Public Records

The City Secretary is responsible for responding to public information requests, applying the laws and regulations of the Texas Public Information Act, and for providing briefs to the Attorney General regarding requests to withhold information. Many existing records are available 24 hours a day at LaPorteTX.gov/SearchRecords.

Public Record Request Portal Button

Public Record Requests


The City Secretary's Office responds to hundreds of requests for City records filed each year under the Texas Public Information Act.

The City of La Porte has established guidelines in accordance with the Public Information Act (formerly Open Records Act) to ensure that all records in the possession of and pertaining to the operation of the governmental body are available to the public through a systematic and centralized process. The City Secretary has the authority for releasing records in accordance with the Public Information Act.

Birth and Death Records


The City of La Porte does not handle vital statistics records. Please contact Harris County for birth and death records.

Charges for Records

Charges, if any, are assessed in accordance with the provisions of the Texas Government Code Ch. 552, also referred to as the Public Information Act. A request "is considered to have been withdrawn by the requestor if the requestor does not respond in writing to the itemized statement by informing the governmental body within 10 business days after the date the statement is sent to the requestor." [GC552.2615(b)]

If estimated costs exceed $100, the governmental body may require a bond, prepayment, or deposit.

Departmental Public Records


The Fire Department, Municipal Court, EMS and Police Department release records through those respective departments. Please email your request for information to the City Secretary's Office staff for further assistance.

Responsibilities


The City Secretary is designated as the City's Records Management Officer by both state law and City ordinance and is responsible for: 
  • Developing and administering records retention and destruction policies
  • Monitoring the records storage center
  • Overseeing the control of electronically stored records
  • Upgrading technology to provide for efficient and economic storage of records