The Nebraska Public Records Law is a series of laws designed to guarantee that the public has access to public records of government bodies at all levels in Nebraska.  Sections 84-712 – 84-712.09 of the Nebraska Revised Statutes define the law.  The basic rule for open public records in Nebraska provides that “except as otherwise expressly provided by statute, all citizens of this state, and all other persons interested in the examination of the public records . . . are hereby fully empowered and authorized to:

• examine the same, and make memoranda, copies using their own copying or photocopying equipment and abstracts therefrom, all free of charge, during the hours the respective offices may be kept open for the ordinary transaction of business, and
• except if federal copyright law otherwise provides, obtain copies of public records during the hours the respective offices may be kept open for the ordinary transaction of business.”

The Nebraska Open Meetings Act under statutes 84.1407 – 84.1414 of the Nebraska Code provides the methods by which public meetings are to be conducted.  The statement of purpose of the Open Meetings Act states, “it is hereby declared to be the policy of this state that the formation of public policy is public business and may not be conducted in secret.  Every meeting of a public body shall be open to the public in order that citizens may exercise their democratic privilege of attending and speaking at meetings of public bodies, except as otherwise provided by the Constitution of Nebraska, federal statutes, and the Open Meetings Act.”