SB 504/HB 509 – CODE INSPECTOR BODY CAMERAS

• Impact of the Bill: The bill requires counties and municipalities that allow code inspectors to wear body cameras to establish policies and procedures for their use, maintenance, and storage, and for the storage, retention, and release of audio and video data recorded by body cameras. The bill also requires counties and municipalities that permit code inspectors to wear body cameras to ensure personnel are properly trained, to retain audio and video data recorded by body cameras in accordance with public records requirements, and to perform periodic compliance reviews.
• Effective date: July 1, 2026

SB 506/HB 511 – PUBLIC RECORDS-CODE INSPECTOR BODY CAMERAS

• Impact of the Bill: The bill creates a public records exemption to provide that a code inspectors’ body camera recording is confidential and exempt from public disclosure requirements if the recording:
  • Is taken within the interior of a private residence;
  • Is taken within the interior of a facility that offers health care, mental health care, or social services; or
  • Is taken in a place that a reasonable person would expect to be private

In addition, the bill:

• Provides for certain circumstances under which such recordings are required to be disclosed or may be disclosed;
• Requires local governments to retain a body camera recording for at least 90 days; and
• Specifies that the exemption applies retroactively.
• Effective Date: July 1, 2026

SB 572/HB 603 – ETHICS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES  

• Impact of the Bill: The bill revises the definition of the term “relative” in the Florida Code of Ethics to include current and former foster parents and foster children. Further, the bill reenacts ss. 106.07, 106.0702, 348.0305, and 1001.421, F.S., to incorporate the amendment made to the definition of “relative.” The inclusion of current and former foster parents and foster children extends:
  • The exception to the gift disclosure requirements for public officers and employees;
  • Certain contractual limitations for agency employees acting on behalf of their agency;
  • Limited exception relating to contributions to a candidate for certain offices;
  • Prohibition on receipt of gifts for relatives of district school board members; and
  • Required disclosure of potential conflicting interests held by a relative of employees, officers, and consultants of the Greater Miami Expressway Agency. 

The bill also amends the anti-nepotism law within the Florida Code of Ethics, s. 112.3135, F.S., to create a special exception to allow relatives serving on the same collegial body to appoint, employ, or advance each other concerning leadership positions on the board.

• Effective Date: April 1, 2026 

HB 655/HB 332 – PUBLIC MEETINGS/ATTORNEY MEETINGS TO DISCUSS PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS CLAIMS 

• Impact of the Bill: The bill creates a public meeting exemption authorizing a state or local agency, or the chief administrative or executive officer thereof, to meet in private and outside of the sunshine with the agency’s attorney during the 90-day notice period specified in the Bert Harris Act to discuss Bert Harris claims (concerning challenges to governmental actions restricting the use of private property) submitted in accordance with the Act.
  • However, the bill provides that, in order for such a private “shade meeting” to occur, the following conditions must be met:
    • The agency’s attorney must advise the agency at a public meeting that he/she desires advice concerning a Bert Harris claim;
    • The subject matter of the meeting must be confined to settlement negotiations or strategy sessions relating to the Bert Harris claim; and
    • The entire session must be recorded by a certified court reporter.
  • The bill further provides that the agency must give reasonable public notice of the time and date of the attorney-client session and the names of persons who will be attending the session. The session must commence at an open meeting at which the persons chairing the meeting must announce the commencement and estimated length of the attorney-client session and the names of the persons attending. At the conclusion of the attorney-client session, the meeting must be reopened, and the person chairing the meeting shall announce the session’s termination. And the bill provides that any transcripts, recordings, minutes, and records generated during an exempt portion of such a meeting are exempt from public record requirements until the claim is settled or until the statute of limitations has expired.
• Effective Date: July 1, 2026

HB 905/SB 1178 – FOREIGN INFLUENCE  

• Impact of the Bill: The bill seeks to limit influence by foreign countries of concern (FCOCs) and designated foreign terrorist organizations across government operations by:
  • Requiring agents engaged in certain activities on behalf of FCOCs to register and disclose their activities and funding.
  • Amends the Florida Code of Ethics, s. 112.313, F.S., (in Lines 64-92) to incorporate by reference the definitions of “Designated foreign terrorist organization” and “Foreign country of concern” and to provide that violations of the anti-bribery provisions of Florida law involving such organizations may result in not only civil and criminal damages but also the repayment of “double the value of any pecuniary benefit received as a result of the violation committed.”
  • Amends the annual ethics training requirements of the Florida Code of Ethics contained in s. 112.3142, F.S., (Lines 103-114) to require that identified public officials must also receive training on “known efforts by foreign countries of concern to target and influence subnational governments, including but not limited to, the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front strategy”; “how to identify, recognize, and report suspected foreign influence campaigns,” and “Enhanced penalties for violations relating to gifts from foreign countries of concern”.
  • Restricting government contracting and procurement involving foreign sources of concern.
  • Prohibiting sister city agreements and postsecondary linkage institute partnerships with FCOCs and terminating existing agreements.
  • Prohibiting charitable organizations from accepting contributions from designated foreign terrorist organizations and establishing new protections for critical infrastructure facilities, including contracting, registration, and transfer requirements.
  • Creating new criminal offenses and penalty enhancements related to foreign influence.
• Effective Date: July 1, 2026

HB 1113/SB 350 – PUBLIC RECORDS/CRIME VICTIMS

• Impact of the Bill: The bill expands a public record exemption for victims of crime (commonly referred to as “Marsy’s Law”) to include the name and personal identification number and any other information that could be used to locate, intimidate, harass, or abuse a victim, and creates a public record exemption for specified identifying information of a lawful representative, family member, or next of kin of a person identified as a victim. The bill creates a two-tiered public record exemption that makes the name of an officer who became a crime victim in the course and scope of his or her employment or official duties:
  • To be confidential and exempt, for the first 72 hours immediately following the incident; and exempt, for an additional 60 days.
• Effective Date: July 1, 2026

SB 1296/HB 1298-PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RELATIONS COMMISSION

• Impact of the Bill: The bill amends several provisions relating to Ch. 447, F.S., which governs public employee unions in the state. Portions of the bill germane to public records access exempt from disclosure “showing of interest statements” signed by public employees and filed with Public Employee Relations Commission.
• Effective Date: Upon becoming a law

• Impact of the Bill: The bill creates a public records exemption for patient-identifying information held in the Parkinson’s disease registry. 
• Effective Date: July 1, 2026 

 

SB 1452/HB 1221 – DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

• Impact of the Bill: The bill revises statutory provisions relating to the Department of Financial Services (DFS). Portions of the bill germane to ethics amend Florida’s anti-nepotism law, s. 112.3135, F.S., (Lines 416-427) to permit firefighters as public officials to “appoint, employ, promote, or advance, or advocate” their own relatives as firefighters.
• Effective Date: Upon becoming law

