Missouri’s Sunshine Law is the embodiment of Missouri’s commitment to openness in government. Chapter 610 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri is the foundation of what has become known as Missouri’s Sunshine Law.
This page is a resource to help Missourians understand the Missouri Sunshine Law and its implications for public and quasi-public governmental bodies, members of those bodies, those that conduct business with a public governmental body, and private citizens. Read more about the Missouri Sunshine Law…
If you would like to make a Sunshine request to obtain records from our office, please email sunshinerequest@ago.mo.gov. If you would like to make a request from another public governmental body you will need to contact the agency that created and/or retains the public record you would like to inspect. For example, if you would like to request meeting minutes from your city, you will need to contact your city for that information. The Missouri Attorney General’s Office is not the repository for all public records in the state of Missouri, and we cannot provide a requester with access to records from other public governmental bodies. However, if you have already attempted to obtain records from a public governmental body directly and have not been given access, you may file a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office.
Note for Residents of Jackson County, Missouri
If you are a resident of Jackson County seeking information regarding a recent change in your property tax values or tax assessment information, please contact the Jackson County Assessment Department at the contact information below. Chapter 138, RSMo, provides rules for property assessment appeals to a county board of equalization and further appeals to the State Tax Commission. Those statute may provide guidance for how a case may be presented and evidence obtained during the various stage of a property tax appeal. In addition, you may consider contacting the Board of Equalization for a continuance of your hearing if you have already filed an appeal of your assessment.
Jackson County, Missouri
415 East 12th Street, 1st Floor Mezzanine (1M)
Kansas City, Missouri 64106-2752
Each public governmental body is required to have a custodian of records who is responsible for responding to public records requests. In order for individuals to have access to public records, each public governmental body is required to make their custodian’s name and contact information available upon request.
The Missouri Sunshine Law does not require that an open records request be submitted in a specific format. However, our office encourages requesters to make their requests in writing (letter, email, etc.) so they can maintain a record of what they requested, and when. If you would like some assistance in drafting a request for public records you can view our sample language forms to assist with your request.
The Attorney General is authorized to pursue enforcement of the Missouri Sunshine Law. If you believe a public governmental body has not fulfilled its obligations under the Sunshine Law, you may submit a complaint to our office for review. Please understand that the Attorney General cannot act as your attorney. The office represents the state’s interests in ensuring that public meetings and records are open to the extent provided by law.