SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/HB 285

Required Notice of Intent to Contact a Victim
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SPONSOR
Criminal Justice Subcommittee; Daley
FILED BY
Dan Daley — District 96, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Judiciary Committee

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

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

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates 72-hour pre-contact notice to victims in criminal cases.

Attorneys and investigators must file a notice 72 hours before contacting a victim for information in a pending criminal case. This new requirement applies to all agents acting on behalf of a criminal defendant.

The notice must be filed on a standard form developed by the state attorney in each judicial circuit. This ensures a uniform process for documenting the intent to contact victims.

The requirement does not apply to contact that occurs during a court proceeding or a deposition. These specific interactions are exempt from the 72-hour filing mandate.

The law takes effect on July 1, 2026. It creates a new section in the Florida Statutes to formalize these notification procedures for criminal proceedings.

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 of the defendant majors. 914.18(1)

AIApplies the notice requirement to attorneys, investigators, and any other agent acting on the defendant's behalf.

“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 state attorney in each judicial circuit.

“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 Judiciary Committee
2/6/2026
Now in Judiciary Committee
2/6/2026
Referred to Judiciary Committee
2/5/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2/5/2026
CS Filed
2/5/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/5/2026
Reported out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee
2/5/2026
Favorable with CS by Criminal Justice Subcommittee
2/3/2026
PCS added to Criminal Justice Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
11/4/2025
Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee
11/4/2025
Referred to Judiciary Committee
11/4/2025
Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee
10/30/2025
Filed
8 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 914.18
+107 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES