SB1162 • 2026

Public Records/Office of the Corrections Ombudsman and the Corrections Oversight Committee

Passed Legislature

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

Sponsor: Rodriguez
Last action: 2026-03-13
Official status: Senate - Died in Criminal Justice
Effective date: On the sam

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide specific details on why the exemption is necessary beyond mentioning public necessity, leaving room for interpretation of exact reasons.

Public Records Exemption for Corrections Ombudsman

This bill creates a public records exemption for communications between incarcerated persons, the public, and the Office of the Corrections Ombudsman and the Corrections Oversight Committee.

What This Bill Does

Adds a new section to Florida law that makes correspondence with the Office of the Corrections Ombudsman confidential.
Exempts these communications from being considered public records under the state constitution.

Who It Names or Affects

Incarcerated individuals
The public
Office of the Corrections Ombudsman
Corrections Oversight Committee

Terms To Know

Public records exemption: A rule that allows certain documents or communications to be kept private and not shared with the public.
Confidential communication: Information exchanged between people that is meant to remain secret and not disclosed to others.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill will only take effect if similar legislation also passes in the same legislative session.
It does not specify what happens if the referenced SB ___ or similar legislation does not pass.

Bill History

2026-03-13 Senate
• Died in Criminal Justice
2026-01-13 Senate
• Introduced
2026-01-12 Senate
• Referred to Criminal Justice; Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; Fiscal Policy
2026-01-06 Senate
• Filed

Official Summary Text

Public Records/Office of the Corrections Ombudsman and the Corrections Oversight Committee; Providing a public records exemption for correspondence and communications with the Office of the Corrections Ombudsman and the Corrections Oversight Committee; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Florida Senate
-
2026

SB 1162

By
Senator Rodriguez

40-01594-26 20261162__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to public records; amending s. 11.92,
3 F.S.; providing a public records exemption for
4 correspondence and communications with the Office of
5 the Corrections Ombudsman and the Corrections
6 Oversight Committee; providing a statement of public
7 necessity; providing a contingent effective date.
8
9 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11 Section 1. Subsections (8) through (10) of section 11.92,
12 Florida Statutes, as created by SB ____, 2026 Regular Session,
13 are renumbered as subsections (9) through (11), respectively,
14 and a new subsection (8) is added to that section, to read:
15 11.92 Office of the Corrections Ombudsman.—
16
(8)

Correspondence and communications between incarcerated

17
persons or the public and the office, the Ombudsman, the members

18
of the committee, and office staff are confidential and exempt

19
from s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution.

20 Section 2.
The Legislature finds that it is a public

21
necessity that correspondence and communications with the Office

22
of the Corrections Ombudsman and the Corrections Oversight

23
Committee be made confidential and exempt from s. 24(a), Article

24
I of the State Constitution. Public disclosure of such

25
correspondence and communications could jeopardize the safety of

26
incarcerated persons. It is essential to the functioning of the

27
office that incarcerated persons and the public feel free to

28
communicate with the office concerning conditions in and

29
operations of correctional facilities. The public records

30
exemption is necessary to protect incarcerated persons from

31
retaliation by correctional officers who are under investigation

32
as a result of communications with the office.

33 Section 3. This act shall take effect on the same date that
34 SB ___ or similar legislation takes effect, if such legislation
35 is adopted in the same legislative session or an extension
36 thereof and becomes a law.