Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 1490

Required Notice of Intent to Contact a Victim

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SPONSOR

Garcia

FILED BY

Ileana Garcia — District 36, Republican [search donations]

EFFECTIVE

7/1/2026

DIED IN

Criminal Justice

OFFICIAL RECORD

flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1490

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Required Notice of Intent to Contact a Victim; Requiring specified persons acting on behalf of a criminal defendant to file a specified notice within a specified timeframe before contacting a victim in a criminal proceeding for a specified purpose; requiring that such notice be filed on a standard form developed by the state attorney in each judicial circuit, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED

Mandates 72-hour pre-contact notice to victims before defendant agents reach out.

Defendant-side attorneys and investigators must file a notice 72 hours before contacting a victim about a pending criminal case.

The notice must be filed on a standard form created by the state attorney in each judicial circuit.

The requirement does not apply to contact that occurs during a court proceeding or a deposition.

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KEY PROVISIONS

§ 1 Mandatory 72-hour pre-contact notice majors. 914.18(1)

AICreates a new legal duty for anyone representing a criminal defendant to file a notice before contacting a victim.

“he or she must file a notice of intent to contact the victim within 72 hours before making, or attempting to make, such contact” bill text, line 20 →

§ 2 Covers all agents, not just attorneys majors. 914.18(1)

AIExpands the notice requirement to investigators and other agents acting on behalf of the defendant.

“any attorney, investigator, or other agent acting on behalf of a criminal defendant” bill text, line 17 →

§ 3 Excludes contact during court proceedings or depositions moderates. 914.18(1)

AIRemoves the notice requirement for victim contact that happens inside a court proceeding or deposition.

“This subsection does not apply to contact with a victim which occurs during a court proceeding or deposition” bill text, line 22 →

§ 4 Requires use of a state attorney-developed form moderates. 914.18(2)

AIMandates that the notice be filed on a specific standard form created by the local state attorney.

“must be filed on a standard form developed and made available by the state attorney in each judicial circuit” bill text, line 25 →

TIMELINE

3/13/2026

Died in Criminal Justice

1/22/2026

Introduced

1/16/2026

Referred to Criminal Justice; Appropriations Committee on Criminal...

1/8/2026

Filed

STATUTES IT CHANGES

s. 914.18

+107 / −0