Read the full stored bill text
Florida Senate
-
2026
CS for SB 7030
By
the Committees on Appropriations; and Commerce and Tourism
576-03009-26 20267030c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to public records; amending s.
3 501.9984, F.S.; providing an exemption from public
4 records requirements for information held by the
5 Department of Legal Affairs relating to notifications
6 or investigations of certain companion chatbot
7 violations; providing construction; authorizing the
8 department to disclose such information during an
9 active investigation for specified purposes; requiring
10 that certain information remain confidential and
11 exempt upon the completion or cessation of an
12 investigation; defining the term “proprietary
13 information”; providing for future legislative review
14 and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of
15 public necessity; amending s. 501.9985, F.S.;
16 providing an exemption from public records
17 requirements for information held by the department
18 relating to notifications or investigations of certain
19 bot-related consumer protection violations; providing
20 construction; authorizing the department to disclose
21 such information during an active investigation for
22 specified purposes; requiring that certain information
23 remain confidential and exempt upon the completion or
24 cessation of an investigation; defining the term
25 “proprietary information”; providing for future
26 legislative review and repeal of the exemption;
27 providing a statement of public necessity; amending s.
28 501.9986, F.S.; providing an exemption from public
29 records requirements for information held by the
30 department relating to notifications or investigations
31 of certain deidentified data-related consumer
32 protection violations; providing construction;
33 authorizing the department to disclose such
34 information during an active investigation for
35 specified purposes; requiring that certain information
36 remain confidential and exempt upon the completion or
37 cessation of an investigation; defining the term
38 “proprietary information”; providing for future
39 legislative review and repeal of the exemption;
40 providing a statement of public necessity; providing a
41 contingent effective date.
42
43 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
44
45 Section 1. Present subsection (8) of section 501.9984,
46 Florida Statutes, as created by SB 482 or similar legislation,
47 2026 Regular Session, is redesignated as subsection (9), and a
48 new subsection (8) is added to that section, to read:
49 501.9984 Companion chatbot use for minors.—
50
(8)(a)
All information held by the department pursuant to a
51
notification of a violation of this section or an investigation
52
of a violation of this section is confidential and exempt from
53
s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution,
54
until such time as the investigation is completed or ceases to
55
be active. This exemption shall be construed in conformity with
56
s. 119.071(2)(c).
57
(b)
During an active investigation, information made
58
confidential and exempt pursuant to paragraph (a) may be
59
disclosed by the department:
60
1.
In the furtherance of its official duties and
61
responsibilities;
62
2.
For print, publication, or broadcast if the department
63
determines that such release would assist in notifying the
64
public or locating or identifying a person whom the department
65
believes to be a victim of an improper use or disposal of
66
customer records, except that information made confidential and
67
exempt by paragraph (c) may not be released pursuant to this
68
subparagraph; or
69
3.
To another governmental entity in the furtherance of
70
such entity’s official duties and responsibilities.
71
(c)
Upon completion of an investigation or once an
72
investigation ceases to be active, the following information
73
held by the department shall remain confidential and exempt from
74
s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution:
75
1.
Information that is otherwise confidential or exempt
76
from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State
77
Constitution.
78
2.
Personal identifying information.
79
3.
A computer forensic report.
80
4.
Information that would otherwise reveal weaknesses in
81
the data security of a companion chatbot platform.
82
5.
Information that would disclose the proprietary
83
information of a companion chatbot platform.
84
(d)
For purposes of this section, the term “proprietary
85
information” means information that:
86
1.
Is owned or controlled by the companion chatbot
87
platform.
88
2.
Is intended to be private and is treated by the
89
companion chatbot platform as private because disclosure would
90
harm the companion chatbot platform or its business operations.
91
3.
Has not been disclosed except as required by law or a
92
private agreement that provides that the information will not be
93
released to the public.
94
4.
Is not publicly available or otherwise readily
95
ascertainable through proper means from another source in the
96
same configuration as received by the department.
97
5.
Reveals competitive interests, the disclosure of which
98
would impair the competitive advantage of the companion chatbot
99
platform that is the subject of the information.
100
(e)
This subsection is subject to the Open Government
101
Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand
102
repealed on October 2, 2031, unless reviewed and saved from
103
repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.
