FloridaFlorida agencies may close meetings to discuss certain property claims
Since July 1, 2026, Florida agencies may privately discuss certain property claims with their attorneys, if they follow rules for notice, recording, and later public access.
What it does
Florida agencies may meet privately with their attorneys about certain property claims during a 90-day notice period. They must give public notice, record the full session, and later make its transcript public.
Records from a qualifying private session stay confidential until the claim is settled. If no lawsuit or settlement occurs, the transcript becomes public when the claim's filing deadline expires.
Argument forAgencies may discuss settlement strategy more freely in private, which could help resolve some property claims before a lawsuit is filed.
Argument againstPeople may have less access to records about property claims while agencies negotiate, because session records stay confidential until the claim is settled or the stated deadline arrives.
More detail
An agency may meet privately with its attorney to discuss certain property claims. This applies to an agency, or its chief administrative or executive officer, meeting with the agency's attorney during the 90-day notice period for a claim under the Bert J. Harris, Jr., Private Property Rights Protection Act. The attorney must first say at a public meeting that the agency wants legal advice about the claim. Discussion must be limited to settlement talks or strategy. A certified court reporter must record and transcribe the full session, and the agency must give reasonable public notice and announce when the session starts and ends. The meeting must take place during the claim's 90-day notice period.
The law keeps records from qualifying private sessions confidential and later makes the transcript public. This applies to records made during a meeting, or part of a meeting, that qualifies for the private-session exemption. The exemption covers transcripts, recordings, minutes, and other records made during a qualifying session. The transcript becomes public when the claim is settled. If no lawsuit is filed and there is no settlement, it becomes public when the claim's filing deadline expires. The exemptions are scheduled to end on October 2, 2031, unless the Legislature reviews and reenacts them.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 12Chapter No. 2026-142Latest
- Jun 12Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Jun 9Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 4Ordered enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 4In Messages
- Mar 4CS passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Mar 4Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 4Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 4Substituted for CS/CS/SB 332
- Mar 4Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Mar 4Withdrawn from RulesMajor
- Feb 26ReceivedMinor
- Feb 26Referred to RulesMinor
- Feb 25In Messages
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 25CS passed; YEAS 116, NAYS 0Passed House
- Feb 25Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 25Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Feb 25Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 19Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
- Feb 10Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Vote recorded Favorable (Judiciary Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 10Bill released to House Calendar
- Feb 10Reported out of Judiciary Committee
- Feb 10Favorable by Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Feb 6Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
- Feb 2Now in Judiciary Committee
- Feb 2Referred to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Jan 301st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)Minor
- Jan 30CS FiledMinor
- Jan 30Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Jan 30Reported out of Government Operations Subcommittee
- Jan 29Favorable with CS by Government Operations SubcommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Favorable (Government Operations Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 27PCS added to Government Operations Subcommittee agenda
- Jan 19Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
- Jan 19Referred to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Jan 19Referred to Government Operations SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 151st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)Minor
- Jan 15CS FiledMinor
- Jan 15Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Jan 15Reported out of Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
- Jan 14Favorable with CS by Civil Justice & Claims SubcommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Favorable With Committee Substitute (Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 131st Reading (Original Filed Version)Minor
- Jan 12Added to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee agenda
- 2025
- Dec 16Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
- Dec 16Referred to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Dec 16Referred to Government Operations SubcommitteeMinor
- Dec 16Referred to Civil Justice & Claims SubcommitteeMinor
- Dec 4FiledIntroduced
Government & Ethics