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SB 7018

OGSR/Parental Consent Requirements Before Terminating a Pregnancy

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Gayle Harrell

Reenacts a public-records exemption to keep minors' identifying info confidential in petitions for judicial parental-consent waivers; applies to courts, OCCC, JAC; Oct 1, 2025.

Chapter No. 2025-209
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Bill Summary · SB 7018

SB 7018 — OGSR/Parental Consent Requirements Before Terminating a Pregnancy

Chapter No. 2025-209

Overview / Purpose

SB 7018 reenacts (saves from repeal) an existing public-records exemption that protects identifying information about minors who petition a court for a judicial waiver of parental consent under Florida’s Parental Notice of and Consent for Abortion Act. The bill removes the scheduled sunset date created by the Open Government Sunset Review Act so the exemption remains in effect.

Key provisions

  • Continues the confidential-and-exempt status of any information that can be used to identify a minor who seeks a judicial waiver of parental consent.
  • Specifies that the confidentiality applies to identifying information held by:
    • circuit or appellate courts,
    • the Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel (OCCC), and
    • the Justice Administrative Commission (JAC).
  • Allows those entities to obtain and use the identifying information only in the limited circumstances described in statute:
    • when the minor petitions a court for a judicial waiver,
    • when OCCC represents the minor in the court proceeding, or
    • when JAC processes payments for a court‑appointed private attorney representing the minor.
  • Removes the original sunset/repeal date (the exemption was enacted in 2020 and scheduled to repeal on October 2, 2025).
  • Effective date specified in the bill: October 1, 2025 (bill enacted as law July 2025).

Who is affected

  • Primary: minors petitioning courts for judicial waivers of parental consent, and the private attorneys who represent them.
  • Government entities: circuit and appellate courts, OCCC, and JAC—these offices will continue to receive and maintain identifying information in confidence.
  • General public/media: will not have access to the protected identifying information; records are “confidential and exempt” and are not subject to public inspection except as allowed by statute.

Fiscal impact

  • Committees’ analyses state the bill is not expected to affect state or local government revenues or expenditures.

Procedural timeline & votes (selected)

  • Introduced: March 6, 2025 (as committee bill).
  • Committee actions: Health Policy reported favorably (vote 9–1); Governmental Oversight & Accountability favorable (7–0); Rules favorable (24–0).
  • Senate passage: April 15, 2025 — Passed 36–0.
  • House passage: April 29, 2025 — Passed 115–0.
  • Presented to Governor: June 18, 2025; Approved by Governor: July 1, 2025.
  • Chapter No.: 2025-209. Effective date in statute: October 1, 2025.

Context / Notes

  • The bill is an Open Government Sunset Review Act (OGSR) continuation measure: OGSR requires that certain public records/open meetings exemptions created or substantially amended be reviewed and reenacted or they automatically repeal five years after enactment.
  • The exemption preserved by SB 7018 is expressly intended to protect minors’ privacy in sensitive court proceedings related to parental-consent waivers for abortion.

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

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