PRINTER'S NO. 358 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA SENATE RESOLUTION No.37 Session of 2025 INTRODUCED BY DUSH, STEFANO AND CULVER, MARCH 10, 2025 REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, MARCH 10, 2025 A RESOLUTION Designating the week of March 16 through 22, 2025, as "Sunshine Week" in Pennsylvania. WHEREAS, The currently enacted version of Pennsylvania's Sunshine Act developed from legislation introduced in and originally passed by the Senate in 1998; and WHEREAS, Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law also has its genesis in the Senate, with legislation introduced and passed as Senate Bill No. 1 in 2008; and WHEREAS, Both the Sunshine Act and the Right-to-Know Law ensure public access to government information through public meetings and public documents; and WHEREAS, Public access to meetings and records is fundamental to our residents' ability to be well-informed of government actions and to hold government officials accountable; and WHEREAS, The Sunshine Act requires public agencies to hold public meetings any time a quorum deliberates agency business or takes official action; and WHEREAS, The Sunshine Act requires public agencies to allow 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 the public to comment on matters of agency business and to record public meetings; and WHEREAS, The Right-to-Know Law is based on the presumption that records in possession of government agencies are public records and must be provided to the public within the framework of the law; and WHEREAS, The Right-to-Know Law provides residents with a fair, simple, no-cost method to appeal when a request has been denied; therefore be it RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of March 16 through 22, 2025, as "Sunshine Week" in Pennsylvania; and be it further RESOLVED, That all residents of this Commonwealth are urged to join in this observance of the basic principles of an open and accessible government in a free society. 20250SR0037PN0358 - 2 - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15