SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/CS/HB 849

Department of Law Enforcement
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SPONSOR
Judiciary Committee; Criminal Justice Subcommittee; Abbott
FILED BY
Shane Abbott — District 5, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
COMPANION
SB 418 — CS/CS/HB 849 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Department of Law Enforcement; Authorizes FDLE to adopt rules relating to Florida Medal of Valor & Florida Blue/Red Heart Medal programs; requires commission to appoint district medical examiners by majority vote to fill vacancies; provides that physician members of commission are eligible to serve as district medical examiners upon approval by commission,; authorizes organ procurement organization, eye bank, & tissue bank to view & copy specified autopsy records; authorizes Criminal Justice Information Program to collect, process, store, maintain, & disseminate records containing immigration detainer information; requires law enforcement agencies to capture & submit fingerprints of specified offenders to department; authorizes applications for administrative expunction of specified records; provides manners of administrative complaint service by Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission to law enforcement, correctional, & correctional probation officers.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
FDLE collects and stores immigration detainer records.

The Criminal Justice Information Program must collect, store, and disseminate immigration detainer information for qualifying offenders in custody. This creates a new state database tracking federal immigration holds.

Law enforcement agencies must capture and electronically submit fingerprints of qualifying offenders subject to immigration detainers to the department.

The Medical Examiners Commission now appoints district medical examiners by majority vote, removing the Governor's role in these specific appointments.

Organ procurement organizations may view autopsy reports of suicide victims and domestic violence minors to facilitate anatomical gifts.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 FDLE rulemaking authority for medals moderates. 112.195(4)

AIGrants FDLE rulemaking power to implement the Florida Medal of Valor and Blue/Red Heart Medal programs.

“The Department of Law Enforcement may adopt rules to implement this section.” bill text, line 66 →
§ 2 Commission appoints district medical examiners majors. 406.06(1)(a)

AITransfers appointment authority for district medical examiners from the Governor to the Medical Examiners Commission.

“A district medical examiner shall be appointed by the Medical Examiners Commission” bill text, line 96 →
§ 3 Commission approval for physician members moderates. 406.06(1)(b)

AIRequires Medical Examiners Commission approval, rather than Governor approval, for physician members to serve as district medical examiners.

“upon approval by the commission” bill text, line 16 →
§ 4 Organ procurement access to autopsy records moderates. 406.135(3)(d)

AIPermits organ procurement organizations, eye banks, and tissue banks to view or copy specific autopsy reports to facilitate anatomical gifts.

“may, pursuant to a written request containing proof of the intent of the deceased” bill text, line 115 →
§ 5 Immigration detainer data collection majors. 943.0536(1)

AIRequires the Criminal Justice Information Program to collect, store, and disseminate immigration detainer information.

“shall collect, process, store, maintain, and disseminate immigration detainer information” bill text, line 130 →
§ 6 Administrative expunction for detainer records majors. 943.0581(1)

AIAllows administrative expunction of records containing immigration detainer information if the detention was contrary to law or by mistake.

“administrative expunction of any nonjudicial record of an arrest or record containing immigration detainer information” bill text, line 153 →
§ 7 Commission independence from agencies moderates. 943.11(1)(a)

AIRequires the Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission to act independently of any criminal justice agency.

“the commission must act independently of any criminal justice agency” bill text, line 196 →
TIMELINE
3/11/2026
Laid on Table; Companion bill(s) passed, see SB 418 (Ch. 2026-147 )
2/11/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/11/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
2/11/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/10/2026
CS Filed
2/10/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/10/2026
Reported out of Judiciary Committee
2/10/2026
Favorable with CS by Judiciary Committee
2/6/2026
Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
1/30/2026
Now in Judiciary Committee
1/30/2026
Reported out of Justice Budget Subcommittee
1/29/2026
Favorable by Justice Budget Subcommittee
1/27/2026
Added to Justice Budget Subcommittee agenda
1/21/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
1/21/2026
Now in Justice Budget Subcommittee
1/21/2026
Referred to Judiciary Committee
1/21/2026
Referred to Justice Budget Subcommittee
1/20/2026
CS Filed
1/20/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/20/2026
Reported out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee
1/20/2026
Favorable with CS by Criminal Justice Subcommittee
1/15/2026
PCS added to Criminal Justice Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/5/2026
Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee
1/5/2026
Referred to Judiciary Committee
1/5/2026
Referred to Justice Budget Subcommittee
1/5/2026
Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee
12/19/2025
Filed
22 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 112.195
+13 / −0
s. 406.02
+40 / −0
s. 406.06
+4 / −14
s. 406.135
+111 / −0
s. 943.0536
+123 / −0
s. 943.0581
+112 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES