Who We’re Addressing:

City of Hamilton Mayor Bob Page, City Clerk Angela Owen, and the Hamilton City Council

Petition Summary:

The City of Hamilton has passed a new public records policy (Resolution 2025-4-7) that undermines citizens’ right to access public information. This policy not only requires requestors to state the purpose behind their request, but also imposes high fees and forces individuals to agree not to share the information. This is a direct violation of the Alabama Open Records Act (Sunshine Law) and the First Amendment, both of which protect our rights to access public records and freely share that information.

Petition:

We, the undersigned, strongly oppose the City of Hamilton’s new Public Records Request Policy, passed on April 7, 2025. This policy creates unreasonable barriers for citizens trying to access public information, including:

-Requiring requestors to state why they want the records
-Charging up to $30 per hour for information retrieval and $2 per page for color copies
-Forcing requestors to agree not to share the public information they receive

These conditions violate both the Alabama Open Records Act (Sunshine Law) and constitutional rights protected by the First Amendment:

The Sunshine Law guarantees public access to government documents without requiring a justification or purpose. Blocking or burdening that access is not only undemocratic — it’s potentially illegal.
The First Amendment protects the right to speak freely and share truthful, lawfully obtained information. Requiring citizens to stay silent after accessing public documents is a violation of free speech.

The City of Hamilton’s new policy obstructs transparency, silences public discourse, and sets a dangerous precedent for future access to public records. Public records belong to the people, and the right to access and disseminate them should not be encumbered by unnecessary restrictions or fees.

We demand that the City of Hamilton:

Repeal or revise Resolution 2025-4-7 immediately
Remove the requirement for purpose disclosure in public records requests
Eliminate the non-disclosure agreement attached to public records
Cap or eliminate excessive fees for accessing public records and ensure equal access for all citizens

Open government is not a privilege — it’s a right.

Join us in calling for transparency, fairness, and accountability in Hamilton.

Sign now and share to support the citizens’ right to public information.