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Municipal Technical Advisory Service (MTAS)

Compliance with the Tennessee Open Meetings Act

Reference Number: MTAS-418
Reviewed Date: 06/23/2022

The Tennessee Open Meetings Act (hereinafter "TOMA") is commonly referred to as the “Open Meetings Law” or the “Sunshine Law,” and it is one of the most comprehensive open meetings laws in the country. The statute declares that all public policy and public business decisions must be made in meetings that are open to the public. The TOMA not only requires that meetings be open to the public but also requires adequate public notice and thorough minutes of such meetings. This section explains the scope and application of this law so that city officials may understand how to perform their duties in compliance with the statute.