The Texas Public Information Act requires governmental agencies to make available for inspection and copying all information that is collected, assembled, or maintained by or for a governmental body if it owns or has a right of access to the information, except for information the Act exempts or prohibits from disclosure, according to Chapter 552 of the Texas Government Code. Please be advised that confidential information is often included in documents held by the City of Laredo. The City may not be able to release this information. The Texas Public Information Act requires a governmental entity to request an open letter ruling from the Texas Attorney General prior to withholding information that is confidential. The Attorney General’s Office has 45 days to respond to a request for an open letter ruling. However, you will be given the option of expediting the request by checking the box if you are willing to receive only non-confidential information.

Any person wishing to inspect or copy public records kept by the City of Laredo must make the request in writing and may do so online by submitting the form provided below. No verbal requests shall be accepted. A written Open Records Request may also be forwarded to the City of Laredo’s Open Records Attorney for handling. A written Open Records Request may also be submitted to the City of Laredo through its designated Public Information Coordinator as follows:

By Mail or in Person: City Attorney's Office 1110 Houston Street, Laredo, Texas 78040
By Fax: (956) 791-7494*
By E-Mail: For Police Requests: mvidal@ci.laredo.tx.us
                 For other City Requests: khale@ci.laredo.tx.us

*The City of Laredo has a duty to respond to any written requests for open records, including those that are made through e-mail or by fax. However, state law provides that a governmental body can designate a person that is authorized to receive e-mail or faxed requests for open records. If such a designation is made, the Public Information Act is only activated if the request is directed to the assigned individual. Pursuant to Section 552.301(c), Government Code, the City Attorney’s Office, Open Records Attorney, has been designated by the City of Laredo to receive all electronic mail and fax requests for public information. Accordingly, the City of Laredo is not responsible for responding to electronic mail and fax requests sent to any electronic mail address other than the email address cited above.

For general questions on making public information requests or for special accommodations pursuant to the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact the City of Laredo’s Open Records Attorney at (956) 791-7318.