HB 655 — Pub. Rec. and Pub. Meetings/Attorney Meetings to Discuss Private Property Rights Claims
Last action — Chapter No. 2026-142
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed House
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✓Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced December 04, 2025. It awaits signature.
Signed by Governor Ron DeSantis (Republican) on June 09, 2026.
Next likely step: the executive signs it into law or issues a veto.
Odds of enactment
Moderate chanceBased 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
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To Executive
Current position in the legislative process.
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7 sponsors
1 primary, 6 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (3 D · 2 R) — cross-party backing.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 6 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.
In plain language
This bill exempts certain attorney meetings about property rights from public meeting requirements.
The bill allows agencies and their attorneys to discuss specific private property rights claims in closed meetings. It stipulates that these meetings must be transcribed and that the transcripts will eventually become public records.
Summary
Pub. Rec. and Pub. Meetings/Attorney Meetings to Discuss Private Property Rights Claims; Provides exemption from public meetings requirements for meetings or portions of meetings between agencies & their attorneys to discuss certain claims concerning private property rights; specifies what may be discussed during such meetings; requires that such meetings be transcribed; provides that such transcripts become public records at specified times; provides exemption from public records requirements for transcripts, recordings, minutes, & records generated during exempt meetings or portions of such meetings; provides for future legislative review & repeal of exemptions; provides statement of public necessity.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
87 added · 115 removed87 line(s) added, 115 removed.
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/CS/HBCS/HB 655 2026 A bill to be entitled An act relating to public records and public meetings;
providing anthat exemptionspecified fromentities publicmay meetingsmeet requirementsin forprivate meetingswith or portions of meetings between agencies and their attorneys to discuss certain claims concerning private property rights;
specifying what may be discussed during such closed meetings;
providing an exemption from public records requirements for transcripts,future recordings,review; minutes, and records generated during the exempt meetings or portions of such meetings;
providing fora futurepublic legislativenecessity reviewstatement; and repeal of the exemptions;
providing a statement of public necessity;
Harris, Jr., Private Property Rights Protection Act.— (1) ANotwithstanding meetings. or portion of a meeting between an agency as Page 1 of 5 CODING:
286.011(1), any board or commission of any state agency or authority or any agency or authority of any county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision, and the chief administrative or executive officer of the governmental entity may meet in private with the entity's Page 1 of 4 CODING:
hb655-02-c2hb655-01-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/CS/HBCS/HB 655 2026 definedattorney during the 90-day-notice period specified in s.
119.011,70.001(4) orto thediscuss chiefclaims administrativesubmitted orin executiveaccordance officerwith ofthat ansubsection agency,provided andthat the agency'sfollowing attorneyconditions duringare themet: 90- day notice period specified in s.
70.001(4)(a) toThe discussentity's claimsattorney submittedshall inadvise accordancethe withentity at a public meeting that subsectionhe isor exemptshe fromdesires advice concerning a claim submitted in accordance with s.
286.011 and s.
24(b), Art.
I of the State Constitution, provided that:
(a) The agency's attorney shall advise the agency at a public meeting that he or she desires advice concerning a claim submitted in accordance with s.
The court reporter's notes must be fully transcribed and filed with the agency'sentity's clerk within a reasonable time after the meeting.
(d) The agencyentity shall give reasonable public notice of the time and date of the attorney-client session and the names of persons who will be attending the session.
The session must commence at an open meeting at which the persons chairing the meeting shall announce the commencement and estimated length of Pagethe 2attorney-client session and the names of 5the CODING:persons attending.
At the conclusion of the attorney-client session, the meeting must be reopened, and the person chairing the meeting Page 2 of 4 CODING:
hb655-02-c2hb655-01-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/CS/HBCS/HB 655 2026 theshall attorney-clientannounce session and the namestermination of the personssession. attending.
At the conclusion of the attorney-client session, the meeting must be reopened, and the person chairing the meeting shall announce the termination of the session.