HB 1471/SB 1632/HB 1473/SB 1634 -DOMESTIC TERRORIST DESIGNATION BILLS

• Impact of the Bill: The bills create a process by which the Governor, Cabinet, and the appointed head of FDLE can designate an organization as a Domestic or Foreign Terrorist Organization outside of the judicial process.
  • The bills include broad provisions that shield the designation process and records from public scrutiny.
  • The bills provide severe penalties for individuals and groups that “promote” such designated organizations and prohibits governmental entities from accepting or expending funds from or to such organizations.
  • The bills amend various provisions within Florida’s education laws to, in part, prohibit the employment of, or contracting with, among others, “a person or entity that has demonstrated a pattern or practice of supporting or advocating for terrorism”, and “a high school program or student group that promotes a domestic terrorist organization or a foreign terrorist organization.”
  • The bills create s. 1003.035, F.S., to prohibit public schools from expending public funds on any programs or campus activities that promote a designated domestic terrorist organization or a foreign terrorist organization.
  • The bills expand prohibited expenditures for a colleges and universities within the Florida College System (FCS) from using state or federal funds to promote, support, or maintain any programs or campus activities that promote a domestic terrorist organization or a foreign terrorist organization, and authorizes the State Board of Education or the Board of Governors to withhold performance-based funding from a FCS institutions or state universities that violate the prohibited expenditures provision.
  • The bills expand provisions relating to student participation in disruptive activities by requiring educational institutions to report information concerning a student who is attending the institution on a student visa if the student “promotes” a designated foreign terrorist organization or a domestic terrorist organization. Under the bills, after a university student has been determined to have promoted a foreign or domestic terrorist organization, such student must be immediately expelled from the institution.
  • The bills prohibit awarding any grants, financial aid, scholarships, or tuition assistance to a student who promotes a domestic terrorist organization or a foreign terrorist organization during any term of enrollment.
• Effective Date: July 1, 2026

SB 7004/HB7003 – OGSR/CONVICTION INTEGRITY UNIT REINVESTIGATION INFORMATION

• Impact of the Bill: The bill saves from repeal the current public records exemption that exempts from public records disclosure requirements the information or materials generated by a state attorney’s conviction integrity unit while it is reinvestigating cases of previously convicted persons to review plausible claims of actual innocence.
• Effective Date: Upon becoming law 

CS/HB 21-PUB. REC./AGENCY EMPLOYEES (Sponsored by Criminal Justice Subcommittee; Rep. Kendall; and Rep. Partington)

The bill seeks to create an exemption, retroactive in application, from public records requirements for the personal identifying and location information of certain current and former agency employees and their spouse and children.

 

• Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee; Government Operations Subcommittee; and Judiciary Committee
• HB 21—has no Senate companion
• Has been voted favorably out of the Criminal Justice Subcommittee (on 1/14/26 where a Committee Substitute or CS was filed), and the State Affairs Committee (on 2/03/26)—now in Rules
• Added to 2nd Reading Calendar

CS/SB 92—EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS (Sponsored by Government Oversight & Accountability and Sen. Gaetz)

The bill seeks to create a violation of the Florida Code of Ethics and cause of action when an ethics compliant filer that is an “agency employee or independent contract” experiences retaliation after filing an ethics complaint and provides whistleblower protections carried out by the Commission on Ethics.

 

• Referred to Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Ethics and Elections; Rules
• Passed Governmental Oversight and Accountability (with Committee Substitute) and passed out of Ethics and Elections
• Now in Rules—on Agenda 02/17/26 12:00 PM

• Similar Bill: HB 139—ADVERSE PERSONNEL ACTIONS AND ETHICS COMPLAINTS (Sponsored by Rep. Maney)
  • The bill seeks to create whistle-blower like protections for agency employees and independent contractors who file or participate in an ethics complaint—which are carried out by the Florida Commission on Human Relations.
  • Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee; Rules & Ethics Committee; and State Affairs Committee
  • Passed favorably out of Government Operations Subcommittee (on 02/11/26)
  • Now in Rules & Ethics Committee on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 6:08 PM

• Related Bill: SB 1650 – PUBLIC RECORDS/COMMISSION ON ETHICS (Sponsored by Sen. Gaetz)
  •  The bill seeks to adopt Florida Code of Ethics, s. 112.3243(5), F.S., creating an exemption from public records requirements for information received by the Commission on Ethics or derived from its investigations, involving allegations of retaliatory or otherwise adverse actions taken against government employees in response to filing an ethics complaint.
  • Referred to Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Ethics and Elections; Rules
  • Governmental Oversight and Accountability agenda item temporarily postponed on 1/26/26

CS/HB 181 – PUB. REC./ PAWNBROKER TRANSACTIONS (Sponsored by Criminal Justice Subcommittee and Rep. Partington)

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements for records relating to pawnbroker transactions that are delivered to FDLE.

• Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee; Government Operations Subcommittee; and Judiciary Committee
  • Passed favorably out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee (on 2/5/26 with Committee Substitute); and Government Operations Subcommittee (on 2/11/26)
    • Now in Judiciary Committee
  • Similar Bill: SB 1792 PUBLIC RECORDS/PAWNBROKER TRANSACTIONS (Sponsored by Sen. Yarborough)
    • Referred to Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; and Fiscal Policy
      • Now in Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

HB 247 – PUB. REC./MUNICIPAL CLERKS (Sponsored by Reps. Campbell and Daley; Alvarez, J.; Bartleman; Driskell; Robinson, F.; Rosenwald; Tendrich)

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements for the personal identifying and location information of current and former municipal clerks and their staff, and for the spouses and children of such personnel.

• Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee; Government Operations Subcommittee; State Affairs Committee
  • Has not been heard in any committee
• Identical Bill: SB 248 – PUBLIC RECORDS/MUNICIPAL CLERKS AND THEIR STAFF (Sponsored by Sen. Rodriguez)
  • Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee; Government Operations Subcommittee; and State Affairs Committee
  • Has not yet been heard in any committee

CS/HB 251 – PUB. REC./EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT PHYSICIANS (Sponsored by Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee and Rep. Esposito)

The bill seeks to create an exemption, retroactive in application, from public records requirements for the personal identifying and location information of current and former emergency physicians and their spouses and children.

• Has been referred to Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee; State Affairs Committee; and Health & Human Services Committee
  • Passed favorably out of Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee (on 2/11/26 with Committee Substitute)
  • Now in in State Affairs Committee
• Similar Bill: CS/SB 268 – Public Records/Emergency Department Physicians (Sponsored by Health Policy, and Sen. Rodriguez and Harrell)
  • Referred to Health Policy; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; and Rules
  • Passed favorably out of Health Policy (on 2/02/26 with Committee Substitute)

SB 258 – PUBLIC RECORDS/MEDICAL EXAMINERS (Sponsored by Sen. Burgess)

The bill seeks to create an exemption, retroactive in application, from public records requirements for the personal identifying and location information of current and former medical examiners and their spouses and children.

• Referred to Health Policy; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; and Rules
• Has not yet been heard in committee; not scheduled

CS/HB 287 – PUB. REC./APPLICANTS, OWNERS, AND OPERATORS OF FAMILY FOSTER HOMES AND REFERENCES OF SUCH PERSONS (Sponsored by Human Services Subcommittee and Rep. McFarland and Conerly, Chaney)

The bill seeks to provide confidentiality and exemption from public records requirements for personal identifying and location information of applicants for family foster homes, current and former owners and operators of family foster homes (as well as their spouses and children, and other adult household members of such applicants/owners/operators),  and of character or neighbor references of family foster home applicant or current or former owner or operator of family foster home.

• Referred to Human Services Subcommittee; Government Operations Subcommittee; and Health & Human Services Committee
  • Passed favorably out of Human Services Subcommittee (on 1/20/26 with Committee Substitute); Government Operations Subcommittee (on 01/29/26); and Health & Human Services Committee (on 02/10/26)
  • Added to Second Reading Calendar on Tuesday, February 10, 2026
• Related Bill: SB 884- PUBLIC RECORDS/OWNERS AND OPERATORS OF FAMILY FOSTER HOMES

SB 292 – PUBLIC RECORDS/APPELLATE COURT CLERKS (Sponsored by Sen. Rouson)/ (Similar) HB 179—PUB.  REC./CURRENT APPELLATE COURT CLERK (Co-sponsored by Rep. Gottlieb and Rep. Campbell)

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements for the personal identifying and location information of current “appellate court clerks” and their spouse and children.

• Referred to Judiciary; and Rules Committees
  • Passed favorably out of Judiciary (on 12/05/25) and Rules (on 1/27/26)
  • Now in Messages

SB 370 – PUBLIC RECORDS/COMMISSIONERS OF THE FLORIDA COMMISSION ON HUMAN RELATIONS

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements for the personal identifying and location information of current or former personnel and commissioners of the Florida Commission on Human Relations and their spouse and children.

• No related bills
• Referred to Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Judiciary; and Rules
• Has not yet been heard; not scheduled

SB 376 – PUBLIC RECORDS/SEXUAL ASSAULT COUNSELORS

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements for the personal identifying and location information of sexual assault counselors.

• No related or companion bills
• Referred to Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; and Rules
• Has not yet been heard in committee-not scheduled

CS/HB 437 – PUBLIC RECORDS (Sponsored by Government Operations Subcommittee and Rep. Andrade, Campbell, and Plasencia)

Provides that it is a violation of the public records requirements of Ch. 119, F.S., to fail to acknowledge a public records request promptly and to respond to such request in good faith.

 

The bill also revises various provisions relating to custodians of public records, agencies, fees, and penalties; requires written, detailed cost estimate be provided upon request to persons seeking to inspect or copy public record; requires courts to assess specified costs, fees, and penalties; and requires certain public records exemption provisions be repealed after specified timeframe unless Legislature reenacts such exemption.

 

NOTE: Current bill language provides that an agency has three (3) business days to either—respond to a public records request, provide a cost estimate for response, or deny the request. And provides that if the agency fails to take any of these three actions “within 3 business days after receiving the public records request, the agency may not impose costs or fees for providing the requested public record.”

• Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee; Judiciary Committee; Justice Budget Subcommittee; and State Affairs Committee
  • Passed favorably out of Government Operations Subcommittee (on 01/21/26 with Committee Substitute); Judiciary Committee; Justice Budget Subcommittee;
• Similar Bill: SB 770-Public Records (Sponsored by Sen. Rouson)
  • Referred to Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment; and General Government Fiscal Policy
  • Has not yet been heard by any committee

SB 466 – PUBLIC RECORDS/LEGAL ASSISTANTS/OFFICE OF THE PUBLIC DEFENDER/OFFICE OF CRIMINAL CONFLICT AND CIVIL REGIONAL COUNSEL (Sponsored by Sen. Wright)

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements for the home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, and photographs of current legal assistants employed by the office of the public defender and the office of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel and the personal identifying and location information of their spouses and children.

• Referred to Criminal Justice; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; and Rules

• Has not yet been heard by any committee

HB 473 – PUB. REC./CIVILIAN CONTRACTORS AND GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES (Sponsored by Rep. Holcomb)

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements, retroactive in application, for certain current and former civilian contractors, government employees, and their spouses dependents.

• No related bills
• Has been referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee; Government Operations Subcommittee; and State Affairs Committee
  • Has not yet been heard in any committee

CS/HB 509 – CODE INSPECTOR BODY CAMERAS (Sponsored by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee and Rep. Partington and Kendall)

The bill seeks to require governmental entities that permit its code inspectors to wear body cameras to establish certain policies and procedures; requires such governmental entities to ensure that certain training occurs, to retain certain data in accordance with public records laws, and to perform periodic review of actual body camera practices; provides that certain provisions relating to interception of wire, electronic, and oral communications do not apply to body camera recordings made by code inspectors.

• Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee and State Affairs Committee
  • Passed favorably out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee (on 01/14/26 with Committee Substitute) and State Affairs Committee (on 02/10/26)
  • Added to Second Reading Calendar on Tuesday, February 10, 2026
  • Identical Bill: CS/SB 504-CODE INSPECTOR BODY CAMERAS

HB 511 – PUB. REC./CODE INSPECTOR BODY CAMERAS (Sponsored by Rep. Partington)

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements for body camera recordings recorded by code inspectors but requires local governments to retain body camera recordings for a specified timeframe.

• Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee; Government Operations Subcommittee; and State Affairs Committee
  • Passed favorably out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee; Government Operations Subcommittee; and State Affairs Committee
  • Added to Second Reading Calendar
• Identical Bill: SB 506- PUBLIC RECORDS/BODY CAMERA RECORDINGS RECORDED BY A CODE Inspector (Sponsored by Sen. Burgess)
  • Referred to Community Affairs; Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; and Rules
  • Passed favorably out of Community Affairs (on 01/13/26); Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice (on 01/21/26); and Rules (on 02/03/26)
  • Currently in Messages
• Similar Bill: HB 541 – REC./CODE INSPECTOR BODY CAMERA RECORDINGS

CS/SB 572 – ETHICS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES (Sponsored by Governmental Oversight and Accountability and Rep. Harrell)

The bill ,which would become effective upon becoming law, seeks to revise the Florida Code of Ethics’ definition of the term “relative” to include foster parents and foster children—a change which has been sought by the Florida Commission on Ethics in its Legislative Proposals for 2025 and 2026. 

