Thank You from the Florida Ethics Institute!
Whether you attended an FEI ethics educational event, participated in our virtual trainings, enjoyed our ethics reports, or contributed to our mission—we are truly grateful that you chose to join our Ethics Community!
FEI remains committed to advancing ethics through advocacy and education! The Institute accomplishes this mission via its educational programs and partnerships. Below are a few of the many ethics highlights from the past year and our plans for 2026 and beyond!
FEI MAKING A DIFFERENCE !
Florida Ethics Handbook
In 2023 FEI published the first edition of the Florida Ethics Handbook–the only comprehensive guide to Florida’s governmental ethics requirements with the goal of publishing the Handbook annually to serve as an invaluable resource for those wanting to better understand the tools of governmental access and accountability.
The 2025 Legislative Session resulted in a host of changes to the Florida Code of Ethics. The 2026 edition of the Handbook, available for pre-order now—provides NEW analysis of the recently added stolen valor law, recently amended ethics complaint procedures, gifts law interpretations, and the 2026 ethics statutes. Each edition contains a brief but rigorous review of Florida’s current ethics laws, and related constitutional provisions, by topic—including gifts, conflicts of interest, nepotism, financial disclosure, voting conflicts, and more!
FEI Educational Outreach Initiatives
Ethics and Open Government Seminars: In 2025 FEI’s ethics educators have hosted or participated in more than twenty-one live or virtual educational programs and provided ethics, professionalism, and open government education to hundreds of public servants, as well as attorneys and citizen ethics advocates to assist them in understanding the continuously changing landscape of ethics and open government regulations. In this capacity, FEI
has partnered with organizations and associations including the Florida Bar, Florida Association of Counties, Florida Public Pension Trustees Association, and others to help their members meet and exceed Florida’s fairness and transparency requirements!
Ethics News Updates: FEI has authored and disseminated dozens of ethics news updates to the public and media spotlighting changes in ethics regulations, recent case law with ethics impact, and advisory opinions affecting Florida’s public servants, as well as investigation and enforcement actions by the Florida Commission on Ethics.
FEI Assists Journalists to Empower the Public with a Better Understanding of Ethics: FEI assisted an array of journalists and media outlets including the Tallahassee Democrat, Politico, Miami Herald, Orlando Sentinel, and others in their understanding of Florida’s ethics laws and their application to facts involving ethics in the Sunshine State.
FEI Ethics Legislative Tracking Program
During the critical period prior to and during Florida’s Legislative Session, FEI raised public awareness regarding proposed legislation impacting ethics laws in real time through its Ethics Legislative Tracking Program.
In 2025 FEI published several Florida Ethics Legislative Reports for the benefit of all in Florida—including the publication of the 2025 Post-Session Ethics Legislative Report detailing the significant actions which occurred during the 2025 legislative session relating to ethics and open government.
Our Call To Action
If you believe in our mission we humbly ask for your support of our ethics educational projects and initiatives. Through educational activities designed to facilitate ethical leadership and service through education, FEI is committed to ensuring that a public office is a public trust.
With your help, we can begin the new year focused on empowering ethics with FEI as the central nonprofit leader in ethics understanding to build a more sustainable future in Florida.