SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 1792

Public Records/Pawnbroker Transactions
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SPONSOR
Yarborough
FILED BY
Clay Yarborough — District 4, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
This act shall take effect on the same date that SB 1582 or similar legislation takes effect, if such legislation is adopted in the same legislative session or an extension thereof and becomes a law
DIED IN
Fiscal Policy

Filed under Local Government.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Public Records/Pawnbroker Transactions; Expanding the exemption from public records requirements for records relating to pawnbroker transactions to include those records delivered to the Department of Law Enforcement; 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
Extends confidentiality of pawnbroker records to Department of Law Enforcement.

Pawn shop transaction records sent to local law enforcement are already confidential under Florida law. This bill extends that same protection to copies of the same records when they are instead delivered to the Department of Law Enforcement.

The Department may still release a pawnbroker's name and address, a customer's name and address, or a description of pawned property to someone claiming to be the item's rightful owner, the same disclosure local police already allow.

This new exemption is not permanent. Like the existing one, it is subject to periodic legislative review and will automatically repeal on October 2, 2031, unless lawmakers act to keep it in place.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Pawn records delivered to the Department of Law Enforcement become confidential majors. 539.003

AIAdds the Department of Law Enforcement to the list of recipients whose pawnbroker transaction records are confidential and exempt from the public records law and the state constitution's right of access, matching protection already given to records sent to local law enforcement.

“All records relating to pawnbroker transactions delivered to appropriate law enforcement officials and the Department of Law Enforcement pursuant to s. 539.001 are confidential” bill text, line 16 →
§ 2 Department may disclose limited details to a property's alleged owner moderates. 539.003

AILets the Department of Law Enforcement, not just local law enforcement, disclose a pawnbroker's and customer's name and address, or a description of pawned property, to someone claiming to be the item's rightful owner.

“the disclosure by the appropriate law enforcement officials or the Department of Law Enforcement of the name and address of the pawnbroker” bill text, line 22 →
§ 3 New exemption expires in 2031 absent reenactment moderates. 539.003

AIThe expanded confidentiality is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act and stands repealed on October 2, 2031 unless the Legislature reviews and reenacts it before then.

“shall stand repealed on October 2, 2031, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature” bill text, line 28 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Fiscal Policy
2/26/2026
Now in Fiscal Policy
2/25/2026
Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil...
2/20/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Criminal and...
2/10/2026
Introduced
2/9/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Criminal and...
2/9/2026
Referred to Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil...
2/6/2026
Filed
2 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 539.003
+49 / −3
STAFF ANALYSES