- All records and meetings of Louisiana public entities are public, unless specifically exempted in law.
- When there is a question about whether a record or meeting should be open to the public, the law should be interpreted in favor of openness.
- A public meeting is a convening of a majority of a public body to deliberate, act or receive information on a matter over which the body has supervision, control, jurisdiction or advisory power.
- A public body may meet behind closed doors in “executive session” only for reasons specified in law. Two-thirds of the members present must vote to go into executive session.
- Public bodies must establish an annual calendar of regular meetings at the beginning of the year. At least 24 hours before any type of meeting including regular, special or rescheduled – the date, time, location and agenda must be posted.
- Each public agency has a “custodian” in control of the agency’s records who receives and processes public record requests.
- A citizen may examine records at no charge.
- A public agency may set reasonable fees for copies of records. State agency rates are set by the Commissioner of Administration. Otherwise, the law does not define what “reasonable rates” are, although courts have ruled some costs charged by public agencies were excessive.
- The custodian must provide a written response to public records requests within five days. If the record is immediately available, it should be provided immediately to the requestor.
- A person who has not received the public record requested or a written response within five days may begin legal proceedings in the district court where the custodian is located.
Top 10 Things to Know About Louisiana’s Sunshine Laws
Latest Publications
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05.19.2025
Legislators Should Strengthen, Not Undermine Louisiana’s Ethics and Disclosure Laws
- Ethics
- Legislature
In a legislative session that should focus on the state’s most pressing problems, Louisiana lawmakers are pursuing a wide-ranging rewrite of the state’s ethics code that would whittle away at the minimal protections enacted to safeguard against conflicts of interest, backroom dealing and corruption.
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05.16.2025
A Tighter Budget
- Budget & Taxes
- Education & Workforce
- Legislature
The Louisiana House backed a nearly $43 billion state operating budget that keeps many agencies at a largely standstill level of financing, continues the stipend that public school teachers have received for the last two years and adds money for a new voucher program backed by the governor.
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05.08.2025
Legislative Session Trends Revisited
- Legislature
Nearing the midpoint of the Louisiana Legislature’s annual regular session, lawmakers are debating more than 900 bills, continuing the trend of fewer filed bills. The fiscal session that began April 14 is designed to focus most heavily on Louisiana’s finances.