104 Section 2.
The Legislature finds that it is a public
105
necessity that all information held by the Department of Legal
106
Affairs pursuant to a notification or investigation of a
107
violation of s. 501.9984, Florida Statutes, be made confidential
108
and exempt from s. 119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a),
109
Article I of the State Constitution for the following reasons:
110
(1)
A notification of a violation of s. 501.9984, Florida
111
Statutes, may result in an investigation of such violation. The
112
premature release of such information could frustrate or thwart
113
the investigation and impair the ability of the department to
114
effectively and efficiently administer s. 501.9984, Florida
115
Statutes. In addition, release of such information before
116
completion of an active investigation could jeopardize the
117
ongoing investigation.
118
(2)
The release of information that is otherwise
119
confidential or exempt from public records requirements once an
120
investigation is completed or ceases to be active would undo the
121
specific statutory exemption protecting that information, thus
122
affirming that any protections currently afforded to such
123
information are not removed.
124
(3)
An investigation of a violation of s. 501.9984, Florida
125
Statutes, is likely to result in the gathering of sensitive
126
personal identifying information, which could include
127
identification numbers, unique identifiers, professional or
128
employment-related information, and personal financial
129
information. Such information could be used for the purpose of
130
identity theft. The release of such information could subject
131
families to possible privacy violations, as it would reveal
132
information of a sensitive personal nature.
133
(4)
Notices received by the department and information
134
generated during an investigation of a violation of s. 501.9984,
135
Florida Statutes, are likely to contain proprietary information.
136
Such information derives independent economic value, actual or
137
potential, from being generally unknown to, and not readily
138
ascertainable by, other persons who might obtain economic value
139
from its disclosure or use. Allowing public access to
140
proprietary information through a public records request could
141
destroy the value of the proprietary information and cause a
142
financial loss to the companion chatbot platform. Release of
143
such information could give business competitors an unfair
144
advantage.
145
(5)
Information held by the department may contain a
146
computer forensic report or information that could reveal
147
weaknesses in the data security of a companion chatbot platform.
148
The release of this information could result in the
149
identification of vulnerabilities in the cybersecurity system of
150
the companion chatbot platform and be used to harm the companion
151
chatbot platform and its clients.
152
(6)
The harm that may result from the release of
153
information held by the department pursuant to a notification or
154
an investigation of a violation of s. 501.9984, Florida
155
Statutes, could impair the effective and efficient
156
administration of the investigation and thus outweighs the
157
public benefit that may be derived from the disclosure of the
158
information.
159 Section 3. Present subsection (5) of section 501.9985,
160 Florida Statutes, as created by SB 482 or similar legislation,
161 2026 Regular Session, is redesignated as subsection (6), and a
162 new subsection (5) is added to that section, to read:
163 501.9985 Consumer protections regarding bots.—
164
(5)(a)
All information held by the department pursuant to a
165
notification of a violation of this section or an investigation
166
of a violation of this section is confidential and exempt from
167
s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution,
168
until such time as the investigation is completed or ceases to
169
be active. This exemption shall be construed in conformity with
170
s. 119.071(2)(c).
171
(b)
During an active investigation, information made
172
confidential and exempt pursuant to paragraph (a) may be
173
disclosed by the department:
174
1.
In the furtherance of its official duties and
175
responsibilities;
176
2.
For print, publication, or broadcast if the department
177
determines that such release would assist in notifying the
178
public or locating or identifying a person who the department
179
believes to be a victim of an improper use or disposal of
180
customer records, except that information made confidential and
181
exempt by paragraph (c) may not be released pursuant to this
182
subparagraph; or
183
3.
To another governmental entity in the furtherance of
184
such entity’s official duties and responsibilities.
185
(c)
Upon completion of an investigation or once an
186
investigation ceases to be active, the following information
187
held by the department shall remain confidential and exempt from
188
s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution:
189
1.
Information that is otherwise confidential or exempt
190
from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State
191
Constitution.
192
2.
Personal identifying information.
193
3.
A computer forensic report.
194
4.
Information that would otherwise reveal weaknesses in
195
the data security of a bot or an operator of a bot.
196
5.
Information that would disclose the proprietary
197
information of an operator of a bot.
198
(d)
For purposes of this section, the term “proprietary
199
information” means information that:
200
1.
Is owned or controlled by the operator of a bot.
