SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. HB 1179

Pub. Rec. and Meetings/Space Florida
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SPONSOR
Sirois
FILED BY
Tyler Sirois — District 31, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
on the same date that HB 1177 or similar legislation takes effect
DIED IN
Ways & Means Committee

Filed under Transportation.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Pub. Rec. and Meetings/Space Florida; Provides exemption from public records & public meetings requirements for Space Florida; provides for future legislative review & repeal of exemption; provides statement of public necessity.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Shields Space Florida trade secrets from public records and meetings.

Trade secrets held by Space Florida, spaceport users, or space industry businesses become confidential, exempt from Florida's public records law and the constitutional right to inspect government records.

Board meetings, or portions of meetings, where Space Florida discusses a protected trade secret are closed to the public, and any minutes or recordings from that closed portion are also exempt.

If Space Florida decides a records request would reveal a trade secret, it must tell the requester in writing, and that decision can be challenged as a final order.

The exemption is not permanent: it automatically expires on October 2, 2031, unless the Legislature reviews and specifically reenacts it.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Trade secrets held by Space Florida become confidential and exempt majors. 331.3261

AIAny trade secret held by Space Florida, a spaceport user, or a space industry business becomes confidential and exempt from Florida's public records law and the constitutional right to inspect government records.

“Any trade secret as defined in s. 812.081(1) held by Space Florida, any spaceport user, or any space industry business” bill text, line 15 →
§ 2 Board meetings discussing trade secrets are closed to the public majors. 331.3261

AIAny board meeting, or portion of one, where Space Florida discusses a protected trade secret is closed to the public, exempt from Florida's open-meetings law and the constitutional right of access to meetings.

“is exempt from s. 286.011 and s. 24(b), Art. I of the State Constitution” bill text, line 25 →
§ 3 Withholding decisions require written notice and are appealable moderates. 331.3261

AIIf Space Florida decides requested information would reveal a trade secret, it must notify the requester in writing, and that decision is treated as a final order that can be challenged like any other agency action.

“The determination is a final order as defined in s. 120.52” bill text, line 21 →
§ 4 Records from closed trade-secret meetings are also exempt moderates. 331.3261

AIMinutes, recordings, or notes generated during the closed portion of a Space Florida board meeting are themselves confidential and exempt from the public records law, not just the discussion itself.

“such as minutes, tape recordings, or notes, is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1)” bill text, line 27 →
§ 5 The exemption automatically sunsets in 2031 absent reenactment moderates. 331.3261

AIThe trade-secret exemption is not permanent: it is subject to periodic legislative review under the Open Government Sunset Review Act and automatically repeals on October 2, 2031 unless the Legislature reenacts it.

“shall stand repealed on October 2, 2031, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature” bill text, line 31 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Ways & Means Committee
1/15/2026
Now in Ways & Means Committee
1/15/2026
Referred to Commerce Committee
1/15/2026
Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee
1/15/2026
Referred to Ways & Means Committee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/7/2026
Filed
1 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 331.3261
+189 / −0