The Transparency Project of Georgia empowers citizens, journalists, and public officials with resources to enforce Georgia's Open Meetings and Open Records Acts.
Stories and resources that help Georgians understand and exercise their right to open government.
News
In a major victory for transparency in Georgia, the City of Cumming was ordered by a judge to pay more than $12,000 in fines for violating the Georgia Open Meetings Act.
August 26, 2014
Read more →Editorial
Patrick Henry warned that citizens can never be free when the transactions of their rulers are concealed. Open government is the foundation of American liberty.
April 16, 2014
Read more →Resources
Government bodies may only close meetings for specific, limited purposes. Learn when executive sessions are permitted and what rules apply under Georgia law.
Resource Page
Read more →Resources
Georgia residents have significant rights to access police records. Discover how to submit open records requests to law enforcement agencies.
Resource Page
Read more →Editorials
Award-winning editorials on government transparency, open meetings, and citizens' rights — free to republish by any media outlet.
Resource Page
Read more →Resources
Georgia law requires government bodies to publicly post meeting notices, publish agendas, and maintain accessible minutes. Understand your rights.
Resource Page
Read more →When citizens know what their government is doing, they can make informed decisions at the ballot box and in their communities.
Sunlight is the best disinfectant. Open records and open meetings prevent abuse of power and hold officials accountable.
Georgia's sunshine laws are not suggestions — they are enforceable statutes with real penalties for violations.
Every Georgia citizen, not just journalists, has the right to request public documents and attend public meetings.
The Transparency Project of Georgia is a research and advocacy initiative dedicated to promoting open government across the state. We provide citizens, journalists, and public officials with information, resources, and editorial content related to Georgia's Open Meetings Act and Open Records Act.
Our mission is grounded in the belief that government belongs to the governed. Elected officials are entrusted with public power and must exercise it in the open, so citizens can make informed decisions about their community.
Georgia's Sunshine Laws consist primarily of two statutes: the Georgia Open Meetings Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-14-1 et seq.) and the Georgia Open Records Act (O.C.G.A. § 50-18-70 et seq.). These laws require that most government meetings be open to the public and that most government documents be accessible upon request.
The Georgia First Amendment Foundation (GFAF) publishes comprehensive guides — commonly called the Red Book, Blue Book, and Green Book — that explain how these laws apply to citizens, law enforcement, and public schools respectively.
Georgia law gives every citizen the right to inspect and obtain copies of public records held by government agencies. To make a request, contact the records custodian of the relevant agency — this can often be done by phone, email, or formal letter.
Government agencies are required to respond within three business days, either by providing the records or explaining why they are unavailable. If your request is denied, the agency must cite the specific code section it relies upon. For help with a denied request, visit our Citizens' Guide page or contact the Georgia Attorney General's Open Government Mediation Program.
Under the Georgia Open Meetings Act, government bodies are generally required to meet in public. Executive sessions (closed meetings) are only permitted for a narrow set of topics, including pending litigation with a formal threat of suit, specific personnel matters (only discussions among members or interviews of executive candidates), and real estate acquisition or disposal.
A closed meeting must be authorized by a majority vote in open session. All votes on matters discussed in executive session must still be taken in public. Learn more on our Executive Sessions page.
Most police records in Georgia are public under the Open Records Act. Initial incident reports are public record, as are accident reports (with certain access restrictions for non-media requesters). Mugshots from law enforcement agencies became subject to a new affidavit requirement in 2014.
Some information is legitimately withheld, such as details that could compromise an active investigation or information about juvenile victims. The Georgia First Amendment Foundation's Blue Book, published in cooperation with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, provides a detailed guide for both citizens and law enforcement.
If a government agency denies your records request, first verify they have provided the specific legal code section justifying the denial — this is required by law. You can then make a second, more formal written request citing the Open Records Act and requesting the specific exemption cited.
If you continue to face resistance, contact the Georgia Attorney General's Open Government Mediation Program at (404) 656-7298. The program provides free mediation services and has handled hundreds of complaints. For legal action, you may also consult a private attorney familiar with Georgia sunshine laws.