FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Samantha Dalaguit
Amy Trask for House 22
amytraskforflorida.mediateam@gmail.com
Tallahassee, FL, March 10, 2026 — Today, the Florida House of Representatives passed the Helping Abuse Victims Escape Now (HAVEN) Act with a unanimous 113-0 vote, sending the landmark survivor-protection legislation to the Governor’s desk for signature. The bill, originally authored by Amy Trask, was championed in the House by Rep. Peggy Gosset-Seidman (R-91) and Prime Co-Sponsor Rep. Plakon-Saunders (R-36) strengthened by a broad coalition of Republican and Democratic cosponsors from across the state. HAVEN previously passed the Florida Senate with a unanimous 35-0 vote.
The HAVEN Act takes a major step towards modernizing emergency response for survivors by directing a statewide feasibility study on the development of a discreet, web-based alert system that allows victims of domestic violence to silently contact public safety officials using a secure PIN number or code word linked to a randomly generated phone number. The study will be conducted in coordination with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the state’s department of emergency communications to determine how the system could securely assign generated numbers as recognized emergency contacts; a keen step that would allow responders the ability to access geolocation without requiring a warrant.
In addition to laying the groundwork for this first-of-its-kind technology, the HAVEN Act also extends the same legal protections between victims of domestic violence and dating violence. By aligning these definitions in Florida law, individuals experiencing dating violence will be able to access the same protections and survivor resources available to domestic violence victims.
“For survivors, the most dangerous moment is often where they cannot safely ask for help,” says Amy Trask, author of the HAVEN Act and candidate for Florida House District 22. “The HAVEN Act was born from a simple yet urgent truth: no one should have to choose between staying silent and staying alive. I have lived through moments where speaking one word could have made things worse. Knowing that this legislation is now on its way to becoming law, that someone else in that same terrifying moment will have a safe and silent way to reach help is something I can’t quite put into words. It is deeply personal, and it is profoundly meaningful.”
The HAVEN Act has also earned meaningful support from members of the law enforcement community, who recognize the operational and safety benefits of a discreet alert system. Officers and public safety stakeholders have emphasized that in high-risk domestic and dating violence situations, real-time information and silent communication tools can improve response times, reduce escalation, and better protect both survivors and first responders.
“Violence isn’t a red or blue problem, and it doesn’t discriminate. It touches every corner of our state,” Trask continued. “The overwhelming commitment from both Republicans and Democrats alongside the support of law enforcement professionals who understand the realities of these calls shows that even in a time of polarization, we can still come together around solutions that protect families and save lives.”
With final legislative approval secured, the HAVEN Act now awaits the Governor’s signature. When signed into law, Florida will become a national leader in innovative, survivor-centered emergency protections for victims of domestic and dating violence.