In Colorado, pursuant to the Colorado Open Records Act (CORA) under C.R.S. 24-72-201 et seq., it is declared to be the public policy of the state that all public records shall be open for inspection by any person at reasonable times, except as provided in part 2 or as otherwise specifically provided by law.  The CORA is a series of laws designed to guarantee that the public has access to public records of government bodies at all levels in Colorado.  The law was enacted in 1969.  It applies to “the state, its agencies and institutions, cities, counties, cities and counties, towns, school districts, special districts, and housing authorities.”

Pursuant to the Colorado Sunshine Law, 24-6-101 to 24-6-402, it is declared to be a matter of statewide concern and the policy of the state that the formation of public policy is public business and may not be conducted in secret.  The Colorado Sunshine Law for open meetings legislates the methods by which public meetings are conducted.  The law was passed in 1973.  It was finally modified to include the current open meetings laws in 1996.