HB 7013 is an Open Government Sunset Review Act bill that extends two existing public records and public meetings exemptions related to cybersecurity. First, it amends section 119.0725, Florida Statutes, to move the repeal date for the exemption covering certain cybersecurity insurance information, critical infrastructure information, cybersecurity incident information, and other cybersecurity-related information held by an agency from October 2, 2026 to October 2, 2027. Second, it amends section 282.318, Florida Statutes, to extend the repeal date for exemptions covering certain portions of state agency cybersecurity risk assessments, evaluations, external audits, and related reports from October 2, 2025 to October 2, 2026.
The bill does not create new substantive cybersecurity duties or new categories of exempt records; instead, it preserves existing confidentiality protections for a limited additional period unless the Legislature later reenacts them. Its practical effect is to keep sensitive cybersecurity information out of the public record and to continue limiting public access to certain cybersecurity-related meetings and documents for state agencies and related entities covered by the statutes.
HB 7013 affects Florida’s public records and open meetings laws by extending the sunset dates for two cybersecurity-related exemptions in chapters 119 and 282, Florida Statutes. The bill delays automatic repeal of those exemptions, thereby maintaining confidentiality protections for agency cybersecurity information, critical infrastructure information, incident information, and certain cybersecurity program assessments and audits. Agencies, vendors, and other entities handling sensitive cybersecurity materials would continue to rely on these exemptions for an additional year, subject to future legislative review.
The available context suggests the bill was generally noncontroversial and procedural in nature, consistent with a sunset review measure that simply extends existing exemptions. There is no committee transcript or recorded vote information indicating significant opposition or debate. The fact that the companion bill passed and HB 7013 was laid on the table suggests the policy outcome was achieved through the companion measure rather than through a contested House floor process.
No specific points of contention are reflected in the provided materials. In bills of this type, the usual policy tension is between transparency under Florida’s open government laws and the need to protect sensitive cybersecurity information from disclosure. Here, however, there is no recorded debate showing disagreement over whether the exemptions should be extended, and no identified opponents or amendments in the supplied context.