Sunshine law
Definition
A sunshine law, or open meetings act, requires most government meetings to be open to the public with advance notice and minutes, except for a narrow list of topics allowed to be discussed in closed executive session.
Why it matters
These laws only work if someone checks compliance. Most states rely on citizens, reporters, or watchdog groups to catch violations, since there's no active state monitoring of every local meeting. Penalties vary widely, from voided votes to fines, which shapes how seriously officials treat the rules.
Seen in the wild
In May 2024, community members sued the West Shore School District board in Pennsylvania under the state's Sunshine Act, alleging the board majority privately agreed to fire the district's attorney and hire a replacement without holding a properly noticed public or executive session.1