State Rep. Andrade Pushes Bill to Force Government Compliance with Public Record Requests

State Representative Alex Andrade is taking aim at Florida’s public records problem with HB 436, legislation designed to compel government agencies to comply in good faith with transparency laws.

The bill comes after years of frustration with agencies—from local governments to the Governor’s office—ignoring or indefinitely delaying records requests. “I’ve asked for records from the Governor’s office, from state agencies, and they just sit on ’em. They ignore it,” Andrade said on the “(We Don’t) Color on the Dog” podcast. “In fact, I heard one story of a state official saying they don’t even bother looking at the request until they receive some notice from the requester that they intend to sue them.”

The legislation would require agencies to respond within three days of receiving a request with either the records themselves, a good-faith timeline and cost estimate, or explicit statutory reasons for denial.

Andrade reserves particular criticism for the Attorney General’s office, which not only delayed records for months but then “treated it like some kind of asset that they could trade on.” He explained they gave records exclusively to one reporter for two weeks while withholding them from others. “You don’t get to treat public records like some asset that’s yours to play with. It’s not your property, it’s the public’s property.”

The bill also addresses common compliance failures. Andrade pointed to the Department of Children and Families, whose online form requires requesters to provide their full name despite a statute prohibiting such requirements. “It’s stuff like that. It’s common sense stuff that any lawyer at all involved in any type of government entity in Florida is aware.”

The legislation aims to restore transparency and trust in government while giving lawmakers the information they need for effective oversight and budget decisions.

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