardon and Parole Board should be open under the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Ala. Code § 36-25A-1 et seq. Nonetheless, the files of state prisoners are closed by statute except for that portion of the file that records a decision affecting a prisoner's liberty, property, or civil rights, Ala. Code § 15-22-36(b); therefore, the Board will likely avoid discussion of those files in open meeting in such a way that the statutory mandate of confidentiality would be breached. Meetings of the Board at which a decision is made affecting a state prisoner's liberty, property, or civil rights are expressly open by statute. Ala. Code § 15-22-23(b).

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M. Patients, discussions on individual patients

Meetings of governmental bodies may be closed to discuss the physical condition or mental health of individuals. Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(a)(1). Also, records that contain patient information are confidential under the physician-patient privilege, see Horne v. Patton, 291 Ala. 701, 708-09, 287 So. 2d 824, 829-30 (1973), and state statute, see, e.g., Ala. Code § 22-21-8(b); therefore, public officials who receive this sensitive information will likely avoid discussion in an open meeting in such a way that confidentiality would be breached.

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N. Personnel matters

Meetings of governmental bodies may be closed to discuss the job performance of certain public employees unless the person is an elected or appointed public official, an appointed member of a state or local board or commission, or a public employee who is one of the classification of public employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interests with the Alabama Ethics Commission pursuant to Alabama Code § 36-25-14. Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(a)(1). Meetings of governmental bodies to discuss personnel matters must otherwise remain open unless they would fall under one of the exceptions to the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Meetings of governmental bodies may not be closed to discuss the salary, compensation, and job benefits of specific public officials or specific public employees unless they would fall under one of the other exceptions to the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Ala. Code § 36-25-A-7(a)(1).

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1. Interviews for public employment

Interviews for public employment are not specifically discussed in the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Such a meeting would be presumptively open unless it fell within one of the exceptions to the Act. Ala. Code § 36-25A-1 et seq.

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2. Disciplinary matters, performance or ethics of public employees

Meetings of governmental bodies may be closed to discuss the job performance of certain public employees unless the person is an elected or appointed public official, an appointed member of a state or local board or commission, or a public employee who is one of the classification of public employees required to file a Statement of Economic Interests with the Alabama Ethics Commission pursuant to Alabama Code § 36-25-14. Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(a)(1).

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3. Dismissal, considering dismissal of public employees

Except for statutory provisions such as the following, and the exceptions in the Alabama Open Meetings Act itself, the meetings of entities that are subject to the Alabama Open Meetings Act should be open when dismissal or consideration of the dismissal of public employees is at issue:

a. Hearing regarding state merit employee's dismissal: Open upon timely demand in writing by the dismissed employee. Ala. Code § 36-26-27(a).

b. Hearing regarding public school teacher's termination: Open or closed at the option of the teacher. Ala. Code § 16-24C-8.

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O. Real estate negotiations

A meeting of a governmental body may be closed to discuss the consideration the governmental body is willing to offer or accept when considering the purchase, sale, exchange, lease, or market value of real property. Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(a)(6). However, if an executive session is convened, in addition to the members of the governmental body, only persons representing the interests of the governmental body in the transaction may be present during the executive session. Also, the material terms of any contract to purchase, exchange, or lease real property must be disclosed in the public portion of a meeting prior to the execution of the contract. Id.

A meeting of a governmental body may not be closed pursuant to this real property discussion exception if (1) any member of the governmental body involved in the transaction has a personal interest in the transaction and attends or participates in the executive session concerning the real property, or (2) a condemnation action has been filed to acquire the real property involved in the discussion. Id.

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P. Security, national and/or state, of buildings, personnel or other

A meeting of a governmental body may be closed to discuss security plans, procedures, assessments, measures, or systems, or the security or safety of persons, structures, facilities, or other infrastructures, including, without limitation, information concerning critical infrastructure, as defined by federal law, and critical energy infrastructure, as defined by federal law, the public disclosure of which could reasonably be expected to be detrimental to public safety or welfare. Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(a)(4).

