Any law library (law school, courthouse) — and many public libraries — will carry your state’s statute books. In addition, most state laws are now available online. Free online legal research sites such as findlaw.com can assist you in obtaining a copy of your state’s law. Two other sites are particularly worth mentioning:
- The National Freedom of Information Coalition Web site includes information and useful links to state FOI sources in every state.
- The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press publishes an online version of its 1,300-page, 50-state publication, Tapping Officials’ Secrets, that includes detailed explanations and legal analysis of state open meetings and open records law geared specifically to reporters. The appendix also includes the text for most state’s laws. Every student newsroom should have a hard copy of at least their own state’s guide.
Citations, by state
| Alabama | Ala. Code Sec. 13A-14-2 |
| Alaska | Alaska Statute Secs. 44.62.310 to 44.62.312 |
| Arizona | Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann Secs. 38-431 to 38-431.09 |
| Arkansas | Ark. Stat. Ann. Secs. 25-19-106 |
| California | Cal. Gov’t Code Secs. 9027 to 9031 (assembly and senate); 11120 to 11132 (state agencies); 54950 to 54963 |
| Colorado | Colo. Rev. Stat. Secs. 24-6-401, 24-6-402 |
| Connecticut | Conn. Gen. Stat. Ann. Secs. 1-225 to 1-240 |
| Delaware | Del. Code Ann. Tit. 29, Secs. 10001 to 10002; 10004 to 10005 |
| District of Columbia | D.C. Code Ann. Sec. 1-207.42 |
| Florida | Fla. Stat. Ann. Sec. 286.0115 |
| Georgia | Ga. Code Ann. Secs. 50-14-1 to 50-14-6 |
| Hawaii | Haw. Rev. Stat. Secs. 92-1 to 92-13 |
| Idaho | Idaho Code Secs. 67-2340 to 67-2347 |
| Illinois | 5 Ill. Rev. Stat. 120/1 to 120/6 |
| Indiana | Ind. Code Ann. Secs. 5-14-1.5-1 to 5-14-1.5-8 |
| Iowa | Iowa Code Ann. Secs. 21.1 to 21.11 |
| Kansas | Kan. Stat. Ann. Secs. 75-4317 to 75-4320a |
| Kentucky | Ky. Rev. Stat. Secs. 61.800 to 61.850 |
| Louisiana | La. Rev. Stat. Ann. Secs. 42:4.1 to 42:13 |
| Maine | Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. Tit. 1 Secs. 401 to 410 |
| Maryland | Md. State Gov’t Code Ann. Secs. 10-501 to 10-512 |
| Massachusetts | Mass. Gen. Laws Ann. Ch. 30A, Secs. 11A, 11A 1/2 (state); Ch. 34, Secs. 9F, 9G (county), Ch. 39, Secs. 23A to 24 (municipal) |
| Michigan | Mich. Stat. Ann. Secs. 15.261 to 15.275 |
| Minnesota | Minn. Stat. Ann. Secs. 13D.01 to 13D.07 |
| Mississippi | Miss. Code Ann. Secs. 25-41-1 to 25-41-17 |
| Missouri | Mo. Ann. Stat. Secs. 610.010 to 610.022 |
| Montana | Mont. Const. Art. II Sec. 9; Mont. Code. Ann. Secs. 2-3-201 to 2-3-221 |
| Nebraska | Neb. Rev. Stat. Secs. 84-1408 to 84-1414 |
| Nevada | Nev. Rev. Stat. Secs. 241.010 to 241.040 |
| New Hampshire | N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. Secs. 91-A:1 to 91-A:9 |
| New Jersey | N.J. Stat. Ann. Secs. 10:4-6 to 10:4-21 |
| New Mexico | N.M. Stat. Ann. Secs. 10-15-1 to 10-15-4 |
| New York | N.Y. Pub. Off. Law Secs. 100 to 111 |
| North Carolina | N.C. Gen. Stat. Secs. 143-318.9 to 143-318.18 |
| North Dakota | N.D. Const. Art. XI, Sec. 5; N.D. Cent. Code Secs. 44-04-19 to 44-04-21.3 |
| Ohio | Ohio Rev. Code Ann. Sec. 121.22 |
| Oklahoma | Okla. Stat. Ann. Tit. 25, Secs. 301 to 314 |
| Oregon | Or. Rev. Stat. Secs. 192.610 to 192.695 |
| Pennsylvania | Pa. Cons. Stat. Ann. Tit. 65 Secs. 701 to 71 |
| Rhode Island | R.I. Gen. Laws Secs. 42-46-1 to 42-46-14 |
| South Carolina | S.C. Code Ann. Secs. 30-4-60 to 30-4-110 |
| South Dakota | S.D. Codified Laws Ann. Secs. 1-25-1 to 1-25-9 |
| Tennessee | Tenn. Code Ann. Secs. 8-44-101 to 8-44-201 |
| Texas | Tex. Gov’t Code Ann. Secs. 551.001 to 551.146 |
| Utah | Utah Code Ann. Secs. 52-4-1 to 52-4-10 |
| Vermont | Vt. Stat. Ann. tit.1 Secs. 311 to 314 |
| Virginia | Va. Code Ann. Secs. 2.2-3707 to 2.2-3714 |
| Washington | Wash. Rev. Code Ann. Secs. 42.30.010 to 42.30.920 |
| West Virginia | W.Va. Code Secs. 6-9A-1 to 6-9A-12 |
| Wisconsin | Wis. Stat. Ann. Secs. 19.81 to 19.98 |
| Wyoming | Wyo. Stat. Ann. Secs. 16-4-401 to 16-4-407 |