open records law

n. a statute that guarantees the public has access to information held by governments

Notes

The types of materials that fall under the scope of open records laws are often much more encompassing than what may be considered a formal record. Open records laws generally provide access to any information in a governmental agency, provided that the information is not excluded on the basis of privacy, confidentiality, security, or a need to protect specific government activities or resources, such as procurement, investigation, or archaeological sites.