Public Records

A judge ruled that the Missouri Attorney General’s office “knowingly and purposefully” violated the state’s open records law while it was being run by now-U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley. The motivation for breaking the law, the judge concluded, was concern that releasing the records could harm Hawley’s campaign.

Eric Schmitt’s office appears to be targeting the journalistic fact-checking process and research into social emotional learning at the University of Missouri, but has offered little public explanation for the requests. Free speech advocates say it's a “shocking” overstep of his authority.

Though the change was approved in late June, it will not take effect until July 2023. That gives court officials time to make sure the computer system can handle the traffic, and to reinforce the importance of redacting personal or sensitive information.

Lawmakers argued the change was needed to ensure donors can maintain privacy while giving to causes they believe in.

The state of Missouri is defending itself with an argument that could deliver "fatal blows" to the Sunshine Law: As long as officials don’t bother to keep records in the first place, they can’t be held responsible for refusing to turn them over to the public.

During the 2022 legislative session, Gov. Mike Parson’s office is pushing for a bill that would increase the costs of obtaining records from the government.

Attorney General Eric Schmitt requested that Springfield Public Schools provide records of where it incorporated elements of critical race theory in its training and class work. The district says Schmitt is using the courts “to attack public education."

Until now, many state agencies have charged for "attorney review time" to determine whether requested records contain privileged information or information otherwise exempt from disclosure.