Many are familiar with former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis' famous axiom about sunlight being the best disinfectant. Perhaps no state has taken this to heart more than Florida, which boasts some of the broadest public records laws in the nation, as enshrined in Florida's government-in-the-sunshine law and public records law. Succinctly put, it is the policy of the state that the business of the public should be conducted transparently so that the public can see what is being done and how. While this may seem easy on paper, public agencies commonly slip up when navigating Florida's public records law, which can result in costly litigation and judgments for fees. An understanding of the basics of Florida's laws is critical to preventing errors before they occur.