Notice to Mayors: Action Needed

The Kentucky Office of Attorney General released a new 2025 Guide to the Kentucky Open Records and Open Meetings Acts on September 25, 2025. Mayors have a duty to distribute open records and open meetings publications to all elected officials and appointed board or commission members. KRS 65.055 requires mayors to distribute “Guide to Kentucky Open Records and Open Meetings Acts” and “Managing Government Records” within 60 days of when a new publication is released, a new appointment is made, or a new election is held. (January 1 for newly elected officials and the next meeting for new appointees). This distribution requirement applies to re-elected and re-appointed officials as well.

Mayors must also obtain a signed certificate of distribution from each person to whom the publications are provided. The certificate of distribution is on the last page of the “Guide to Open Records and Open Meetings Acts”. Mayors can provide publications by email to newly elected officials and newly appointed board or commission members who agree to receive documents electronically. However, the certification must be signed and provided to the mayor. The signature can be an electronic signature typed into the signature line, as authorized by KRS 369.107(4).

Once the mayor obtains the certificates of distribution, those must be emailed to the Kentucky Office of Attorney General at [email protected] or mailed to:

Open Records
Office of the Attorney General
700 Capitol Avenue, Suite 118
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
502.696.5300​

If legislative changes to the Kentucky Open Records or Open Meetings Acts occur, mayors are once again required to distribute the materials. The Kentucky League of Cities Department of Municipal Law will provide updated information when the mayor’s duty to distribute these materials is triggered.