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HB 7009FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026Laid on Table, refer to SB 7006

Permanent Exemption for Private Utility Business Information in Public Meetings

Original title: OGSR/Public Service Commission

November 5, 2025

public recordsgovernment transparencyutilitiesprivacyrailroads and other regulated utilities

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Where This Stands

Currently Laid on Table, refer to SB 7006. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Introduced.

Procedural history

16 actions
  1. Feb 16, 2026House
    Added to Second Reading Calendar
  2. Feb 10, 2026House
    Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/19/2026)
  3. Jan 27, 2026House
    Added to Second Reading Calendar
  4. Jan 27, 2026House
    Bill released to House Calendar
  5. Jan 27, 2026House
    Reported out of State Affairs Committee
  6. Jan 27, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable by State Affairs Committee
Show 10 earlier actions
  1. Jan 23, 2026House
    Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
  2. Jan 14, 2026House
    Now in State Affairs Committee
  3. Jan 14, 2026House
    Reported out of Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
  4. Jan 14, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable by Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
  5. Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
    1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
  6. Jan 12, 2026House
    Added to Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee agenda
  7. Nov 12, 2025House
    Now in Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
  8. Nov 12, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to State Affairs Committee
  9. Nov 12, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
  10. Nov 5, 2025HouseIntroduced
    Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

This change ensures that utility companies can continue to discuss proprietary business data in closed sessions without the public or media present, preventing that information from becoming part of the public record.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Florida Public Service Commission

The commission retains the legal authority to conduct closed-door meetings regarding proprietary business information indefinitely.

Utility companies

These entities are permitted to discuss proprietary business information in closed sessions without that data becoming public record.

What changed

Last recorded activity November 5, 2025.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

This bill removes the expiration date for a law that allows the Florida Public Service Commission to hold private meetings when discussing sensitive business information. By removing the 'sunset' date, the commission's authority to keep these specific discussions confidential remains in effect indefinitely.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this bill make all Public Service Commission meetings private?
No. Only the specific portions of hearings where is discussed are from public meeting requirements.
Can the public ever see the records from these closed meetings?
Generally, no. These records are confidential unless a court of law determines that the meeting included non- information, in which case only that non-exempt portion may be disclosed.

Why It Matters

This change ensures that utility companies can continue to discuss proprietary business data in closed sessions without the public or media present, preventing that information from becoming part of the public record.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Voting Record

Motion succeededhouse1/27/2026Official roll call ↗

Favorable (State Affairs Committee)

Total

47

Yes

43

No

2

Present

0

Not Voting

2

Abstain

0

Motion succeededhouse1/14/2026Official roll call ↗

Favorable (Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee)

Total

28

Yes

26

No

1

Present

0

Not Voting

1

Abstain

0

Motion succeededhouse11/4/2025Official roll call ↗

Favorable (Government Operations Subcommittee)

Total

28

Yes

22

No

0

Present

0

Not Voting

6

Abstain

0

Full roll-call analysis →

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift100% confidence

Removal of Sunset Provision

The bill effectively makes a temporary transparency exemption permanent by removing the scheduled repeal date of October 2, 2026.

Florida Public Service Commission

Connected Entities

organizationEconomic Infrastructure Subcommittee“A subcommittee within the Public Service Commission.”Map →
otherSecond Reading Calendar“A calendar used for bills undergoing second reading in the legislature.”Map →
otherHouse Calendar“The schedule for bills awaiting consideration in the House of Representatives.”Map →
organizationState Affairs Committee“A committee within the Public Service Commission.”Map →
date2/19/2026“Date associated with a Special Order Calendar entry.”Map →
organizationPublic Service Commission“The governing body overseeing the bill's review.”Map →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance45
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy30
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz10
    Current news / social attention level

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