summary
Introduced
02/27/2025
02/27/2025
In Committee
03/06/2025
03/06/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
06/16/2025
06/16/2025
Introduced Session
2025 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to suits against the government; amending s. 768.28, F.S.; increasing the statutory limits on liability for tort claims against the state and its agencies and subdivisions; authorizing a subdivision of the state to settle a claim in excess of the statutory limit without further action by the Legislature regardless of insurance coverage limits; prohibiting an insurance policy from conditioning payment of benefits on the enactment of a claim bill; specifying that the limitations in effect on the date the claim accrues apply to that claim; revising the period within which certain claims must be presented to certain entities; revising exceptions relating to instituting actions on tort claims against the state or one of its agencies or subdivisions; revising the period after which the failure of certain entities to make final disposition of a claim shall be deemed a final denial of the claim for certain purposes; revising the statute of limitations for tort claims against the state or one of its agencies or subdivisions and exceptions thereto; providing applicability; amending s. 944.713, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; reenacting ss. 45.061(5), 110.504(4), 111.071(1)(a), 125.01015(2)(b), 163.01(3)(h) and (15)(k), 190.043, 213.015(13), 252.51, 252.89, 252.944, 260.0125(2), 284.31, 284.38, 322.13(1)(b), 337.19(1), 341.302(17), 351.03(4)(c), 373.1395(6), 375.251(3)(a), 381.0056(9), 393.075(3), 394.9085(7), 395.1055(10)(g), 403.706(17)(c), 409.175(15)(b), 409.993(1), (2)(a), and (3)(a), 420.504(8), 455.221(3), 455.32(5), 456.009(3), 456.076(15)(a), 471.038(3), 472.006(11)(b), 497.167(7), 513.118(2), 548.046(1), 556.106(8), 589.19(4)(e), 627.7491(3) and (4), 723.0611(2)(c), 760.11(5), 766.1115(4), 766.112(2), 768.1355(3), 768.1382(7), 768.295(4), 946.5026, 946.514(3), 961.06(5), (6)(a), and (7), 1002.33(12)(h), 1002.333(6)(b), 1002.34(17), 1002.351(3)(c), 1002.37(2), 1002.55(3)(l), 1002.83(10), 1002.88(1)(p), 1006.24(1), and 1006.261(2)(b), F.S., relating to offers of settlement, volunteer benefits, payment of judgments or settlements against certain public officers or employees, office of the sheriff, the Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act of 1969, suits against community development districts, taxpayer rights, liability, tort liability, tort liability, limitation on liability of private landowners whose property is designated as part of the statewide system of greenways and trail, scope and types of coverages, waiver of sovereign immunity, driver license examiners, suits by and against the Department of Transportation, rail program, railroad-highway grade crossing warning signs and signals, limitation on liability of water management district with respect to areas made available to the public for recreational purposes without charge, limitation on liability of persons making available to public certain areas for recreational purposes without charge, school health services program, general liability coverage, behavioral provider liability, rules and enforcement, local government solid waste responsibilities, licensure of family foster homes, lead agencies and subcontractor liability, the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, legal and investigative services, the Management Privatization Act, legal and investigative services, impaired practitioner programs, the Florida Engineers Management Corporation, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, administrative matters, conduct on premises and refusal of service, physician’s attendance at match, liability of the state and its agencies or subdivisions, creation of certain state forests, naming of certain state forests, Operation Outdoor Freedom Program, official law enforcement vehicles and motor vehicle insurance requirements, the Florida Mobile Home Relocation Corporation, administrative and civil remedies and construction, health care providers and creation of agency relationship with governmental contractors, comparative fault, the Florida Volunteer Protection Act, street and security lighting and other similar illumination, Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP), sovereign immunity in tort actions, inmates not state employees, compensation for wrongful incarceration, charter schools, persistently low-performing schools, charter technical career centers, the Florida School for Competitive Academics, the Florida Virtual School, school-year prekindergarten program delivered by private prekindergarten providers, Early learning coalitions, school readiness program provider standards, tort liability and liability insurance, and use of school buses for public purposes, respectively, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 768.28, F.S., in references thereto; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill increases the statutory limits on tort claims against the state and its agencies and subdivisions, specifically modifying the liability caps for claims. Under the new provisions, if a claim accrues before October 1, 2025, the limit is $200,000 per individual and $300,000 total per incident. For claims between October 1, 2025, and October 1, 2030, the limits increase to $1 million per individual and $3 million total per incident. After October 1, 2030, the limits will be $1.1 million per individual and $3.2 million total per incident. The bill also allows state subdivisions to settle claims exceeding these limits without further legislative action and prohibits insurance policies from conditioning payment on the enactment of a claim bill. Additionally, the legislation revises the period for presenting claims, modifies the statute of limitations for tort claims, and makes numerous technical amendments to align other sections of Florida law with these changes. The bill ensures that the liability limitations in effect on the date a claim accrues will apply to that specific claim, providing clarity and predictability for potential tort actions against government entities.
Sponsors (2)
Last Action
Died in Judiciary (on 06/16/2025)
Official Document
bill text
bill summary
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bill summary
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bill summary
| Document Type | Source Location |
|---|---|
| State Bill Page | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1570 |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2025/1570/BillText/Filed/HTML |
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