Post-Meeting Packet — Commerce and Tourism Committee, Florida Senate (February 4, 2026)
Summary
Post-meeting packet for the Florida Senate Commerce and Tourism committee meeting of Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., with Senator Leek as Chair and Senator Arrington as Vice Chair. The expanded agenda lists CS/SB 198 on virtual currency kiosks (Favorable, Yeas 9 Nays 0), CS/SB 422 on automatic dependent surveillance-broadcasts, SB 1236 on employers receiving economic development incentives from state agencies, and other bills. The packet includes material on money services businesses and anti-money laundering programs. It closes with an appointment letter and an Oath of Office form for the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board of Supervisors.
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“Post-Meeting Packet — Commerce and Tourism Committee, Florida Senate (February 4, 2026).”
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02/04/2026 - Commerce and Tourism (10:30 AM - 12:30 PM) 2026 Regular Session
Customized 02/05/2026 12:45 PM
Tab
CS/SB 198 by BI, Rouson (CO-INTRODUCERS) Arrington; Similar to CS/H 00505 Virtual Currency
Tab 1
Kiosks
Tab 2 CS/SB 422 by TR, Wright; Similar to H 00387 Automatic Dependent Surveillance-broadcasts
388214 A S RCS CM, Wright Delete L.39: 02/04 02:49 PM
SB 1236 by Massullo; Similar to H 01387 Employers Receiving Economic Development Incentives from
Tab 3
State Agencies
Tab 4 SB 1356 by Garcia; Similar to H 01521 Handling of Animals
695212 A S FAV CM, Garcia Delete L.113 - 144. 02/04 02:49 PM
Tab 5 SB 1456 by Osgood; Similar to H 01043 Doula Workforce Development
Tab 6 SB 1722 by Calatayud; Application Stores
Page 1 of 1
2026 Regular Session The Florida Senate
COMMITTEE MEETING EXPANDED AGENDA
COMMERCE AND TOURISM
Senator Leek, Chair
Senator Arrington, Vice Chair
MEETING DATE: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
TIME: 10:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m.
PLACE: Toni Jennings Committee Room, 110 Senate Building
MEMBERS: Senator Leek, Chair; Senator Arrington, Vice Chair; Senators Bracy Davis, Davis, DiCeglie, Mayfield,
McClain, Smith, Wright, and Yarborough
BILL DESCRIPTION and
TAB BILL NO. and INTRODUCER SENATE COMMITTEE ACTIONS COMMITTEE ACTION
1 CS/SB 198 Virtual Currency Kiosks; Revising the definition of the Favorable
Banking and Insurance / Rouson term “money services business”; revising the Yeas 9 Nays 0
(Similar CS/H 505) requirements for certain rules adopted by the
Financial Services Commission; prohibiting a virtual
currency kiosk business from operating in this state
without registering or renewing its registration;
specifying that certain money transmitters are exempt
from registration as a virtual currency kiosk business
but are subject to certain provisions; prohibiting
certain entities from performing certain actions
without being licensed as a money services business,
etc.
BI 01/28/2026 Fav/CS
CM 02/04/2026 Favorable
RC
2 CS/SB 422 Automatic Dependent Surveillance-broadcasts; Fav/CS
Transportation / Wright Prohibiting airports from using information broadcast Yeas 7 Nays 1
(Similar H 387) or collected by automatic dependent surveillance-
broadcast systems for specified purposes under
certain circumstances, etc.
TR 01/27/2026 Fav/CS
CM 02/04/2026 Fav/CS
RC
3 SB 1236 Employers Receiving Economic Development Favorable
Massullo Incentives from State Agencies; Requiring an Yeas 6 Nays 3
(Similar H 1387) employer to sign an agreement with a state agency
that is awarding an economic development incentive
before becoming eligible for the economic
development incentive; authorizing persons and
entities to report a suspected violation to the Attorney
General within a specified timeframe; requiring the
Attorney General to determine whether a violation has
occurred; requiring a state agency to execute a
separate written agreement with the recipient of the
economic development incentive before the state
agency awards the economic development incentive,
etc.
CM 02/04/2026 Favorable
GO
AP
S-036 (10/2008)
02042026.1310 Page 1 of 3
COMMITTEE MEETING EXPANDED AGENDA
Commerce and Tourism
Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 10:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m.
BILL DESCRIPTION and
TAB BILL NO. and INTRODUCER SENATE COMMITTEE ACTIONS COMMITTEE ACTION
4 SB 1356 Handling of Animals; Requiring the Department of Fav/CS
Garcia Agriculture and Consumer Services to develop and Yeas 9 Nays 0
(Similar H 1521, Compare S 1004) adopt rules, best management practices, and other
measures for dog breeding in this state; preempting
the regulatory and operational oversight of local
animal shelters to the department; deleting a limit on
veterinary costs under certain provisions; specifying
requirements for retail stores that offer animals for
sale; requiring dog breeders to apply to the
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
for a certificate of registration and to renew the
certificate at specified intervals, etc.
CM 02/04/2026 Fav/CS
AEG
RC
5 SB 1456 Doula Workforce Development; Establishing the Temporarily Postponed
Osgood Doula Workforce Development Support Program
(Similar H 1043) within the Department of Commerce to provide grants
and technical assistance to eligible doula training
entities for a specified purpose; requiring the
department to prioritize support to high-need regions;
specifying authorized uses of the grant funds;
requiring the department to submit annual reports to
the Governor and the Legislature by a specified date,
etc.
CM 02/04/2026 Temporarily Postponed
ATD
FP
6 SB 1722 Application Stores; Requiring an app store provider to Favorable
Calatayud take certain steps to verify the ages of individuals who Yeas 9 Nays 0
create or who have existing accounts with the app
store provider; providing parental consent
requirements for accounts created or held by minors;
requiring app store providers to take certain steps to
protect specified personal information; authorizing
minors, or the parents of minors, to bring civil actions
against app store providers or developers for
violations of the act, etc.
CM 02/04/2026 Favorable
JU
RC
TAB OFFICE and APPOINTMENT (HOME CITY) FOR TERM ENDING COMMITTEE ACTION
Senate Confirmation Hearing: A public hearing will be held for consideration of the below-
named executive appointments to the offices indicated.
S-036 (10/2008)
02042026.1310 Page 2 of 3
COMMITTEE MEETING EXPANDED AGENDA
Commerce and Tourism
Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 10:30 a.m.—12:30 p.m.
TAB OFFICE and APPOINTMENT (HOME CITY) FOR TERM ENDING COMMITTEE ACTION
Chair, Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission
7 Faircloth, Charles T., Jr. (Tallahassee) 06/30/2029 Recommend Confirm
Yeas 8 Nays 0
Board of Supervisors of the Central Florida Tourism
Oversight District
8 Ravenscroft, Thomas Matthew (Orlando) 02/26/2027 Recommend Confirm
Yeas 8 Nays 0
Woods, David (Orlando) 02/26/2029 Recommend Confirm
Yeas 8 Nays 0
BILL DESCRIPTION and
TAB BILL NO. and INTRODUCER SENATE COMMITTEE ACTIONS COMMITTEE ACTION
Other Related Meeting Documents
S-036 (10/2008)
02042026.1310 Page 3 of 3
CourtSmart Tag Report
Room: SB 110 Case No.: Type:
Caption: Senate Commerce And Tourism Committee Judge:
Started: 2/4/2026 10:30:20 AM
Ends: 2/4/2026 12:25:34 PM Length: 01:55:15
10:30:21 AM Chair Leek calls meeting to order
10:30:23 AM Roll call
10:30:46 AM Quorum announced
10:30:53 AM Chair Leek with opening comments
10:31:08 AM Senate Bill 1456 TP'd
10:31:14 AM Tab 3, SB 1236 by Senator Massullo, Employers Receiving Economic Development
Incentives from State Agencies introduced by Chair Leek
10:31:25 AM Senator Massullo explains the Bill
10:33:09 AM Chair Leek
10:33:14 AM Questions
10:33:18 AM Senator Smith
10:34:11 AM Senator Massullo
10:34:48 AM Senator Smith
10:35:33 AM Senator Massullo
10:36:33 AM Chair Leek with comments
10:36:47 AM Senator Smith
10:37:37 AM Senator Massullo
10:38:19 AM Senator Smith
10:38:44 AM Senator Massullo
10:38:46 AM Senator Smith
10:39:04 AM Senator Massullo
10:39:46 AM Senator Smith
10:40:46 AM Senator Massullo
10:41:14 AM Senator Smith
10:41:46 AM Senator Massullo
10:42:07 AM Senator Arrington
10:42:36 AM Senator Massullo
10:42:56 AM Senator Arrington
10:43:29 AM Senator Massullo
10:43:44 AM Chair Leek
10:44:07 AM Jorge Chamizo, Workers for Opportunity waives
10:44:25 AM Speaker David Osborne, Florida Building & Construction Trades
10:46:33 AM Speaker Ross Mullis
10:46:39 AM Derick Tabertshofer, Americans for Prosperity waives
10:47:20 AM Speaker Andy Starling
10:47:44 AM Jeannie Ford waives
10:48:50 AM Speaker Dr. Rich Templin, Florida AFL-CIO
10:49:19 AM Thomas J. Bugus II
10:52:38 AM Speaker Nicholas Mangoni
10:53:12 AM Ryans Calmont waives
10:53:27 AM Speaker Shayne Tremblay
10:53:36 AM Jeannie Ford waives
10:54:03 AM Janet Moody waives
10:54:42 AM Speaker Theresa King, Florida State Build Trades
10:54:47 AM Christina Underwood waives
10:54:50 AM Michael Grenon waives
10:54:54 AM Glenda Abicht waives
10:58:49 AM Speaker Larry Downs, Jr.
10:58:52 AM Derek Debevec waives
10:58:53 AM John Meeks waives
10:58:55 AM Aimee Smith waives
11:01:20 AM Richard Decoteau waives
11:01:26 AM Jorge Botello waives
11:01:29 AM Gordan Longhofer waives
11:01:37 AM Della Denny-Abbott waives
11:01:41 AM Chair Leek
11:01:42 AM Debate
11:01:45 AM Senator Smith
11:05:33 AM Senator Yarborough
11:06:01 AM Senator Bracy Davis
11:06:49 AM Chair Leek
11:06:57 AM Senator Massullo with closure
11:09:02 AM Roll call
11:09:27 AM SB 1236 reported favorably
11:09:43 AM Tab 1, CS/SB 198 by Banking and Insurance/Senator Rouson, Virtual Currency Kiosks
introduced by Chair Leek
11:09:57 AM Senator Rouson explains the Bill
11:12:38 AM Chair Leek
11:13:06 AM Speaker Eric Baker, Satoshi Action Fund
11:13:37 AM Christopher Hodge, Florida Credit Union Association waives
11:17:29 AM Speaker David Garner, Florida Bankers Association
11:17:54 AM Brian Jogerst, Elder Law Section/Florida Bar and Academy of Florida Elder Law
Attorneys
11:18:04 AM Speaker Karen Murillo, AARP
11:20:06 AM Chair Leek
11:20:12 AM Debate
11:20:16 AM Senator Arrington
11:20:35 AM Senator Wright
11:20:57 AM Chair Leek
11:21:06 AM Senator Rouson with closure
11:21:34 AM Roll call
11:21:56 AM CS/SB198 reported favorably
11:22:06 AM Tab 4, SB 1356 by Senator Garcia, Handling of Animals introduced by Chair Leek
11:22:14 AM Senator Garcia explains the Bill
11:24:04 AM Chair Leek
11:24:13 AM Amendment Barcode No. 695212 introduced by Chair Leek
11:24:19 AM Senator Garcia explains the Amendment
11:24:21 AM Chair Leek
11:24:32 AM Closure waived
11:24:34 AM Amendment adopted
11:24:38 AM Chair Leek
11:24:58 AM Speaker Jorge Chamizo, Petland
11:28:59 AM Speaker Larry Downs, Jr.
11:29:01 AM Diana Ferguson, Florida Animal Control Association waives
11:29:03 AM Elleyn Bogdanoff, Big Dog Ranch Rescue waives
11:29:05 AM Brandon Johnson, American Kennel Club waives
11:31:11 AM Chair Leek
11:31:17 AM Debate
11:31:22 AM Senator Arrington
11:31:59 AM Chair Leek
11:32:14 AM Senator Garcia with closure
11:33:30 AM Roll call
11:33:47 AM CS/SB 1356 reported favorably
11:34:02 AM Gavel passed to Senator Arrington
11:34:09 AM Tab 6, SB 1722 by Senator Calatayud, Application Stores introduced by Chair Arrington
11:34:18 AM Senator Calatayud explains the Bill
11:35:04 AM Chair Arrington
11:35:27 AM Speaker Larry Downs, Jr.
11:37:57 AM Speaker Julie Barrett
11:41:52 AM Questions
11:41:55 AM Senator Smith
11:43:07 AM Julie Barrett
11:45:51 AM Senator Smith
11:48:23 AM Julie Barrett
11:48:40 AM Speaker Justin Hill
11:49:14 AM Aaron DiPietro, Florida Family Voice waives
11:52:14 AM Speaker Chris Carmudy, Meta
11:52:29 AM Nathan Hoffman waives
11:54:50 AM Question
11:54:54 AM Senator Yarborough
11:55:11 AM Chris Carmudy
11:56:43 AM Speaker Andrew Zack, Suncoast League of Cities
11:57:09 AM John Labriola, Christian Family Coalition Florida waives
11:59:52 AM Question
11:59:57 AM Senator Smith
12:00:13 PM Andrew Zack
12:01:01 PM Anthony Verdugo, Christian Family Coalition Florida waives
12:01:08 PM Edward Longe, James Madison Institute
12:01:15 PM Debate
12:01:22 PM Senator Yarborough
12:03:23 PM Senator Smith
12:06:22 PM Chair Arrington
12:06:34 PM Senator Calatayud with closure
12:09:45 PM Roll call
12:10:10 PM SB 1722 reported favorably
12:10:19 PM Gavel returned to Senator Leek
12:10:22 PM Chair Leek
12:10:32 PM Tab 2, SB 422 by Senator Wright, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-broadcasts
introduced by Chair Leek
12:10:47 PM Senator Wright explains the Bill
12:11:41 PM Chair Leek
12:11:46 PM Amendment Barcode No. 388214 introduced by Chair Leek
12:11:55 PM Senator Wright explains the Amendment
12:11:57 PM Chair Leek
12:12:11 PM Closure waived
12:12:14 PM Amendment adopted
12:12:17 PM Chair Leek
12:12:22 PM Question
12:12:26 PM Senator Arrington
12:12:46 PM Senator Wright
12:13:08 PM Chair Leek
12:13:24 PM Speaker Donald Frano
12:17:24 PM Speaker Justin Towles
12:20:21 PM Speaker Stacey Heaton, AOPA
12:22:02 PM Chair Leek
12:22:08 PM Debate
12:22:12 PM Senator Arrington
12:22:25 PM Chair Leek
12:22:32 PM Senator Wright with closure
12:23:01 PM Roll call
12:23:22 PM CS/SB 422 reported favorably
12:24:00 PM Tabs 7 and 8, Reemployment Assistance Appeals and the Board of Supervisors of the
Central Florida Tourism Oversight District introduced by Chair Leek
12:24:05 PM Chair Leek
12:24:20 PM Senator Mayfield moves to recommend confirmation
12:24:22 PM Chair Leek
12:24:25 PM Motion adopted
12:24:28 PM Roll call
12:24:44 PM Confirmations favorable
12:24:48 PM Chair Leek
12:25:02 PM Senator Yarborough moves to vote in the affirmative on Tab 1, CS/SB 198
12:25:09 PM Senator DiCeglie moves to vote in the affirmative on Tab 1, CS/SB 198
12:25:12 PM Chair Leek
12:25:23 PM Senator Yarborough moves to adjourn
12:25:26 PM Meeting adjourned
The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Commerce and Tourism
BILL: CS/SB 198
INTRODUCER: Banking and Insurance Committee and Senator Rouson
SUBJECT: Virtual Currency Kiosks
DATE: February 3, 2026 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Moody Knudson BI Fav/CS
2. Renner McKay CM Favorable
3. RC
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information:
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes
I. Summary:
CS/SB 198 establishes a regulatory framework for virtual currency kiosks and protects users of
kiosks by:
• Requiring a virtual currency kiosk business (except licensed money transmitters) to comply
with registration requirements.
• Requiring that virtual currency kiosks must:
o Ask each customer the amount of any of the customer’s other virtual currency
transactions conducted the same calendar day; and
o Provide a notice to customers that fraud that begins with contact from strangers lying
about their identity.
• Restricting the total dollar amount of all transactions per customer each calendar day to
$2,000 for new customers and $10,000 for existing customers.
• Requiring a customer to be provided with an electronic receipt.
• Requiring a full refund in specified circumstances.
The bill has an indeterminate fiscal impact on state government expenditures. See Section V.
Fiscal Impact Statement.
The bill is effective January 1, 2027.
BILL: CS/SB 198 Page 2
II. Present Situation:
A virtual currency kiosk, also known as a cryptocurrency kiosk or a Bitcoin automatic teller
machine (ATM), is a physical machine that enables customers to exchange virtual currencies for
fiat currency or other virtual currencies.1 As of January 2026, there are over 30,000 virtual
currency kiosks in the United States.2 Consumers are typically charged fees between 9 percent
and 12 percent of the value of the transaction, but such fees may range from four percent to
greater than 20 percent of the value of a transaction.3
A virtual currency kiosk may be unidirectional, allowing only the sale of virtual currency, or
bidirectional, allowing both the sale and purchase of virtual currency.4 To purchase virtual
currency from a kiosk, a consumer may store the purchased virtual currency in their own wallet
or send the currency to a third party’s wallet if the purchaser has a quick response (QR) code to
that person’s wallet.5 To sell virtual currency from a kiosk, a user deposits it into the machine’s
wallet, usually via a QR code displayed on the kiosk’s screen, and the kiosk dispenses cash when
the transaction is completed.6
Federal Regulation
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”), a bureau of the United States
Department of Treasury,7 is responsible for safeguarding the financial system from illegal use,
combatting money laundering and related crimes, and promoting national security.8 Unless an
exception applies, a money services business9 (MSB) must register with FinCEN.10 An MSB
registration period is two calendar years.11 Any person who fails to comply with the registration
requirements is liable for a civil penalty of $5,000 for each violation.12 An MSB must develop,
implement, and maintain an anti-money laundering program that includes, among other things,
verifying customer identification.13 An MSB must also comply with anti-money laundering
reporting requirements, such as reporting certain payment transactions by, through, or to the
MSB that involve a transaction of more than $10,000.14
1
National Association of Attorneys General, Your Bitcoin on Every Block: An Introduction to Cryptocurrency Kiosks,
May 4, 2022, available at Your Bitcoin on Every Block: An Introduction to Cryptocurrency Kiosks (naag.org) (last visited
Feb. 3, 2026) (hereinafter cited as “Attorneys General Article on Cryptocurrency Kiosks”).
2
Coin ATM Radar, Bitcoin ATM Installations Growth (United States), available at Bitcoin ATM Installation Growth in
United States (last visited Feb. 3, 2026).
3
Attorneys General Article on Cryptocurrency Kiosks.
4
Id.
5
Id.
6
Id.
7
31 C.F.R. s. 1010.100(s).
8
The U.S. Treasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network: Mission, available at
Mission | FinCEN.gov (last visited Feb. 3, 2026).
9
“Money services business” is defined as a person wherever located doing business, whether or not on a regular basis or as
an organized or licensed business concern, wholly or in substantial part within the United States, in one or more of the
capacities specified under federal law. 31 C.F.R. s. 1010.100(ff).
10
31 C.F.R. s. 1022.380(a).
11
31 C.F.R. s. 1022.380(b).
12
31 C.F.R. s. 1022.380(e) (providing that each day a violation continues constitutes a separate violation).
13
31 C.F.R. s. 1022.210.
14
31 C.F.R. s. 1010.311.
BILL: CS/SB 198 Page 3
FinCEN has issued guidance that, unless an exception applies, an administrator15 or exchanger16
that: (a) accepts or transmits, or (b) buys or sells, virtual currency17 is a money transmitter that
are subject to money services business registration, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements.18
Therefore, FinCEN treats virtual currency kiosk operators as MSBs, subject to registration
regulations.19 Notwithstanding this requirement, the United States Government Accountability
Office (“GAO”) reports that only 164 of the estimated 297 kiosk operators in the United States
were registered in 2020, which has contributed to federal agencies, such as FinCEN, facing
challenges in identifying virtual currency kiosk locations.20
Florida Regulation of Money Services Businesses
The Florida Office of Financial Regulation (OFR) is responsible for all activities of the Financial
Services Commission (Commission) relating to the regulation of banks, credit unions, other
financial institutions, finance companies, and the securities industry.21
Money Services Businesses
As part of the OFR’s responsibilities, the OFR oversees MSBs. As of January 2025, there were
663 MSBs licensed by the OFR, with an additional 42,846 authorized locations and branches.22
An MSB includes any person located or doing business in Florida who acts as, amongst other
15
“Administrator” is defined as “a person engaged as a business in issuing (putting into circulation) a virtual currency, and
who has the authority to redeem (to withdraw from circulation) such virtual currency.” The U. S. Treasury FinCEN,
Application of FinCEN’s Regulations to Persons Administering, Exchanging, or Using Virtual Currencies, Mar. 18, 2013,
available at Application of FinCEN’s Regulations to Persons Administering, Exchanging, or Using Virtual Currencies |
FinCEN.gov (last visited Feb. 3, 2026) (hereinafter cited as “FinCEN Guidance on Persons Administering, Exchanging, or
Using Virtual Currency”).
16
“Exchanger” is defined as “a person engaged as a business in the exchange of virtual currency for real currency, funds, or
other virtual currency.” Id.
17
“Virtual Currency” is defined as “a medium of exchange that operates like a currency in some environments, but does not
have all of the attributes of real currency.” “Convertible” virtual currency has an equivalent value in real currency or acts as a
substitute for real currency. Id.
18
FinCEN Guidance on Persons Administering, Exchanging, or Using Virtual Currency. “Money transmitter” is defined as
“a person who provides money transmitter services, which means the acceptance of currency, funds, or other value that
substitutes for currency from one person and the transmission of currency, funds, or other value that substitutes for currency
to another location or person by any means.” “Any means” includes, but is not limited to, “a financial agency or institution, a
Federal Reserve Bank, an electronic funds transfer network, or an informal value transfer system.”
31 C.F.R. s. 1010.100(ff)(5)(A).
19
Id.; See also Article on US GAO Urges New Virtual Currency Regulations.
20
The GAO, Virtual Currencies Additional Information Could Improve Federal Agency Efforts to Counter Human and Drug
Trafficking [Reissued with Revisions Feb. 7, 2022], GAO-22-105462, Published: Dec. 8, 2021, Publicly Released:
Jan. 10, 2022, available at https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-22-105462 (last visited Feb. 3, 2026).
21
Section 20.121(3)(a)2., F.S.
22
Email from Jason Holloway, Director of Fintech Policy, OFR to Jacqueline Moody, Florida Senate Committee on Banking
and Insurance, Senior Attorney, Re: SB 292 – Virtual Currency Kiosk, (Mar. 18, 2025) (on file with the Senate Committee on
Banking and Insurance).
BILL: CS/SB 198 Page 4
things, a money transmitter.23,24 Money transmitters reported $591,129,248,691 in transmissions
during the Fiscal Year 2024-2025.25
Licenses issued to MSBs are valid until April 30 of the second year following the date of
issuance and are valid for two years.26 An MSB that does not renew its license by April 30 of its
expiration year is deemed inactive, and if the license is not reactivated within 60 days, it will
permanently expire.27 An MSB must submit any application required by rule and pay the renewal
or reactivation fee online via the Regulatory Enforcement and Licensing (REAL) System to
renew or reactivate a license.28
Once licensed, an MSB is required to report any change in control persons.29,30 If any person,
directly or indirectly, or acting by or through one or more persons, proposes to purchase or
acquire a controlling interest in an MSB, such person or group must submit a new application for
licensure at least 30 days before such purchase or acquisition.31 Such a change of control
application is not required if the person or group of persons has previously complied with
applicable licensing provisions, provided that they are currently affiliated with the MSB, or if the
person or group of persons is currently licensed with the OFR as an MSB.32 A change of control
23
Section 560.103(24), F.S. defines “money transmitter” as corporation, limited liability company, limited liability
partnership, or foreign entity qualified to do business in Florida which receives currency, monetary value, a payment
instrument, or virtual currency23 for the purpose of acting as an intermediary to transmit currency, monetary value, a payment
instrument, or virtual currency from one person to another location or person by means, including transmission by wire,
facsimile, electronic transfer, courier, the Internet, or through bill payment services or other businesses that facilitate such
transfer within this country, or to or from this country. The term includes only an intermediary that can unilaterally execute or
indefinitely prevent a transaction.
24
Section 560.103(23), F.S.
25
Email from Jason Holloway, Director of Fintech Policy, OFR to Jacqueline Moody, Florida Senate Committee on Banking
and Insurance, Senior Attorney, Re: SB 198 – Virtual Currency, (Jan. 15, 2026) (on file with the Senate Committee on
Banking and Insurance) (hereinafter cited as “OFR Email Re: SB 198”).
26
Section 560.141(2), F.S.
27
Section 560.142(4), F.S.
28
Section 560.142(1), F.S.
29
Section 560.103(10), F.S., defines “Control person,” with respect to a money services business, as any of the following:
(a) A person who holds the title of president, treasurer, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, chief operations officer,
chief legal officer, or compliance officer for a money services business; (b) A person who holds any of the officer, general
partner, manager, or managing member positions named in the money services business’s governing documents. As used in
this paragraph, the term “governing documents” includes bylaws, articles of incorporation or organization, partnership
agreements, shareholder agreements, and management or operating agreements; (c) A director of the money services
business’s board of directors; (d) A shareholder in whose name shares are registered in the records of a corporation for profit,
whether incorporated under the laws of this state or organized under the laws of any other jurisdiction and existing in that
legal form, who owns 25 percent or more of a class of the company’s equity securities; (e) A general partner or a limited
partner, as those terms are defined in s. 620.1102, F.S., who has a 25 percent or more transferable interest, as defined in
s. 620.1102, F.S., of a limited partnership, limited liability limited partnership, foreign limited partnership, or foreign limited
liability limited partnership, as those terms are defined in s. 620.1102, F.S. (f) A member, who is a person that owns a
membership interest in a limited liability company or a foreign limited liability company, as those terms are defined in
s. 605.0102(36) and (26), F.S., respectively, that holds a 25 percent or more membership interest in such company. As used
in this subsection, the term “membership interest” means a member’s right to receive distributions or other rights, such as
voting rights or management rights, under the articles of organization; (g) A natural person who indirectly owns 25 percent or
more of the shares or stock interest, transferable interest as defined in s. 620.1102, F.S., or membership interest as defined in
paragraph (f), of any legal entities referred to in paragraphs (d)-(f).
