Open Government Resources

Florida Resources

• Florida Attorney General, Open Government

  myfloridalegal.com

• Florida First Amendment Foundation

  floridafaf.org · (800) 337-3518

• Florida Center for Government Accountability (FLCGA)

  flcga.org

  Nonprofit 501(c)(3) publishing the Florida Trident investigative newsroom and litigating public records and open courts cases across the state.

• Brechner Center for Freedom of Information (UF)

  brechner.jou.ufl.edu

National Resources

• FOIA.gov

  foia.gov

  The federal portal for filing Freedom of Information Act requests and finding agency FOIA contacts.

• OGIS, the FOIA Ombudsman

  archives.gov/ogis · (877) 684-6448

  Housed at the National Archives, OGIS mediates disputes between FOIA requesters and federal agencies as an alternative to litigation.

• Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

  rcfp.org

  Free legal resources and a hotline for journalists.

• Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia

  knightcolumbia.org

  Litigation and research defending the freedoms of speech and the press in the digital age.

The Sunshine Manual

The Two Florida Laws, in Plain English

Public Records: Chapter 119, Florida Statutes

• Every person has the right to inspect or copy any public record made or received in connection with official business, unless a specific exemption applies.
• Requests do not have to be in writing and you do not have to state a reason, though putting it in writing creates a paper trail.
• Agencies must respond in a reasonable time. “Extensive use” fees may apply to large requests.

Open Meetings: Chapter 286, Florida Statutes (the Sunshine Law)

• All meetings of any board or commission where official acts may be taken must be open to the public.
• Reasonable notice must be given, and minutes must be taken and made available.
• The law covers discussions and deliberations, not just formal votes. Two members discussing foreseeable board business is a meeting.

How to File a Florida Public Records Request

1. Identify the custodian. Direct your request to the agency’s public records custodian or clerk.
2. Be specific. Describe the records clearly: dates, subjects, document types.
3. Put it in writing. Email creates a timestamped record. Keep a copy.
4. Follow up. If there is no response in a reasonable time, follow up in writing and cite Chapter 119.

Template

Subject: Public Records Request

Dear Public Records Custodian:

Pursuant to Article I, Section 24 of the Florida Constitution and
Chapter 119, Florida Statutes, I request the opportunity to inspect
or obtain copies of the following public records:

[Describe the records: e.g., all emails between X and Y from
January 1, 2026 to March 31, 2026 regarding Z.]

If any portion of this request is denied, please cite the specific
statutory exemption and release the remaining non-exempt material.

Thank you,
[Your name]
[Your contact information]
[Date]

How to File a Federal FOIA Request

1. Find the right agency at foia.gov and submit through the agency’s FOIA portal.
2. Describe the records with dates, subjects, and offices involved. Request a fee waiver if you are a journalist or acting in the public interest.
3. Track and appeal. Note your tracking number. If denied, file an administrative appeal before going further.
4. Dispute? Contact the agency’s FOIA Public Liaison, or ask the FOIA Ombudsman (OGIS) at archives.gov/ogis to mediate, before considering litigation.

Transparency Tracker

• October 2026: The Florida Attorney General has not published a 2026 edition of the Government in the Sunshine Manual, the first gap since 1994. The 2025 edition remains the latest available. Read the Florida Phoenix reporting.

Have a transparency story or a tip? Contact The Rotunda.