Oklahoma Statutes

Okla. Stat. tit. 51, § 24A.2 (2026)

Public policy - Purpose of act

✓ current as of July 2026

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As the Oklahoma Constitution recognizes and guarantees, all political power is inherent in the people. Thus, it is the public policy of the State of Oklahoma that the people are vested with the inherent right to know and be fully informed about their government. The Oklahoma Open Records Act shall not create, directly or indirectly, any rights of privacy or any remedies for violation of any rights of privacy; nor shall the Oklahoma Open Records Act, except as specifically set forth in the Oklahoma Open Records Act, establish any procedures for protecting any person from release of information contained in public records. The purpose of this act is to ensure and facilitate the public's right of access to and review of government records so they may efficiently and intelligently exercise their inherent political power. The privacy interests of individuals are adequately protected in the specific exceptions to the Oklahoma Open Records Act or in the statutes which authorize, create or require the records. Except where specific state or federal statutes create a confidential privilege, persons who submit information to public bodies have no right to keep this information from public access nor reasonable expectation that this information will be kept from public access; provided, the person, agency or political subdivision shall at all times bear the burden of establishing such records are protected by such a confidential privilege. Except as may be required by other statutes, public bodies do not need to follow any procedures for providing access to public records except those specifically required by the Oklahoma Open Records Act. Added by Laws 1985, c. 355, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1985. Amended by Laws 1988, c. 187, § 2, emerg. eff. June 6, 1988.

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 21 cases (9 in the last 5 years), 1989–2026 · leading case: Oklahoma Pub. Employees Ass'n v. State ex rel. Oklahoma Off. of Pers. Mgmt., 267 P.3d 838 (Okla. 2011).

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Oklahoma Pub. Employees Ass'n v. State ex rel. Oklahoma Off. of Pers. Mgmt., 267 P.3d 838 (Okla. 2011). · cites it 2× “2 providing that the "Oklahoma Open Records Act shall not create, directly or indirectly, any rights of privacy or any remedies for violation of any rights of privacy; nor shall the Oklahoma Open Records Act, except as specifically set forth in the Oklahoma Open Records Act,…”

Oklahoma Assoc. of Broadcasters, Inc. v. City of Norman, 2016 OK 119 (Okla. 2016). “3d 855, 859 . The Legislature's expressed policy for the Act is to vest the people of Oklahoma "with the inherent right to know and be fully informed about their government.”

McWilliams v. Dinapoli, 40 F.4th 1118 (10th Cir. 2022). “” Okla. Stat. tit. 51, § 24A.2. The Act thus doesn’t entitle Mr.”

Petition of Univ. Hospitals Auth., 953 P.2d 314 (Okla. 1998). · cites it 2× “¶ 15 Title 51 O.S.1991 § 24A.2 of the Open Records Act declares that Oklahoma's public policy and the purpose of the Act is to "ensure and facilitate the public's right of access to and review of government records.”

Shero v. Grand Sav. Bank, 2007 OK 24 (Okla. 2007). “51 O.S.2001, § 24A.2 (emphasis added). ¶ 8 The Open Records Act generally provides for public inspection and copying of records, which are defined as “created by, received by, under the authority of, or coming into the custody, control or possession of public officials, public…”

Nichols v. Jackson, 2001 OK CR 35 (Okla. Crim. App. 2001). “51 O.S.1991, § 24A.2. ¶ 9 The Act's definition of "record" includes "all documents, including but not limited to, any books, papers, .”

Wagner v. Off. of the Sheriff of Custer Cnty., 2021 OK CIV APP 20 (Okla. Civ. App. 2021). · cites it 3× “" 51 O.S. §24A.2. This policy is not thwarted by our interpretation of the Act.”

State Ex Rel. Oklahoma State Bd. of Med. Licensure & Supervision v. Migliaccio, 917 P.2d 483 (Okla. Civ. App. 1996). “See, 51 O.S.1991 § 24A.2. We find no legal authority for Board to take the requested action of expungement or sealing of the records documenting Board’s actions in Migliaccio’s case.”

Milton v. Hayes, 770 P.2d 14 (Okla. 1989). “” 51 O.S.Supp. 1987 § 24A.2. The Act includes a definitional section of sufficient breadth to encompass virtually every governmental body and record.”

Question Submitted by: The Honorable Glen Mulready, Ins. Comm'r, Oklahoma Ins. Dept., 2023 OK AG 1 (Okla. Att’y Gen. 2023). · cites it 6× “" 51 O.S.2021, § 24A.2. The ORA further protects the public's right to access and review government records "so they may efficiently and intelligently exercise their inherent political power.”

Nondoc Media & William W. Savage III v. State Ex Rel. Bd. of Regents of the Univ. Of Oklahoma, 2026 OK 2 (Okla. 2026). · cites it 12× “" 51 O.S.2021, § 24A.2 Id. We find the Jones Day Reports protected by such a privilege.”

Good v. Farmers Ins. Co., 2023 OK CIV APP 28 (Okla. Civ. App. 2023). “§ 3226 51 O.S. § 24A.29 51 O.S. § 24A.2 Unfiled Documents Produced in Discovery .”

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