By Christine Sexton | Senior Reporter
“Maybe it has nothing to do with FAF’s positions; maybe it has to do with there’s a desire to just kind of sink Florida’s open government laws. I don’t know, because that’s the direct impact.”— First Amendment Foundation Director Bobby Block
The Government in the Sunshine manual has not been updated by Attorney General James Uthmeier. (Photo by Christine Sexton/Florida Phoenix)
The Government in the Sunshine Manual has been published by the Florida Attorney General’s office for 31 consecutive years. The book, typically published in partnership with the Florida First Amendment Foundation, explains Florida’s public records and public meeting laws and any changes made via case law or the Legislature. Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office still has not published the 2026 version of the manual.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Friday that state officials have requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency to declare parts of the Panhandle a major disaster. The 15 counties that could qualify for public assistance if approved by President Donald Trump are Bay, Calhoun, Escambia, Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Liberty, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Wakulla, Walton, and Washington.
President Donald Trump will campaign in the Sunshine State next week, just as early voting is set to expand throughout Florida. The president will campaign in Fort Myers on Friday, Oct. 23. Early voting begins in many counties in Florida starting Oct. 19. State law mandates that all counties must provide early voting by Saturday, Oct. 24.
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