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Prebid Brief
Prebid RecordsPublic records requests

Twenty-four requests, written and not filedNever sent

Most cities keep a list of what they own and how old it is, and do not publish it. It is a public record, and it comes out when someone asks. The AI wrote the first 24 requests. The owner decided not to file them for a demonstration, so that no public employee is put to work for one.

24requests written, for 15 states
189 of 201covered governments an out-of-state business may ask
44 of 51jurisdictions where anyone may ask
0filed
What is asked

The requests, as written

Each one cites that state's law, asks only for records that already exist, states the commercial purpose plainly, and asks for the cost before any work is done. The water requests leave out maps, drawings, locations and security details.

A parks request: City of Fresno

To: Public Records Officer, City of Fresno Subject: Public records request: playground and park equipment inventory Dear Records Officer, Under the California Public Records Act (Cal. Gov. Code ยง 7920.000 et seq.), I request copies of the following records in electronic form. 1. The current inventory or asset list of playgrounds and play equipment owned or maintained by the City of Fresno. A spreadsheet or database export is ideal. For each item I am asking only for what the record already holds, such as the park or site name, the type of equipment, the manufacturer, the year or date installed, the condition rating, and any planned replacement year. 2. The most recent playground safety audit or inspection summary, if it is kept as a separate document. 3. The current replacement schedule or capital plan pages for playgrounds, sport courts, shelters and synthetic turf fields. If no inventory exists, the most recent document that lists the playgrounds and their ages will do. I am asking only for records that already exist. Please do not create or reformat anything for this request. If part of a record is exempt, please send the rest. This request is made for a commercial purpose. I publish Prebid Brief, a trade publication for equipment suppliers, and the records will be used to report on the age and planned replacement of public park equipment. If there is any charge for these records, please tell me the amount before doing any work. I have not authorized any fees. I understand the law provides for a response within 10 days. Thank you for your help. [Requester name] [Business name] [Mailing address] [Email] [Daytime phone]

A water request: City of Joliet

To: Public Records Officer, City of Joliet Subject: Public records request: wastewater and water equipment list Dear Records Officer, Under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (5 ILCS 140), I request copies of the following records in electronic form. 1. The current equipment list or asset register for the City of Joliet's water and wastewater treatment plants and lift stations. A spreadsheet or database export is ideal. For each major piece of equipment (pumps, blowers, screens, clarifier and aeration equipment, disinfection systems, dewatering equipment and generators) I am asking only for what the record already holds, such as the equipment type, the manufacturer and model, the size or horsepower, the year installed, and the condition or remaining life rating. 2. The current capital improvement plan pages for water and wastewater. I am not asking for maps, drawings, locations, security plans, or control system and network information. Please leave those out, or redact them, rather than delay the rest. I am asking only for records that already exist. Please do not create or reformat anything for this request. If part of a record is exempt, please send the rest. This request is made for a commercial purpose. I publish Prebid Brief, a trade publication for equipment suppliers, and the records will be used to report on the age and planned replacement of public water and wastewater equipment. I understand that a request made for a commercial purpose is answered within 21 working days. If there is any charge for these records, please tell me the amount before doing any work. I have not authorized any fees. Thank you for your help. [Requester name] [Business name] [Mailing address] [Email] [Daytime phone]
The first batch

All 24

At most two governments in a state, the busiest first, each asked about the kind of project it had most of in the last five weeks.

