This bill amends sections of Florida Statutes related to public records and meetings, specifically focusing on exemptions for competitive solicitations conducted by the Department of Transportation (DOT). It defines "competitive solicitation" and "team," and establishes that sealed bids, proposals, or replies received by the DOT are exempt from public records requirements until a specified time after an intended decision is announced or a formal protest is resolved. Additionally, it provides exemptions for portions of meetings where negotiations or presentations related to competitive solicitations occur, as well as for recordings and records from these exempt meetings.

The bill also includes provisions for future legislative review and repeal of these exemptions, emphasizing the necessity of protecting sensitive information during the competitive solicitation process to ensure fairness and economic viability for vendors. The exemptions will remain in effect until July 1, 2025, unless reviewed and saved from repeal by the Legislature. Overall, the bill aims to balance transparency with the need to protect proprietary information during the procurement process.

Statutes affected:
S 458 Filed: 119.071