Pub. Rec. and Meetings/Space Florida

HB 1179 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1179-00
Page 1 of 3
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 and meetings; 2
creating s. 331.3261, F.S.; providing an exemption 3
from public records and public meetings requirements 4
for Space Florida; providing for future legislative 5
review and repeal of the exemption; providing a 6
statement of public necessity; providing a contingent 7
effective date. 8
9
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 10
11
Section 1. Section 331.3261, Florida Statutes, is created 12
to read: 13
331.3261 Information relating to confidential trade 14
secrets.—Any trade secret as defined in s. 812.081(1) held by 15
Space Florida, any spaceport user, or any space industry 16
business is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 17
24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. If Space Florida 18
determines that any information requested by the public will 19
reveal a trade secret, Space Florida shall inform, in writing, 20
the person making the request of that determination. The 21
determination is a final order as defined in s. 120.52. Any 22
meeting or portion thereof of the board of directors of Space 23
Florida during which a confidential and exempt trade secret is 24
discussed is exempt from s. 286.011 and s. 24(b), Art. I of the 25

HB 1179 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1179-00
Page 2 of 3
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

State Constitution. Any public record generated during such 26
meeting or portion thereof, such as minutes, tape recordings, or 27
notes, is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 28
24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. This section is subject 29
to the Open Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 30
119.15 and shall stand repealed on October 2, 2031, unless 31
reviewed and saved from repeal through reenactment by the 32
Legislature. 33
Section 2. The Legislature finds that it is a public 34
necessity that any trade secret as defined in s. 812.081(1), 35
Florida Statutes, held by Space Florida, any spaceport user, and 36
any space industry business be made confidential and exempt from 37
s. 119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a), Article I of the 38
State Constitution. Trade secrets, including, but not limited 39
to, proprietary confidential business information such as secret 40
processes, manufacturing and production methods, and potential 41
and existing trade secrets embodied in pending patent 42
applications, are a valuable asset that enable innovation and 43
provide a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Disclosure 44
of such trade secrets could injure Space Florida, spaceport 45
users, and space industry businesses in the marketplace by 46
revealing proprietary confidential business information to 47
competitors. The space industry is a key component of this 48
state's economy, and the harm that may result from the release 49
of such trade secrets significantly outweighs any public benefit 50

HB 1179 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1179-00
Page 3 of 3
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

that may be derived from the disclosure of such information. The 51
ability to protect trade secrets is critical to attracting and 52
retaining aerospace businesses in this state, which, in turn, 53
creates high-wage jobs and economic growth. Furthermore, the 54
Legislature finds that it is a public necessity that any meeting 55
and portion thereof of the board of directors of Space Florida 56
during which a confidential and exempt trade secret is discussed 57
be made exempt from s. 286.011, Florida Statutes, and s. 24(b), 58
Article I of the State Constitution and any public record 59
generated during such meeting and portion thereof, such as 60
minutes, tape recordings, and notes, be made confidential and 61
exempt under s. 119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a), 62
Article I of the State Constitution. Without these exemptions, 63
Space Florida, spaceport users, and space industry businesses 64
would be placed at a competitive disadvantage with respect to 65
the disclosure of valuable trade secrets, thereby harming the 66
economic development efforts of this state. 67
Section 3. This act shall take effect on the same date 68
that HB 1177 or similar legislation takes effect, if such 69
legislation is adopted in the same legislative session or an 70
extension thereof and becomes a law. 71