Bill > S0780

This bill establishes a comprehensive government waste investigation and a new tax rebate program for low-income workers. The bill requires the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, the Auditor General, and the Government Efficiency Task Force to prepare a detailed report investigating potential waste, fraud, and misconduct across various state government agencies and spending initiatives. The report must examine specific areas of spending, including contracts related to migrant transportation, state agency programs like Hope Florida, litigation costs, and various other state expenditures. The Attorney General is mandated to pursue legal remedies to recover any funds identified as lost to waste or misconduct. These recovered funds will be used to finance the newly created Working Floridians Tax Rebate Program, which will provide low- and moderate-income residents who have received the federal Earned Income Tax Credit a state rebate equal to 20 percent of their federal credit. To qualify, residents must maintain a Florida residence, apply by June 30, and provide documentation of their federal tax credit. The Department of Commerce will manage the program and is required to submit a report by December 31, 2027, exploring the feasibility of an automatic rebate process. The bill specifies that these rebates cannot be used to determine eligibility for other assistance programs and will take effect for federal tax credits granted on or after January 1, 2027, with the act itself becoming effective on July 1, 2026.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/780