30
Section 560.126(3), F.S.
31
Section 560.126(3)(a), F.S.; r. 69v-560.201(4), F.A.C.
32
Section 560.126(3)(c), F.S.; r. 69v-560.201(6), F.A.C.
BILL: CS/SB 198 Page 5
application must be accompanied by the payment of an initial licensing fee33 and a fee per branch
or authorized vendor,34 up to a maximum of $20,000.35
The OFR has enforcement authority against MSBs for violating any state law relating to the
detection and prevention of money laundering.36
Virtual Currency Kiosk Businesses
The OFR reports that there are currently 39 known operators and 3,178 known kiosks in
Florida.37 Under current Florida law, an operator of a virtual currency kiosk that falls within the
definition of a money transmitter is required to be licensed as an MSB. Florida does not have a
separate regulatory regime for virtual currency businesses or virtual currency kiosk businesses.
The OFR reports that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) have received complaints from Florida of alleged victim losses related to
virtual currency kiosks totaling about $33 million38 to approximately 1,739 Florida victims from
January 2020 to March 2025.39 Since January 2024, the OFR has opened approximately
75 investigations regarding approximately $1.8 million in losses related to virtual currency
kiosks.40
Other States’ Laws
More than 10 states have passed laws regulating virtual currency kiosks.41 All of the states that
regulate kiosks have requirements for operators of the kiosks to be licensed or registered,42
33
Fees are determined by whether the MSB is licensed under Part II or Part III of Chapter 560. Initial licensing fees under
Part II licenses require a $375 license application fee per s. 560.143(1)(a), F.S. Part III licenses require a $188 license
application fee per s. 560.143(b), F.S.
34
Section 560.143(1)(c) and (d), F.S., provides that both the per branch fee and the authorized vendor fee are $38.
35
Section 560.143(1)(g), F.S.
36
Section 560.123, F.S.
37
OFR Email Re: SB 198 (citing Coin ATM Radar, Bitcoin ATMs in Florida, available at: Bitcoin ATM Florida, FL United
States (last visited Feb. 3, 2026)).
38
OFR Email Re: SB 198.
39
Email from Jason Holloway, Director of Fintech Policy, OFR, to Jacqueline Moody, Florida Senate Committee on Banking
and Insurance, Senior Attorney, Virtual Currency Kiosk Businesses, (Mar. 18, 2025) (on file with Senate Committee on
Banking and Insurance) (forwarding email from Alex B Toledo, Chief, Bureau of Financial Investigations, OFR to Jason
Holloway, Director of Fintech Policy, OFR, Re: [EXT] HB 319 Virtual Currency Kiosk Businesses, (Mar. 10, 2025) (on file
with the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance)).
40
Id.
41
Arizona (A.R.S. s. 6-1236), Arkansas (A.C.A. s. 23-55-1008), California (CA Fin. Code ss. 3901 – 3907), Colorado (SB
25-079), Connecticut (Conn. Gen. Stat. 36a-595 to 36a-612), Illinois (30 ILCS 105/5.1030), Iowa (Iowa Code s. 533C.1004),
Louisiana (La. Act No. 369 (HB 483) (2025)), Maryland (Md. Code, Financial Institutions, s. 12-1201 et seq.), Missouri
(RSMo s. 361.1100), Nebraska (Neb. Rev. Stat. ss. 8-3032 – 8-3042), North Dakota (HB 1447 (2025)), Oklahoma (Okla.
Stat. tit. 6, s. 1520), Rhode Island (R.I. Gen. Law ss. 19-14.3-3.9 to 3.13), Vermont (8 V.S.A. s. 2577), Maine (32 M.R.S. s.
6169).
42
California does not require a license for operators of kiosks unless, on or after July 1, 2026, the operator engages in digital
financial asset business activity via kiosks. Cal. Fin. Code s. 3907.
BILL: CS/SB 198 Page 6
except Colorado and Iowa.43 All of them have consisted of all or some44 of the following
provisions that require:
• Specified disclosures before a customer can initiate a transaction;
• An electronic receipt to be provided to the customer upon completion of a transaction;
• A refund to be issued to certain customers in specified circumstances; and
• An owner or operator to limit the daily transaction amount per customer.
Some state laws contain additional protections; for instance, several states provide for anti-fraud
regulation45 and fee caps.46
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
CS/SB 198 establishes the regulatory framework for virtual currency kiosks, including
registration and disclosure requirements, daily transaction limits, and requirements to provide an
electronic receipt for each transaction and refunds if certain conditions are met.
Section 1 amends s. 560.103, F.S., revising the definition of “money services businesses” to
include virtual currency kiosk businesses as a type of money service business. The bill also
defines the following terms:
• “Virtual currency kiosk” means an electronic terminal that acts as a mechanical agent of the
kiosk business, enabling the kiosk business to facilitate the exchange of virtual currency for
fiat currency or other virtual currency for a customer.
• “Virtual currency kiosk business” or “kiosk business” means a corporation, limited liability
company, limited liability partnership, or foreign entity qualified to do business in this state
which offers virtual currency kiosk services to a customer in this state.
• “Virtual currency kiosk transaction” means the process in which a customer uses a virtual
currency kiosk to exchange virtual currency for fiat currency or other virtual currency. A
transaction begins at the point at which the customer is able to initiate a transaction after the
customer is given the option to select the type of transaction or account and does not include
any of the screens that display the required terms and conditions, disclaimers, or attestations.
Section 2 amends s. 560.105, F.S., authorizing the Financial Services Commission to adopt rules
to regulate virtual currency kiosk businesses.
Section 3 creates part V of ch. 560, F.S., entitled “Virtual Currency Kiosk Businesses,” in which
the provisions regulating virtual currency kiosk businesses are contained.
Section 4 creates s. 560.501, F.S., defining the following terms:
43
Colorado SB 25-079 (2025); Iowa Code s. 533C.1004.
44
California law does not require a refund in specified circumstances. See Cal. Fin. Code s. 3901-3907. Louisiana law does
not provide for receipt requirements. See La. Act No. 369 (HB 483) (2025)). Missouri law does not provide daily transaction
limits. See Mo. Rev. Stat. s. 361.1100. Vermont law does not provide for specific disclosure requirements or receipt
requirements. See 8 V.S.A. s. 2577.
45
Examples include Louisiana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and Vermont.
46
Examples include California, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Maine have fee caps. Connecticut
authorizes the Banking Commissioner to establish a schedule of maximum fees for specific kiosk services.
BILL: CS/SB 198 Page 7
• “Blockchain” means a mathematically secured, chronological, decentralized, distributed, and
digital ledger or database that consists of records of transactions that cannot be altered
retroactively.
• “Blockchain analytics” means the process of examining, monitoring, and gathering insights
from the data and transaction patterns on a blockchain network. The primary aims of
blockchain analytics are to understand and monitor the network’s health, track transaction
flows, and identify potential security threats, including illicit activity, in order to extract
actionable insights.
• “Daily transaction limit” means a new customer transaction of no more than $2,000 per
calendar day, or an existing customer transaction of no more than $10,000 per calendar day,
whether through a single transaction or multiple transactions or whether through one or more
virtual currency kiosks.
• “Existing customer” means a customer who has transacted with the owner or operator of a
virtual currency kiosk for 7 or more days.
• “New customer” means a customer who has transacted with the owner or operator of a
virtual currency kiosk for fewer than 7 days.
• “Registrant” means a corporation, limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or
foreign entity qualified to do business in this state which offers virtual currency kiosk
services and receives notice from the OFR that the agency has granted an application for
registration.
• “Transaction hash” means a unique identifier consisting of a string of characters which
provides a verifiable record that a transaction has been confirmed and added to the
blockchain.
• “Wallet” means hardware or software that enables a customer to store, use, send, receive, and
spend virtual currency or store virtual currency private keys or passcodes enabling the same.
Section 5 creates s. 560.502, F.S., prohibiting a virtual currency kiosk business from operating in
the state without first registering, or renewing its registration. The OFR must give written notice
to each applicant that the OFR has granted or denied the application for registration. A money
transmitter that is licensed as a money services business is exempt from registration as a virtual
currency kiosk business but is subject to ss. 560.504 through 560.507, F.S. An entity may not
operate as an intermediary with the ability to unilaterally execute or indefinitely prevent a virtual
currency kiosk transaction, or otherwise act as a money transmitter, without being licensed as a
money services business. A virtual currency kiosk business registration is not transferable or
assignable.
Section 6 creates s. 560.503, F.S., providing the information an applicant must submit to apply
to register as a virtual currency kiosk business. Such information must include:
• A completed registration application on the form with the following information:
o The legal name and the physical and mailing addresses of the applicant.
o The date of the applicant’s formation and any state in which the applicant was
formed.
o The name, social security number, alien identification or taxpayer identification
number, business and residence addresses, and employment history for the past 5
years for each control person.
BILL: CS/SB 198 Page 8
o A description of the organizational structure of the applicant and the disclosure of
whether any parent or subsidiary is publicly traded.
o The name and mailing address of the registered agent.
o The physical address of each virtual currency kiosk through which the applicant
proposes to conduct or is conducting business in this state.
o An attestation that the applicant has developed clearly documented policies,
processes, and procedures regarding the use of blockchain analytics to prevent
transfers to wallet addresses linked to known criminal activity, including specified
information.
o Any other information required ch. 560, F.S., or commission rule.
• Any information needed to resolve any deficiencies found in the application within a time
period prescribed by rule.
A virtual currency kiosk business operating in this state on or before January 1, 2027, must
submit a registration application to the OFR within 30 days after that date. A registrant must
report, on a form prescribed by rule of the commission, any change to the information contained
in an application form within 30 days after the change is effective.
A registrant must renew its registration annually on or before December 31 of the year preceding
the expiration date of the registration. To renew such registration, the registrant must submit a
renewal application that provides:
• Any changes in the required information contained in an initial registration application, or an
affidavit signed by the registrant that the information remains the same as the prior year’s
information.
• Upon request by the OFR, evidence that the registrant has been operating in compliance with
ss. 560.504 through 560.507, F.S., which may be prescribed by rule and may include:
o Current disclosures presented to customers during the transaction process.
o Current use of blockchain analytics to prevent transfers to wallet addresses linked to
known criminal activity.
A registration that is not renewed by December 31 of the year preceding expiration will be made
inactive for 60 days. A registrant is not allowed to conduct business while its registration is
inactive. To renew an inactive registration, a registrant must submit, within 60 days after the
registration becomes inactive, all of the following:
• Any changes in the required information contained in an initial registration application, or an
affidavit signed by the registrant that the information remains the same as the prior year’s
information.
• Evidence that the registrant has been operating in compliance with ss. 560.504 through
560.507, F.S., as prescribed by commission rule, may include:
o Current disclosures presented to customers during the transaction process.
o Reports that confirm compliance with daily transaction limits.
o Copies of receipts provided to customers.
o Records showing refunds provided to customers in required circumstances.
o Current use of blockchain analytics to prevent transfers to wallet addresses linked to
known criminal activity.
BILL: CS/SB 198 Page 9
Any renewal registration made under this provision becomes effective on the date the OFR
approves the application for registration. The OFR must approve the application for renewal
registration within a timeframe prescribed by rule. Unless an exception applies for a licensed
money transmitter, a registration will expire if a virtual currency kiosk fails to submit an
application to renew a registration within 60 days after the registration becomes inactive. If the
registration expires, a new application to register the virtual currency kiosk business must be
submitted to the OFR, and the OFR must issue a registration certificate before the virtual
currency kiosk business may operate.
The OFR may deny a prospective registrant’s initial registration application or the registrant’s
renewal application if a control person of a registrant or prospective registrant has engaged in
any unlawful business practice, or been convicted or found guilty of, or pled guilty or nolo
contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a crime involving dishonest dealing, fraud, acts of
moral turpitude, or other acts that reflect an inability to engage lawfully in the business of a
registered virtual currency kiosk business. The OFR must deny an application to renew a virtual
currency kiosk business registration that fails to provide any requested or required evidence of
compliance. Any false statement made by a virtual currency kiosk business in an application for
registration renders the registration void. A void registration may not be construed as creating a
defense to any prosecution for violation of chapter 560, F.S.
Section 7 creates s. 560.504, F.S., providing that before a customer initiates a virtual currency
kiosk transaction, the virtual currency kiosk business must ensure that the virtual currency kiosk:
• Requires a customer to confirm whether the customer has conducted any transactions at
another kiosk on the same calendar day and any amount of such transaction to determine how
much a customer may transact at the kiosk before reaching the daily transaction limit.
• Clearly and consciously display the following disclosure to the customer:
WARNING: FRAUD OFTEN STARTS WITH CONTACT FROM A
STRANGER. IF YOU HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO THIS MACHINE
BY SOMEONE CLAIMING TO BE A GOVERNMENT AGENT, BILL
COLLECTOR, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, OR ANYONE YOU
DO NOT KNOW PERSONALLY, STOP THIS TRANSACTION
IMMEDIATELY AND CONTACT YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR OR
LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT.
Section 8 creates s. 560.505, F.S., prohibiting a kiosk business from allowing a new customer or
an existing customer to transact more than $2,000 or $10,000 per calendar day, respectively,
through a single or multiple transactions.
Section 9 creates s. 560.506, F.S., providing that once the transaction is completed, the kiosk
business must provide the customer with an electronic receipt that includes the following
information:
• The name and contact information of the kiosk business, including an email address and a
toll-free telephone number for such business.
• The date, time, amount of the transaction in United States dollars, and type of transaction.
• The transaction hash and each wallet used.
• The total fee charged for the transaction.
BILL: CS/SB 198 Page 10
• The exchange rate, if applicable.
• A statement of the kiosk business’s liability, if any, for nondelivery or delayed delivery of
the currency.
• The refund policy of the kiosk business.
Section 10 creates s. 560.507, F.S., requiring a kiosk business to issue a full refund within 72
hours to a customer for their first virtual currency transaction if:
• The customer transferred virtual currency to a wallet or exchange located outside the United
States;
• Within 60 days, the customer notifies both the kiosk business and a law enforcement or
governmental agency regarding the fraudulent nature of the transaction; and
• The customer provides proof of the alleged fraud to the kiosk business, such as a police
report or a notarized affidavit.
Section 11 provides that, except as otherwise expressly provided in this act, the bill is effective
January 1, 2027.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
BILL: CS/SB 198 Page 11
C. Government Sector Impact:
The OFR reports the bill has an indeterminate fiscal impact on state government
expenditures because “[i]t is unknown whether this bill will apply to licensed money
transmitters.”47
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends the following sections of the Florida Statutes: 560.103 and
560.105.
This bill creates the following sections of the Florida Statutes: 560.501, 560.502, 560.503,
560.504, 560.505, 560.506, and 560.507.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Substantial Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
CS by Banking and Insurance Committee on January 28, 2026:
• Amends the definition of “money services businesses” to include kiosk businesses as
a type of money services businesses.
• Creates part V of ch. 560, F.S., relating to Virtual Currency Kiosk Businesses.
• Effective March 1, 2027, provides a kiosk business may not operate in the state
without first registering with the OFR, except licensed money transmitters.
• Prohibits an entity from acting as an intermediary without being licensed as a money
transmitter.
• Prohibits a kiosk business registration from being transferred or assigned.
• Requires a kiosk business to comply with certain registration requirements.
• Requires the OFR to deny a kiosk business registration application in certain
circumstances.
• Voids a kiosk business registration if false information is provided in an application
for registration.
• Requires a kiosk to confirm whether the customer has conducted any transactions at
another virtual currency kiosk on the same calendar day and any amount of such
transaction.
47
The OFR, 2026 Agency Legislative Bill Analysis, Florida Office of Financial Regulation for SB 198, p. 3, Dec. 30, 2025
(on file with the Senate Committee on Banking and Insurance).
BILL: CS/SB 198 Page 12
• Clarifies the maximum amount a customer may transact per virtual currency kiosk
each calendar day.
• Clarifies the information a kiosk business must include in an electronic receipt that is
provided to a customer who completes a virtual currency kiosk transaction.
• Clarifies that a customer must provide proof of the “alleged” fraud to a kiosk business
to receive a refund.
• Defines terms relating to virtual currency kiosks, blockchain technology, and
transaction limits.
• Makes conforming changes.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 198 Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 198
By the Committee on Banking and Insurance; and Senator Rouson
597-02288-26 2026198c1 597-02288-26 2026198c1
1 A bill to be entitled 30 renewal application; requiring registrants to be made
2 An act relating to virtual currency kiosks; amending 31 inactive for a specified timeframe under certain
3 s. 560.103, F.S.; revising the definition of the term 32 circumstances; prohibiting registrants from conducting
4 “money services business”; defining terms; amending s. 33 business while registration is inactive; specifying
5 560.105, F.S.; revising the requirements for certain 34 requirements for registrants to renew an inactive
6 rules adopted by the Financial Services Commission; 35 registration; providing that a renewal registration
7 creating part V of ch. 560, F.S., entitled “Virtual 36 becomes effective on a specified date; requiring the
8 Currency Kiosk Businesses”; creating s. 560.501, F.S.; 37 office to approve applications for renewal
9 defining terms; creating s. 560.502, F.S.; prohibiting 38 registration within a specified timeframe; providing
10 a virtual currency kiosk business from operating in 39 that a registration expires under certain
11 this state without registering or renewing its 40 circumstances; providing requirements if a
12 registration; requiring the Office of Financial 41 registration expires; authorizing the office to deny
13 Regulation to give a specified notice to applicants; 42 certain applications under certain circumstances;
14 specifying that certain money transmitters are exempt 43 providing that certain false statements made by a
15 from registration as a virtual currency kiosk business 44 virtual currency kiosk business render its
16 but are subject to certain provisions; prohibiting 45 registration void; providing construction; creating s.
17 certain entities from performing certain actions 46 560.504, F.S.; requiring a virtual currency kiosk
18 without being licensed as a money services business; 47 business to ensure that the virtual currency kiosk
19 specifying that virtual currency kiosk business 48 requires certain attestations from the customer and
20 registrations are not transferable or assignable; 49 displays a certain disclosure; creating s. 560.505,
21 creating s. 560.503, F.S.; requiring applicants to 50 F.S.; prohibiting a virtual currency kiosk business
22 submit certain information to the office to be 51 from permitting new or existing customers from
23 registered as a virtual currency kiosk business; 52 transacting more than specified dollar amounts per
24 requiring certain virtual currency kiosk businesses to 53 calendar day; creating s. 560.506, F.S.; requiring a
25 submit a registration application to the office by a 54 virtual currency kiosk business to provide a customer
26 specified date; requiring registrants to report a 55 with a specified electronic receipt upon completion of
27 change in the information within a specified 56 a virtual currency transaction; creating s. 560.507,
28 timeframe; requiring registrants to renew their 57 F.S.; requiring a virtual currency kiosk business to
29 registration annually; specifying requirements for a 58 issue a full refund under certain circumstances;
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59 providing effective dates. 88 select the type of transaction or account and does not include
60 89 any of the screens that display the required terms and
61 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 90 conditions, disclaimers, or attestations.
62 91 Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section
63 Section 1. Subsection (23) of section 560.103, Florida 92 560.105, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
64 Statutes, is amended, and subsections (37) through (39) are 93 560.105 Supervisory powers; rulemaking.—
65 added to that section, to read: 94 (2) The commission may adopt rules pursuant to ss.
66 560.103 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term: 95 120.536(1) and 120.54 to administer this chapter.
67 (23) “Money services business” means any person located in 96 (b) Rules adopted to regulate money services businesses,
68 or doing business in this state, from this state, or into this 97 including deferred presentment providers and virtual currency
69 state from locations outside this state or country who acts as a 98 kiosk businesses, must be responsive to changes in economic
70 payment instrument seller, foreign currency exchanger, check 99 conditions, technology, and industry practices.
71 casher, or money transmitter, or virtual currency kiosk 100 Section 3. Part V of chapter 560, Florida Statutes,
72 business. 101 consisting of ss. 560.501-560.507, Florida Statutes, is created
73 (37) “Virtual currency kiosk” means an electronic terminal 102 and entitled “Virtual Currency Kiosk Businesses.”
74 that acts as a mechanical agent of the kiosk business, enabling 103 Section 4. Section 560.501, Florida Statutes, is created to
75 the kiosk business to facilitate the exchange of virtual 104 read:
76 currency for fiat currency or other virtual currency for a 105 560.501 Definitions.—For purposes of this part, the term:
77 customer. 106 (1) “Blockchain” means a mathematically secured,
78 (38) “Virtual currency kiosk business” or “kiosk business” 107 chronological, decentralized, distributed, and digital ledger or
79 means a corporation, limited liability company, limited 108 database that consists of records of transactions that cannot be
80 liability partnership, or foreign entity qualified to do 109 altered retroactively.
81 business in this state which offers virtual currency kiosk 110 (2) “Blockchain analytics” means the process of examining,
82 services to a customer in this state. 111 monitoring, and gathering insights from the data and transaction
83 (39) “Virtual currency kiosk transaction” means the process 112 patterns on a blockchain network. The primary aims of blockchain
84 in which a customer uses a virtual currency kiosk to exchange 113 analytics are to understand and monitor the network’s health,
85 virtual currency for fiat currency or other virtual currency. A 114 track transaction flows, and identify potential security
86 transaction begins at the point at which the customer is able to 115 threats, including illicit activity, in order to extract
87 initiate a transaction after the customer is given the option to 116 actionable insights.
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117 (3) “Daily transaction limit” means a new customer 146 (1) Except as provided in subsection (2), a virtual
118 transaction of no more than $2,000 per calendar day, or an 147 currency kiosk business may not operate in this state without
119 existing customer transaction of no more than $10,000 per 148 first registering, or renewing its registration, in accordance
120 calendar day, whether through a single transaction or multiple 149 with s. 560.503. The office shall give written notice to each
121 transactions or whether through one or more virtual currency 150 applicant that the office has granted or denied the application
122 kiosks. 151 for registration.
123 (4) “Existing customer” means a customer who has transacted 152 (2) A money transmitter that is licensed as a money
124 with a kiosk business on its virtual currency kiosk for 7 or 153 services business pursuant to s. 560.141 and offers virtual
125 more days. 154 currency kiosk services is exempt from registration as a virtual
126 (5) “New customer” means a customer who has transacted with 155 currency kiosk business but is subject to ss. 560.504, 560.505,
127 a kiosk business on its virtual currency kiosk for fewer than 7 156 560.506, and 560.507.
128 days. 157 (3) An entity, in the course of its business, may not act
129 (6) “Registrant” means a corporation, limited liability 158 as an intermediary with the ability to unilaterally execute or
130 company, limited liability partnership, or foreign entity 159 indefinitely prevent a virtual currency kiosk transaction, or
131 qualified to do business in this state which offers virtual 160 otherwise meet the definition of a money transmitter as defined
132 currency kiosk services and receives notice from the office that 161 in s. 560.103, without being licensed as a money services
133 the agency has granted an application for registration pursuant 162 business pursuant to s. 560.141.
134 to the provisions of this part. 163 (4) A virtual currency kiosk business registration issued
135 (7) “Transaction hash” means a unique identifier consisting 164 under this part is not transferable or assignable.
136 of a string of characters which provides a verifiable record 165 Section 6. Section 560.503, Florida Statutes, is created to
137 that a transaction has been confirmed and added to the 166 read:
138 blockchain. 167 560.503 Registration applications.—
139 (8) “Wallet” means hardware or software that enables a 168 (1) To apply to be registered as a virtual currency kiosk
140 customer to store, use, send, receive, and spend virtual 169 business under this part, the applicant must submit all of the
141 currency or store virtual currency private keys or passcodes 170 following information to the office:
142 enabling the same. 171 (a) A completed registration application on forms
143 Section 5. Effective March 1, 2027, section 560.502, 172 prescribed by rule of the commission. The application must
144 Florida Statutes, is created to read: 173 include the following information:
145 560.502 Registration required; exemptions; penalties.— 174 1. The legal name, including any fictitious or trade names
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175 used by the applicant in the conduct of its business, and the 204 rule.
176 physical and mailing addresses of the applicant. 205 (2) A virtual currency kiosk business operating in this
177 2. The date of the applicant’s formation and the state in 206 state on or before January 1, 2027, must submit a registration
178 which the applicant was formed, if applicable. 207 application to the office within 30 days after that date.
179 3. The name, social security number, alien identification 208 (3) A registrant shall report, on a form prescribed by rule
180 or taxpayer identification number, business and residence 209 of the commission, any change in the information contained in an
181 addresses, and employment history for the past 5 years for each 210 initial application form or an amendment thereto within 30 days
182 control person as defined in s. 560.103. 211 after the change is effective.
183 4. A description of the organizational structure of the 212 (4) A registrant must renew its registration annually on or
184 applicant, including the identity of any parent or subsidiary of 213 before December 31 of the year preceding the expiration date of
185 the applicant, and the disclosure of whether any parent or 214 the registration. To renew such registration, the registrant
186 subsidiary is publicly traded. 215 must submit a renewal application that provides:
187 5. The name and mailing address of the registered agent in 216 (a) The information required in paragraph (1)(a) if there
188 this state for service of process. 217 are changes in the application information, or an affidavit
189 6. The physical address of the location of each virtual 218 signed by the registrant that the information remains the same
190 currency kiosk through which the applicant proposes to conduct 219 as the prior year’s information.
191 or is conducting business in this state. 220 (b) Upon request by the office, evidence that the
192 7. An attestation that the applicant has developed clearly 221 registrant has been operating in compliance with ss. 560.504,
193 documented policies, processes, and procedures regarding the use 222 560.505, 560.506, and 560.507. Such evidence may be prescribed
194 of blockchain analytics to prevent transfers to wallet addresses 223 by rule by the commission and may include, but need not be
195 linked to known criminal activity, including the manner in which 224 limited to, all of the following:
196 such blockchain analytics activity will integrate into its 225 1. Current disclosures presented to customers during the
197 compliance controls, and that the applicant will maintain and 226 transaction process.
198 comply with such blockchain analytics policies, processes, and 227 2. Current use of blockchain analytics to prevent transfers
199 procedures. 228 to wallet addresses linked to known criminal activity.
200 8. Any other information as required by this chapter or 229 (5) A registrant that does not renew its registration by
201 commission rule. 230 December 31 of the year preceding expiration shall be made
202 (b) Any information needed to resolve any deficiencies 231 inactive for 60 days. A registrant may not conduct business
203 found in the application within a time period prescribed by 232 while its registration is inactive.
