Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1530
By Senator Pizzo
37-01617-26 20261530__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to court records of eviction
3 proceedings; creating s. 83.626, F.S.; authorizing
4 persons who are defendants in certain eviction
5 proceedings to file a motion with the court to have
6 the records of such proceedings sealed and to have
7 their names substituted on the progress docket under
8 certain conditions; providing that certain persons are
9 ineligible for such relief; requiring persons seeking
10 such relief to serve a copy of the motion on all
11 parties to the proceeding and file a specified
12 affidavit with the court; requiring the court to
13 schedule a hearing under certain circumstances;
14 requiring the court to grant relief if certain
15 requirements are met; specifying that such persons are
16 entitled to have their name substituted on the
17 progress docket under certain circumstances;
18 prohibiting the court from charging certain fees;
19 providing retroactive applicability; providing an
20 effective date.
21
22 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
23
24 Section 1. Section 83.626, Florida Statutes, is created to
25 read:
26 83.626 Court records of eviction proceedings.—
27 (1)(a) A person who is a defendant in an eviction
28 proceeding for nonpayment of rent under this part or nonpayment
29 of the lot rental amount under s. 723.061 may file a motion with
30 the court to have the records of such proceeding sealed and to
31 have his or her name substituted with “tenant” on the progress
32 docket if any of the following conditions is satisfied:
33 1. The case was resolved by settlement or stipulation of
34 the parties, and the person has complied with the terms of the
35 agreement.
36 2. A default judgment was entered against the person, and
37 he or she has satisfied any monetary award included in the
38 judgment.
39 3. A judgment was entered against the person on the merits,
40 at least 5 years have passed from the date of entry of the
41 judgment, and the person has satisfied any monetary award
42 included in the judgment.
43 4. A judgment was entered against the person on the merits,
44 and at least 10 years have passed from the date of entry of the
45 judgment.
46 (b) A person is ineligible for relief under paragraph (a)
47 if he or she has been evicted more than once.
48 (2) A person seeking relief under subsection (1) must serve
49 a copy of the motion on all parties to the proceeding and must
50 file an affidavit with the court attesting that he or she is not
51 ineligible for such relief under paragraph (1)(b). The court
52 must schedule a hearing if a written objection is filed within
53 30 days after the person serves the motion. If no such objection
54 is timely filed, the court must grant the relief without a
55 hearing. If a timely objection is filed and the court, after a
56 hearing, determines that the person is eligible for relief, the
57 court must grant the relief.
58 (3) In an eviction proceeding for nonpayment of rent under
59 this part or for nonpayment of the lot rental amount under s.
60 723.061, if judgment is entered in favor of the person being
61 evicted or if the parties file a joint stipulation requesting
62 relief under this section, the person being evicted is entitled
63 to the substitution of his or her name with “tenant” on the
64 progress docket without any further motion or hearing thereon.
65 (4) The court may not charge a filing or reopening fee for
66 motions filed pursuant to this section.
67 (5) This section applies to any judgment entered before,
68 on, or after July 1, 2026.
69 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.