Florida legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Florida S490: Public Records/E-mail Addresses Collected by the Department of Highway Safety for Providing Renewal Notices
Status: Chaptered, April 22, 2026
Expanding an exemption from public records requirements for e-mail addresses collected by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for providing renewal notices to include e-mail addresses collected for use as a method of notification generally and not only for the purpose of providing renewal notices; expanding the exemption to include e-mail addresses collected for use as a method of notification related to vessel registrations; providing retroactive applicability; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.
What the bill says
An act relating to public records; amending s. 119.0712, F.S.; expanding an exemption from public records requirements for e-mail addresses collected by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for providing renewal notices to include e-mail addresses collected for use as a method of notification generally and not only for the purpose of providing renewal notices; expanding the exemption to include e-mail addresses collected for use as a method of notification related to vessel registrations; providing retroactive applicability…
From the enrolled text, March 18, 2026:
An act relating to public records; amending s. 119.0712, F.S.; expanding an exemption from public records requirements for e-mail addresses collected by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for providing renewal notices to include e-mail addresses collected for use as a method of notification generally and not only for the purpose of providing renewal notices; expanding the exemption to include e-mail addresses collected for use as a method of notification related to vessel registrations; providing retroactive applicability; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of public necessity; providing a contingent effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1.âParagraph (c) of subsection (2) of section 119.0712, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 119.0712âExecutive branch agency-specific exemptions from inspection or copying of public records.â (2)âDEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAY SAFETY AND MOTOR VEHICLES.â (c)âE-mail addresses collected by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles pursuant to s. 319.40(3), s. 320.95(2), [DELETED: or] s. 322.08(10), or s. 328.30 are exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. This exemption applies retroactively. This paragraph is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand repealed on October 2, 2031, unless reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by …