Strengthen State Public Records Laws

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Example of highly redacted document released to public — Screenshot

The public has a right to access public records and government meetings at the state level.

Public records and open meetings laws allow journalists and the public to understand what state governments are up to by giving them access to government records and meetings.

But far too often, state officials ignore these laws. Journalists who request records or assert their right to attend public meetings are often shut out by refusals to comply, delays, or overbroad interpretations of exemptions. In some states, lawmakers are working to chip away at the public’s right of access to government records.

Tell US Virgin Island lawmakers to modernize public records laws
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Message: Dear Senator, I am writing to express support for the campaign led by journalist and U.S. Virgin Islands native Shirley L. Smith, and supported by press freedom and transparency organizations nationwide, as well as the VI Source, to modernize the territory’s public records and open meetings laws. U.S. Virgin Islands Sen. Marvin A. Blyden has indicated that he intends to spearhead legislative efforts to address these concerns. It is imperative that journalists and members of the public are afforded prompt and comprehensive access to their government and its records, including examining and obtaining copies of records, without excessive fees and costs, so they can hold their elected officials accountable. Transparency laws don’t work unless they have teeth. That means, among other things, efficient procedures to compel the government to comply with its obligations and meaningful penalties when it doesn’t. Many public records and open meetings laws around the country have been updated to include these kinds of provisions. The U.S. Virgin Islands, however, is one of the outliers, with laws that fall well short of contemporary standards. Smith and the organizations supporting her have submitted comprehensive proposals for reform in letters dated Dec. 5, 2025, and Sept. 12, 2025. I assume that Smith and the organizations are eager to assist in any way you deem appropriate and helpful. I encourage you to review the recommendations that have been submitted, confer with Sen. Blyden, and move quickly to improve transparency and accountability in the U.S. Virgin Islands. URLs are not allowed in this message.

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