The Open Government Guide is a comprehensive legal resource from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. It explains public records laws and open meetings laws in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Each state guide follows a standard outline. This structure allows users to research the law in one state or compare government transparency laws across several states. The guide addresses the rights of journalists and members of the public to inspect government records and attend meetings held by state and local public bodies.
The public records sections explain who may submit a request, which agencies are covered, what types of records may be available, and which exemptions permit information to be withheld. The guide also addresses electronic records, emails, text messages, social media posts, databases, metadata, contracts, budgets, police records, personnel files, election records, school records, and many other categories of government information.
Users can research public records fees, response deadlines, agency search obligations, redactions, administrative appeals, court actions, attorney fees, enforcement options, and penalties for violations. These details can help a requester understand what an agency must do and what remedies may be available when access is delayed or denied.
The open meetings sections explain which state and local bodies must meet in public. They also examine public notice, meeting agendas, minutes, emergency meetings, executive sessions, electronic meetings, public comment, recording rights, and procedures for challenging an unlawful closure.
The Reporters Committee developed the guide with assistance from attorneys who have experience with open government laws in their respective states. Because access laws, court decisions, and agency practices can change, users should confirm important legal information through current statutes, recent court opinions, official state guidance, or a qualified attorney.
The Open Government Guide focuses on state and local law. People researching federal agencies should use a federal Freedom of Information Act resource instead.
Why This Resource Matters
Public records and open meetings laws vary significantly across the country. A request that works in one state may require different language, procedures, or deadlines in another. The Open Government Guide gives researchers a clear starting point for understanding the law that applies where the records or meeting are located.
This resource can help journalists, activists, researchers, attorneys, students, community organizations, and members of the public prepare stronger records requests. It can also help users recognize questionable fees, unsupported redactions, excessive delays, unlawful meeting closures, and other barriers to government transparency.