Florida Bill Would Shield DeSantis’s Travel Records

The Legislature has often moved in lock step with Mr. DeSantis, rarely challenging him or publicly disagreeing with him for fear of retribution in the form of vetoes of special projects or threats of a primary challenge.

One Republican senator, however, who spoke only on the condition of anonymity, said that the effort to shield records could prove to be a risky move for the governor, and that “if the optics of it are such that some can’t vote for it,” it would be a sign of weakness for Mr. DeSantis.

Ms. Polsky, the Democratic state senator, said that fellow Democrats on the subcommittee had been “a little surprised by the bill, and we were led to believe it just had to do with security and not the transportation part of it, and so honestly I think we all didn’t get the chance to ask the questions we want to ask.” She added that she would not support the bill if it came to a full floor vote, saying: “Honestly, I think it was a mistake.”

Nikki Fried, the chair of the state Democratic Party, said, “The Republicans doing his bidding in the Legislature are trying to shield him from transparency as he travels the country promoting his failed ‘Florida blueprint’ and cozies up with wealthy and special-interest donors.”

Dana Kelly, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, which is led by a DeSantis appointee, said the state agency supported the legislation because “the threat picture has changed significantly over the last decade, with violence and attempted violence against elected and appointed officials nationally.” She added that releasing travel details “represents a risk not only to those we protect, but also F.D.L.E. agents and citizens attending events.”

Government accountability experts expressed deep skepticism about the effort.

“I see no reason for this bill,” said Barbara Petersen, the executive director of the Florida Center for Government Accountability. “We’ve always had access to the governor’s travel records, always, and why Governor DeSantis needs special protection is totally unclear to me.”

She added: “I can understand that there is a security issue for current travel or future travel. But how is there a security issue for travel that’s already occurred?”