The Colorado Sunshine Law begins: "It is declared to be a matter of statewide concern and the policy of this state that the formation of public policy is public business and may not be conducted in secret."

In a summary prepared by the Office of Legislative Legal Services, the Sunshine Law generally requires that any state or local governmental body that meets to discuss public business, or to take formal action, do so in meetings that are open to the public.

Under the law, "meeting" refers to any kind of gathering, convened to discuss public business, whether in person, by telephone, electronically, or by other means of communication. Electronic mail messages can be considered "meetings' under the statute. The statute does not apply to chance meetings or social occasions where public business is not the central purpose of the meeting.

Colorado's Sunshine Law (CRS 24-6-401) defines "local public body" to include any board, committee, commission or other advisory, policy making, rule-making, or formally constituted body. In other words, meetings of a municipality's committees are to be open to the public.

It further defines an open meeting where three or more members of the local body [such as the Cedaredge Board of Trustees] are gathered to conduct business is subject to the Sunshine Law. Such meetings require notice, posted at the designated place at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

The law excludes meetings by administrative staff or faculty, and these meetings are not open to the public.