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233 (6) To renew an inactive registration, a registrant must, 262 inactive shall result in the registration becoming expired. If
234 within 60 days after the registration becomes inactive, submit 263 the registration is expired, a new application to register the
235 all of the following: 264 virtual currency kiosk business pursuant to subsection (1) must
236 (a) The information required in paragraph (1)(a) if there 265 be submitted to the office and a certification of registration
237 are changes in the application information, or an affidavit 266 must be issued by the office before the virtual currency kiosk
238 signed by the registrant that the information remains the same 267 business may conduct business in this state.
239 as the prior year’s information. 268 (8) If a control person of a registrant or prospective
240 (b) Evidence that the registrant was operating in 269 registrant has engaged in any unlawful business practice, or
241 compliance with ss. 560.504, 560.505, 560.506, and 560.507. Such 270 been convicted or found guilty of, or pled guilty or nolo
242 evidence may be prescribed by rule by the commission and may 271 contendere to, regardless of adjudication, a crime involving
243 include, but need not be limited to, all of the following: 272 dishonest dealing, fraud, acts of moral turpitude, or other acts
244 1. Current disclosures presented to customers during the 273 that reflect an inability to engage lawfully in the business of
245 transaction process. 274 a registered virtual currency kiosk business, the office may
246 2. Reports that confirm compliance with daily transaction 275 deny the prospective registrant’s initial registration
247 limits. 276 application or the registrant’s renewal application.
248 3. Copies of receipts provided to customers. 277 (9) The office shall deny the application of a virtual
249 4. Records showing refunds provided to customers in 278 currency kiosk business that submits a renewal application and
250 required circumstances. 279 fails to provide evidence of compliance upon request pursuant to
251 5. Current use of blockchain analytics to prevent transfers 280 paragraph (4)(b) or as required in paragraph (6)(b).
252 to wallet addresses linked to known criminal activity. 281 (10) Any false statement made by a virtual currency kiosk
253 282 business in an application for registration under this section
254 Any renewal registration made pursuant to this subsection 283 renders the registration void. A void registration may not be
255 becomes effective upon the date the office approves the 284 construed as creating a defense to any prosecution for violation
256 application for registration. The office shall approve the 285 of this chapter.
257 application for renewal registration within a timeframe 286 Section 7. Section 560.504, Florida Statutes, is created to
258 prescribed by rule. 287 read:
259 (7) Except as provided in s. 560.502(2), failure to submit 288 560.504 Disclosures.—Before a customer initiates a virtual
260 an application to renew a virtual currency kiosk business’s 289 currency kiosk transaction, the virtual currency kiosk business
261 registration within 60 days after the registration becomes 290 must ensure that the virtual currency kiosk:
Page 9 of 13 Page 10 of 13
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 198 Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 198
597-02288-26 2026198c1 597-02288-26 2026198c1
291 (1) Requires the customer to confirm whether the customer 320 read:
292 has conducted any transactions at another virtual currency kiosk 321 560.506 Mandatory receipt.—Upon completion of a virtual
293 on the same calendar day and any amount of such transactions to 322 currency transaction, the virtual currency kiosk business must
294 determine how much, if any, the customer may transact at the 323 provide the customer with an electronic receipt that includes
295 virtual currency kiosk before reaching the daily transaction 324 all of the following:
296 limit. 325 (1) The name and contact information of the virtual
297 (2) Clearly and conspicuously display the following 326 currency kiosk business, including an e-mail address and a toll-
298 disclosure to the customer on the screen: 327 free telephone number for such business.
299 328 (2) The date, time, amount of the transaction in United
300 WARNING: FRAUD OFTEN STARTS WITH CONTACT FROM A 329 States dollars, and type of the transaction.
301 STRANGER. IF YOU HAVE BEEN DIRECTED TO THIS MACHINE BY 330 (3) The transaction hash and each wallet used.
302 SOMEONE CLAIMING TO BE A GOVERNMENT AGENT, BILL 331 (4) The total fee charged for the transaction.
303 COLLECTOR, LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER, OR ANYONE YOU DO 332 (5) The exchange rate, if applicable.
304 NOT KNOW PERSONALLY, STOP THIS TRANSACTION IMMEDIATELY 333 (6) A statement of the virtual currency kiosk’s liability,
305 AND CONTACT YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR OR LOCAL LAW 334 if any, for nondelivery or delayed delivery of the virtual
306 ENFORCEMENT. 335 currency.
307 336 (7) The refund policy of the virtual currency kiosk
308 Section 8. Section 560.505, Florida Statutes, is created to 337 business.
309 read: 338 Section 10. Section 560.507, Florida Statutes, is created
310 560.505 Transaction limits.—A virtual currency kiosk 339 to read:
311 business may not permit a new customer to transact more than 340 560.507 Mandatory refund.—A virtual currency kiosk business
312 $2,000 per calendar day, whether through a single transaction or 341 must issue a full refund within 72 hours to a customer for the
313 multiple transactions or whether through one or more virtual 342 customer’s first virtual currency transaction if all of the
314 currency kiosks. A virtual currency kiosk business may not 343 following conditions are met:
315 permit an existing customer to transact more than $10,000 per 344 (1) The customer transferred virtual currency to a wallet
316 calendar day, whether through a single transaction or multiple 345 or exchange located outside the United States.
317 transactions or whether through one or more virtual currency 346 (2) Within 60 days, the customer notifies the virtual
318 kiosks. 347 currency kiosk business and a law enforcement or governmental
319 Section 9. Section 560.506, Florida Statutes, is created to 348 agency regarding the fraudulent nature of the transaction.
Page 11 of 13 Page 12 of 13
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Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 198
597-02288-26 2026198c1
349 (3) The customer provides proof of the alleged fraud to the
350 virtual currency kiosk business, such as a police report or a
351 notarized affidavit.
352 Section 11. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
353 act, this act shall take effect January 1, 2027.
Page 13 of 13
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
THE FLORIDA SENATE COMMITTEES:
Appropriations, Vice Chair
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100 Agriculture
Appropriations Committee on Criminal and
Civil Justice
Appropriations Committee on Health and
Human Services
Children, Families, and Elder Affairs
Ethics and Elections
Rules
JOINT COMMITTEE:
Joint Legislative Budget Commission
SENATOR DARRYL ERVIN ROLISON
16th District
January 28, 2026
Senator Tom Leek
Chairman, Committee on Commerce and Tourism
310 Knot Building
404 S Monroe St
Tallahassee, FL 32399
Dear Chairman Leek,
I am respectfully requesting SB 198, Virtual Currency Kiosks, be added to the agenda of a
forthcoming meeting of the Committee on Commerce and Tourism for consideration.
I am available for any questions you may have about this legislation. Thank you in advance for
the committee's time and consideration.
Sincerely-
-0.«-
Senator Darryl E. Rouson
Florida Senate District 16
REPLY TO:
□ 535 Central Avenue, Suite 302, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701 (727) 822-6828
□ 212 Senate Building, 404 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100 (850) 487-5016
Senate's Website: www.flsenate.gov
BEN ALBRITTON JASON BRODEUR
President of the Senate President Pro Tempore
The Florida Senate
2/34/26 APPEARANCE RECORD $B 198
Meeting Date Bill Number or Topic
Deliver both copies of this form to
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Committee Amendment Barcode (if applicable)
Name
Eric Baker Phone (630)373-4767
---------------------------
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Street
Oxford i\
MS 38655
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2A
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7 7
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2/4/26 APPEARANCE RECORD 198- Virtual Currency Kiosks
Meeting Date Bill Number or Topic
Deliver both copies of this form to
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Name
AARP - Karen Murillo Ph one
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Street
Tallahassee FL 32301
City State ZI
ss»roe f@er foes [[err»to OR woe so-otro. [Lfo sorer [for
PLEASE CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
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compensation or sponsorship. representing: something of value for my appearance
(travel, meals, lodging, etc.),
AARP Florida sponsored by:
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that as many persons as possible can be heard Ifyou have questions about registering to lobby please see Fla. Stat. § I 1.045 and Joint Rule I. 2020-2022JointRules.odf (f/senate.gov)
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February 4, 2026 APPEARANCE RECORD SB 198
Meeting Date Bill Number or Topic
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Name
Brian Jogerst »..850.933.1085
Address PO Box 11094 Email brian@thegriffingroup.com
Street
Tallahassee FL 32302
City State Zip
seal@no: "]ro [L] Agan+st []nterao OR waive speaking: /] In support [[] Against
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ID I am not a lobbyist, but received
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Elder Law Section/Florida Bar AND sponsored by:
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BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Commerce and Tourism
BILL: CS/CS/SB 422
INTRODUCER: Commerce and Tourism; Transportation Committee and Senator Wright
SUBJECT: Automatic Dependent Surveillance-broadcasts
DATE: February 4, 2026 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Johnson Vickers TR Fav/CS
2. Renner McKay CM Fav/CS
3. RC
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information:
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes
I. Summary:
CS/CS/SB 422 prohibits an airport from using information derived from automatic dependent
surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) systems emitted from certain aircraft as a means of calculating,
generating, and collecting fees from aircraft owners or operators if:
• The operation for which a fee would be assessed is a departure or a landing, including, but
not limited to, touch-and-go landings.
• The fee would be assessed based on an aircraft entering into the airspace of the airport where
the fee is assessed.
These prohibitions are limited to aircraft with a gross weight of 12,499 pounds or less operating
under the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) general operating and flight rules.
This bill does not appear to have a fiscal impact on state or local governments.
This bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
II. Present Situation:
Florida law defines the term the term “aircraft” to mean a powered or unpowered machine or
device capable of atmospheric flight, including, but not limited to, an airplane, an autogyro, a
BILL: CS/CS/SB 422 Page 2
glider, a gyrodyne, a helicopter, a lift and cruise, a multicopter, paramotors, a powered lift, a
seaplane, a tiltrotor, an ultralight, and a vectored thrust.1
Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B)
Automated Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS–B) is an advanced surveillance technology
combining an aircraft’s positioning source, aircraft avionics, and a ground infrastructure to create
an accurate surveillance interface between aircraft and air traffic control. ADS–B is a
performance–based surveillance technology that is more precise than radar and consists of two
different services: ADS–B Out and ADS–B In. ADS-B Out broadcasts information to ground
stations and other aircraft, once per second, about the aircraft's GPS location, altitude, ground
speed, and other data. ADS-B In delivers weather and traffic position information directly to the
cockpit.2
As of January 1, 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires aircraft flying in
most U.S. airspace to be equipped with ADS-B systems.3 While the FAA requires ADS-B for
safety purposes, the data generated can also be used for safety monitoring, data tracking for
planning and reporting, and automated fee collection by third parties.4 To address these privacy
concerns, the FAA offers a privacy protection program that allows owners of certain aircraft to
request an alternate, temporary call-sign that limits the extent to which an aircraft can be
identified by non-U.S. government entities while maintaining safety and efficiency for Air
Traffic Control services.5
Aircraft Landing Fees in Florida
Publicly owned and operated airports are authorized to assess fees for the use of airport facilities
by aircraft, and municipal airports are authorized to charge aircraft owners and operators
sufficient fees to cover the cost of services provided.6 However, publicly owned airports may not
charge landing fees for aircraft operations conducted by certain accredited nonprofit institutions
for flight training.7
1
Section 330.27(2), F.S., The term does not include a parachute or other such device used primarily as safety equipment.
2
Federal Aviation Administration, Ins and Outs, available at
https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/technology/equipadsb/capabilities/ins_outs (last visited Feb. 3, 2026).
3
14 C.F.R. § 91.225
4
Altaport, Unlocking the Power of ADS-B: Transforming Operations at Your Airport with ADS-B Operations Tracking and
Reporting, available at: https://www.altaport.com/blog/unlocking-the-power-of-ads-b-transforming-operations-at-your-
airport-with-adsb-operations-tracking-and-reporting (last visited Feb. 3, 2026).
5
Federal Aviation Administration, ADS-B Privacy, available at https://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/technology/equipadsb/privacy
(last visited Feb. 3, 2026).
6
Sections 329.40(1) and 332.08(1)(e), F.S.
7
Section 330.355, F.S. The accredited nonprofit institution must offer a 4-year collegiate aviation program in order for its
flight training operations to be exempt from an airport’s landing fees.
BILL: CS/CS/SB 422 Page 3
Recently, some Florida airports have considered implementing the automated collection of
landing fees using ADS-B information.8 One vendor of automatic landing fee services that uses
ADS-B data to bill and collect landing fees lists at least three Florida airports as clients.9
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
Section 1 creates s. 330.42, F.S., to prohibit an airport from using information broadcast or
collected by ADS-B systems, regardless of whether the data originates from ADS-B In or ADS-
B Out, as a means for calculating, generating, and collecting fees from aircraft owners or
operators who operate aircraft within Florida’s geographic boundaries, if:
• The operation for which a fee would be assessed is a departure or a landing, including, but
not limited to, a touch-and-go landing.
• The fee would be assessed based on an aircraft entering into a specified radius of the airspace
of the airport assessing the fee.
The bill defines the term “aircraft” to have the same meaning as in s. 330.27, F.S., except that the
aircraft must have a gross weight10 of 12,499 pounds or less and operate under the FAA’s
general operating and flight rules.11
The bill defines the term “Automated Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast” or “ADS-B” to mean
an advanced aviation surveillance technology that combines an aircraft’s positioning source,
aircraft avionics, and a ground infrastructure to create an accurate surveillance interface and air
traffic control. The term includes two different services, ADS-B In and ADS-B Out, which can
provide information such as an aircraft’s global positioning system location, altitude, ground
speed, and other data, to ground stations and other aircraft, as well as weather and traffic
information to aircraft operators.
The bill defines the term ”touch-and-go landing” to mean an operation by an aircraft that lands
and departs on a runway without stopping or exiting the runway.
Section 2 provides that the bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
8
General Aviation News Staff, Florida Airports Prepare to Impose Landing Fees, General Aviation News, September 7,
2024, available at https://generalaviationnews.com/2024/09/07/florida-airports-prepare-to-impose-landing-fees/ (last visited
Feb. 3, 2026).
9
Vector Airport Systems lists the following Florida airports as clients of its “PLANEPASS” service: Kissimmee Gateway
Airport, Tallahassee International Airport, and St. George Island Airport. Vector Airport Systems, About Our Clients,
available at https://www.vector-us.com/clients (last visited Feb. 3, 2026).
10
Gross Weight refers to the total weight of an aircraft at any given moment, including the aircraft itself, passengers, cargo,
and fuel. See https://www.globeair.com/g/gross-weight (last visited Feb. 3, 2026).
11
14 C.F.R. part 91. As a reference, the FAA defines the term “small aircraft” to mean an aircraft with a maximum certified
takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds or less. See 14 C.F.R. part 1.
BILL: CS/CS/SB 422 Page 4
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The bill prohibits airports from using a specified technology to calculate, generate, and
collect departing, landing, and flyover fees. This may reduce the efficiency of collecting
such fees; as a result, the fiscal impact is indeterminate.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill creates section 330.42 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Substantial Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
CS by Commerce and Tourism on February 4, 2026:
BILL: CS/CS/SB 422 Page 5
The committee substitute clarifies that the prohibition on using aircraft ADS-B data to
calculate fees applies when the aircraft operation is a departure or a landing, including
but not limited to, a touch-and-go landing.
CS by Transportation on January 27, 2026:
The committee substitute:
• Defines the term “touch-and-go landing”.
• Prohibits airports from using ADS-B data as a means for calculating, generating, and
collecting landing fees and flyover fees from aircraft owners.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.
Florida Senate - 2026 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for SB 422
Ì388214%Î388214
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
02/04/2026 .
.
.
.
The Committee on Commerce and Tourism (Wright) recommended the
following:
1 Senate Amendment
2
3 Delete line 39
4 and insert:
5 a departure or a landing, including, but not limited to, a
6 touch-and-go
Page 1 of 1
2/2/2026 1:51:52 PM 577-02394-26
Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 422 Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 422
By the Committee on Transportation; and Senator Wright
596-02248-26 2026422c1 596-02248-26 2026422c1
1 A bill to be entitled 30 exiting the runway.
2 An act relating to automatic dependent surveillance- 31 (2) An airport may not use information broadcast or
3 broadcasts; creating s. 330.42, F.S.; defining terms; 32 collected by automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast systems,
4 prohibiting airports from using information broadcast 33 regardless of whether that data originates from ADS-B In or ADS-
5 or collected by automatic dependent surveillance- 34 B Out, as a means for calculating, generating, and collecting
6 broadcast systems for specified purposes under certain 35 fees from aircraft owners or operators who operate aircraft
7 circumstances; providing an effective date. 36 within the geographic boundaries of this state under the
8 37 following circumstances:
9 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 38 (a) When the operation for which a fee would be assessed is
10 39 a landing, including, but not limited to, a touch-and-go
11 Section 1. Section 330.42, Florida Statutes, is created to 40 landing.
12 read: 41 (b) When the fee would be assessed based on an aircraft
13 330.42 Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcasts.— 42 entering into a specified radius of the airspace of the airport
14 (1) For purposes of this section, the term: 43 assessing the fee.
15 (a) “Aircraft” has the same meaning as in s. 330.27, except 44 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
16 that the aircraft must have a gross weight of 12,499 pounds or
17 less and operate under 14 C.F.R. part 91.
18 (b) “Automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast” or “ADS-B”
19 means an advanced aviation surveillance technology that combines
20 an aircraft’s positioning source, aircraft avionics, and a
21 ground infrastructure to create an accurate surveillance
22 interface between an aircraft and air traffic control. The term
23 includes two different services, ADS-B In and ADS-B Out, which
24 can provide information, such as an aircraft’s global
25 positioning system location, altitude, ground speed, and other
26 data, to ground stations and other aircraft, as well as weather
27 and traffic information to aircraft operators.
28 (c) “Touch-and-go landing” means an operation by an
29 aircraft that lands and departs on a runway without stopping or
Page 1 of 2 Page 2 of 2
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While it is a tradition to encourage public testimony time may not permit all persons wishing to speak to be heard at this hearing. Those who do speak may be asked to limit their remarks so
that as many persons as possible can be heard. Ifyou have questions about registering to lobby please see Fla. Stat. § 11.045 andJoint Rule 1. 2020-2022JointRules.odf(f/senate.gov)
This form is part of the public record for this meeting. S-001 (08/10/2021)
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2/4/2026 APPEARANCE RECORD S8422
Meeting Date Bill Number or Topic
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Justin Towles 410-456-9064
Name Ph one _
Address 5110 Saratoga Ave. Email justin@jtrstrategies.com
Street
Bethesda MD 20816
City State Zip
sos«no fjo [Zar [j«err»toe OR wave sea«no: lj« s.coo [fast
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Alliance for Financially Sustainable Airports
While it is a tradition to encourage public testimony, time may not permit all persons wishing to speak to be heard at this hearing. Those who do speak may be asked to limit their remarks so
that as many persons as possible can be heard Ifyou have questions about registering to lobby please see Fla. Stat. § I l.045 and Joint Rule I. 2020-2022JointRulesodf (flsenate.gov!
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2/4/2026 APPEARANCE RECORD S8422
Meetirg Date Bill Number or topic
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___________________________ Ph one 202-851-7508
Stacey Heaton _
Name
Address 601 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Email stacey.heaton@aopa.org
Street
Washington DC 20004
Ciry Sta.e Z
seakna. @r, [A9as [ womavon OR waive speaking: [] n support "[]Against
PLEASE CHECK ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
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AOPA sponsored by:
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that as many persons as possble can be heard. you have questions au! registering to lc'byn'eossee i'a . Stat 511045 and 'oin Ra'e 1 229-2022yin1Pule_pf·[engtegov]
This form is part of the public record for this meeting. $-001 (08/10/2021)
The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Commerce and Tourism
BILL: SB 1236
INTRODUCER: Senator Massullo
SUBJECT: Employers Receiving Economic Development Incentives from State Agencies
DATE: Febuary 3, 2026 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. McMillan McKay CM Favorable
2. GO
3. AP
I. Summary:
SB 1236 establishes requirements for employers receiving state-awarded economic development
incentives, and provides that in order to be eligible for an economic development incentive, an
employer is required to sign an agreement with the state agency awarding the economic
development incentive stating that it will not take certain actions. A violation of this requirement
based on a reasonable belief may be reported to the Attorney General (AG), and the AG must
determine whether a violation has occurred. Additionally, if the AG finds that an employer has
violated the written agreement, then he or she must initiate proceedings to recover funds awarded
to the employer.
The bill also requires a state agency to execute a separate written agreement with the recipient of
the economic development incentive before contracting to award an economic development
incentive. This agreement must reserve the right of the state agency to recover the amount of
money, grants, funds, or other incentives disbursed by the state agency to the recipient of such
benefit if the recipient fails to comply with the provisions in the bill.
The provisions in the bill apply to any agreement entered into, renewed, or modified after July 1,
2026.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
BILL: SB 1236 Page 2
II. Present Situation:
National Labor Relations Act
In 1935, Congress passed the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which provides that it is the
policy of the United States to encourage collective bargaining by protecting workers’ freedom of
association.1
The NLRA provides that it is an unfair labor practice for an employer:
• To interfere with, restrain, or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed to
them.2
• To dominate or interfere with the formation or administration of any labor organization or
contribute financial or other support to it.3
• To encourage or discourage membership in any labor organization by discrimination in
regard to hire or tenure of employment or any term or condition of employment.4
• To discharge or otherwise discriminate against an employee because he or she has filed
charges or given testimony under the NLRA.5
• To refuse to bargain collectively with the representatives of his or her employees.6
Further, the NLRA provides that it is an unfair labor practice for a labor organization or its
agents:
1
See National Labor Relations Board, National Labor Relations Act, available at https://www.nlrb.gov/guidance/key-
reference-materials/national-labor-relations-act (last visited Feb. 3, 2026). See also 29 U.S.C. §§ 151–169.
2
See id. Section 7 of the NLRA provides that “employees shall have the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist
labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted
activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection, and shall also have the right to refrain
from any or all of such activities except to the extent that such right may be affected by an agreement requiring membership
in a labor organization as a condition of employment as authorized in section 8(a)(3) of the NLRA.” The NLRA applies to
most private sector employers, including manufacturers, retailers, private universities, and health care facilities. The NLRA
does not apply to federal, state, or local governments; employers who employ only agricultural workers; and employers
subject to the Railway Labor Act. Additionally, most employees in the private sector are covered under the NLRA. The law
does not cover government employees, agricultural laborers, independent contractors, and supervisors (with limited
exceptions).
3
See id. This is subject to rules and regulations made and published by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Additionally, an employer must not be prohibited from permitting employees to confer with him or her during working hours
without loss of time or pay.
4
See id. However, nothing in the NLRA or in any other statute of the United States, shall preclude an employer from making
an agreement with a labor organization to require as a condition of employment membership therein on or after the thirtieth
day following the beginning of such employment or the effective date of such agreement, whichever is later if (1) such labor
organization is the representative of the employees as provided in section 9(a) [section 159(a) of the NLRA, in the
appropriate collective-bargaining unit covered by such agreement when made, and (2) unless following an election held as
provided in section 9(e) of the NLRA within one year preceding the effective date of such agreement, the NLRB must have
certified that at least a majority of the employees eligible to vote in such election have voted to rescind the authority of such
labor organization to make such an agreement. Additionally, no employer shall justify any discrimination against an
employee for non-membership in a labor organization (a) if he or she has reasonable grounds for believing that such
membership was not available to the employee on the same terms and conditions generally applicable to other members, or
(b) if he or she has reasonable grounds for believing that membership was denied or terminated for reasons other than the
failure of the employee to tender the periodic dues and the initiation fees uniformly required as a condition of acquiring or
retaining membership.
5
See id.
6
See id.
BILL: SB 1236 Page 3
• To restrain or coerce employees in the exercise of the rights guaranteed. However, this must
not impair the right of a labor organization to prescribe its own rules with respect to the
acquisition or retention of membership within such organization. It is also an unfair labor
practice for a labor organization or its agents to restrain or coerce an employer in the
selection of his or her representatives for the purposes of collective bargaining or the
adjustment of grievances.7
• To cause or attempt to cause an employer to discriminate against an employee or to
discriminate against an employee with respect to whom membership in such organization has
been denied or terminated on some ground other than his or her failure to tender the periodic
dues and the initiation fees uniformly required as a condition of acquiring or retaining
membership.8
• To refuse to bargain collectively with an employer, provided it is the representative of his or
her employees.9
• To engage in or to induce or encourage any individual employed by any person engaged in
commerce or in an industry affecting commerce to engage in, a strike or a refusal in the
course of his employment to use, manufacture, process, transport, or otherwise handle or
work on any goods, articles, materials, or commodities or to perform any services.10
After employees choose a union as a bargaining representative, the employer and union are
required to meet at reasonable times to bargain in good faith about wages, hours, vacation time,
insurance, safety practices and other mandatory subjects.11
7
See id.
8
See id.
9
See id.
10
See id. Additionally, it is an unfair labor practice for a labor organization or its agents to threaten, coerce, or restrain any
person engaged in commerce or in an industry affecting commerce, where in either case an object thereof is: (1) forcing or
requiring any employer or self-employed person to join any labor or employer organization or to enter into any agreement
which is prohibited; (2) forcing or requiring any person to cease using, selling, handling, transporting, or otherwise dealing in
the products of any other producer, processor, or manufacturer, or to cease doing business with any other person, or forcing
or requiring any other employer to recognize or bargain with a labor organization as the representative of his or her
employees unless such labor organization has been certified as the representative of such employees, provided that nothing
contained here shall be construed to make unlawful, where not otherwise unlawful, any primary strike or primary picketing;
(3) forcing or requiring any employer to recognize or bargain with a particular labor organization as the representative of his
or her employees if another labor organization has been certified as the representative of such employees; (4) forcing or
requiring any employer to assign particular work to employees in a particular labor organization or in a particular trade, craft,
or class rather than to employees in another labor organization or in another trade, craft, or class, unless such employer is
failing to conform to an order or certification of the Board determining the bargaining representative for employees
performing such work; (5) to require of employees covered by an agreement as a condition precedent to becoming a member
of such organization, of a fee in an amount which the NLRB finds excessive or discriminatory under all the circumstances;
(6) to cause or attempt to cause an employer to pay or deliver or agree to pay or deliver any money or other thing of value, in
the nature of an exaction, for services which are not performed or not to be performed; and (7) to picket or cause to be
picketed, or threaten to picket or cause to be picketed, any employer where an object thereof is forcing or requiring an
employer to recognize or bargain with a labor organization as the representative of his or her employees, or forcing or
requiring the employees of an employer to accept or select such labor organization as their collective- bargaining
representative, unless such labor organization is currently certified as the representative of such employees.
