SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 292

Public Records/Appellate Court Clerks
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SPONSOR
Rouson
FILED BY
Darryl Ervin Rouson — District 16, Democrat
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
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Filed under Legal.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Public Records/Appellate Court Clerks; Defining the term “appellate court clerk”; providing an exemption from public records requirements for the personal identifying and location information of current appellate court clerks and the spouses and children of such appellate court clerks; 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
Exempts personal information of appellate court clerks from public disclosure.

Appellate court clerks are newly defined and folded into an existing exemption that already shields the address, birth date, and phone number of judges and judicial assistants.

The new definition covers the Florida Supreme Court clerk, a district court of appeal clerk, or any court employee in class code 2610 or 2620.

Unlike judges, whose protection covers both current and former officeholders, appellate court clerks and judicial assistants are shielded only while they currently hold the position.

As part of this change, the entire exemption's expiration date moves from 2028 to 2031, extending protection for judges and judicial assistants as well as clerks.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Folds appellate court clerks into the judges' and judicial assistants' exemption majors. 119.071

AIAppellate court clerks join judges, justices, and judicial assistants as covered categories: their home addresses, telephone numbers, and dates of birth become exempt, along with the same information plus place of employment for their spouses and children, and their children's school and day care locations.

“current judicial assistants and appellate court clerks” bill text, line 92 →
§ 2 Defines 'appellate court clerk' covering three specific roles moderates. 119.071

AIThe exemption defines appellate court clerk to mean the appointed clerk of the Florida Supreme Court, the appointed clerk of a district court of appeal, or a court employee assigned to class code 2610 or 2620.

“a court employee assigned to the 2610 or 2620 class code” bill text, line 26 →
§ 3 Resets this exemption's expiration from 2028 to 2031 moderates. 119.071

AIThis sub-subparagraph's Open Government Sunset Review Act repeal date is reset three years later, from October 2, 2028 to October 2, 2031, before the whole exemption would otherwise have automatically expired.

“shall stand repealed on October 2, 2031 , unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature”
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Messages
1/29/2026
In Messages
1/29/2026
Immediately certified -SJ 236
1/29/2026
Passed; YEAS 34 NAYS 1 -SJ 233
1/29/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 233
1/29/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 233
1/27/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 01/29/26
1/27/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
1/27/2026
Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 20 NAYS 2
1/22/2026
On Committee agenda-- Rules, 01/27/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
1/13/2026
Introduced
12/2/2025
Now in Rules
12/2/2025
Favorable by Judiciary; YEAS 9 NAYS 1
11/24/2025
On Committee agenda-- Judiciary, 12/02/25, 1:00 pm, 110 Senate Building
11/17/2025
Referred to Judiciary; Rules
10/24/2025
Filed
10 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 119.071
+78 / −3
s. 744.21031
+2 / −2
STAFF ANALYSES