Where are the laws on confidentiality found?
At first it sounds contradictory, but some “public records” in Iowa are confidential by law and are not available for public examination and copying. (Example: your income tax return.) Government offices maintain many types of public records. Some are open for public examination and copying, some must be kept confidential under the law, and some may be kept confidential in the discretion of the lawful custodian. How do you know whether public records are open or confidential? Openness is the rule, and confidentiality is the exception. Here are the three types of exceptions that make public records confidential under Iowa law and court decisions: • Discretionary exceptions under Chapter 22. Iowa section 22.7 currently lists 47 categories of records which “shall be kept confidential, unless otherwise ordered” by the lawful custodian, or by others authorized to release information. Many of these records commonly are kept confidential, but could be released in the discretion of public offi
