FL S0694

Cited as "The Decker Act," creates s. 782.41, F.S., establishing a formal process for reviewing and reinvestigating cold case murders in Florida, effective July 1, 2026

Requires law enforcement agencies to review a cold case upon receiving a written application from an immediate family member or their designated legal representative, for murders where no likely perpetrator was identified, at least 5 years have passed, and all probative leads were previously exhausted

Mandates a full reinvestigation if the review concludes it may yield new probative leads or identify a likely perpetrator; the reinvestigation may not be conducted solely by the original investigator, and no additional review is required for 5 years after a completed reinvestigation unless materially significant evidence is discovered

Requires law enforcement agencies to complete case file reviews within 1 year of receiving an application, with a one-time 6-month extension permitted, and to report data quarterly beginning October 1, 2026, to the Global Forensic and Justice Center at Florida International University, which must maintain a searchable public case tracking website

Applies to any cold case murder committed on or after January 1, 1970, and the operation of the law is subject to the availability of specifically appropriated funds