No.GovernmentStateAsked aboutLawHow long the agency has
R001City of JolietILWaterIllinois Freedom of Information ActCommercial requests: 21 working days (others 5 business days, extendable by 5)
R002Harris CountyTXParksTexas Public Information ActPromptly; if it cannot be produced within 10 business days the agency must say when
R003City of ColumbusOHWaterOhio Public Records ActPromptly, within a reasonable period
R004City of AustinTXWaterTexas Public Information ActPromptly; if it cannot be produced within 10 business days the agency must say when
R005City of FresnoCAParksCalifornia Public Records Act10 calendar days to decide, extendable by 14
R006Village of RomeovilleILWaterIllinois Freedom of Information ActCommercial requests: 21 working days (others 5 business days, extendable by 5)
R007City of FargoNDWaterNorth Dakota Open Records LawReasonable time; no fixed number of days
R008Pima CountyAZWaterArizona Public Records LawPromptly; no fixed number of days
R009City of Saint PaulMNWaterMinnesota Government Data Practices ActPromptly; no fixed number of days
R010City of VisaliaCAWaterCalifornia Public Records Act10 calendar days to decide, extendable by 14
R011City and County of DenverCOParksColorado Open Records ActReasonable time, presumed 3 working days
R012City of AppletonWIWaterWisconsin Public Records LawAs soon as practicable and without delay
R013City of RacineWIWaterWisconsin Public Records LawAs soon as practicable and without delay
R014City of ToledoOHWaterOhio Public Records ActPromptly, within a reasonable period
R015Lake Havasu CityAZWaterArizona Public Records LawPromptly; no fixed number of days
R016Village of WellingtonFLWaterFlorida Public Records ActPromptly; no fixed number of days
R017Broward CountyFLParksFlorida Public Records ActPromptly; no fixed number of days
R018City of AllentownPAParksPennsylvania Right-to-Know Law5 business days
R019City of OlatheKSParksKansas Open Records ActBy the end of the third business day
R020St. Charles ParishLAWaterLouisiana Public Records LawImmediately, or 3 days if the record is in use
R021Town of Castle RockCOWaterColorado Open Records ActReasonable time, presumed 3 working days
R022City of DuluthMNParksMinnesota Government Data Practices ActPromptly; no fixed number of days
R023City of FayettevilleNCParksNorth Carolina Public Records LawAs promptly as possible; no fixed number of days
R024City of Mount VernonNYParksNew York Freedom of Information Law5 business days to acknowledge

The state rules come from one secondary guide. Each statute would be opened and checked before a first request went to that state.

Can it be done?

How governments take requests

The AI cannot create accounts, so a request has to be something that can be sent by email. It looked up how 8 of the 24 take requests, and 6 list an email route. 44 of 51 jurisdictions let anyone ask. The ones that limit requests to residents, or whose wording is unclear, are Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Kentucky, New Hampshire, Tennessee, Virginia.

GovernmentStateHow it takes requestsWhat was found
City of JolietILEmailCity Clerk is the FOIA officer and takes requests in person, by letter, fax, email or online. The request must carry a name, address and phone number. A third-party guide says Illinois emails must hold the whole request in the body from 2026; unconfirmed.
City of ColumbusOHEmailEach department answers for its own records. The utilities public records office takes requests by email or phone and says its portal is optional.
City of AustinTXEmail or portalThe city runs a request portal and also takes requests by email or hand delivery. Austin Water has its own public information contact. No fee to file. Whether the portal needs an account is not stated; use email.
City of FresnoCAPortal or written requestThe city points requesters to its transparency portal. California law treats an emailed or written request as valid. The clerk's email address was not found; confirm on fresno.gov.
Harris CountyTXEmail, one office at a timeThere is no single county records office. Parks belong to the four commissioner precincts, and each takes written requests, so this is four requests. More work than one city; move down the list.
City and County of DenverCOEmailThe City Attorney's Office takes open records requests by email or web form and keeps a directory of department contacts. First hour of research is free. Research time beyond the first hour is billed.
City of FargoNDWeb formThe city asks for requests through the contact form on its open records page, or by mail or in person. A past requester was quoted $2,500 for a records search. Our request asks for the fee before any work.
Pima CountyAZCounty form by emailThe county's request form has a box for commercial purpose and says a commercial use fee may apply. Arizona lets an agency charge for commercial use. Ask for the amount first.

Looked up by web search on November 7, 2026, and not confirmed on each government's own site.

The test

How it would be judged

Send 24. By day 30, at least 8 return a usable file at no charge: keep going and widen. Fewer than 4: stop asking, and run Records on published sources only.

A request that comes back with a fee is dropped unless the owner chooses to pay it. The requester would be a company, because the names of people who file requests are public records too.

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