A proposal that would temporarily shield the names of winners of big Florida lottery jackpots cleared its first Senate committee on Tuesday.

The Regulated Industries Committee backed a measure (SB 170) that would create a public-records exemption for the names of people who win lottery prizes of $250,000 or more.

“I think all of us can dream about winning the big lottery and how exciting that might be. But, unfortunately, for some people, that dream becomes a nightmare.,” said Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book, a Plantation Democrat who introduced the bill for sponsor Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton.

“These winners endure all types of scams, harassment and even loss of life.”

The records exemption would last for 90 days, with the clock running from the time prizes are claimed.

The $250,000 mark was set because prizes of that amount or more require winners to travel to lottery headquarters in Tallahassee.

The bill is filed for consideration during the 2022 legislative session, which will start in January. An identical House bill (HB 159) also has cleared one committee.

The House passed a similar measure during the 2021 session, but the proposal stalled in the Senate.