The Spirit of Oregon's Public Meetings Law Understanding the letter of the Public Meetings Law is critical. Equally important is understanding and committing to the spirit of that law. Public bodies should approach the law with openness in mind.
Open meetings help citizens understand decisions and build trust in government.
It is better to comply with the spirit of the law and keep deliberations open. As a result, every state and the District of Columbia enacted laws requiring government to conduct its business openly, rather than behind closed doors. Open government laws benefit both government and the public. Such understanding leads to greater trust in government by its citizens. Conversely, officials who attempt to keep their deliberations hidden from public scrutiny create cynicism, erode public trust and discourage involvement.