(2) Transcripts,This recordings,section minutes,is andsubject recordsto generatedthe duringOpen anGovernment exemptSunset meetingReview orAct portionin ofaccordance suchwith a meeting, pursuant to subsection (1), are exempt from s.
119.07(1) and s.
24(a), Art.
I of the State Constitution.
(3) This section is subject to the Open Government Sunset Review Act in accordance with s.
(1) The Legislature finds that it is a public necessity that meetings orto portionsdiscuss ofa meetingspresuit betweenclaim anunder agencythe asBert definedJ. in s.
119.011,Harris, FloridaJr., Statutes,Private orProperty theRights chiefProtection administrativeAct orbe executivemade officerconfidential of an agency, and theclosed agency'sto attorney during the 90-daypublic. notice period specified in s.
70.001(4),When Floridathose Statutes,meetings toare discussconducted claimsin submittedan inopen accordancemeeting, withthe thatgoverning subsectionbody becannot madeeffectively exemptreview, fromdiscuss, s.and prepare strategies for resolution of the claim.
286.011, Florida Statutes, and s.
24(b), Article I of the State Page 3 of 5 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
hb655-02-c2 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/CS/HB 655 2026 Constitution, provided that certain conditions are met.
When those meetings are conducted in an open meeting, the agency cannot effectively review, discuss, and prepare strategies for resolution of the claim.
Making these meetings,hearings orconfidential portionsand of these meetings, closed to the public encourages agenciesa local government to reasonably develop negotiation strategies that make prelitigationpresuit resolution more likely.
Requiring meetingspublic hearings relating to a Bert Harris claim to be public defeats the purpose of having a prelitigationpresuit claim process, namely, to foster settlement quickly while limiting attorney fees of all parties.
The public is protected by the requirement that the records of the meeting beare openPage once3 theof claim4 isCODING: settled.
(2) The Legislature finds that it is a public necessity that the transcripts, recordings, minutes, and records generated during meetings or portions of meetings between an agency as defined in s.
119.011, Florida Statutes, or the chief administrative or executive officer of an agency, and the agency's attorney during the 90-day notice period specified in s.
Show all 48 changed lines (8 more)
70.001(4), Florida Statutes, to discuss claims submitted in accordance with that subsection be made exempt from s.
119.07(1), Florida Statutes, and s.
24(a), Article I of the State Constitution.
Release of such information during negotiations or settlement discussions would negate the public meeting exemption.
As such, the Legislature finds that the Page 4 of 5 CODING:
hb655-02-c2hb655-01-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/CS/HBCS/HB 655 2026 publicopen recordonce exemptionthe claim is asettled. public necessity.
Page 54 of 54 CODING:
hb655-02-c2hb655-01-c1
Show all 48 changed rows (8 more)
View plain text versions (4)
- H 655 c1 View text pdf
- H 655 c2 View text pdf
- H 655 er View text Current pdf
- Introduced H 655 Filed pdf
Action History
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Chapter No. 2026-142
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Approved by Governor
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Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
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Ordered enrolled
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In Messages
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CS passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 548
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Read 3rd time -SJ 548
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Read 2nd time -SJ 548
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Substituted for CS/CS/SB 332 -SJ 548
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Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
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Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 548
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Received
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Referred to Rules
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In Messages
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CS passed; YEAS 116, NAYS 0
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Read 3rd time
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Added to Third Reading Calendar
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Read 2nd time
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Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
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Added to Second Reading Calendar
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Bill released to House Calendar
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Reported out of Judiciary Committee
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Favorable by Judiciary Committee
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Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
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Now in Judiciary Committee
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Referred to Judiciary Committee
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1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
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CS Filed
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Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
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Reported out of Government Operations Subcommittee
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Favorable with CS by Government Operations Subcommittee
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PCS added to Government Operations Subcommittee agenda
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Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
