summary
Introduced
12/23/2025
12/23/2025
In Committee
03/03/2026
03/03/2026
Crossed Over
03/12/2026
03/12/2026
Passed
05/08/2026
05/08/2026
Dead
Signed/Enacted/Adopted
05/11/2026
05/11/2026
Introduced Session
2026 Regular Session
Bill Summary
An act relating to foreign influence; providing a short title; amending s. 112.313, F.S.; defining the terms "designated foreign terrorist organization" and "foreign country of concern"; providing penalties for specified persons who solicit or accept anything of value from persons or entities representing a designated foreign terrorist organization or a foreign country of concern; amending s. 112.3142, F.S.; requiring the Commission on Ethics to adopt certain rules by a specified date; amending s. 205.0532, F.S.; authorizing any appropriate tax collector to revoke or refuse to renew business tax receipts of specified individuals, businesses, or entities; authorizing such tax collector or a local governing authority to request a specified sworn affidavit or declaration from such individual, business, or entity; providing criminal penalties; amending s. 288.816, F.S.; prohibiting certain activities encouraging affiliations with foreign countries of concern; requiring the Department of Commerce to publish and update certain information on its website; amending s. 288.8175, F.S.; deleting the Florida-China Institute from the list of linkage institutes; deleting an exemption for linkage institutes; prohibiting a hb905 -05-erCS/2026 Legislature linkage institute from entering into an agreement or participating in an activity with a foreign country of concern; amending s. 288.854, F.S.; authorizing the Governor to suspend certain laws or rules relating to Cuba for a specified period under certain circumstances; prohibiting such suspension from being renewed or extended; prohibiting the Governor from suspending the same laws or rules without express authorization from the Legislature; requiring the Governor to submit to the Legislature certain written recommendations within a specified timeframe; providing for future legislative repeal of certain provisions; amending s. 288.860, F.S.; requiring that certain agreements be terminated by a specified date; amending s. 316.0078, F.S.; revising the definitions of the terms "controlling interest" and "foreign country of concern"; amending s. 496.404, F.S.; revising the definition of the term "foreign source of concern"; amending s. 692.201, F.S.; revising the definition of the term "foreign country of concern"; creating s. 775.08255, F.S.; defining terms; prohibiting enforcement of certain laws of a foreign government; providing enhanced criminal penalties; amending s. 282.802, F.S.; conforming a cross- reference; amending s. 63.213, F.S.; prohibiting hb905 -05-erCS/2026 Legislature preplanned adoption agreements unless certain conditions are met; amending s. 742.15, F.S.; prohibiting contracts for gestational surrogacy unless certain conditions are met; declaring that certain contracts are void and unenforceable; providing an effective date.
AI Summary
This bill, titled the "Foreign Interference Restriction and Enforcement Act," aims to strengthen Florida's defenses against foreign influence by defining "designated foreign terrorist organization" and "foreign country of concern" and imposing penalties for public officials, employees, and candidates who solicit or accept benefits from entities representing these groups, requiring them to repay double the value of any illicit gain. It mandates that the Commission on Ethics update its ethics training rules by November 1, 2026, to include information on foreign influence campaigns, specifically mentioning the Chinese Communist Party's United Front strategy, and enhanced penalties for violations related to foreign entities. The bill also authorizes tax collectors to revoke or refuse to renew business tax receipts for entities doing business with Cuba in violation of federal law, requiring sworn affidavits to verify compliance, and establishes perjury penalties for false declarations. Furthermore, it prohibits state activities that encourage affiliations with "foreign countries of concern" and requires the Department of Commerce to publish information on foreign consulate offices and sister city/state agreements online, while removing the Florida-China Institute from the list of linkage institutes and prohibiting any linkage institute from engaging with a "foreign country of concern." The Governor is granted limited authority to suspend laws related to Cuba under specific circumstances, with legislative oversight and a sunset provision, and existing agreements with foreign countries of concern are to be terminated by July 1, 2026. The bill also revises definitions of "controlling interest" and "foreign country of concern" in various statutes, creates a new offense for acting as an agent of a foreign government or designated foreign terrorist organization with enhanced criminal penalties, and prohibits preplanned adoption agreements and gestational surrogacy contracts if any party is a citizen or resident of a "foreign country of concern," declaring such contracts void and unenforceable.
Committee Categories
Government Affairs, Justice
Sponsors (12)
Jenna Persons-Mulicka (R)*,
Danny Alvarez (R),
Hillary Cassel (R),
Tom Fabricio (R),
Jeff Holcomb (R),
Monique Miller (R),
Michael Owen (R),
Mike Redondo (R),
Alex Rizo (R),
Will Robinson (R),
Dana Trabulsy (R),
Susan L. Valdés (R),
Other Sponsors (3)
Government Operations Subcommittee (House), Judiciary Committee (House), State Affairs Committee (House)
Last Action
Chapter No. 2026-66 (on 05/11/2026)
Official Document
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