FL S1648

Restricts public funding of membership dues to organizations that open their financial, business, and membership records to public inspection, with exceptions for records already confidential or exempt by law.

Allows public records requests to be made verbally unless law requires written submission; agencies must provide statutory citations when written requests are mandated.

Establishes new definitions of "confidential and exempt" and "exempt" records, clarifying that exempt records may be discretionally disclosed by custodians if statutory or substantial need exists.

Limits special service charges for producing records to actual costs of labor (capped at lowest-paid capable staff rate, excluding benefits) and information technology resources used.

Requires all state agencies to provide staff training on public records law commensurate with employee duties and mandates contractors notify agencies before denying public records requests.

Expands attorney fee awards in public records enforcement actions to include fees for litigating fee entitlement itself; exempts parties from serving Department of Financial Services on attorney fee claims if agency is covered by State Risk Management Trust Fund.