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Q. Students, discussions on individual students

We know of no authority under state law to close an otherwise open meeting simply because the meeting deals with the identity of or information about individual students. Nonetheless, certain student information is confidential under the Family Educational and Privacy Rights Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. § 1232g (1974); therefore, public officials will likely avoid discussion in open meeting that would breach the confidentiality of FERPA material, especially since violation of FERPA can result in loss of federal education funds. See also Kendrick v. Advertiser Co., 213 So. 3d 573 (Ala. 2016) (restricting public records request for athletic financial aid information on FERPA grounds)

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IV. Procedure for asserting right of access

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A. When to challenge

Any person (1) on notice that a public meeting will be closed, (2) denied access to a public meeting, or (3) asked to leave a public meeting may challenge the denial immediately, by speaking directly with the chairperson for the meeting of the public entity, or with the presiding trial court judge if closure of an on-going judicial proceeding is at issue. Options include:

Engaging an attorney and having the attorney speak with the chairperson of the meeting of the public entity or with the attorney for the public entity, or with the presiding trial court judge if closure of on-going judicial proceedings is at issue;

Asking the public entity that is threatening to meet in closed session to file a request for an Alabama attorney general opinion on the question of closure before proceeding to meet in closed session; or

Filing a complaint in circuit court in the county where the governmental body's primary office is located alleging that the pertinent public officials violated the Alabama Open Meetings Act, Ala. Code § 36-25A-1, et seq., by wrongfully closing a public meeting or remaining in attendance at a meeting that was held in executive session in violation of the statute.

The deadline to file a complaint is 60 days from when the plaintiff knew or should have known of the alleged violation, but in no event more than two years from the date of the alleged violation.  Ala. Code § 36-25A-10.  However, suits to invalidate an action taken must be filed within 21 days of when the action is made public.  Ala. Code § 36-25A-7(f). See Swindle v. Remington, 291 So.3d 439 (Ala. 2019), reh'g denied (Ala. 2019) (upholding circuit court’s invalidation of rate increases discussed during improper executive session).

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1. Does the law provide expedited procedure for reviewing request to attend upcoming meetings?

Under the Act, complaints alleging a violation are to be set for a preliminary hearing no more than 10 business days after the defendants’ response or 17 business days if the defendant does not respond.

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2. When barred from attending

If the meeting (or court proceeding) that has been closed is likely to continue for a day or more, it may be possible (1) to get the meeting opened by addressing the chair, (2) to file suit immediately and ask for an immediate hearing on a petition for temporary restraining order, or (3) if a court closure is at issue, to orally request an immediate opportunity to be heard in opposition to closure.

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3. To set aside decision

The Alabama Open Meetings Act allows courts to invalidate actions taken during meetings held in violation of the Act if the complaint is filed within 21 days of the date when the action is made public. Ala. Code § 36-25A-9(f).  See Swindle v. Remington, 291 So.3d 439 (Ala. 2019), reh'g denied (Ala. 2019) (upholding circuit court’s invalidation of rate increases discussed during improper executive session).

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4. For ruling on future meetings

If a public meeting has been closed wrongfully, the best time to attempt to secure an agreement or ruling to keep similar meetings open in the future will be as soon as possible after the wrongful closure.  The Attorney General can issue advisory opinions regarding the propriety of future meetings. See below.

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5. Other

If it is possible to discover what occurred at a closed meeting by obtaining records of action taken at the meeting — minutes, resolutions, votes, etc. — an effort should be made to do so as soon after the closed meeting as possible. See, Swindle v. Remington, 291 So.3d 439 (Ala. 2019), reh'g denied (Ala. 2019) (discussing conflicting testimony of meeting attendees at closed session); Birmingham News Co. v. Cooper, 13 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1655 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Equity Div., Oct. 29, 1986) (Ethics Commission met in executive session in violation of former open meetings law; trial court granted TRO, restraining Commission from denying access to records and other information that would disclose the vote(s) taken at the closed meeting); Birmingham News Co. v. Bell, 17 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1597 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Jan. 5, 1990) (city council met as committee of the whole and voted for Council officers in attempt to evade requirements of former open meetings law and laws requiring voice vote for election of Council officers; trial court enjoined Council from denying access to record of vote(s) for Council officers) (attorneys' fee award affirmed in Bell v. Birmingham News Co., 576 So. 2d 669 (Ala. Civ. App. 1991)).

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B. How to start

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1. Where to ask for ruling

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a. Administrative forum

Alabama has no administrative forum for consideration of Alabama Open Meetings Act challenges.

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b. State attorney general

The Alabama Attorney General's office is authorized by state law to issue opinions, upon request from a public body

Ala. Code § 36-15-1(a)–(b).

A written opinion from the Alabama attorney general is advisory, not binding, but it "shall protect such officer and the members of such board, local governing body or agency to whom it is directed or for whom the same is secured from liability to either the state, county or other municipal subdivisions of the state because of any official act or acts heretofore or hereafter performed as directed or advised in such opinion." Ala. Code § 36-15-19; Curry v. Woodstock Slag Corp., 242 Ala. 379, 6 So. 2d 479 (1942). Attorney General’s opinions are the preferred method of testing whether future meetings will follow or violate the Act.

