Make a public records request

To request a public record from the Office of the Governor, we recommend you do so through our online Public Records Request Center, where you can submit a request, communicate with public records officers about your request, and as soon as your records are ready, you can download them directly:

Request a record via the Public Records Request Center

About public disclosure records requests

Washington State law RCW 42.56 requires all agencies to respond to requests for public records in a timely manner and in an acceptable way. Records that are created by the department during the course of business are considered public records. The term "public records (RCW 42.56.010(3)" applies to any record, no matter the media, including electronic.

A request should contain the following information:

  • Name, address and telephone number or email address of the person requesting the record
  • Date on which the request is being made
  • Description of the record(s) requested

How to request records

To obtain public records from the Governor's Office, you can submit your request in one of these ways:

  1. Online: Public Records Request Center
  2. Email: publicdisclosure@gov.wa.gov
  3. Mail to:

Public Disclosure Officer
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 40002
Olympia, WA 98504-0002

Hours of operation

8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Monday - Friday

How we’ll respond to your request

Within 5 business days of receiving the request, as required by law, the Governor's Office will respond in one of the following ways:

  1. Provide the record(s); or
  2. Make a portion of the records available in installments; or
  3. Acknowledge your request and give you a reasonable estimate of how long it will take to respond; or
  4. Ask for clarification if the request is unclear; or
  5. Deny the request in writing, stating the reasons for the denial (this could also include a denial of part of your request and granting the remainder). By statute, RCW 42.56.520, the department must cite the specific exemption that applies.

Public Records Index

Under Washington law, Washington state agencies are required to maintain an index for certain categories of records. RCW 42.56.070(5). Not all agencies create the types of records that must be maintained in an index. The Office of the Governor does not issue declaratory orders, final orders, interpretive statements, or policy statements, as defined in ch. 34.05 RCW, that are required to be maintained in an index pursuant to RCW 42.56.070(5). The Office of the Governor does not have records issued before July 1, 1990, for which it has maintained an index.

For other records, state agency records retention schedules provide a master list of the types of records we create and receive, their respective retention period, and disposition. Please see the Washington State Government General Records Retention Schedule and the Office of the Governor Records Retention Schedule.

In addition, public records may be requested through a public records request to our office. See instructions and information regarding public records requests above.