11
National Labor Relations Board, Employer/Union Rights and Obligations, available at https://www.nlrb.gov/about-
nlrb/rights-we-protect/your-rights/employer-union-rights-and-obligations (last visited on Feb. 3, 2026). Some managerial
decisions such as subcontracting, relocation, and other operational changes may not be mandatory subjects of bargaining, but
the employer must bargain about the decision's effects on unit employees.
BILL: SB 1236 Page 4
National Labor Relations Board
The NLRA created the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which is vested with the power
to safeguard employees’ rights to organize, engage with one another to seek better working
conditions, choose whether or not to have a collective bargaining representative negotiate on
their behalf with their employer, or refrain from doing so.12 Additionally, the NLRB acts to
prevent and remedy unfair labor practices committed by private sector employers and unions, as
well as conducts secret-ballot elections regarding union representation.13
Secret Ballot
A party may file a petition (needing at least 30 percent of employee support in a proposed
bargaining unit) with the NLRB to conduct a “secret ballot” election to determine whether a
representative will represent, or continue to represent, a unit of employees. An NLRB agent
manages the voting (typically at the workplace in a private booth), and the results are decided by
a simple majority.14
Voluntary Recognition
In addition to the NLRB conducted elections, employees may persuade an employer to
“voluntarily recognize” a union after showing majority support by signed authorization cards or
other means.15 If a union is voluntarily recognized, its status as bargaining representative cannot
be challenged during a “reasonable period for bargaining,” which the NLRB states as not less
than 6 months (and not more than one year) after the parties’ first bargaining session.16 In
addition to voluntary recognition, a “neutrality agreement” may be established. This means an
employer agrees to not take a position (for or against worker organizing) but instead remains
neutral.17
The Cemex Decision
In 2023, the NLRB issued a decision in Cemex Construction Materials Pacific, LLC, which
established a new framework for determining when employers are required to bargain with
unions without a representation election.18
Under the new framework, when a union requests recognition on the basis that a majority of
employees in an appropriate bargaining unit have designated the union as their representative, an
12
National Labor Relations Board, Who We Are, available at https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/who-we-are (last visited on
Feb. 3, 2026).
13
Id.
14
National Labor Relations Board, The NLRB Process, available at https://www.nlrb.gov/resources/nlrb-process (last visited
on Feb. 3, 2026).
15
National Labor Relations Board, Conduct Elections, available at https://www.nlrb.gov/about-nlrb/what-we-do/conduct-
elections#:~:text=Alternate%20path%20to%20union%20representation,filed%20within%20those%2045%20days (last
visited on Feb. 3, 2026).
16
Id.
17
United States Department of Labor, Respecting Workers’ Rights to Organize: An Employer’s Guide, available at
https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/general/workcenter/Neutrality-Guidance.pdf (last visited on Feb. 3, 2026).
18
National Labor Relations Board, Board Issues Decision Announcing New Framework for Union Representation, available
at https://www.nlrb.gov/news-outreach/news-story/board-issues-decision-announcing-new-framework-for-union-
representation (last visited on Feb. 3, 2026).
BILL: SB 1236 Page 5
employer must either recognize and bargain with the union or promptly (within 14 days) file an
RM petition19 seeking an election. However, if an employer who seeks an election commits any
unfair labor practice that would require setting aside the election, the petition will be dismissed,
and rather than re-running the election, the NLRB will order the employer to recognize and
bargain with the union.20
Currently, this decision is being challenged in the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth
Circuit and a decision is pending.21
Prior to the Cemex decision, Linden Lumber Division, Summer & Co. v. N.L.R.B., established
that an employer does not violate the NLRA by refusing to recognize a union based on
authorization cards alone.22 Instead, the court held that where an employer had not engaged in an
unfair labor practice impairing the electoral process, the employer did not violate their duty to
bargain under the NLRA simply because the employer refused to accept evidence of the union’s
majority status other than by an NLRB election.23
Prior to the Linden Lumber decision, the “Joy Silk” doctrine24 was the NLRB’s policy that
required employers to recognize and bargain with a union if it presented authorization cards from
a majority of workers. A refusal to recognize a union by such means was deemed an unfair labor
practice unless the employer could demonstrate it possessed a “good-faith” doubt as to the
union’s majority status when it refused to recognize the union.25 Then, in 1969, the United States
Supreme Court in N.L.R.B. v. Gissel Packing Co., affirmed that the NLRB was permitted to
order an employer to bargain with a union based on authorization cards rather than a secret ballot
election, however, entry of a bargaining order without an election was only permitted in cases
where the NLRB determined that the union did at some point enjoy majority support and a fair
election was either unlikely or impossible due to unfair labor practices committed by the
employer during the campaign.26
19
An RM petition is filed by an employer who seeks an election because one or more individuals or unions have sought
recognition as the bargaining representative, or based on a reasonable belief supported by objective considerations that the
currently recognized union has lost its majority status. See National Labor Relations Board, The NLRB Process, available at
https://www.nlrb.gov/resources/nlrb-process (last visited on Feb. 3, 2026).
20
National Labor Relations Board, Board Issues Decision Announcing New Framework for Union Representation, available
at https://www.nlrb.gov/news-outreach/news-story/board-issues-decision-announcing-new-framework-for-union-
representation (last visited on Feb. 3, 2026).
21
National Labor Relations Board, CEMEX Construction Materials Pacific LLC, available at https://www.nlrb.gov/case/28-
CA-230115 (last visited on Feb. 3, 2026).
22
See Linden Lumber Division, Summer & Co. v. N.L.R.B., 419 U.S. 301 (1974).
23
Id. Additionally, in the absence of any agreement that permits majority status to be determined by means other than an
NLRB elections the unions that were refused recognition despite cards and other evidence purporting to show that they
represented the majority of the employees had the burden of taking the next step in invoking the NLRB’s election procedure.
24
The NLRB created this second avenue to union recognition through Section 8(a)(5) of the NLRA, which makes it an unfair
labor practice for an employer to refuse to bargain collectively with the representative of its employees.
25
See Joy Silk Mills, Inc. v. N.L.R.B., 185 F.2d 732 (D.C. Cir. 1950).
26
See N.L.R.B. v. Gissel Packing Co., Inc., 395 U.S. 575 (1969).
BILL: SB 1236 Page 6
Right-to-Work
The Florida State Constitution provides that the “right of persons to work shall not be denied or
abridged on account of membership or non-membership in any labor union or labor
organization.”27 Based on this constitutional right, Florida is regarded as a “right-to-work” state.
Collective Bargaining
The State Constitution also guarantees that “the right of employees, by and through a labor
organization, to bargain collectively shall not be denied or abridged.”28 To implement this
constitutional provision, the Legislature enacted ch. 447, F.S.
Part I of ch. 447, F.S., provides “general” labor union regulations, and establishes the following
definitions:29
• “Labor organization” means any organization of employees or local or subdivision thereof,
having within its membership residents of Florida, whether incorporated or not, organized for
the purpose of dealing with employers concerning hours of employment, rate of pay, working
conditions, or grievances of any kind relating to employment and recognized as a unit of
bargaining by one or more employers doing business in Florida, except that an “employee
organization,” as defined in s. 447.203(11),F.S.,30 must be included in this definition at such
time as it seeks to register pursuant to s. 447.305, F.S.31
• “Business agent” means any person, without regard to title, who must, for a pecuniary or
financial consideration, act or attempt to act for any labor organization in:
o The issuance of membership or authorization cards, work permits, or any other evidence
of rights granted or claimed in, or by, a labor organization; or
o Soliciting or receiving from any employer any right or privilege for employees.
Part I of ch. 447, F.S., also provides the following:
• Labor unions or labor organizations must not charge an initiation fee of more than $15.32
• Any and all labor organizations in Florida must keep accurate books of accounts itemizing all
receipts from whatsoever source and expenditures for whatsoever purpose, stating such
sources and purposes. Any member of such labor organization must be entitled at all
reasonable times to inspect the books, records and accounts of such labor organization.33
• Any employee who is a member of any labor organization who, because of services with the
Armed Forces of the United States, during time of war or national emergency, has been
unable to pay any dues, assessments or sums levied by any labor organization, must not be
27
FLA. CONST. art. 1, s. 6.
28
Id.
29
Section 447.02, F.S.
30
Section 447.203(11), F.S., defines “employment organization” as any labor organization, union, association, fraternal
order, occupational or professional society, or group, however organized or constituted, which represents, or seeks to
represent, any public employee or group of public employees concerning any matters relating to their employment
relationship with a public employer.
31
Section 447.305, F.S., provides registration requirements for every employee organization seeking to become a certified
bargaining agent for public employees.
32
Section 447.05, F.S. However, initiation fees in effect on January 1, 1940, may be continued.
33
Section 447.07, F.S.
BILL: SB 1236 Page 7
required to make such back payments as a condition to reinstatement in good standing as a
member of any labor organization to which he or she belonged.34
Part I of ch. 447, F.S., makes it unlawful for any person:
• To interfere with or prevent the “right of franchise” of any member of a labor organization.35
• To prohibit or prevent any election of the officers of any labor organization.36
• To participate in any strike, walkout, or cessation of work or continuation thereof without the
same being authorized by a majority vote of the employees to be governed thereby; provided,
that this must not prohibit any person from terminating his or her employment of his or her
own volition.37
• To conduct any election without a secret ballot.38
• To charge, receive, or retain any dues, assessments or other charges in excess of, or not
authorized by, the constitution or bylaws of any labor organization.39
• To solicit membership for or to act as a representative of an existing labor organization
without authority of such labor organization to do so.40
• To seize or occupy property unlawfully during the existence of a labor dispute.41
• To cause any cessation of work or interference with the progress of work by reason of any
jurisdictional dispute, grievance or disagreement between or within labor organizations.42
• To coerce or intimidate any employee in the enjoyment of legal rights, including those
guaranteed in s. 447.03, F.S.;43 to coerce or intimidate any elected or appointed public
official; or to intimidate the family, picket the domicile, or injure the person or property of
such employee or public official, or his or her family.44
• To picket beyond the area of the industry or employment within which a labor dispute
arises.45
• To engage in picketing by force and violence, or to picket in such a manner as to prevent
ingress and egress to and from any premises, or to picket other than in a reasonable and
peaceable manner.46
• To solicit advertising in the name of a labor organization without the written permission of
such organization.47
34
Section 447.08, F.S.
35
Section 447.09(1), F.S., provides that the “right of franchise” must include the right of an employee to make a complaint,
file charges, give information or testimony concerning the violations of ch. 447, F.S., or the petitioning to the union regarding
any grievance he or she may have concerning membership or employment, or the making known facts concerning such
grievance or violations of law to any public officials, and the right of free petition, lawful assemblage and free speech.
36
Section 447.09(2), F.S.
37
Section 447.09(3), F.S.
38
Section 447.09(4), F.S.
39
Section 447.09(5), F.S.
40
Section 447.09(6), F.S.
41
Section 447.09(7), F.S.
42
Section 447.09(8), F.S.
43
Section 447.03, F.S., provides that employees must have the right to self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor unions
or labor organizations or to refrain from such activity, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing,
and to engage in concerted activities, for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid or protection.
44
Section 447.09(8), F.S.
45
Section 447.09(9), F.S.
46
Section 447.09(10), F.S.
47
Section 447.09(11), F.S.
BILL: SB 1236 Page 8
• To undertake through the medium of a card, circular, pamphlet, newspaper or any other
medium whatsoever, or by any holding out to the public as officially representing a labor
organization without the written authority or contract with such labor organization. Any
publication claiming endorsement by a labor organization must list in such publication the
name and address of the organization or organizations.48
Additionally, part I of ch. 447, F.S., provides the following:
• Any labor organization may maintain any action or suit in its commonly used name and must
be subject to any suit or action in its commonly used name in the same manner and to the
same extent as any corporation authorized to do business in Florida.49 All process, pleadings
and other papers in such action may be served on the president or other officer, business
agent, manager or person in charge of the business of such labor organization.50 Judgment in
such action may be enforced against the common property only of such labor organization.51
• Except as specifically provided in ch. 447, F.S., nothing therein shall be construed so as to
interfere with or impede or diminish in any way the right to strike or the right of individuals
to work; nor shall anything in ch. 447, F.S., be so construed as to invade unlawfully the right
to freedom of speech.
• Any person or labor organization who violates any of the provisions in part I of ch. 447, F.S.,
is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.52
• Any person who may be denied employment or discriminated against in his or her
employment on account of membership or nonmembership in any labor union or labor
organization must be entitled to recover from the discriminating employer, other person,
firm, corporation, labor union, labor organization, or association, acting separately or in
concert, in the courts of Florida, such damages as he or she may have sustained and the costs
of suit, including reasonable attorney’s fees.53 If such employer, other person, firm,
corporation, labor union, labor organization, or association acted willfully and with malice or
reckless indifference to the rights of others, punitive damages may be assessed against such
employer, other person, firm, corporation, labor union, labor organization, or association.54
48
Section 447.09(12), F.S.
49
Section 447.09(13), F.S.
50
Section 447.11, F.S.
51
Id.
52
Section 447.14, F.S. See also ss. 775.082 and 775.083, F.S., which provide that a “second degree misdemeanor” is
punishable by a definite term of imprisonment not exceeding 60 days and a fine not to exceed $500.
53
Section 447.17(1), F.S.
54
Id. Further, any person sustaining injury as a result of any violation or threatened violation of the provisions of s. 447.17,
F.S., must be entitled to injunctive relief against any and all violators or persons threatening violation. The remedy and relief
provided by s. 447.17, F.S., must not be available to public employees as defined in part II of ch. 447, F.S. Part II of ch. 447,
F.S., defines “public employee” as any person employed by a public employer except: (1) those persons appointed by the
Governor or elected by the people, agency heads, and members of boards and commissions; (2) those persons holding
positions by appointment or employment in the organized militia; (3) those individuals acting as negotiating representatives
for employer authorities; (4) those persons who are designated by the “commission” as managerial or confidential employees
pursuant to criteria contained in part II of ch. 447, F.S.; (5) those persons holding positions of employment with the Florida
Legislature; (6) those persons who have been convicted of a crime and are inmates confined to institutions within Florida;
and (7) those persons appointed to inspection positions in federal/state fruit and vegetable inspection service whose
conditions of appointment are affected by the following: (a) federal license requirement; (b) federal autonomy regarding
investigation and disciplining of appointees; and (c) frequent transfers due to harvesting conditions.
BILL: SB 1236 Page 9
Examples of Economic Development Incentive Programs55
The Florida Department of Commerce Annual Incentives Report for Fiscal Year 2023-2024
specifies four types of economic development programs:
• Tax Refunds – Refund of taxes paid;
• Tax Credits – Credit against taxes owed;
• Tax Exemptions – Exemption from taxes owed; and
• Grants – Grant with a performance-based agreement.56
High Impact Performance Incentive (HIPI)
The objective of the “High Impact Performance Incentive” is to spur capital investment and job
creation in Florida’s high impact sectors,57 and it is reserved for major facilities operating in
designated portions of high-impact sectors.58
Capital Investment Tax Credit (CITC)
The CITC is an annual tax credit against corporate income tax.59 This tax credit is for capital-
intensive industries operating in a designated “high-impact” portion of the following sectors in
Florida:
• Advanced manufacturing;
55
Examples of “economic development incentives” in Florida include, the Work Opportunity Tax Credit Program, Quick
Response Training, High Impact Performance Incentive, the Incumbent Worker Training Program, the Capital Investment
Tax Credit, and the Manufacturing Machinery and Equipment Sales Tax Exemption. See Florida Commerce, Business
Resources, available at https://floridajobs.org/docs/default-source/floridacommerce-toolkit/toolkit-floridacommerce-
business-resources.pdf?sfvrsn=f61126b0_1 (last visited Feb. 3, 2026).
56
See Florida Commerce, Annual Incentives Report, available at 2023-2024-annual-incentives-report.pdf (last visited Feb. 3,
2026).
57
Section 288.108(2)(f), F.S., defines “qualified high-impact business” as a business in one of the high-impact sectors that
has been certified by Florida Commerce as a qualified high-impact business to receive a high-impact sector performance
grant. Florida Commerce provides the following as “key industries:” (1) aviation and aerospace; (2) military and defense; (3)
manufacturing; (4) financial and professional services; (5) information technology; (6) life sciences; (7) logistics and
distribution; (8) cleatech; and (9) headquarters. See Florida Commerce, Resource Guide (pg. 13), available at
https://www.floridajobs.org/docs/default-source/floridacommerce-toolkit/toolkit-complete-floridacommerce-resource-
guide.pdf (last visited Feb. 3, 2026). Section 288.108(h), F.S., provides that a high-impact sector consists of the “silicon
technology sector” found to be focused around the type of high-impact businesses for which the incentive was created.
58
See Florida Commerce, Types of Incentive Awards, available at https://floridajobs.org/office-directory/division-of-
economic-development/economic-development-incentives-portal/types-of-incentive-awards (last visited Feb. 3, 2026). See
also s. 288.108, F.S. An “eligible business” for a HIPI grant means a business in one of the designated high-impact sectors
that is making a cumulative investment in Florida of at least $50 million and is creating at least 50 new full-time equivalent
jobs in Florida, or a research and development facility making a cumulative investment of at least $25 million and creating at
least 25 new full-time equivalent jobs. Such investment and employment must be achieved in a period not to exceed 3 years
after the date the business is certified as a qualified high-impact business. See s. 288.108(2)(c), F.S. Section 288.108(3),
F.S., provides the criteria for determining a grant award. Additionally, s. 288.108(4), F.S., provides that the total amount of
active performance grants scheduled for payment by Florida Commerce in any single fiscal year may not exceed the lesser of
$30 million or the amount appropriated by the Legislature for that fiscal year for qualified high-impact business performance
grants. If the scheduled grant payments are not made in the year for which they were scheduled in the qualified high-impact
business agreement and are rescheduled, they are deemed to have been paid in the year in which they were originally
scheduled in the qualified high-impact business agreement.
59
Section 220.191, F.S. See also Florida Commerce, Business Resources, available at https://floridajobs.org/docs/default-
source/floridacommerce-toolkit/toolkit-floridacommerce-business-resources.pdf?sfvrsn=f61126b0_1 (last visited Feb. 3,
2026).
BILL: SB 1236 Page 10
• Clean energy;
• Financial services;
• Life sciences;
• Information Technology;
• Transportation;
• Semiconductors; or
• Corporate headquarters facility.60
The CITC is provided for up to 20 years.61 A business must make a cumulative investment of at
least $25 million and create a minimum of 100 new full-time jobs to receive the credit.62
Incumbent Worker Training Program
The Incumbent Worker Training Program helps Florida businesses avoid layoffs and retain a
skilled workforce by providing grant funding to established Florida businesses.63 Additionally,
the program provides education and training for employees to obtain the skills needed to retain
employment.64
For July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, the available funding for the Incumbent Worker
Training Program is $3 Million, and the maximum amount is $100,000 per grant per company.65
Rural Job Tax Credit
The Rural Job Tax Credit Program offers a tax credit for eligible businesses to create new jobs
located within one of 36 designated Qualified Rural Areas.66 The tax credit ranges from $1,000
to $1,500 per qualified employee and can be taken against either Florida corporate income tax or
Florida sales and use tax.67 The Rural Job Tax Credit Program receives a tax credit allocation of
up to $5 million each calendar year.68
60
See id.
61
Id. An annual credit against the tax imposed will be granted to any qualifying business in an amount equal to 5 percent of
the eligible capital costs generated by a qualifying project.
62
Id.
63
Section 445.003, F.S. See also Florida Commerce, Business Resources, available at https://floridajobs.org/docs/default-
source/floridacommerce-toolkit/toolkit-floridacommerce-business-resources.pdf?sfvrsn=f61126b0_1 (last visited Feb. 3,
2026). The program is administered under s. 134(d)(4) of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
64
Id.
65
CareerSource Florida, Incumbent Working Training Program Guidelines (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026), available at
https://careersourceflorida.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/2025-26_IWT-Guidelines.pdf (last visited Feb. 3, 2026).
66
Section 212.098, F.S. A “qualified area” is defined as any area that is contained within a rural area of opportunity
designated under s. 288.0656, F.S., a county that has a population of fewer than 75,000 persons, or a county that has a
population of 125,000 or less and is contiguous to a county that has a population of less than 75,000, selected in the following
manner: every third year, the Department of Commerce shall rank and tier the state’s counties according to the following four
factors: 91) highest unemployment rate for the most recent 36-month period; (2) lowest per capita income for the most recent
36-month period; (3) highest percentage of residents whose incomes are below the poverty level, based upon the most recent
data available; and (4) average weekly manufacturing wage, based upon the most recent data available.
67
Id.
68
Id.
BILL: SB 1236 Page 11
High Crime Tax Credit
The Urban High-Crime Area Job tax Credit Program offers a tax credit for eligible businesses to
create new jobs located within one of 13 designated urban high-crime areas.69 The tax credit
ranges from $500 to $2,000 per qualified job and can be taken against either Florida corporate
income tax or Florida sales and use tax.70 The Urban High-Crime Area Job Tax Credit Program
receives a tax credit allocation of up to $5 million each calendar year.71
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill creates s. 447.18, F.S., to establish requirements for employers receiving state-awarded
economic development incentives.
Definitions
The bill creates the following definitions:
• “Contract” means an agreement between an employer and the state, or an agreement between
an employer and a labor organization.
• “Economic development incentive” means a state economic development incentive program
or an economic development grant authorized by any state agency for the purpose of
economic development, the purpose of which is to attract or retain an employer’s physical
presence in Florida.
• “Employee” means an individual who performs services for an employer for wages that are
subject to withholding requirements under 26 U.S.C. s. 3402.72
• “Employer” means a business entity that voluntarily pursues economic development
incentives authorized under s. 447.18, F.S., or enters into an agreement with a state agency
for the purpose of receiving economic development incentives.
• “Labor organization” has the same meaning as in s. 447.02(1), F.S.73
• “Neutrality agreement” means an agreement signed by an employer and a union in which the
employer agrees to conditions including, but not limited to, committing not to speak to
employees about union issues.
• “Personal contact information” means an employee’s home address, personal phone number,
or personal e-mail address.
69
Section 212.097, F.S. A “qualified high crime area” is defined as an area selected by the Department of Commerce in the
following manner: every third year, the Department of Commerce must rank and tier areas nominated according to the
following criteria: (1) highest arrest rates within the geographic area for violent crime and for such other crimes as drug sale,
drug possession, prostitution, vandalism, and civil disturbances; (2) highest reported crime volume and rate of specific
property crimes such as business and residential burglary, motor vehicle theft, and vandalism; (3) highest percentage of
reported index crimes that are violent in nature; (3) highest overall index crime volume for the area; and (4) highest overall
index crime rate for the geographic area. Tier-one areas are ranked 1 through 5 and represent the highest crime areas
according to this ranking. Tier-two areas are ranked 6 through 10 according to this ranking. Tier-three areas are ranked 11
through 15.
70
Id.
71
Id.
72
26 U.S.C. s. 3402 is the law regulating “income tax collected at source.”
73
See s. II (Present Situation) of this bill analysis under the title “Collective Bargaining” for the definition of “labor
organization.”
BILL: SB 1236 Page 12
• “Secret ballot election” means a process conducted by the National Labor Relations Board in
which an employee casts a secret ballot for or against labor organization representation. 74
• “Subcontractor” has the same meaning as in s. 448.095.75
Economic Development Incentive Eligibility
To be eligible for an economic development incentive, an employer must sign an agreement with
the state agency awarding the economic development incentive stating that it will not do any of
the following:
• Grant union recognition rights for employees solely on the basis of signed union
authorization cards if the selection of a bargaining representative may instead be conducted
through a secret ballot election conducted by the NLRB;
• Voluntarily disclose an employee’s personal contact information to a labor organization, or
third party acting on behalf of a labor organization, without the employee’s written consent,
unless otherwise required by state or federal law;
• Sign a neutrality agreement with a labor organization; and
• Require a subcontractor performing work for or providing services to the employer to engage
in activities prohibited in s. 447.18(2)(a), F.S.
The above prohibitions apply to any work or service provided to the employer on the project for
which the economic development incentive is awarded.
Reporting and Enforcement
A person or an entity may report, based upon a reasonable belief, a violation of the above
requirement to the Attorney General, provided that such report is made during the term of the
separate agreement entered into by and between the government agency awarding the economic
development incentive and the employer in s. 447.18(5), F.S.
Upon receiving the report, the Attorney General must determine whether a violation has
occurred. The Attorney General must request from the employer a copy of the written agreement
signed pursuant to s. 447.18(2)(a), F.S. If the employer refuses to provide the Attorney General
with the written agreement, the employer is in violation of the agreement entered into between
the employer and the state agency that awarded the economic development incentive. The
Attorney General must deliver in writing his or her findings to the employer alleged to be in
violation within 60 days. If the Attorney General finds that an employer has violated the written
agreement signed pursuant to s. 447.18(2)(a), F.S., he or she must initiate proceedings to recover
funds awarded to the employer. The Attorney General’s findings are final.
State Agency and Employer Agreement
Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, before contracting to award an economic
development incentive, the state agency must execute a separate written agreement with the
recipient of the economic development incentive which reserves the right of the state agency to
recover the amount of money, grants, funds, or other incentives disbursed by the state agency if
74
See s. II (Present Situation) of this bill analysis under the subtitle “Secret Ballot.”
75
Section 448.095, F.S., defines “subcontractor” as a person or an entity that provides labor, supplies, or services to or for a
contractor or another subcontractor in exchange for salary, wages, or other remuneration.
BILL: SB 1236 Page 13
the recipient benefiting from such money, grants, funds, or other incentives fails to comply with
the requirements in this bill. This agreement is effective for either:
• The duration of the project, to be determined by the state agency, for an economic
development incentive award of less than $5 million; or
• No longer than 20 years, for an economic development incentive award of $5 million or
more.
Applicability and Effective Date
The provisions in the bill apply to any agreement entered into, renewed, or modified after July 1,
2026. The term “agreement” includes a memorandum of understanding mutually accepted by the
state agency awarding economic development incentives and an employer before July 1, 2026,
including a legally binding agreement subsequent and subject to the memorandum of
understanding.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
Article VI, Paragraph 2 of the U.S. Constitution, commonly referred to as the Supremacy
Clause, establishes that the federal constitution, and federal law generally, take
precedence over state laws and constitutions. The Supremacy Clause also prohibits states
from interfering with the federal government’s exercise of its constitutional powers and
from assuming any functions that are exclusively entrusted to the federal government. It
does not, however, allow the federal government to review or veto state laws before they
take effect.76
76
Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute, Supremacy Clause, https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/supremacy_clause
(last visited Feb. 3, 2026).
BILL: SB 1236 Page 14
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
Indeterminate.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The Attorney General may incur costs in enforcing the provisions of the bill.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
The definition of “economic development incentive” could potentially include any number of
programs including programs designed to train or educate workers.
Providing a definition of “state agency” may lead to greater clarity in determining the entities to
which the bill’s provisions will apply.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill creates section 447.18 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1236 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1236
By Senator Massullo
11-01266-26 20261236__ 11-01266-26 20261236__
1 A bill to be entitled 30 defining the term “agreement”; providing an effective
2 An act relating to employers receiving economic 31 date.
3 development incentives from state agencies; creating 32
4 s. 447.18, F.S.; defining terms; requiring an employer 33 WHEREAS, the state, as part of its economic development
5 to sign an agreement with a state agency that is 34 policy, has the right to set terms and conditions in connection
6 awarding an economic development incentive before 35 with the awarding of economic development incentives, and
7 becoming eligible for the economic development 36 WHEREAS, the state, as part of its economic development
8 incentive; specifying the provisions of the agreement; 37 policy, seeks to play an integral role in the formation of
9 providing applicability; authorizing persons and 38 economic opportunities, conditions of grants, and general
10 entities to report a suspected violation to the 39 management of compliance with such awards for moneys, and
11 Attorney General within a specified timeframe; 40 WHEREAS, the state will frequent, as part of awarding
12 requiring the Attorney General to determine whether a 41 economic development incentives, require a private business to
13 violation has occurred; requiring the Attorney General 42 hire a certain number of new full-time employees, require a
14 to request certain information from the employer 43 specific amount of company investment, and ensure workers obtain
15 alleged to be in violation; providing that refusal of 44 certain skills and knowledge, and
16 such employer to provide such information is in 45 WHEREAS, the state, as part of its economic development
17 violation of the agreement; requiring the Attorney 46 policy, has a vested interest in seeking to advance and preserve
18 General to deliver his or her findings to such 47 its own interest in projects receiving economic development
19 employer within a specified timeframe; requiring the 48 incentives as a financer of projects contributing to this
20 Attorney General to initiate proceedings to recover 49 state’s overall economic health, and
21 funds awarded to the employer if the employer is found 50 WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Legislature, as part of
22 to have violated the agreement; providing that the 51 its economic development policy, that whenever state funds or
23 Attorney General’s findings are final; requiring a 52 benefits are sought by a private business, such benefits are
24 state agency to execute a separate written agreement 53 conditioned on the private business ensuring its employees’
25 with the recipient of the economic development 54 right to a secret ballot election when recognizing a labor
26 incentive before the state agency awards the economic 55 organization as a bargaining unit, or requiring subcontractors
27 development incentive; specifying the contents of the 56 to waive their employees’ right to a secret ballot election, and
28 separate agreement; providing the effective periods of 57 WHEREAS, it is the intent of the Legislature that whenever
29 the separate agreement; providing applicability; 58 state funds or benefits are provided or awarded to a private
Page 1 of 6 Page 2 of 6
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Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1236 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1236
11-01266-26 20261236__ 11-01266-26 20261236__
59 business, the private business working on a project receiving 88 (d) “Employer” means a business entity that voluntarily
60 state funds or benefits may not voluntarily disclose an 89 pursues economic development incentives authorized under this
61 employee’s personal contact information to a labor organization 90 section or enters into an agreement with a state agency for the
62 without the employee’s consent, waive its right to speak to its 91 purpose of receiving economic development incentives.
63 employees or require subcontractors to voluntarily disclose an 92 (e) “Labor organization” has the same meaning as in s.
64 employee’s personal contact information to a labor organization 93 447.02(1).
65 without the employee’s consent, or waive the subcontractor’s 94 (f) “Neutrality agreement” means an agreement signed by an
66 right to speak to the subcontractor’s employees, NOW, THEREFORE, 95 employer and a union in which the employer agrees to conditions
67 96 including, but not limited to, committing not to speak to
68 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 97 employees about union issues.
69 98 (g) “Personal contact information” means an employee’s home
70 Section 1. Section 447.18, Florida Statutes, is created and 99 address, personal phone number, or personal e-mail address.
71 incorporated into part I of chapter 447, Florida Statutes, to 100 (h) “Secret ballot election” means a process conducted by
72 read: 101 the National Labor Relations Board in which an employee casts a
73 447.18 Employers receiving state-awarded economic 102 secret ballot for or against labor organization representation.
74 development incentives; prohibited acts related to labor 103 (i) “Subcontractor” has the same meaning as in s. 448.095.
75 organizations.— 104 (2)(a) To be eligible for an economic development
76 (1) As used in this section, the term: 105 incentive, an employer must sign an agreement with the state
77 (a) “Contract” means an agreement: 106 agency awarding the economic development incentive stating that
78 1. Between an employer and the state; or 107 it will not do any of the following:
79 2. Between an employer and a labor organization. 108 1. Grant union recognition rights for employees solely on
80 (b) “Economic development incentive” means a state economic 109 the basis of signed union authorization cards if the selection
81 development incentive program or an economic development grant 110 of a bargaining representative may instead be conducted through
82 authorized by any state agency for the purpose of economic 111 a secret ballot election conducted by the National Labor
83 development, the purpose of which is to attract or retain an 112 Relations Board.
84 employer’s physical presence in this state. 113 2. Voluntarily disclose an employee’s personal contact
85 (c) “Employee” means an individual who performs services 114 information to a labor organization, or third party acting on
86 for an employer for wages that are subject to withholding 115 behalf of a labor organization, without the employee’s written
87 requirements under 26 U.S.C. s. 3402. 116 consent, unless otherwise required by state or federal law.
Page 3 of 6 Page 4 of 6
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Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1236 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1236
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117 3. Sign a neutrality agreement with a labor organization. 146 state agency must execute a separate written agreement with the
118 4. Require a subcontractor performing work for or providing 147 recipient of the economic development incentive which reserves
119 services to the employer to engage in activities prohibited in 148 the right of the state agency to recover the amount of money,
120 this paragraph. 149 grants, funds, or other incentives disbursed by the state agency
121 (b) The prohibitions in paragraph (a) apply to any work or 150 if the recipient benefiting from such money, grants, funds, or
122 service provided to the employer on the project for which the 151 other incentives fails to comply with this section. This
123 economic development incentive is awarded. 152 agreement is effective for either:
124 (3)(a) A person or an entity may report, based upon a 153 (a) The duration of the project, to be determined by the
125 reasonable belief, a violation of paragraph (2)(a) to the 154 state agency, for an economic development incentive award of
126 Attorney General, provided that such report is made during the 155 less than $5 million; or
127 term of the separate agreement entered into by and between the 156 (b) No longer than 20 years, for an economic development
128 government agency awarding the economic development incentive 157 incentive award of $5 million or more.
129 and the employer in subsection (5). 158 (5) This section applies to any agreement entered into,
130 (b) Upon receiving the report, the Attorney General shall 159 renewed, or modified after July 1, 2026. As used in this
131 determine whether a violation has occurred. The Attorney General 160 subsection, the term “agreement” includes a memorandum of
132 shall request from the employer a copy of the written agreement 161 understanding mutually accepted by the state agency awarding
133 signed pursuant to paragraph (2)(a). If the employer refuses to 162 economic development incentives and an employer before July 1,
134 provide the Attorney General with the written agreement, the 163 2026, including a legally binding agreement subsequent and
135 employer is in violation of the agreement entered into between 164 subject to the memorandum of understanding.
136 the employer and the state agency that awarded the economic 165 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
137 development incentive. The Attorney General must deliver in
138 writing his or her findings to the employer alleged to be in
139 violation within 60 days. If the Attorney General finds that an
140 employer has violated the written agreement signed pursuant to
141 paragraph (2)(a), he or she shall initiate proceedings to
142 recover funds awarded to the employer. The Attorney General’s
143 findings are final.
144 (4) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, before
145 contracting to award an economic development incentive, the
Page 5 of 6 Page 6 of 6
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
The Florida Senate
l
Committee Agenda Request
To: Senator Thomas Leek. Chair
Committee on Commerce and Tourism
Subject: Committee Agenda Request
Date: January 14, 2026
respectfully request that Senate Bill #1236, relating to employers receiving economic
development incentives from state agencies, be placed on the:
[] committee agenda at your earliest possible convenience.
[] next committee agenda.
Senator Ralph E. Massullo, Jr.
Florida Senate, District II
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BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Commerce and Tourism
BILL: CS/SB 1356
INTRODUCER: Commerce and Tourism Committee and Senator Garcia
SUBJECT: Handling of Animals
DATE: February 4, 2026 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Dike McKay CM Fav/CS
2. AEG
3. RC
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information:
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes
I. Summary:
CS/SB 1356 creates state oversight of dog breeding by:
• Mandating the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) adopt rules and
best management practices for the breeding of dogs.
• Requiring dog breeders to apply to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation
(DBPR) for a certificate of registration to operate.
• Prescribing penalties for dog breeders who do not comply with best management practices
and directing DBPR to investigate noncompliance.
The bill alters provisions regarding the sale of cats and dogs by:
• Mandating pet dealers ensure pet financing arrangements are terminated without penalty to
the consumer when the animal is found to be unfit for purchase due to illness or disease.
• Requiring all financing terms to be disclosed to a consumer and implementing a three-day
waiting period between the agreement and the possession of the pet.
• Directing pet dealers to provide copies of medical records to consumers purchasing pets.
• Requiring a specific written notice about consumer rights under s. 828.29, F.S., to be
provided to and signed by the consumer upon the sale of a pet.
• Instructing pet dealers to maintain records provided to consumers for seven years.
• Providing that a violation of s. 828.29, F.S., is a violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair
Trade Practices Act.
• Allowing consumers to bring civil action to remedy violations of this law.
BILL: CS/SB 1356 Page 2
The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.
II. Present Situation:
Florida Pet Sale Law
Section 828.29, F.S., governs the sale of pets in Florida by mandating health requirements,
providing sale regulations, and outlining remedies for violations of this section. Specifically,
dogs transported into the state for sale must receive vaccines and anthelmintics against the
following diseases/parasites: canine distemper, leptospirosis, bordatella, parainfluenza, hepatitis,
canine parvo, rabies, roundworms, and hookworms, with exceptions concerning the age of the
dog. Cats transported into this state must receive vaccines and anthelmintics against the
following diseases/parasites: panleukopenia, feline viral rhinocheitis, calici virus, rabies,
hookworms, and roundworms, with exceptions for the age of the cat. Each pet subject to these
requirements must have a certificate of veterinary inspection while being offered for sale, and
such examination of the pet must take place within a specified time.
If a licensed veterinarian verifies that the animal was unfit for purchase due to contagious or
infectious disease, the pet dealer1 must allow the consumer to either (1) return the animal and
receive a refund of the purchase price, (2) return the animal and exchange it for another of
equivalent value, or (3) retain the animal and receive reimbursement for reasonable veterinary
costs. The statute provides exceptions to this requirement and the option for a pet dealer to
contest a refund, exchange, or veterinary expenses. Additionally, pet dealers must include a
written notice to the consumer at the time of sale of their rights pursuant to this section.
Animal Industry Law
Chapter 585, F.S., governs animal disease, inspection, and eradication in the state. Pursuant to s.
585.007, F.S., a person who violates any provision of ch. 585, F.S., or any rules derived from the
chapter, is subject to administrative fines and is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree.
Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA)
It is unlawful under the FDUTPA, ss. 501.201-501.213, F.S., for a party to take part in “unfair
methods of competition, unconscionable acts or practices, and unfair or deceptive acts of
practices in the conduct of any trade or commerce.”2 Such practices include fraudulent billing,3
misleading a consumer or misrepresenting a product’s characteristics,4 or other behavior
determined to be unfair by a court.5 Under the FDUTPA, the office of the state attorney or
Department of Legal Affairs, either by their own inquiry or through complaints, may investigate
1
“For the purposes of subsections (5)-(12) and (16), the term “pet dealer” means any person, firm, partnership, corporation,
or other association which, in the ordinary course of business, engages in the sale of more than two litters, or 20 dogs or cats,
per year, whichever is greater, to the public. This definition includes breeders of animals who sell such animals directly to a
consumer.” Section 828.29(13), F.S.
2
Section 501.204, F.S.
3
State Farm Mut. Auto. Ins. Co. v. Medical Service Center of Florida, Inc., 103 F. Supp. 3d 1343 (S.D. Fla. 2015).
4
Lewis v. Mercedes-Benz USA, LLC, 530 F. Supp. 3d 1183 (S.D. Fla. 2021); Marty v. Anheuser-Busch Companies, LLC, 43
F. Supp. 3d 1333 (S.D. Fla. 2014).
5
See Siever v. BWGaskets, Inc., 669 F. Supp. 2d 1286, 1292-93 (M.D. Fla. 2009).
BILL: CS/SB 1356 Page 3
violations of the FDUTPA.6 In addition to other remedies under state and federal law, the
enforcing authority may bring actions for declaratory judgment, injunctive relief, actual damages
on behalf of consumers and businesses, cease and desist orders, and civil penalties up to $10,000
per violation.7 Moreover, consumers may bring private actions against parties for violating the
FDUTPA, resulting in either:
• Declaratory judgment and injunctive relief when the consumer is aggrieved by a FDUTPA
violation; or
• Actual damages, attorney fees, and court costs, when the consumer has suffered a loss due to
the FDUTPA violation.8
Deceptive Pet Sales in Florida
Litigation
In 2020, the Florida Office of the Attorney General (AG) brought legal action against Hoof’s
Pets, Inc., operating as Petland in central Florida, after receiving 104 consumer complaints over
five years against the defendant.9 The AG sued the defendant for violating the FDUTPA and s.
828.29, F.S., alleging the defendant misrepresented the health of puppies for sale, the goods and
services bundled with the puppies, and the consumer rights and remedies available to
customers.10 The court permanently prohibited the defendant from selling puppies with illness,
misleading customers about puppies’ health, failing to provide documentation required by law,
falsely representing the puppy’s AKC registrability, and more.11 While the defendant had already
refunded customers over $123,000, the court ordered the defendant to pay an additional $85,000
to consumers harmed by the defendant’s deceptive practices.12
Economic Effects
In 2022, Orange County passed an ordinance prohibiting the retail sale of dogs, cats, and
rabbits.13 As a result of this ordinance and the aforementioned enforcement lawsuit, an economic
report from the University of West Florida Haas Center showed a 55% decline in complaints to
the Office of Attorney General over pet sales in the Orlando area from 2020-2024.14 However,
despite Florida counties implementing local retail bans on the sale of pets, the abundance of
animals from out-of-state puppy-mills and unethical breeders perpetuates the sale of sick pets.15
The report explained that predatory financing, deceptive pet sales, and the sale of sick pets costs
Floridians over $25 million each year.16
6
The enforcing authority under the FDUTPA may “administer oaths and affirmations, subpoena witnesses or matter, and
collect evidence.” Section 501.206, F.S.
7
Sections 501.207, 501.2077, 501.2075, 501.208, F.S.
8
Sections 501.2105, 501.211, F.S.
9
Att’y Gen. v. Hoof’s Pets, Inc., No. 2020-CA-5262-O, 5 (Fla. Orange Cty. Ct. Dec. 9, 2022) (order entering final judgment
in favor of the plaintiff).
10
Id.
11
Id. at 9-11. See id. at 9-22 for the full list of remedies ordered by the court.
12
Id. at 19-20.
13
UWF, Haas Center, The Cost of Deception: How Sick Pets Drain Florida’s Economy, available at
https://www.myfloridalegal.com/sites/default/files/2025-09/final_report_the_cost_of_deception_-
_how_sick_pets_drain_the_economy_12.8.2025.pdf (last visited Feb. 3, 2026).
14
Id.
15
Id.
16
Id.
BILL: CS/SB 1356 Page 4
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
State Oversight of Dog Breeding
Best Management Practices
Section 1 creates s. 585.701, F.S., requiring FDACS to adopt rules and best management
practices for the breeding of dogs17 in the state. Among other considerations, FDACS must
consider spacing and sanitation of dog cages/pens, requirements for access to clean water,
limitation on the number of times a female dog may be bred,18 and appropriate sheltering of
female dogs and their litters.19 Before adopting any rules, FDACS must submit the proposed
rules to the Board of Veterinary Medicine.20 The board must verify the rules, best management
practices, and other measures are reasonably effective. Finally, the bill states local jurisdictions
in Florida may implement stricter requirements than those laid out under the bill.
Certificate of Registration
Section 3 creates s. 828.291, F.S., requiring dog breeders in Florida to apply to DBPR for a
certificate of registration to operate. The dog breeder must submit documentation to DBPR
showing that it meets the best management practices adopted by FDACS pursuant to s. 585.701,
F.S. Subsequently, the certificate of registration must be renewed every two years.
Under subsection (3), the bill also requires DBPR to investigate claims that certified dog
breeders are not complying with best management practices. DBPR may establish a
whistleblower program or contract with a private entity to do so. If a private entity is contracted
to receive whistleblower calls, the private entity must provide monthly reports to DBPR with
specific information.
In subsection (4), the bill prescribes penalties for dog breeders or dog breeding facilities found
to:
• Overcrowd dogs in pens/cages with no space to move.
• House dogs in enclosures with significant build-up of feces, urine, and waste.
• Have dogs exhibiting untreated infections/parasites due to unsanitary conditions.
• Limit access to clean water.
• Breed a female dog more than twice a year.
• Expose breeding females and their litters to extreme temperatures without appropriate
shelter.
Such practices/conditions result in penalties under ss. 828.073, 828.12, F.S., placement of the
breeder or facility on the Department of Law Enforcement’s website pursuant to s. 828.12(7),
17
“Dog breeder” means a person who owns or possesses breeding female dogs and offers for sale more than two litters of
dogs per calendar year. “Dog breeding facility” means a location that is the site of a dog breeder which houses five or more
breeding female dogs.
18
“Breeding female dog” means a dog that has not been spayed and is more than 6 months old and capable of reproduction.
19
“Litter” means the collection of dogs birthed, whether naturally or from cesarean section, from a breeding female dog from
the same pregnancy.
20
The Board of Veterinary Medicine (board), under DBPR, regulates veterinarians, premise permits, veterinary
establishments and limited service clinics. Section 474.204, F.S.
BILL: CS/SB 1356 Page 5
F.S., and information on the breeder or facility shared with law enforcement for criminal
prosecution.
Consumer Protection
Financing
Section 2 amends s. 828.29, F.S., mandating that pet dealers ensure pet financing arrangements
are terminated without penalty to the consumer when the animal is found to be unfit for purchase
due to illness or disease. Subsection (6) in the bill requires that pet dealers disclose all financing
terms to the consumer before the final sale. The bill also mandates a three-day waiting period
between the consumer agreeing to finance the pet and the consumer taking possession of the
animal. Such financing agreement may not be signed until the three-day waiting period has
passed. The bill also removes the option for consumers to sign waivers relinquishing their rights
to return a pet for congenital or hereditary disorders.
Pet Medical Records
Under the bill, subsection (7) requires pet dealers to provide copies of medical records to the
consumer regarding all medication examinations, tests, and medications given.
Written Notice
Additionally, the bill updates the notice provision in subsection (12), which pet dealers are
required to provide to the consumer at the time of sale. The notice must be separate from the
contract with specific wording which includes the following information: “You have the right to
return or exchange a dog or cat purchased from a pet dealer and receive reimbursement for
certain veterinary expenses. A copy of this law is attached to this notice.”
Record Retention
Subsection (18) requires pet dealers to retain records provided to consumers for sales of animals
under s. 828.29, F.S., for at least seven years after the sale. Further, retail stores that offer
animals for sale must:
• Provide the city or county animal rescue/shelter the opportunity to inventory the animals the
rescue/shelter has available for adoption prior to offering retail space to dog breeders and
breeding facilities.
• Ensure the dog breeder or breeding facility, from which the store has acquired dogs, follows
the best management practices adopted by FDACS pursuant to s. 585.701, F.S.
Remedies
Under subsection (19) of the bill, pet dealers who violate s. 828.29, F.S., are committing an
unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act under the Florida Deceptive and
Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA), ss. 501.201-501.213, F.S. Additionally, subsection (20)
of the bill specifies that consumers may cure violations under s. 828.29, F.S., via civil action for
damages, costs, and attorney fees. This does not limit consumers’ other rights and remedies
under law.
BILL: CS/SB 1356 Page 6
Effective Date
Section 4 sets forth an effective date of July 1, 2026.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
Indeterminate. There may be increased costs for pet breeders to comply with the bill.
C. Government Sector Impact:
Indeterminate. There may be increased expenditures for FDACS and DBPR to enforce
the bill.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
Under s. 585.007, F.S., a person who violates any provision of ch. 585, F.S., or any rules derived
from the chapter, is subject to an administrative fine and is guilty of a misdemeanor of the
second degree. It is unclear whether the placement of best management practices for dog
BILL: CS/SB 1356 Page 7
breeders in ch. 585, F.S., results in an administrative fine and a second degree misdemeanor for
violations.
Additionally, the provisions under Section 2 of the bill are substantially similar to the language
in SB 1004 as of January 21, 2026.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends section 828.29 of the Florida Statutes.
This bill creates the following sections of the Florida Statutes: 585.701, 828.291.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
CS by Commerce and Tourism Committee on February 4, 2026:
The amendment removes the section of the bill giving the Department of Agriculture and
Consumer Services regulatory and operational oversight of local animal shelters. The
amendment also makes technical changes to the bill which do not affect its substance.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.
Florida Senate - 2026 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 1356
Ì695212|Î695212
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: FAV .
02/04/2026 .
.
.
.
The Committee on Commerce and Tourism (Garcia) recommended the
following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete lines 113 - 144.
4
5 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
6 And the title is amended as follows:
7 Delete lines 11 - 16
8 and insert:
9 providing construction;
Page 1 of 1
2/2/2026 12:45:54 PM 577-02124-26
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1356 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1356
By Senator Garcia
36-01238A-26 20261356__ 36-01238A-26 20261356__
1 A bill to be entitled 30 copies of specified medical records to a consumer;
2 An act relating to the handling of animals; creating 31 revising requirements for a required notice to a
3 s. 585.701, F.S.; providing legislative findings and 32 consumer; revising the text of the required notice;
4 intent; defining terms; requiring the Department of 33 requiring a pet dealer to retain a copy of the signed
5 Agriculture and Consumer Services to develop and adopt 34 notice; requiring that the consumer be given a copy of
6 rules, best management practices, and other measures 35 the signed notice; requiring a pet dealer to retain
7 for dog breeding in this state; requiring the 36 certain records for a specified timeframe; specifying
8 department to consider certain criteria in developing 37 requirements for retail stores that offer animals for
9 the rules; requiring the Board of Veterinary Medicine 38 sale; requiring retail stores to ensure that dog
10 to verify that the proposed rules meet certain goals; 39 breeders and dog breeding facilities from which the
11 providing construction; creating s. 828.265, F.S.; 40 store acquires dogs meet certain best management
12 providing legislative findings; defining terms; 41 practices; providing that violations constitute an
13 preempting the regulatory and operational oversight of 42 unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive
14 local animal shelters to the department; requiring the 43 act or practice in violation of specified provisions
15 department to adopt certain rules; encouraging the 44 and are subject to penalties; providing a private
16 department to collaborate with certain entities; 45 cause of action; providing construction; creating s.
17 amending s. 828.29, F.S.; requiring that a pet sale 46 828.291, F.S.; defining terms; requiring dog breeders
18 financing agreement be terminated without penalty 47 to apply to the Department of Business and
19 under certain circumstances; deleting a limit on 48 Professional Regulation for a certificate of
20 veterinary costs under certain provisions; requiring 49 registration and to renew the certificate at specified
21 that all financial terms be disclosed to the consumer 50 intervals; authorizing the department to investigate
22 before the sale of an animal; requiring a specified 51 certain claims; authorizing the department to
23 mandatory waiting period between the purchase and 52 establish a whistleblower program for a specified
24 receipt of an animal if the transaction is financed by 53 purpose; specifying requirements for such program;
25 the consumer and prohibiting the signing of such 54 providing penalties for specified practices and
26 agreement before the conclusion of such waiting 55 conditions; requiring certain individuals, dog
27 period; deleting certain provisions relating to a 56 breeders, and dog breeding facilities to be placed on
28 consumer’s waiver relinquishing his or her rights to 57 a public animal abuser database; requiring the
29 return an animal; requiring a pet dealer to provide 58 department to provide certain information to law
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59 enforcement for the purpose of pursuing criminal 88 (f) “Litter” means the collection of dogs birthed, whether
60 charges; providing an effective date. 89 naturally or from cesarean section, from a breeding female dog
61 90 from the same pregnancy.
62 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 91 (3) The department shall:
63 92 (a) Develop and adopt rules, best management practices, and
64 Section 1. Section 585.701, Florida Statutes, is created to 93 other measures necessary to improve the practices of dog
65 read: 94 breeders and dog breeding facilities in a way that protects this
66 585.701 Dog breeders; best management practices.— 95 state’s domestic animal resources and preserves a viable and
67 (1) The Legislature finds that the safe and ethical 96 ethical dog breeding industry. In developing the rules, the
68 breeding of dogs in this state is a matter of great public 97 department shall consider, at a minimum, the spacing of and
69 importance, and that breeding dogs for profit without regard for 98 sanitation guidelines for cages and pens, requiring adequate
70 the condition in which the dogs live or how they are cared for 99 access to clean water, limiting the number of times a breeding
71 is an act of animal cruelty. Therefore, the Legislature intends 100 female dog may be bred per year, and providing breeding female
72 to ensure that dog breeding is done in an ethical manner by 101 dogs and their litters with appropriate shelter.
73 establishing best management practices to ensure the humane 102 (b) Before adopting any rules, best management practices,
74 treatment of animals. 103 and other measures required by paragraph (a), submit the
75 (2) As used in this section, the term: 104 proposed rules to the board. The board shall verify that the
76 (a) “Board” means the Board of Veterinary Medicine. 105 proposed rules, best management practices, and other measures
77 (b) “Breeding female dog” means a dog that has not been 106 developed by the department will be reasonably effective in
78 spayed and is more than 6 months old and capable of 107 achieving the goals of this section. The board shall notify the
79 reproduction. 108 department of its initial verification.
80 (c) “Department” means the Department of Agriculture and 109 (4) This section may not be construed to prohibit a local
81 Consumer Services. 110 jurisdiction from implementing requirements for dog breeders or
82 (d) “Dog breeder” means a person who owns or possesses 111 dog breeding facilities which are stricter than those in this
83 breeding female dogs and offers for sale more than two litters 112 section or any rule adopted by the department.
84 of dogs per calendar year. 113 Section 2. Section 828.265, Florida Statutes, is created to
85 (e) “Dog breeding facility” means a location that is the 114 read:
86 site of a dog breeder which houses five or more breeding female 115 828.265 Regulation of animal shelters.—
87 dogs. 116 (1) The Legislature finds that a lack of resources,
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117 training, and consistent enforcement of rules at the local level 146 (17) of section 828.29, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
118 has resulted in an undermining of the public trust of, and a 147 subsections (18) through (21) are added to that section, to
119 failure to protect vulnerable animals housed in, local animal 148 read:
120 shelters. Therefore, the Legislature intends to provide 149 828.29 Dogs and cats transported or offered for sale;
121 statewide oversight of local animal shelters to ensure 150 health requirements; consumer guarantee; disclosures.—
122 consistent implementation and enforcement of rules governing 151 (5) If, within 14 days after following the sale by a pet
123 local animal shelters. 152 dealer of an animal subject to this section, a licensed
124 (2) As used in this section, the term: 153 veterinarian of the consumer’s choosing certifies that, at the
125 (a) “Department” means the Department of Agriculture and 154 time of the sale, the animal was unfit for purchase due to
126 Consumer Services. 155 illness or disease, the presence of symptoms of a contagious or
127 (b) “Local animal shelter” includes city and county animal 156 infectious disease, or the presence of internal or external
128 rescues and animal shelters. 157 parasites, excluding fleas and ticks; or if, within 1 year after
129 (3) The regulatory and operational oversight of local 158 following the sale of an animal subject to this section, a
130 animal shelters is preempted to the department. 159 licensed veterinarian of the consumer’s choosing certifies such
131 (4) The department shall adopt rules governing all of the 160 animal to be unfit for purchase due to a congenital or
132 following: 161 hereditary disorder which adversely affects the health of the
133 (a) Basic standards for the care of animals housed in local 162 animal; or if, within 1 year after following the sale of an
134 animal shelters, including providing adequate food, water, 163 animal subject to this section, the breed, sex, or health of
135 shelter, and medical treatment. 164 such animal is found to have been misrepresented to the
136 (b) Mandatory reporting requirements for local animal 165 consumer, the pet dealer shall afford the consumer the right to
137 shelters to report intake, adoption, and euthanasia statistics 166 choose one of the following options:
138 in a standardized format. 167 (a) The right to return the animal and receive a refund of
139 (c) Guidelines for the safe and humane euthanasia of 168 the purchase price, including the sales tax, and reimbursement
140 animals. 169 for reasonable veterinary costs directly related to the
141 (d) Periodic inspections of local animal shelters. 170 veterinarian’s examination and certification that the dog or cat
142 (5) The department is encouraged to collaborate with 171 is unfit for purchase pursuant to this section and directly
143 reputable nonprofit and private organizations to manage animal 172 related to necessary emergency services and treatment undertaken
144 shelters. 173 to relieve suffering. If the consumer financed the animal, the
145 Section 3. Subsections (5) through (8), (10), (12), and 174 pet dealer must ensure that the financing arrangement is
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175 terminated without penalty to the consumer; 204 hours, excluding weekends and holidays, in which to have the
176 (b) The right to return the animal and receive an exchange 205 animal examined by a licensed veterinarian of the consumer’s
177 dog or cat of the consumer’s choice of equivalent value, and 206 choosing. If the veterinarian certifies that, at the time of
178 reimbursement for reasonable veterinary costs directly related 207 sale, the dog or cat was unfit for purchase due to a congenital
179 to the veterinarian’s examination and certification that the dog 208 or hereditary disorder, the pet dealer must afford the consumer
180 or cat is unfit for purchase pursuant to this section and 209 the right to choose one of the following options:
181 directly related to necessary emergency services and treatment 210 (a) The right to return the animal and receive a refund of
182 undertaken to relieve suffering; or 211 the purchase price, including sales tax, but excluding the
183 (c) The right to retain the animal and receive 212 veterinary costs related to the certification that the dog or
184 reimbursement for reasonable veterinary costs for necessary 213 cat is unfit; or
185 services and treatment related to the attempt to cure or curing 214 (b) The right to return the animal and receive an exchange
186 of the dog or cat. 215 dog or cat of the consumer’s choice of equivalent value, but not
187 216 a refund of the veterinary costs related to the certification
188 Reimbursement for veterinary costs may not exceed the purchase 217 that the dog or cat is unfit.
189 price of the animal. The cost of veterinary services is 218 (7) Before the sale of an animal, a pet dealer must provide
190 reasonable if comparable to the cost of similar services 219 to the consumer copies of records of all medical examinations or
191 rendered by other licensed veterinarians in proximity to the 220 tests that were conducted on the animal or any medication given
192 treating veterinarian and the services rendered are appropriate 221 before the purchase of the animal. A pet dealer may specifically
193 for the certification by the veterinarian. 222 state at the time of sale, in writing to the consumer, the
194 (6) All financing terms must be disclosed to the consumer 223 presence of specific congenital or hereditary disorders, in
195 before the sale of the animal. A mandatory waiting period of at 224 which case the consumer has no right to any refund or exchange
196 least 3 calendar days must be imposed between the date of an 225 for those disorders.
197 agreement to purchase an animal and the date on which the 226 (8) The refund or exchange required by subsection (5) must
198 consumer takes possession of the animal, if the consumer is 227 or subsection (6) shall be made by the pet dealer not later than
199 financing the animal. A financing agreement may not be signed by 228 10 business days after following receipt of a signed veterinary
200 the consumer until the conclusion of the 3-day waiting period A 229 certification as required in subsection (5) or subsection (6).
201 consumer may sign a waiver relinquishing his or her right to 230 The consumer must notify the pet dealer within 2 business days
202 return the dog or cat for congenital or hereditary disorders. In 231 after the veterinarian’s determination that the animal is unfit.
203 the case of such waiver, the consumer has 48 normal business 232 The written certification of unfitness must be presented to the
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233 pet dealer not later than 3 business days after following 262
234 receipt thereof by the consumer. 263 Sworn to (or affirmed) and subscribed before me this
235 (10) If a pet dealer wishes to contest a demand for 264 .... day of ...., ...., by ...(name of person making
236 veterinary expenses, refund, or exchange made by a consumer 265 statement)....
237 under this section, the dealer may require the consumer to 266
238 produce the animal for examination by a licensed veterinarian 267 It is the consumer’s right, pursuant to section
239 designated by the dealer. Upon such examination, if the consumer 268 828.29, Florida Statutes, to receive a certificate of
240 and the dealer are unable to reach an agreement that constitutes 269 veterinary inspection with each dog or cat purchased
241 one of the options set forth in subsection (5) or subsection (6) 270 from a pet dealer. Such certificate shall list all
242 within 10 business days after following receipt of the animal 271 vaccines and deworming medications administered to the
243 for such examination, the consumer may initiate an action in a 272 animal and shall state that the animal has been
244 court of competent jurisdiction to recover or obtain 273 examined by a Florida-licensed veterinarian who
245 reimbursement of veterinary expenses, refund, or exchange. 274 certifies that, to the best of the veterinarian’s
246 (12) Every pet dealer who sells an animal to a consumer 275 knowledge, the animal was found to have been healthy
247 shall must provide the consumer at the time of sale with a 276 at the time of the veterinary examination. In the
248 printed, written notice. The pet dealer shall retain a copy of 277 event that the consumer purchases the animal and finds
249 the signed notice, and the consumer must be given a copy of the 278 it to have been unfit for purchase as provided in
250 signed notice. The notice, printed or typed, which is separate 279 section 828.29(5), Florida Statutes, the consumer must
251 from the contract, shall read reads as follows: 280 notify the pet dealer within 2 business days of the
252 281 veterinarian’s determination that the animal was
253 RIGHT TO CANCEL 282 unfit. The consumer has the right to retain, return,
254 Florida consumers have certain rights under s. 828.29, 283 or exchange the animal and receive reimbursement for
255 Florida Statutes. You have the right to return or 284 certain related veterinary services rendered to the
256 exchange a dog or cat purchased from a pet dealer and 285 animal, subject to the right of the dealer to have the
257 receive reimbursement for certain veterinary expenses. 286 animal examined by another veterinarian.
258 A copy of this law is attached to this notice. 287
259 288 (17) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, a person
260 ...(Signature of Owner, or Owner’s or Authorized 289 who violates any provision of this section commits a misdemeanor
261 Agent)... 290 of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s.
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291 775.083. 320 spayed and is more than 6 months old and capable of
292 (18) A pet dealer shall retain any record provided to a 321 reproduction.
293 consumer pursuant to the sale of an animal under this section 322 (b) “Department” means the Department of Business and
294 for at least 7 years after the sale. 323 Professional Regulation.
295 (19) A retail store that offers animals for sale shall do 324 (c) “Dog breeder” means a person who owns or possesses
296 both of the following: 325 breeding female dogs and offers for sale more than two litters
297 (a) Provide the city or county animal rescue or animal 326 of dogs per calendar year.
298 shelter the opportunity to inventory the animals the rescue or 327 (d) “Dog breeding facility” means a location that is the
299 shelter, respectively, has available for adoption before 328 site of a dog breeder which houses five or more breeding female
300 offering retail space to a dog breeder or dog breeding facility. 329 dogs.
301 (b) Ensure the dog breeder or dog breeding facility from 330 (e) “Litter” means the collection of dogs birthed, whether
302 which the store has acquired a dog meets the best management 331 naturally or from cesarean section, from a breeding female dog
303 practices adopted by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer 332 from the same pregnancy.
304 Services pursuant to s. 585.701. 333 (2) Each dog breeder in this state must apply to the
305 (20) A pet dealer who violates this section commits an 334 department, on forms supplied by the department, for a
306 unfair method of competition or an unfair or deceptive act or 335 certificate of registration. The certificate of registration
307 practice in violation of part II of chapter 501 and is subject 336 must be renewed every 2 years thereafter. To be eligible to
308 to the penalties and remedies provided for such violations. 337 receive a certificate of registration, a dog breeder must submit
309 (21) In addition to any other penalties or remedies 338 documentation to the department that the breeder meets the best
310 provided by law, a consumer injured by a violation of this 339 management practices adopted by the Department of Agriculture
311 section may bring a civil action to recover damages or punitive 340 and Consumer Services pursuant to s. 585.701.
312 damages, including court costs, attorney fees, and related 341 (3) If the department is notified that a certified dog
313 expenses. This section does not limit any right or remedy 342 breeder is not in compliance with the best management practices
314 provided under law. 343 adopted by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
315 Section 4. Section 828.291, Florida Statutes, is created to 344 pursuant to s. 585.701, the department may investigate such
316 read: 345 claim. The department may establish a whistleblower program
317 828.291 Dog breeder certificate of registration.— 346 through which any individual may alert the department or its
318 (1) As used in this section, the term: 347 contracted authority about a violation of s. 585.701. The
319 (a) “Breeding female dog” means a dog that has not been 348 department may contract with a private entity to administer the
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Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1356
36-01238A-26 20261356__
349 whistleblower program. If a private entity is contracted to
350 receive calls, the private entity must provide monthly reports
351 to the department detailing the number of calls received, the
352 number of calls referred to law enforcement, and the status of
353 each case referred to law enforcement.
354 (4) Any individual, dog breeder, or dog breeding facility
355 that is found to employ any of the following practices or
356 conditions is subject to penalties under s. 828.073 or s.
357 828.12; the individual, dog breeder, or dog breeding facility
358 must be placed on the Department of Law Enforcement’s website
359 pursuant to s. 828.12(7); and the department shall provide all
360 applicable information to law enforcement to pursue criminal
361 charges:
362 (a) Overcrowding of dogs crammed into cages or pens with no
363 space to move.
364 (b) Enclosures with significant build-up of feces, urine,
365 and waste.
366 (c) Dogs exhibiting untreated infections or parasites due
367 to unsanitary conditions.
368 (d) Limited or no access to clean water.
369 (e) Breeding a female dog more than 2 times per year.
370 (f) Exposing breeding females and their litters to extreme
371 temperatures without appropriate shelter.
372 Section 5. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
Page 13 of 13
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Florida Senate - 2026 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 1356
Ì695212|Î695212
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: FAV .
02/04/2026 .
.
.
.
The Committee on Commerce and Tourism (Garcia) recommended the
following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete lines 113 - 144.
4
5 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
6 And the title is amended as follows:
7 Delete lines 11 - 16
8 and insert:
9 providing construction;
Page 1 of 1
2/2/2026 12:45:54 PM 577-02124-26
The Florida Senate
APPEARANCE RECORD
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Deliver both copies of this form to
Senate professional staff conducting the meeting
Amendment Barcode (if applicable)
Name -... Q)4/07/ 7 7
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The Florida Senate
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Committee
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sponsored by:
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that as many persons as possible can be heard. Ifyou have questions about registering to lobby please see Fla. Stat. §II .045 andJoint Rule I. 2020-2022JointRules.odf (f/senate.aov)
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APPEARANCE RECORD 5133e Bill Number or Topic
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representing:
D I am not a lobbyist, but received
something of value for my appearance
(travel, meals, lodging, etc.),
F(kiro Coat ol Koc""
While it is a tradition to encourage public testimony, time may not permit all persons wishing to speak to be heard at this hearing. Those who do speak may be asked to limit their remarks so
that as many persons as possible can be heard. Ifyou have questions about registering to lobby please see Fla. Stat. $11.045 andJoint Rule 1. 2020-2022JointRules.odf (f/senate.aov!
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0am TU Senate professional staff conducting the meeting
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sponsored by:
AL, l Ula
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The Florida Senate
Committee Agenda Request
To: Senator Thomas Leek, Chair
Committee on Commerce and Tourism
Subject: Committee Agenda Request
Date: January 20, 2026
I respectfully request that Senate Bill #1356, relating to Handling of Animals, be placed on the:
[] committee agenda at your earliest possible convenience.
[] next committee agenda.
l
Senator Ileana Garcia
Florida Senate, District 36
File signed original with committee office S-020 (03/2004)
The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Commerce and Tourism
BILL: SB 1456
INTRODUCER: Senator Osgood
SUBJECT: Doula Workforce Development
DATE: February 3, 2026 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Dike McKay CM Pre-meeting
2. ATD
3. FP
I. Summary:
SB 1456 creates the Doula Workforce Development Program within the Department of
Commerce (department) to increase the doula workforce in the state. The program intends to
reduce disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes through grants to doula training
entities, focusing on communities with limited or few healthcare resources. The bill gives the
department rulemaking authority to develop the grant process and implement the program. The
bill also includes yearly reporting requirements for the department and appropriates funds for
2026-2027.
The bill takes effect on July 1, 2026.
II. Present Situation:
Doulas
Doulas are non-clinical professionals that provide support during and after pregnancy alongside
medical professionals.1 Doulas may specialize in pregnancy, birth, or postpartum issues, or offer
support throughout the reproductive journey.2 Among many other tasks, doulas can provide
emotional support and patient advocacy before and during birth; assist with housework and
childcare; and teach proper breastfeeding techniques.3 Studies show that doulas improve health
outcomes during pregnancy, “mitigating health disparities in groups at risk due to racial and
1
CLEVELAND CLINIC, Doula, available at https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/23075-doula (last visited Feb. 3,
2026).
2
Id.
3
Id.
BILL: SB 1456 Page 2
socioeconomic stigmas via their roles as intermediaries between pregnant women and healthcare
staff.”4
Further research shows that doula support can reduce healthcare expenditures during pregnancy
and help avoid costly healthcare emergencies.5 One model revealed that “a professional doula
was potentially cost-saving up to $884 and cost-effective up to $1360 per doula.”6 While some
states have required Medicaid or private insurers to cover doula services, many people cannot
afford doula services.7
Additionally,
[b]eyond cost savings, the broader health benefits of doulas are well documented
across the pregnancy and care continuum… and include:
• a 15% improvement in the likelihood of having a spontaneous vaginal birth;
• a 40% reduction in the likelihood of cesarean births;
• a more than 20% reduction in the odds of preterm birth;
• a 10% reduction in the use of pain medications during labor;
• an average 41 minute reduction in total labor time;
• a four-fold reduction in babies with a low birth weight;
• a two-fold reduction in birth complication;
• a 35% reduction in the likelihood of having a negative birthing experience;
• a nearly 65% reduction in the odds of experiencing postpartum anxiety or
depression; and
• a 20% improvement in the likelihood of breastfeeding initiation among
Medicaid recipients.8
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
Doula Workforce Development Program
The bill creates the Doula Workforce Development Support Program within the department to
provide grants and technical assistance to doula training entities to expand the state’s doula
workforce. The program must prioritize support for entities service high-need regions, including:
• Urban counties with high maternal morbidity disparities;
• Rural areas with limited or no obstetric providers or maternity wards; and
• Communities affected by recent hospital closures or reductions in maternity services.
4
Alexandria Sobczak, et al., The Effect of Doulas on Maternal and Birth Outcomes: A Scoping Review, CUREUS 15(5), May
24, 2023), available at https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10292163/#abstract1 (last visited Feb. 3, 2026).
5
Karen S. Greiner et al., The Cost-Effectiveness of Professional Doula Care for a Woman's First Two Births: A Decision
Analysis Model, 64 J. MIDWIFERY WOMEN'S HEALTH 410 (2019), available at https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31034756/
(last visited Feb. 3, 2026).
6
Id.
7
Ariel Eastburn, et al., NAT’L HEALTH LAW PROGRAM, A Cost-Benefit Analysis of Doula Care from a Public Health
Framework at 10, available at https://healthlaw.org/resource/a-cost-benefit-analysis-of-doula-care-from-a-public-health-
framework/ (last visited Feb. 3, 2026).
8
See id. at 12.
BILL: SB 1456 Page 3
Grants
Under the bill, the department may award competitive or formula-based grants to eligible doula
training entities. The department is not allowed to use funds to directly recruit, hire, or employe
doulas as state employees or contractors. Grant funds may be used for any of the following:
• Training, mentoring, or apprenticeship program expansion.
• Instructor compensation and curriculum modernization.
• Recruitment and support of trainees from high-need regions.
• Program administration, evaluation, and outreach.
• Business development training for doulas, including assistance with incorporation, insurance,
marketing, and entrepreneurship.
• Stipends or workforce support for newly trained doulas, administered through the eligible
entity.
• Partnership development with hospitals, Medicaid managed care plans, clinics, community
health workers, Healthy Start coalitions, or other maternal health service providers.
The bill further grants the department rulemaking authority to implement this bill. The
department must consider the following when developing grant criteria:
• The demonstrated capacity of the entity to train or mentor doulas.
• The geographic areas served and the documented need for doula workforce expansion.
• The entity’s experience serving culturally diverse and high-disparity populations.
• Partnerships with workforce development boards or educational institutions.
• Plans for sustainability and long-term workforce placement.
Reporting
Each year the department must submit a report to the Governor, President of the Senate, and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, which summarizes:
• Grant recipients and award amounts;
• The number of doulas trained, mentored, or supported by funded entities;
• The geographic distribution of program activities;
• Workforce outcomes, including business development successes and job placements; and
• Recommendations for program improvements.
Funding
Additionally, the bill appropriates $7.5 million to the department to implement the program. Up
to $500,000 of the funds may be used by the department for administrative expenses, program
management, technical assistance, and data collection and evaluation. The remaining funds must
be distributed as grants pursuant to s. 445.0075, F.S.
Effective Date
The bill sets forth an effective date of July 1, 2026.
BILL: SB 1456 Page 4
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
Indeterminate. Grants may increase the doula workforce, creating jobs and increasing
revenue for doula support businesses.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The bill appropriates $7.5 million to the department for implementation. Funds
appropriated under the bill which are not encumbered by June 30, 2027, must be returned
to the General Revenue Fund.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill creates section 445.0075 of the Florida Statutes.
BILL: SB 1456 Page 5
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1456 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1456
By Senator Osgood
32-01247-26 20261456__ 32-01247-26 20261456__
1 A bill to be entitled 30 (a) The Legislature finds that:
2 An act relating to doula workforce development; 31 1. This state continues to experience persistent maternal
3 creating s. 445.0075, F.S.; providing legislative 32 morbidity and mortality disparities that disproportionately
4 findings and intent; defining terms; establishing the 33 affect Black, Brown, rural, and low-income communities.
5 Doula Workforce Development Support Program within the 34 2. Doulas have been shown to improve maternal and infant
6 Department of Commerce to provide grants and technical 35 health outcomes, reduce preventable complications, increase
7 assistance to eligible doula training entities for a 36 prenatal care engagement, and strengthen postpartum recovery.
8 specified purpose; requiring the department to 37 3. Existing doula training organizations, community-based
9 prioritize support to high-need regions; providing for 38 doula programs, nonprofit entities, and private educational
10 the grant of awards under the program; specifying 39 institutions serve a critical role in building a maternal health
11 authorized uses of the grant funds; prohibiting the 40 workforce but are under-resourced.
12 department from using the funds for specified 41 4. Supporting these entities through the state’s workforce
13 purposes; requiring the department to adopt rules for 42 development infrastructure is essential to meeting regional
14 the administration of the program; requiring the 43 maternal health needs, especially in urban high-disparity
15 department to consider specified factors in developing 44 counties, rural maternity-care deserts, and regions experiencing
16 grant criteria; requiring the department to submit 45 hospital closures or obstetric service reductions.
17 annual reports to the Governor and the Legislature by 46 (b) It is the intent of the Legislature to strengthen the
18 a specified date; providing requirements for the 47 state’s doula workforce by supporting the organizations that
19 report; authorizing the department to require grant 48 train, mentor, and deploy doulas, and to expand economic and
20 recipients to submit certain data; authorizing the 49 small-business opportunities for community-based birth workers
21 department to adopt rules; providing an appropriation; 50 through the Department of Commerce.
22 providing an effective date. 51 (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
23 52 (a) “Department” means the Department of Commerce.
24 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 53 (b) “Doula” means a nonmedical birth support professional
25 54 trained to give physical and emotional support during
26 Section 1. Section 445.0075, Florida Statutes, is created 55 childbirth.
27 to read: 56 (c) “Doula training entity” means a nonprofit organization,
28 445.0075 Doula Workforce Development Support Program.— 57 community-based program, training collective, academic
29 (1) LEGISLATIVE FINDINGS AND INTENT.— 58 institution, or private educational provider that conducts doula
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Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1456 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1456
32-01247-26 20261456__ 32-01247-26 20261456__
59 training, mentoring, continuing education, or workforce 88 expansion.
60 placement activities. 89 2. Instructor compensation and curriculum modernization.
61 (d) “Doula workforce support services” means instructor 90 3. Recruitment and support of trainees from high-need
62 compensation, curriculum development, program expansion, 91 regions.
63 administrative support, business development training for 92 4. Program administration, evaluation, and outreach.
64 doulas, mentoring, apprenticeship structures, evaluation and 93 5. Business development training for doulas, including
65 data activities, and related capacity-building functions. 94 assistance with incorporation, insurance, marketing, and
66 (e) “High-need region” means a county or region identified 95 entrepreneurship.
67 by the department as having elevated maternal morbidity rates, 96 6. Stipends or workforce support for newly trained doulas,
68 limited numbers of maternity care providers, or insufficient 97 administered through the eligible entity.
69 doula availability. 98 7. Partnership development with hospitals, Medicaid managed
70 (3) PROGRAM ESTABLISHMENT.— 99 care plans, clinics, community health workers, Healthy Start
71 (a) The Doula Workforce Development Support Program is 100 coalitions, or other maternal health service providers.
72 established within the department to provide grants and 101 (c) The department may not use funds to directly recruit,
73 technical assistance to eligible doula training entities for the 102 hire, or employ doulas as state employees or contractors
74 purpose of expanding the state’s doula workforce. 103 providing clinical services.
75 (b) The program shall prioritize support for entities 104 (5) PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION.—
76 serving high-need regions, including: 105 (a) The department shall establish by rule application
77 1. Urban counties with high maternal morbidity disparities. 106 procedures, grant criteria, allowable costs, reporting
78 2. Rural areas with limited or no obstetric providers or 107 requirements, and monitoring processes.
79 maternity wards. 108 (b) In developing grant criteria, the department shall
80 3. Communities affected by recent hospital closures or 109 consider all of the following:
81 reductions in maternity services. 110 1. The demonstrated capacity of the entity to train or
82 (4) GRANTS; ELIGIBILITY; USE OF FUNDS.— 111 mentor doulas.
83 (a) The department may award competitive or formula-based 112 2. The geographic areas served and the documented need for
84 grants to eligible doula training entities to support doula 113 doula workforce expansion.
85 workforce development. 114 3. The entity’s experience serving culturally diverse and
86 (b) Grant funds may be used for any of the following: 115 high-disparity populations.
87 1. Training, mentoring, or apprenticeship program 116 4. Partnerships with local workforce development boards or
Page 3 of 6 Page 4 of 6
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Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1456 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1456
32-01247-26 20261456__ 32-01247-26 20261456__
117 educational institutions. 146 (b) The remaining funds shall be placed in a Grants and
118 5. Plans for sustainability and long-term workforce 147 Aids – Doula Workforce Development Support Program category and
119 placement. 148 distributed as competitive or formula-based grants to eligible
120 (6) REPORTING.— 149 doula training entities in accordance with s. 445.0075, Florida
121 (a) By December 1 of each year, the department shall submit 150 Statutes, with priority given to entities serving high-need
122 a report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the 151 regions as defined in that section.
123 Speaker of the House of Representatives summarizing all of the 152 (3) Funds appropriated in this section which are not
124 following: 153 encumbered by June 30, 2027, shall revert to the General Revenue
125 1. Grant recipients and award amounts. 154 Fund.
126 2. The number of doulas trained, mentored, or supported by 155 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
127 funded entities.
128 3. The geographic distribution of program activities.
129 4. Workforce outcomes, including business development
130 successes and job placements.
131 5. Recommendations for program improvements.
132 (b) The department may require grant recipients to submit
133 data necessary to compile the report.
134 (7) RULES.—The department may adopt rules necessary to
135 implement this section.
136 Section 2. (1) For the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the
137 nonrecurring sum of $7.5 million from the General Revenue Fund
138 is appropriated to the Department of Commerce to implement s.
139 445.0075, Florida Statutes, relating to the Doula Workforce
140 Development Support Program.
141 (2) From the funds appropriated in subsection (1):
142 (a) Up to $500,000 may be used by the department for
143 administrative expenses, program management, technical
144 assistance to grantees, and data collection and evaluation
145 activities necessary to carry out the program.
Page 5 of 6 Page 6 of 6
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The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Commerce and Tourism
BILL: SB 1722
INTRODUCER: Senator Calatayud
SUBJECT: Application Stores
DATE: Febuary 3, 2026 REVISED:
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. McMillan McKay CM Favorable
2. JU
3. RC
I. Summary:
SB 1722 creates the “App Store Accountability Act,” which requires application (app) store
providers and developers to implement certain age verification and parental consent
requirements for minors using such apps. Additionally, app stores and developers are required to
protect user data.