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c. Court

The procedures for filing suit to challenge closure of past meetings are discussed above and below.

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2. Applicable time limits

Inapt; Alabama has no administrative forum for consideration of Alabama Open Meetings Act challenges.

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3. Contents of request for ruling

Inapt; Alabama has no administrative forum for consideration of Alabama Open Meetings Act challenges.

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4. How long should you wait for a response

Inapt; Alabama has no administrative forum for consideration of Alabama Open Meetings Act challenges.

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5. Are subsequent or concurrent measures (formal or informal) available?

Inapt; Alabama has no administrative forum for consideration of Alabama Open Meetings Act challenges.

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C. Court review of administrative decision

Alabama has no administrative procedure for consideration of Alabama Open Meetings Act challenges and thus has no provision for court review of administrative decisions. The court procedures described in this section are the only procedures available to adjudicate Alabama Open Meetings Act challenges.

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1. Who may sue?

Any media organization, the Alabama attorney general, or the district attorney for the circuit in which the governmental body is located may file a civil action to enforce the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Ala. Code § 36-25A-9(a).  Any Alabama citizen may also file suit if the alleged violation impacts the citizen more than the impact on the public at large.  The citizen has the burden of pleading how the personal impact of the violation is greater than the impact on the general public in its initial pleading.  Id.

No member of a governmental body may serve as a plaintiff in an action brought against another member of the same governmental body for an alleged violation of the Act. Id.

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2. Will the court give priority to the pleading?

Yes. A preliminary hearing on a complaint filed pursuant to the Alabama Open Meetings Act must be held no later than 10 business days after the date of filing of the defendant's initial response to the complaint, or, if no response is filed, no later than 17 business days after the filing of the complaint, "or on the nearest day thereafter as the court shall fix, having regard to the speediest possible determination of the cause consistent with the rights of the parties." Ala. Code § 36-25A-9(a).

The general provisions for temporary restraining orders (TROs) and preliminary injunctions, when immediate and irreparable injury can be averred, are available in the appropriate case under Rule 65(b) of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure. Ala. Code § 36-25A-9(e); see also Birmingham News Co. v. Cooper, 13 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1655 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Equity Div., Jan. 8, 1990) (granting TRO; enjoining defendants from denying access to record of votes taken in wrongfully closed meeting; imminent election of candidates for public office justified granting TRO)

In the more typical case, the trial court will grant a request for an early hearing (usually within a very few days) on the motion for preliminary injunction, with notice to the individuals and/or agency being sued. The parties often agree to bypass the preliminary injunction hearing and proceed directly to a hearing on the merits of the request for permanent injunction.

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3. Pro se possibility, advisability

An individual, but not a corporation, may bring suit in Alabama without an attorney, in state court, Ala. Code § 34-3-19 (2002), or in federal court, 28 U.S.C. § 1654. There are no procedural provisions specific to pro se litigation. We know of no reported decisions of pro se litigation under the Alabama Open Meetings Act or the former open meetings law.

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4. What issues will the court address?

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a. Open the meeting

If the meeting is ongoing, the court may address the question of opening the meeting. See Ex parte Consol.Publ’g Co., 601 So. 2d 423 (Ala.) (First Amendment, not open meetings law, decision), cert. denied, 113 S. Ct. 665 (1992); Ex parte Birmingham News Co., 624 So. 2d 1117 (Ala. Crim App. 1993).

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b. Invalidate the decision

The Alabama Open Meetings Act allows courts to invalidate the actions taken during meetings held in violation of the Act. Ala. Code § 36-25A-9(f).

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c. Order future meetings open

