Legislator
Legislator > Erin Grall
State Senator
Erin Grall
(R) - Florida
Florida Senate District 29
In Office - Started: 11/08/2022
contact info
Capitol Office
Senate Building
404 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
404 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-1100
Phone: 850-487-5029
Lake Placid Satellite Office
1069 U.S. Highway 27 North
Lake Placid, FL 33852
Lake Placid, FL 33852
Phone: 863-699-1080
| Bill | Bill Name | Summary | Progress |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1546 | Background Screening of Athletic Coaches | An act relating to background screening of athletic coaches; amending s. 943.0438, F.S.; revising the date upon which certain background screenings of athletic coaches must be conducted; providing an effective date. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1640 | Public Records/Lethality Assessment Forms | An act relating to public records; amending s. 741.29, F.S.; providing an exemption from public records requirements for a lethality assessment form that contains certain information and responses; authorizing the disclosure of a lethality assessment form to a domestic violence center and to the office of the state attorney; authorizing the state attorney to release the confidential information for certain purposes and to certain parties; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; providing for retroactive application of the exemption; providing a statement of public necessity; providing an effective date. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| S1256 | Motor Vehicle Insurance | An act relating to motor vehicle insurance; repealing ss. 627.730, 627.731, 627.7311, 627.732, 627.733, 627.734, 627.736, 627.737, 627.739, 627.7401, 627.7403, and 627.7405, F.S., which comprise the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law; repealing s. 627.7407, F.S., relating to application of the Florida Motor Vehicle No-Fault Law; amending s. 316.2122, F.S.; conforming a provision to changes made by the act; amending s. 316.646, F.S.; revising a requirement for proof of security on a motor vehicle and the applicability of the requirement; amending s. 318.18, F.S.; conforming a provision to changes made by the act; amending s. 320.02, F.S.; revising the motor vehicle insurance coverages that an applicant must show to register certain vehicles with the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles; conforming a provision to changes made by the act; revising construction; amending s. 320.0609, F.S.; conforming a provision to changes made by the act; amending s. 320.27, F.S.; defining the term “garage liability insurance”; revising garage liability insurance requirements for motor vehicle dealer license applicants; conforming a provision to changes made by the act; making technical changes; amending s. 320.771, F.S.; revising garage liability insurance requirements for recreational vehicle dealer license applicants; amending ss. 322.251 and 322.34, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 324.011, F.S.; revising legislative purpose and intent; amending s. 324.021, F.S.; revising definitions; revising minimum coverage requirements for proof of financial responsibility for specified motor vehicles; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; defining the term “for-hire passenger transportation vehicle”; amending s. 324.022, F.S.; revising minimum liability coverage requirements for motor vehicle owners or operators; revising authorized methods for meeting such requirements; deleting a provision relating to an insurer’s duty to defend certain claims; revising the vehicles that are excluded from the definition of the term “motor vehicle”; providing security requirements for certain excluded vehicles; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 324.0221, F.S.; revising coverages that subject a policy to certain insurer reporting and notice requirements; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; creating s. 324.0222, F.S.; providing that driver license or motor vehicle registration suspensions for failure to maintain required security which are in effect before a specified date remain in full force and effect; authorizing drivers to reinstate suspended licenses or registrations as provided in a specified section; amending s. 324.023, F.S.; conforming cross references; amending s. 324.031, F.S.; specifying a method of proving financial responsibility by owners or operators of motor vehicles other than for-hire passenger transportation vehicles; revising the required and maximum amounts of a certificate of deposit required to elect a certain method of proof of financial responsibility; revising liability coverage requirements for a person electing to use such method; amending s. 324.032, F.S.; revising financial responsibility requirements for owners or lessees of for-hire passenger transportation vehicles; amending s. 324.051, F.S.; making technical changes; specifying that motorcycles are included in the definition of the term “motor vehicles” for purposes of the section; amending ss. 324.071 and 324.091, F.S.; making technical changes; amending s. 324.151, F.S.; revising requirements for motor vehicle liability policies relating to coverage, and exclusion from coverage, for certain drivers and vehicles; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; making technical changes; defining terms; amending s. 324.161, F.S.; revising requirements for a certificate of deposit that is required if a person elects a certain method of proving financial responsibility; amending s. 324.171, F.S.; revising the minimum net worth requirements to qualify certain persons as self-insurers; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 324.242, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 324.251, F.S.; revising a short title and an effective date; amending s. 400.9905, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “clinic”; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending ss. 400.991 and 400.9935, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 409.901, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “third-party benefit”; amending s. 409.910, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “medical coverage”; amending s. 456.057, F.S.; conforming a provision to changes made by the act; amending s. 456.072, F.S.; revising specified grounds for discipline for certain health professions; defining the term “upcode”; conforming a provision to changes made by the act; amending s. 626.9541, F.S.; conforming a provision to changes made by the act; revising certain prohibited acts related to specified insurance coverage payment requirements; amending s. 626.989, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “fraudulent insurance act”; amending s. 627.06501, F.S.; revising coverages that may provide for a reduction in motor vehicle insurance policy premium charges under certain circumstances; amending s. 627.0651, F.S.; specifying requirements for rate filings for motor vehicle liability policies that implement requirements in effect on a specified date; requiring that such filings be approved through a certain process; amending s. 627.0652, F.S.; revising coverages that must provide for a reduction in premium charges under certain circumstances; amending s. 627.0653, F.S.; revising coverages that are subject to premium discounts for specified motor vehicle equipment; amending s. 627.4132, F.S.; revising coverages that are subject to a stacking prohibition; amending s. 627.4137, F.S.; requiring insurers to disclose certain information at the request of a claimant’s attorney; authorizing a claimant to file an action under certain circumstances; providing for the award of reasonable attorney fees and costs under certain circumstances; amending s. 627.7263, F.S.; revising coverages that are deemed primary, except under certain circumstances, for the lessor of a motor vehicle for lease or rent; revising a notice that is required if the lessee’s coverage is to be primary; amending s. 627.727, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; revising the legal liability of an uninsured motorist coverage insurer; amending s. 627.7275, F.S.; revising required coverages for a motor vehicle insurance policy; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; creating s. 627.7278, F.S.; defining the term “minimum security requirements”; providing a prohibition, requirements, applicability, and construction relating to motor vehicle insurance policies as of a certain date; requiring insurers to allow certain insureds to make certain coverage changes, subject to certain conditions; requiring an insurer to provide, by a specified date, a specified notice to policyholders relating to requirements under the act; amending s. 627.728, F.S.; conforming a provision to changes made by the act; amending s. 627.7295, F.S.; revising the definitions of the terms “policy” and “binder”; revising the coverages of a motor vehicle insurance policy for which a licensed general lines agent may charge a specified fee; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 627.7415, F.S.; revising additional liability insurance requirements for commercial motor vehicles; amending s. 627.747, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 627.748, F.S.; revising insurance requirements for transportation network company drivers; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; conforming cross-references; amending ss. 627.7483 and 627.749, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 627.8405, F.S.; revising the products and the policy for which a premium finance company may not finance costs when sold in combination with an accidental death and dismemberment policy; revising rulemaking authority of the Financial Services Commission; amending ss. 627.915, 628.909, 705.184, and 713.78, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 817.234, F.S.; revising coverages that are the basis of specified prohibited false and fraudulent insurance claims; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; deleting provisions relating to prohibited changes in certain mental or physical reports; providing an appropriation; providing effective dates. | In Committee |
| S1316 | Resilience Districts | An act relating to resilience districts; creating s. 190.101, F.S.; providing a short title; creating s. 190.102, F.S.; providing legislative findings; creating s. 190.103, F.S.; defining terms; creating s. 190.104, F.S.; declaring that the act constitutes the sole authority for resilience districts; creating s. 190.105, F.S.; authorizing the establishment of infrastructure resilience districts through a petition by certain persons; specifying the requirements for the petition; requiring the petitioner to submit copies of the petition to specified counties and municipalities and pay a certain fee; authorizing petitioners to engage in certain meetings before the filing of the petition; requiring certain counties and municipalities to conduct public hearings; specifying a timeframe for conducting such hearings; authorizing counties or municipalities to express support of or objection to the resilience district by resolution in a certain manner; requiring that the public hearing on a petition be conducted in a certain manner; requiring the petitioner to publish certain notice of the hearing; authorizing the local government to consider specified factors in granting or denying a petition for an infrastructure resilience district; specifying certain requirements if the petition is denied on a specified basis; requiring that an interlocal agreement be signed in certain circumstances; authorizing the establishment of condominium resilience districts through a petition by certain persons; requiring counties to develop a process to receive such petitions by a certain date; specifying the requirements of the petition; requiring the petitioner to submit a petition to a specified county and to pay certain fees; requiring the county to provide certain notifications; requiring the county to conduct a public hearing under certain circumstances; specifying a timeframe and requirements for such hearing; authorizing counties to express support of or objection to the resilience district by resolution in a certain manner; requiring that the hearing be conducted in a certain manner; requiring the petitioner to publish certain notice of the hearing; specifying factors the county is required to consider in granting or denying a petition for a condominium resilience district; creating s. 190.1052, F.S.; specifying requirements for resilience districts and condominium resilience districts; requiring a resilience district to have the agreement of the local general-purpose government in certain circumstances; prohibiting certain district configurations; requiring the dissolution of other special taxing districts and the transfer of certain funds in certain circumstances; specifying that the resilience district includes certain consolidated property in certain circumstances; creating s. 190.1054, F.S.; specifying acceptable uses of infrastructure resilience districts and condominium resilience districts; prohibiting certain condominiums from using resilience districts; providing limitations on the use of resilience districts; requiring that additional projects be approved through an amended petition; creating s. 190.1056, F.S.; authorizing the payment of certain fees for project management of infrastructure resilience districts; requiring the provision of a certain fee to the property appraiser for certain administration; requiring that all fees be factored into the loan amount; creating s. 190.106, F.S.; specifying the composition, length of terms, and procedure for filling vacancies of the board of supervisors of an infrastructure resilience district; specifying the powers, composition, procedure for filling vacancies, and elections of the board of supervisors of a condominium resilience district; prohibiting board members from receiving compensation and performing the work of the district; requiring board members to be residents of this state and citizens of the United States; creating s. 190.108, F.S.; requiring each resilience district to publish and provide to certain persons an annual budget; requiring the district to provide certain financial reports; authorizing the local government to review and submit comments regarding a district’s annual budget; creating s. 190.111, F.S.; providing the powers of a resilience district; creating s. 190.133, F.S.; requiring resilience districts to follow specified procurement processes; creating s. 190.136, F.S.; authorizing a resilience district to recover unpaid fees, rental charges, or penalties; creating s. 190.146, F.S.; specifying the circumstances in which the district can be expanded or reduced; providing for the termination of an infrastructure resilience district or a condominium resilience district in certain circumstances; creating s. 190.148, F.S.; requiring a specified disclosure for sales of real property located in a resilience district; creating s. 190.149, F.S.; requiring the district to record a specified notice of establishment of a resilience district within a specified timeframe; amending ss. 190.002, 190.003, 190.046, and 190.048, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; providing a directive to the Division of Law Revision; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S0466 | Florida Museum of Black History | An act relating to the Florida Museum of Black History; creating s. 267.07221, F.S.; providing legislative intent; establishing the Florida Museum of Black History Board of Directors; providing for the membership of the board; requiring that appointments to the board be made by a specified date; prohibiting specified members of the board from holding state or local elective office while serving on the board; providing for the filling of vacancies; requiring that the board work jointly with the Foundation for the Museum of Black History, Inc.; requiring the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners to provide administrative support and staffing to the board until specified actions are completed; providing an effective date. | Crossed Over |
