Florida legislation · 2026 Regular Session
Florida H627: Pub. Rec./Law Enforcement Officers Actively Engaged in Official Duty
Status: Failed, March 13, 2026
Authorizes certain law enforcement officers to decline to accept or process public records requests; provides requirements for such officers; provides penalty.
What the bill says
An act relating to public records; amending s. 119.07, F.S.; authorizing certain law enforcement officers to decline to accept or process public records requests; providing requirements for such officers; providing a penalty; providing an effective date.
From the introduced text, February 5, 2026:
A bill to be entitled An act relating to public records; amending s. 119.07, F.S.; authorizing certain law enforcement officers to decline to accept or process public records requests; providing requirements for such officers; providing a penalty; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Subsection (10) is added to section 119.07, Florida Statutes, to photographing public records; fees; exemptions.-- (10)(a) A law enforcement officer, as defined in s. 943.10(1), who is actively engaged in the performance of an official duty, including, but not limited to, a call for service, an investigation, a case-related activity, or any other official law enforcement activity, may decline to accept or process a public records request at such time. (b) The determination of whether an officer is actively engaged in the performance of an official duty under this subsection shall be made by the officer. Upon such determination, the officer must verbally inform the requestor that he or she cannot accept or process the request and must direct the requestor to: words underlined are additions. hb627-01-c1 FLORIDAHOUSEOFREPRESENTATIVES CS/HB 627 2026 1. The custodian of records for the officer's employing agency; or 2. An official public records request portal, if available. (c) A person who, after being informed as required under paragraph (b), knowingly and willfully …
Sponsors
- Berfield, Kimberly (R, HD-058) · primary sponsor
- Fabricio, Tom (R, HD-110)
Latest actions
- : Died in Judiciary Committee
- : Now in Judiciary Committee
- : Reported out of Government Operations Subcommittee
- : Favorable by Government Operations Subcommittee
- : Added to Government Operations Subcommittee agenda
- : Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
- : Referred to Judiciary Committee
- : Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee
- : 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
- : CS Filed
Votes
- House: Government Operations Subcommittee (February 11, 2026): 18 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: Government Operations Subcommittee (February 11, 2026): 18 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: Criminal Justice Subcommittee (February 5, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
- House: Criminal Justice Subcommittee (February 5, 2026): 13 yea, 0 nay, passed
Common questions
- What is H627?
- H627 is a bill in the Florida Legislature (2026 Regular Session): Pub. Rec./Law Enforcement Officers Actively Engaged in Official Duty.
- What does H627 do?
- In its own words: An act relating to public records; amending s. 119.07, F.S.; authorizing certain law enforcement officers to decline to accept or process public records requests; providing requirements for such officers; providing a penalty; providing an effective date.
- What is the status of H627?
- Failed as of March 13, 2026. Latest action: Died in Judiciary Committee (March 13, 2026).
- Who sponsored H627?
- Berfield, Kimberly (R, HD-058), with 1 co-sponsor.
- Where is the official record for H627?
- On the Florida Legislature website: https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/627
Source: official Florida record. Tracked by Delilah, AI for legislation across all 50 states and Congress.