SB 490 Florida Senate · 2026 Regular Session

Public Records/E-mail Addresses Collected by the Department of Highway Safety for Providing Renewal Notices

Summary

Public Records/E-mail Addresses Collected by the Department of Highway Safety for Providing Renewal Notices ; Expanding an exemption from public records requirements for e-mail addresses collected by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles for providing renewal notices to include e-mail addresses collected for use as a method of notification generally and not only for the purpose of providing renewal notices; expanding the exemption to include e-mail addresses collected for use as a method of notification related to vessel registrations; providing retroactive applicability; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2026

Committee Review

Mar 2026

Senate Passage

Feb 2026

House Passage

Mar 2026

Signed into Law

Apr 2026

Introduced Jan 13, 2026 Signed Apr 21, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S 490 Filed → S 490 er · 3 edits

MINOR

This bill has progressed from a filed draft to an enrolled, final law. It expands a public records exemption to protect email addresses collected by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, extending coverage beyond just renewal notices to include general notifications and vessel registrations. The bill also adds a sunset clause requiring future legislative review to ensure the exemption remains necessary.

Scope change

The scope of the public records exemption was broadened to include general notification emails and vessel registration emails, and the bill was updated to reflect its final enrolled status.

SCOPE

Expanded the exemption from public records requirements to cover email addresses used for general notifications and vessel registrations, not just renewal notices.

TIMELINE

Added a provision for future legislative review to evaluate the necessity of the exemption and allow for its repeal.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill status from 'Filed' to 'Enrolled' and adjusted the effective date to October 1, 2026.

Floor votes · Senate Feb 19, 2026 · House Mar 9, 2026

How they voted

37–2

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 40

Feb 19, 2026

D Democratic11

10 Yea 1 Nay

90% Yea

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican28

26 Yea 1 Nay 1

92% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 22, 2026

Legislature · Passed

Chapter No. 2026-40, companion bill(s) passed, see SB 488 (Ch. 2026-39)

legislature

Apr 21, 2026

Signed into law

Approved by Governor

legislature

Mar 9, 2026

Lower · Passed

Passed; YEAS 110, NAYS 0

lower

Mar 5, 2026

Committee

Bill referred to House Calendar

lower

Feb 19, 2026

Upper · Passed

Passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 2

upper

Feb 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 14 NAYS 1

upper

Feb 2, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 02/05/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building

upper

Jan 21, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development; YEAS 14 NAYS 0

upper

Jan 16, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development, 01/21/26, 11:00 am, 110 Senate Building

upper

Jan 13, 2026

Introduced

upper

Jan 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Now in Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

upper

Jan 12, 2026

Upper · Passed

Favorable by Transportation; YEAS 8 NAYS 0

upper

Jan 5, 2026

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Transportation, 01/12/26, 4:00 pm, 37 Senate Building

upper

Dec 1, 2025

Committee

Referred to Transportation; Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development; Fiscal Policy

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors