TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A Florida lawmaker has introduced a bill aimed at ending the long-standing practice of selling residents’ driver license and ID card information to private companies, data brokers, insurance analytics firms, and foreign-owned entities.
Rep. Peggy Gossett-Seidman (R–District 91) filed the Motor Vehicle Operator Privacy Act on Sunday, saying the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles has generated more than $490 million over the past 15 years through data-sharing agreements, according to audits and public investigations.
The data sold includes names, addresses, birth dates, license numbers, driving histories, crash reports, vehicle details, organ-donor status, physical descriptions, CDL credentials, renewal records, restriction codes, emergency contacts, and in some instances, driver photographs.
Gossett-Seidman said these transactions occurred without residents’ knowledge, consent, or any option to opt out. Dozens of national and foreign-owned companies have purchased the data, including those involved in deals totaling $77.9 million in 2017, roughly $263 million between 2021 and 2023, and over $150 million before 2015.
“Floridians are required by law to provide their personal information to the DMV, and it is our responsibility to ensure that information is never misused. The State of Florida is not in the business of selling your personal information. Under my bill, it never will be again,” she said.
She also noted residents have reported identity theft following license renewals, unsolicited attorney mail after minor citations, and marketers appearing at their homes.
“For years, this system operated without public awareness. Even high-ranking state officials were not fully informed. HB 357 shuts this down for good,” she said.
The bill would ban all commercial sales of driver license and ID card data, prevent foreign or foreign-owned entities from accessing Florida driver records, require written consent for any non-law-enforcement disclosure, prohibit insurers and third parties from using DMV data for marketing or risk scoring, and require insurers to rely only on verified state driving records.
It would also eliminate third-party risk scores that can increase insurance premiums, mandate oversight and public reporting for all permitted data access, apply protections retroactively to previously shared data, and terminate outdated contracts.
If approved, the legislation would take effect July 1, 2026.
“Floridians deserve privacy, security, and control over their own information. HB 357 ends the era of driver-data sales and restores trust in our state systems,” Gossett-Seidman said.
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