| S0498 | Trust Fund Interest for Purposes Approved by the Supreme Court | An act relating to trust fund interest for purposes approved by the Supreme Court; creating s. 655.97, F.S.; authorizing financial institutions to hold funds in specified trust accounts to be used for specified purposes; requiring such financial institutions to pay a certain minimum interest rate or dividend; requiring that the interest rate be a specified percentage; requiring a financial institution to submit a quarterly rate validation sheet and affidavit to the Chief Financial Officer attesting that it will pay a minimum certain interest rate or dividend; requiring that the affidavit attest that certain information is true and factual; requiring the Chief Financial Officer to verify certain information; providing applicability; providing an effective date. WHEREAS, in September 1981, the Florida Supreme Court implemented the nation’s first Interest on Trust Accounts (IOTA) program, establishing a vital funding source for civil legal aid, justice system improvements, and public service programs for law students, and WHEREAS, Funding Florida Legal Aid (FFLA), formerly known as The Florida Bar Foundation, and the Florida Bankers Association have cooperated for decades to sustain the program and encourage participation, and WHEREAS, in March 2023, the Florida Supreme Court adopted new rules requiring lawyers to secure interest rates based on the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate, compelling banks to pay higher rates for IOTA accounts than for other similar accounts, and WHEREAS, 44 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico have mandatory IOTA programs modeled after Florida’s pre 2023 system, while 5 states and the U.S. Virgin Islands operate voluntary or opt-out programs, and WHEREAS, the 2023 rule change made Florida an outlier compared to other jurisdictions where IOTA rates are typically benchmarked against interest-bearing checking account rates, and WHEREAS, the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate serves as a benchmark for lending and is not used to set deposit account rates, and WHEREAS, the 2023 rule change resulted in banks paying higher rates on funds in IOTA accounts, resulting in record revenues, exceeding $279 million, paid to FFLA during the 2023 2024 fiscal year, nearly four times the prior peak rate and far exceeding average annual interest revenues, and WHEREAS, in October 2024, the Florida Supreme Court authorized FFLA to hold nearly $143 million in reserve, and WHEREAS, it is in the best interests of this state for the Legislature to establish statutory benchmarks for IOTA rates to ensure regulatory safety, fairness, and sustainability, similar to the quarterly interest rate determinations made by the Chief Financial Officer for interest paid on court judgments, NOW, THEREFORE, | Crossed Over |
| S1288 | Parental Rights | An act relating to parental rights; amending s. 384.30, F.S.; requiring parental consent for a minor’s treatment for certain diseases; amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; requiring a school district to provide parents with specified information before the district administers certain questionnaires or forms to students; requiring a school district to give a parent an opportunity to opt his or her student out of such questionnaire or form; amending s. 1014.04, F.S.; revising exceptions for certain parental rights; creating the parental right to consent in writing to the use of a biofeedback device on a parent’s minor child; defining the term “biofeedback device”; requiring that the results from the use of such device be provided to a parent; requiring that such results be held as a confidential medical record; amending s. 1014.06, F.S.; revising exceptions for specified requirements of parental consent; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S1396 | Withholding Funds from the Return of Cash Bonds | An act relating to withholding funds from the return of cash bonds; amending s. 903.286, F.S.; requiring a clerk of the court to withhold funds for specified purposes from the return of a cash bond posted by a criminal defendant or his or her spouse, rather than to withhold such funds from the return of a cash bond posted on behalf of the criminal defendant by a person other than a bail bond agent; requiring all cash bond forms to display a specified notice; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S1394 | Required Instruction in Cursive Writing | An act relating to required instruction in cursive writing; amending s. 1003.42, F.S.; requiring students in specified grades to receive instruction in cursive writing; providing requirements for such instruction; requiring students to demonstrate proficiency in cursive writing by the end of a specified grade; defining the term “proficiency in cursive writing”; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S1438 | Online Access to Materials Harmful to Minors | An act relating to online access to materials harmful to minors; creating s. 282.803, F.S.; defining terms; requiring a developer to, beginning on a specified date, make specific determinations about covered applications, provide notice to application stores about such applications, and provide certain features for parents to protect a user that is a child; requiring a covered manufacturer to, beginning on a specified date, take certain steps to determine specified information about the user, provide certain notices, and provide developers of covered applications with a specified means to verify the age of a user; providing requirements for devices sold before a specified date; providing construction; requiring an application store to establish nondiscriminatory practices; providing for enforcement actions by the Attorney General; providing an affirmative defense; providing a limitation on liability for a covered manufacturer under certain circumstances; amending s. 501.1737, F.S.; revising definitions and defining terms; revising the age verification method used by certain commercial entities to verify the age of a person accessing certain material; providing an exception; requiring a covered manufacturer to ensure certain statutory requirements are met; authorizing the Department of Legal Affairs to bring an action against covered manufacturers; authorizing the imposition of civil penalties against covered manufacturers; removing certain liability and damage provisions for certain commercial entities; deleting provisions relating to public records exemptions and the Open Government Sunset Review Act; removing the definition of the term “proprietary information”; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; creating s. 501.1741, F.S.; requiring covered manufacturers to take certain steps upon activation of a device; requiring certain websites, applications, or online services to take certain actions based on the amount of material harmful to minors found on such website, application, or online service; requiring covered manufacturers to comply with statutory requirements in a nondiscriminatory manner; prohibiting covered manufacturers from taking certain actions; authorizing the Department of Legal Affairs to adopt rules and regulations; providing preemption; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S1520 | Evidence of Damages to Prove Medical Expenses in Personal Injury or Wrongful Death Actions | An act relating to evidence of damages to prove medical expenses in personal injury or wrongful death actions; amending s. 768.0427, F.S.; providing evidence that is admissible to demonstrate past and future medical expenses in personal injury and wrongful death actions; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S1638 | Medspas | An act relating to medspas; creating s. 456.601, F.S.; defining the term “medspa”; requiring each medspa to prominently post on its website and in a conspicuous location in its facility specified information about the physician supervising the medspa; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S1682 | First Responders | An act relating to first responders; amending s. 365.171, F.S.; defining the term “first responder”; redefining the terms “public agency” and “public safety agency”; amending s. 401.465, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S1748 | Alcohol Consumption | An act relating to alcohol consumption; amending s. 561.706, F.S.; requiring the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to consider a vendor’s use of an electronic identification scanner in mitigation of certain administrative penalties; amending s. 562.11, F.S.; authorizing the division to require a vendor found to have violated certain provisions of law to use an electronic identification scanner to check driver licenses or identification cards to verify the age of a person; creating s. 562.114, F.S.; requiring state and local law enforcement agencies to refer to the division all relevant reports of investigations and arrests concerning drivers under the influence of alcohol whose crashes contributed to serious bodily injury or death; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S0558 | Contracts for Postadoption Contact | An act relating to contracts for postadoption contact; amending s. 63.0427, F.S.; authorizing certain parties to enter into a written contract for postadoption contact which permits contact between an adopted child and his or her birth parent and siblings; providing that certain contract provisions are unenforceable; requiring that a postadoption contract include certain statements; requiring that the contract be filed with, approved by, and entered into a certain final judgment by the court under certain circumstances; providing that the continuing validity of the adoption is not contingent upon compliance with the terms of the contract; authorizing and providing requirements for enforcement, modification, or termination of the contract; prohibiting enforcement of the contract in certain circumstances; providing for automatic termination of the contract in certain circumstances; amending s. 63.102, F.S.; including postadoption contract actions in the actions for which the clerk of the court shall assess one filing fee; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S0092 | Motor Vehicle Safety | An act relating to motor vehicle safety; providing a short title; amending s. 316.605, F.S.; requiring that every vehicle required to be licensed in this state display a license plate on the rear and the front of the vehicle; amending s. 559.905, F.S.; requiring a motor vehicle repair shop to request a written crash report from a customer under certain circumstances; requiring a motor vehicle repair shop or the vendor that processes repair estimates for the motor vehicle repair shop to transmit a copy of the finalized repair estimate within a specified timeframe to a database to be established and maintained by the Department of Law Enforcement, if a customer does not provide a written crash report; authorizing the department to revoke a motor vehicle repair shop’s registration under certain circumstances; revising the items required in a written repair estimate; making technical changes; amending s. 559.909, F.S.; conforming a cross reference; making technical changes; reenacting ss. 316.2128(2), 316.545(3)(e), 320.0655(1) and (2), 320.0659(1), and 320.0706, F.S., relating to micromobility devices, motorized scooters, and miniature motorcycles requirements; noncompliance of vehicles from nonmember International Registration Plan jurisdictions; permanent license plates for governmental entities and volunteer fire departments; permanent registration of trailers for hire and semitrailers; and display of license plates on trucks, respectively, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 316.605, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting s. 559.907(1)(b), F.S., relating to charges for motor vehicle repair estimate and requirement of waiver of rights prohibited, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 559.905, F.S., in a reference thereto; providing effective dates. | In Committee |
