SESSION WATCH
Became law SENATE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-138

No. CS/SB 298

Public Records/Victims of Domestic 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

Public Records/Victims of Domestic and Dating Violence; Providing that certain identifying information of victims of dating violence who participate in the Address Confidentiality Program for Victims of Domestic and Dating Violence which are held by the Office of the Attorney General or contained in voter registration or voting records held by the supervisor of elections or the Department of State are exempt from public records requirements; providing for retroactive application; providing for future legislative review and repeal; providing statements of public necessity, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Exempts dating violence victims' records from public disclosure.

Dating violence victims in the Address Confidentiality Program now have their addresses, phone numbers, and social security numbers protected from public records requests. This matches protections already available to domestic violence victims.

Names, addresses, and phone numbers of program participants in voter registration and voting records are also exempt from public disclosure. This prevents assailants from using voting records to locate victims.

The exemption applies retroactively to records held before the law takes effect. It also applies to records held by the Attorney General, Department of State, and supervisors of elections.

The law includes a sunset clause requiring legislative review in 2031. If not reenacted, the exemptions automatically expire on October 2, 2031.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Retroactive Application moderates. 741.465(3)

AIApplies the new exemptions to records created before the law takes effect.

“This exemption applies to information made exempt by this subsection before, on, or after the effective date” bill text, line 52 →
§ 2 Sunset Provision moderates. 741.465(4)(b)

AIRepeals the section in 2031 unless the Legislature reviews and reenacts it.

“shall stand repealed on October 2, 2031, unless reviewed and saved from repeal” bill text, line 60 →
TIMELINE
6/12/2026
Chapter No. 2026-138 , companion bill(s) passed, see CS/SB 296...
6/12/2026
Approved by Governor
6/9/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/17/2026
Ordered enrolled
3/10/2026
CS passed; YEAS 112, 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
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/10/2026)
2/26/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/26/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
2/26/2026
Reported out of Judiciary Committee
2/26/2026
Favorable by Judiciary Committee
2/24/2026
Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
2/24/2026
Now in Judiciary Committee
2/24/2026
Reported out of State Affairs Committee
2/24/2026
Favorable by State Affairs Committee
2/20/2026
Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
2/13/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2/13/2026
Now in State Affairs Committee
2/13/2026
Referred to Judiciary Committee
2/13/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
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
36 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 741.465
+122 / −42
STAFF ANALYSES
4 MORE →