Florida legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Florida H437: Public Records
Status: Failed, March 13, 2026
Provides that it is a violation of specified provisions to fail to acknowledge public records request promptly & respond to such request in good faith; revises various provisions relating to custodians of public records, agencies, fees, & penalties; requires written, detailed cost estimate be provided upon request to persons seeking to inspect or copy public record; requires courts to assess specified costs, fees, & penalties.
What the bill says
An act relating to public records; amending s. 119.011, F.S.; revising the definition of the term "actual cost of duplication"; amending s. 119.07, F.S.; providing that it is a violation of ch. 119, F.S., to fail to acknowledge a public records request promptly and respond to such request in good faith; requiring a custodian of public records to perform specified actions within a specified timeframe; prohibiting an agency from imposing costs or fees if the custodian fails to take such actions in the required timeframe…
From the introduced text, January 21, 2026:
An act relating to public records; amending s. 119.011, F.S.; revising the definition of the term "actual cost of duplication"; amending s. 119.07, F.S.; providing that it is a violation of ch. 119, F.S., to fail to acknowledge a public records request promptly and respond to such request in good faith; requiring a custodian of public records to perform specified actions within a specified timeframe; prohibiting an agency from imposing costs or fees if the custodian fails to take such actions in the required timeframe; requiring a custodian to state in writing certain justifications and citations; prohibiting an agency from asserting that a record was exempt or confidential and exempt under specified circumstances; prohibiting an agency from asserting certain justifications under specified circumstances; removing provisions authorizing a fee for accessing a public record electronically under a contractual agreement; defining the term "any electronic medium stored, maintained, or used by an agency"; requiring an agency to provide public records requests in specified formats; authorizing an agency to charge a fee for such provision; prohibiting an agency from charging certain costs or fees for specified public CS/HB 437 2026 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb437-01-c1 Page 2 of FLORIDAHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES records requests; providing for the reduction or waiver of fees under specified conditions; requiring a written, detailed cost estimate …
Sponsors
- Andrade, Alex (R, HD-002) · primary sponsor
- Andrade (R, 2) · primary sponsor
- Campbell, Daryl (D, HD-099)
- Mooney, Jim (R, HD-120)
- Plasencia, Susan (R, HD-037)
- Plasencia (R, 37)
Latest actions
- : Died in Rules
- : Received
- : Referred to Rules
- : In Messages
- : CS passed; YEAS 111, NAYS 0
- : Read 3rd time
- : Added to Third Reading Calendar
- : Read 2nd time
- : Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/4/2026)
- : Added to Second Reading Calendar
Votes
- House: H 437 c1 (March 4, 2026): 111 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: State Affairs Committee (February 24, 2026): 25 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: State Affairs Committee (February 24, 2026): 25 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: Justice Budget Subcommittee (February 16, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: Justice Budget Subcommittee (February 16, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: Judiciary Committee (February 10, 2026): 16 yea, 0 nay, passed
Subjects: Rules
Common questions
- What is H437?
- H437 is a bill in the Florida Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Public Records.
- What does H437 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to public records; amending s. 119.011, F.S.; revising the definition of the term "actual cost of duplication"; amending s. 119.07, F.S.; providing that it is a violation of ch. 119, F.S., to fail to acknowledge a public records request promptly and respond to such request in good faith; requiring a custodian of public records to perform specified actions within a specified timeframe; prohibiting an agency from imposing costs or fees if the custodian fails to take such actions in the required timeframe…
- What is the status of H437?
- Failed as of March 13, 2026. Latest action: Died in Rules (March 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored H437?
- Andrade, Alex (R, HD-002), with 5 co-sponsors.
- Where is the official record for H437?
- On the Florida Legislature website: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/437
Source: official Florida record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.