| S1660 | Prostitution and Related Acts | An act relating to prostitution and related acts; creating s. 796.011, F.S.; defining terms; creating s. 796.031, F.S.; prohibiting adults from offering to commit, committing, or engaging in prostitution, lewdness, or assignation; providing that specified testimony concerning reputation is admissible in evidence in the trial of persons charged with certain offenses; providing criminal penalties; requiring a court to order that a person sentenced for certain violations attend an educational program; authorizing judicial circuits to establish certain educational programs; repealing s. 796.04, F.S., relating to forcing, compelling, or coercing another to become a prostitute; amending s. 796.06, F.S.; prohibiting persons from owning, establishing, maintaining, operating, using, letting, or renting a building, residence, place, or structure, in whole or in part, or a trailer or any other conveyance, when such person knows or should have known that it will be used for the purpose of commercial sex; prohibiting the receiving, or offering or agreeing to receive, a person into a building, residence, place, or structure, or a trailer or any other conveyance, for the purpose of commercial sexual activity or to allow a person to remain there for such purpose; providing criminal penalties; providing enhanced criminal penalties for second or subsequent violations; providing that specified testimony concerning reputation is admissible in evidence in the trial of persons charged with certain offenses; requiring the reclassification of offenses under specified circumstances; amending s. 796.07, F.S.; deleting definitions; prohibiting a person from providing, or offering to provide, something of value in exchange for sexual activity; deleting prohibited acts relating to prostitution and related acts; deleting a provision authorizing a police officer to testify under certain circumstances; providing criminal penalties; providing enhanced criminal penalties for second or subsequent violations; deleting a requirement that a person charged with a third or subsequent violation be offered admission into certain programs; requiring a court to order that certain defendants perform community service, pay for and attend an educational program, pay a civil penalty, and receive sexually transmitted disease testing; providing requirements for the proceeds of the civil penalty; deleting a minimum mandatory period of incarceration for the commission of a certain offense; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 921.0022, F.S.; ranking on level 4 of the offense severity ranking chart a second violation of prostitution or related acts; amending ss. 60.05, 322.28, 397.4073, 397.417, 435.07, 456.074, 480.041, 480.043, 480.046, 772.102, 787.01, 787.02, 794.056, 796.08, 796.09, 893.138, 895.02, and 938.085, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; conforming cross-references; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S0274 | Transportation Facility Designations/Harris Rosen Way and Geraldine Thompson Way | An act relating to transportation facility designations; providing honorary designations of certain transportation facilities in a specified county; directing the Department of Transportation to erect suitable markers; providing an effective date. | Crossed Over |
| S1318 | Traffic Offenses | An act relating to traffic offenses; amending s. 316.305, F.S.; revising a short title; revising legislative intent; defining terms; prohibiting a person from operating a motor vehicle while using a wireless communications device in a handheld manner; providing an exception; requiring that sustained use of a wireless communications device by a person operating a motor vehicle be conducted through a hands-free accessory until such use is terminated; revising exceptions to the prohibition; deleting obsolete provisions; providing penalties; amending s. 316.306, F.S.; revising penalty provisions relating to the use of wireless communications devices in a handheld manner in certain circumstances; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 318.14, F.S.; requiring the imposition of specified civil penalties and periods of driver license suspension, in addition to any other penalties, on a person found at a mandatory hearing to have committed certain traffic infractions that resulted in a crash with another vehicle; amending s. 318.19, F.S.; requiring persons cited for specified infractions that result in a crash with another vehicle to appear at a certain mandatory hearing; providing an effective date. | Crossed Over |
| S1284 | Civil Liability for the Wrongful Death of an Unborn Child | An act relating to civil liability for the wrongful death of an unborn child; reordering and amending s. 768.18, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “survivors” to include the parents of an unborn child; defining the term “unborn child”; amending s. 768.19, F.S.; providing that the Wrongful Death Act does not authorize a wrongful death action against the mother of an unborn child for the death of the child; providing that the act does not authorize a wrongful death action against a health care provider for the death of an unborn child which results from medical care complying with the applicable standard of care; amending s. 768.21, F.S.; authorizing parents of an unborn child to recover certain damages; conforming a cross-reference; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S1626 | Child Welfare | An act relating to child welfare; creating s. 39.3011, F.S.; defining the term “Family Advocacy Program”; requiring the Department of Children and Families to enter into agreements with certain military installations for child protective investigations involving military families; providing requirements for such agreements; amending s. 39.401, F.S.; authorizing a law enforcement officer or an authorized agent of the department to take a child into custody who is the subject of a specified court order; amending s. 39.407, F.S.; requiring the department to develop rules to include a specific process to ensure children receive timely access to clinically appropriate psychotropic medications; amending s. 39.905, F.S.; authorizing the department to waive a specified requirement if there is an emergency need for a new domestic violence center, to issue a provisional certification to such center under certain circumstances, and to adopt rules relating to provisional certifications; amending s. 125.901, F.S.; revising membership requirements for the governing bodies of certain independent special districts; authorizing the county governing body to select an interim appointment for a vacancy under certain circumstances; revising the terms for certain members of the districts’ governing bodies; amending s. 402.305, F.S.; authorizing the department to grant certain exemptions from disqualification for certain persons; amending s. 409.145, F.S.; requiring the department to establish a methodology to determine daily room and board rates for certain children by a date certain, which may include different rates based on a child’s acuity level or the geographic location of the residential child-caring agency; requiring the department to adopt rules; amending s. 409.175, F.S.; authorizing the department to grant certain exemptions from disqualification for certain persons; authorizing the department to extend the expiration date of a license by a specified amount of time for a certain purpose; amending s. 409.993, F.S.; specifying that subcontractors of lead agencies that are direct providers of foster care and related services are not liable for certain acts or omissions; providing that certain contract provisions are void and unenforceable; amending s. 553.73, F.S.; prohibiting the Florida Building Commission from mandating the installation of fire sprinklers or a fire suppression system in certain agencies licensed by the department; amending s. 633.208, F.S.; providing that certain residential child-caring agencies are not required to install fire sprinklers or a fire suppression system under certain circumstances; amending s. 937.0201, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “missing child”; amending s. 937.021, F.S.; specifying the entity with jurisdiction for accepting missing child reports under certain circumstances; amending ss. 402.30501, 1002.57, and 1002.59, F.S.; conforming cross-references; providing an effective date. | Crossed Over |
| S1524 | Department of State | An act relating to the Department of State; repealing s. 113.01, F.S., relating to a fee for commissions issued by the Governor; repealing s. 113.02, F.S., relating to fees to be paid before commissions are issued; repealing s. 113.03, F.S., relating to disposition of proceeds; amending s. 113.051, F.S.; prohibiting commissions from being issued by the Governor, attested to by the Secretary of State, or bearing the seal of the state until the oath of office is filed as required; amending ss. 117.01 and 117.225, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 117.295, F.S.; conforming a cross reference; amending s. 257.031, F.S.; revising the entity that accredits a specified library school program; amending s. 257.12, F.S.; revising duties of the State Library Council; authorizing the Secretary of State to review and identify certain funding recommendations made by the council; defining the term “harmful to minors”; amending s. 257.17, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 257.191, F.S.; requiring the Secretary of State to identify whether construction grant funds meet certain criteria and are used for certain purposes; defining the term “harmful to minors”; requiring the secretary to submit a recommended list to the Legislature for funding consideration; amending s. 257.23, F.S.; requiring the secretary to identify whether construction grant funds meet certain criteria and are used for certain purposes; defining the term “harmful to minors”; repealing s. 257.34, F.S., relating to the Florida International Archive and Repository; amending s. 257.42, F.S.; requiring the secretary to identify whether library cooperative grant funds meet certain criteria and are used for certain purposes; defining the term “harmful to minors”; amending s. 265.283, F.S.; deleting the definitions of the terms “panel,” “state touring program grants,” and “underserved arts community assistance program grants”; amending s. 265.284, F.S.; providing that the secretary is the chief arts and culture officer of the state; amending s. 265.285, F.S.; revising the membership of the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; prohibiting council members from receiving financial compensation under specified circumstances; providing an exception; revising duties of the council; defining the term “harmful to minors”; amending s. 265.286, F.S.; defining the term “harmful to minors”; requiring the Division of Arts and Culture to accept applications for arts and cultural grants for specified purposes; specifying eligibility criteria; deleting review panel member appointments and criteria; authorizing the secretary to review a specified list and provide comments to the Legislature; requiring that specified grant funds meet certain criteria and are used for certain purposes; requiring the secretary to submit a recommended list to the Legislature for funding consideration; providing activities and programs for which the division may award grants; revising items for which the division may adopt rules; prohibiting applicants for grant funding from having substantial interests for certain recommendations; requiring the secretary to submit a recommended list to the Legislature for funding consideration; authorizing the council and secretary to provide a separate list for certain activities and programs; providing applicability; providing expiration dates for certain purposes; amending s. 265.2865, F.S.; authorizing, rather than requiring, the council to accept and recommend nominations for certain purposes annually; reducing the number of members the secretary may name to the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in any nomination year; authorizing, rather than requiring, the secretary to annually request an appropriation for certain purposes; amending s. 265.701, F.S.; deleting an authorization for certain grant funds to be used to acquire cultural facilities; authorizing the secretary to review a specified list and provide comments to the Legislature; requiring that grant funds meet certain criteria and are used for certain purposes; defining the term “harmful to minors”; requiring the secretary to submit a recommended list to the Legislature for funding considerations; authorizing the council and secretary to provide a separate list for certain activities and programs; providing applicability; providing expiration dates for a certain purpose; amending s. 265.703, F.S.; revising the programs for which citizen support organizations may provide support; amending s. 265.803, F.S.; revising programmatic set-up and functions of the Florida Folklife Council; amending s. 267.0612, F.S.; requiring the secretary to review special category historic preservation grants-in-aid recommendations of the Florida Historical Commission; amending s. 267.0617, F.S.; deleting a provision that requires certain funds to be credited to the Historical Resources Operating Trust Fund; authorizing the secretary to review specified lists and provide comments to the Legislature; requiring that grant funds meet certain criteria and are used for certain purposes; requiring the secretary to submit recommended lists to the Legislature for funding consideration; defining the term “harmful to minors”; repealing s. 267.0722, F.S., relating to the Florida Museum of Black History; amending s. 267.075, F.S.; deleting provisions relating to The Grove Advisory Council; amending s. 267.21, F.S.; revising mechanisms by which state funds to assist abandoned African American cemeteries may be awarded; authorizing the secretary to review a specified list and provide comments to the Legislature; requiring that grant funds meet certain criteria and are used for certain purposes; requiring the secretary to submit a recommended list to the Legislature for funding consideration; defining the term “harmful to minors”; amending s. 267.22, F.S.; revising programmatic duties and composition of the Historic Cemeteries Program Advisory Council; requiring the council to evaluate proposals for awards of grants relating to abandoned African-American cemeteries; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S0168 | Mental Health | An act relating to mental health; providing a short title; amending s. 394.658, F.S.; expanding the programs and diversion initiatives supported by implementation or expansion grants to include training for 911 public safety telecommunicators and emergency medical technicians for certain purposes and to include veterans treatment court programs; exempting certain fiscally constrained counties from local match requirements for specified grants; amending s. 916.105, F.S.; providing legislative intent; creating s. 916.135, F.S.; defining terms; encouraging communities to apply for specified grants to establish misdemeanor or ordinance violation mental health diversion programs; providing a model process for such mental health diversion programs; requiring adherence to specified provisions to the extent of available resources; authorizing specified entities to collaborate to establish certain policies and procedures and to develop a certain consent form; providing consent form requirements; requiring defendants to sign the consent form to participate in the diversion program; authorizing the screening of certain defendants and prompt evaluation for involuntary examination under certain circumstances; specifying procedures if the evaluation demonstrates that the defendant meets the criteria for involuntary examination; authorizing a court to consider releasing a defendant on his or her own recognizance under certain circumstances; requiring a court to order that a defendant be assessed for outpatient treatment under certain circumstances; authorizing the state attorney, the defense attorney, or the court to, at any stage of the criminal proceedings, request that such a defendant be screened pursuant to certain provisions; authorizing defendants out of custody to be evaluated pursuant to certain provisions; requiring the state attorney to consider dismissal of the charges upon a defendant’s successful completion of all