Florida Sunshine Manual Missing as Open Government Questions Grow
Florida’s annual Government in the Sunshine Manual has not been released, leaving public agencies and records workers without the newest guide to the state’s open government laws.
The manual is usually prepared by the state attorney general’s office with help from the Florida First Amendment Foundation. It explains Florida’s rules for public records and public meetings. It also includes changes made through court decisions and new laws.
The guide has been published every year for decades. The most recent edition remains the one released by the previous administration. No newer edition has appeared.
Workers Say They Need the Updated Guide
Bobby Block, executive director of the First Amendment Foundation, said his organization receives questions about the missing manual almost every day.
The people asking include records custodians from sheriff’s offices, county departments, cities, school boards, soil and water districts, and other government agencies. These workers handle public records requests and help organize public meetings.
Without an updated guide, Block said, it becomes harder for them to understand how recent court rulings and legislative changes affect their duties.
The manual is not required by state law. Still, it has long been published because state officials and public interest groups viewed it as an important service to Floridians.
Block said the guide has been produced out of a sense of responsibility and pride. He added that making it a legal requirement could help ensure that future editions are released on a regular basis.
No Clear Explanation for the Delay
The attorney general’s office confirmed that the latest available edition is the previous one. However, the office has not explained why a new manual has not been published.
The First Amendment Foundation requested a copy of a draft several weeks ago but has not received a responsive record. The organization also has not received a clear answer about whether a new edition is being prepared.
Block said the delay is troubling because access to public records is a constitutional right in Florida. Residents use these laws to review government documents, attend public meetings, and monitor the actions of elected officials and public agencies.
He questioned whether the lack of a new guide could harm Florida’s tradition of open government. He also said the missing manual creates uncertainty for the public employees responsible for following those laws.
The foundation has taken positions on several state issues, including efforts to change Florida’s defamation law and proposals to impose stronger penalties on agencies that fail to follow public records rules. Block said he could not say whether those disagreements had anything to do with the delay.
Political Debate Over Transparency
James Uthmeier became attorney general after being appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis. He is now campaigning to remain in the position through election.
His Democratic opponent, José Javier Rodríguez, said the manual is too important to be left unpublished.
Rodríguez said he has spent more than two decades representing people who challenged powerful companies and institutions. That work, he said, showed him how important public records and public meeting laws are when citizens need to hold officials accountable.
He described the manual as an essential tool for Floridians who want to understand their rights. Rodríguez said that, if elected attorney general, he would make sure the guide continued to be published and remained available to the public.
He also argued that Florida needs an attorney general who supports transparency and does not leave residents without information about how government operates.
Earlier Officials Highlighted the Manual
The previous attorney general’s office treated the manual as a major public service. The latest edition was the 47th version and was released while John Guard served as acting attorney general. Guard had previously served as the office’s chief deputy and later became a judge on a state appeals court.
In the introduction, Guard wrote that open government is a central part of Florida’s history. He said residents use the laws to learn about public business, attend government meetings, and examine official records.
The former attorney general, Ashley Moody, sometimes held public events to mark the release of the manual. One such release was tied to a statewide observance focused on government transparency.
For now, public agencies and residents are left with the older edition. Until a new guide is released, records custodians must continue working with existing materials while trying to keep up with changes in Florida’s public records and meeting laws.