Under the former open meetings law, Alabama courts ordered that future meetings dealing with specific matters be open. In Miglionico v. Birmingham News Co., 378 So. 2d 667 (Ala. 1979), the Birmingham City Council held a closed meeting to consider an appointment to the city board of education. When the City Council scheduled another closed meeting, one month later, to fill a vacancy on the Council itself, The Birmingham News Company obtained a court order requiring that meeting to be open to the public. 378 So. 2d at 678. When the trial court later entered a permanent injunction requiring that all meetings of the City Council be open except "when the character or good name of a woman or man is involved," however, the Alabama Supreme Court held that the injunction simply compelled obedience to the former open meetings law and was thus too broad and vague. The court directed that "[t]he Council should be enjoined from holding executive or secret sessions to consider or discuss the appointment or employment of an individual to a public office or board, except when the individual's 'character or good name,' as defined herein, is involved." 378 So. 2d at 682; see also Dale v. Birmingham News Co., 452 So. 2d 1321 (Ala. 1984) (enjoining Birmingham Board of Education from excluding the public from interviews of applicants for Superintendent of Birmingham School System unless character or good name exception applied; four interviews were completed before the court's injunction and three afterward); Birmingham News Co. v. Bell, 17 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1597 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Jan. 5, 1990) (enjoining permanently city council "from conducting the election of Council officers in closed session") (affirming attorneys' fee award in Bell v. Birmingham News Co., 576 So. 2d 669 (Ala. Civ. App. 1991)).

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5. Pleading format

A complaint filed pursuant to the Alabama Open Meetings Act must be verified, must state specifically the applicable grounds for the complaint as set out in Section 36-25A-9(b)(1)-(4), and must name in their official capacity all members of the governmental body remaining in attendance at the alleged meeting held in violation of the Act. Ala. Code § 36-25A-9(a).

A petition for injunctive relief, sometimes coupled with a prayer for declaratory judgment, will be the typical style of pleading for civil actions under the Alabama Open Meetings Act. Ala. Code § 36-25A-9(e). If the closed meeting has already taken place, a mootness argument should be countered with the assertion that the wrongful closure is capable of repetition yet evading review.

In the absence of an actual incident of wrongful closure under the former open meetings law, Alabama courts refused to consider a declaratory judgment action that asked for a declaration that certain entities were subject to the open meetings law or that certain kinds of meetings were open under the law. See Huntsville-Madison Cnty. Airport Auth. v. Huntsville Times, 564 So. 2d 904 (Ala. 1990); see also In re Joint Petition of Ala. Press Ass'n and Alabama State Bar Ass'n, No. 195207 (Ala., Nov. 1, 1996) (joint petition for supervisory writ to resolve conflict in Alabama Supreme Court's decision in Dunn, 628 So. 2d 519 (Ala. 1993), and the State Bar Association's opinion of general counsel regarding closure of public meetings pursuant to the attorney-client privilege; writ denied without opinion).

If the challenge is to closure of court proceedings, the proper pleading format is a motion to intervene asking for the immediate opportunity to be heard in opposition to closure. See, e.g., Ex parte Birmingham News Co., 624 So. 2d 1117 (Ala. Crim. App. 1993) (First Amendment, not open meetings law, case).

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6. Time limit for filing suit

An action under the Alabama Open Meetings Act must be brought within 60 days of the date the plaintiff knew or should have known of the alleged violation and must be brought within two years of the alleged violation. Ala. Code § 36-25A-10. However, for the court to have the option of invalidating the actions taken during the meeting allegedly held in violation of the Alabama Open Meetings Act, the complaint must be filed within 21 days of the date when the actions are made public. Ala. Code § 36-25A-9(f).

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7. What court?

A complaint to enforce the Alabama Open Meetings Act should be filed in the circuit court of the county where the governmental body's primary office is located. Ala. Code § 36-25A-9(a).

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8. Judicial remedies available

Remedies available under the Alabama Open Meetings Act include declaratory judgment, injunction, invalidation of actions taken during the meeting held in violation of the Act, and civil penalty up to $1,000 or one half of the defendant’s monthly salary for the government body, whichever is less. Ala. Code § 36-25A-9(e)-(g). A final order issued against a defendant under the Alabama Open Meetings Act must state specifically upon which claim in Section 36-25A-9(b)(1)-(4) the ruling is based. Ala. Code § 36-25A-9(g).

An action under the Alabama Open Meetings Act may contain a request for access to records of the wrongfully closed meeting — especially where such records would enable the plaintiff and the public to learn what occurred at the wrongfully closed meeting. See, e.g., Birmingham News Co. v. Cooper, 13 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1655 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Equity Div., Oct. 29, 1986) (ordering production of record of votes at wrongfully closed meeting under former open meetings law); Birmingham News Co. v. Bell, 17 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 1597 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Equity Div., Feb. 12, 1990) (same) (attorneys' fee award affirmed in Bell v. Birmingham News Co., 576 So. 2d 669 (Ala. Civ. App. 1991)); Ex parte Birmingham News Co., 624 So. 2d 1117 (Ala. Crim. App. 1993) (ordering production of transcripts of wrongfully closed pretrial proceedings with redaction of grand jury material; First Amendment, not open meetings law, decision). Discovery is available to Plaintiffs after the preliminary hearing in Open Meetings Act cases.  Ala. Code § 36-25A-9(c).

