Florida 2026 Session Status: Passed House Bipartisan · 4 R · 1 D cosponsors

HB 447 — Pub. Rec. and Meetings/Mental Health and Substance Abuse

Last action — Died in Rules

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has passed the House. Introduced November 18, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.

Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.

Odds of enactment

Moderate chance

Based on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.

Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.

A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 74% · high confidence

  • Passed House

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 6 sponsors

    1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Bipartisan support

    Sponsored across 2 parties (4 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 5 recorded votes so far.

Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.

Summary

Pub. Rec. and Meetings/Mental Health and Substance Abuse; Specifies that hearings relating to mental health & substance abuse, respectively, are confidential & closed to public; provides exceptions; exempts certain information from public records requirements; expands public records exemption to include certain petitions & applications; authorizes disclosure of certain confidential & exempt documents to certain service providers; authorizes courts to use respondent's name for certain purposes; revises applicability; provides for future legislative review & repeal of exemption; making technical changes; provides statements of public necessity.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

68 added · 66 removed

68 line(s) added, 66 removed.

→
Previous
Latest
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 HB 447 2026 A bill to be entitled An act relating to public records and public meetings;
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 CS/HB 447 2026 A bill to be entitled An act relating to public records and public meetings;
providing a contingent effective date.
providing an effective date.
hb447-00 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 HB 447 2026 public.
hb447-01-c1 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 CS/HB 447 2026 public.
hb447-00 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 HB 447 2026 of the Department of Corrections from the Department of Children and Families.
hb447-01-c1 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 CS/HB 447 2026 of the Department of Corrections from the Department of Children and Families.
hb447-00 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 HB 447 2026 records held by a court.
hb447-01-c1 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 CS/HB 447 2026 records held by a court.
hb447-00 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 HB 447 2026 applicable.
hb447-01-c1 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 CS/HB 447 2026 applicable.
hb447-00 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 HB 447 2026 court order to the parties or the service provider.
hb447-01-c1 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 CS/HB 447 2026 court order to the parties or the service provider.
(1) The Legislature finds that it is a public necessity that court hearings under part I of chapter 394 and part IV or part V of chapter 397, Florida Statutes, be made confidential and closed to the public unless the court finds good cause to open a hearing to the public or the respondent consents to a hearing being open to the public.
(1) The Legislature finds that it is a public necessity that court hearings and administrative hearings under part I of chapter 394 and court hearings under part IV or part V of chapter 397, Florida Statutes, be made confidential and closed to the public unless the court or administrative law judge, as applicable, finds good cause to open a hearing to the public or the respondent consents to a hearing being open to the public.
Making hearings confidential and closed to the public when such disorders, conditions, and personal information may be communicated will protect such persons from the release Page 6 of 8 CODING:
Making hearings confidential and closed to the public when such disorders, Page 6 of 8 CODING:
hb447-00 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 HB 447 2026 of sensitive personal information that could damage their and their families' reputations.
hb447-01-c1 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 CS/HB 447 2026 conditions, and personal information may be communicated will protect such persons from the release of sensitive personal information that could damage their and their families' reputations.
(2) The Legislature finds that it is a public necessity that voluntary applications or petitions for involuntary examination or treatment, court orders, and related records that are filed with or by a court or relevant service provider under part I of chapter 394 and part IV or part V of chapter 397, Florida Statutes, and the personal identifying information of a person with a potential mental, emotional, or behavioral disorder or a substance abuse disorder which is published on a court docket and maintained by the clerk of the court under part I of chapter 394 and part IV or part V of chapter 397, Florida Statutes, or with the relevant service provider be made confidential and exempt from disclosure under s.
(2) The Legislature finds that it is a public necessity that the respondent's name, at a hearing or on appeal, and all applications or petitions for voluntary and involuntary examination, treatment, or assessment and stabilization;
court orders;
and related records that are filed with or by a court under part I of chapter 394, Florida Statutes, or part IV or part V of chapter 397, Florida Statutes, be made confidential and exempt from disclosure under s.
The mental health or substance abuse disorders of a person are medical conditions that should be protected from public disclosure.
Further, because certain proceedings under part I of chapter 394, Florida Statutes, may be conducted before the Division of Administrative Hearings rather than a court, it is a public necessity that the same protections apply to records held by the Division of Administrative Hearings to the same extent as records held by a court.
A person's health and sensitive personal information regarding his or her mental health or substance abuse disorders are intensely private matters.
The mental health or substance abuse disorders of a person are medical conditions that should be protected from Page 7 of 8 CODING:
Making such Page 7 of 8 CODING:
hb447-00 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 HB 447 2026 applications, petitions, orders, records, and personal identifying information confidential and exempt from disclosure will protect such persons from the release of sensitive personal information that could damage their and their families' reputations.
hb447-01-c1 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 CS/HB 447 2026 public disclosure.
The publication of personal identifying information on a physical or virtual docket, regardless of whether any other record is published, defeats the purpose of protections otherwise provided.
A person's health and sensitive personal information regarding his or her mental health or substance abuse disorders are intensely private matters.
Making such specified information confidential and exempt from disclosure will prevent the release of sensitive personal information that could damage a person's or his or her families' reputations.
The publication of a respondent's name on a physical or virtual docket, regardless of whether any other record is published, defeats the purpose of protections otherwise provided.
hb447-00
hb447-01-c1
⬇ Download PDF
View plain text versions (2)

