What is the purpose of a sunshine or open meetings law in local government?

• A. To require meetings be closed to protect privacy.
• B. To require meetings of public bodies to be open to the public, with proper notice and public participation opportunities.
• C. To regulate minutes retention.
• D. To provide funding for public meetings.

Answer: (B)

Sunshine or open meetings laws exist to ensure government actions are conducted in public view. They require public bodies to hold meetings that are open to the public, with advance notice and an agenda, and to provide opportunities for public participation. This makes decisions more transparent and accountable, allowing residents to observe, understand how a decision is formed, and have a chance to weigh in before it’s made. The idea is not to close meetings or hide deliberations; closing meetings to protect privacy is the opposite of what these laws aim for. While keeping minutes is important, that function is not the primary purpose of sunshine laws, and providing funding for meetings isn’t what these laws are about.