Ohio’s Public Records and Open Meetings laws, collectively known as the “Sunshine Laws,” give Ohioans access to government meetings and records. The Ohio Attorney General’s Office helps public officials and citizens understand their rights and responsibilities under these laws.
The Public Records Unit (PRU) is housed in the Constitutional Offices Section and consists of attorneys and administrative staff. The PRU receives inquiries from fellow AGO employees, clients, constituents, public offices, and the media, and provides guidance and non-legal advice to these individuals and offices regarding the Ohio's Sunshine Laws. The Unit assists with the processing of public records requests received by the Attorney General’s Office.
The Attorney General’s Office provides Sunshine Laws Training, which is a free training for public officials and others interested in open government. This training is also available online. The office also created a model public records policy that local governments and institutes can adopt or use as a guide to create their own public records policies.
Additionally, the office annually publishes the Sunshine Laws Manual, which can help answer questions about Ohio's open government laws. This booklet is intended as a guide, but because much of open government laws come from case law or the interpretation of statutes by the courts, we encourage local governments to seek guidance from their legal counsel when specific legal questions about these laws arise.
The Public Records Unit can be reached at 614-466-2872.