THE BILL ITSELF
SB 744
Public Records Requests Made to Law Enforcement Officers
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 744 By Senator Yarborough 4-00824-26 2026744__
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to public records requests made to law
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enforcement officers; creating s. 119.101, F.S.;
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defining terms; prohibiting law enforcement officers
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from accepting and processing public records requests
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while engaged in certain activities; providing that a
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law enforcement officer makes a certain determination;
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requiring that a law enforcement officer verbally
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inform an individual of certain information; providing
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criminal penalties for individuals who knowingly and
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willfully persist in attempting to compel a law
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enforcement officer to accept and process a public
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records request under certain circumstances; providing
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applicability; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Section 119.101, Florida Statutes, is created to
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read:
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119.101 Requests for public records made to law enforcement
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officers.—
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(1) As used in this section, the term:
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(a) “Employing agency” has the same meaning as in s.
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943.10.
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(b) “Law enforcement officer” has the same meaning as in s.
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943.10.
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(2) A law enforcement officer who is actively engaged in
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the performance of an official duty, including, but not limited
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to, a call for service, an investigation, a case-related
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activity, or other official police activity, may not accept and
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process a public records request at such time.
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(a) For the purposes of this section, the determination of
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whether such officer is engaged in the performance of an
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official duty is made by the officer.
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(b) Upon the determination that the officer is engaged in
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the performance of an official duty, the officer must verbally
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inform the individual requesting public records that he or she
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cannot accept and process the public records request at that
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time and direct the individual to:
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1. The custodian of records for the officer’s employing
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agency; or
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2. An official public records request online portal, if
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available.
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(c) An individual who, after being informed pursuant to
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paragraph (b), knowingly and willfully persists in attempting to
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compel a law enforcement officer to accept and process a public
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records request while such officer is engaged in the performance
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of an official duty commits the offense of obstruction of a law
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enforcement officer, in violation of s. 843.02.
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(3) This section does not apply to a law enforcement
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officer performing his or her official duties at an official
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location of the employing agency.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.