The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Criminal Justice
BILL: SB 1266
INTRODUCER: Senator Gruters
SUBJECT: Public Records/Victim of a Crime
DATE: March 31, 2025
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Wyant Stokes CJ Pre-meeting
2. GO
3. RC
I. Summary:
SB 1266 amends s. 119.071, F.S., to revise the public records exemption for documents that
identify a person as a victim of a crime. The bill specifies any public record that reveals the
identity, name, personal identification number, home or employment address, or personal assets
of the victim, or any other personal identifying or location information that could be used to
locate or harass the victim or the victim’s family, which public record is generated or received
by any agency that regularly generates or receives information from or concerning the victims of
crime, is confidential and exempt.
The bill allows for the release of information as needed for any judicial proceeding but prohibits
those entitled to access from revealing to any outside party any confidential and exempt
information except as reasonably necessary to prepare a defense and to pursue legal remedies. A
person who violates such prohibition commits a first degree misdemeanor.
The bill removes language for a victim of a specified crime to request for other public records
that reveal identifying or locating information to be exempt from public records copying and
inspection requirements.
This exemption applies to information held by an agency before, on, or after July 1, 2025, and is
repealed on October 2, 2030, unless reenacted by the Legislature.
The bill provides a statement of public necessity as required by the State Constitution, and
because it expands the public records exemption it requires a two-thirds vote of the members
present and voting in each house of the Legislature for final passage.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
REVISED: BILL: SB 1266 Page 2
II. Present Situation:
Access to Public Records - Generally
The Florida Constitution provides that the public has the right to inspect or copy records made or
received in connection with official governmental business.
1
The right to inspect or copy applies
to the official business of any public body, officer, or employee of the state, including all three
branches of state government, local governmental entities, and any person acting on behalf of the
government.
2
Additional requirements and exemptions related to public records are found in various statutes
and rules, depending on the branch of government involved. For instance, s. 11.0431, F.S.,
provides public access requirements for legislative records. Relevant exemptions are codified in
s. 11.0431(2)-(3), F.S., and adopted in the rules of each house of the legislature.
3
Florida Rule of
Judicial Administration 2.420 governs public access to judicial branch records.
4
Lastly,
ch. 119, F.S., known as the Public Records Act, provides requirements for public records held by
executive branch and local government agencies.
Violation of Public Record Law
Any person who willfully and knowingly violates any public record law commits a first degree
misdemeanor.
5,6
Pursuant to s. 119.105, F.S., any person who comes into possession of exempt or confidential
information contained in police reports is prohibited from using that information for any
commercial solicitation of the victims or the relatives of the victims of the reported crimes or
accidents, and is further prohibited from knowingly disclosing such information to any third
party for the purpose of such solicitation during the period of time that the information remains
exempt or confidential. Any person who violates such prohibitions commits a third degree
felony.
7,8
Open Government Sunset Review Act
The provisions of s. 119.15, F.S., known as the Open Government Sunset Review Act
9
(the Act),
prescribe a legislative review process for newly created or substantially amended
10
public
1
FLA. CONST. art. I, s. 24(a).
2
Id.
3
See Rule 1.48, Rules and Manual of the Florida Senate, (2024-2026) and Rule 14.1, Rules of the Florida House of
Representatives, Edition 1, (2024-2026).
4
State v. Wooten, 260 So. 3d 1060 (Fla. 4
th
DCA 2018).
5
Section 119.10(2)(a), F.S.
6
A first degree misdemeanor is punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding 1 year and a fine of up to $1,000.
Sections 775.082 and 775.083, F.S.
7
Section 119.10(2)(b), F.S.
8
A third degree felony is generally punishable by not more than 5 years in state prison and a fine not exceeding $5,000.
Sections 775.082 and 775.083, F.S.
9
Section 119.15, F.S.
10
An exemption is considered to be substantially amended if it is expanded to include more records or information or to
include meetings as well as records. Section 119.15(4)(b), F.S. BILL: SB 1266 Page 3
records or open meetings exemptions, with specified exceptions.
11
The act requires the repeal of
such exemption on October 2nd of the fifth year after creation or substantial amendment; in
order to save an exemption from repeal, the Legislature must reenact the exemption or repeal the
sunset date.
12
In practice, many exemptions are continued by repealing the sunset date, rather
than reenacting the exemption.
