FloridaFlorida law shields survivors’ program and voter details from public view
Florida law shields address confidentiality program participants’ personal details in state and voter records when related legislation takes effect.
What it does
The Attorney General keeps participants’ home, school, and work addresses, phone numbers, and Social Security numbers out of public records, with limited exceptions.
Election officials keep participants’ names, addresses, and phone numbers in voter records out of public view, while still using a verifiable address to assign voting districts.
Argument forHiding participants’ names and contact details in public records could make it harder for abusers to locate them while they take part in elections.
Argument againstKeeping names and contact details out of public voter records could make it harder for residents to check those records, though officials still need addresses to assign voting districts.
More detail
The Office of the Attorney General keeps certain participant information exempt from public records requests. This covers participants’ residential, school, and work addresses listed on their applications, along with their related phone numbers and Social Security numbers. The information may be disclosed to law enforcement to help carry out a valid arrest warrant, to a person named in a court order, or if the participant’s certification is canceled. The exemption applies to records held before, on, or after its effective date.
The Department of State and each county election supervisor keep certain participant information in voter records exempt from public records requests. This covers participants’ names, addresses, and phone numbers in voter registration and voting records held by the Department of State or a county election supervisor. Information may be disclosed to law enforcement to help carry out an arrest warrant or to a person named in a court order. Election officials must have a verifiable address to assign participants to voting districts and keep accurate records. The exemption applies to records held before, on, or after its effective date and is scheduled to end October 2, 2031, unless the Legislature reviews and renews it.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Jun 12Chapter No. 2026-138, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/SB 296 (Ch. 2026-91)Latest
- Jun 12Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Jun 9Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 17Ordered enrolledMinor
- Mar 10CS passed; YEAS 112, NAYS 0Passed House
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 10Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 10Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Mar 10Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 9Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/10/2026)
- Feb 26Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Vote recorded Favorable (Judiciary Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 26Bill released to House Calendar
- Feb 26Reported out of Judiciary Committee
- Feb 26Favorable by Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Feb 24Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
- Vote recorded Favorable (State Affairs Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 24Now in Judiciary Committee
- Feb 24Reported out of State Affairs Committee
- Feb 24Favorable by State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Feb 20Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
- Feb 131st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)Minor
- Feb 13Now in State Affairs Committee
- Feb 13Referred to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Feb 13Referred to State Affairs CommitteeMinor
- Jan 29In Messages
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 29Immediately certified
- Jan 29CS passed; YEAS 35 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Jan 29Read 3rd timeMinor
- Jan 29Read 2nd timeMinor
- Jan 27Placed on Special Order Calendar, 01/29/26
- Vote recorded Favorable. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 27Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Jan 27Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 22 NAYS 0Minor
- Jan 22On Committee agenda-- Rules, 01/27/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
- Jan 15Now in Rules
- Jan 14Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; YEAS 7 NAYS 0Minor
- Vote recorded Favorable. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 13CS by Criminal Justice read 1st time
- Jan 13IntroducedMinor
- Jan 9On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice, 01/14/26, 2:00 pm, 37 Senate Building
- 2025
- Dec 11Now in Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
- Dec 10Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
- Dec 9CS by Criminal Justice; YEAS 6 NAYS 0
- Vote recorded Favorable with Committee Substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Dec 1On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 12/09/25, 10:00 am, 37 Senate Building
- Nov 17Referred to Criminal Justice; Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; RulesMinor
- Oct 28FiledIntroduced
Civil Rights & VotingPublic Safety