Submit a public records request to the Governor's Office

The Office of the Governor encourages you to use the form linked below to make a public records request (PRR) of the Governor’s Office.  This helps to ensure the most expeditious and accurate response to your request. Otherwise, written requests may be delivered by hand, mail, email or fax (if available). While requests for public records may be made orally in person to an RAO, such requests may not be the subject of an appeal.  Telephone requests may be accepted at the discretion of the RAO.

The Office of the Governor has designated the employee listed to the right as the Primary Records Access Officer (RAO) who will assist requesters in fulfilling their requests.

Only questions pertaining to the PRR process or a PRR status should be sent to the email account of the Primary RAO.

By law, records held by the Office of the Governor are not subject to the Massachusetts public records law. See Lambert v. Executive Director of the Judicial Nominating Council, 425 Mass. 406, 409 (1997). Previous administrations have, as a voluntary practice, considered and responded to public records requests on a case-by-case basis. Governor Healey intends to follow the public records law and provide more transparency to the Governor’s Office than ever before. Public records requests will be evaluated based on the public records law, established exemptions, and any unique obligations of the Governor’s Office. 

PRR Information

On June 3, 2016, a law “An Act to Improve Public Records” was signed to enhance public access to information. That law went into effect January 1, 2017. While diligent efforts are made every day across the Executive Branch to respond to a large number of public record requests, this law provides standards that will improve our approach so as to reduce delays and costs that burden accessibility.

For additional information about making a request or filing an appeal, see Chapter 121 of the Acts of 2016 and 950 CMR 32.

PRR Tips

Consider how you can narrow the scope of your request to expedite the production process. The first four hours of work performed to respond to a PRR will be performed at no cost. After that, the agency may charge up to $25 per hour.  

Public agencies must adhere to the law requiring them to secure personally identifiable information and prevent unwarranted invasions of privacy. Documents containing such information must be redacted carefully before releasing, expanding time needed for production. Consider how you might revise your PRR to exclude records containing such information.

Contacting a Secretariat or Agency

To help avoid delay in responses, please consider whether your public record request would more appropriately be directed to a secretariat or agency.

Each secretariat and agency has a designated RAO who will receive and respond to public records requests.