2025 Post-Session Florida Ethics Legislative Report

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2025 Post-Session Florida Ethics Legislative Report

 

 

 

The 2025 Regular Legislative Session Commenced on March 4th and Ended June 6, 2025*

Legislative Tracking—Summaries of 2025 bills impacting Florida ethics and open government related regulations are listed below:

The following is a list of passed legislation having ethics and open government import.

Ethics & Open Government Related Legislation

CS/CS/SB 268 – Public Records/Public Officers PASSED

General bill sponsored by Sen. Shevrin “Shev” Jones

  • The bill creates an exemption to Florida’s Public Records Law, s. 119.07(1), F.S., to exempt from disclosure the home addresses and telephone numbers of current congressional members and public officers, and their spouses and adult children, and the names, home addresses, telephone numbers, and dates of birth of, and the names and locations of schools and day care facilities attended by, the minor children of such officials.
  • This legislation will impact the ability of journalists and voters to determine whether a candidate meets the residency requirements to run for a particular public office.
  • Effective date July 1, 2025 

CS/CS/SB 312—Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, Inc. PASSED

General bill sponsored by Sen. Gaetz and Harrell

  • The bill pertains to the administration of the Florida Institute for Human & Machine Cognition, Inc., and provides, in relevant part that the officers, directors, and employees of the Florida Institute for Human and Machine Cognition, Inc., or any authorized and approved not-for-profit subsidiary, shall be governed by the Florida Code of Ethics.
  • Effective date July 1, 2025 

CS/SB 348– Ethics PASSED

General Bill sponsored by Sen. Gaetz, Collins, and Avila

  • The bill amends the Florida Code of Ethics via the creation of s. 112.3131, F.S., to prevent instances of “stolen valor” by prohibiting candidates, public officers, and public employees from knowingly misrepresenting their Armed Forces service records, awards, or qualifications.
  • The bill also adds the ability of the Florida Commission on Ethics’ advocates to engage in salary withholding for unpaid ethics penalties/fines—authority which the Commission sought in its 2025 Legislative Recommendations.
  • Signed into law on May 27, 2025; law becomes effective on July 1, 2025 

CS/CS/HB 443 – Education PASSED

General bill sponsored by Reps. Snyder and Rizo (co-sponsors), Barnaby, Kendall, Porras, and Salzman

  • The bill revises provisions relating to charter schools and authorizes them to adopt their own code of student conduct and provides specified requirements concerning the student code of conduct.
  • Portions of the bill require charter school governing boards to adopt procedures relating to student welfare and parental rights and requirements are specified for who can serve on a governing board. One such requirement prohibits, in part, the landlord of a charter school, or his or her spouse, from being a member of the governing board of a charter school unless the school is established as a “charter school-in-a-municipality.”
  • Signed into law on June 2, 2025; law becomes effective on July 1, 2025 

CS/HB 1049 – Tampering With, Harassing, or Retaliating Against Court Officials PASSED

General bill sponsored by Reps. Persons-Mulicka and Salzman

  • The bill provides criminal penalties for knowingly and willfully threatening or harassing specific court personnel or retaliating for their participation in proceedings or “official investigations” (including those initiated by the Florida Commission on Ethics).
  • Signed into law on June 6, 2025; law becomes effective on October 1, 2025 

CS/SB 7012 – Child Welfare PASSED

General bill by Fiscal Policy and Children, Families, and Elder Affairs

  • The bill amends s. 1004.605, F.S., to allow state employees who are participating in the Florida Institute for Child Welfare’s research, or evaluation required by the Institute’s statutory mission, to receive initiatives for their participation. Under the language of the bill the initiatives would not be a violation of Florida’s ethics laws, nor would they have to be reported, regardless of the incentive amount accepted.
  • Singed into law on May 2, 2025; except as otherwise specified the law becomes effective on July 1, 2025 

CS/HB 1445 – Public Officers and Employees PASSED Vetoed by Governor on Tuesday, July 1, 2025 4:01 PM

General Bill by State Affairs Committee and Reps. Mayfield and Gentry

  • The bill requires certain public officers and employees to be U.S. citizens and places certain residency requirements on them. It also amends the Florida Code of Ethics, by creating s. 112.31251, F.S., defining “office” for the purpose of the dual office-holding prohibition found in Art. II, s. 5(a) of the State Constitution. 

* The Regular Legislative Session was scheduled to end on May 2, 2025, however, the adoption of HCR 1631, extended the Session until 11:59 p.m. on Friday, June 6, 2025.