The Act provides that a public records or open meetings exemption may be created or
maintained only if it serves an identifiable public purpose and is no broader than is necessary.
13
An exemption serves an identifiable purpose if the Legislature finds that the purpose of the
exemption outweighs open government policy and cannot be accomplished without the
exemption and it meets one of the following purposes:
• It allows the state or its political subdivisions to effectively and efficiently administer a
program, and administration would be significantly impaired without the exemption;
14
• It protects sensitive, personal information, the release of which would be defamatory, cause
unwarranted damage to the good name or reputation of the individual, or would jeopardize
the individual’s safety. If this public purpose is cited as the basis of an exemption, however,
only personal identifying information is exempt;
15
or
• It protects information of a confidential nature concerning entities, such as trade or business
secrets.
16
The Act also requires specified questions to be considered during the review process.
17
In
examining an exemption, the Act directs the Legislature to question the purpose and necessity of
reenacting the exemption.
If the exemption is continued and expanded, then a public necessity statement and a two-thirds
vote for passage are again required.
18
If the exemption is continued without substantive changes
or if the exemption is continued and narrowed, then a public necessity statement and a two-thirds
vote for passage are not required. If the Legislature allows an exemption to expire, the previously
exempt records will remain exempt unless otherwise provided by law.
19
11
Section 119.15(2)(a) and (b), F.S., provides that exemptions required by federal law or applicable solely to the Legislature
or the State Court System are not subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act.
12
Section 119.15(3), F.S.
13
Section 119.15(6)(b), F.S.
14
Section 119.15(6)(b)1., F.S.
15
Section 119.15(6)(b)2., F.S.
16
Section 119.15(6)(b)3., F.S.
17
Section 119.15(6)(a), F.S. The specified questions are:
• What specific records or meetings are affected by the exemption?
• Whom does the exemption uniquely affect, as opposed to the general public?
• What is the identifiable public purpose or goal of the exemption?
• Can the information contained in the records or discussed in the meeting be readily obtained by alternative means?
If so, how?
• Is the record or meeting protected by another exemption?
• Are there multiple exemptions for the same type of record or meeting that it would be appropriate to merge?
18
See generally s. 119.15, F.S.
19
Section 119.15(7), F.S. BILL: SB 1266 Page 4
Marsy’s Law
On November 6, 2018, a constitutional revision to Art. I of the State Constitution was approved
by voters; such revision is colloquially known as “Marsy’s Law.”
20
Marsy’s Law provides crime
victims specific rights, including the right:
• To be free from intimidation, harassment, and abuse.
• Within the judicial process, to be reasonably protected from the accused and any person
acting on behalf of the accused.
• To prevent the disclosure of information or records that could be used to locate or harass the
victim or the victim’s family, or which could disclose confidential or privileged information
of the victim.
21
Under Marsy’s Law, a “victim” means a person who suffers direct or threatened physical,
psychological, or financial harm as a result of the commission or attempted commission of a
crime or delinquent act or against whom the crime or delinquent act is committed. The term
includes the victim’s lawful representative, the parent or guardian of a minor, or the next of kin
of a homicide victim, except upon a showing that the interest of such individual would be in
actual or potential conflict with the interests of the victim. The term does not include the
accused.
22
Pursuant to Art. I, s. 16(c) of the Florida Constitution, the victim can assert and seek enforcement
of such rights in any trial or appellate court, or before any other authority with jurisdiction over
the case, as a matter of right. The court or other authority must act promptly on such a request,
affording a remedy by due course of law for the violation of any right.
23
In 2023, the Florida Supreme Court held that Marsy’s Law “does not guarantee to a victim the
categorical right to withhold his or her name from disclosure.”
24
The Court held that “Marsy’s
Law speaks only to the right of victims to ‘prevent the disclosure of information or records that
could be used to locate or harass’ them or their families” and that “one’s name, standing alone, is
not that kind of information or record; it communicates nothing about where the individual can
be found and bothered.”
25
Additionally, the Court noted that by reading Marsy’s Law to only
shield information that can be used to locate or harass, rather than identify, it can give effect to
Marsy’s Law while also protecting a defendant’s right to confront adverse witnesses at trial.
