SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/SB 1118

Public Records/Data Centers
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SPONSOR
Community Affairs; Avila
FILED BY
Bryan Avila — District 39, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
On the same date that SB 484 or similar legislation takes effect, if such legislation is adopted in the same legislative session or an extension thereof and becomes a law
COMPANION
CS/CS/SB 484 — CS/SB 1118 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under AI & Technology.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Public Records/Data Centers; Providing an exemption from public records requirements for information relating to the plans, intentions, or interest of a person to locate a data center; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Creates a 12-month public records exemption for data center location plans.

A private person can request that a county or municipality keep their data center location plans confidential. This request must be made before any formal application is filed with the local government.

The requested information is exempt from public records laws for 12 months, or until the person waives confidentiality. The local government must still disclose that the project is a data center.

The bill also protects a person's proprietary confidential business information related to a data center. This information remains confidential until it is publicly available or no longer treated as private by the owner.

The confidentiality provisions will automatically be repealed on October 2, 2031, unless the Legislature reviews and reenacts them. The bill states that providing this confidentiality is a public necessity to attract data centers to the state.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Confidentiality for Data Center Location Plans majors. 112.231(5)(a)

AICreates a new exemption from public records laws for information about a person's plans to locate a data center, provided a written request is made before a formal application is filed.

“any portion of a public record held by a county or municipality which contains such information is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Const” bill text, line 24 →
§ 2 Time Limit and Disclosure Requirement moderates. 112.231(5)(a)

AILimits the confidentiality exemption to 12 months from the request date, but requires the county or municipality to disclose that the project is a data center.

“The information is confidential and exempt for 12 months after the date a county or municipality receives a request for confidentiality” bill text, line 31 →
§ 3 Proprietary Confidential Business Information Exemption majors. 112.231(5)(c)

AIExempts a person's proprietary confidential business information related to a data center from public records laws until it becomes publicly available or is no longer treated as proprietary.

“A person's proprietary confidential business information related to a data center and held by an agency is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the” bill text, line 45 →
§ 4 Definition of Proprietary Confidential Business Information moderates. 112.231(5)(c)

AIDefines proprietary confidential business information to include business plans, internal and external audit reports, security measures, and information relating to competitive interests.

“Proprietary confidential business information includes all of the following: a. Business plans. b. Internal auditing controls and reports of internal auditors.” bill text, line 58 →
§ 5 Sunset Provision moderates. 112.231(5)(d)

AIRequires the Legislature to review the new confidentiality provisions by October 2, 2031, and repeals them if not reenacted.

“This subsection is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand repealed on October 2, 2031” bill text, line 69 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died on Calendar, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/SB 484 (Ch. 2026-65 )
2/18/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/17/2026
Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 16 NAYS 8
2/12/2026
On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/17/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
2/10/2026
CS by Community Affairs read 1st time
2/4/2026
Now in Rules
2/4/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
2/3/2026
CS by Community Affairs; YEAS 7 NAYS 1
1/29/2026
On Committee agenda-- Community Affairs, 02/03/26, 3:30 pm, 37...
1/21/2026
Now in Community Affairs
1/20/2026
Favorable by Regulated Industries; YEAS 7 NAYS 1
1/15/2026
On Committee agenda-- Regulated Industries, 01/20/26, 9:30 am, 412...
1/13/2026
Introduced
1/12/2026
Referred to Regulated Industries; Community Affairs; Rules
1/9/2026
Filed
9 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 112.231
+447 / −0
s. 112.231
+0 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES
2 MORE →