summary
Introduced
10/09/2025
10/09/2025
In Committee
03/02/2026
03/02/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
03/13/2026
03/13/2026
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to adverse personnel actions and ethics complaints; creating s. 112.3242, F.S.; providing legislative intent; defining terms; prohibiting agencies and independent contractors from taking specified actions against employees for disclosing certain information to the Commission on Ethics; providing applicability; requiring that information disclosed include specified violations or alleged violations; requiring disclosure of specified information to the commission under specified circumstances; providing that specified provisions protect employees who submit written complaints to the commission or provide information to an investigator during an investigation of a complaint or referral; providing applicability; authorizing certain employees to file complaints in accordance with specified provisions; authorizing such employees to pursue a specified administrative remedy or a civil action within a specified timeframe; defining the term "local governmental authority"; authorizing local public employees to file a complaint with the appropriate local governmental authority under specified circumstances; specifying requirements for administrative procedures created by local hb139-01-c1 governmental authorities; authorizing such employees to bring civil actions in a court of competent jurisdiction under specified conditions; requiring specified relief; providing applicability; providing that it is an affirmative defense to certain actions that the adverse personnel action was predicated on grounds other than the exercising of certain protected rights; providing construction; amending s. 112.324, F.S.; requiring the commission to deliver complaints and any amendment thereto to the agency conducting a certain investigation, upon the agency's written request; providing that such delivery does not affect specified exemptions in regard to the complaint and amendments; requiring that such delivery be within a reasonable timeframe; requiring that the commission redact certain information under specified conditions; requiring the commission to deliver complaints and any amendment thereto to certain persons upon a notarized written request; providing that such delivery does not affect the specified exemptions of the complaint; requiring that such delivery be within a reasonable timeframe; requiring that the commission redact certain information under specified conditions; providing an effective date. hb139-01-c1
AI Summary
This bill establishes protections for employees who report violations of ethics laws or breaches of public trust to the Commission on Ethics, preventing their employers (agencies or independent contractors) from taking adverse personnel actions, which are defined as actions like firing, suspension, demotion, or reduction in pay or benefits, against them. It specifies that the reported information must involve violations or suspected violations of ethical standards or constitutional provisions, and that such disclosures must be made to the Commission on Ethics. Employees who file written complaints or provide information to investigators are protected, unless they participated in the violation themselves. The bill outlines remedies for protected employees, including reinstatement, back pay, and attorney fees, and allows for civil actions if administrative remedies are not successful. It also provides specific procedures for local public employees to file complaints with their local governmental authorities, or pursue civil action if no local procedure exists. Additionally, the bill amends existing law to require the Commission on Ethics to provide copies of ethics complaints to agencies investigating related claims under this new law, and to the filer of the complaint, upon written request, while still allowing for certain information to be redacted and maintaining existing exemptions for the complaint itself in other contexts.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs
Sponsors (2)
Other Sponsors (1)
State Affairs Committee (House)
Last Action
Died on Second Reading Calendar (on 03/13/2026)
Official Document
bill text
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bill summary
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bill summary
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