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Referred to Judiciary Committee
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Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee
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1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
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CS Filed
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Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
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Reported out of Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
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Favorable with CS by Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
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1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
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Added to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee agenda
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Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
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Referred to Judiciary Committee
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Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee
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Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
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Filed
Sponsors
- Government Operations Subcommittee · Primary
- Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee · Cosponsor
- Jose Alvarez · Cosponsor
- Wyman Duggan · Cosponsor
- Dan Daley · Cosponsor
- Dotie Joseph · Cosponsor
- Susan L. Valdés · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 6 co-sponsors · 157 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Government Operations Subcommittee
Co-sponsors (6)
- Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
- Alvarez, Jose Democrat
- Duggan, Wyman Republican
- Daley, Dan Democrat
- Joseph, Dotie Democrat
- Valdés, Susan L. Republican
Not signed on (157)
157 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 157 →"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.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unaffiliated | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Republican | 79 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 33 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 116 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 99% | 0% | 0% | 1% |
How each member voted (117)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Republican | 27 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| No Party Affiliation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 37 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 95% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
How each member voted (39)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Arrington, Kristen Aston | Democrat | Yea |
| Berman, Lori | Democrat | Yea |
| Bernard, Mack | Democrat | Yea |
| Bracy Davis, LaVon | Democrat | Yea |
| Davis, Tracie | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" | Democrat | Yea |
| Osgood, Rosalind | Democrat | Yea |
| Polsky, Tina Scott | Democrat | Yea |
| Rouson, Darryl Ervin | Democrat | Yea |
| Sharief, Barbara | Democrat | Yea |
| Pizzo, Jason W. B. | No Party Affiliation | Yea |
| Albritton, Ben | Republican | Yea |
| Boyd, Jim | Republican | Yea |
| Bradley, Jennifer | Republican | Yea |
| Brodeur, Jason | Republican | Yea |
| Burgess, Danny | Republican | Yea |
| Burton, Colleen | Republican | Yea |
| Calatayud, Alexis | Republican | Yea |
| DiCeglie, Nick | Republican | Yea |
| Gaetz, Don | Republican | Yea |
| Garcia, Ileana | Republican | Yea |
| Grall, Erin | Republican | Yea |
| Gruters, Joe | Republican | Yea |
| Harrell, Gayle | Republican | Yea |
| Hooper, Ed | Republican | Yea |
| Leek, Thomas J. "Tom" | Republican | Yea |
| Martin, Jonathan | Republican | Yea |
| Massullo, Ralph E., Jr. | Republican | Yea |
| Mayfield, Debbie | Republican | Yea |
| McClain, Stan | Republican | Yea |
| Passidomo, Kathleen | Republican | Yea |
| Rodriguez, Ana Maria | Republican | Yea |
| Simon, Corey | Republican | Yea |
| Smith, David | Republican | Yea |
| Truenow, Keith L. | Republican | Yea |
| Trumbull, Jay | Republican | Yea |
| Vacant | Republican | Not Voting |
| Wright, Tom A. | Republican | Yea |
| Yarborough, Clay | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 83 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 32 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 116 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 99% | 0% | 0% | 1% |
How each member voted (117)
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 655 do?
- Pub. Rec. and Pub. Meetings/Attorney Meetings to Discuss Private Property Rights Claims; Provides exemption from public meetings requirements for meetings or portions of meetings between agencies & their attorneys to discuss certain claims concerning private property rights; specifies what may be discussed during such meetings; requires that such meetings be transcribed; provides that such transcripts become public records at specified times; provides exemption from public records requirements for transcripts, recordings, minutes, & records generated during exempt meetings or portions of such meetings; provides for future legislative review & repeal of exemptions; provides statement of public necessity.
- Who sponsors HB 655?
- HB 655 is sponsored by Government Operations Subcommittee, Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee, Alvarez, Jose (Democrat), Duggan, Wyman (Republican), Daley, Dan (Democrat), Joseph, Dotie (Democrat), and Valdés, Susan L. (Republican).
- What is the current status of HB 655?
- This bill has been sent to the executive. Introduced December 04, 2025. It awaits signature.
- Where can I track HB 655?
- Track HB 655 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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