Massachusetts_Public_Records_Law
Massachusetts Public Records Law is a law in Massachusetts detailing what kinds of documents are actually public records.[1] It is a state law that is similar to the federal Freedom of Information Act, which was signed into law by Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966.[2] According to the Boston Globe newspaper in 2016, "Massachusetts is currently the one state in the country where the Legislature, judiciary, and governor’s office all claim to be completely exempt from the [public records] law."[3] Many voters would welcome more government transparency. For example, in 2020, a "ballot question in 16 house districts found overwhelming support for increasing transparency."[4] Interest groups focusing on the issue include Act on Mass and the New England First Amendment Coalition.[4]