District of Columbia FOIA Laws

District of Columbia Sunshine Act

The District of Columbia Sunshine Act provides the public with a right of access to meetings of D.C. government bodies. It permits any member of the public to attend the meetings of "any department, agency, board or commission" of the District government. It also entitles you to inspect and copy transcripts of meetings, but it does not impose specific notice requirements on government bodies. 

In the District of Columbia Sunshine Act a meeting is defined as any gathering at which official action of any kind is taken including hearings. It is not specifically stated whether or not telephone, email, or other electronic communication can constitute as a "meeting" for the purposes of the open-meetings requirements.

The District of Columbia Freedom of Information Act

The District of Columbia Freedom of Information Act of1976 is a series of laws designed to guarantee that the public has access to the public records of governmental bodies in Washington, D.C. Everyone is entitled to full and complete information regarding the affairs of government and the official acts of those who represent them as public officials and employees. Anyone can request public documents in Washington, D.C.