26
Public Record Exemption for the Victim of a Crime
Section 119.071(2)(j), F.S., provides a public record exemption for any document that reveals the
identity, home or employment telephone number, home or employment address, or personal
assets of the victim of a crime and also identifies that person as the victim of a crime, which
20
Art. I, s. 16(b)-(e), Fla. Const.
21
Art. I, s. 16(b), Fla. Const.
22
Art. I, s. 16(e), Fla. Const.
23
Art. I, s. 16(c), Fla. Const.
24
City of Tallahassee v. Fla. Police Benv. Assn., Inc., 375 So. 3d 178, 183 (2023).
25
Id. at 184 (internal citations omitted).
26
Id. at 188. BILL: SB 1266 Page 5
document is received by any agency that regularly receives information from or concerning the
victims of crime.
27
Additionally, any information not otherwise held confidential or exempt from public record
requirements which reveals the home or employment telephone number, home or employment
address, or personal assets of a person who has been the victim of sexual battery, aggravated
child abuse, aggravated stalking, harassment, aggravated battery, or domestic violence is exempt
from public record requirements upon written request by the victim, which request must include
official verification that an applicable crime has occurred. Such an exemption will cease five
years after the receipt of the written request.
28
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill amends s. 119.071, F.S., to revise a public records exemption for documents that
identify a person as a victim of a crime. The bill specifies any public record that reveals the
identity, name, personal identification number, home or employment address, or personal assets
of the victim, or any other personal identifying or location information that could be used to
locate or harass the victim or the victim’s family, which public record is generated or received
by any agency that regularly generates or receives information from or concerning the victims of
crime, is confidential and exempt.
The confidential and exempt information must be released as needed in furtherance of any
judicial proceeding, access may not be denied to a criminal defendant, and the protections
provided may not interfere with the constitutional rights of any defendant. Those entitled to
access the confidential and exempt information as part of any judicial proceeding may not reveal
to any outside party any confidential and exempt information obtained, except as reasonably
necessary to prepare a defense and to pursue legal remedies.
A person who violates such prohibition commits a first degree misdemeanor.
The bill removes language for a victim of a specified crime to request for other public records
that reveal identifying or locating information to be exempt from public records copying and
inspection requirements.
This exemption applies to information held by an agency before, on, or after July 1, 2025, and is
repealed on October 2, 2030, unless reenacted by the Legislature.
The bill provides a statement of public necessity as required by the State Constitution. The public
necessity statement provides that the release of certain personal identifying and location
information would constitute an unwarranted risk and may jeopardize the safety of victims and
their family members.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
27
Section 119.071(2)(j)1., F.S.
28
Id. Notwithstanding this exemption, any state or federal agency that is authorized to have access to such documents by any
provision of law must be granted access in the furtherance of such agency’s statutory duties. BILL: SB 1266 Page 6
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
The bill does not appear to require the cities and counties to expend funds or limit their
authority to raise revenue or receive state-shared revenues as specified by Article VII, s.
18, of the State Constitution.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
Vote Requirement
Article I, s. 24(c) of the State Constitution requires a two-thirds vote of the members
present and voting for final passage of a bill creating or expanding an exemption to the
public records requirements. This bill expands an exemption for records of pertaining to
victims of crimes; therefore, the bill requires a two-thirds vote of each chamber for
enactment.
Public Necessity Statement
Article I, s. 24(c) of the State Constitution requires a bill creating or expanding an
exemption to the public records requirements to state with specificity the public necessity
justifying the exemption. Section 2 of the bill contains a statement of public necessity for
the exemption.
Breadth of Exemption
Article I, s. 24(c), of the State Constitution requires an exemption to the public records
requirements to be no broader than necessary to accomplish the stated purpose of the law.
The purpose of the law is to protect victims of crime and such victim’s family members,
and the bill exempts only records pertaining to those persons from the public records
requirements. The exemption does not appear to be broader than necessary to accomplish
the purpose of the law.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None. BILL: SB 1266 Page 7
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
None.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
By removing the language “any document that identifies that person as the victim of a crime,” all
public records with the specified information becomes confidential and exempt. A public record
such as an address on a county property appraiser site does not list a person as a victim of a
crime but may contain information of a victim. Without the requirement that the victim request
this information be confidential and exempt, such department would not be aware of the
exemption.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends section 119.071 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.