treatment recommendations from a mental health assessment; authorizing the court to exhaust therapeutic interventions aimed at improving compliance before a defendant is returned to jail; creating s. 916.136, F.S.; defining terms; encouraging communities to apply for specified grants to establish pretrial felony mental health diversion programs; providing a model process for such mental health diversion programs; authorizing specified entities to collaborate to establish certain policies and procedures and to develop a certain consent form; providing consent form requirements; requiring defendants to sign the consent form to participate in the diversion program; specifying criteria under which a defendant may be eligible for the mental health diversion program; specifying that the state attorney has the sole discretion to determine a defendant’s pretrial felony mental health diversion eligibility; authorizing the state attorney to recommend that certain defendants be screened and offered pretrial felony mental health diversion; requiring defendants to sign the consent form to participate in the diversion program; requiring that a defendant be assessed for outpatient treatment upon his or her agreeing to participate in the mental health diversion program; requiring the state attorney to consider dismissal of the charges upon a defendant’s successful completion of all treatment recommendations from a mental health assessment; authorizing the state attorney to revoke the defendant’s participation in such mental health diversion program under specified circumstances; amending s. 916.185, F.S.; expanding eligibility for the Forensic Hospital Diversion Pilot Program to include Hillsborough County; creating s. 945.093, F.S.; requiring the Department of Corrections to evaluate the physical and mental health of each inmate eligible for work assignments and correctional work programs; requiring the department to document eligibility before the inmate receives orders for an assignment or program; creating s. 948.0395, F.S.; requiring mental health evaluations and the following of all recommendations as conditions of probation for specified defendants; amending s. 1004.649, F.S.; specifying that the Northwest Regional Data Center is responsible for creating, operating, and managing, including the research conducted by, the Florida Behavioral Health Care Data Repository; specifying the purposes of the data repository; requiring the Northwest Regional Data Center to develop a specified plan; requiring the Northwest Regional Data Center to submit, by a specified date, a certain developed plan to the Governor and the Legislature; requiring the Florida Behavioral Health Care Data Repository to submit, by a specified date and annually thereafter, a specified report to the Governor and the Legislature; providing an appropriation; providing an effective date. | Passed |
| S0712 | Construction Regulations | An act relating to construction regulations; creating s. 125.572, F.S.; defining the term “synthetic turf”; requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt minimum standards for the installation of synthetic turf on specified properties; requiring that the standards take into account specified factors; prohibiting local governments from adopting or enforcing any ordinance, resolution, order, rule, or policy that prohibits, or is enforced to prohibit, property owners from installing synthetic turf meeting certain standards on single-family residential property of a specified size; prohibiting local governments from adopting or enforcing specified ordinances, resolutions, orders, rules, or policies that regulate synthetic turf which are inconsistent with specified standards; requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt rules; creating s. 218.755, F.S.; requiring that, for certain contracts entered into on or after a specified date, local governmental entities approve or deny certain price quotes and provide notice to contractors within a specified timeframe; requiring denials to specify alleged deficiencies and actions necessary to remedy such deficiencies; providing that if a local governmental entity fails to provide the contractor with a certain notice, the change order and price quote are deemed approved and the local governmental entity must pay the contractor a certain amount upon completion of the change order; prohibiting contracts from altering specified duties of a local governmental entity; amending s. 255.0992, F.S.; prohibiting the state or political subdivisions that contract for public works projects from penalizing or rewarding bidders for performing larger or smaller volumes of construction work for the state or political subdivisions when scoring or evaluating certain bids; amending s. 399.035, F.S.; requiring that elevator car interiors have at least one support rail that meets certain specifications; amending s. 489.505, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “certified alarm system contractor”; amending s. 553.73, F.S.; providing an exemption from the Florida Building Code to systems or equipment located within a spaceport territory which is used for specified purposes; reenacting and amending s. 553.79, F.S.; prohibiting local governments from requiring copies of contracts and certain associated documents for the issuance of building permits or as a requirement for submitting building permit applications; amending s. 553.791, F.S.; revising definitions; revising the conditions under which specified contractors may elect to use a private provider to provide inspection services; authorizing private providers to use automated or software-based plans review systems designed to make certain determinations; requiring local building officials to issue permits within a specified timeframe if the permit application is related to certain single-trade plans reviews; authorizing certain inspections to be performed in person or virtually; reenacting s. 201.21(2), F.S., relating to an exemption from all excise taxes imposed by ch. 201, F.S., for specified notes and obligations when given by a customer to an alarm system contractor in connection with the sale of an alarm system, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 489.505, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting ss. 177.073(4)(a), 468.621(1)(i) and (j), 471.033(1)(l), 481.225(1)(l), and 553.80(7)(a), F.S., relating to inspections performed for expedited approval of residential building permits before a final plat is recorded; disciplinary proceedings against building code administrators and inspectors for performing building code inspection services without satisfying specified insurance requirements; disciplinary proceedings against engineers for performing building code inspection services without satisfying specified insurance requirements; disciplinary proceedings against registered architects for performing building code inspection services without satisfying specified insurance requirements; and the refunding of certain fees due to specified reduced services provided by a local building official, respectively, to incorporate the amendment to s. 553.791, F.S., in references thereto; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S1606 | Patient Access to Records | An act relating to patient access to records; amending s. 394.4615, F.S.; requiring a mental health service provider to furnish records within a specified timeframe after receiving a request for such records; authorizing an extension of the timeframe under certain circumstances; requiring such providers to furnish records in the form and format chosen by the requester, if readily producible; amending s. 395.3025, F.S.; deleting provisions requiring hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers to furnish patient records only after discharge, to conform to changes made by the act; establishing that the Department of Health, rather than the Agency for Health Care Administration, has the authority to issue subpoenas for patient records from hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers in certain circumstances; amending s. 397.501, F.S.; requiring a substance abuse service provider to furnish and provide access to records within a specified timeframe after receiving a written request from an individual or the individual’s legal representative; authorizing an extension of the timeframe under certain circumstances; requiring such service providers to furnish records in the manner chosen by the requester, if readily producible; amending s. 400.145, F.S.; revising the timeframe within which a nursing home facility must provide access to, and copies of, resident records after receiving a request for such records; republishing s. 408.803(6), F.S., relating to the definition of the term “client” used in part II of ch. 408, F.S.; creating s. 408.833, F.S.; defining the terms “designated record set” and “legal representative”; requiring a provider to furnish and provide access to records within a specified timeframe after receiving a written request from a client or the client’s legal representative; authorizing an extension of the timeframe under certain circumstances; requiring providers to furnish records in the form and format chosen by the requester, if readily producible; providing exceptions for providers governed by specified provisions; amending s. 456.057, F.S.; defining the terms “designated record set” and “legal representative”; requiring certain health care practitioners to furnish and provide access to records within a specified timeframe after receiving a written request from a patient or the patient’s legal representative; authorizing an extension of the timeframe under certain circumstances; requiring health care practitioners to furnish records in the form and format chosen by the requester, if readily producible; amending ss. 316.1932, 316.1933, 395.4025, 397.702, 429.294, 440.185, and 456.47, F.S.; conforming cross-references; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S1612 | Financial Services | An act relating to financial services; amending s. 626.914, F.S.; deleting the definition of the term “diligent effort”; amending s. 626.916, F.S.; revising the conditions for insurance coverage to be eligible for export; providing that an insured is presumed to have been informed of the availability of other coverage under certain circumstances; deleting the Financial Services Commission’s authority to adopt rules relating to insurance coverage or risk eligibility for export; deleting applicability; amending ss. 626.918, 626.932, 626.9325, 626.9541, and 627.715, F.S.; conforming cross-references and provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 655.047, F.S.; requiring state financial institutions to pay a semiannual assessment for specified time periods; requiring that the semiannual assessment be received by the Office of Financial Regulation in a specified manner and by specified dates; amending s. 655.414, F.S.; authorizing the office to issue a specified certificate under certain circumstances; creating s. 655.97, F.S.; authorizing financial institutions to hold funds in specified trust accounts to be used for specified purposes; requiring such financial institutions to pay a certain minimum interest rate or dividend; requiring that the interest rate be a specified percentage; requiring a financial institution to submit a quarterly rate validation sheet and affidavit to the Chief Financial Officer attesting that it will pay a certain minimum interest rate or dividend; requiring that the affidavit attest that certain information is true and factual; requiring the Chief Financial Officer to verify certain information; providing applicability; amending s. 657.002, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “equity”; amending s. 657.028, F.S.; authorizing certain elected officers, directors, or committee members of a credit union to be reimbursed for certain expenses; amending s. 657.043, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 658.235, F.S.; revising the timeframe for certain requirements by the directors of a proposed bank or trust company; amending s. 658.25, F.S.; revising the timeframe within which a bank or trust company corporation is required to open and conduct specified business; providing effective dates. | In Committee |
| S1760 | Public Officers and Employees | An act relating to public officers and employees; creating s. 20.71, F.S.; requiring that, beginning on a specified date, secretaries and executive directors of departments, chief administrative officers of certain units of state government, members of commissions and licensing boards, chairs of governing boards or certain chief executives of certain statewide entities, or any persons appointed to hold state office in the executive branch of state government be United States citizens and residents of this state; providing that a specified provision applies to each such office; requiring that, beginning on a specified date, members of the board of trustees for state universities be United States citizens and residents of this state or graduates of the state university that the board oversees; requiring that, beginning on a specified date, members of the Board of Governors of the State University System be United States citizens and either residents of this state or have graduated from a state university; providing that if any such requirements are not met, the office is deemed vacant; amending s. 104.31, F.S.; revising construction of provisions relating to political activities of state, county, and municipal officers and employees; amending s. 110.233, F.S.; prohibiting career service employees from using the influence of their positions for specified purposes; amending s. 112.061, F.S.; prohibiting the authorization or approval of reimbursements for travel expenses to and from the person’s residence and his or her headquarters for specified positions; defining the term “residence”; requiring that the official headquarters for specified positions be the city or town in which the department’s official headquarters is located; prohibiting persons serving in specified positions from being reimbursed for certain travel expenses; creating s. 112.31251, F.S.; defining the term “office” for purposes of s. 5(a), Art. II of the State Constitution; defining the term “employment”; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S7016 | Amendments to the State Constitution | An act relating to amendments to the State Constitution; providing legislative findings and intent; amending s. 15.21, F.S.; requiring the Secretary of State to have received the ballot summary and the full text of the proposed revision or amendment to the State Constitution from the sponsor and to have received the financial impact statement from the Financial Impact Estimating Conference before submitting an initiative petition to the Attorney General; conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 16.061, F.S.; revising the criteria