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HB 539 2026
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hb539-00
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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
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to code inspector body cameras; 2
creating s. 162.41, F.S.; providing definitions; 3
requiring a governmental entity that authorizes its 4
code inspectors to use body cameras to establish 5
certain policies and procedures; establishing certain 6
requirements for such governmental entities; amending 7
s. 934.03, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; 8
prohibiting code inspectors or persons acting under 9
the direction of a special magistrate or code 10
enforcement board from intercepting certain 11
communications under certain circumstances; amending 12
s. 934.09, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; 13
providing an effective date. 14
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 16
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Section 1. Section 162.41, Florida Statutes, is created to 18
read: 19
162.41 Code inspector body cameras; policies and 20
procedures.— 21
(1) As used in this section, the term: 22
(a) "Body camera" means a portable electronic recording 23
device that is worn on a code inspector's person and that 24
records audio and video data of the code inspector's encounters 25
HB 539 2026
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and activities. 26
(b) "Code inspector" has the same meaning as provided in 27
s. 162.04(2). 28
(2) A governmental entity that authorizes its code 29
inspectors to use body cameras must establish policies and 30
procedures addressing the proper use, maintenance, and storage 31
of body cameras and the data recorded by body cameras. The 32
policies and procedures must include: 33
(a) Any limitations on code inspectors who are allowed to 34
use body cameras. 35
(b) Any limitations on code enforcement-related encounters 36
and activities in which code inspectors are allowed to use body 37
cameras. 38
(c) General guidelines for the proper storage, retention, 39
and release of audio and video data recorded by body cameras. 40
(3) A governmental entity that authorizes its code 41
inspectors to use body cameras shall: 42
(a) Ensure that all code inspectors who use, maintain, or 43
store body cameras are trained in the governmental entity's body 44
camera policies and procedures. 45
(b) Retain audio and video data recorded by body cameras 46
in accordance with the requirements of s. 119.021, except as 47
otherwise provided by law. 48
(c) Perform a periodic review of actual body camera 49
practices to ensure conformity with the governmental entity's 50
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body camera policies and procedures. 51
Section 2. Subsection (4) of section 934.03, Florida 52
Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (5), subsection (1) is 53
amended, and subsection (4) is added to that section, to read: 54
934.03 Interception and disclosure of wire, oral, or 55
electronic communications prohibited.— 56
(1) Except as otherwise specifically provided in this 57
chapter, any person who: 58
(a) Intentionally intercepts, endeavors to intercept, or 59
procures any other person to intercept or endeavor to intercept 60
any wire, oral, or electronic communication; 61
(b) Intentionally uses, endeavors to use, or procures any 62
other person to use or endeavor to use any electronic, 63
mechanical, or other device to intercept any oral communication 64
when: 65
1. Such device is affixed to, or otherwise transmits a 66
signal through, a wire, cable, or other like connection used in 67
wire communication; or 68
2. Such device transmits communications by radio or 69
interferes with the transmission of such communication; 70
(c) Intentionally discloses, or endeavors to disclose, to 71
any other person the contents of any wire, oral, or electronic 72
communication, knowing or having reason to know that the 73
information was obtained through the interception of a wire, 74
oral, or electronic communication in violation of this 75
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subsection; 76
(d) Intentionally uses, or endeavors to use, the contents 77
of any wire, oral, or electronic communication, knowing or 78
having reason to know that the information was obtained through 79
the interception of a wire, oral, or electronic communication in 80
violation of this subsection; or 81
(e) Intentionally discloses, or endeavors to disclose, to 82
any other person the contents of any wire, oral, or electronic 83
communication intercepted by means authorized by subparagraph 84
(2)(a)2., paragraph (2)(b), paragraph (2)(c), s. 934.07, or s. 85
934.09 when that person knows or has reason to know that the 86
information was obtained through the interception of such a 87
communication in connection with a criminal investigation, has 88
obtained or received the information in connection with a 89
criminal investigation, and intends to improperly obstruct, 90
impede, or interfere with a duly authorized criminal 91
investigation; 92
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shall be punished as provided in subsection (5) (4). 94
(4) It is lawful under this section and ss. 934.04–934.09 95
for a code inspector, as defined in 162.04(2), or a person 96
acting under the direction of a special magistrate or code 97
enforcement board to intercept a wire, oral, or electronic 98
communication if such code inspector or person is a party to the 99
communication or one of the parties to the communication has 100
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given prior consent to such interception and the purpose of such 101
interception is to obtain evidence of a violation of a code, an 102
ordinance, or a general law. 103
Section 3. Subsection (7) of section 934.09, Florida 104
Statutes, is amended to read: 105
934.09 Procedure for interception of wire, oral, or 106
electronic communications.— 107
(7) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, 108
any investigative or law enforcement officer specially 109
designated by the Governor, the Attorney General, the statewide 110
prosecutor, or a state attorney acting under this chapter, who 111
reasonably determines that: 112
(a) An emergency exists that: 113
1. Involves immediate danger of death or serious physical 114
injury to any person, the danger of escape of a prisoner, or 115
conspiratorial activities threatening the security interest of 116
the nation or state; and 117
2. Requires that a wire, oral, or electronic communication 118
be intercepted before an order authorizing such interception 119
can, with due diligence, be obtained; and 120
(b) There are grounds upon which an order could be entered 121
under this chapter to authorize such interception 122
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may intercept such wire, oral, or electronic communication if an 124
application for an order approving the interception is made in 125
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accordance with this section within 48 hours after the 126
interception has occurred or begins to occur. In the absence of 127
an order, such interception shall immediately terminate when the 128
communication sought is obtained or when the application for the 129
order is denied, whichever is earlier. If such application for 130
approval is denied, or in any other case in which the 131
interception is terminated without an order having been issued, 132
the contents of any wire, oral, or electronic communication 133
intercepted shall be treated as having been obtained in 134
violation of s. 934.03(5) s. 934.03(4), and an inventory shall 135
be served as provided for in paragraph (8)(e) on the person 136
named in the application. 137
Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 138