EDITOR:
March 15-21 was Sunshine week, a collaborative effort to educate American citizens and journalists about freedom of information and sunshine laws. Sunshine Week occurs each year in mid-March, coinciding with James Madison’s birthday, March 16 (1751). Madison was a driving force behind the Constitutional Convention of 1787. He also was the fourth president of the United States.
Madison, who crafted the Bill of Rights, is often credited for promoting freedom of information, particularly with the quote, “A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both”
The Missouri Sunshine Law applies to state/local records, while the federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) applies only to federal agencies.
The Missouri Sunshine Law (Chapter 610, RSMo) is the state’s primary legal framework for ensuring government transparency. It mandates that meetings, records, and votes of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless a specific legal exception applies.
Meeting minutes and organization documents such as financials are public information. A simple request for documents is usually all that is required to get them, but if a government organization refuses to grant the requested documents, then a formal written request should be made. A written request is a legal binding document for government organizations.
Your rights as a Missouri citizen include:
- Access to Records: Any member of the public can request access to or copies of public records without providing a reason for the request.
- Open Meetings: Most gatherings of a quorum of a public body to discuss public business must be open to the public. There are exceptions such as personnel issues.
- Meeting Notices: Public bodies must typically provide at least 24 hours’ notice of a meeting, including the time, date, place, and a tentative agenda.
- Recording: Attendees are generally allowed to audio and video record open public meetings.
Three-Day Rule: A Custodian of Records must respond to a sunshine records request as soon as possible, but no later than the end of the third business day after receiving it. Sunshine laws are enforced by the Missouri Attorney General Office. Complaints of non compliance can be submitted at ago.mo.gov or call 573-751-3321
Legislative season continues this week in Jefferson City, but this is also the very important wind up for election season. The primary elections will be in August, but who is on the ballot, is determined right now. The filing period for the August Missouri primary election is open until March 31, 2026.
Local elections are coming up on Tuesday, April 7. These include questions on taxes, local board elections and the SB3 property tax freeze issue. Ninety-seven of Missouri’s 114 counties will vote on potential property tax freeze credits.
–Paul Hamby
Maysville
