summary
Introduced
11/21/2025
11/21/2025
In Committee
12/09/2025
12/09/2025
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to attorney fees, suit money, and costs; amending ss. 61.16 and 742.045, F.S.; authorizing a court to order attorney fees, suit money, and costs in appellate proceedings; 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 an award of attorney fees, suit money, and costs; prohibiting the award of attorney fees, suit money, and costs under certain circumstances; providing that a trial court has continuing jurisdiction for certain purposes; authorizing the court to consider if a good faith offer of settlement was rejected when awarding attorney fees, suit money, and costs; authorizing the court to award, deny, or reduce attorney fees, suit money, and costs under certain circumstances; requiring the court to consider the relative financial resources of the parties for certain purposes; providing an exception; providing that payment of support owed to the obligee has priority over fees, costs, and expenses; providing that attorney fees and suit money may be assessed only under certain circumstances; authorizing the court to take certain actions in criminal contempt proceedings; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill expands the court's authority to award attorney fees, suit money (money for legal expenses), and costs in cases related to family law and child support. It clarifies that these awards can be made for appellate proceedings, meaning legal costs incurred during appeals, and can cover both past and future expenses. The bill also allows for the inclusion of fees incurred in seeking these awards themselves, and importantly, it introduces provisions for considering whether a party rejected a good-faith settlement offer when deciding on an award, and allows courts to sanction parties for vexatious or bad-faith litigation by awarding fees to the opposing party or denying fees to the offending party. While generally prioritizing payment of support owed to a party over these fees, the bill also grants courts specific powers in criminal contempt proceedings, such as appointing an attorney to prosecute the contempt and assessing fees and costs against the contemnor (the person found in contempt) after determining their ability to pay.
Committee Categories
Budget and Finance
Sponsors (1)
Other Sponsors (2)
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice (Senate), Judiciary (Senate)
Last Action
CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice read 1st time (on 02/24/2026)
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/2026/644 |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/644/BillText/c2/HTML |
| Analysis - Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/644/Analyses/2026s00644.acj.PDF |
| Analysis - Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice (Pre-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/644/Analyses/2026s00644.pre.acj.PDF |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/644/BillText/c1/HTML |
| Analysis - Judiciary (Post-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/644/Analyses/2026s00644.ju.PDF |
| https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/644/Amendment/721864/HTML | |
| Analysis - Judiciary (Pre-Meeting) | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/644/Analyses/2026s00644.pre.ju.PDF |
| BillText | https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/644/BillText/Filed/HTML |
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