Marsy’s Law for Florida today announced the recipients of its 2026 Champion of Victims’ Rights Award, honoring those who have strengthened and elevated the rights of crime victims in Florida. Receiving the awards are Senator Erin Grall and Representative Kaylee Tuck.
Senator Grall and Representative Tuck sponsored Senate Bill 350 and House Bill 1113, passed by the Florida Legislature last month. These bills restore the constitutional right to privacy initially afforded to Florida crime victims after a statewide vote in 2018. This right was stripped away from Florida crime victims following a Florida Supreme Court ruling nearly three years ago.
In 2023, the Florida Supreme Court ruled that it did not consider a victim’s name “personally identifiable information or records that could be used to locate or harass the victim or the victim’s family” as stated in the state constitution. While Florida crime victims had been availing themselves of the critical right to privacy for five years, this ruling denied them the ability to do so going forward.
“With the technology available in today’s day and age, it defies common logic that access to a victim’s name cannot be used to locate or harass that victim. A simple Google search of someone’s name yields all kinds of personal information. Victims relied on this protection for their own safety,” said Jennifer Fennell, Marsy’s Law for Florida spokesperson. “It is with deep appreciation that we recognize Senator Grall and Representative Tuck for the work they did to return the right to privacy back to Florida crime victims who can once again feel safe as they progress through their criminal justice journey.”
Additionally, Marsy’s Law for Florida announced that it will present commemorative challenge coins to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, Representative Patt Maney, and Representative Chuck Brannan in recognition of their longstanding advocacy for crime victims’ rights.
The awards and challenge coins were announced in conjunction with National Crime Victims’ Rights Week (NCVRW), April 19 – 25. Every April, NCVRW is observed nationally to highlight the need for stronger crime victims’ rights.