Missouri Revised Statutes

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 610.011 (2026)

Liberal construction of law to be public policy

✓ current as of May 2026

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610.011. Liberal construction of law to be public policy. — 1. It is the public policy of this state that meetings, records, votes, actions, and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless otherwise provided by law. Sections 610.010 to 610.200 shall be liberally construed and their exceptions strictly construed to promote this public policy.

2. Except as otherwise provided by law, all public meetings of public governmental bodies shall be open to the public as set forth in section 610.020, all public records of public governmental bodies shall be open to the public for inspection and copying as set forth in sections 610.023 to 610.026, and all public votes of public governmental bodies shall be recorded as set forth in section 610.015.

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(L. 1987 S.B. 2, A.L. 2004 S.B. 1020, et al.)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 38 cases (7 in the last 5 years), 1988–2025 · leading case: Spradlin v. City of Fulton, 982 S.W.2d 255 (Mo. 1998).

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Spradlin v. City of Fulton, 982 S.W.2d 255 (Mo. 1998). · cites it 18× “" Section 610.011, RSMo. Section 610.021(2) is an exception to the open meetings law because it authorizes closed meetings when Missouri law and public policy expressly favor open meetings.”

Rachal Laut, f/k/a Rachal Govro, & John M. Soellner v. City of Arnold, 491 S.W.3d 191 (Mo. 2016). · cites it 4× “See also § 610.011 (“Except as otherwise provided by law, … all public records of public governmental bodies shall be open to the public for inspection and copying as set forth in sections 610.”

Pulitzer Publ'g Co. v. Missouri State Employees' Ret. Sys., 927 S.W.2d 477 (Mo. Ct. App. 1996). · cites it 6× “Section 610.011 provides: 1. It is the public policy of this state that meetings, records, votes, actions, and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless otherwise provided by law.”

Steve Cox v. City of Chillicothe & Rick Knouse, 575 S.W.3d 253 (Mo. Ct. App. 2019). · cites it 4× “banc 2016) (quoting 5 section 610.011)(emphasis added). "But where, as here, the issue is whether a penalty and attorney's fees should be imposed, the 'portions of the Sunshine Law that allow for imposition of a civil penalty and an award of attorney fees and costs are penal in…”

Kansas City Star Co. v. Fulson, 859 S.W.2d 934 (Mo. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 2× “The Board was not in violation of § 610.011, because no public business was discussed or public policy formulated at its closed meeting.”

Nat'l Council of Teachers Quality, Inc. v. Curators of the Univ. of Missouri, 446 S.W.3d 723 (Mo. Ct. App. 2014). · cites it 4× “§§ 610.011, 610.023.2. “A public record is defined generally in the Sunshine Law as including any record retained by any public governmental body.”

State ex rel. Daly v. Info. Tech. Servs. Agency of St. Louis, 417 S.W.3d 804 (Mo. Ct. App. 2013). · cites it 4× “Section 610.011 provides: 1. It is the public policy of this state that meetings, records, votes, actions, and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless otherwise provided by law.”

Tipton v. Barton, 747 S.W.2d 325 (Mo. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 2× “” § 610.011(2) RSMo 1986 (1987 Supp.). We’ve already determined that the monthly billing statements are retained by a public governmental body.”

North Kansas City Hosp. Bd. of Trs. v. St. Luke's Northland Hosp., 984 S.W.2d 113 (Mo. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 2× “§ 610.011(1). “Hence, public records must be presumed open to public inspection unless they contain information which clearly fits within one of the exemptions set out in § 610.”

News-Press & Gazette Co. v. Cathcart, 974 S.W.2d 576 (Mo. Ct. App. 1998). · cites it 2× “§ 610.011. Missouri’s Sunshine Law, Chapter 610, reflects the state’s commitment to openness in government.”

Bauer v. Kincaid, 759 F. Supp. 575 (W.D. Mo. 1991). “In interpreting this provision of law and all other provisions of Chapter 610, § 610.011 reads in pertinent part: It is the public policy of this state that meetings, records, votes, actions and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public, unless otherwise…”

State ex rel. Birk v. City of Jackson, 907 S.W.2d 181 (Mo. Ct. App. 1995). · cites it 2× “) Section 610.011 states that the exceptions to the statute requiring open meetings and open records shall be strictly construed.”

Show all 38 citing cases →

— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 610.011(1) — 4 cases

Spradlin v. City of Fulton, 982 S.W.2d 255 (Mo. 1998). “" Section 610.011, RSMo. Section 610.021(2) is an exception to the open meetings law because it authorizes closed meetings when Missouri law and public policy expressly favor open meetings.”

North Kansas City Hosp. Bd. of Trs. v. St. Luke's Northland Hosp., 984 S.W.2d 113 (Mo. Ct. App. 1998). “§ 610.011(1). “Hence, public records must be presumed open to public inspection unless they contain information which clearly fits within one of the exemptions set out in § 610.”

Pulitzer Publ'g Co. v. Missouri State Employees' Ret. Sys., 927 S.W.2d 477 (Mo. Ct. App. 1996). “Section 610.011 provides: 1. It is the public policy of this state that meetings, records, votes, actions, and deliberations of public governmental bodies be open to the public unless otherwise provided by law.”

City of St. Louis v. City of Bridgeton, 806 S.W.2d 717 (Mo. Ct. App. 1991).

— Mo. Rev. Stat. § 610.011(2) — 3 cases

Tipton v. Barton, 747 S.W.2d 325 (Mo. Ct. App. 1988). “” § 610.011(2) RSMo 1986 (1987 Supp.). We’ve already determined that the monthly billing statements are retained by a public governmental body.”

City of St. Louis v. City of Bridgeton, 806 S.W.2d 717 (Mo. Ct. App. 1991).

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