FloridaFlorida law allows agencies to withhold crime victims’ identifying information
Since July 1, 2026, agencies that regularly handle crime victim information may withhold identifying details about victims, their relatives, and their lawful representatives.
What it does
Agencies that regularly handle crime victim information may withhold victims’ names, contact details, and information that could help someone find or harm them. Officers’ names follow separate time limits.
Victims’ relatives and lawful representatives also have identifying details protected from public access. Protection excludes the accused and people shown to have an actual or potential conflict with the victim’s interests.
An officer who becomes a crime victim on duty has their name kept confidential for 72 hours, then eligible for withholding for 60 more days. Separate sexual assault protections still apply.
Argument forKeeping identifying details out of public access could make it harder for others to find and harass victims and their families.
Argument againstWithholding victims’ and relatives’ identities could make it harder for reporters to connect records and examine how agencies handle crimes.
More detail
Agencies that regularly handle crime victim information may withhold victims’ identifying details from public access. The rule covers records these agencies generate or receive. Victims include people harmed or threatened by crimes or attempted crimes, including juvenile offenses, or people against whom these acts occur. The accused is excluded. The record must identify the person as a crime victim. The protection covers identifying details and information that could help someone locate, intimidate, harass, or abuse the victim. Names of officers who become victims on duty follow the separate time limits below. The law took effect July 1, 2026. These protections expire October 2, 2031, unless lawmakers renew them.
Agencies that regularly handle crime victim information may withhold identifying details about victims’ relatives and lawful representatives. The rule covers records these agencies generate or receive about a victim’s lawful representative, closest relatives, spouse, child, parent or legal guardian, and sibling. The record must identify the related person as a victim. The protection excludes the accused and a covered relative or representative whose interests are shown to actually or potentially conflict with the victim’s interests. The law took effect July 1, 2026. These protections expire October 2, 2031, unless lawmakers renew them.
Covered agencies must keep an officer victim’s name confidential for 72 hours and may withhold it for another 60 days. The rule covers certified full-time, part-time, and auxiliary police officers, correctional officers, and correctional probation officers. The officer must become a crime victim while carrying out employment or official duties. Separate protections for victims of sexual assault still apply. The first 72 hours run from the incident; the next 60 days follow immediately. This name protection then ends. The law took effect July 1, 2026. These provisions expire October 2, 2031, unless renewed.
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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
- Apr 15Chapter No. 2026-32Latest
- Apr 14Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Mar 30Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 11Ordered enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 11In Messages
- Mar 11CS passed; YEAS 33 NAYS 4Passed Senate
- Mar 11Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 11Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 11Substituted for CS/SB 350
- Mar 11Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Mar 11Withdrawn from RulesMajor
- Mar 5ReceivedMinor
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 5Referred to RulesMinor
- Mar 5In Messages
- Mar 5CS passed; YEAS 106, NAYS 0Passed House
- Mar 5Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 5Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Mar 5Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 2Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/5/2026)
- Feb 17Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Vote recorded Favorable (Judiciary Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17Bill released to House Calendar
- Feb 17Reported out of Judiciary Committee
- Feb 17Favorable by Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Feb 13Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
- Feb 5Now in Judiciary Committee
- Vote recorded Favorable (Government Operations Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 5Reported out of Government Operations Subcommittee
- Feb 5Favorable by Government Operations SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 3Added to Government Operations Subcommittee agenda
- Jan 291st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)Minor
- Jan 29Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
- Jan 29Referred to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Jan 29Referred to Government Operations SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 28CS FiledMinor
- Vote recorded Favorable With Committee Substitute (Criminal Justice Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 28Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Jan 28Reported out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee
- Jan 28Favorable with CS by Criminal Justice SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 26Added to Criminal Justice Subcommittee agenda
- Jan 131st Reading (Original Filed Version)Minor
- Jan 12Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee
- Jan 12Referred to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Government Operations SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Criminal Justice SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 7FiledIntroduced
Criminal JusticeGovernment & Ethics