1 Missouri Sunshine Law ERIC SCHMITT Open Meetings and Records Law MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL 1 Missouri Sunshine Law W ith the passage of Senate Bill 1 in 1973, Missouri became one of the earliest advocates for opening meetings and records – at all levels of government – to the people. The Sunshine Law declares Missouri’s commitment to openness in government in § 610.011, RSMo.: “It is the public policy of this state that meetings, records, votes, actions, and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless otherwise provided by law. Sections 610.010 to 610.200 shall be liberally construed and their exceptions strictly construed to promote this public policy.” The law sets out the limited instances when meetings, records, and votes may be closed, while stressing that these exceptions are to be strictly interpreted to promote the public policy of openness. Public meetings, including meetings conducted by telephone, internet, or other electronic means are to be held at reasonably convenient times and must be accessible to the public. Meetings should be held in facilities that are large enough to accommodate anticipated attendance by the public and accessible to persons with disabilities. A healthy democracy relies on an engaged citizenry informed by transparent government officials. We are proud to provide you with this Sunshine Law booklet, and hope that you find the resources in its pages useful. Whether you are a public official, a public employee, or an involved member of your community, you serve an important role in ensuring that government – at every level – works for us all. Sincerely, Eric Schmitt Attorney General Introduction The Sunshine Law brings transparency and fairness to all aspects of government.

Whether you are a public official, a public employee, or an involved member of your community, you serve an important role in ensuring that government – at every level – works for us all. Sincerely, Eric Schmitt Attorney General Introduction The Sunshine Law brings transparency and fairness to all aspects of government. Missouri Sunshine Law 2 Sunshine Law: Top Ten Things to Know

to the public.

kept in, and to all meetings, regardless of the manner in which they are held.

the public in some limited circumstances, but it almost never requires a public body to do so.