that the Attorney General uses when petitioning the Supreme Court for an advisory opinion related to a proposed revision or amendment to the State Constitution; requiring that a copy of the petition form be provided to the sponsor of the initiative petition; conforming a cross reference; making a technical change; amending s. 97.021, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “petition circulator”; reenacting and amending s. 99.097, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 100.371, F.S.; requiring the sponsor of an initiative petition to obtain a certain letter periodically; providing that a failure to obtain such letter results in the expiration of the initiative’s signatures and disbanding of the sponsor’s political committee; providing that certain initiative petition signatures expire and that the sponsor’s political committee is disbanded under specified conditions; providing that such sponsor is not precluded from refiling the proposed amendment as a new petition; prohibiting a sponsor from sponsoring more than one initiative amendment; requiring a sponsor to register as a political committee and submit the ballot title, ballot summary, article and section of the State Constitution being amended, and full text of the proposed amendment to the Secretary of State; requiring that all information be available in alternative formats upon request; requiring the secretary to assign a petition number and submit a copy of the proposed amendment to the Financial Impact Estimating Conference for review, analysis, and a certain estimate; requiring the Division of Elections to publish the forms on which petition signatures must be fixed; deleting a requirement that the secretary adopt certain rules; providing requirements, which are effective on a specified date, for the petition forms; prohibiting persons, beginning on a specified date, from collecting, delivering, or otherwise physically possessing more than a specified number of signed petition forms if they have not registered with the Secretary of State as a petition circulator and have not been issued a petition circulator number; authorizing specified persons to collect signed petitions forms from their immediate family under specified circumstances; defining the term “immediate family”; prohibiting certain persons from collecting signatures or initiative petitions; requiring that applications for registration include specified information; authorizing citizens to challenge a petition circulator’s registration by filing a petition in circuit court; authorizing the court to enjoin the petition circulator from collecting signatures or petition forms until registered; authorizing the division to revoke a petition circulator’s registration under specified circumstances; prohibiting persons from registering to collect signatures or initiative petitions until they complete a required training; providing the requirements for such training; providing civil penalties for the sponsors of initiative amendments that knowingly allow persons to collect petition forms on their behalf and violate specified provisions; prohibiting a sponsor from compensating a petition circulator based on the number of petition forms gathered or the time within which such forms are gathered; providing construction; requiring the division to make forms available to registered petition circulators in a certain format; deleting a requirement that supervisors of elections provide the division information on petition forms assigned to them; requiring sponsors to deliver forms promptly to the supervisor of elections in the county in which a voter resides within a specified timeframe after the form is signed; revising the civil penalties for failing to deliver forms within the prescribed timeframes; providing civil penalties for the sponsors of petitions if the person collecting petition forms on behalf of the sponsor signs the name of another, signs a fictitious name, or fills in missing information on the signed petition form; providing criminal penalties for persons who, while collecting petition forms, copy or retain a voter’s personal identifying information for a reason other than to provide such information to the sponsor of an initiative petition; providing civil penalties for sponsors who mail or provide prefilled initiative petitions; providing that sponsors that discover and report a violation as soon as practicable may not be fined for such violation; requiring the supervisor to record the date a submitted petition is received; requiring the supervisor to notify the division of any misfiled petition; revising the conditions under which a supervisor verifies signatures to include processing of a certain fee; requiring supervisors, beginning on a specified date, to promptly record, in a specified manner, the date each form is received and the date the form is verified as valid; revising the conditions under which a supervisor may verify a signature on an initiative petition form; requiring supervisors to electronically transmit digital images, which must meet a specified standard, of all received petition forms to the division; requiring that such forms be identified as valid or invalid; requiring supervisors to retain all petition forms and identify those forms verified as valid from those deemed invalid until such forms are processed; requiring supervisors to deliver physical forms to the division; requiring the division to retain such forms for a specified timeframe; requiring supervisors to send a notice, which may be returned to the Office of Election Crimes and Security, to voters after their signature is verified, beginning on a specified date; providing requirements for such notice; requiring the Office of Election Crimes and Security to transmit copies of returned notices, upon receipt, to the division; requiring the division to deem the voter petition form invalid if a completed notice is received; providing that supervisors of elections are required to post on their websites the actual costs of signature verification for all petition forms, and that they may increase such costs annually by a specified date; specifying that such costs include costs related to certain actions; requiring supervisors to notify the Office of Election Crimes and Security under a specified condition; requiring the office to conduct specified preliminary investigations; authorizing the office to report findings of such investigations to the statewide prosecutor or a certain state attorney; providing that a signed petition form submitted by an ineligible or unregistered petition circulator must be invalidated; revising information related to signature verification which must be posted on the division’s website; requiring the Secretary of State to rescind the certificate of ballot position if an advisory opinion from the Supreme Court deems the initiative petition invalid; requiring the Financial Impact Estimating Conference to submit the financial impact statement to the Secretary of State; requiring a certain statement to be included on the ballot if the conference does not complete an analysis and financial impact statement within a specified timeframe; providing that only the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, jointly, may convene the conference; revising the membership of the conference; deleting a provision authorizing the court to remand the financial impact statement to the conference to be redrafted; requiring that such statement appear on the petition form and ballot; requiring a sponsor to refile a petition as a new petition under certain circumstances; deleting a provision that deems financial impact statements approved for placement on the ballot under certain circumstances; requiring the Department of State to update petition forms by a specified date; requiring the department to make the petition circulator application available by a specified date; providing that each petition circulator registration expires on a specified date; requiring the department to notify such petition circulators of the expiration of their registration by a specified date; requiring the department to develop a certain training within a specified timeframe; authorizing supervisors of elections to increase the costs of signature verification before a specified date; requiring the supervisors to post such cost on their publicly available websites as soon as the cost is determined; amending s. 101.161, F.S.; requiring that a certain statement be included on the ballot if a financial impact statement was not produced or the Financial Impact Estimating Conference did not meet to produce one; conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 102.111, F.S.; requiring the Elections Canvassing Commission to certify the returns of constitutional amendments; amending s. 102.121, F.S.; requiring the commission to make and sign separate certificates for constitutional amendments; providing requirements for such certificates; amending s. 102.168, F.S.; providing for standing to contest the adoption of a constitutional amendment by any qualified voter or taxpayer; revising the grounds on which such parties may contest an election or a constitutional amendment; providing that the commission and the sponsor of the amendment are indispensable parties in any such action; amending s. 104.185, F.S.; providing criminal penalties for persons who fill in missing information on a signed petition form to secure a ballot position for a candidate, a minor political party, or an issue; amending s. 104.186, F.S.; providing criminal penalties for persons who compensate others based on the number of petition forms gathered, as prohibited by a specified section; amending s. 104.187, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; creating s. 104.188, F.S.; defining the term “immediate family”; providing criminal penalties for certain persons who collect, deliver, or otherwise physically possess more than a certain number of signed petition forms other than their own or forms belonging to an immediate family member; creating s. 106.151, F.S.; defining the term “public funds”; prohibiting an entity of state government or a person acting on behalf of such entity from expending or authorizing the expenditure of public funds for political advertisements or other communications sent to electors concerning a proposed constitutional amendment or revision; providing applicability; providing construction; amending s. 106.19, F.S.; providing that political committees sponsoring a constitutional amendment are liable for specified civil fines for submitting petition forms that do not provide the name and address of the petition circulator gathering such forms, regardless of whether the petition circulator is paid; amending s. 212.055, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 895.02, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “racketeering activity” to provide criminal and civil penalties for violations of the Florida Election Code relating to irregularities or fraud involving issue petition activities; prohibiting the verification of a signed petition form for a specified timeframe; providing construction; providing effective dates. WHEREAS, the Legislature and the Secretary of State, in their official capacities, have the duty and obligation to ensure ballot integrity and a valid election process, and WHEREAS, ballot integrity is necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the constitutionally provided initiative process, and WHEREAS, investigations conducted by the Office of Election Crimes and Security have shown that agents of political committees sponsoring initiative petitions engaged in illegal and fraudulent activities while gathering petition signatures in the lead-up to recent elections, and WHEREAS, the evidence brought forward indicates numerous instances of petition circulators being paid per signature, signing petition forms on behalf of deceased individuals, forging or misrepresenting voter signatures on petition forms, using voters’ personal identifying information without consent, committing perjury, and swearing false oaths, and WHEREAS, compensating a petition circulator based on the number of petition forms gathered is a violation of s. 104.186, Florida Statutes; signing another person’s name, whether dead or alive, or a fictitious name on a petition form is a violation of s. 104.185(2), Florida Statutes; and perjury or swearing a false oath is a violation of s. 837.02(1), Florida Statutes, and all such violations are third degree felonies under Florida law, and WHEREAS, fraudulently using another individual’s personal identification without his or her consent is a violation of s. 817.568, Florida Statutes, and is, at minimum, a third degree felony, and WHEREAS, the fraudulent use of another individual’s personal identifying information becomes a second degree felony with a 3-year mandatory minimum prison sentence if the violation involves the information of more than 10 but fewer than 20 persons, a 5-year mandatory minimum prison sentence if the violation involves the information of more than 20 but fewer than 30 persons, and a 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence if the violation involves the information of more than 30 persons, and WHEREAS, despite the fiduciary duty prescribed by Florida law, sponsors of initiative petitions have failed to cooperate with investigations and have attempted to deflect responsibility for the actions of petition circulators to contractors and subcontractors, the sponsors denying that they have custody or control of documents requested by state officials, and WHEREAS, sponsors, contractors, and petition circulators have blatantly attempted to evade investigation by delegating key aspects of petition activities to out-of-state entities, who then subcontracted with other individuals who were even further outside the reach of Florida authorities, and WHEREAS, evidence provided to the Office of Election Crimes and Security by supervisors of elections in several counties showed that petition circulators submitted petition forms on behalf of more than 50 deceased Floridians, and WHEREAS, information provided to the Office of Election Crimes and Security from multiple supervisors of elections and individual Florida voters showed that petition circulators committed perjury and swore false oaths by distributing petition forms with pre-signed attestations to groups of unregistered circulators, who then obtained signatures outside the registered circulator’s presence, and WHEREAS, investigations revealed that after petition forms were signed and submitted by voters, petition circulators tampered with the signed forms by using a website to obtain missing personal identifying information, and then filled in the incomplete petition forms, and WHEREAS, investigations indicated that some otherwise valid petition forms were obtained by fraud, with circulators misleading prospective signatories by telling them that the amendment did something other than what was described in the ballot summary or amendment language, or not showing the signatories what was on the ballot at all, and WHEREAS, evidence showed that petition circulators were able to obtain the four necessary elements of personal identifying information required on petitions — name, address, voter registration number or birthdate, and signature — using publicly available data to commit identity theft and complete dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of petitions without ever actually circulating a petition, and WHEREAS, the Office of Election Crimes and Security received complaints from many Florida voters whose information was fraudulently submitted on forms for at least four initiative petitions circulated for inclusion in the 2024 General Election, and WHEREAS, many of those complaints arose because some supervisors of elections notified a voter when a petition form bearing his or her name was rejected, which prompted such voters to contact the supervisor of elections or the Office of Election Crimes and Security to report potential fraud, and WHEREAS, Florida does not currently restrict eligibility of persons to register as petition circulators, even in cases where such persons are not United States citizens, reside in another state, or have been convicted of a felony but have not had their right to vote restored, and WHEREAS, at least one sponsor of an initiative amendment circulated during the 2024 General Election cycle settled a complaint with the Office of Election Crimes and Security for violations related to the petition process and agreed to pay $164,000 in fines, and WHEREAS, existing fines and penalties levied against petition sponsors engaging in, encouraging, or, at the very least, turning a blind eye to illegal activities related to the petition process appear to be inadequate deterrents, and WHEREAS, given its constitutional underpinnings, the right to propose an initiative by petition is inherent and absolute, but subject to reasonable regulations as necessary to ensure ballot integrity and a valid election process, NOW, THEREFORE, | In Committee |