Resolution of Alabama Open Meetings Act cases by consent order should be available, especially when the trial judge displays an understanding of the law, a willingness to enforce the law, and the parties can stipulate to the undisputed facts in the case.  See Birmingham News Co. v. Coleman, CV 89-723 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala., Bessemer Div., Jan. 8, 1990) (issuing a permanent injunction based upon stipulation of parties that city council met in a closed session that included discussion of purchase of real property, and discussion did not involve the character or good name of a woman or man) (former open meetings law).

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9. Availability of court costs and attorney's fees

The Alabama Open Meetings Act contains no reference to award of costs; therefore, Alabama Open Meetings Act cases are governed by Rule 54(d) of the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure, which reads as follows: "Except when express provision therefor is made in a statute, costs shall be allowed as of course to the prevailing party unless the court otherwise directs."

Although the Alabama Open Meetings Act contains no provision for an award of attorneys' fees, at least one such award has been made under the current law, and one such award was made and upheld on appeal, under the former open meetings law. Later trial court and appellate decisions confirmed that such awards were sometimes appropriate in cases under the former open meetings law. See Citizens For Better Schs. v. Greene, CV 2007-932 (Cir. Ct. Jefferson Cnty., Ala. Mar. 19, 2008) (declaring vote null and void and imposing fines and awarding attorneys’ fees based on failure to post preliminary agenda in proper location); Bell v. Birmingham News Co., 576 So. 2d 669 (Ala. Civ. App. 1991) (upholding award of attorneys' fees; citizens of city benefited from action to stop an improper practice); Slawson v. Ala. Forestry Comm’n, 631 So. 2d 953, 959 (Ala. 1994) (stating that award of reasonable costs and fees in Open Meetings Law case "is appropriate when the trial court determines that a case will result in benefit to the general public"; remanded for determination by trial court); Tuscaloosa News v. Garrison, CV-99-408, Order (Cir. Ct. Tuscaloosa Cnty., Ala., Jan. 15, 2001) (granting portion of fees; case involved both public records and open meetings issues). But see Horn v. City of Birmingham, 718 So. 2d 691 (Ala. Civ. App. 1997) (affirming the trial court's judgment denying attorneys' fees on the ground that the "common benefit" was to a limited group or locale and not to the general public). In Calhoun County Commission v. Hooks, 728 So. 2d 625 (Ala. Civ. App. 1997), the trial court awarded the plaintiffs attorneys' fees under the "common benefit" theory. However, the Court of Civil Appeals reversed the portion of the judgment awarding attorneys' fees because, it found there had been no "evasive," "reprehensible," or "patently unlawful conduct" by the defendant, and the defendant had not acted in bad faith. Therefore, the court said, there was no equitable basis for "fee shifting." No other case in Alabama has required such a degree of conduct by the defendant when awarding attorney fees under the common benefit theory.

One hurdle in obtaining attorneys' fees in open meetings cases is section 14 of the Alabama Constitution of 1901. Section 14 provides for state immunity from civil suit and has been interpreted to extend to state agencies. In Ex parte Town of Lowndesboro, 950 So. 2d 1203, 1209 (Ala. 2006), the Alabama Supreme Court found that the state constitution precluded an attorney’s fee award to the plaintiffs in a declaratory judgment action that did not involve the Open Meetings Act.

When an award of attorneys' fees is granted, it is not an "all-or-nothing" proposition. It is in the trial court's discretion to award a portion of the attorneys' fees. See Tuscaloosa News v. Garrison, CV-99-408, Order (Cir. Ct. Tuscaloosa Cnty., Ala., Jan. 15, 2001) (granting portion of fees; case involved both public records and open meetings issues).

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10. Fines

Remedies available under the Open Meetings Act include a civil penalty up to $1,000 or one half of the defendant’s monthly salary for the government body, whichever is less. Ala. Code § 36-25A-9 (f)–(g).

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11. Other penalties

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D. Appealing initial court decisions

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1. Appeal routes

An appeal from a decision of a state circuit court judge on a petition for equitable relief (injunction or declaratory judgment, for example) is to the Supreme Court of Alabama pursuant to Alabama Code §§ 12-22-6 and 12-2-7 and Rule 4 of the Alabama Rules of Appellate Procedure.

