Sunshine Fest 2026

Carnage: DOGE, populism, and backslide
Room 258 (2nd Floor)
A discussion about the impact of political forces on freedom of information, including DOGE purges, populist regimes around the world, and trickle down to the states – and how to reverse the tide.

• Moderator: Margaret Kwoka, Ohio State University
• Blanca Lilia Ibarra, former director of the Instituto Nacional de Acceso a la Información (Mexico)
• Barbara Petersen, Florida Center for Government Accountability

Vexing dilemma
Room 222 (2nd floor)
How do we mitigate the harm of unduly burdensome requests on agencies without restricting the flow of information? Solutions will be laid out from a two-year study, and then audience members will get to vote on the best ones and suggest others. We also learn from the UK – one of the first countries to address vexatious requests by statute.

• Shelley Kimball, Johns Hopkins University, will moderate the audience discussion (co-author of two-year study on vexatious requests)
• Colleen Murphy, Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission
• Warren Seddon, director of FOI and Transparency, United Kingdom Information Commissioner’s Office

Court transparency
Room 232 (2nd floor)
Should the judiciary be subject to public record laws (it is in some states/nations)? Can we demand transparency via state constitutions that require courts be open?

• Moderator: Ally Jarmanning, WBUR Boston
• Gabe Roth, Fix the Court

Tech lightning demonstrations
Room 262 (2nd floor)
Showcase of digital tools and other products geared toward improving the public records process, for requesters and agencies alike.

• Moderator: Chris Amico, MuckRock

FOIA at 60
Room 258 (2nd floor)
As the U.S. Freedom of Information Act turns 60 this year, we look back at where it has worked, and where it hasn’t. We also honor, through the FOIA Hall of Fame, those who have made a difference.

• Tom Susman, American Bar Association

FOI journalism
Room 222 (2nd Floor)
Journalists who cover freedom of information provide suggestions for how news organizations can better explain government transparency and empower the public.

• Moderator: Anna Massoglia, MuckRock
• Heather Brooke, City University of London
• Nate Jones, The Washington Post
• Jason Leopold, Bloomberg News
• Alex Walters, The State News, Michigan State University

Open meetings
Room 232 (2nd Floor)
Challenges in open meeting laws in the states – how do we ensure the public’s business is conducted in public?

• Speakers TBD

Commercial partnerships
Room 262 (2nd Floor)
Freedom of information laws grease the nation’s economic machine. How can civil society and commercial information providers work together to advance their mutual interests?

• Moderator: Amy Kristin Sanders, Penn State
• Pete Carroll, Cortality
• Richard Varn, Coalition for Sensible Public Records Access

AI: Threats and opportunities
Room 258 (2nd Floor)
A look at how artificial intelligence is being applied by requesters and agencies to improve the process, and the unintended consequences.

• Moderator: Seraphina Feron, MuckRock
• Adam Marshall, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press
• Brian Thompson, Relativity
• Liz Wagenseller, Pennsylvania Office of Open Records

Litigation, past and future
Room 222 (2nd floor)
Attorneys recap major decisions affecting freedom of information at the state, federal and global levels, and where it could go in the future.

• Moderator: Frank LoMonte, CNN
• Chuck Tobin, Ballard-Spahr
• Matt Topic, Loevy & Loevy

Police transparency
Room 232 (2nd Floor)
A look at the state of law enforcement transparency, including access to disciplinary records and body cam video.

• Moderator: Dillon Bergin, MuckRock
• Samantha Hamilton, Atlanta Community Press Collective

Open data
Room 262 (2nd Floor)
Advances in affirmative disclosure. Why wait for a request? Post it online first!

• Moderator: Elizabeth Clemmons, MuckRock
• Lindita Camaj, University of Florida
• Amanda Keys Norman, Johns Hopkins University
• Denice Ross, Federation of American Scientists

Criminalizing FOI
Room 258 (2nd Floor)
This session will focus on requesters who were sued, jailed, banned or fined for asking for government information.

• Moderator: Kirstin McCudden, Freedom of the Press Foundation
• Will Fries, The Watershed Observer (Maryland)
• Elouise McDaniel, retired school teacher
• Haruna Mohammed Salisu, WikkiTimes (Nigeria)

Immigration secrecy
Room 256 (2nd floor)
The state of transparency in the U.S. immigration system.

• Raul Pinto, American Immigration Council
• (Reached out to DHS, but they declined)

Access strategies
Room 222 (2nd floor)
Practical tips and insights from the pros on how to acquire public records.

• Moderator: Kelly Kauffman, MuckRock
• Jason Leopold, Bloomberg News
• Cam Rodriguez, MuckRock

Research revelations
Room 422 (4th floor)
Top research in freedom of information is presented, shedding light on the landscape and prompting more questions to be studied. Includes winners of the Brechner Journal of Civic Information research competition.

• Moderator: Ahmed Alrawi, Penn State University
• Multitude of top FOI researchers, including Erin Coyle of Arizona State University, Shelley Kimball of Johns Hopkins, and Amy Sanders, Penn State University.

Agency best practices
Room 256 (2nd floor)
Practical tips and advice for public record custodians on how to improve workflow and process.

• Speakers TBD

Advice for the advisers
Room 258 (2nd floor)
Members of the federal FOIA Advisory Committee present their latest recommendations and ask the audience for feedback. On the right track, or off the rails?

Power tool
Room 222 (2nd floor)
Learn how to create your own AI-based “RAG” to find the existence of records in your agency, locale, or interest area.

• Adam Marshall, Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Vendor demonstrations
Room 422 (4th floor)
Commercial vendors on hand to demonstrate their wares for records platforms and other tools.

• Coordinator: Chris Amico, MuckRock