The Florida Cabinet’s upcoming meeting in Israel is raising questions about public access.
State law allows the Cabinet to hold a meeting through teleconferencing means, but the issue of a significant time zone difference or delay poses a problem for the public to participate- a requirement of the state’s open records and meeting laws.
“So, if the purpose of the meeting is purely ceremonial then public participation and input wouldn’t be required, but if the Cabinet is going to be taking any sort of action other than a ceremonial sort of thing then they have to allow for the public to speak,” says the First Amendment Foundation’s Barbara Peterson.
Politico Florida reports Governor Ron DeSantis is planning to sign a bill during his Israel trip. No agenda for the meeting has been released.