Cincinnati, Michael Jordan, and Second Winter

Public Records Briefing - Issue #81

Happy Monday after Valentine’s Day! Are you still sick with the love bug? We are … for our amazing subscribers! Love is so wonderful!

Oh, and how could we forget? Happy Presidents’ Day! Especially to our favorite president! Well, on to what you actually came here for! More public records fun!

P.S. Check out this photo we found that is *totally* not AI!

Exceptions A thru ZZ to 149.43

This week, we’re exploring an exception that’s all about protecting critical infrastructure. R.C. 149.43(A)(1)(gg)exempts records related to the security and resilience of critical state infrastructure, such as power grids, water systems, and public transportation networks.

For example, a report detailing vulnerabilities in Ohio’s electric grid would not be available for public inspection. The reasoning from lawmakers is simple: exposing such information could enable bad actors to exploit weaknesses, putting public safety at risk (If you doubt us, go ahead and watch the trailer for "Grid Down, Power Up"). This exception ensures that essential services remain protected while balancing transparency with security.

Basic building designs or “who is in which office” charts, however, are not infrastructure records. Or fire drill maps.

Best Practices in Public Records

We continue to suggest preventing a problem rather than fixing it. This one is going to sound simple, but, like this, we promise it’s cheap and worthwhile.