Source: https://www.rcfp.org/open-government-sections/2-negotiations/
Timestamp: 2019-04-24 12:01:24+00:00

Document:
There is no apparent generic exemption from Public Records Act provisions for documents relating to real estate negotiations, though various statutes and regulations may permit confidential treatment in particular context, such as applications for bank loans, etc.
There is no statutory or case law involving written records of real estate negotiations. However, there is no provision allowing for closed meetings of public officials for the purpose of negotiating the purchase of real estate. When the General Assembly was debating the FOIA in 1967, an amendment was offered in the House to permit executive sessions for negotiations involving the purchase of real estate. The House initially agreed to the amendment but subsequently changed its mind and expunged the vote. Ark. Legis. Digest, 66th General Assembly, at 87, 91 (1967). During the 2001 legislative session, a bill that would permit closed meetings for discussing “the purchase, sale or lease of real property” died in committee. See S.B. 589, 83d General Assembly (May 14, 2001); see also Harris v. City of Ft. Smith, 359 Ark. 355, 197 S.W.3d 461 (2004).
While a local agency may hold a closed session for the purpose of meeting with its real estate negotiator to discuss price and terms of the purchase, sale, exchange or lease of real property, there is no corollary provision under the CPRA to withhold records, though assertion of the public interest balancing test of Section 6255 to thwart access during the negotiation process is conceivable. There are no known reported cases discussing this issue. See Cal. Gov’t Code § 54956.8 (while negotiation session is closed, statute requires agency to identify real property which is subject of negotiation, the person or persons with whom negotiations may occur, and the name of the negotiator for the agency).
Records made for or by the state or a local agency relative to the acquisition of real property are exempt from the Act until such time as the property has been acquired or the proposed transaction has been terminated or abandoned. O.C.G.A. § 50-18-72(a)(9).
Since all documents related to the appraisal of real estate are exempt, presumably any documents created in the negotiation of a real estate appraisal or sale are also exempt.
Available upon completion of transaction.
Access to records relating to pending negotiations involving certain enumerated agencies and commissions with industrial, research or commercial prospects may be released or denied at the discretion of the agency, under Ind. Code § 5-14-3-4(b)(5). Final offers must be released.
Records of ongoing negotiations may be withheld, depending upon the circumstances, as “Preliminary drafts, notes, correspondence with private individuals, other than correspondence which is intended to give notice of final action of a public agency.” Ky. Rev. Stat. 61.878(1)(i); see 12-ORD-217.
Records related to negotiations are available except when prepared for use in connection with an executive session to discuss or consider “the condition, acquisition or the use of real or personal property permanently attached to real property or interests therein or disposition of publicly held property or economic development” and “only if premature disclosures of the information would prejudice the competitive or bargaining position of the body or agency.” 1 M.R.S.A. 405(6)(C).
The Department of Transportation and the Maine Turnpike Authority are authorized to keep confidential records and correspondence relating to negotiations for and appraisals of property until 9 months after the completion of a project, except that records of claims that have been appealed to the Superior Court are public records following the award of the court. 23 M.R.S.A. § 63.
Open. See Great Falls Tribune v. Great Falls Public Schools, 255 Mont. 125, 841 P.2d 502 (1992).
These are “government records” as defined by OPRA. Any information contained in the records that would give an advantage to competitors or bidders if disclosed, is exempt from disclosure under OPRA.
There are no exceptions for public land negotiations under NMSA 1978 § 14-2-1. In addition, the commissioner of public lands must provide copies of any records kept by the state land office when requested. NMSA 1978 § 19-1-21.
Real estate negotiations are not treated by the public records law, though the Open Meetings law contains an exemption to permit closed session discussions of certain aspects of potential real estate transactions where the public body is considering the acquisition – not divesture – of real property.
If disclosure would give an unfair advantage to competitors, then the record may be kept confidential. 51 O.S. § 24A.10.B.5.
If the negotiations are engaged in by correspondence, the documents would not be required to be made public until a contract is entered into. S.C. Code Ann. § 30-4-440(a)(5).
If the property involved is being acquired through a department of economic and community development, the records would not be public until the contract is executed. T.C.A. § 4-3-730 (b).
Information is excepted from the requirements of Section 552.021 if it is information relating to the location of real or personal property for a public purpose prior to public announcement of the project. Tex. Gov’t Code § 552.105. Section 552.105 “was designed to protect a governmental body’s planning and negotiating position with respect to particular transactions.” Tex. Att’y Gen. ORD-564 (1990). However, when negotiations for acquisition of real property has been completed, factual information relating to the project will become open to the public. Tex. Atty. Gen. Op. No. ORD-291 (1981); Tex. Atty. Gen. Op., No. ORD-234 (1980).
“[R]ecords prepared in contemplation of sale, exchange, lease, rental, or other compensated transaction of real . . . property . . . which, if disclosed prior to completion of the transaction, would reveal the appraisal or estimated value of the subject property” are classified as protected, with certain specified exceptions. Id. § 63G-2-305(9).
“[I]nformation pertaining to appraisals or purchase price of real or personal property for public purposes” is exempt from disclosure prior to the formal award of the contracts. 1 V.S.A. § 317(c)(13).
Records compiled exclusively for use in a closed meeting are excluded. Va. Code Ann. § 2.2-3705.1.5. Under Va. Code Ann. § 2.2-3711.A.3, a closed meeting may be held to discuss acquisition of real property for a public purpose, or disposition of publicly held property, where public disclosure adversely affect the bargaining position of the public body.
No specific authority. See section on Appraisals.
Open unless disclosure would reasonably increase the price to be paid by the public entity.

References: v. 
 § 54956
 § 50
 § 5
 § 63
 v. 
 § 14
 § 19
 § 24
 § 30
 § 4
 § 552
 § 63
 § 317
 § 2
 § 2