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Committee backs ‘Haven Act’ to expand safety tools for domestic and dating violence victims
Summary
SB 240, dubbed the Haven Act, passed favorably out of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. The bill orders a feasibility study for a web-based emergency alert number for domestic/dating-violence victims, and expands address‑confidentiality protections to include dating‑violence survivors; supporters urged urgency and survivors testified.
Senator Berman presented SB 240, the "Haven Act," and the Senate Criminal Justice Committee adopted a delete‑all amendment and reported the bill favorably.
The bill has two central elements. First, it directs the Division of Telecommunications to conduct a feasibility study and report by Jan. 31, 2026, on a web‑based 9‑1‑1‑style alert system that would allow victims to dial a unique number and trigger geolocation and emergency response without a standard two‑way 9‑1‑1 call. Senator Berman said FDLE had told her the concept was feasible and framed the study as a measured next step to modernize emergency response for vulnerable victims.
Second, the bill makes statutory definitions for dating violence and domestic violence congruent so that victims of dating violence can access state address‑confidentiality programs and other resources equal to domestic‑violence survivors.
Multiple survivors and advocates, including Amy Trask, Christopher Nurse and others, gave emotional testimony in support. Trask recounted personal experience of abuse and urged the committee to vote in favor, framing the bill as a lifeline for survivors and children.
The committee recorded a favorable report for SB 240. Senators noted that the feasibility study timeline is deliberately near-term and that expanding the address‑confidentiality program equalizes access to protections for dating‑violence victims.
SB 240 moves forward to additional Senate consideration.