| S0108 | Administrative Procedures | An act relating to administrative procedures; amending s. 120.52, F.S.; defining the term “technical change”; amending s. 120.536, F.S.; prohibiting certain provisions in a rule; amending s. 120.54, F.S.; requiring agencies to publish a notice of rule development within a specified timeframe; deleting a provision related to the timeframe within which rules are required to be drafted and formally proposed; prohibiting materials from being incorporated by reference for certain rules reviewed after a specified date unless certain conditions are met; prohibiting rules proposed after a specified date from having materials incorporated by reference unless certain conditions are met; requiring agencies to use specific coding if they are updating or making changes to certain documents incorporated by reference; requiring a certain number of days between a notice of rule development and notice of proposed rule; requiring that notices of rule development contain certain information as well as incorporated documents; requiring that a notice of rule development contain a proposed rule number and specified statements; requiring a notice of proposed rule to be published within a specified timeframe; requiring a specified statement if an agency must exceed such timeframe; requiring the agency to update such specified statement for a certain timeframe; revising the scope of public workshops to include information gathered for the preparation of statements of estimated regulatory costs; revising who may challenge a proposed rule developed through negotiated rulemaking; revising the notices required to be issued by agencies before the adoption, amendment, or repeal of certain rules; requiring certain information be included in the notices; requiring a certain number of days between a notice of rule development and notice of proposed rule; requiring that specified information be available for public inspection; requiring that materials incorporated by reference be made available in a specified manner; requiring that certain notices be delivered electronically to all persons who made requests for such notice; requiring agencies to publish a notice of correction for certain changes within a specified timeframe; providing that notices of correction do not affect certain timeframes; requiring that technical changes be published as notices of correction; requiring agencies to provide copies of any offered regulatory alternatives to the Administrative Procedures Committee before the agency files a rule for adoption; requiring the agency to consider certain factors; removing the definition of the term “small business”; revising the requirements for the contents of a notice of change; requiring that certain materials incorporated by reference be made available in a specified manner; requiring the department to publish a notice of withdrawal of the proposed rule under certain circumstances; requiring agencies to restart rulemaking following a notice of withdrawal in certain circumstances; requiring that certain rules be withdrawn if not ratified within the legislative session immediately following the filing for adoption; providing that agencies are authorized to initiate rulemaking, or required to initiate rulemaking under a specified circumstance, within a specified timeframe of the adjournment of such legislative session; requiring the committee to compile and post on its website certain information within a specified timeframe after each calendar quarter; reducing the number of certified copies of a proposed rule that must be electronically filed with the Department of State; authorizing agencies to adopt emergency rules under specified conditions; requiring that specified information be published in the first available issue of the Florida Administrative Register and provided to the Administrative Procedures Committee; providing that if a proposed rule is not ratified within a specified timeframe, the emergency rule expires; requiring that the proposed rule be withdrawn in accordance with a specified provision; requiring that notices of renewal for emergency rules be published in the Florida Administrative Register before expiration of the existing emergency rule; requiring that such notices contain specified information; requiring that a note be added to a certain history note for certain emergency rules; requiring that emergency rules be published in the Florida Administrative Code; authorizing agencies to adopt emergency rules that supersede other emergency rules; requiring that the reason for such superseding rules be stated in accordance with specified provisions; authorizing agencies to make technical changes to emergency rules within a specified timeframe; requiring that such changes be published in the Florida Administrative Register as a notice of correction; authorizing agencies to repeal emergency rules by providing a certain notice in the Florida Administrative Register; requiring agencies to provide specified petitions to the committee within a specified timeframe after receipt; requiring agencies to provide a certain notification to the committee within a specified timeframe; reenacting and amending s. 120.541, F.S.; providing that a proposal for a lower cost regulatory alternative submitted after a notice of change is made in good faith only if the proposal contains certain statements; requiring agencies to provide a copy of such proposals and responses thereto to the committee within specified timeframes; prohibiting agencies from filing a rule for adoption unless such documents are provided to the committee; revising the definition of the term “transactional costs”; requiring an agency to include specified market impacts that may result from compliance with a proposed rule; requiring agencies to notify the committee within a specified timeframe that a rule has been submitted for legislative ratification; providing an exemption from legislative ratification for emergency rules; providing requirements for the calculation of estimated regulatory costs; requiring the department to include the agency website on which statements of estimated regulatory costs can be viewed; requiring an agency to take specified actions relating to statements of estimated regulatory costs; requiring the rules ombudsman of the Executive Office of the Governor to prescribe and post on a publicly accessible website a specified form; requiring agencies to use such form; creating s. 120.5435, F.S.; defining the term “rule”; requiring agencies, by a specified date and in coordination with the committee, to review specified rules adopted before a specified date; providing for future review and repeal; requiring rules promulgated after a certain date to be reviewed; requiring agencies to include a list of existing rules and a schedule of rules they plan to review each year in a certain regulatory plan; authorizing agencies to amend such schedules under specified circumstances but requiring that at least a specified percentage of an agency’s rules be reviewed each year until completion of all reviews; requiring agencies to make specified determinations during rule review; providing that certain determinations are not subject to challenge as a proposed rule; requiring agencies to submit a certain report to the Legislature annually by a specified date; requiring agencies to take one of certain specified actions during rule reviews by a specified date; providing requirements for the agencies in connection with each of the specified actions; requiring the committee to examine agencies’ rule review submissions; authorizing the committee to request certain information from such agencies; requiring that such review occur within a specified timeframe under specified conditions; requiring the committee to issue a certain certification upon completion of examinations; specifying circumstances under which rule review is considered completed; requiring the department to publish a certain notice in the Florida Administrative Register; amending s. 120.545, F.S.; requiring the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee to review each rule being reviewed; permitting the committee to review certain material and documents; providing that the committee may examine rules to determine if certain unauthorized provisions are included; amending s. 120.55, F.S.; revising the contents of the Florida Administrative Code to conform to changes made by the act; requiring, after a specified date, that any material incorporated by reference be filed in a specified electronic format with the department; requiring that the Florida Administrative Register contain a certain list; requiring that the full text of emergency rules be published; requiring that the department prescribe coding for certain documents incorporated by reference; amending s. 120.74, F.S.; requiring that regulatory plans submitted by agencies include certain schedules for rule review and certain desired updates to such plans; requiring agencies to take certain actions if the agencies have not completed reviewing a rule; requiring agencies to include information regarding the prior year’s licensing practices in their regulatory plan; requiring the committee to submit a consolidated report of the agency licensing data; requiring the Department of State to publish a hyperlink to the licensing data reports; deleting provisions related to deadlines for rule development; deleting deadlines for publishing proposed rules; deleting provisions requiring agencies to file certain certifications with the committee; authorizing agencies to correct a regulatory plan to conclude affected rulemaking proceedings by identifying certain rules; revising the timeframes within which agencies must publish certain notices; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; providing an effective date. | Passed |
| S1652 | Public Records/Pleading, Request for Relief, or Other Document Stricken by a Court | An act relating to public records; amending s. 119.0714, F.S.; providing an exemption from public records requirements for a matter in a pleading, a request for relief, or other document which has been stricken by the court in a noncriminal case if the court makes specific findings; providing a statement of public necessity; providing an effective date. | Passed |
| S1286 | Harming or Neglecting Children | An act relating to harming or neglecting children; amending s. 39.01, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “harm” as it relates to a child’s health or welfare; amending s. 827.03, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “neglect of a child”; reenacting ss. 390.01114(2)(b) and 984.03(2), F.S., relating to the definitions of the terms “child abuse” and “abuse,” respectively, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 39.01, F.S., in references thereto; providing an effective date. | Passed |
