Bill > H1031

This bill modifies Florida's Hate Crimes Reporting Act by shifting the responsibility for collecting and disseminating data on criminal acts evidencing prejudice from the Governor to the Attorney General. The bill expands the public records exemption for this data collection, making the information confidential and exempt from public records requirements. Specifically, the bill requires law enforcement agencies to report monthly on criminal acts that show prejudice, and the Department of Law Enforcement will compile and disseminate this information upon request. The data can only be used for research or statistical purposes and cannot include information that might reveal a victim's identity. The bill also mandates that the Attorney General publish an annual report on these incidents, instead of an annual summary. An important provision is the inclusion of a sunset review, which means the public records exemption will automatically be repealed on October 2, 2030, unless the Legislature specifically votes to continue it. The bill's purpose is to improve tracking and understanding of hate crimes, allowing law enforcement and researchers to have a more comprehensive view of prejudice-based criminal acts in Florida while protecting the privacy of victims.

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https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1031