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New Jersey Open Public Records Act

The New Jersey Open Public Records Act, N.J.S.A. 47:1A-1 et seq., commonly abbreviated OPRA, is a statute that provides a right to the public to access certain public records in the State of New Jersey, as well as the process by which that right may be exercised. In general, OPRA provides that "government records shall be readily accessible for inspection, copying, or examination by the citizens of this State, with certain exceptions, for the protection of the public interest." OPRA may be viewed as New Jersey's equivalent to the United States federal Freedom of Information Act.

Law
OPRA has multiple features to it: • A request for public information must be completed, signed, and given to the keeper of the record that is requested. For requests to the State of New Jersey, OPRA requests for most information can be submitted online. A few other public agencies in New Jersey have online OPRA portals. • Public contracts are considered “immediate access” records ==Controversies==
Controversies
During the eight years of the Chris Christie administration, his office spent more than $1 million challenging OPRA requests, including court fees for illegally withholding information. In January 2018, outgoing Governor Chris Christie pre-emptively restricted the State Archives' release of his administration's public records, particularly electronic records. This came to light a few months later, in May 2018, when access to records between the Christie administration and the Kushner Companies, previously run by the president's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, was blocked by Christie's lawyer. Concerned open records advocates challenged Christie's action as contrary to the purpose of OPRA, which designates the State Archives as neutral public arbiter of records. ==See also==
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