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HB0655

Private Property Rights Claims: Closed Meetings with Lawyers

Last scannedAug 24, 2026, 10:35 AM

In one sentence

This law allows government agencies to hold private meetings with their lawyers during the first 90 days of a property rights claim notice, provided these sessions are fully recorded and made public only after the claim is settled or expires.

What it does

  • Creates an exception allowing agency leaders to meet privately with attorneys about specific property rights claims during the required 90-day notice period.
  • Limits private discussions strictly to settlement negotiations or strategy sessions for resolving a submitted claim.
  • Requires that every part of these meetings be recorded by a certified court reporter, including who is present and what they say.
  • Mandates that the written transcript becomes public only after the claim is settled or if no lawsuit is filed before the legal deadline passes.
  • Keeps all recordings, notes, minutes, and records from these private meetings secret until the final decision on the claim is reached.

Who it affects

  • State government agencies as defined in Florida law
  • Chief administrative or executive officers of those agencies
  • Attorneys representing the agencies during property rights claims

Limits and unknowns

  • The law only applies to meetings held during the specific 90-day notice period for a claim.
  • This rule expires on October 2, 2031, unless lawmakers vote to keep it in place before then.

Plain language

Terms to know

Bert J. Harris, Jr., Private Property Rights Protection Act
A Florida law that allows people to file a claim if they believe a government rule unfairly limits how they can use their private property.
Sunset Review
A process where the Legislature must review this new exemption before October 2, 2031, or it will automatically end.

Official record

Sources

Source attached

Official summary

Pub. Rec. and Pub. Meetings/Attorney Meetings to Discuss Private Property Rights Claims

Official activity

Bill history

  1. Chapter No. 2026-142