Action History

  1. Died in Rules

  2. Received

  3. Referred to Rules

  4. In Messages

  5. CS passed; YEAS 113, NAYS 0

  6. Read 3rd time

  7. Added to Third Reading Calendar

  8. Read 2nd time

  9. Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/4/2026)

  10. Added to Second Reading Calendar

  11. Bill released to House Calendar

  12. Reported out of Health & Human Services Committee

  13. Favorable by Health & Human Services Committee

  14. Added to Health & Human Services Committee agenda

  15. Now in Health & Human Services Committee

  16. Referred to Health & Human Services Committee

  17. 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)

  18. CS Filed

  19. Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)

  20. Reported out of Government Operations Subcommittee

  21. Favorable with CS by Government Operations Subcommittee

  22. Added to Government Operations Subcommittee agenda

  23. Now in Government Operations Subcommittee

  24. Reported out of Judiciary Committee

  25. Favorable by Judiciary Committee

  26. Added to Judiciary Committee agenda

  27. Now in Judiciary Committee

  28. Reported out of Human Services Subcommittee

  29. 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)

  30. Favorable by Human Services Subcommittee

  31. Added to Human Services Subcommittee agenda

  32. Now in Human Services Subcommittee

  33. Referred to Health & Human Services Committee

  34. Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee

  35. Referred to Judiciary Committee

  36. Referred to Human Services Subcommittee

  37. Filed

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

Export CSV (upgrade) →

1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 158 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Government Operations Subcommittee

Co-sponsors (5)

Not signed on (158)

158 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 158 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

