Nearly every state has their own version of the Freedom of Information Act, referred to variously as Open Records, Open Meetings, Open Government or Sunshine laws. The watchdog organization The Freedom of Information Center at the University of Missouri surveyed the National Conference of State Legislatures in 2003 and found that at least 20 states have considered legislation to change open records laws since September 11.

In addition, the Marion Brechner Citizen Access Project, from the College of Journalism and Communications at the University of Florida, is host to a growing database. Site visitors can research the laws of individual states as well as compare the laws of different states. The site will eventually provide ratings, summaries, and the legal language of open meetings and public records law of the 50 United States and the District of Columbia.

Below you'll find a state by state listing of freedom of information-related laws, and guides on obtaining public records in your locale.

AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE DC FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY Previous Page

Alabama Alabama Open Records Law Alabama Open Meetings Law Alabama Access to Public Records: Alabama Archives Alaska Alaska Public Records Act Alaska Open Meetings LawAlaska Archives Arkansas Arkansas Attorney General Arizona Arizona Public Records Act Arizona Open Meetings Law California California Public Records Act Guidelines for Access to Public Records from California Attorney General's Office The Brown Act — California's Open Meetings Law Colorado FAQ on Open Records Law from the Colorado Attorney General Connecticut Connecticut Freedom Of Information Commission A Citizen's Guide to the Freedom Of Information Commission Washington, D.C. Office of the Corporation Council Delaware Delaware Freedom of Information Act Citizen's Freedom of Information Act Pamphlet Florida Florida Government in Sunshine Law Guide Georgia Georgia Attorney General Open Government Guide Georgia Public Records Law Georgia Open Meetings Act Hawaii Hawaii Office of Information Practices Using Hawaii's Freedom of Information Law Iowa Iowa Open Government Guide Iowa Open Records Law Iowa Open Meetings Law Idaho Idaho Public Records Law Manual Idaho Public Meetings Law Illinois Guide to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act Indiana Indiana Commission on Public Records Kansas Access to Kansas Open Records Kentucky Kentucky Open Government Louisiana Louisiana Public Records Law Louisiana Public Records Request Forms Massachusetts Massachusetts Government Access Division Maryland Maryland Open Government Maine Maine Freedom of Information Coalition Michigan Michigan's Freedom of Information Act Minnesota Minnesota Public Data Act Minnesota Open Meetings Law Missouri Missouri Sunshine Law Mississippi Mississippi Freedom of Information Act Montana Montana Open Records Law North Carolina North Carolina Public Records Law North Dakota North Dakota Open Records and Open Meetings Manual Nebraska Nebraska Records Statutes Nebraska Public Meetings Statutes New Hampshire New Hampshire Right to Know New Jersey New Jersey Open Public Records Act New Mexico New Mexico Public Records Acts New York New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Nevada Nevada Open Records Act Nevada Open Meetings Act Ohio Ohio Attorney General Guide to Sunshine Laws Oklahoma Oklahoma Public Records Act Oklahoma Public Records Act Oregon Oregon Public Records and Public Meetings Laws Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law Rhode Island Rhode Island Access to Public Records Rhode Island Open Meetings Law South Carolina South Carolina Freedom of Information Act South Dakota South Dakota Openess Task Force Tennessee Tennessee Open Records Act Texas Texas Attorney General Guide to Open Government Utah Utah Government Records Law Virginia Virginia Freedom of Information Advisory Council Vermont Vermont Public Records Law Washington Washington Freedom of Information Act Policy Wisconsin Wisconsin Public Records and Open Meetings West Virginia State of West Virginia Administrative Code Wyoming State of Wyoming Public Records Act