This week, HB 159 passed with unanimous bipartisan support in the State Affairs Committee. HB 159 creates a public record exemption for the name of a lottery winner of a prize valued at $250,000 or more for 90 days from the date the prize is claimed, unless the winner consents to the release of their name.
“People who win valuable lottery prizes have been the targets of violent and nonviolent criminal acts based upon publicly available identifying information. It’s important we maintain the confidential and exempt status of winners’ identifying information for the safety of Floridians. This bill balances the privacy concerns of lottery winners and the public’s right to know. I am happy this bill was able to make it out of committee and is on its way to becoming law,” said Representative Tracie Davis (D-Jacksonville).