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2. Time limits for filing appeals

Under Rule 4(a) of the Alabama Rules of Appellate Procedure, a notice of appeal must be filed with the clerk of the trial court within forty-two days (six weeks) of the date of entry of the order appealed from. The rule requires filing within fourteen days (two weeks) if appeal is taken from an "interlocutory order granting, continuing, modifying, refusing, or dissolving an injunction, or refusing to dissolve or modify an injunction." Ala. R. App. P. 4(a)(1).

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3. Contact of interested amici

Because court decisions on public meetings issues may have far-reaching consequences, press groups and others may have an interest in filing a friend-of-the-court brief in these cases. The filing of amicus curiae briefs is permitted by Rule 29 of the Alabama Rules of Appellate Procedure only with leave of the appellate court. Typically, the amicus brief is filed conditionally with the motion for leave.

Amicus briefs must follow the form prescribed for the brief of an appellee in Rule 28(b) of the Alabama Rules of Appellate Procedure, and the brief must be filed within the time allowed to the party whose position on the appeal the amicus curiae brief will support. The motion for leave must identify the interest of the applicant and must state the reasons why the brief of an amicus curiae is desirable. Under Rule 29, an amicus curiae may participate in oral argument only upon motion and leave of the court and, unless additional time is granted, must share the time of the party whose position the amicus curiae supports.

Amicus curiae participation at the appellate level has been permitted, to substantial benefit, in the following cases for access to meetings under Alabama's former open meetings law and federal constitutional law:

a. Ex parte Consolidated Publishing Co., 601 So. 2d 423 (Ala.), cert. denied, 113 S. Ct. 665 (1992);

b. Ex parte Birmingham News Co., 624 So. 2d 1117 (Ala. Crim. App. 1993);

c. Ex parte Courtroom Television Network, No. 1920991 in the Supreme Court of Alabama, April 12, 1993, and April 13, 1993;

d. Miglionico v. Birmingham News Co., 378 So. 2d 677 (Ala. 1979); and

e. Bell v. Birmingham News Co., 576 So. 2d 669 (Ala. Civ. App. 1991 (challenge to attorneys' fee award).

Press groups, members of the media and others interested in access to public meetings may also participate at the trial court level — either by moving to participate as amicus curiae or by moving to intervene. Unlike a party who intervenes, a party who participates as an amicus curiae cannot add parties, raise new issues, or otherwise control the litigation. State ex rel. Baxley v. Johnson, 293 Ala. 69, 74, 300 So. 2d 106, 111 (1974). "The amicus curiae may, with permission of the court[,] file briefs, argue the case and introduce evidence." Id.

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press often files amicus briefs in cases involving significant media law issues before a state's highest court.

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V. Asserting a right to comment

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A. Is there a right to participate in public meetings?

We know of no law that broadly confers upon the public a right to comment in public meetings. However, there are statutes governing specific organizations that provide that the public must be given an opportunity to comment at public meetings. Those statutes are as follows:

Alabama Forever Wild Land Trust: The Board of Trustees must hold a public meeting annually to present information on the Forever Wild Land Trust to the public and to give the public an opportunity to have a dialogue with the Board regarding its plans and operations. Ala. Const. Amend. No. 453 § 5(d).

County Boards of Education: County boards of education each must hold an annual meeting to give the public an opportunity to present to the board matters relating to the allotment of public school funds or any other matter relating to the administration of the public schools of the county. Ala. Code § 16-8-3.

State Board of Education: Before adopting or rejecting any textbook, which must be done at a public meeting, the State Board of Education must allow members of the public a reasonable time to be heard concerning any book recommended for adoption or rejection. Ala. Code § 16-36-61(d).

State Board of Pardons and Paroles: Any interested person has a right to present his or her views to the board. Ala. Code § 15-22-23(b)(4).

Public corporations: Any public corporation adopting rules or procedures for the implementation or enforcement of the powers conferred upon it by the Legislature must have a public hearing and "afford the public and interested parties an opportunity to offer written comments, and to present testimony and evidence in support of their respective positions as to the proposed resolutions, ordinances, remedies or procedures and may have counsel to represent them at their own expense." Ala. Code § 11-89C-4(b)(1).

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B. Must a commenter give notice of intentions to comment?

We know of no law requiring a commenter to give notice of his intentions to comment at a public meeting.

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C. Can a public body limit comment?

We know of no law allowing or prohibiting a public body from limiting comment.

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D. How can a participant assert rights to comment?

Not specified.

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E. Are there sanctions for unapproved comment?

We know of no law providing for sanctions for unapproved comment.

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Appendix

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