This week, we delve into significant developments in public records access across the U.S.

In California, a proposed bill could allow agencies to charge open-ended fees for records searches exceeding two hours, potentially deterring public access. The bill also seeks to extend response deadlines, drawing criticism from transparency advocates.

Albuquerque faces a 69% spike in public records requests, largely driven by AI-generated filings for police body camera footage. The surge has overwhelmed the city clerk's office, prompting a state task force to review public records laws.

In Rhode Island, a court has allowed a lawsuit to proceed, questioning whether Brown University's police department must comply with the state's public records law. The case could set a precedent for similar hybrid law enforcement arrangements.

A federal court has denied a motion to dismiss an APA challenge to a rule barring state and local governments from releasing ICE detainee records. The case raises questions about federal preemption of disclosure obligations.

Lastly, a D.C. district court has ordered the Department of Homeland Security to process a large volume of records, rejecting the agency's claim of undue burden due to request volume. The ruling emphasizes the use of technology in managing records requests.

That's your records brief for the week of March 23rd. We'll be back next week with more updates.