Montana Open Records

Note: According to this study, Montana currently ranks 45 out of the 50 states in terms of its sunshine, very close to the bottom of a very dark basement.

Montana laws and court cases

State Statute

Open Government Guide to Montana Open Records Law by The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Letter Generator

Generate an open records request that conforms to Montana's requirements

Exemptions

Document types exempted from public access.

Contacts (where to send your request)

Montana City Clerks

Montana County Clerks

Montana School Superintendents

Sunshine Activist Interview

Montana citizen Gregg Smith has been interviewed for his work with open records. Read his interview, and those from other Sunshine Activists, here.

Blogs, websites and resources that use open records

Electric City Weblog

Montana Freedom of Information hotline "To contact The Montana FOI Hotline, call 406-442-8670."

Press

Head to Sunshine Review for the most recent open record updates in Montana.

September 22, 2008: Agency offers partial response to FOIA request

September 13, 2008: Missoula County posts Plum Creek easement information

August 28, 2008: County appeals in Plum Creek case

August 15, 2008: Lawyer's disciplinary records aren't public, Mont. justices decide

July 20, 2008: Judge was right to open city's draft documents

July 18, 2008: City manager responds to public records ruling

March 19, 2008: National Sunshine Week and the Public’s Right to Know

March 18, 2008: We must keep the sun shining on government

March 16, 2008: Guest Opinion: Keep fighting for freedom of information

December 7, 2007: Montana Launches E-Records Committee

November 27, 2007: Online records aid county

November 11, 2007: From the editor: From wildlife to watchdog - it's all in a day's work

November 4, 2007: Republicans Testing Schweitzer’s Openess

November 4, 2007: Most of governor's records requests come from his opposition

November 3, 2007: City charging $100 deposit to review e-mails

October 20, 2007: Gazette appeals D'Alton ruling

October 11, 2007: Missoula City Council members prohibited from emailing each other during meetings

October 3, 2007: Lawsuit alleges denial of records

June 5, 2007: Bring secret holds, reform act into the light (Opinion column)

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