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SB0936 • 2026

Temporary Door Locking Devices

Temporary Door Locking Devices

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
McClain
Last action
2026-03-13
Official status
House - Died in Messages
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material did not provide specific details on penalties for non-compliance or the duration of device installation.

Rules for Temporary Door Locking Devices

This bill defines and regulates the use of temporary door locks during emergencies in Florida.

What This Bill Does

  • Defines what a 'temporary door locking device' is, including criteria such as being removable without opening the door and not affecting fire ratings.
  • Allows these devices to be installed at any height above the floor.
  • Requires the Florida Building Commission to incorporate safety standards for temporary door locks into the state building code.
  • Requiring the use of temporary door locking devices in emergency plans, drills, and training.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who install or use temporary door locking devices
  • Building owners and managers

Terms To Know

temporary door locking device
A lock that can be put on a door during emergencies to keep it closed, but can easily be removed.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify how long these devices can remain in place.
  • It is unclear if there are specific penalties for non-compliance with the rules.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-13 House

    • Died in Messages

  2. 2026-02-19 Senate

    • Read 2nd time -SJ 348 • Read 3rd time -SJ 348 • Passed; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 348 • Immediately certified -SJ 356

  3. 2026-02-19 House

    • In Messages

  4. 2026-02-17 Senate

    • Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/19/26

  5. 2026-02-10 Senate

    • Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 24 NAYS 0 • Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

  6. 2026-02-05 Senate

    • On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/10/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building

  7. 2026-02-03 Senate

    • Favorable by Regulated Industries; YEAS 8 NAYS 0 • Now in Rules

  8. 2026-01-29 Senate

    • On Committee agenda-- Regulated Industries, 02/03/26, 1:00 pm, 412 Knott Building

  9. 2026-01-28 Senate

    • Now in Regulated Industries

  10. 2026-01-27 Senate

    • Favorable by Community Affairs; YEAS 8 NAYS 0

  11. 2026-01-22 Senate

    • On Committee agenda-- Community Affairs, 01/27/26, 3:30 pm, 37 Senate Building

  12. 2026-01-13 Senate

    • Introduced

  13. 2026-01-05 Senate

    • Referred to Community Affairs; Regulated Industries; Rules

  14. 2025-12-17 Senate

    • Filed

Official Summary Text

Temporary Door Locking Devices; Defining the term “temporary door locking device”; authorizing temporary door locking devices to be installed at any height; requiring the Florida Building Commission to incorporate certain standards for temporary door locking devices into the Florida Building Code; requiring the use of temporary door locking devices be integrated into building safety plans, safety drills, and training programs for a specified purpose, etc.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Florida Senate
-
2026

SB 936

By
Senator McClain

9-00918C-26 2026936__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to temporary door locking devices;
3 creating s. 553.8951, F.S.; defining the term
4 “temporary door locking device”; authorizing temporary
5 door locking devices to be installed at any height;
6 requiring the Florida Building Commission to
7 incorporate certain standards for temporary door
8 locking devices into the Florida Building Code;
9 requiring the use of temporary door locking devices be
10 integrated into building safety plans, safety drills,
11 and training programs for a specified purpose;
12 providing an effective date.
13
14 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
15
16 Section 1. Section 553.8951, Florida Statutes, is created
17 to read:
18
553.8951

Temporary door locking devices.—

19
(1)

As used in this section, the term “temporary door

20
locking device” means a device that prevents a door from opening

21
and meets all of the following criteria:

22
(a)

Is meant only for temporary use during an emergency

23
situation.

24
(b)

Can be engaged or removed without opening the door.

25
(c)

Can be engaged and removed from the egress side of the

26
door without the use of a key and can be removed from the

27
ingress side of the door with the use of a key or other

28
credential.

29
(d)

Does not modify the door closer, panic hardware, or

30
fire exit hardware.

31
(e)

Is not permanently mounted to the door assembly.

32
However, individual parts of the temporary door locking device,

33
including, but not limited to, bolts, stops, brackets, or pins,

34
which do not prevent normal ingress and egress through the door,

35
may be permanently mounted to the door.

36
(f)

Does not affect the fire rating of the door and

37
complies with the fire rating standards of the National Fire

38
Protection Association.

39
(g)

Can be removed with a single operation when engaged.

40
(2)

Notwithstanding any other law or provision, a temporary

41
door locking device may be installed at any height above the

42
finished floor.

43
(3)

The Florida Building Commission shall incorporate into

44
the Florida Building Code pursuant to s. 553.73(1) standards for

45
temporary door locking devices that meet the requirements of

46
this section. A temporary door locking device may be used to

47
secure a fire exit or an entranceway leading to a fire exit if

48
the temporary door locking device is used only during an

49
emergency situation and approved by the local enforcement agency

50
that has jurisdiction over the building in which the device is

51
installed. A temporary door locking device may be applied only

52
for a finite period of time during an emergency situation,

53
including, but not limited to, a shelter-in-place order, an

54
emergency lockdown, or a safety drill for such emergency

55
situation.

56
(4)

The use of a temporary door locking device must be

57
integrated into building safety plans, safety drills, and

58
training programs so that the employees or staff of the building

59
in which the device is installed has inservice training on the

60
use of the temporary door locking device.

61 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.