HB 287 Florida House · 2026 Regular Session

Pub. Rec./Applicants, Owners, and Operators of Family Foster Homes and References of Such Persons

Summary

Pub. Rec./Applicants, Owners, and Operators of Family Foster Homes and References of Such Persons; Provides confidentiality & exemption from public records requirements for personal identifying & location information of applicants for family foster homes & current & former owners & operators of family foster homes, & names & personal identifying & location information of spouses, children, & other adult household members of such applicants, owners, or operators; provides confidentiality & exemption from public records requirements for personal identifying & location information of character or neighbor references of family foster home applicant or current or former owner or operator of family foster home; provides for future legislative review & repeal of exemption; provides statement of public necessity.

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2025

Committee Review

Feb 2026

House Passage

Feb 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Oct 30, 2025 Last action Mar 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

H 287 Filed → H 287 c1 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was significantly rewritten to expand privacy protections for family foster home applicants and operators. The new version broadens the scope to include applicants (not just current owners) and adds specific protections for their household members, such as spouses, children, and other adults living in the home. It also introduces a new exemption for character and neighbor references and extends the confidentiality of medical records permanently, whereas the previous version had a time limit on some exemptions.

Scope change

The bill now applies to family foster home applicants in addition to current and former owners/operators, and it explicitly includes 'other adult household members' in the protected list.

SCOPE

Expanded the protected group to include applicants for family foster homes, not just current or former owners and operators.

Added specific protections for the spouses, children, and other adult household members of applicants and operators.

Created a new exemption for character or neighbor references submitted during the licensing process.

REQUIREMENT

Changed the rule for when information becomes public: medical records are now permanently exempt, while other information becomes public only after five years if the license is no longer active.

Added a specific exception ensuring that information about foster parents who become adoptive parents remains exempt from public disclosure.

Floor votes · House Feb 25, 2026

How they voted

117–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 118

Feb 25, 2026

D Democratic34

33 Yea 1

97% Yea

R Republican84

84 Yea

100% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Feb 26, 2026

Committee

Referred to Rules

upper

Feb 25, 2026

Lower · Passed

CS passed; YEAS 116, NAYS 0

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee

lower

Feb 10, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable by Health & Human Services Committee

lower

Feb 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Now in Health & Human Services Committee

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Government Operations Subcommittee

lower

Jan 29, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable by Government Operations Subcommittee

lower

Jan 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

Added to Government Operations Subcommittee agenda

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Lower · Passed

Now in Government Operations Subcommittee

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

Referred to Health & Human Services Committee

lower

Jan 22, 2026

Committee

Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Human Services Subcommittee

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with CS by Human Services Subcommittee

lower

Jan 15, 2026

Lower · Passed

PCS added to Human Services Subcommittee agenda

lower

Nov 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Human Services Subcommittee

lower

Nov 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to Health & Human Services Committee

lower

Nov 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee

lower

Nov 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to Human Services Subcommittee

lower

2 primary · 5 co-sponsors