 

Current bill language also seeks to amend the anti-nepotism law with the Florida Code of Ethics, s. 112.3135, F.S., to create a special exception to allow relatives serving on the same collegial body to appoint, advance, promote, and advocate for each other. This amendment, for example, would enable Jacksonville City Councilman Joe Carlucci to run for City Council Vice President, while his father Matt Carlucci also serves on the City Council—action which he sought via a advisory opinion request to the Florida Commission on Ethics initially considered at its January 23, 2026, meeting and deferred until the agency’s March 2026 meeting. 

• Referred to Ethics and Elections, Governmental Oversight and Accountability, and Rules Committees
  • Passed favorably out of Ethics and Elections (on 01/13/26), Governmental Oversight and Accountability (on 01/26/2 with Committee Substitute), and Rules Committees (on 02/03/26)
  • The bill, as amended, is in Messages as of Wednesday, February 11, 2026.
• Similar Bill: HB 603 – ETHICS FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYEES (Sponsored by Rep. López; J. Campbell; and Valdés)
  • Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee; Rules & Ethics; State Affairs
  • Passed favorably out of Government Operations Subcommittee
  • Now in Rules & Ethics; not scheduled

CS/CS/HB 655 – PUB. MEETINGS/ATTORNEY MEETINGS TO DISCUSS PRIVATE PROPERTY RIGHTS CLAIMS (Sponsored by Government Operations Subcommittee and Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee and Rep. Duggan, Daley, and Valdés)

The current bill language seeks to create an exemption to Florida’s open public meetings law—which mandates that all meetings of state and local governmental bodies, must be open to the public—to permit agency officials to meet privately with the agency’s attorney to discuss litigation strategy concerning claims filed by property owners under the J. Harris, Jr., Private Property Rights Protection Act and during the 90-day period before such action is filed against a governmental entity.

 

The bill provides certain protections for transparency in government—including requiring that such a closed-door, “shade meeting” between the agency and their attorney must be recorded by a court reporter, a transcript must be taken, and the recordings and transcript will become public records accessible for inspection by the public on settlement of the claim or after expiration of the statute of limitations for the claim have lapsed in the event that no litigation is filed.

 

This proposed amendment is impactful for Florida’s Sunshine Law which contains a limited exemption for “shade meetings” occurring outside of public scrutiny between collegial bodies and their attorney to discuss “pending litigation to which the entity is presently a party.” The proposed bill would expand the time frame during which a “shade meeting” could occur regarding these property claims to include the 90-day period before a claim is filed.  

• Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee; Government Operations Subcommittee; and Judiciary Committee
• Passed favorably out of Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee (on 01/14/26 with Committee Substitute 1); Government Operations Subcommittee (on  01/29/26 with Committee Substitute 2); and Judiciary Committee (on 02/10/26)
• Added to Second Reading Calendar
• Identical Bill: CS/CS/SB 332—Public Records and Public Meetings/Private Property Rights
  • Passed favorably out of Judiciary (on 01/27/26 with Committee Substitute 1); Governmental Oversight and Accountability (on 2/11/26 with Committee Substitute 2)
  • Now in Rules

CS/HB 661 – PUB. REC./PRIVATE INVESTIGATORS (Sponsored by Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee and Rep. Stark)

The bill seeks to provide exemption, retroactive in application, from public records requirements for personal identifying and location information of current and former private investigators licensed by DACS their spouses and children of such private investigators.

• Referred to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee; Government Operations Subcommittee; and Commerce Committee
• Passed favorably out of Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee (on 01/14/26 with Committee Substitute)
• Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
• Identical Bill: CS/SB 410-Public Records/Private Investigators
  • Referred to Commerce and Tourism; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; and Rules
  • Passed favorably out of Commerce and Tourism (on 12/10/25 with Committee Substitute)
  • 01/13/26 S CS by Commerce and Tourism

SB 830 – PUBLIC RECORDS/COUNTY ADMINISTRATORS AND CITY MANAGERS (Sponsored by Sen. Leek)

The bill seeks to provide an exemption from public records requirements for personal identifying and location information of current county administrators, deputy county administrators, assistant county administrators, city managers, deputy city managers, and assistant city managers, including names and personal identifying and location information of their spouses and children.

• Has been referred to Community Affairs; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; and Rules
  • Passed favorably out of Community Affairs (on 01/20/26) and Governmental Oversight and Accountability (on 02/11/26)
  • Now in Rules
• Identical Bill: HB 263 – PUBLIC RECORDS (Sponsored by Rep. Rizo)
• Has been referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee; Government Operations Subcommittee; and State Affairs Committee
  • Has not yet been heard in committee

HB 997 – PUB. REC./PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RELATIONS COMMISSION (Sponsored by Rep. Persons-Mulicka)

The bill seeks to exempt from public records requirements written communications developed in preparation for, or preliminary to, issuance of any order by the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) or its designees; exempts showing of interest statements signed by public employees and filed with PERC; exempts from public records requirements personal identifying and location information of chair, commissioners, and hearing officers of PERC and personal identifying and location information of spouses and children of such personnel.

• Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee; State Administration Budget Subcommittee; State Affairs Committee
• Has not yet been heard in any committee
• Linked Bill: CS/HB 995-PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RELATIONS COMMISSION
• Related Bills:
  • CS/SB 1298-PUBLIC RECORDS/PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RELATIONS COMMISSION
  • CS/SB 1296-PUBLIC EMPLOYEES RELATIONS COMMISSION

HB 1055 – Pub. Rec./State Attorney and Office of Statewide Prosecution Nonlegal Support Staff (Sponsored by Rep. Greco)

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements, retroactive in application, for the personal identifying and location information of current state attorney and Office of Statewide Prosecution nonlegal support staff and the spouses and children of such staff.

• Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee; Government Operations Subcommittee; and Judiciary Committee
  • Has not yet been heard by any committee
• Similar Bill: SB 1084-PUBLIC RECORDS/STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE AND OFFICE OF STATEWIDE PROSECUTION NONLEGAL SUPPORT STAFF

SB 1120 (Sponsored by Sen. Brodeur) / HB 701 (Sponsored by Conerly) (identical) | SB 802 (Sponsored by Mayfield) / HB 593 (Sponsored by Andrade) (similar) WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS

Portions of the bill pertaining to ethics (Lines 107-127 ) seek to clarify the definition of “expenditure” contained within the Florida Code of Ethics provision, s. 112.3261, F.S., governing lobbying before water management districts—and prohibits lobbyists or businesses that employ lobbyists from making, and water management district governing board members, as well as executive director, or any water management district employee from accepting, any prohibited expenditure. And would require the Florida Commission on Ethics to investigate a lobbyist or a business that employs lobbyists (ie “principal”), that has made a prohibited expenditure and to provide the Governor with a report of its findings and recommendations regarding such an investigation.

 

The bill also requires the South Florida Water Management District, in cooperation with the Department of Environmental Protection, to provide a detailed report that includes the total estimated remaining cost of implementation of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and the status of applicable performance indicators for all project components; authorizing water management districts to levy certain ad valorem taxes on specified property for certain purposes; and requires that the preliminary budget for each water management district include a section that contains the district’s capital improvement plan for the current fiscal year and the next fiscal year.

• Referred to Referred to Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; and Appropriations
• Passed favorably out of Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government (on 02/04/26) and Appropriations (on 02/12/26)
• Now placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
  • Identical Bill: HB 701-Water Management Districts
    • Referred to Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee; Ways & Means; State Affairs
      • Now in Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee; not scheduled
    • Similar Bill: SB 802-Public Officers and Employees
      • Referred to Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; and Rules
        • Introduced
      • Similar Bill: HB 593- Governmental Agencies and Personnel
        • Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee; State Affairs
          • Passed favorably out of Government Operations Subcommittee (on 01/29/26)
          • Now in State Affairs on agenda for 02/17/26

HB 1251-EXPENDITURE OF PUBLIC FUNDS BY LOCAL GOVERNMENTS (Sponsored by Rep. Shoaf)

The bill seeks to create the “Federalism Protection Act” which prohibits local governments from expending public funds to retain a lobbyist for representation before the executive or legislative branches of Florida government and certain discretionary expenditures—and provides that violations of this new law could be investigated by the Florida Commission on Ethics.

• Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee; Rules & Ethics; and State Affairs
  • Passed favorably out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee (on 2/12/26)
  • Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee

CS/CS/HB 1221-DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES (Sponsored by Insurance & Banking Subcommittee; LaMarca)

Portions of the bill germane to ethics seek to amend Florida’s anti-nepotism law, Florida Code of Ethics, s. 112.3135, F.S., (Lines 372-382) to permit firefighters to “appoint, employ, promote, or advance,” as well as to allow for one to advocate for the employment of their own relatives as firefighters.

• Referred to Insurance & Banking Subcommittee; State Administration Budget Subcommittee ; and Commerce Committee
• Passed Insurance & Banking Subcommittee (with Committee Substitute 1) and State Administration Budget Subcommittee (with Committee Substitute 2)

CS/SB 1178 – FOREIGN INFLUENCE (Sponsored by Ethics & Elections; Grall; Avila)

Seeks to require agents of foreign principals and foreign-supported political organizations to register with Division of Elections and provides registration requirements and requires periodic updates by such agents & organizations.

Portions of the bill germane to ethics seek to amend Florida Code of Ethics, s. 112.313, F.S., to add the definitions of “Designated foreign terrorist organization” and “Foreign country of concern” and to amend the anti-bribery restrictions of s. 112.313(2), F.S., to prohibit public officials from soliciting or accepting a “anything of value” from a designated foreign terrorist organization or “foreign country of concern or any of its subdivisions.” 

 

The ethics portions of the bill also seek to amend the annual ethics training requirements of the Code of Ethics contained in s. 112.3142, F.S., to require that certain public officials receive training on “known efforts by foreign countries of concern to target and influence subnational governments” including “the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front strategy,” “how to identify, recognize, and report suspected foreign influence campaigns,” and prohibitions on receiving gifts from foreign countries of concern or designated foreign terrorist organizations.

• Referred to Ethics and Elections; Judiciary; Appropriations
  • Passed favorably out of Ethics and Elections (on 01/28/26 with Committee Substitute); and Judiciary (on 02/03/26)
  • Now in Appropriations
• Similar Bill: CS/CS/HB 905-FOREIGN INFLUENCE (Sponsored by Judiciary Committee and Government Operations Subcommittee and Persons-Mulicka; Alvarez, D.; Cassel; Fabricio; Owen; Redondo; Valdés)
  • Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee; Judiciary; Commerce; and State Affairs
    • Passed Government Operations Subcommittee (on 01/29/26 with Committee Substitute 1); and Judiciary (on 02/03/26 with Committee Substitute 2); and State Affairs (on 02/17/26)

SB 1572 -DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES (Sponored by Sen. DiCeglie)

The bill seeks to primarily establish the Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight within the Department of Financial Services. Portions of the bill germane to ethics (Lines 120-126) provide that the Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight may report any evidence of ethical wrongdoing by local government officials to the Florida Commission on Ethics.

• Referred to Banking and Insurance; Appropriations; and Rules
  • Has not yet been heard in committee
• Similar Bill: HB 1303-DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES
  • Referred to Insurance & Banking Subcommittee; Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee; and Commerce Committee
    • Now in Insurance & Banking Subcommittee

SB 1620-PUBLIC EDUCATION (Sponsored by Leek and Gaetz)

The bill which primarily seeks to provide members of district school boards with specified rights and authority had initially contained language seeking to amend Florida’s anti-nepotism law contained within s. 112.3135, F.S., of the Florida Code of Ethics to remove an exemption for school boards and expressly make the anti-nepotism protections of the Code of Ethics applicable to them—but which was removed via the Committee Substitute adopted on 02/10/26).

• Referred to Education Pre-K-12; Judiciary; Rules
  • Passed favorably out of Education Pre-K-12 (on 02/03/26) and Judiciary (on 02/10/26 with Committee Substitute)

• Related Bill: CS/HB 1073-SCHOOL DISTRICTS

CS/HB 1113 – PUB. REC./CRIME VICTIMS (Sponsored by Criminal Justice Subcommittee and Rep. Tuck)

The bill seeks to expand an existing public records exemption for crime victims to include the name and personal identification number of crime victims and any other information or record that could be used to locate, intimidate, harass, or abuse victim or victim’s family. The bill provides that such exemption includes records generated by any agency that regularly generates information from or concerning victims of crime and provides that certain records identifying law enforcement officers who are involved in use of force incident are confidential and exempt for a specified timeframe.

• Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee; Government Operations Subcommittee; and Judiciary Committee
  • Passed favorably out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee (with Committee Substitute); and Government Operations Subcommittee
  • Now in Judiciary Committee–on agenda for 02/17/26 8:30 AM

• Identical Bill: CS/SB 350-PUBLIC RECORDS/CRIME VICTIMS (Sponsored by Governmental Oversight and Accountability and Grall)
  • Referred to Criminal Justice (on 12/09/25); and Governmental Oversight and Accountability (on 01/26/26 with Committee Substitute;
  • Now in Rules on agenda for 02/17/26

HB 1283 – COMPLAINTS AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONAL OFFICERS (Sponsored by Government Operations Subcommittee; Rep. Fabricio and Blanco;Alvarez, J.; Holcomb; Plasencia)

The bill as amended seeks to impact portions of the Law Enforcement Bill of Rights which already prohibits the independent investigation of complaints filed against law enforcement officers on the local level by prohibiting political subdivisions of the state from adopting or attempting to enforce any ordinance relating to the investigation of complaints against law enforcement or correctional officers. 

 

Rather, the law tasks each law enforcement agency with developing and maintaining its own system for receiving and investigating such complaints.

The bill seeks to further refine the manner in which complaints filed against law enforcement and correctional officers on the local level may be investigated by amending s. 112.532, F.S., to require that the names of all complainants must be provided with a copy of the complaint, signed by the complainant, unless the “complaint is accompanied by corroborating evidence.”

 

The bill further provides that any complaint investigation “which does not result in any disciplinary action to the officer may not affect the ability of such officer to receive a promotion, raise, or other commendation.”

 

The bill also seeks to amend, s. 112.533, F.S., to provide criminal penalties for  a ”complainant who makes a false complaint.”

 

NOTE: The bill solely seeks to impact complaints filed on the political subdivision level and does not attempt to amend or abrogate the State Commission on Ethics’ jurisdictional authority to conduct independent investigations of ethics complaints filed against law enforcement and correctional officers.

• Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee; Government Operations Subcommittee; and Judiciary Committee
• Passed favorably out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee (on 01/28/26); Government Operations Subcommittee (on 02/11/26 with Committee Substitute)
• Now in Judiciary Committee
• Identical Bill: SB 1544-COMPLAINTS AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CORRECTIONAL Officers (Sponsored by Sen. Pizzo)
  • Referred to Criminal Justice; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; and Rules
  • Passed favorably out of Criminal Justice (on 02/02/26)
  • Now in Governmental Oversight and Accountability

HB 1361 – PUBLIC RECORDS REQUESTS PERTAINING TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS (Sponsored by Rep. Woodson)

The bill seeks to amend the Public Records law, Section 119.07(3)(e), F.S., to require that individuals requesting to inspect or copy a public record “relating to a law enforcement officer” must provide a “valid driver license or identification card issued by this state or another state” and in the agency “must retain a copy of such license or identification card” with the public records request.

• Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee; Criminal Justice Subcommittee; and State Affairs Committee
• Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
• Related Bill: SB 1426 – ACCESSING PERSONNEL FILES OF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS (Sponsored by Rodriguez)

The bill seeks to create s. 112.537, F.S., which would require the agency of law enforcement officers to maintain a record log—containing the name, address, and identification—of any person who requested a copy of a personnel file of a law enforcement officer as a public record.

• Referred to Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Criminal Justice; and Rules
• Now in Governmental Oversight and Accountability

HB 1373 – PUB. REC./JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMISSION EMPLOYEES (Sponsored by Rep. Antone)

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements for personal identifying and location information of current and former employees of Judicial Qualifications Commission (the Florida agency that regulates judges) and the personal identifying and location information of spouses and children of such employees.

• Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee; Government Operations Subcommittee; and Judiciary Committee
• Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
• Identical Bill: SB 144-PUBLIC RECORDS/JUDICIAL QUALIFICATIONS COMMISSION (Sponsored by Sen. Rouson)
  • Referred to Judiciary; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; and Rules
  • Passed favorably out of Judiciary (on 01/27/26)
  • Now in Governmental Oversight and Accountability on Tuesday, January 27, 2026 4:33 PM

SB 1622-PENALTIES FOR LATE-FILED DISCLOSURES OR STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS (Sponroed by Sen. Rodriguez)

The bill seeks to amend the financial disclosure provisions of the Florida Code of Ethics, s. 112.3144 and 112.3145, F.S., to create a one-time waiver of the assessment of automatic fines associated with late filing a financial disclosure report “the first time” it is late filed.

• Referred to Ethics and Elections; Community Affairs; Rules
  • Passed favorably out of Ethics and Elections (01/28/26) and Community Affairs (on 02/10/26)
  • Now in Rules-on agenda for 02/17/26 12:00 PM

• Identical Bill: HB 1369-PENALTIES FOR LATE-FILED DISCLOSURES OR STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL INTERESTS (Sponsored by Rep. Antone)
  • Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee; Rules & Ethics; State Affairs
    • Now in Government Operations Subcommittee, not scheduled

SB 1546 – PUBLIC RECORDS/COMMISSION ON ETHICS

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements for the personal identifying and location information of current and former employees and commissioners of the Florida Commission on Ethics and their spouses and dependents.

• Referred to Ethics and Elections; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; and Rules
• Has not yet been heard in any committee; Introduced but not scheduled

HB 6011 – REPORTING THE RECEIPT OF GIFTS OR HONORARIA

The bill seeks to amend the gifts and honoraria provisions of the Florida Code of Ethics, s. 112.3148 and 112.3149, F.S., to remove the requirement to file annual gift and honorarium disclosure statements (in particular, the Form 10) alongside financial disclosure filings by requiring that both current and former reporting individuals or procurement employees submit gifts and honoraria reports to the Florida Commission on Ethics and aligns all reporting deadlines and locations under the Commission on Ethics for greater consistency.

• Referred to Rules & Ethics; and State Affairs
• Passed favorably out of Rules & Ethics (on 2/5/26)
• Now in State Affairs Committee-on agenda for: 02/17/26 8:30 AM
• Similar Bill: SB 964 – FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES (Sponsored by Sen. Wright)
  • The bill seeks to amend the gifts and honoraria provisions of the Florida Code of Ethics, s. 112.3148 and 112.3149, F.S., to remove the requirement to file annual gift and honorarium disclosure statements alongside financial disclosure filings by requiring that both current and former reporting individuals or procurement employees submit gifts and honoraria reports to the Florida Commission on Ethics and aligns all reporting deadlines and locations under the Commission on Ethics for greater consistency.
  • Referred to Ethics and Elections; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; and Rules
  • Passed favorably out of Ethics and Elections (on 01/21/26) and Governmental Oversight and Accountability (02/11/26)
  • Now in Rules; not scheduled

HB 7003 – OGSR/CONVICTION INTEGRITY UNIT REINVESTIGATION INFORMATION (Sponsored by Government Operations Subcommittee and Gentry)

Removes scheduled repeal of exemption from public records requirements for certain conviction integrity unit reinvestigation information.

• Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee and State Affairs Committee
• Passed favorably out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee (on 12/02/25) and State Affairs Committee (on 01/22/26)
• Bill added to Special Order Calendar
• Identical Bill: SB 7004 – OGSR/CONVICTION INTEGRITY UNIT REINVESTIGATION INFORMATION

 

HB 21-Pub. Rec./Medical Examiners

The bill seeks to create an exemption, retroactive in application, from public records requirements for the personal identifying and location information of current and former medical examiners and their spouse and children.

• Related Bill: SB 258 – Public Records/Medical Examiners

 

HB 139—Adverse Personnel Actions and Ethics Complaints

The bill seeks to create whistle-blower like protections for government employees by prohibiting government agencies and independent contractors from taking adverse retaliatory personnel actions against public employees who file ethics complaints with the Florida Commission on Ethics or participate in the investigation of a complaint or referral.

• Related Bill: CS/SB 92—Employee Protections

HB 179—Pub.  Rec./Current Appellate Court Clerk

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements for the personal identifying and location information of current appellate court clerks and their spouse and children.

• Related Bill: SB 292 – Public Records/Appellate Court Clerks

HB 181 – Pub. Rec./Legal Assistants

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements for the home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth, and photographs of current legal assistants employed by office of public defender and office of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel and for the spouse and children of such legal assistants.

• Related Bill: SB 466—Public Records/Legal Assistants/Office of the Public Defender/Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel

HB 247 – Pub. Rec./Municipal Clerks

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements for the personal identifying and location information of current and former municipal clerks and their staff, and for the spouses and children of such personnel.

• Related Bill: SB 248 – Public Records/Municipal Clerks and their Staff

HB 251 – Pub. Rec./Emergency Physicians

The bill seeks to create an exemption, retroactive in application, from public records requirements for the personal identifying and location information of current and former emergency physicians and their spouses and children.

• Related Bill: SB 268 – Public Records/Emergency Physicians

HB 263 – Public Records

The bill seeks to provide an exemption from public records requirements for personal identifying and location information of current county administrators, deputy county administrators, assistant county administrators, city managers, deputy city managers, and assistant city managers, including names and personal identifying and location information of their spouses and children.

• Related Bill: SB 830-Public Records/County Administrators and City Managers

HB 287 – Pub. Rec./Owners and Operators of Family Foster Homes

The bill seeks to provide an exemption from public records requirements for personal identifying and location information of current and former owners and operators of family foster homes and of their spouses and children.

• Related Bill: SB 884-Public Records/Owners and Operators of Family Foster Homes

HB 437-Public Records

Provides that it is a violation of the public records requirements of Ch. 119, F.S., to fail to acknowledge a public records request promptly and to respond to such request in good faith. The bill also revises various provisions relating to custodians of public records, agencies, fees, and penalties; requires written, detailed cost estimate be provided upon request to persons seeking to inspect or copy public record; requires courts to assess specified costs, fees, and penalties; and requires certain public records exemption provisions be repealed after specified timeframe unless Legislature reenacts such exemption.

• Related Bill: SB 770-Public Records

HB 473 – Pub. Rec./Civilian Contractors and Government Employees

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements, retroactive in application, for certain current and former civilian contractors, government employees, and their spouses dependents.

 

HB 509 – Code Inspector Body Cameras

The bill seeks to require governmental entities that permit its code inspectors to wear body cameras to establish certain policies and procedures; requires such governmental entities to ensure that certain training occurs, to retain certain data in accordance with public records laws, and to perform periodic review of actual body camera practices; and provides that certain provisions relating to interception of wire, electronic, and oral communications do not apply to body camera recordings made by code inspectors.

• Related Bills:
  • HB 511 Rec./Code Inspector Body Cameras
  • SB 504 Code Inspector Body Cameras          
  • HB 539 Code Inspector Body Cameras
  • SB 506 Public Records/Body Camera Recordings Recorded by a Code Inspector

HB 511 – Pub. Rec./Code Inspector Body Cameras

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements for body camera recordings recorded by code inspectors but requires local governments to retain body camera recordings for a specified timeframe.

• Related Bills:
  • HB 509 -Code Inspector Body Cameras
  • SB 506-Public Records/Body Camera Recordings Recorded by a Code Inspector
  • HB 541-Pub. Rec./Code Inspector Body Camera Recordings
  • SB 504-Code Inspector Body Cameras

HB 541 – Pub. Rec./Code Inspector Body Camera Recordings

Provides an exemption from public records requirements for body camera recordings recorded by code inspectors and provides exceptions but requires local government to retain body camera recordings for specified period.

• Related Bills:
  • HB 539 -Code Inspector Body Cameras
  • HB 511-Pub. Rec./Code Inspector Body Cameras
  • SB 506-Public Records/Body Camera Recordings Recorded by a Code Inspector

HB 593 – Governmental Agencies and Personnel

Portions of the bill pertaining to the Florida Code of Ethics seek to adopt s. 112.31251, F.S., defining “office” and “employment” for the purpose of the dual office-holding prohibition found in Art. II, s. 5(a) of the State Constitution.

It also seeks to clarify the definition of “expenditure” contained within the Florida Code of Ethics provision, s. 112.3261, F.S., governing lobbying before water management districts—and prohibits lobbyists or businesses that employ lobbyists from making, and water management district governing board members, as well as executive director, or any water management district employee from accepting, any expenditure.

• Related Bills:
  • SB 802-Public Officers and Employees
  • HB 701-Water Management Districts

HB 603 – Ethics for Public Employees

The bill seeks to revise the definition section of the Florida Code of Ethics, s. 112.312, F.S., to include foster parents and foster children within the definition of “relative”—a change which has been sought by the Florida Commission on Ethics in its Legislative Proposals.

• Related Bill: SB 572-Ethics for Public Employees

HB 655 – Pub. Meetings/Attorney Meetings to Discuss Private Property Rights Claims

The bill seeks to create an exemption to Florida’s open public meetings law to permit “any board or commission of any state agency or authority or any agency or authority of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision, and the chief administrative or executive officer of the governmental entity” to meet in private “with the entity’s attorney” within a certain time frame. And provides that specified entities may meet in private with their attorneys to discuss certain claims concerning private property rights but requires that such meetings must be transcribed and that such transcripts will become public records at specified times.

