Your right to public records

The Tennessee Public Records Act, Tenn. Code Ann. § 10-7-503, provides that:

"All state, county and municipal records shall, at all times during business hours … be open for personal inspection by any citizen of this state, and those in charge of the records shall not refuse such right of inspection to any citizen, unless otherwise provided by state law." — § 10-7-503(a)(2)(A)

• "Public records" is defined broadly: documents, papers, letters, maps, books, photographs, films, sound recordings, and electronic files — "regardless of physical form or characteristics" — made or received in the transaction of official business. § 10-7-503(a)(1)(A)(i).
• Some records are exempt. The right of inspection applies "unless otherwise provided by state law," and state law, common law, court rules, and federal law make certain records confidential. Where only part of a record is confidential, the statute directs that the confidential portion be redacted "whenever possible" and the redacted record made available. § 10-7-503(a)(2)(A), (a)(5).
• Requests must be specific. A request "must be sufficiently detailed to enable the governmental entity to identify responsive records." The entity is not required to compile information into a new record or answer questions. § 10-7-503(a)(4).

• Any citizen of Tennessee. The right of inspection extends to Tennessee citizens; entities may, but are not required to, make records available to others. Per the state's guidance: "Only citizens of Tennessee have the right to inspect and receive copies of public records under the Tennessee Public Records Act."
• Photo ID can be required. An entity may ask for government-issued photo identification that includes an address, or other identification evidencing Tennessee residency. § 10-7-503(a)(7)(A)(vi).
• No reason is required. Per the state's guidance, a records custodian generally may not ask why records are being requested: "The Tennessee Public Records Act does not distinguish between public record requests based upon the intended use of the records."
• No profession gets priority. "A requestor is not entitled to special or more expeditious access to records … due to the requestor's occupation or association with a specific profession." § 10-7-503(a)(7)(A)(viii).

• Looking costs nothing. "A governmental entity shall not require a written request or assess a charge to view a public record unless otherwise required by law." Requests to inspect may be made in person, by phone, fax, mail, or email if the entity uses those channels for official business. § 10-7-503(a)(7)(A)(i).
• Copies may require a written request, or a form the entity provides. § 10-7-503(a)(7)(A)(ii).
• Copy charges are capped by a state schedule. Under the Schedule of Reasonable Charges issued by the Office of Open Records Counsel: 15¢ per black-and-white page and 50¢ per color page. Labor may be charged only "after one (1) hour of work has been done by the custodian in producing the requested material" — the first hour is not billable.
• An estimate comes first. The custodian "shall provide a requestor an estimate of the reasonable costs to provide copies," and per the state's guidance may not charge for copies until an estimate has been provided. § 10-7-503(a)(7)(B)(ii).

If a record is not "promptly" available, the statute requires the records custodian to do one of three things within seven business days:

• Make the requested record available; or
• Deny the request in writing, including the basis for the denial; or
• State in writing the time reasonably necessary to produce the record. § 10-7-503(a)(2)(B).

Not responding is not a fourth option: "Failure to respond to the request … shall constitute a denial," and a denial gives the requestor "the right to bring an action as provided in § 10-7-505" — a petition in circuit or chancery court. § 10-7-503(a)(3).

Since July 1, 2018, state law has required every county to adopt a written public records policy stating the process for requests, the fees charged, and "the name or title and the contact information" of its designated public records request coordinator. § 10-7-503(g)(1).

As of 2026-08-05, Open Bedford has not located Bedford County's public records policy on bedfordcountytn.gov. The county's published contact point, as listed on the county's own website, is:

Bedford County Courthouse
One Public Square North, Suite 101, Shelbyville, TN 37160
(931) 684-7944

Open question	The document that would answer it
Who is the county's public records request coordinator?	The county's adopted public records policy (required by § 10-7-503(g)(1))
Is there a required request form, and what fees does the county charge?	The same policy, which must state both

Open Bedford will link the county's policy here once obtained.

• The state has a referee. The Office of Open Records Counsel, part of the Tennessee Comptroller of the Treasury, "answers questions and provides information about the Tennessee Public Records Act … and assists with the resolution of disputes concerning ongoing public record requests." It is not a records clearinghouse and does not make requests on anyone's behalf.
• Courts are the formal remedy. A denial — including a non-response after seven business days, or per the state's guidance "the imposition of unreasonable or unfounded costs" — may be challenged by petition in circuit or chancery court under § 10-7-505.