| S1666 | Uniform Commercial Code | An act relating to the Uniform Commercial Code; providing a directive to the Division of Law Revision; creating part I of ch. 669, F.S., relating to controllable electronic records; creating s. 669.101, F.S.; providing a short title; creating s. 669.102, F.S.; defining terms; providing construction; creating s. 669.103, F.S.; providing construction; creating s. 669.104, F.S.; providing applicability; specifying when a purchaser of a controllable account or controllable payment intangible is a qualifying purchaser; specifying rights acquired relating to controllable electronic records; prohibiting actions from being asserted against qualifying purchasers under certain circumstances; specifying that filing a certain financing statement is not notice of a claim of a property right in a controllable electronic record; creating s. 669.105, F.S.; specifying when a person has control of a controllable electronic record; providing when a person’s power relating to controllable electronic records is or is not exclusive; providing that a person who has control of a controllable electronic record is not required to acknowledge such control; specifying that a person that acknowledges control of a controllable electronic record does not owe any duty to the other person and is not required to confirm the acknowledgment to any other person; creating s. 669.106, F.S.; authorizing account debtors on a controllable account or controllable payment intangible to discharge obligations under certain circumstances; providing requirements for such discharge; prohibiting account debtors from waiving or varying certain rights and options; providing construction; creating s. 669.107, F.S.; specifying the governing laws and jurisdictions relating to controllable electronic records; creating part II of ch. 669, F.S., relating to transitional provisions; creating s. 669.501, F.S.; providing a short title; creating s. 669.502, F.S.; defining terms; creating ss. 669.601 and 669.701, F.S.; providing saving clauses for certain transactions; providing applicability; providing construction; creating s. 669.702, F.S.; specifying requirements for perfecting security interests that are enforceable and perfected before a specified date; creating s. 669.703, F.S.; specifying requirements for security interests that were unperfected before a specified date; creating s. 669.704, F.S.; specifying the effectiveness of certain actions relating to security interests taken before a specified date; creating ss. 669.705 and 669.706, F.S.; providing priority for conflicting claims to collateral; amending s. 670.103, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “payment order”; amending s. 670.201, F.S.; revising authorizations and requirements relating to security procedures; amending s. 670.202, F.S.; revising the circumstances under which payment orders received by banks are effective as the order of a customer; making technical changes; amending s. 670.203, F.S.; revising rules that apply to payment orders that are not authorized orders of certain customers; amending ss. 670.207, 670.208, 670.21, and 670.211, F.S.; making technical changes; amending s. 670.305, F.S.; revising liability requirements relating to payment orders; creating part VI of ch. 670, F.S., relating to transitional provisions; creating s. 670.601, F.S.; providing applicability; amending s. 671.101, F.S.; making technical changes; amending s. 671.105, F.S.; revising applicability; amending s. 671.107, F.S.; making a technical change; amending s. 671.201, F.S.; revising definitions; defining terms; amending s. 671.211, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; creating part IV of ch. 671, F.S., relating to transitional provisions; creating s. 671.401, F.S.; providing applicability; amending s. 672.102, F.S.; revising applicability; amending s. 672.106, F.S.; defining the term “hybrid transaction”; making technical changes; amending ss. 672.201, 672.202, 672.203, and 672.205, F.S.; making technical changes; amending s. 672.209, F.S.; revising a prohibition on modifying or rescinding a signed agreement that excludes modification or rescission; creating part VIII of ch. 672, F.S., relating to transitional provisions; creating s. 672.801, F.S.; providing applicability; amending s. 673.1041, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “negotiable instrument”; amending s. 673.1051, F.S.; revising the definition of the term “issue”; amending s. 673.4011, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 673.6041, F.S.; specifying that the obligation of a party to pay a check is not discharged solely by destruction of the check in connection with a specified process; creating part VII of ch. 673, F.S., relating to transitional provisions; creating s. 673.702, F.S.; providing applicability; amending s. 675.104, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 675.116, F.S.; providing that a branch of a bank is considered to be located at the address indicated in the branch’s undertaking or, if more than one address is indicated, the address from which the undertaking was issued; making technical changes; creating s. 675.119, F.S.; providing applicability; amending s. 677.102, F.S.; deleting definitions of the terms “record” and “sign”; amending s. 677.106, F.S.; specifying when a system satisfies certain requirements and a person has control of an electronic document of title; specifying when certain powers are or are not exclusive; providing that a person that has control of an electronic document or title does not need to acknowledge that it has control on behalf of another person; specifying that a person does not owe any duty to another person under certain circumstances; creating part VII of ch. 677, F.S., related to transitional provisions; creating s. 677.701, F.S.; providing applicability; amending s. 678.1021, F.S.; revising definitions; revising the applicability of definitions; amending s. 678.1031, F.S.; specifying that a controllable account, controllable electronic record, or controllable payment intangible is not a financial asset under certain circumstances; conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 678.1061, F.S.; revising the circumstances under which purchasers have control of security entitlements; specifying that a person that has such control is not required to acknowledge such control on behalf of a purchaser; specifying that certain persons do not owe any duty to purchasers and are not required to confirm certain acknowledgment under certain circumstances; amending s. 678.1101, F.S.; providing applicability; amending s. 678.3031, F.S; specifying that protected purchasers acquire interest in a security free of any adverse claim; creating part VI of ch. 678, F.S., relating to transitional provisions; creating s. 678.601, F.S.; providing applicability; amending s. 679.1021, F.S.; defining terms; revising and deleting definitions; revising the applicability of definitions; amending s. 679.1041, F.S.; revising the circumstances under which a secured party has control of a deposit account; making a technical change; amending s. 679.1051, F.S.; revising when a person has control of electronic chattel paper; specifying when power of such control is or is not exclusive; creating s. 679.1052, F.S.; specifying when a person has control of electronic money; specifying when power of such control is or is not exclusive; creating s. 679.1053, F.S.; specifying when a person has control of controllable electronic records, controllable accounts, or controllable payment intangibles; creating s. 679.1054, F.S.; providing that specified persons with certain control are not required to acknowledge such control; specifying that such persons do not owe any duty to certain persons and are not required to confirm acknowledgment to any other person; amending s. 679.2031, F.S.; revising the circumstances under which a security interest is enforceable against a debtor and third parties; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 679.2041, F.S.; revising the circumstances under which a security interest does not attach under a term constituting an after-acquired property clause; amending s. 679.2071, F.S.; conforming a provision to changes made by the act; amending s. 679.2081, F.S.; revising duties relating to secured parties having control of collateral; amending s. 679.209, F.S.; revising duties relating to secured parties if an account debtor has been notified of an assignment; revising cross-references; amending s. 679.210, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 679.3011, F.S.; revising requirements relating to laws governing perfection and priority of security interests; revising a cross-reference; amending s. 679.3041, F.S.; specifying that the local law of a bank’s jurisdiction governs even if a transaction does not bear any relation to the bank’s jurisdiction; amending s. 679.3051, F.S.; revising applicability; creating s. 679.3062, F.S.; specifying which laws govern the perfection and priority of security interests in chattel paper; creating s. 679.3063, F.S.; specifying which laws govern the perfection and priority of security interests in controllable accounts, controllable electronic records, and controllable payment intangibles; amending s. 679.3101, F.S.; revising the circumstances under which the filing of a financing statement is not necessary to perfect a security interest; amending s. 679.3121, F.S.; providing requirements for perfecting a security interest in controllable accounts, controllable electronic records, and controllable payment intangibles; amending s. 679.3131, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 679.3141, F.S.; revising requirements for perfection by control; creating s. 679.3152, F.S.; providing requirements for perfecting a security interest in chattel paper by possession and control; amending s. 679.3161, F.S.; revising requirements relating to maintaining perfection of security interests following a change in governing law; revising cross-references; amending s. 679.3171, F.S.; revising the circumstances under which persons take free of a security interest or agricultural lien; amending s. 679.323, F.S.; revising the circumstances under which a buyer or lessee of goods takes free of a security interest or leasehold; amending s. 679.324, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; creating s. 679.3251, F.S.; specifying that certain security interests in controllable accounts, controllable electronic records, or controllable payment intangibles have priority over conflicting security interests; amending s. 679.330, F.S.; revising the circumstances under which purchasers of chattel paper have priority over certain security interests in the chattel paper; revising applicability; making a technical change; amending s. 679.331, F.S.; revising construction; amending s. 679.332, F.S.; revising the circumstances under which a transferee takes money or funds free of a security interest; amending ss. 679.341 and 679.4041, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 679.4061, F.S.; defining the term “promissory note”; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; revising applicability; amending s. 679.4081, F.S.; defining the term “promissory note”; amending ss. 679.509, 679.513, 679.601, and 679.604, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 679.605, F.S.; specifying when a secured party owes a duty to a person based on the party’s status as a secured party; amending ss. 679.608 and 679.611, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; making technical changes; amending s. 679.613, F.S.; revising the form for notification of the disposition of collateral; providing requirements relating to such form; amending s. 679.614, F.S.; revising form requirements for notice of a plan to sell property; providing requirements relating to such form; amending ss. 679.615, 679.616, 679.619, 679.620, 679.621, 679.624, and 679.625, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 679.628, F.S.; providing applicability; creating part IX of ch. 679, F.S., relating to transitional provisions; creating ss. 679.901 and 679.902, F.S.; providing construction; amending s. 680.1021, F.S.; revising applicability; amending s. 680.1031, F.S.; defining the term “hybrid lease”; conforming cross-references; amending ss. 680.1071, 680.201, 680.202, 680.203, 680.205, and 680.208, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; creating part VI of ch. 680, F.S., relating to transitional provisions; creating s. 680.601, F.S.; providing applicability; amending ss. 55.205, 319.27, 328.0015, 517.061, 559.9232, 563.022, and 668.50, F.S.; conforming cross-references; reenacting ss. 655.55(1) and (2) and 685.101(2), F.S., relating to law applicable to deposits in and contracts relating to extensions of credit by a deposit or lending institution located in this state and choice of law, respectively, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 671.105, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting ss. 90.953(1), 673.1061(1), (3), and (4), and 673.1151(2), F.S., relating to admissibility of duplicates, unconditional promise or order, and incomplete instruments, respectively, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 673.1041, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting s. 673.6051(2), F.S., relating to discharge of indorsers and accommodation parties, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 673.6041, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s. 673.1031(2), F.S., relating to definitions, to incorporate the amendments made to ss. 673.1041 and 673.1051, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting s. 675.103(1)(j), F.S., relating to definitions, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 675.104, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s. 679.3061(2), F.S., relating to law governing perfection and priority of security interests in letter-of-credit rights, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 675.116, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting ss. 672.103(3) and 674.104(3), F.S., relating to definitions and index of definitions, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 677.106, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting ss. 678.5101(3) and 679.1061(1), F.S., relating to rights of purchaser of security entitlement from entitlement holder and control of investment property, respectively, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 678.1061, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting ss. 674.2101(3), 675.1181(2), and 679.1101, F.S., relating to security interest of collecting bank in items, accompanying documents, and proceeds; security interest of issuer or nominated person; and security interests arising under ch. 672, F.S., or ch. 680, F.S., respectively, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 679.2031, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting s. 679.709(2), F.S., relating to priority, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 679.2031, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s. 679.602(2), F.S., relating to waiver and variance of rights and duties, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 679.210, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s. 679.329(2), F.S., relating to priority of security interests in letter of-credit right, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 679.3141, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s. 679.320(3), F.S., relating to buyer of goods, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 679.3161, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s. 727.109(8)(b), F.S., relating to power of the court, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 679.3171, F.S., in a reference thereto; reenacting s. 680.307(3), F.S., relating to priority of liens arising by attachment or levy on, security interests in, and other claims to goods, to incorporate the amendments made to ss. 679.3171 and 679.323, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting s. 679.328(2), (5), and (7), F.S., relating to priority of security interests in investment property, to incorporate the amendments made to ss. 678.1061, 679.3131, 679.3141, and 679.323, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting s. 679.327(1) and (2), F.S., relating to priority of security interests in deposit account, to incorporate the amendments made to ss. 679.1041 and 679.3141, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting s. 679.1091(4), F.S., relating to scope, to incorporate the amendments made to ss. 679.2031 and 679.4041, F.S., in references thereto; reenacting s. 679.626(3), F.S., relating to action in which deficiency or surplus is in issue, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 679.628, F.S., in a reference thereto; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S1736 | Insulin Administration by Direct-support Professionals and Relatives | An act relating to insulin administration by direct support professionals and relatives; amending s. 393.063, F.S.; defining the term “direct-support professional”; creating s. 393.504, F.S.; authorizing direct-support professionals and relatives of clients in group home facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities to administer insulin as prescribed to the client if specified conditions are met; providing group home facilities, direct-support professionals, and relatives of clients with immunity from civil liability for damages and civil and criminal penalties under certain circumstances; providing that the administration of insulin includes sliding scale insulin therapy; amending s. 393.506, F.S.; authorizing unlicensed direct service providers who meet certain requirements to administer and supervise the self-administration of insulin and epinephrine by certain methods; amending s. 1002.394, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S1650 | Vexatious Litigants | An act relating to vexatious litigants; amending s. 68.093, F.S.; revising definitions; expanding actions subject to the Florida Vexatious Litigant Law; revising eligibility for designation as a vexatious litigant; revising sanctions and remedies for vexatious litigation; prohibiting clerks of the court from accepting certain filings from a vexatious litigant; specifying the duration of an automatic stay imposed against vexatious litigation; providing an effective date. | In Committee |
