Ohio’s Sunshine Laws and the role of the AGO

Ohio’s Public Records and Open Meetings laws, collectively known as the state’s “Sunshine Laws,” give citizens access to government records and meetings. These laws allow citizens to monitor their elected officials and governmental agencies at every level, making them fundamental to democracy. The Ohio Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is committed to these ideals; we help citizens see and know what their government is doing by providing:

• The Sunshine Laws Manual, a comprehensive guidebook published annually.
• Three-hour trainings that cover the Sunshine Laws in depth. Trainings are offered as bimonthly virtual webinars and on-demand videos. Trainings are free, are available to the public, and fulfill the training requirement for elected officials or their designees.  Sunshine Laws Training Attendance Reports are accessible 72 hours after completing the training to obtain proof of attendance.
• A model public-records policy that local governments can use as a guide when creating their own policies, and a model policy for law enforcement agencies to use as a guide on charging for production of video records.