Read the full stored bill text
Florida Senate
-
2026
SB 1530
By
Senator Pizzo
37-01617-26 20261530__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to court records of eviction
3 proceedings; creating s. 83.626, F.S.; authorizing
4 persons who are defendants in certain eviction
5 proceedings to file a motion with the court to have
6 the records of such proceedings sealed and to have
7 their names substituted on the progress docket under
8 certain conditions; providing that certain persons are
9 ineligible for such relief; requiring persons seeking
10 such relief to serve a copy of the motion on all
11 parties to the proceeding and file a specified
12 affidavit with the court; requiring the court to
13 schedule a hearing under certain circumstances;
14 requiring the court to grant relief if certain
15 requirements are met; specifying that such persons are
16 entitled to have their name substituted on the
17 progress docket under certain circumstances;
18 prohibiting the court from charging certain fees;
19 providing retroactive applicability; providing an
20 effective date.
21
22 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
23
24 Section 1. Section 83.626, Florida Statutes, is created to
25 read:
26
83.626
Court records of eviction proceedings.—
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(1)(a)
A person who is a defendant in an eviction
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proceeding for nonpayment of rent under this part or nonpayment
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of the lot rental amount under s. 723.061 may file a motion with
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the court to have the records of such proceeding sealed and to
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have his or her name substituted with “tenant” on the progress
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docket if any of the following conditions is satisfied:
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1.
The case was resolved by settlement or stipulation of
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the parties, and the person has complied with the terms of the
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agreement.
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2.
A default judgment was entered against the person, and
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he or she has satisfied any monetary award included in the
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judgment.
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3.
A judgment was entered against the person on the merits,
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at least 5 years have passed from the date of entry of the
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judgment, and the person has satisfied any monetary award
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included in the judgment.
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4.
A judgment was entered against the person on the merits,
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and at least 10 years have passed from the date of entry of the
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judgment.
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(b)
A person is ineligible for relief under paragraph (a)
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if he or she has been evicted more than once.
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(2)
A person seeking relief under subsection (1) must serve
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a copy of the motion on all parties to the proceeding and must
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file an affidavit with the court attesting that he or she is not
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ineligible for such relief under paragraph (1)(b). The court
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must schedule a hearing if a written objection is filed within
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30 days after the person serves the motion. If no such objection
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is timely filed, the court must grant the relief without a
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hearing. If a timely objection is filed and the court, after a
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hearing, determines that the person is eligible for relief, the
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court must grant the relief.
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(3)
In an eviction proceeding for nonpayment of rent under
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this part or for nonpayment of the lot rental amount under s.
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723.061, if judgment is entered in favor of the person being
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evicted or if the parties file a joint stipulation requesting
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relief under this section, the person being evicted is entitled
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to the substitution of his or her name with “tenant” on the
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progress docket without any further motion or hearing thereon.
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(4)
The court may not charge a filing or reopening fee for
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motions filed pursuant to this section.
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(5)
This section applies to any judgment entered before,
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on, or after July 1, 2026.
69 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.