201
2.
Is intended to be private and is treated by the operator
202
of a bot as private because disclosure would harm the operator
203
of the bot or its business operations.
204
3.
Has not been disclosed except as required by law or a
205
private agreement that provides that the information will not be
206
released to the public.
207
4.
Is not publicly available or otherwise readily
208
ascertainable through proper means from another source in the
209
same configuration as received by the department.
210
5.
Reveals competitive interests, the disclosure of which
211
would impair the competitive advantage of the operator of the
212
bot that is the subject of the information.
213
(e)
This subsection is subject to the Open Government
214
Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand
215
repealed on October 2, 2031, unless reviewed and saved from
216
repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.
217 Section 4.
The Legislature finds that it is a public
218
necessity that all information held by the Department of Legal
219
Affairs pursuant to a notification of a violation of s.
220
501.9985, Florida Statutes, or an investigation of a violation
221
of that section, be made confidential and exempt from s.
222
119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a), Article I of the
223
State Constitution for the following reasons:
224
(1)
A notification of a violation of s. 501.9985, Florida
225
Statutes, may result in an investigation of such violation. The
226
premature release of such information could frustrate or thwart
227
the investigation and impair the ability of the department to
228
effectively and efficiently administer s. 501.9985, Florida
229
Statutes. In addition, release of such information before
230
completion of an active investigation could jeopardize the
231
ongoing investigation.
232
(2)
The release of information that is otherwise
233
confidential or exempt from public records requirements once an
234
investigation is completed or ceases to be active would undo the
235
specific statutory exemption protecting that information, thus
236
affirming that any protections currently afforded to such
237
information are not removed.
238
(3)
An investigation of a violation of s. 501.9985, Florida
239
Statutes, is likely to result in the gathering of sensitive
240
personal identifying information, which could include
241
identification numbers, unique identifiers, professional or
242
employment-related information, and personal financial
243
information. Such information could be used for the purpose of
244
identity theft. The release of such information could subject
245
families to possible privacy violations, as it would reveal
246
information of a sensitive personal nature.
247
(4)
Notices received by the department and information
248
generated during an investigation of a violation of s. 501.9985,
249
Florida Statutes, are likely to contain proprietary information.
250
Such information derives independent economic value, actual or
251
potential, from being generally unknown to, and not readily
252
ascertainable by, other persons who might obtain economic value
253
from its disclosure or use. Allowing public access to
254
proprietary information through a public records request could
255
destroy the value of the proprietary information and cause a
256
financial loss to the operator of a bot. Release of such
257
information could give business competitors an unfair advantage.
258
(5)
Information held by the department may contain a
259
computer forensic report or information that could reveal
260
weaknesses in the data security of an operator of a bot. The
261
release of this information could result in the identification
262
of vulnerabilities in the cybersecurity system of the operator
263
of a bot and be used to harm the operator of the bot and its
264
clients.
265
(6)
The harm that may result from the release of
266
information held by the department pursuant to a notification or
267
an investigation of a violation of s. 501.9985, Florida
268
Statutes, could impair the effective and efficient
269
administration of the investigation and thus outweighs the
270
public benefit that may be derived from the disclosure of the
271
information.
272 Section 5. Present subsection (6) of section 501.9986,
273 Florida Statutes, as created by SB 482 or similar legislation,
274 2026 Regular Session, is redesignated as subsection (7), and a
275 new subsection (6) is added to that section, to read:
276 501.9986 Consumer protections regarding deidentified data.—
277
(6)(a)
All information held by the department pursuant to a
278
notification of a violation of this section or an investigation
279
of a violation of this section is confidential and exempt from
280
s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution,
281
until such time as the investigation is completed or ceases to
282
be active. This exemption shall be construed in conformity with
283
s. 119.071(2)(c).
284
(b)
During an active investigation, information made
285
confidential and exempt pursuant to paragraph (a) may be
286
disclosed by the department:
287
1.
In the furtherance of its official duties and
288
responsibilities;
289
2.
For print, publication, or broadcast if the department
290
determines that such release would assist in notifying the
291
public or locating or identifying a person whom the department
292
believes to be a victim of an improper use or disposal of
293
customer records, except that information made confidential and
294
exempt by paragraph (c) may not be released pursuant to this
295
subparagraph; or
296
3.
