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Freedom of Information Act of 1966

2 amendmentstracked · Side-by-side comparison of previous and amended text

November 21, 1974

Strengthened FOIA by requiring agencies to respond within specific timeframes and allowing courts to review classification decisions.

Previous

Federal agencies shall make records available to the public upon request, subject to exemptions.

Amended

Federal agencies must respond to FOIA requests within 10 business days and provide an estimated completion date. Courts may review the propriety of classification decisions in camera, and agencies must publish indexes of frequently requested records.

October 2, 1996

Electronic FOIA amendments required agencies to make records available electronically.

Previous

Agencies shall make records available for public inspection and copying at agency offices.

Amended

Agencies shall establish electronic reading rooms and make frequently requested records available online. The response deadline is extended to 20 business days, and agencies must report annually on FOIA processing statistics.