Special Protections in Judicial Proceedings

Plain English Breakdown

The official status shows conflicting information: it states the bill passed both chambers but also lists a final action as 'Died in Judiciary Committee' on March 13, 2026. The effective date is listed as July 1, 2026.

Special Protections in Judicial Proceedings

This bill allows a judge to require defendants representing themselves to ask questions of certain vulnerable witnesses through an attorney instead of directly.

What This Bill Does

• Adds new rules to Florida Statute section 92.55 regarding court proceedings.
• Allows the court to order that a defendant without a lawyer must use standby counsel to question specific victims or witnesses at trials, hearings, or depositions.
• Requires the judge to make written findings on the record that direct contact would cause emotional or mental harm to the witness.
• Permits the defendant to provide or approve the questions asked by the standby counsel.

Who It Names or Affects

• Defendants who represent themselves in court without a lawyer (pro se defendants).
• Victims and witnesses under the age of 18.
• People with intellectual disabilities involved as victims or witnesses.
• Victims or witnesses of sexual offenses.

Terms To Know

Pro se defendant

A person who represents themselves in court without hiring a lawyer.

Standby counsel

An attorney appointed by the court to assist or act on behalf of someone representing themselves.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill only applies if a judge decides direct communication would cause emotional or mental harm.
• This rule does not apply unless a party, parent, guardian, attorney, advocate for the witness, or the court itself asks for it to happen.

Official Summary Text

Special Protections in Judicial Proceedings; Authorizes court to require pro se defendant to question certain victims & witnesses through standby counsel at any trial, hearing, or deposition upon specified findings.

Current Bill Text

CS/HB 507 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb507-01-c1
Page 1 of 2
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 special protections in judicial 2
proceedings; amending s. 92.55, F.S.; authorizing a 3
court to require a pro se defendant to question 4
certain victims and witnesses through standby counsel 5
at any trial, hearing, or deposition upon specified 6
findings; providing an effective date. 7
8
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 9
10
Section 1. Subsection (7) is added to section 92.55, 11
Florida Statutes, to read: 12
92.55 Special protections in proceedings involving victim 13
or witness under 18, person with intellectual disability, or 14
sexual offense victim.— 15
(7) Upon motion of any party, upon motion of a parent, 16
guardian, attorney, guardian ad litem, or other advocate 17
appointed by the court under s. 914.17 for a victim or witness 18
under the age of 18, a person who has an intellectual 19
disability, or a sexual offense victim or witness, or upon its 20
own motion, the court may require a pro se defendant to present, 21
ask, or in any way communicate questions to such person, victim, 22
or witness through standby counsel, using questions provided or 23
approved by the defendant, at any trial, hearing, or deposition 24
if the court makes specific findings on the record that such a 25

CS/HB 507 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb507-01-c1
Page 2 of 2
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

requirement is necessary to protect the person, victim, or 26
witness from emotional or mental harm that would result from 27
direct communication with the defendant. 28
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 29