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HB 7001

OGSR/Florida Gaming Control Commission

2026 Regular Session Introduced by Danny Nix

HB 7001 reenacts and preserves the public-record exemption for site-specific locations of endangered/threatened species held by state agencies, shielding data from disclosure.

Laid on Table, refer to SB 7008
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Bill Summary · HB 7001

Summary — HB 7001

Title: OGSR — Site-specific Location Information for Endangered and Threatened Species
Sponsor: Rep. Nix (and Government Operations Subcommittee / Basabe, PCB GOS 25-02)
Subject: Open Government Sunset Review; public records exemption for site‑specific locations of endangered/threatened species

Main purpose

HB 7001 reenacts and thereby saves from repeal a public-record exemption for site‑specific location information about federally designated endangered or threatened species and state‑designated threatened species that is held by a state agency. The exemption was originally created in 2020 under the Open Government Sunset Review Act (OGSR) and would have automatically repealed on October 2, 2025 unless reenacted.

Key provisions / changes

  • Removes the scheduled repeal of the public‑record exemption for site‑specific location information concerning endangered or threatened species. In short, it maintains the exemption in current law rather than allowing it to lapse.
  • The exemption continues to exclude animals held in captivity.
  • No substantive expansion of the exemption is reflected in the committee analyses (so no new public necessity statement or two‑thirds vote was required).
  • Fiscal impact: none reported.

Rationale stated in analyses

  • The exemption is intended to protect imperiled species by preventing disclosure of exact locations that could increase risks from poaching or site degradation from increased public traffic.
  • It also aims to protect private property owners from trespass and liability concerns when species occur on private land and to encourage landowners and researchers to share location data with agencies.

Who is affected

  • Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and other state agencies that hold site‑specific species location data — these records remain exempt from public disclosure.
  • Researchers, conservation partners, and private landowners who provide data to state agencies — continued confidentiality may encourage reporting and cooperation.
  • Members of the public and media — access to agency records that contain precise location details for listed species remains restricted.
  • Law enforcement and conservation enforcement activities benefit from protections that limit public disclosure of sensitive investigative or location information.

Procedural / timeline notes

  • The exemption would have otherwise repealed October 2, 2025, under the OGSR Act if not reenacted.
  • HB 7001 was considered through Natural Resources & Disasters, State Affairs, and House floor (final House action reported as 113–2).
  • The measure was addressed via companion bill SB 7000. SB 7000 was enacted as Chapter 2025‑25, Laws of Florida (approved by the Governor May 16, 2025) and became effective October 1, 2025. HB 7001 was laid on the table after the companion passed.

Legal context

  • OGSR (s. 119.15, F.S.) requires periodic legislative review and automatic repeal of newly created or substantially amended public‑records exemptions unless reenacted.
  • The exemption at issue covers only site‑specific location information (not general species data) and does not apply to captive animals.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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