To another governmental entity in the furtherance of
297
such entity’s official duties and responsibilities.
298
(c)
Upon completion of an investigation or once an
299
investigation ceases to be active, the following information
300
held by the department shall remain confidential and exempt from
301
s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution:
302
1.
Information that is otherwise confidential or exempt
303
from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State
304
Constitution.
305
2.
Personal identifying information.
306
3.
A computer forensic report.
307
4.
Information that would otherwise reveal weaknesses in
308
the data security of an artificial intelligence technology
309
company.
310
5.
Information that would disclose the proprietary
311
information of an artificial intelligence technology company.
312
(d)
For purposes of this section, the term “proprietary
313
information” means information that:
314
1.
Is owned or controlled by the artificial intelligence
315
technology company.
316
2.
Is intended to be private and is treated by the
317
artificial intelligence technology company as private because
318
disclosure would harm the artificial intelligence technology
319
company or its business operations.
320
3.
Has not been disclosed except as required by law or a
321
private agreement that provides that the information will not be
322
released to the public.
323
4.
Is not publicly available or otherwise readily
324
ascertainable through proper means from another source in the
325
same configuration as received by the department.
326
5.
Reveals competitive interests, the disclosure of which
327
would impair the competitive advantage of the artificial
328
intelligence technology company that is the subject of the
329
information.
330
(e)
This subsection is subject to the Open Government
331
Sunset Review Act in accordance with s. 119.15 and shall stand
332
repealed on October 2, 2031, unless reviewed and saved from
333
repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.
334 Section 6.
The Legislature finds that it is a public
335
necessity that all information held by the Department of Legal
336
Affairs pursuant to a notification of a violation of s.
337
501.9986, Florida Statutes, or an investigation of a violation
338
of that section, be made confidential and exempt from s.
339
119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s. 24(a), Article I of the
340
State Constitution for the following reasons:
341
(1)
A notification of a violation of s. 501.9986, Florida
342
Statutes, may result in an investigation of such violation. The
343
premature release of such information could frustrate or thwart
344
the investigation and impair the ability of the department to
345
effectively and efficiently administer s. 501.9986, Florida
346
Statutes. In addition, release of such information before
347
completion of an active investigation could jeopardize the
348
ongoing investigation.
349
(2)
The release of information that is otherwise
350
confidential or exempt from public records requirements once an
351
investigation is completed or ceases to be active would undo the
352
specific statutory exemption protecting that information, thus
353
affirming that any protections currently afforded to such
354
information are not removed.
355
(3)
An investigation of a violation of s. 501.9986, Florida
356
Statutes, is likely to result in the gathering of sensitive
357
personal identifying information, which could include
358
identification numbers, unique identifiers, professional or
359
employment-related information, and personal financial
360
information. Such information could be used for the purpose of
361
identity theft. The release of such information could subject
362
families to possible privacy violations, as it would reveal
363
information of a sensitive personal nature.
364
(4)
Notices received by the department and information
365
generated during an investigation of a violation of s. 501.9986,
366
Florida Statutes, are likely to contain proprietary information.
367
Such information derives independent economic value, actual or
368
potential, from being generally unknown to, and not readily
369
ascertainable by, other persons who might obtain economic value
370
from its disclosure or use. Allowing public access to
371
proprietary information through a public records request could
372
destroy the value of the proprietary information and cause a
373
financial loss to the artificial intelligence technology
374
company. Release of such information could give business
375
competitors an unfair advantage.
376
(5)
Information held by the department may contain a
377
computer forensic report or information that could reveal
378
weaknesses in the data security of an artificial intelligence
379
technology company. The release of this information could result
380
in the identification of vulnerabilities in the cybersecurity
381
system of the artificial intelligence technology company and be
382
used to harm the artificial intelligence technology company and
383
its clients.
384
(6)
The harm that may result from the release of
385
information held by the department pursuant to a notification or
386
an investigation of a violation of s. 501.9986, Florida
387
Statutes, could impair the effective and efficient
388
administration of the investigation and thus outweighs the
389
public benefit that may be derived from the disclosure of the
390
information.
391 Section 7. This act shall take effect on the same date that
392 SB 482 or similar legislation takes effect, if such legislation
393 is adopted in the same legislative session or an extension
394 thereof and becomes a law.