SESSION WATCH
Became law SENATE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-91

No. CS/SB 296

Victims of Domestic Violence and Dating Violence
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SPONSOR
Criminal Justice; Berman
FILED BY
Lori Berman — District 26, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Victims of Domestic Violence and Dating Violence; Requiring the Division of Telecommunications within the Department of Management Services to consult with certain entities to conduct a feasibility study regarding a specified alert system; providing requirements for such alert system; authorizing victims of dating violence to apply to participate in the Attorney General’s address confidentiality program; requiring the Attorney General to designate certain entities to assist victims of dating violence applying to be address confidentiality program participants, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Extends address confidentiality protections to dating violence victims.

Dating violence victims can now apply for the Attorney General's address confidentiality program, just as domestic violence victims already can. This prevents their new addresses from being disclosed in public records.

The Division of Telecommunications must conduct a feasibility study on a web-based 911 alert system for domestic and dating violence victims. The study must be reported to the legislature by January 31, 2027.

The bill defines dating violence for these purposes, covering assaults, stalking, and threats by someone in a romantic or intimate relationship, regardless of whether the acts were reported to police.

Victims of stalking can now use the same address confidentiality procedures as domestic and dating violence victims, provided they file a sworn statement with the Attorney General.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 911 Alert System Feasibility Study majors. 741.401

AIMandates a state-led study to design a web-based 911 alert system for domestic and dating violence victims.

“The division shall consult with enhanced 911 and Next Generation 911 service providers; state, county, and municipal PSAPs; and state and local public safety agencies to conduct a” bill text, line 39 →
§ 2 Dating Violence Address Confidentiality majors. 741.403

AIExtends the Attorney General's address confidentiality program to victims of dating violence, not just domestic violence.

“A sworn statement by the applicant that the applicant has good reason to believe that the applicant, or the minor or incapacitated person on whose behalf the application is made, i” bill text, line 113 →
§ 3 Dating Violence Definition majors. 741.402

AIAdds a statutory definition of dating violence to the address confidentiality program, tying it to romantic or intimate relationships.

“"Dating violence" means any assault, aggravated assault, battery, aggravated battery, sexual assault, sexual battery, stalking, aggravated stalking, kidnapping, false imprisonment,” bill text, line 85 →
§ 4 Public Records Exemption for Dating Violence moderates. 741.4651

AIExempts dating violence victims' personal information from public records disclosure, mirroring the existing domestic violence exemption.

“of persons who are victims of stalking or aggravated stalking are exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution in the same manner that the names, add” bill text, line 137 →
§ 5 Victim Notification Requirement moderates. 960.001

AIRequires law enforcement to provide dating violence victims with information about the address confidentiality program.

“Victims of domestic violence and dating violence shall also be given information about the address confidentiality program provided under s. 741.403.” bill text, line 165 →
TIMELINE
5/26/2026
Chapter No. 2026-91 , companion bill(s) passed, see CS/SB 298 (Ch....
5/22/2026
Approved by Governor
5/11/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/17/2026
Ordered enrolled
3/10/2026
CS passed; YEAS 113, NAYS 0
3/10/2026
Read 3rd time
3/10/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/10/2026
Read 2nd time
3/9/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
3/9/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/10/2026)
3/9/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
1/29/2026
In Messages
1/29/2026
Immediately certified -SJ 236
1/29/2026
CS passed; YEAS 35 NAYS 0 -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 22 NAYS 0
1/22/2026
On Committee agenda-- Rules, 01/27/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
1/15/2026
Now in Rules
1/14/2026
Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil...
1/13/2026
CS by Criminal Justice read 1st time
1/13/2026
Introduced
1/9/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Criminal and...
12/11/2025
Now in Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
12/10/2025
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
12/9/2025
CS by Criminal Justice; YEAS 6 NAYS 0
12/1/2025
On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 12/09/25, 10:00 am, 37...
11/17/2025
Referred to Criminal Justice; Appropriations Committee on Criminal...
10/28/2025
Filed
25 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 741.401
+9 / −0
s. 741.402
+85 / −1
s. 741.403
+6 / −0
s. 741.408
+3 / −0
s. 741.4651
+2 / −0
s. 960.001
+3 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES
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