Florida HB 511: Pub. Rec./Code Inspector Body Cameras

Bill Text

HB 511 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb511-00
Page 1 of 6
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

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to public records; amending s. 2
119.0713, F.S.; defining terms; providing an exemption 3
from public records requirements for body camera 4
recordings recorded by a code inspector under certain 5
circumstances; providing exceptions; requiring a local 6
government to retain body camera recordings for a 7
specified timeframe; providing for retroactive 8
application; providing construction; providing for 9
future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; 10
providing a statement of public necessity; directing 11
the Division of Library and Information Services of 12
the Department of State to adopt a specified retention 13
requirement for certain body camera recordings by a 14
specified date; providing a contingent effective date. 15
16
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 17
18
Section 1. Subsection (6) is added to section 119.0713, 19
Florida Statutes, to read: 20
119.0713 Local government agency exemptions from 21
inspection or copying of public records.— 22
(6)(a) As used in this subsection, the term: 23
1. "Body camera" means a portable electronic recording 24
device that is worn on a code inspector's body and that records 25

HB 511 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb511-00
Page 2 of 6
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

audio and video data in the course of the performance of his or 26
her official duties and responsibilities. 27
2. "Code inspector" has the same meaning as in s. 28
162.04(2). 29
3. "Personal representative" means a parent, a court-30
appointed guardian, an attorney, or an agent of, or a person 31
holding a power of attorney for, a person recorded by a body 32
camera. If a person depicted in the recording is deceased, the 33
term also means the personal representative of the estate of the 34
deceased person; the deceased person's surviving spouse, parent, 35
or adult child; the deceased person's attorney or agent; or the 36
parent or guardian of a surviving minor child of the deceased. 37
An agent must possess written authorization of the recorded 38
person to act on his or her behalf. 39
(b) A body camera recording, or a portion thereof, is 40
confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I 41
of the State Constitution if the recording: 42
1. Is taken within the interior of a private residence; 43
2. Is taken within the interior of a facility that offers 44
health care, mental health care, or social services; or 45
3. Is taken in a place that a reasonable person would 46
expect to be private. 47
(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), a body camera 48
recording, or a portion thereof, may be disclosed by a local 49
government: 50

HB 511 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb511-00
Page 3 of 6
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

1. In furtherance of its official duties and 51
responsibilities; or 52
2. To another governmental agency in the furtherance of 53
its official duties and responsibilities. 54
(d) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), a body camera 55
recording, or a portion thereof, must be disclosed by a local 56
government: 57
1. To a person recorded by the body camera; however, a 58
local government may disclose only those portions relevant to 59
the person's presence in the recording; 60
2. To the personal representative of a person recorded by 61
the body camera; however, a local government may disclose only 62
those portions relevant to the represented person's presence in 63
the recording; 64
3. To a person not depicted in the body camera recording 65
if the recording depicts a place in which the person lawfully 66
resided, dwelled, or lodged at the time of the recording; 67
however, a local government may disclose only those portions 68
that record the interior of such a place; or 69
4. Pursuant to a court order. 70
a. In addition to any other grounds the court may consider 71
in determining whether to order that a body camera recording be 72
disclosed, the court shall consider whether: 73
(I) Disclosure is necessary to advance a compelling 74
interest; 75

HB 511 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb511-00
Page 4 of 6
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

(II) The recording contains information that is otherwise 76
exempt or confidential and exempt under the law; 77
(III) The person requesting disclosure is seeking to 78
obtain evidence to determine legal issues in a case in which the 79
person is a party; 80
(IV) Disclosure would reveal information regarding a 81
person which is of a highly sensitive personal nature; 82
(V) Disclosure may harm the reputation or jeopardize the 83
safety of a person depicted in the recording; 84
(VI) Confidentiality is n