Helpline
When public records and open meetings feel impossible to navigate, people call, text or email us
Every day, New Mexicans contact NMFOG with questions about public records, public meetings, government accountability, and where to turn when something does not seem right.
Some calls are simple. Some are urgent. Some are complicated. Together, they show what transparency looks like in real life.
CALL or TEXT
We've been asked thousands of transparency questions
The Clear Patterns
The biggest barriers:
Delay, Cost, Denial, & Closed-door decision-making
Every day for the past 38 years, we've received calls from people across New Mexico with questions about two laws: the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) and the Open Meetings Act.
During that time, we've learned one thing: Transparency is not just about laws — it’s about whether people can actually use them.
We're the ones people call when they can't use the laws.
And we get a lot of calls.​
Public Records / IPRA
​Across local and state agencies, these patterns appear consistently:
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Delay / No Response (~65%)
Agencies fail to respond, significantly delay responses, or claim backlogs. -
Cost / Fees (~20%)
Requesters are charged high or questionable fees, including for electronic records or staff time. -
Denial / Withholding (~15%)
Records are denied outright, heavily redacted, or withheld under unclear or misapplied exemptions.
The most common questions we get about public records are regarding:
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Unanswered record requests
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High fees
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Heavy redactions
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Police records
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Public employee information
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Contracts
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Emails
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Text messages
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Records held by contractors
The majority of IPRA questions on our helpline aren’t about what the law says — they’re about why the law isn’t being followed.
Open Meetings / OMA
​Across local and state agencies, these patterns appear consistently:
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Agenda & Notice Issues (largest category)
Agendas are incomplete, vague, changed after posting, or not provided in time for meaningful public awareness. -
Quorum & Behind-the-Scenes Discussions
Questions about “rolling quorums,” email discussions, and private coordination suggest concern that decisions are being made outside public view. -
Closed Meetings (Executive Session Misuse)
Callers frequently question whether meetings are improperly closed or whether decisions are made without public votes. -
Participation Limits & Access Barriers
Includes restrictions on public comment, sign-in requirements, and barriers to attending or engaging in meetings.
The most commonly asked questions we get about open meetings are regarding:
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Vague agendas
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Improper closed meetings
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Rolling quorums
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Limited public comment
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Confusion about whether a board, committee, task force, or council is following the law
Most of the questions we get about OMA aren’t about attending meetings — they’re about whether decisions are being made in public at all