SB 1266 Florida Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Public Records/Crime Victims/Officers Involved in Use of Force Incidents

Summary
Public Records/Crime Victims/Officers Involved in Use of Force Incidents; Expanding a public records exemption for crime victims to include the name and personal identification number of the victim and any other information or records that could be used to locate, intimidate, harass, or abuse a victim or the victim’s family; providing that certain records identifying law enforcement officers who are involved in a use of force incident are confidential and exempt for a specified timeframe; providing requirements for extending such timeframe; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemptions; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.
Bill status failed 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 4, 2025 Last action Apr 24, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

S 1266 c1 S 1266 c2 · 8 edits
MODERATE
This bill expands public records exemptions to protect crime victims' identifying information and adds new protections for law enforcement officers involved in use-of-force incidents. The changes also introduce specific exemptions for sexual assault victims and minors in videotaped statements, while establishing sunset review provisions for these exemptions.
Scope change
Expanded from general crime victim protections to include specific categories (sexual assault victims, minors in sexual misconduct cases) and added new protections for law enforcement officers involved in use-of-force incidents.
ELIGIBILITY

Added specific exemption for victims of sexual battery, aggravated child abuse, aggravated stalking, harassment, aggravated battery, or domestic violence, protecting their contact information upon written request.

Added new protection for law enforcement officers involved in use-of-force incidents, keeping their identity confidential for 72 hours with potential extension.

Added protection for minors in videotaped statements regarding sexual misconduct, keeping their identity confidential.

TIMELINE

Changed victim information exemption sunset date to October 2, 2030, with reversion to June 30, 2025 text if not reenacted.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirement for employing agency heads to make written findings explaining necessity of extending officer identity confidentiality beyond 72 hours.

Added requirement for 5-day notice to officers before releasing their identity information after an extension period.

ENFORCEMENT

Added misdemeanor penalty for public employees who willfully disclose protected minor victim information in videotaped statements.

DEFINITION

Added definitions for 'employing agency head', 'officer', 'use of force incident', and 'victim' to clarify scope of protections.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 24, 2025

How they voted

2314
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 38
Apr 24, 2025
D Democratic10
2 Yea 8 Nay
80% Nay
I Independent1
1 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican27
20 Yea 6 Nay 1
74% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
22
Key actions
5
Committee
5
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amendment(s) adopted (589524, 929710)
upper
Apr 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Pending reference review -under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
upper
Apr 11, 2025
Upper · Passed
On Committee agenda-- Rules, 04/16/25, 8:30 am, 412 Knott Building
upper
Apr 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
upper
Mar 27, 2025
Upper · Passed
On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 04/01/25, 1:30 pm, 37 Senate Building
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
upper
Mar 3, 2025
Committee
Referred to Criminal Justice; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Rules
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Joe Gruters
Joe Gruters
RRepublican
FL
22