A Public Policy of Open Government


The Florida Constitution safeguards every Floridian's right of access to government meetings and records. The comprehensive breadth and scope of our sunshine laws have served for many years as a model for the rest of the nation. In Florida, disclosure is the standard, unless the Legislature concludes that the public necessity compels an exemption from our strong open government laws.

The best way to ensure that government truly represents the people it serves is to keep the government open and accessible to those people. For several decades now, Florida has shown that openness is the key to building and maintaining public trust in the institutions of government. The Attorney General's Office is committed to maintaining and building upon this tradition of openness.

The Government in the Sunshine Manual is prepared on an annual basis by the Florida Attorney General's Office to serve as a guide to those seeking to become familiar with the requirements of the open government laws. It is intended for both governmental agencies and the citizens they serve.

This year's edition of the Manual incorporates court decisions, Attorney General Opinions, and legislation in place as of October 1, 2008.

Additional information about the Sunshine Law, including answers to frequently asked questions, is available through the Office of the Attorney General’s website: www.myfloridalegal.com.

Suggestions from users of this manual are welcomed and appreciated. Please forward comments to: The Office of the Attorney General, The Capitol, PL-01, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1050; telephone number (850) 245-0140.