Ever wondered why you can attend town council meetings, request public records, or watch government decision-making in action? It’s all thanks to Colorado’s Sunshine Laws—rules designed to keep government open, accessible, and accountable to the people.
What Are Sunshine Laws?
Sunshine Laws require government meetings, records, and decisions to be transparent. Citizens have a right to know when meetings are going to be held and what elected representatives are going to talk about. They also have a right to know what happened at a meeting, after the fact. In Colorado, these laws come from the Colorado Open Meetings Law (COML) and the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA). They ensure that citizens can see how decisions are made, how tax dollars are spent, and what their elected officials are doing.
Why Do They Matter?
• Encourage Public Participation – By keeping meetings open, the laws allow residents to voice their opinions and stay informed. Everyone’s opinion can be heard instead of just a few.
• Prevent Corruption – Transparency discourages unethical behavior, cronyism, and side deals.
• Promote Trust – When the government operates in the open, people have more confidence because they are “in the know” instead of relying on gossip or second-hand information.
• Hold Officials Accountable – If something isn’t right, citizens and journalists can investigate and demand change.
How You Can Use Them
Want to attend a council meeting? You can! Need public records for research? You have the right to request them and staff are happy to help. The more involved people are, the stronger and more responsive local government becomes. Colorado’s Sunshine Laws remind us that democracy works best in the open. So step into the sunshine, stay informed, and make your voice heard!