A minor who has been harmed by a violation of the provisions in the bill, or such minor’s parent,
may bring a civil action against an app store provider or a developer. Further, a violation of the
provisions in the bill is an unfair and deceptive trade practice actionable under part II of ch. 501,
F.S., by the Department of Legal Affairs.
The bill takes effect on July 1, 2027.
II. Present Situation:
Application (App) Store Laws
Some states including Texas,1 Utah,2 and Louisiana3 have passed laws to require app stores and
developers to verify user age upon creating an account, as well as require verifiable parental
consent for minors before they can download apps or make (in-app) purchases.4
In December of 2025, the United States District Court in the Western District of Texas granted
preliminary injunctions in two cases blocking enforcement of the state’s App Accountability Act
1
See Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 121.001 et seq.
2
See Utah Code Title 13, Chapter 76.
3
See Part II of Chapter 20-A of Title 51 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes (R.S. 51:1771 through 1775).
4
See Tex. Bus. & Com. Code § 121.001 et seq., Utah Code Title 13, Chapter 76, and Part II of Chapter 20-A of Title 51 of
the Louisiana Revised Statutes (R.S. 51:1771 through 1775).
BILL: SB 1722 Page 2
that was scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026.5 The court found that the law is likely an
unconstitutional restriction on free speech.6 The Texas attorney general has filed a notice of
appeal to the Fifth Circuit.
Florida’s Age Verification Law
In 2024, the Legislature enacted laws to require age verification for online access to materials
that are harmful to minors.7
Florida law requires a commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or
distributes material harmful to minors on a website or application, if the website or application
contains a substantial portion of material harmful to minors to use either anonymous age
verification or standard age verification to verify that the age of a person attempting to access the
material is 18 years of age or older and prevent access to the material by a person younger than
18 years of age.8
“Standard age verification” means any commercially reasonable method of age verification
approved by the commercial entity.9
Any violation of the age verification law is deemed an unfair and deceptive trade practice, and
the Department of Legal Affairs (department) has enforcement authority. In addition to the
remedies under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, the department may
collect a civil penalty of up to $50,000 per violation and reasonable attorney fees and court costs
for a violation by a third party.10 A commercial entity that violates the age verification
requirement is liable to the minor for such access, including court costs and reasonable attorney
fees as ordered by the court. Claimants may be awarded up to $10,000 in damages. A civil action
for a claim under this paragraph must be brought within 1 year from the date the complainant
knew, or reasonably should have known, of the alleged violation.11
Florida law defines the term “anonymous age verification” as a commercially reasonable method
used by a government agency or a business for the purpose of age verification which is
conducted by a nongovernmental, independent third party organized under the laws of a state of
the United States which:
• Has its principal place of business in a state of the United States; and
• Is not owned or controlled by a company formed in a foreign country, a government of a
foreign country, or any other entity formed in a foreign country.12
A third party conducting anonymous age verification:
5
See Students Engaged in Advancing Texas cv. Paxton, 2025 WL 3731733 (W.D. Tex. 2025). See also Computer &
Communications Industry Association v. Paxton, 2025 WL 3754045 (W.D. Tex. 2025).
6
See id. Additionally, the court found the law to be unconstitutionally vague.
7
Ch. 2024-42, Laws of Fla.
8
Section 501.1737, F.S.
9
Section 501.1737, F.S., defines “commercial entity” as a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, a limited
partnership, a sole proprietorship, and any other legally recognized entity.
10
Id.
11
Id.
12
Section 501.1738, F.S.
BILL: SB 1722 Page 3
• May not retain personal identifying information used to verify age once the age of an account
holder or a person seeking an account has been verified;
• May not use personal identifying information used to verify age for any other purpose;
• Must keep anonymous any personal identifying information used to verify age; and
• Must protect personal identifying information used to verify age from unauthorized or illegal
access, destruction, use, modification, or disclosure through reasonable security procedures
and practices appropriate to the nature of the personal information.13
Protection of Children in Online Spaces Law
Florida law provides that any online service, product, game, or feature likely to be predominantly
accessed by children under 18 years of age may not, except under certain situations:
• Process the personal information of any child if the platform has actual knowledge or
willfully disregards that the processing may result in substantial harm or privacy risk to
children.
• Profile a child.
• Collect, sell, share, or retain any personal information that is not necessary to provide an
online service, product, or feature with which a child is actively and knowingly engaged.
• Use a child’s personal information for any unstated reason.
• Collect, sell, or share any precise geolocation of data of children.
• Use dark patterns to:
o Lead or encourage children to provide personal information beyond what personal
information would otherwise be reasonably expected to be provided for that online
service, product, game or feature.
o Forego privacy protections.
o Take any action that the online platform has actual knowledge of or willfully disregards
that may result in substantial harm or privacy risk to children.
• Use collected information to estimate age or age range for any other purpose or retain that
personal information longer than necessary to estimate age.14
In 2024, the Legislature enacted a law to prohibit children under the age of 14 from creating a
social media account.15 A social media platform must do the following:
• Terminate any account held by an account holder younger than 14 years of age, including
accounts that the social media platform treats or categorizes as belonging to an account
holder who is likely younger than 14 years of age for purposes of targeting content or
advertising, and provide 90 days for an account holder to dispute such termination.
• Allow an account holder younger than 14 years of age to request to terminate the account.
• Allow the confirmed parent or guardian of an account holder younger than 14 years of age to
request that the minor’s account be terminated. Termination must be effective within 10
business days after such request.
• Permanently delete all personal information held by the social media platform relating to the
terminated account, unless there are legal requirements to maintain such information.16
13
Id.
14
Section 501.1735, F.S.
15
Ch. 2024-42, Laws of Fla.
16
Section 501.1736, F.S.
BILL: SB 1722 Page 4
A social media platform must prohibit a minor who is 14 or 15 years of age from entering into a
contract with a social media platform to become an account holder, unless the minor’s parent or
guardian provides consent for the minor to become an account holder.17
A social media platform must do the following:
• Terminate any account held by an account holder who is 14 or 15 years of age, including
accounts that the social media platform treats or categorizes as belonging to an account
holder who is likely 14 or 15 years of age for purposes of targeting content or advertising, if
the account holder’s parent or guardian has not provided consent for the minor to create or
maintain the account. The social media platform must provide 90 days for an account holder
to dispute such termination. Termination must be effective upon the expiration of the 90 days
if the account holder fails to effectively dispute the termination.
• Allow an account holder who is 14 or 15 years of age to request to terminate the account.
Termination must be effective within 5 business days after such request.
• Allow the confirmed parent or guardian of an account holder who is 14 or 15 years of age to
request that the minor’s account be terminated. Termination must be effective within 10
business days after such request.
• Permanently delete all personal information held by the social media platform relating to the
terminated account, unless there are legal requirements to maintain such information.18
Any knowing or reckless violation of s. 501.1736(2) or (3), F.S., is deemed an unfair and
deceptive trade practice, and the department has enforcement authority.19 In addition to the
remedies under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act, the department may
collect a civil penalty of up to $50,000 per violation and reasonable attorney fees and court costs
for a violation by a third party.20 When the social media platform’s failure to comply with the
requirements is a consistent pattern of knowing or reckless conduct, punitive damages may be
assessed against the social media platform.21
A social media platform that knowingly or recklessly violates s. 501.1736(2) or (3), F.S., is liable
to the minor account holder, including court costs and reasonable attorney fees as ordered by the
court. Claimants may be awarded up to $10,000 in damages. A civil action for a claim must be
brought within 1 year from the date the complainant knew, or reasonably should have known, of
the alleged violation.22
Litigation Status
In October of 2024, the Computer and Communications Industry Association and NetChoice
(Association) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida to
challenge Florida’s social media law that among other requirements, requires certain social
media platforms to prohibit minors under age 14 from becoming an account holder or
17
Id.
18
Section 501.1736(4), F.S., provides that if a court enjoins the enforcement of this section, then this section should be
severed and s. 501.1736(4), F.S., will take effect, which prohibits a minor who is 14 or 15 years of age from entering into a
contract with a social media platform to become an account holder.
19
Section 501.1736, F.S.
20
Id.
21
Id.
22
Id.
BILL: SB 1722 Page 5
maintaining an account on such platforms, and in June of 2025, the district court granted the
Association’s motion for a preliminary injunction.23 Florida appealed this decision and requested
that the Eleventh Circuit “stay” the injunction to allow the law to take effect while the appeal
continues.24 In November of 2025, the Eleventh Circuit granted Florida’s motion for a “stay,”
which allows Florida to enforce the law while the appeal proceeds.25 The case is currently
pending before the Eleventh Circuit.26
The Digital Bill of Rights
In 2023, the Legislature passed the “Florida Digital Bill of Rights,”27 which created a unified
scheme to allow Florida’s consumers to control the digital flow of their personal information.28
The “Florida Digital Bill of Rights” gives Florida consumers the right to:
• Confirm and access their personal data;
• Delete, correct, or obtain a copy of that personal data;
• Opt out of the processing of personal data for the purposes of targeted advertising, the sale of
personal data, or profiling in furtherance of a decision that produces a legal or similarly
significant effect concerning a consumer;
• Opt out of the collection or processing of sensitive data, including precise geolocation data;
and
• Opt out of the collection of personal data collected through the operation of a voice
recognition or facial recognition feature.
The data privacy provisions of ch. 501, part V, F.S., generally apply to “controllers,” businesses
that collect Florida consumers’ personal data, make in excess of $1 billion in global gross annual
revenues, and meet one of the following thresholds:
• Derives 50 percent or more if its global gross annual revenues from the online sale of
advertisements, including from providing targeted advertising or the sale of ads online;
• Operates a consumer smart speaker and voice command component service with an
integrated virtual assistant connected to a cloud computing service that uses hands-free
verbal activation; or
• Operates an app store or digital distribution platform that offers at least 250,000 different
software applications for consumers to download and install.
A controller who operates an online search engine is required to make available an up-to date
plain language description of the main parameters that are most significant in determining
ranking and the relative importance of those main parameters, including the prioritization or
deprioritization of political partisanship or political ideology in search results. A controller must
also conduct and document a data protection assessment of certain processing activities
involving personal data. Additionally, a controller is required to provide consumers with a
reasonably accessible and clear privacy notice, updated at least annually.
23
CCIA & NetChoice v. Uthmeier, 2025 WL 1570007 (N.D. Fla. June 3, 2025).
24
CCIA & NetChoice v. Uthmeier, 2025 WL 3458571 (11th Cir. 2025).
25
Id.
26
Id.
27
See ch. 2023-201, Laws of Fla. See also part V of ch. 501, F.S.
28
Id.
BILL: SB 1722 Page 6
Additionally, a controller in procession of deidentified data must do the following:
• Take reasonable measures to ensure that the data cannot be associated with an individual.
• Maintain and use the data in deidentified form. A controller may not attempt to reidentify the
data, except that the controller may attempt to reidentify the data solely for the purpose of
determining whether its deidentification processes satisfy the requirements of s. 501.714, F.S.
• Contractually obligate any recipient of the deidentified data to comply with the Florida
Digital Bill of Rights.
• Implement business processes to prevent the inadvertent release of deidentified data.
Section 501.702(13), F.S., defines “deidentified data” as data that cannot reasonably be linked to
an identified or identifiable individual or a device linked to that individual.
The Florida Digital Bill of Rights may not be construed to require a controller or processor29 to
do any of the following:
• Reidentify deidentified data or pseudonymous data.
• Maintain data in an identifiable form or obtain, retain, or access any data or technology for
the purpose of allowing the controller or processor to associate a consumer request with
personal data.
• Comply with an authenticated consumer rights request under s. 501.705, F.S.,30 if the
controller:
o Is not reasonably capable of associating the request with the personal data or it would be
unreasonably burdensome for the controller to associate the request with the personal
data;
o Does not use the personal data to recognize or respond to the specific consumer who is
the subject of the personal data or associate the personal data with other personal data
about the same specific consumer; and
o Does not sell the personal data to a third party or otherwise voluntarily disclose the
personal data to a third party other than a processor, except as otherwise authorized.
Further, a controller that discloses deidentified data must exercise reasonable oversight to
monitor compliance with any contractual commitments to which the data or information is
subject and must take appropriate steps to address any breach of contractual commitments.31
A violation of the “Florida Digital Bill of Rights” is an unfair and deceptive trade practice
actionable under ch. 501, part II, F.S., to be enforced by the Department of Legal Affairs (DLA).
29
Section 501.702(24), F.S., defines “processor” as a person who processes personal data on behalf of a controller.
30
Section 501.705, F.S., provides that a consumer is entitled to the following upon request: (1) to confirm whether a
controller is processing the consumer’s personal data and to access the personal datal (2) to correct inaccuracies in the
consumer’s personal data, taking into account the nature of the personal data and the purposes of the processing of the
consumer’s personal data; (3) to delete any or all personal data provided by or obtained about the consumer; (4) to obtain a
copy of the consumer’s personal data in a portable and, to the extent technically feasible, readily usable format if the data is
available in a digital format; (5) to opt out of the processing of the personal data for purposes of targeted advertising, the sale
of personal data, or profiling in furtherance of a decision that produces a legal or similarly significant effect concerning a
consumer; (6) to opt out of the collection of sensitive data, including precise geolocation data, or the processing of sensitive
data; and (7) to opt out of the collection of personal data collected through the operation of a voice recognition or facial
recognition feature.
31
Section 540.714(4), F.S.
BILL: SB 1722 Page 7
The DLA may provide a right to cure a violation of ch. 501, part V, F.S., by providing written
notice of the violation and then allowing a 45-day period to cure the alleged violation. The DLA
is required to make a report publicly available by February 1 each year on the DLA’s website
that describes any actions it has undertaken to enforce ch. 501, part V, F.S.
Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act
History and Purpose
The Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA) became law in 1973.32 The
FDUTPA is a consumer and business protection measure that prohibits unfair methods of
competition, unconscionable acts or practices, and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in trade or
commerce.33 The FDUTPA is based on federal law, and s. 501.204(2), F.S., provides that it is the
intent of the Legislature that due consideration and great weight must be given to the
interpretations of the Federal Trade Commission and the federal courts relating to section 5 of
the Federal Trade Commission Act.34
The State Attorney or the Department of Legal Affairs may bring actions when it is in the public
interest on behalf of consumers or governmental entities.35 The Office of the State Attorney may
enforce violations of the FDUTPA if the violations take place in its jurisdiction.36 The
Department of Legal Affairs has enforcement authority if the violation is multi-jurisdictional, the
state attorney defers in writing, or the state attorney fails to act within 90 days after a written
complaint is filed.37 Consumers may also file suit through private actions.38
Remedies under the FDUTPA
The Department of Legal Affairs and the State Attorney, as enforcing authorities, may seek the
following remedies:
• Declaratory judgments.
• Injunctive relief.
• Actual damages on behalf of consumers and businesses.
• Cease and desist orders.
• Civil penalties of up to $10,000 per willful violation.39
Remedies for private parties are limited to the following:
• A declaratory judgment and an injunction where a person is aggrieved by a FDUTPA
violation.
32
Ch. 73-124, Laws of Fla.; codified at part II of ch. 501, F.S.
33
See s. 501.202, F.S. Trade or commerce means the advertising, soliciting, providing, offering, or distributing, whether by
sale, rental, or otherwise, of any good or service, or any property, whether tangible or intangible, or any other article,
commodity, or thing of value, wherever situated. “Trade or commerce” shall include the conduct of any trade or commerce,
however denominated, including any nonprofit or not-for-profit person or activity. See s. 501.203(8), F.S.
34
See s 501.204(2), F.S.
35
See ss. 501.203(2), 501.206, and 501.207, F.S.
36
Section 501.203(2), F.S.
37
Id.
38
Section 501.211, F.S.
39
Sections 501.207(1), 501.208, and 501.2075, F.S. Civil Penalties are deposited into general revenue. Section 501.2075,
F.S. Enforcing authorities may also request attorney fees and costs of investigation or litigation. Section 501.2105, F.S.
BILL: SB 1722 Page 8
• Actual damages, attorney fees, and court costs, where a person has suffered a loss due to a
FDUTPA violation.40
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill creates s. 501.1733, F.S., to be entitled the “App Store Accountability Act.”
Definitions
The bill creates the following definitions:
• “Account holder” means an individual associated with a mobile device.
• “Age category” means one of the following categories of individuals, based on age:
o A child, which means an individual who is under 13 years of age;
o A younger teenager, which means an individual who is at least 13 years of age and under
16 years of age;
o An older teenager, which means an individual who is at least 16 years of age and under
18 years of age; or
o An adult, which means an individual who is at least 18 years of age.
• “Age category data” means information about an account holder’s age category collected by
an app store provider and shared with a developer.
• “Age rating” means one or more classifications that assess the suitability of an app’s content
and functions for different age categories.
• “App” means a software application or electronic service that a user may run or direct on a
mobile device. The term includes preinstalled applications.
• “App store” means any publicly available website, software application, or electronic service
that allows an account holder to download an app from a third-party developer onto a mobile
device.
• “App store provider” means a person that owns, operates, or controls an app store.
• “Content description” means a description of the specific content elements or functions that
informed an app’s age rating.
• “Department” means the Department of Legal Affairs (DLA).
• “Developer” means a person that owns or controls an app made available through an app
store or an app preinstalled onto a mobile device.
• “Knowingly” means to act with actual knowledge or to act with knowledge fairly inferred
based on objective circumstances.
• “Minor” means, unless the individual is married or legally emancipated, an individual under
18 years of age.
• “Minor account” means an account with an app store provider, established by an individual
who is a minor, which is affiliated with a parent account.
• “Mobile device” means a phone or general-purpose tablet that:
o Provides cellular or wireless connectivity;
o Is capable of connecting to the Internet;
o Runs a mobile operating system; and
o Is capable of running apps through the mobile operating system.
40
Section 501.211(1) and (2), F.S.
BILL: SB 1722 Page 9
• “Mobile operating system” means software that:
o Manages mobile device hardware resources;
o Provides common services for mobile device programs;
o Controls memory allocation; and
o Provides interfaces for apps to access device functionality.
• “Parent” means, with respect to a minor, an individual reasonably believed to be a parent, a
legal guardian, an individual with legal custody, or any other individual who has the legal
authority to make decisions on behalf of the minor under applicable state law.
• “Parent account” means an account with an app store provider which:
o Is verified to be established by an individual who the app store provider has determined is
at least 18 years of age or married or emancipated through the app store provider’s age
verification methods; and
o May be affiliated with one or more minor accounts.
• “Parental consent disclosure” includes the following information:
o If the app store provider has an age rating for the app or in-app purchase, the app’s or in-
app purchase’s age rating;
o If the app store provider has a content description for the app or in-app purchase, the
app’s or in-app purchase’s content description;
o A description of:
• The personal data collected by the app from an account holder in compliance with, if
applicable, part V of ch. 501, F.S.; and
• The personal data shared by the app and the methods implemented by the developer
to protect the personal data, including, if the app meets the definition of a controller
under s. 501.702, F.S., the methods implemented by the developer to comply with
part V of ch. 501, F.S.; and
o Whether personal data is collected by the app and the methods implemented by the
developer to protect the personal data, and, if the app meets the definition of a controller
under s. 501.702, F.S., the methods implemented by the developer to comply with part V
of ch. 501, F.S.
• “Preinstalled application” means any app, or portion thereof, which is present on a mobile
device at the time of purchase, initial activation, or first use by the consumer, including
browsers, search engines, and messaging, but excluding core operating system functions,
essential device drivers, and applications necessary for basic device operation such as phone
call, settings, and emergency service applications. The term includes apps, or portions
thereof, installed or partially installed by the device manufacturer, wireless service provider,
retailer, or any other party before purchase, initial activation, or first use by the consumer and
which may be updated thereafter.
• “Significant change” means a material modification to an app’s terms of service or privacy
policy which:
o Changes the categories of data collected, stored, or shared;
o Alters the app’s age rating or content descriptions; or
o Introduces in-app purchases where in-app purchases were not previously present or
introduces advertisements where advertisements were not previously present in the app.
• “Verifiable parental consent” means authorization that:
o Is provided by a parent account;
BILL: SB 1722 Page 10
o Is given after the app store provider has clearly and conspicuously provided the parental
consent disclosure as part of the app download, purchase, or in-app purchase process; and
o Requires the parent to make an affirmative choice to grant consent or decline consent.
App Store Providers
An app store provider is required to do all of the following:
• At the time an individual located in Florida creates an account with the app store provider, or
for existing accounts, by July 1, 2028, request age category information from the individual
and verify the individual’s age category using:
o Commercially available methods reasonably designed to ensure accuracy; or
o An age verification method or process that complies with department rule.
• If the app store provider determines the individual is a minor, require that the account be
affiliated with a parent account and obtain verifiable parental consent from the holder of the
affiliated parent account each time before allowing the minor to download an app, purchase
an app, or make an in-app purchase.
• After receiving notice of a significant change from a developer, notify the account holder of
the significant change and, for a minor account, notify the parent account and obtain renewed
verifiable parental consent before providing access to the significantly changed version of the
app.
• Provide to a developer, in response to a request, age category data for an account holder
located in Florida and the status of the verifiable parental consent for a minor located in
Florida.
• Provide a mechanism for a parent account to withdraw consent and notify a developer when
a parent revokes verifiable parental consent.
• Protect age category data and any associated verification data by:
o If applicable, complying with s. 501.1735, F.S.;
o Limiting collection and processing to data necessary for verifying an account holder’s
age category, obtaining verifiable parental consent, or maintaining compliance records;
and
o Transmitting age category data using industry-standard encryption protocols that ensure
data integrity and data confidentiality.
• For preinstalled apps, provide available age category information in response to a request
from a developer and take reasonable measures to facilitate verifiable parental consent for
use of the app in response to a request from a developer.
An app store provider may not:
• Enforce a contract or terms of service against a minor unless the app store provider has
obtained verifiable parental consent;
• Knowingly misrepresent the information in the parental consent disclosure; or
• Share age category data and any associated data except as required by the provisions in the
bill or otherwise required by law.
Developers
A developer must:
BILL: SB 1722 Page 11
• Verify through the app store’s data-sharing methods the age category data of account holders
located in Florida, and for a minor’s account, whether verifiable parental consent has been
obtained;
• Notify app store providers of significant changes to an app;
• Use age category data received through the app store’s data-sharing methods to enforce any
developer-created, age related restrictions, safety-related features, or defaults, and to enforce
compliance with applicable laws and regulations; and
• Request any age category data or verifiable parental consent at the time an account holder
downloads an app, purchases an app, or launches a preinstalled app for the first time; when
implementing a significant change to the app; or to comply with applicable law.
A developer may request age category data:
• No more than once during each 12-month period to verify the accuracy of age category data
associated with an account holder or the continued account use within an age category;
• When there is reasonable suspicion of an account transfer or misuse outside of the age
category; or
• At the time an account holder creates a new account with the developer.
When implementing any developer-created, age-related restrictions, safety-related features, or
defaults, a developer must use the lowest age category indicated by age category data received
through the app store’s data-sharing methods or age data independently collected by the
developer.
A developer may not:
• Enforce a contract or terms of service against a minor unless the developer has verified
through an app store’s data sharing methods that verifiable parental consent has been
obtained;
• Knowingly misrepresent any information in the parental consent disclosure; or
• Share age category data with any person.
Enforcement
A minor who has been harmed by a violation of the provisions in the bill, or such minor’s parent,
may bring a civil action against an app store provider or a developer. In such action, the court
must award a prevailing plaintiff:
• The greater of actual damages or $1,000 for each violation;
• Reasonable attorney fees; and
• Litigation costs.
A violation of the provisions in the bill is an unfair and deceptive trade practice actionable under
part II of ch. 501, F.S., by the DLA. The DLA may bring an action against an app store provider
or a developer to:
• Recover a civil penalty not to exceed $7,500 for each violation;
• Restrain or enjoin the app store provider or developer from violating the provisions in the
bill;
• Seek injunctive relief;
BILL: SB 1722 Page 12
• Recover reasonable attorney fees; and
• Recover litigation costs and the costs of investigating the violation.
For the purpose of bringing an action pursuant to the provisions in the bill, ss. 501.211 and
501.212, F.S., do not apply.
Jurisdiction
For purposes of bringing an action pursuant to the provisions in the bill, any person who meets
the definition of an app store provider or developer which operates or develops an app store or
app likely to be accessed by minors and accessible by minors located in Florida is considered to
be both engaged in substantial and not isolated activities within Florida and operating,
conducting, engaging in, or carrying on a business and doing business in Florida, and is therefore
subject to the jurisdiction of the courts of Florida.
Rules
The DLA is given rulemaking authority.
Safe Harbor
A developer is not liable for a violation of the provisions in the bill if the developer demonstrates
that the developer:
• Relied in good faith on applicable age category data received through an app store’s data-
sharing methods;
• Relied in good faith on notification from an app store provider that verifiable parental
consent was obtained if the account holder was a minor; and
• Complied with the requirements in the bill applicable to developers.
In determining an app’s age rating and content description for purposes of this bill, a developer is
not liable for a violation of the bill if the developer uses widely adopted industry standards to
determine the app’s age category and content description and applies those standards consistently
and in good faith.
This “safe harbor” for developers only applies to actions brought under the provisions in this bill
and does not limit a developer’s or app store provider’s liability under any other applicable law.
Additionally, the provisions in the bill does not displace any other available rights or remedies
authorized under federal or Florida law.
Construction
The provisions in the bill may not be construed to do any of the following:
• Prevent an app store provider or developer from taking reasonable measures to block, detect,
or prevent distribution to minors of unlawful material, obscene material, or other harmful
material; block or filter spam; prevent criminal activity; or protect app store or app security.
• Require an app store provider to disclose user information to a developer beyond age
category data or status of parental consent.
BILL: SB 1722 Page 13
• Allow an app store provider or developer to implement measures required by the bill in a
manner that is arbitrary, capricious, anticompetitive, or unlawful.
• Require an app store provider or developer to obtain verifiable parental consent for an app
that:
o Provides direct access to emergency services, including 911, crisis hotlines, or emergency
assistance services, legally available to minors;
o Limits data collection to information necessary to provide emergency services in
compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. s. 6501 et seq.;
o Provides access without requiring account creation or collection of unnecessary personal
information; and
o Is operated by or in partnership with a governmental entity, a nonprofit organization, or
an authorized emergency service provider.
• Require a developer to collect, retain, reidentify, or link any information beyond what is
necessary to verify age category data as required by this bill, and what is collected, retained,
reidentified, or linked in the developer’s ordinary course of business.
• Require an app store provider or developer to block access to an application that an account
holder has downloaded or installed onto a mobile device before July 1, 2027, except to the
extent that a parent account revokes verifiable consent for an affiliated minor account or
there has been a significant change to the application.