Passage Third Reading

Passed 113 Yea · 0 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 4000
Democrat 32002
Republican 77002
Total 113004
% of votes cast 97%0%0%3%
How each member voted (117)
Member Party Vote
Gonzalez Pittman — Yea
Smith — Yea
Kincart Jonsson — Yea
Tomkow — Yea
Alvarez, Jose Democrat Yea
Antone, Bruce Hadley Democrat Yea
Aristide, Wallace Democrat Yea
Bartleman, Robin Democrat Yea
Campbell, Daryl Democrat Yea
Chambliss, Kevin D. Democrat Yea
Cross, Lindsay Democrat Yea
Daley, Dan Democrat Yea
Daniels, Kimberly Democrat Yea
Driskell, Fentrice Democrat Yea
Dunkley, Lisa Democrat Yea
Edmonds, Jervonte "Tae" Democrat Not Voting
Eskamani, Dr. Anna V. Democrat Yea
Franklin II, Gallop Democrat Yea
Gantt, Ashley Viola Democrat Yea
Gottlieb, Michael "Mike" Democrat Yea
Harris, Jennifer "Rita" Democrat Yea
Hart-Lowman, Dianne "Ms Dee" Democrat Yea
Hinson, Yvonne Hayes Democrat Yea
Hunschofsky, Christine Democrat Yea
Joseph, Dotie Democrat Not Voting
Long, Rob Democrat Yea
López, Johanna Democrat Yea
Nixon, Angela "Angie" Democrat Yea
Rayner, Michele K. Democrat Yea
Robinson, Felicia Simone Democrat Yea
Robinson, Felicia Simone Democrat Yea
Rosenwald, Mitch Democrat Yea
Skidmore, Kelly Democrat Yea
Spencer, Leonard Democrat Yea
Tant, Allison Democrat Yea
Tendrich, Debra Democrat Yea
Woodson, Marie Paule Democrat Yea
Young, RaShon Democrat Yea
Abbott, Shane G. Republican Yea
Albert, Jon Republican Yea
Alvarez, Daniel Antonio "Danny" Republican Yea
Anderson, Adam Republican Yea
Andrade, Robert Alexander "Alex" Republican Yea
Baker, Jessica Republican Yea
Bankson, Douglas Michael "Doug" Republican Yea
Barnaby, Webster Republican Yea
Basabe, Fabián Republican Yea
Benarroch, Yvette Republican Yea
Berfield, Kimberly Republican Yea
Black, Dean Republican Yea
Blanco, Omar Republican Yea
Booth, Erika Republican Yea
Borrero, David Republican Yea
Botana, Adam Republican Yea
Boyles, Nathan Republican Yea
Brackett, Robert A. "Robbie" Republican Yea
Brannan III, Robert Charles "Chuck" Republican Yea
Buchanan, James Republican Yea
Busatta, Demi Republican Yea
Canady, Jennifer Republican Yea
Cassel, Hillary Republican Yea
Chamberlin, Ryan Republican Yea
Chaney, Linda Republican Yea
Cobb, Nan Republican Yea
Conerly, William "Bill" Republican Yea
Duggan, Wyman Republican Yea
Esposito, Tiffany Republican Yea
Fabricio, Tom Republican Yea
Garrison, Sam Republican Yea
Gentry, Richard Republican Yea
Gerwig, Anne Republican Yea
Giallombardo, Mike Republican Yea
Gossett-Seidman, Peggy Republican Yea
Greco, Sam Republican Yea
Griffitts Jr., Philip Wayne "Griff" Republican Yea
Grow, J.J. Republican Yea
Hodgers, Brian Republican Yea
Holcomb, Jeff Republican Yea
Jacques, Berny Republican Yea
Johnson, Chad Republican Yea
Kendall, Kim Republican Yea
Koster, Traci Republican Yea
LaMarca, Chip Republican Yea
Maggard, Randall Scott "Randy" Republican Yea
Maney, Patt Republican Yea
McClure, Lawrence Republican Yea
McFarland, Fiona Republican Yea
Melo, Lauren Republican Yea
Michael, Kiyan Republican Not Voting
Miller, Monique Republican Yea
Mooney Jr., James Vernon "Jim" Republican Yea
Nix Jr., Danny Republican Yea
Oliver, Vanessa Republican Yea
Overdorf, Tobin Rogers "Toby" Republican Yea
Owen, Michael Republican Yea
Partington, Bill Republican Yea
Perez, Daniel Republican Yea
Persons-Mulicka, Jenna Republican Yea
Plakon, Rachel Saunders Republican Yea
Plasencia, Susan Republican Yea
Porras, Juan Carlos Republican Yea
Redondo, Mike Republican Yea
Rizo, Alex Republican Yea
Salzman, Michelle Republican Yea
Sapp, Judson Republican Yea
Shoaf, Jason Republican Yea
Sirois, Tyler I. Republican Yea
Snyder, John Republican Yea
Stark, Paula A. Republican Yea
Steele, Kevin M. Republican Yea
Trabulsy, Dana Republican Yea
Tramont, Chase Republican Yea
Tuck, Kaylee Republican Yea
Valdés, Susan L. Republican Yea
Weinberger, Meg Republican Yea
Yarkosky, Taylor Michael Republican Yea
Yeager, Bradford Troy "Brad" Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety civil-rights healthcare
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does HB 447 do?
Pub. Rec. and Meetings/Mental Health and Substance Abuse; Specifies that hearings relating to mental health & substance abuse, respectively, are confidential & closed to public; provides exceptions; exempts certain information from public records requirements; expands public records exemption to include certain petitions & applications; authorizes disclosure of certain confidential & exempt documents to certain service providers; authorizes courts to use respondent's name for certain purposes; revises applicability; provides for future legislative review & repeal of exemption; making technical changes; provides statements of public necessity.
Who sponsors HB 447?
HB 447 is sponsored by Government Operations Subcommittee, Mooney Jr., James Vernon "Jim" (Republican), Maney, Patt (Republican), Barnaby, Webster (Republican), López, Johanna (Democrat), and Partington, Bill (Republican).
What is the current status of HB 447?
This bill has passed the House. Introduced November 18, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Where can I track HB 447?
Track HB 447 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

Make your voice heard on HB 447

Find the representatives who decide this bill and tell them where you stand — for yourself, or mobilize your whole list in one click with One Click Politics advocacy software.

Find my representatives → Run a campaign

Stay ahead of HB 447

Last checked for changes 2 months ago · updated continuously

One Click Politics tracks every bill in Congress and all 50 states.

Track this bill →