public records; review standard

Plain English Breakdown

Checked against official source text during the last sync.

Public Records Review Standard

This bill changes the legal process and standards for reviewing denials of public record access requests.

What This Bill Does

• Changes how people can appeal being denied access to public records through a special action in superior court.
• Allows victims of crimes to appeal denials of public record access within their criminal cases.
• Gives people who win their case about accessing public records the right to get back some or all of their legal costs if they substantially prevailed.
• Sets a new standard for reviewing questions about whether certain exceptions apply to disclosing public records, using de novo review.

Who It Names or Affects

• People who request access to public records and are denied.
• Victims in criminal cases who need public records.
• Courts that handle appeals related to public record access.
• Public officers or bodies responsible for maintaining public records.

Terms To Know

de novo review

A type of court review where the case is looked at as if it were new, without considering previous decisions.

special action

A legal process used to quickly address specific issues that are not covered by regular lawsuits.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill was vetoed by the governor on April 13, 2026.
• It is unclear if lawmakers will try to override this veto.

Official Summary Text

SB1078 - public records; review standard

Current Bill Text

SB1078 - 572R - S Ver

Senate Engrossed

public records;
review standard

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SENATE BILL 1078

AN
ACT

amending section 39-121.02, Arizona
Revised Statutes; relating to public records.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it
enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Section 39-121.02, Arizona Revised
Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE
39-121.02.

Action on denial of access; costs and attorney fees; damages; de
novo review

A. Any person who has requested to examine or copy
public records pursuant to this article and who has been denied access to or
the right to copy such records may appeal the denial through a special action
in the superior court pursuant to the rules of procedure for special actions
against the officer or public body.� If
a victim

the person
is
a victim who is
denied
access to a public record pursuant to this article in the course of a criminal
case in superior court, the victim may appeal the denial through a special
action within the criminal case.

B. The court may award attorney fees and other legal
costs that are reasonably incurred in any action under this article if the
person seeking public records has substantially prevailed.� This subsection
does not limit the rights of any party to recover attorney fees, expenses and
double damages pursuant to section 12-349.

C. Any person who is wrongfully denied access to
public records pursuant to this article has a cause of action against the
officer or public body for any damages resulting from the denial.

D. The standard of review for a
question of law that arises under this chapter, including whether any exception
to disclosure applies, is de novo.
END_STATUTE