The Florida Senate Judiciary Committee on an agenda-heavy morning advanced more than a dozen bills, issuing favorable committee reports on multiple claims bills, reforms to vexatious-litigant rules and related public-records protections, tenant-screening changes, self-storage notice modernization and legislation authorizing series limited liability companies.

A tally of the committee's actions shows most measures were approved by strong margins; several prompted public testimony from industry groups or affected individuals but passed with committee approval.

Why it matters: The package includes individual claims bills that, if enacted, would authorize state or special-appropriation payments to compensate victims (or their estates) for settled judgments or court awards that exceeded sovereign-immunity caps. Other bills change civil procedure and court tools intended to limit meritless litigation, modernize notice practices affecting small-business storage owners, and reduce housing application costs for renters.

Key outcomes and context

- Claims and relief bills: The committee reported favorably a series of claims bills that would appropriate state funds to pay portions of settled judgments blocked by sovereign immunity limits. Those include SB 20 (relief for Jayenne, Hillsborough County) reported favorably (9–0), SB 14 (estate of Peniel Genvier, City of Miami Beach) (9–1), SB 8 (relief of Marcus Button by Pasco County School Board) (10–0), SB 10 as amended (relief for Sydney Holmes, exoneree) (10–0), SB 22 (relief of Eric Miles Jr. and Jennifer Miles by South Broward Hospital District) (9–1), SB 26 as amended (relief for Kristen and Leah McIntosh) (10–1), and a smaller relief action, SB 20 and SB 14 among them. Committee sponsors and supporters characterized these items as settled cases that require legislative disbursement because sovereign-immunity limits prevented full payment by the responsible local entities. Several sponsors summarized injuries and settlement amounts during the committee record; for example, Senator Burgess described SB 20 as “a claims bill in the amount of $400,000 for Jayenne,” and Senator Jones described the SB 14 settlement as a $2,000,000 agreement with $1,700,000 contingent on legislative approval.

- Probate and fiduciary reform: CS for SB 520 (curators of estates) was approved (10–0). Sponsor remarks said the measure updates Florida probate practice by clarifying when a curator may be appointed, refining the curator definition and setting oversight expectations; committee amendment language was developed with the Florida Bar's probate section, according to the sponsor.

- Vexatious-litigant reforms and related public-records exemption: CS for SB 1650 (vexatious litigants) and CS for SB 1652 (public-records exemption for stricken pleadings) were approved. SB 1650 implements recommendations from a Supreme Court work group to expand the vexatious-litigant designation (reducing qualifying actions from five to three and extending the lookback period) and to allow courts to consider out-of-state or federal conduct; an amendment clarified that pre-filing orders prohibit new filings in the circuit without leave. Committee members asked about the duration and the good-faith exception; sponsor answers indicated the rule changes reflect the work group's recommendations and that the court determines a good-faith exception in individual cases. SB 1652 (the delete-all amendment adopted in committee) creates a public-records exemption for matter stricken from a noncriminal court file when the court finds the matter was immaterial, impertinent or a sham and would be defamatory or jeopardize safety. Both measures were presented to the committee with support from the work group and a judge involved in the study.

- Self-storage notices: CS for SB 386 (self-storage auctions and notice) was approved (10–0). The sponsor said the bill gives storage operators an alternative to newspaper advertisement by allowing publication on a public website that commonly advertises personal property sales and by requiring rental agreements to include an alternative contact. The Florida Press Association opposed the bill at the hearing, arguing newspapers reach a broad audience and expressing concern about low-traffic sites replacing established notice channels; the Self Storage Association and several operators testified in favor, citing modernization and cost savings. Witnesses gave cost examples: one owner reported a quote from a major paper in excess of several hundred dollars; another cited a typical small-paper ad rate around $40.

