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United States · Law · S

S. 337 (114th)

FOIA Improvement Act of 2016

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

2 February 2015

Last action

—

Status

Became Public Law No: 114-185.

Sponsors

—

Subjects

Discovery layer

Source updated

10 August 2026

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Summary

FOIA Improvement Act of 2015 This bill makes changes to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to provide the public with greater access to information and records that are disclosable under FOIA. The bill requires agencies, in administering FOIA, to: (1) make information disclosable under such Act available for public inspection in an electronic format, and (2) make available to the public records that have been requested three or more times (frequently requested records). The bill establishes a presumption of openness by prohibiting an agency from withholding information requested under FOIA unless: (1) the agency reasonably foresees that disclosure would harm an interest protected by a FOIA exemption, or (2) disclosure is prohibited by law. Agencies are prohibited from assessing search or duplication fees if they have failed to comply with a deadline for complying with a FOIA request unless unusual circumstances apply and more than 50,000 pages are necessary to respond to the request. The bill expands the authority and duties of Chief FOIA Officers in each agency to require officers to serve as the primary agency liaison with the Office of Government Information Services and the Office of Information Policy. The bill establishes a Chief FOIA Officers Council to develop recommendations for: (1) increasing compliance and efficiency in responding to FOIA requests; (2) disseminating information about agency experiences; (3) identifying, developing, and coordinating initiatives to increase transparency and compliance; and (4) promoting performance measures to ensure agency compliance with FOIA requirements. The Office of Management and Budget is directed to ensure the operation of an online request portal that allows a member of the public to submit a FOIA request for records to any agency from a single website.

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Documents

15 official files

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