For the budding community activist, you must understand that there is a difference between a Freedom of Information Act, and Ohio’s Sunshine Laws.  The FOIA is request for information from a federal agency, while the Sunshine Laws deal with the State of Ohio’s state and local agencies and public officials.

Here are two website that will provide the details for each request:

https://www.citizen.org/our-work/litigation/litigation-how-file-foia-request

https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Files/Publications-Files/Publications-for-Legal/Sunshine-Law-Publications/Sunshine-Laws-Manual.aspx

The first paragraph of the Sunshine Law manual, written by the current Attorney, gives the basis for this law:

“My number one priority as Attorney General is to protect Ohio families. My office does this in a variety of ways, but one important way is by fostering a spirit of open government and by promoting Ohio’s Public Records Law and Open Meetings Law. Together, these laws are known as the “Ohio Sunshine Laws,” and they are among the most comprehensive open government laws in the nation.”

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