S0296 expands Florida’s domestic violence protections to explicitly include victims of dating violence in several existing programs and legal definitions. It revises the legislative findings and definitions in the address confidentiality law to recognize dating violence alongside domestic violence, and it allows victims of dating violence to apply for the Attorney General’s Address Confidentiality Program. The bill also requires the Attorney General to designate state, local, and nonprofit service providers to help dating violence victims apply for the program, and it updates related victim-notification and public-records provisions to conform to these changes.
The bill also creates a new feasibility study for a web-based 911 alert system for victims of domestic violence and dating violence. The Division of Telecommunications, working with 911 service providers, PSAPs, and public safety agencies, must evaluate whether such a system could provide real-time data sharing, unique caller numbers, user-generated emergency codes or phrases, and transmission of relevant data to law enforcement when a user signals danger. The division must report its findings to legislative leaders by January 31, 2027. The act takes effect July 1, 2026.
Impact
The bill amends multiple sections of Florida Statutes, including ss. 741.401, 741.402, 741.403, 741.408, 741.4651, and 960.001, to extend address confidentiality and victim-support protections to dating violence victims. It broadens eligibility for the Address Confidentiality Program, requires related assistance from designated agencies, and ensures victims of dating violence are included in information provided by law enforcement and criminal justice agencies. It also directs a statewide feasibility study on a specialized emergency alert system, potentially affecting telecommunications, 911 infrastructure, and law enforcement response protocols if later implemented.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have strong bipartisan support and little visible opposition. It passed every recorded stage unanimously or near-unanimously, including committee votes and final passage in both chambers, with no recorded dissent in the provided voting history. The overall sentiment reflected in the legislative process is favorable, likely due to the bill’s victim-protection focus and its limited, study-oriented approach to the 911 alert system.
Contention
No major contention is evident in the available materials. The main policy questions are practical rather than ideological: whether a web-based 911 alert system is technically feasible, how real-time data sharing would work across PSAPs and law enforcement agencies, and what resources would be required. Another point of implementation concern is the scope of the Attorney General’s responsibilities and the availability of funds to support expanded address confidentiality services and assistance for dating violence victims.