| S1856 | Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Senator Geraldine F. "Geri" Thompson | A resolution recognizing and celebrating the life and legacy of Senator Geraldine F. “Geri” Thompson. | Signed/Enacted/Adopted |
| Bill | Bill Name | Motion | Vote Date | Vote |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H5203 | Capitol Center | Senate: Third Reading RCS#5 | 06/05/2025 | Yea |
| H7031 | Sales Tax Rate Reductions | Senate: Third Reading RCS#6 | 06/05/2025 | Yea |
| H7031 | Sales Tax Rate Reductions | Senate Appropriations | 06/05/2025 | Yea |
| H5013 | State-funded Property Reinsurance Programs | Senate: Third Reading RCS#3 | 06/05/2025 | Yea |
| H5015 | State Group Insurance | Senate: Third Reading RCS#4 | 06/05/2025 | Yea |
| S1908 | Budget Stabilization Fund | Senate Appropriations | 06/05/2025 | Yea |
| S1906 | Debt Reduction | Senate Appropriations | 06/05/2025 | Yea |
| H6503 | Relief/Mande Penney-Lemmon/Sarasota County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#2 | 05/02/2025 | Yea |
| H0211 | Farm Products | Senate: Third Reading RCS#4 | 05/02/2025 | Yea |
| H0289 | Boating Safety | Senate: Third Reading RCS#23 | 05/02/2025 | Yea |
| S0492 | Mitigation Banks | Senate: Third Reading RCS#15 | 05/02/2025 | Yea |
| H0733 | Brownfields | Senate: Third Reading RCS#14 | 05/02/2025 | Yea |
| H0875 | Educator Preparation | Senate: Third Reading RCS#20 | 05/02/2025 | Yea |
| S0994 | Driver License Education Requirements | Senate: Third Reading RCS#7 | 05/02/2025 | Yea |
| H1105 | Education | Senate: Third Reading RCS#21 | 05/02/2025 | Yea |
| H1123 | Sewer Collection Systems | Senate: Third Reading RCS#3 | 05/02/2025 | Yea |
| H1205 | Amendments to the State Constitution | Senate: Third Reading RCS#10 | 05/02/2025 | Yea |
| H1215 | Ad Valorem Tax Exemption | Senate: Third Reading RCS#5 | 05/02/2025 | Yea |
| H1255 | Education | Senate: Third Reading RCS#19 | 05/02/2025 | Yea |
| S1620 | Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders | Senate: Third Reading RCS#11 | 05/02/2025 | Yea |
| S0180 | Emergencies | Senate: Third Reading RCS#8 | 05/02/2025 | Yea |
| H1427 | Nursing Education Programs | Senate: Third Reading RCS#22 | 05/02/2025 | Yea |
| H1549 | Financial Services | Senate: Third Reading RCS#12 | 05/02/2025 | Yea |
| H1609 | Waste Incineration | Senate: Third Reading RCS#9 | 05/02/2025 | Yea |
| H0393 | My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program | Senate: Third Reading RCS#24 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| H6017 | Recovery of Damages for Medical Negligence Resulting in Death | Senate: Third Reading RCS#22 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| S0606 | Public Lodging and Public Food Service Establishments | Senate: Third Reading RCS#14 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| S0768 | Foreign Countries of Concern | Senate: Third Reading RCS#17 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| H0875 | Educator Preparation | Senate: Third Reading RCS#5 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| S1070 | Electrocardiograms for Student Athletes | Senate: Third Reading RCS#9 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| S1080 | Local Government Land Regulation | Senate: Third Reading RCS#15 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| H0987 | Transportation Facility Designations | Senate: Third Reading RCS#13 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| H1115 | Education | Senate: Third Reading RCS#6 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| H1105 | Education | Senate: Third Reading RCS#3 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| H1101 | Out-of-network Providers | Senate: Third Reading RCS#19 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| H1205 | Amendments to the State Constitution | Senate: Third Reading RCS#2 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| S1388 | Vessels | Senate: Third Reading RCS#16 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| H1255 | Education | Senate: Third Reading RCS#4 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| S1470 | School Safety | Senate: Third Reading RCS#11 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| S1546 | Background Screening of Athletic Coaches | Senate: Third Reading RCS#12 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| S7012 | Child Welfare | Senate: Third Reading RCS#18 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| H1427 | Nursing Education Programs | Senate: Third Reading RCS#20 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| H1455 | Sexual Offenses by Persons Previously Convicted of Sexual Offenses | Senate: Third Reading RCS#25 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| H1445 | Public Officers and Employees | Senate: Third Reading RCS#21 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| S1768 | Stem Cell Therapy | Senate: Third Reading RCS#8 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| H1607 | Cardiac Emergencies | Senate: Third Reading RCS#10 | 05/01/2025 | Yea |
| H0057 | Regulation of Xylazine | Senate: Third Reading RCS#44 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4001 | Lee County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#7 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| S0248 | Student Participation in Interscholastic and Intrascholastic Extracurricular Sports | Senate: Third Reading RCS#9 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H0209 | State Land Management | Senate: Third Reading RCS#45 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| S0306 | Medicaid Providers | Senate: Third Reading RCS#3 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4007 | Compensation for Health Care Services for Inmates in Martin County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#10 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H0289 | Boating Safety | Senate: Third Reading RCS#50 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| S0108 | Administrative Procedures | Senate: Third Reading RCS#8 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4009 | St. Augustine-St. Johns County Airport Authority, St. Johns County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#11 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H0443 | Education | Senate: Third Reading RCS#52 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H6017 | Recovery of Damages for Medical Negligence Resulting in Death | Senate: Third Reading RCS#39 | 04/30/2025 | Nay |
| H0481 | Anchoring Limitation Areas | Senate: Third Reading RCS#55 | 04/30/2025 | Nay |
| H4011 | Palm Beach County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#12 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4015 | Broward County Narcotics and Dangerous Drug Intelligence and Enforcement Unit, Broward County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#14 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4013 | Citrus County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#13 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4017 | Bermont Drainage District, Charlotte County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#15 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4021 | North River Ranch Improvement Stewardship District, Manatee County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#16 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H0653 | Aggravating Factors for Capital Felonies | Senate: Third Reading RCS#54 | 04/30/2025 | Nay |
| H4025 | Lee County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#18 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4023 | Officers and Employees of North Springs Improvement District, Broward County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#17 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4029 | Greater Naples Fire Rescue District; Collier County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#19 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H0683 | Construction Regulations | Senate: Third Reading RCS#40 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H0687 | Driving and Boating Offenses | Senate: Third Reading RCS#2 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H0703 | Utility Relocation | Senate: Third Reading RCS#41 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4035 | Lee County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#22 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4033 | San Carlos Estates Water Control District, Lee County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#21 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4031 | City of Oviedo, Seminole County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#20 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4037 | Downtown Development Authority of City of Fort Lauderdale, Broward County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#23 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H0809 | School Social Workers | Senate: Third Reading RCS#47 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| S0994 | Driver License Education Requirements | Senate: Third Reading RCS#56 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H0913 | Condominium and Cooperative Associations | Senate: Third Reading RCS#4 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H0907 | Florida Institute for Pediatric Rare Diseases | Senate: Third Reading RCS#43 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4041 | Collier County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#24 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H0929 | Firefighter Health and Safety | Senate: Third Reading RCS#42 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4045 | City Pension Fund for Firefighters and Police Officers in the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#26 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4043 | Osceola County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#25 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4051 | Pasco County Mosquito Control District, Pasco County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#38 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4047 | Fort Pierce Farms Water Control District, St. Lucie County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#27 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4049 | North St. Lucie River Water Control District, St. Lucie County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#28 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H1103 | Services for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities | Senate: Third Reading RCS#49 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H1205 | Amendments to the State Constitution | Senate: Third Reading RCS#5 | 04/30/2025 | Nay |
| H1299 | Department of Health | Senate: Third Reading RCS#48 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4059 | Sunbridge Stewardship District, Osceola County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#31 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4061 | West Villages Improvement District, Sarasota County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#32 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4057 | Tohopekaliga Water Authority, Osceola County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#30 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4067 | Special Beverage Licenses for Equestrian Sport Facilities in Marion County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#34 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4073 | Leon County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#36 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4065 | City of Auburndale, Polk County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#33 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4071 | City of Coral Springs and City of Parkland, Broward County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#35 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H4075 | Leon County | Senate: Third Reading RCS#37 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1662 | Transportation | Senate: Third Reading RCS#58 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H1455 | Sexual Offenses by Persons Previously Convicted of Sexual Offenses | Senate: Third Reading RCS#46 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| S1730 | Affordable Housing | Senate: Third Reading RCS#57 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| H1549 | Financial Services | Senate: Third Reading RCS#51 | 04/30/2025 | Yea |
| Committee | Position | Rank | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detail | Florida Joint Administrative Procedures Committee | Chair | 1 |
| Detail | Florida Joint Collective Bargaining Select Committee | 5 | |
| Detail | Florida Senate Agriculture Committee | Vice Chair | 2 |
| Detail | Florida Senate Appropriations Committee | 9 | |
| Detail | Florida Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee | Chair | 1 |
| Detail | Florida Senate Ethics and Elections Committee | 7 | |
| Detail | Florida Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee | 4 |
| State | District | Chamber | Party | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FL | Florida Senate District 29 | Senate | Republican | In Office | 11/08/2022 | |
| FL | Florida House District 054 | House | Republican | Out of Office | 11/09/2016 | 01/16/2024 |