- Reusable tenant screening reports: CS for SB 362 (reusable tenant screening reports) was approved (11–0). Sponsor testimony explained the bill allows a consumer screening report to be reused across multiple rental applications for a 30‑day window, if the landlord chooses to accept it, reducing duplicate screening fees for renters while leaving acceptance to landlords' discretion. An amendment clarified the definition of an eligible reusable report and specified contents including consumer-report elements (eviction history, employment verification) to standardize statewide practice.

- Student participation in interscholastic sports: CS for SB 248 (expanded participation for private and homeschool students at FHSAA member public schools) was reported favorably (7–2). Sponsor amendments clarified coed/team issues and included language aimed at preserving schools' authority on practice/academic scheduling; testimony came from private-school representatives asking for statutory assurances to protect instructional time, and from public educators expressing concern about diverting public‑school athletic spots to private/homeschool students.

- Series limited liability companies: SB 316 (authorizing series LLCs in Florida) was approved (11–0). The sponsor said the bill creates statutory rules for series LLCs, including recordkeeping and asset-tracing requirements intended to protect creditors and vulnerable populations; the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar waived in support.

Public testimony highlights

- SB 386 (self-storage): Carolyn Nolte of the Florida Press Association urged a no vote, citing readership statistics and the role of newspapers in public notice; Anna Higgins of the Self Storage Association urged passage for modernization and cost relief to small businesses; Gail Hope (Penny Saver Weekly News) said losing such classified/legal advertising could imperil small local newspapers.

- SB 10 (Sydney Holmes): Mr. Holmes appeared and thanked the committee and staff. State Attorney Harold Pryor and Seth Miller of the Innocence Project of Florida waived in support.

- SB 248 (student sports): Pensacola Christian Academy and other private-school representatives asked for statutory clarity to preserve instructional time and internal academic policies if students participate in athletics at an FHSAA public school; public-school educators opposed the change, arguing it could divert opportunities from enrolled public-school students.

Votes at a glance (committee roll-call tallies reported on the transcript)

- SB 20 (relief of Jayenne by Hillsborough County): reported favorably (9 ayes, 0 nays)
- CS for SB 520 (curators of estates): reported favorably (10 yeas, 0 nays)
- SB 14 (estate of Peniel Genvier, Miami Beach): reported favorably (9 yeas, 1 nay)
- CS for SB 10 (relief of Sydney Holmes): reported favorably (10 yays, 0 nays)
- CS for SB 386 (self-storage notices): reported favorably (10 yays, 0 nays)
- SB 8 (relief of Marcus Button): reported favorably (10 yays, 0 nays)
- CS for SB 248 (student participation in interscholastic/intrascholastic extracurricular sports): reported favorably (7 yeas, 2 nays)
- SB 22 (relief of Eric Miles Jr. and Jennifer Miles): reported favorably (9 yeas, 1 nay)
- CS for SB 26 (relief of Kristen and Leah McIntosh): reported favorably (10 yeas, 1 nay)
- CS for SB 1650 (vexatious litigants): reported favorably (11 yeas, 0 nays)
- CS for SB 1652 (public records exemption for stricken pleadings): reported favorably (10 yeas, 1 nay)
- CS for SB 362 (reusable tenant screening reports): reported favorably (11 yays, 0 nays)
- SB 316 (series limited liability companies): reported favorably (11 yeas, 0 nays)

What the committee did not decide

- Passage by the full Senate was not considered in the committee; bills reported favorably will be placed on the committee reference list and proceed per Senate rules. Sponsors and testifiers emphasized implementation details in subsequent legislative steps (e.g., model forms, FHSAA coordination, or specific trust-account language for minor claimants).

Notes and forward-looking items

- Several claims bills will require appropriations or specific trust language (one amendment placed funds for a minor beneficiary into a trust). Where a bill affects local governments (counties, school boards, hospitals), sponsors or local representatives confirmed those entities had either consented to the settlement or waived opposition in committee testimony.

- SB 1650 and CS 1652 implement recommendations from a Supreme Court work group; supporters said the changes are intended to protect judicial resources and the safety/reputation of litigants harmed by sham pleadings.

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