• Related Bill: SB 332—Public Meetings

HB 661 – Pub. Rec./Private Investigators

The bill seeks to create an exemption, retroactive in application, from public records requirements for the personal identifying and location information of current and former private investigators licensed by DACS and for the spouses and children of such private investigators.

• Related Bill: CS/SB 410-Public Records/Private Investigators

HB 701 – Water Management Districts

Portions of the bill pertaining to ethics seek to amend the Florida Code of Ethics, s. 112.3261, F.S., to require the Florida Commission on Ethics to investigate a lobbyist or a business that employs a lobbyist (referred to as a “principal”) who has made a prohibited expenditure to a water management official and to provide the Governor with a report of its findings and recommendations regarding such an investigation. The bill further seeks to prohibit lobbyists and businesses that employ them from giving, and certain water management officials from accepting, prohibited expenditures made for the purpose of lobbying.

• Related Bills:
  • HB 593-Governmental Agencies and Personnel
  • SB 802-Public Officers and Employees

HB 905 -Foreign Influence

The bill primarily seeks to require agents of foreign principals and foreign-supported political organizations to register with Division of Elections and provides registration requirements and requires periodic updates by such agents and organizations.

 

Portions of the bill germane to ethics seek to amend Florida Code of Ethics, s. 112.313, F.S., to add the definitions of “Designated foreign terrorist organization” and “Foreign country of concern” and to amend the anti-bribery restrictions of s. 112.313(2), F.S., to prohibit public officials from soliciting or accepting a “gift from a designated foreign terrorist organization” or anyone acting on their behalf including “travel costs or any reimbursements for costs of attending a conference or other event, from a foreign country of concern” or anyone acting on their behalf.

 

The ethics portions of the bill also seek to amend the annual ethics training requirements contained in s. 112.3142, F.S., to require that certain public officials receive training on “known efforts by foreign countries of concern to target and influence subnational governments” including “the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front strategy,” “how to identify, recognize, and report suspected foreign influence campaigns,” and “prohibitions on receiving gifts from foreign countries of concern or designated foreign terrorist organizations.”

 

HB 997 – Pub. Rec./Public Employees Relations Commission

The bill seeks to exempt from public records requirements written communications developed in preparation for, or preliminary to, the issuance of any order by the Public Employees Relations Commission (PERC) or its designees; exempts showing of interest statements signed by public employees and filed with PERC; exempts from public records requirements personal identifying and location information of chair, commissioners, and hearing officers of PERC and personal identifying and location information of spouses and children of such personnel.

• Related Bill: HB 995-Public Employees Relations Commission

HB 1055 – Pub. Rec./State Attorney and Office of Statewide Prosecution Nonlegal Support Staff

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements, retroactive in application, for the personal identifying and location information of current state attorney and Office of Statewide Prosecution nonlegal support staff and the spouses and children of such nonlegal support staff.

 

HB 1073 – School Districts

The bill primarily seeks to provide members of district school boards with specified rights and authority.  Portions of the bill germane to ethics seek to amend Florida’s anti-nepotism law contained within s. 112.3135, F.S., of the Florida Code of Ethics to remove an exemption for school boards and expressly make the anti-nepotism protections of the Code of Ethics applicable to “district school board” members. 

• Related Bill: SB 1620 – Public Education

 

HB 1113 – Pub. Rec./Crime Victims

The bill seeks to expand an existing public records exemption for crime victims to include the name and personal identification number of crime victims and any other information or record that could be used to locate, intimidate, harass, or abuse victim or victim’s family. The bill provides that such exemption includes records generated by any agency that regularly generates information from or concerning victims of crime and provides that certain records identifying law enforcement officers who are involved in use of force incident are confidential and exempt for a specified timeframe.

• Related Bill: SB 350-Public Records/Crime Victims

HB 1179 – Pub. Rec. and Meetings/Space Florida

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements to prevent the revelation of “trade secrets” held by “Space Florida, any spaceport user, or any space industry business.”

• Related Bill: HB 1177-Space Florida

 HB 1283 – Complaints Against Law Enforcement and Correctional Officers

The bill which relates to the manner in which complaints filed against law enforcement and correctional officers on the local level (including ethics complaints filed with city or county boards) may be investigated—seeks to amend portions of the Law Enforcement Bill of Rights, s. 112.532, F.S., to require that the names of all complainants and must be provided with a copy of the complaint, signed by the complainant unless the “complaint is accompanied by corroborating evidence.”

 

The bill further provides that any complaint investigation “which does not result in any disciplinary action to the officer may not affect the ability of such officer to receive a promotion, raise, or other commendation.” The bill further seeks to require that any complaint filed against law enforcement officers must “be in writing and be signed under oath” and “accompanied with corroborating evidence.”

The bill solely seeks to impact complaints filed on the political subdivision level and does not attempt to amend or abrogate the State Commission on Ethics’ jurisdictional authority to conduct independent investigations of ethics complaints filed against law enforcement and correctional officers.

• Related Bill: SB 1544-Complaints Against Law Enforcement and Correctional Officers

HB 1369 – Penalties For Late-filed Disclosures or Statements of Financial Interests

The bill seeks to amend the financial disclosure provisions of the Florida Code of Ethics, s. 112.3144 and 112.3145, F.S., to create a one-time waiver of the assessment of automatic fines associated with late filing a financial disclosure report “the first time” it is late filed.

• Related Bill: SB 1622 – Penalties for Late-filed Disclosures or Statements of Financial Interests

HB 1373 – Pub. Rec./Judicial Qualifications Commission Employees

The bill seeks to create an exemption from public records requirements for personal identifying and location information of current and former employees of Judicial Qualifications Commission (the Florida agency that regulates judges) and the personal identifying and location information of spouses and children of such employees.

• Related Bill: SB 144-Public Records/Judicial Qualifications Commission

HB 6011 – Reporting the Receipt of Gifts or Honoraria

The bill seeks to amend the gifts and honoraria provisions of the Florida Code of Ethics, s. 112.3148 and 112.3149, F.S., to remove the requirement to file annual gift and honorarium disclosure statements (in particular, the Form 10) alongside financial disclosure filings by requiring that both current and former reporting individuals or procurement employees submit gifts and honoraria reports to the Florida Commission on Ethics and aligns all reporting deadlines and locations under the Commission on Ethics for greater consistency.

• Related Bill: SB 964 – Financial Disclosures

HB 7003 – OGSR/Conviction Integrity Unit Reinvestigation Information

Removes scheduled repeal of exemption from public records requirements for certain conviction integrity unit reinvestigation information.

• Related Bill: SB 7004 – OGSR/Conviction Integrity Unit Reinvestigation Information