Florida SB 1530: Court Records of Eviction Proceedings

Bill Text

1530 
Court Records of Eviction Proceedings 
2026-01-09T03:12:13Z 
Authorizing persons who are defendants in certain eviction proceedings to file a motion with the court to have the records of such proceedings sealed and to have their names substituted on the progress docket under certain conditions; providing that certain persons are ineligible for such relief; requiring persons seeking such relief to serve a copy of the motion on all parties to the proceeding and file a specified affidavit with the court; requiring the court to schedule a hearing under certain circumstances, etc. 
Original Filed Version 
2026 
S 
2026-07-01T00:00:00Z 
GB 
General Bill 
__ 

 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1530 

 By Senator Pizzo 

 37-01617-26 20261530__ 
 1 A bill to be entitled 
 2 An act relating to court records of eviction 
 3 proceedings; creating s. 83.626, F.S.; authorizing 
 4 persons who are defendants in certain eviction 
 5 proceedings to file a motion with the court to have 
 6 the records of such proceedings sealed and to have 
 7 their names substituted on the progress docket under 
 8 certain conditions; providing that certain persons are 
 9 ineligible for such relief; requiring persons seeking 
 10 such relief to serve a copy of the motion on all 
 11 parties to the proceeding and file a specified 
 12 affidavit with the court; requiring the court to 
 13 schedule a hearing under certain circumstances; 
 14 requiring the court to grant relief if certain 
 15 requirements are met; specifying that such persons are 
 16 entitled to have their name substituted on the 
 17 progress docket under certain circumstances; 
 18 prohibiting the court from charging certain fees; 
 19 providing retroactive applicability; providing an 
 20 effective date. 
 21 
 22 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
 23 
 24 Section 1. Section 83.626, Florida Statutes, is created to 
 25 read: 
 26 83.626 Court records of eviction proceedings.— 
 27 (1)(a) A person who is a defendant in an eviction 
 28 proceeding for nonpayment of rent under this part or nonpayment 
 29 of the lot rental amount under s. 723.061 may file a motion with 
 30 the court to have the records of such proceeding sealed and to 
 31 have his or her name substituted with “tenant” on the progress 
 32 docket if any of the following conditions is satisfied: 
 33 1. The case was resolved by settlement or stipulation of 
 34 the parties, and the person has complied with the terms of the 
 35 agreement. 
 36 2. A default judgment was entered against the person, and 
 37 he or she has satisfied any monetary award included in the 
 38 judgment. 
 39 3. A judgment was entered against the person on the merits, 
 40 at least 5 years have passed from the date of entry of the 
 41 judgment, and the person has satisfied any monetary award 
 42 included in the judgment. 
 43 4. A judgment was entered against the person on the merits, 
 44 and at least 10 years have passed from the date of entry of the 
 45 judgment. 
 46 (b) A person is ineligible for relief under paragraph (a) 
 47 if he or she has been evicted more than once. 
 48 (2) A person seeking relief under subsection (1) must serve 
 49 a copy of the motion on all parties to the proceeding and must 
 50 file an affidavit with the court attesting that he or she is not 
 51 ineligible for such relief under paragraph (1)(b). The court 
 52 must schedule a hearing if a written objection is filed within 
 53 30 days after the person serves the motion. If no such objection 
 54 is timely filed, the court must grant the relief without a 
 55 hearing. If a timely objection is filed and the court, after a 
 56 hearing, determines that the person is eligible for relief, the 
 57 court must grant the relief. 
 58 (3) In an eviction proceeding for nonpayment of rent under 
 59 this part or for nonpayment of the lot rental amount under s. 
 60 723.061, if judgment is entered in favor of the person being 
 61 evicted or if the parties file a joint stipulation requesting 
 62 relief under this section, the person being evicted is entitled 
 63 to the substitution of his or her name with “tenant” on the 
 64 progress docket without any further motion or hearing thereon. 
 65 (4) The court may not charge a filing or reopening fee for 
 66 motions filed pursuant to this section. 
 67 (5) This section applies to any judgment entered before, 
 68 on, or after July 1, 2026. 
 69 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.