Florida HB 947: Civil Actions

Bill Text

HJR 947 2026

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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

House Joint Resolution 1
A joint resolution proposing amendments to Section 24 2
of Article I, Section 2 of Article II, Sections 1, 2, 3
3, 4, 6, 8, 15, 16, 17, and 19 of Article III, 4
Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of Article IV, 5
Section 11 of Article V, Section 4 of Article VII, 6
Section 1 of Article VIII, Section 7 of Article IX, 7
and Sections 1, 3, and 5 Article XI, and the creation 8
of Sections 14, 15, 16, and 17 of Article IV, Section 9
8 of Article VII, and a new section of Article XII of 10
the State Constitution to move the seat of state 11
government; revise the size and procedures of the 12
Legislature; create new procedures for redistricting, 13
vacancies, and appointments; revise the amendment 14
process; create new cabinet positions; reorganize 15
duties of the cabinet; allow recall elections; allow 16
counties to become charter counties; and create a 17
number of elected boards to provide oversight of the 18
Governor, taxation, public utilities, and state 19
universities. 20
21
Be It Resolved by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 22
23
That the following amendments to Section 24 of Article I, 24
Section 2 of Article II, Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 15, 16, 17, 25

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and 19 of Article III, Sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 of 26
Article IV, Section 11 of Article V, Section 4 of Article VII, 27
Section 1 of Article VIII, Section 7 of Article IX, and Sections 28
1, 3, and 5 Article XI, and the creation of Sections 14, 15, 16, 29
and 17 of Article IV, Section 8 of Article VII, and a new 30
section of Article XII of the State Constitution are agreed to 31
and shall be submitted to the electors of this state for 32
approval or rejection at the next general election or at an 33
earlier special election specifically authorized by law for that 34
purpose: 35
ARTICLE I 36
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS 37
SECTION 24. Access to public records and meetings.— 38
(a) Every person has the right to inspect or copy any 39
public record made or received in connection with the official 40
business of any public body, officer, or employee of the state, 41
or persons acting on their behalf, except with respect to 42
records exempted pursuant to this section or specifically made 43
confidential by this Constitution. This section specifically 44
includes the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of 45
government and each agency or department created thereunder; 46
counties, municipalities, and districts; and each constitutional 47
officer, board, and commission, or entity created pursuant to 48
law or this Constitution. 49
(b) All meetings of any collegial public body of the 50

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executive branch of state government or of any collegial public 51
body of a county, municipality, school district, or special 52
district, at which official acts are to be taken or at which 53
public business of such body is to be transacted or discussed, 54
shall be open and noticed to the public and meetings of the 55
legislature shall be open and noticed as provided in Article 56
III, Section 4(e), except with respect to meetings exempted 57
pursuant to this section or specifically closed by this 58
Constitution. 59
(c) This section shall be self-executing. The legislature, 60
however, may provide by general law passed by a two-thirds vote 61
of each house for the exemption of records from the requirements 62
of subsection (a) and the exemption of meetings from the 63
requirements of subsection (b), provided that such law shall 64
state with specificity the public necessity justifying the 65
exemption and shall be no broader than necessary to accomplish 66
the stated purpose of the law. Any exemption passed by the 67
legislature must expire and be repealed after six years unless 68
two-thirds of the membership of each house votes to continue the 69
exemption for another six years. The legislature shall enact 70
laws governing the enforcement of this section, including the 71
maintenance, control, destruction, disposal, and disposition of 72
records made public by this section, except that each house of 73
the legislature may adopt rules governing the enforcement of 74
this section in relation to records of the legislative branch. 75

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Laws enacted pursuant to this subsection shall contain only 76
exemptions from the requirements of subsections (a) or (b) and 77
provisions govern