Subject Index Freedom of Information Act

On July 7, 2025, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that a police officer’s affidavit detailing how releasing certain records would compromise an ongoing investigation was sufficient to exempt the records from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and that victims and witnesses depicted in body camera footage, as was present in this case, have a reasonable expectation of privacy such that the recordings can only be disclosed upon written permission of the individuals or their respective legal representatives.

The Illinois General Assembly amended the Freedom of Information Act. The Act now exempts images from cameras under the Expressway Camera Act and all automated license plate reader information used and collected by the Illinois State Police. However, this will become inoperative on and after July 1, 2028.

On Sept. 19, 2024, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court held that education records disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) are subject to in camera inspection and must have all personal information redacted.

The Illinois Medical District Commission adopted amendments updating its procedures for Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

On Nov. 30, 2023, the Illinois Supreme Court held that the Illinois State Police (ISP) does not have to provide information to applicants regarding their own Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card application under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The Illinois General Assembly amended the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Documents obtained from a public body by the public access counselor for the purpose of addressing a request for review of such public body’s denial of a request to inspect or copy a public record are now exempt from FOIA.

On June 21, 2023, the Third District of the Illinois Appellate Court concluded that recordings of 911 calls that identify the caller are exempt from Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.

The plaintiff sued the defendant seeking disclosure under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) of surveillance video of a subway platform that showed one customer pushing another off the platform and onto the tracks at the Washington Blue Line subway station in August 2017.

On April 13, 2021, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court remanded a case to determine whether Chicago’s action plan regarding the public response to former Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke’s verdict can be partially redacted and produced.

On March 31, 2021, the First District of the Illinois Appellate Court found that a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for 28,000 sheets of documents requiring a possible 86-day workload was not unduly burdensome when weighed against its possible value to the public.

The General Assembly amended the Medical Patient Rights Act to expand women’s rights during pregnancy and childbirth.The Illinois General Assembly amended the Freedom of Information Act to bar law enforcement from publishing booking photographs (“mugshots”) on its social networking website in connection with civil offenses, petty offenses, business offenses, class C misdemeanors, and class B misdemeanors.

WMAQ-TV sued the Chicago Police Department, seeking disclosure under FOIA of records related to a 2014 fatal shooting of a 16-year-old by police officers.

On June 29, 2018, the First District Appellate Court of Illinois held that records related to property valuations are subject to disclosure under Illinois' Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

The Freedom of Information Act has been amended to include severance agreements entered into by or on behalf of a public entity as documents subject to public inspection and copying.

The Department of Human Rights repealed "Access to Public Records of the Department of Human Rights," and adopted a new section with the same title in order to reflect changes made to the Freedom of Information Act. 2 Ill. Adm. Code 926 (eff. June 24, 2015).

The Department of Natural Resources repealed a Part titled 'Freedom of Information' and adopted a new Part with the same title in order to comply with the Freedom of Information Act and the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. 2 Ill. Adm. Code 826 (eff. July 6, 2015).

The Freedom of Information Act has been amended to add a new definition for "voluminous request."

On July 16, 2013, the Fourth District Appellate Court upheld a binding opinion issued by the Illinois Attorney General that found text messages and emails sent or received from city council members' personal devices during public meetings were public records subject to disclosure under the Illinois Freedom of Information Act ("FOIA"). 5 ILCS 140 et seq. (2010).

The Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (board) recently changed its rules regarding its Freedom of Information procedures to keep up with changes to the Freedom of Information Act [5 ILCS 140]. 2 Ill Adm Code 2676.

The Teachers' Retirement System of the State of Illinois (TRS) recently established a test to ensure that former teachers and other members sufficiently separate from employment prior to receiving benefits. 

State lawmakers recently beefed up sunshine laws to help ensure open and transparent government. (For more, see Two Cheers for the New Freedom of Information Act in the February IBJ.)