Bill > H0413

Introduced Session

An act relating to attorney fees, suit money, and costs; amending s. 61.16, F.S.; providing that an award of attorney fees, suit money, and costs may be awarded retroactively and prospectively; authorizing the inclusion of certain fees, money, and costs in the total award of attorney fees, suit money, and costs; authorizing the court to consider whether a party rejected a good faith offer of settlement when awarding attorney fees, suit money, and costs; authorizing the court to award, deny, or reduce attorney fees, suit money, and costs as a sanction for vexatious or bad faith litigation; requiring the court to make certain written findings; authorizing the court to order an award of attorney fees, suit money, and costs be paid directly to the attorney; requiring the court to include certain written findings of fact when the court finds a party in contempt; providing for the award of attorney fees and costs to a nonoffending party under certain circumstances; providing that certain relief is cumulative and not exclusive; amending s. 742.045, F.S.; authorizing a court to order attorney fees, suit money, and costs in certain appellate proceedings; providing that an award of attorney fees, suit money, and costs may be awarded hb413-02-c2 retroactively and prospectively; prohibiting a court from awarding attorney fees, suit money, and costs to a noncompliant party under certain circumstances; providing that a trial court has continuing jurisdiction to award temporary appellate attorney fees and costs under a specified basis and criteria; authorizing the court to consider whether a party rejected a good faith offer of settlement when awarding attorney fees, suit money, and costs; authorizing the court to award, deny, or reduce attorney fees, suit money, and costs as a sanction for vexatious or bad faith litigation; requiring the court to make certain written findings; specifying the primary factor for a court to consider in making awards of appellate attorney fees and costs; authorizing the court to order an award of attorney fees, suit money, and costs be paid directly to the attorney; authorizing the court to take certain actions in an action involving criminal contempt; providing a presumption that certain parties are entitled to recover attorney fees and costs under certain circumstances; providing that certain relief is cumulative and not exclusive; providing applicability; providing an effective date. hb413-02-c2

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Mike Gottlieb (D)*,  Robin Bartleman (D),  Daryl Campbell (D),  Kimberly Daniels (D),  Fentrice Driskell (D),  Rita Harris (D),  Johanna López (D), 

Other Sponsors (2)

Received (on 02/10/2026)

Official Document