How Do You Request Documents Under The Sunshine Law?
The “Government in the Sunshine” Act was passed in 1976 with the purpose of ensuring openness in government on all levels. Essentially, it ensures that any deliberative agencies open meetings to the public, give reasonable notice of the meeting, and take minutes of meetings. Anyone can request documents under the Sunshine Law, and violation of the law by agencies can result in civil and criminal penalties. Try first to contact the records custodian of the agency and ask for the documents you seek if its a local agency. The agency has the right to charge you a reasonable fee for copying and research time, but you have the right to know an estimate of that cost. However, you may also request that they make the documents available for you to view, thereby eliminating the need for copies. Follow up with a formal written request if your first attempt is ignored. You can usually locate a form online by going to either your state’s attorney general’s website or visiting the Federal Register (
