What is the Florida Open Meetings Law?

• A. Meetings can be closed to the public.
• B. Public access is optional.
• C. Government meetings must be open to the public, with advance notice and access to agenda and records.
• D. Only meetings of the executive branch.

Answer: (C)

Open meetings law centers on government transparency: public business must be discussed and decided in a setting that the people can observe. The Florida Open Meetings Law requires state and local government bodies, such as boards and commissions, to hold meetings that are open to the public, with advance notice, and access to the meeting agenda and records. Attending and watching the proceedings is allowed, and minutes should be kept to show what was discussed and decided. Private discussions are only allowed under narrow exceptions (for example, attorney-client communications or certain personnel matters), not for the general public business. This is why statements suggesting meetings can be closed, or that public access is optional, or that the rule only applies to the executive branch, don’t fit how the law works.