State Senator Robert Martin (R - Passaic and Morris) sponsored a bill that will increase the public’s right to know what their government is doing. In 1975 New Jersey passed its Open Public Meeting Act, making it mandatory for governing bodies to allow the public watch them conduct business. In 2002, the state passed the Open Public Records Act, giving the public legal access to all paperwork considered public record. Known as the Sunshine Laws, their purpose is to stop governing bodies from conducting business behind closed doors. Advocates for open government believe that although these laws have made a big difference there are still too many loopholes. Bill S1219 proposes to add specific additional rules to law -- such as making comments from the general public mandatory during meetings. For more information or to sign a petition in support of the bill go to www.njsunshinelaw.com