If any provision of this bill or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this bill which can be given effect
without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this bill are
severable.
Effective Date
The bill takes effect on July 1, 2027.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
BILL: SB 1722 Page 14
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees that “Congress shall make no
law ... abridging the freedom of speech.”41 Generally, “government has no power to
restrict expression because of its message, its ideas, its subject matter, or its content.”42
The rights guaranteed by the First Amendment apply with equal force to state
governments through the due process clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.43
In most circumstances, these protections “are no less applicable when government seeks
to control the flow of information to minors”44 as states do not possess “a free-floating
power to restrict the ideas to which children may be exposed.”45
Many of the questions regarding the constitutionality of age verification laws may
concern whether such laws are sufficiently narrow to avoid inhibiting more speech than
necessary. The degree of tailoring required may vary depending on whether a given law
is content-based or content-neutral. In both circumstances, a law’s constitutionality
depends on several factors, including the:
• Strength of the government’s interest.
• Amount of protected speech that the law directly or indirectly restricts.
• Availability of less speech-restrictive alternatives.46
Content-neutral regulations on free speech are legitimate if they advance important
governmental interests that are not related to suppression of free speech, do so in a way
that is substantially related to those interests, and do not substantially burden more speech
than necessary to further those interests.47
The U.S. Supreme Court regards content-based laws, which limit communication because
of the message it conveys, as presumptively unconstitutional.48 Such a law may be
justified only if the government shows that the law is required to promote a compelling
state interest and that the least restrictive means have been chosen to further that
articulated interest.49
In general, the U.S. Supreme Court has held that requiring adults to prove their age to
access certain content is an unconstitutional, content-based limit on free speech, when
41
U.S. CONST. amend. I.
42
Police Dept. of City of Chicago v. Mosley, 408 U.S. 92, 95 (1972).
43
U.S. CONST. amend. XIV; see also FLA. CONST., art. I.
44
Erznoznik v. City of Jacksonville, 422 U.S. 205, 214 (1975).
45
Brown v. Ent. Merchants Ass’n, 564 U.S. 786, 794 (2011).
46
Eric N. Holmes, Congressional Research Service, Online Age Verification (Part III): Select Constitutional Issues (CRS
Report No. LSB11022, August 17, 2023), available at https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/LSB/LSB11022.
47
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. v. F.C.C., 520 U.S. 180,189 (U.S. 1997).
48
Reed v. Town of Gilbert, 576 U.S. 155, 163 (2015).
49
Sable Commc’s of California, Inc. vs. F.C.C., 492 U.S. 115, 126 (1989).
BILL: SB 1722 Page 15
there are less restrictive means to curb access to minors, such as filters and parental
controls.50
According to Justice O’Connor’s Reno dissent, because technology was insufficient for
ensuring that minors could be excluded while still providing adults full access to
protected content, the age verification provision was viewed as ultimately
unconstitutional; however, she contemplated the possibility that future technological
advances may allow for a constitutionally sound age verification law.51
In June of 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a Texas law that requires commercial
pornography websites to verify the age of their users.52 The court applied intermediate
scrutiny and upheld the law as constitutional because it merely imposes an incidental
burden on adults’ protected speech while serving the state’s important interest in
shielding children from harmful content.53
Experts assert that age verification systems have progressed considerably from a
generation ago when the U.S. Supreme Court held that age verification methods often
failed and were too burdensome for law-abiding adults.54 Currently, there are numerous
minimally invasive verification techniques that do not require sharing any age
verification information at all with social media platforms.55
Additionally, in determining whether laws requiring age verification to access social
media platforms unconstitutionally restrict free speech, courts have found that even if
“the state has the power to enforce parental prohibitions it does not follow that the state
has the power to prevent children from hearing or saying anything without their parents’
prior consent.”56 Moreover:
[A]ge-verification requirements are more restrictive than policies enabling
or encouraging users (or their parents) to control their own access to
information, whether through user-installed devices and filters or
affirmative requests to third-party companies. “Filters impose selective
restrictions on speech at the receiving end, not universal restrictions at the
source.” And “[u]nder a filtering regime, adults ... may gain access to speech
50
Reno v. Am. C. L. Union, 521 U.S. 844, 874 (1997); Ashcroft v. American Civil Liberties Union, 542 U.S. 656, 666 (2004);
Ronald Kahn, Reno v. American Civil Liberties Union (1997), Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University,
Dec. 15, 2023, https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/reno-v-american-civil-liberties-union/.
51
Reno, 521 U.S. at 886-91 (O’Connor concurring in part and dissenting in part). The court also considered overbreadth and
vagueness arguments, and determined that the Communications Decency Act of 1996 was too broad and vague. Id. at 883-84.
52
Free Speech Coalition, Inc. v. Paxton, 606 U.S. 461 (2025).
53
Id. See also Computer & Communications Industry Association v. Uthmeier, 95 F.4th 1022 (11th Cir. 2025), where the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit stayed the district court’s preliminary injunction, and thus Florida’s law that
prohibits minors under 14 from having social media accounts and requires parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds can be
enforced while the appeal proceeds.
54
Broadband Breakfast, Improved Age Verification Allows States to Consider Restricting Social Media, Nov. 20, 2023,
https://broadbandbreakfast.com/2023/11/improved-age-verification-allows-states-to-consider-restricting-social-media/; Reno,
521 U.S. at 886 (1997); Ashcroft, 542 U.S. at 666.
55
The Federalist Society, Age Verification for Social Media: A Constitutional and Reasonable Regulation, Aug. 7, 2023,
https://fedsoc.org/commentary/fedsoc-blog/age-verification-for-social-media-a-constitutional-and-reasonable-regulation.
56
NetChoice, LLC v. Yost, 2024 WL 104336, *8 (S.D. Ohio Jan. 9, 2024) (internal citations and quotations omitted).
BILL: SB 1722 Page 16
they have a right to see without having to identify themselves[.]” Similarly,
the State could always “act to encourage the use of filters ... by parents” to
protect minors.57
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
App store providers and developers will be required to adhere to the provisions in the bill.
C. Government Sector Impact:
The DLA will be required to establish rules to implement and enforce the provisions in
the bill.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
If in enforcing the bill’s provisions, the Department of Legal Affairs might come into possession
of information that should be exempt from a public records request, a separate bill creating the
exemption would be needed.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill creates section 501.1733 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.
57
NetChoice, LLC v. Griffin, 2023 WL 5660155, *21 (W.D. Ark. Aug. 31, 2023) (internal citations omitted).
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1722 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1722
By Senator Calatayud
38-01471-26 20261722__ 38-01471-26 20261722__
1 A bill to be entitled 30 specified damages, fees, and costs; providing that a
2 An act relating to application stores; providing a 31 violation of this act is an unfair and deceptive trade
3 short title; creating s. 501.1733, F.S.; defining 32 practice; authorizing the Department of Legal Affairs
4 terms; requiring an app store provider to take certain 33 to bring an action against app store providers and
5 steps to verify the ages of individuals who create or 34 developers; providing jurisdiction; requiring the
6 who have existing accounts with the app store 35 department to adopt specified rules; providing
7 provider; providing parental consent requirements for 36 applicability; providing construction; providing for
8 accounts created or held by minors; providing 37 severability; providing an effective date.
9 notification and consent requirements for apps that 38
10 have been significantly changed; requiring the app 39 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11 store provider to provide age category data and 40
12 parental consent information to developers upon 41 Section 1. This act may be cited as the “App Store
13 request; requiring app store providers to take certain 42 Accountability Act.”
14 steps to protect specified personal information; 43 Section 2. Section 501.1733, Florida Statutes, is created
15 prohibiting app store providers from enforcing 44 to read:
16 contracts or terms of service against a minor under 45 501.1733 Application stores.—
17 certain circumstances, knowingly misrepresenting 46 (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
18 certain information, or sharing age category data; 47 (a) “Account holder” means an individual associated with a
19 requiring developers to take certain steps to verify 48 mobile device.
20 age information and to comply with certain measures; 49 (b) “Age category” means one of the following categories of
21 providing limits on and requirements for developers 50 individuals, based on age:
22 requesting age data; prohibiting developers from 51 1. A child, which means an individual who is under 13 years
23 enforcing contracts or terms of service against a 52 of age;
24 minor under certain circumstances, knowingly 53 2. A younger teenager, which means an individual who is at
25 misrepresenting certain information, or sharing age 54 least 13 years of age and under 16 years of age;
26 category data; authorizing minors, or the parents of 55 3. An older teenager, which means an individual who is at
27 minors, to bring civil actions against app store 56 least 16 years of age and under 18 years of age; or
28 providers or developers for violations of the act; 57 4. An adult, which means an individual who is at least 18
29 authorizing courts to award prevailing plaintiffs with 58 years of age.
Page 1 of 13 Page 2 of 13
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1722 Florida Senate - 2026 SB 1722
38-01471-26 20261722__ 38-01471-26 20261722__
59 (c) “Age category data” means information about an account 88 (n) “Mobile device” means a phone or general-purpose tablet
60 holder’s age category collected by an app store provider and 89 that:
61 shared with a developer. 90 1. Provides cellular or wireless connectivity;
62 (d) “Age rating” means one or more classifications that 91 2. Is capable of connecting to the Internet;
63 assess the suitability of an app’s content and functions for 92 3. Runs a mobile operating system; and
64 different age categories. 93 4. Is capable of running apps through the mobile operating
65 (e) “App” means a software application or electronic 94 system.
66 service that a user may run or direct on a mobile device. The 95 (o) “Mobile operating system” means software that:
67 term includes preinstalled applications. 96 1. Manages mobile device hardware resources;
68 (f) “App store” means any publicly available website, 97 2. Provides common services for mobile device programs;
69 software application, or electronic service that allows an 98 3. Controls memory allocation; and
70 account holder to download an app from a third-party developer 99 4. Provides interfaces for apps to access device
71 onto a mobile device. 100 functionality.
72 (g) “App store provider” means a person that owns, 101 (p) “Parent” means, with respect to a minor, an individual
73 operates, or controls an app store. 102 reasonably believed to be a parent, a legal guardian, an
74 (h) “Content description” means a description of the 103 individual with legal custody, or any other individual who has
75 specific content elements or functions that informed an app’s 104 the legal authority to make decisions on behalf of the minor
76 age rating. 105 under applicable state law.
77 (i) “Department” means the Department of Legal Affairs. 106 (q) “Parent account” means an account with an app store
78 (j) “Developer” means a person that owns or controls an app 107 provider which:
79 made available through an app store or an app preinstalled onto 108 1. Is verified to be established by an individual who the
80 a mobile device. 109 app store provider has determined is at least 18 years of age or
81 (k) “Knowingly” mean to act with actual knowledge or to act 110 married or emancipated through the app store provider’s age
82 with knowledge fairly inferred based on objective circumstances. 111 verification methods; and
83 (l) “Minor” means, unless the individual is married or 112 2. May be affiliated with one or more minor accounts.
84 legally emancipated, an individual under 18 years of age. 113 (r) “Parental consent disclosure” includes the following
85 (m) “Minor account” means an account with an app store 114 information:
86 provider, established by an individual who is a minor, which is 115 1. If the app store provider has an age rating for the app
87 affiliated with a parent account. 116 or in-app purchase, the app’s or in-app purchase’s age rating;
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117 2. If the app store provider has a content description for 146 (t) “Significant change” means a material modification to
118 the app or in-app purchase, the app’s or in-app purchase’s 147 an app’s terms of service or privacy policy which:
119 content description; 148 1. Changes the categories of data collected, stored, or
120 3. A description of: 149 shared;
121 a. The personal data collected by the app from an account 150 2. Alters the app’s age rating or content descriptions; or
122 holder in compliance with, if applicable, part V of this 151 3. Introduces in-app purchases where in-app purchases were
123 chapter; and 152 not previously present or introduces advertisements where
124 b. The personal data shared by the app and the methods 153 advertisements were not previously present in the app.
125 implemented by the developer to protect the personal data, 154 (u) “Verifiable parental consent” means authorization that:
126 including, if the app meets the definition of a controller under 155 1. Is provided by a parent account;
127 s. 501.702, the methods implemented by the developer to comply 156 2. Is given after the app store provider has clearly and
128 with part V of this chapter; and 157 conspicuously provided the parental consent disclosure as part
129 4. Whether personal data is collected by the app and the 158 of the app download, purchase, or in-app purchase process; and
130 methods implemented by the developer to protect the personal 159 3. Requires the parent to make an affirmative choice to
131 data, and, if the app meets the definition of a controller under 160 grant consent or decline consent.
132 s. 501.702, the methods implemented by the developer to comply 161 (2) APP STORE PROVIDERS.—
133 with part V of this chapter. 162 (a) An app store provider shall do all of the following:
134 (s) “Preinstalled application” means any app, or portion 163 1. At the time an individual located in this state creates
135 thereof, which is present on a mobile device at the time of 164 an account with the app store provider, or for existing
136 purchase, initial activation, or first use by the consumer, 165 accounts, by July 1, 2028, request age category information from
137 including browsers, search engines, and messaging, but excluding 166 the individual and verify the individual’s age category using:
138 core operating system functions, essential device drivers, and 167 a. Commercially available methods reasonably designed to
139 applications necessary for basic device operation such as phone 168 ensure accuracy; or
140 call, settings, and emergency service applications. The term 169 b. An age verification method or process that complies with
141 includes apps, or portions thereof, installed or partially 170 department rule.
142 installed by the device manufacturer, wireless service provider, 171 2. If the app store provider determines the individual is a
143 retailer, or any other party before purchase, initial 172 minor, require that the account be affiliated with a parent
144 activation, or first use by the consumer and which may be 173 account and obtain verifiable parental consent from the holder
145 updated thereafter. 174 of the affiliated parent account each time before allowing the
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175 minor to download an app, purchase an app, or make an in-app 204 unless the app store provider has obtained verifiable parental
176 purchase. 205 consent;
177 3. After receiving notice of a significant change from a 206 2. Knowingly misrepresent the information in the parental
178 developer, notify the account holder of the significant change 207 consent disclosure; or
179 and, for a minor account, notify the parent account and obtain 208 3. Share age category data and any associated data except
180 renewed verifiable parental consent before providing access to 209 as required by this section or otherwise required by law.
181 the significantly changed version of the app. 210 (3) DEVELOPERS.—
182 4. Provide to a developer, in response to a request 211 (a) A developer shall:
183 authorized under subsection (3), age category data for an 212 1. Verify through the app store’s data-sharing methods the
184 account holder located in this state and the status of 213 age category data of account holders located in this state, and
185 verifiable parental consent for a minor located in this state. 214 for a minor’s account, whether verifiable parental consent has
186 5. Provide a mechanism for a parent account to withdraw 215 been obtained;
187 consent and notify a developer when a parent revokes verifiable 216 2. Notify app store providers of significant changes to an
188 parental consent. 217 app;
189 6. Protect age category data and any associated 218 3. Use age category data received through the app store’s
190 verification data by: 219 data-sharing methods to enforce any developer-created, age-
191 a. If applicable, complying with s. 501.1735; 220 related restrictions, safety-related features, or defaults, and
192 b. Limiting collection and processing to data necessary for 221 to enforce compliance with applicable laws and regulations; and
193 verifying an account holder’s age category, obtaining verifiable 222 4. Request any age category data or verifiable parental
194 parental consent, or maintaining compliance records; and 223 consent at the time an account holder downloads an app,
195 c. Transmitting age category data using industry-standard 224 purchases an app, or launches a preinstalled app for the first
196 encryption protocols that ensure data integrity and data 225 time; when implementing a significant change to the app; or to
197 confidentiality. 226 comply with applicable law.
198 7. For preinstalled apps, provide available age category 227 (b) A developer may request age category data:
199 information in response to a request from a developer and take 228 1. No more than once during each 12-month period to verify
200 reasonable measures to facilitate verifiable parental consent 229 the accuracy of age category data associated with an account
201 for use of the app in response to a request from a developer. 230 holder or the continued account use within an age category
202 (b) An app store provider may not: 231 listed in paragraph (1)(b);
203 1. Enforce a contract or terms of service against a minor 232 2. When there is reasonable suspicion of an account
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233 transfer or misuse outside of the age category; or 262 department. The department may bring an action against an app
234 3. At the time an account holder creates a new account with 263 store provider or a developer to:
235 the developer. 264 1. Recover a civil penalty not to exceed $7,500 for each
236 (c) When implementing any developer-created, age-related 265 violation;
237 restrictions, safety-related features, or defaults, a developer 266 2. Restrain or enjoin the app store provider or developer
238 must use the lowest age category listed in paragraph (1)(b) 267 from violating this section;
239 indicated by age category data received through the app store’s 268 3. Seek injunctive relief;
240 data-sharing methods or age data independently collected by the 269 4. Recover reasonable attorney fees; and
241 developer. 270 5. Recover litigation costs and the costs of investigating
242 (d) A developer may not: 271 the violation.
243 1. Enforce a contract or terms of service against a minor 272 (c) For the purpose of bringing an action pursuant to this
244 unless the developer has verified through an app store’s data- 273 section, ss. 501.211 and 501.212 do not apply.
245 sharing methods that verifiable parental consent has been 274 (5) JURISDICTION.—For purposes of bringing an action
246 obtained; 275 pursuant to this section, any person who meets the definition of
247 2. Knowingly misrepresent any information in the parental 276 an app store provider or developer which operates or develops an
248 consent disclosure; or 277 app store or app likely to be accessed by minors and accessible
249 3. Share age category data with any person. 278 by minors located in this state is considered to be both engaged
250 (4) ENFORCEMENT.— 279 in substantial and not isolated activities within this state and
251 (a) A minor who has been harmed by a violation of this 280 operating, conducting, engaging in, or carrying on a business
252 section, or such minor’s parent, may bring a civil action 281 and doing business in this state, and is therefore subject to
253 against an app store provider or a developer. In such action, 282 the jurisdiction of the courts of this state.
254 the court shall award a prevailing plaintiff: 283 (6) RULES.—The department shall adopt rules to establish
255 1. The greater of actual damages or $1,000 for each 284 definite processes and means by which an app store provider may
256 violation; 285 verify an account holder’s age category in accordance with this
257 2. Punitive damages if the violation was egregious; 286 section.
258 3. Reasonable attorney fees; and 287 (7) SAFE HARBOR; APPLICABILITY.—
259 4. Litigation costs. 288 (a) A developer is not liable for a violation of this
260 (b) A violation of this section is an unfair and deceptive 289 section if the developer demonstrates that the developer:
261 trade practice actionable under part II of this chapter by the 290 1. Relied in good faith on applicable age category data
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291 received through an app store’s data-sharing methods; 320 (d) Require an app store provider or developer to obtain
292 2. Relied in good faith on notification from an app store 321 verifiable parental consent for an app that:
293 provider that verifiable parental consent was obtained if the 322 1. Provides direct access to emergency services, including
294 account holder was a minor; and 323 911, crisis hotlines, or emergency assistance services, legally
295 3. Complied with the requirements of subsection (3). 324 available to minors;
296 (b) In determining an app’s age rating and content 325 2. Limits data collection to information necessary to
297 description for purposes of this section, a developer is not 326 provide emergency services in compliance with the Children’s
298 liable for a violation of this section if the developer uses 327 Online Privacy Protection Act, 15 U.S.C. s. 6501 et seq.;
299 widely adopted industry standards to determine the app’s age 328 3. Provides access without requiring account creation or
300 category and content description and applies those standards 329 collection of unnecessary personal information; and
301 consistently and in good faith. 330 4. Is operated by or in partnership with a governmental
302 (c) This subsection applies only to actions brought under 331 entity, a nonprofit organization, or an authorized emergency
303 this section and does not limit a developer’s or app store 332 service provider.
304 provider’s liability under any other applicable law. 333 (e) Require a developer to collect, retain, reidentify, or
305 (d) This section does not displace any other available 334 link any information beyond what is necessary to verify age
306 rights or remedies authorized under federal or Florida law. 335 category data as required by this section, and what is
307 (8) CONSTRUCTION.—This act may not be construed to do any 336 collected, retained, reidentified, or linked in the developer’s
308 of the following: 337 ordinary course of business.
309 (a) Prevent an app store provider or developer from taking 338 (f) Require an app store provider or developer to block
310 reasonable measures to block, detect, or prevent distribution to 339 access to an application that an account holder has downloaded
311 minors of unlawful material, obscene material, or other harmful 340 or installed onto a mobile device before July 1, 2027, except to
312 material; block or filter spam; prevent criminal activity; or 341 the extent that a parent account revokes verifiable consent for
313 protect app store or app security. 342 an affiliated minor account or there has been a significant
314 (b) Require an app store provider to disclose user 343 change to the application.
315 information to a developer beyond age category data or status of 344 Section 3. If any provision of this act or its application
316 parental consent. 345 to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity
317 (c) Allow an app store provider or developer to implement 346 does not affect other provisions or applications of this act
318 measures required by this section in a manner that is arbitrary, 347 which can be given effect without the invalid provision or
319 capricious, anticompetitive, or unlawful. 348 application, and to this end the provisions of this act are
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349 severable.
350 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2027.
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The Florida Senate
Committee Agenda Request
To: Senator Thomas Leek, Chair
Committee on Commerce and Tourism
Subject: Committee Agenda Request
Date: January 20, 2026
I respectfully request that Senate Bill #1722, relating to Application Stores, be placed on the:
[] committee agenda at your earliest possible convenience.
[] next committee agenda.
/i}, Gt
Senator Alexis Calatayud
Florida Senate, District 38
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APPEARANCE RECORD SB 1722 - App Stores
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Name
Julie Barrett
___________________________
h
Pone
206-251-6954 _
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E mal 1
julie@conservativeladiesofamerica.com
Street
Sarasota FL 34240
City State Zip
sos«no [fr, [j oos [ferret«o OR woe so-eat«no: a.soon [Coast
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This form is part of the public record for this meeting. S-001 (08/10/2021)
STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Division of Elections
I, Cord Byrd, Secretary of State,
do hereby certify that
~
Charles T. Faircloth, Jr. .~
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is duly appointed a member of the 3
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Reemployment Assistance Appeals
Commission
for a term beginning on the Twenty-Fourth day of October,
A.D., 2025, until the Thirtieth day of June, A.D., 2029 and is
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subject to be confirmed by the Senate during the next regular E.j%.$
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session of the Legislature. ±t;
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Given under my hand and the Great Seal ofthe
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State ofFlorida, at Tallahassee, the Capital, this
the Sixth day ofNovember, A D, 2025
Secretary of State
»
3
DE99 Gr3) i;
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. RECEIVE0
RON DESANTIS UE PART+Ejl'ei st;
GOVERNOR
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October 24, 2025
Secretary Cord Byrd
Department of State
R.A. Gray Building, Room 316
500 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250
Dear Secretary Byrd:
Please be advised I have made the following reappointment under the provisions
of Section 443.012, Florida Statutes:
Mr. Charles Faircloth Jr.
2213 Killarney Way
Tallahassee, Florida 32309
as a member of the Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission, subject to
confirmation by the Senate. This appointment is effective October 24, 2025, for a term
ending June 30, 2029.
Governor
RD/k
THE CAPITOL
Tuuuss, Foux 32399• (850) 717.9249
HAND DELIVERED
. Re
OATH OF OFFICE
UEPAR Ii e sill
(Art. II. S Sb), Fla. Const.; $ 92.50, Florida Statutes) ZZ5 NOY -5 AMII: }
STATE OF FLORIDA DIVISICN OF EL CTI1
"Lt SSE.Fi
County of
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and
Government of the United States and of the State of Florida; that I am duly qualified to hold office
under the Constitution of the State, and that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of
Chairman, Reemployment Assistance Appeals Commission
(Full Name of Ofice -- Abbreviations Not Accepted)
on which I am now about to enter, so help me God.
it the words "so help me God." See $ 92.52, Fla. Stat.]
'bl@mull dt l o »
Sworn to and subscribed be ore me b mean
this
zeal presence Jl1' OR one notorsanon []
otary Public
judges administering (To be completed by officer administering oath, other than
I· J ""'"' se, §
] (T o b e co m p le te d o n ly hy
9 2 . 5 0, Flarl,laSralttt,s.)
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i MY COMM4$$ION
Print Name ' EXPIRES6-28-2026
8}
8}?or.
Tile ~·····. ••
Personally Known OR"j -»re
Fioticed Identification
[]
Court Type ofIdentification Produced
ACCEPTANCE
I accept the office listed in the above Oath of Office.
Mailing Address: Home [] omice i@]
1211 Governor's Square Blvd., Suite 300 Charles T. Faircloth, Jr.
Street or Post Office Box Print a
Tallahassee, Florida 32301
City, State, Zip Code s
DS-DE 56 (Rev. 07/25)
STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Division of Elections
I, Cord Byrd, Secretary of State,
do hereby certify that
- r- t
David Woods
is duly appointed a member of the
Board of Supervisors,
Central Florida Tourism OversightDistrict
for a term beginning on the Twelfth day of January, A.D., 2026,
until the twenty-Sixth day of February, A.D., 2029 and is
subject to be confinned by the Senate during the next regular
session of the Legislature.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal ofthe
State ofFlorida, at Tallahassee, the Capital, this
the Sixteenth day ofJanuary, A.D., 2026.
Secretary of State
RON DESANTIS
GOVERNOR
+·
l
January 12, 2026
Secretary Cord Byrd
Department of State
R.A. Gray Building, Room 316
500 South Bronaugh Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250
Dear Secretary Byrd:
Please be advised I have made the following appointment under the provisions
of Chapter 2023-5, Laws of Florida:
Mr. David Woods
526 Jennie Jewel Drive
Orlando, Florida 32806
as a member of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, succeeding Bridget
Ziegler, subject to confirmation by the Senate. This appointment is effective January 12,
2026, for a term ending February 26, 2029.
Sincerely,
6E° Governor
RD/ch
THE CAPITOL
Tu+Asset, F .or04 32399 • (850) 717.9249
OATH OF OFFICE " 7Pcs
(Art. II. S Sb), Fla. Const.; $ 92.50, Florida Statutes)t. .,-,
• t,t o %
;'>
STATE OF FLORIDA • '
county ot 9PGf
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and
Government of the United States and of the State of Florida; that r am duly qualified to hold office
under the Constitution of the State, and that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of
Board Member of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District
(Full Name of Office - Abbreviations Not Accepted)
on which I am now about to enter, so help me God.
ma&de
-sf,
t~ "?s
Ad~istering Oath or ol'Notary Public
(To be completed only byjudges administering (To be completed by officer administering oath, other than
oath- see $ 92.50, Florida Statutes.) judges- see $ 92.50, Florida Statutes.)
Affix Seal Below
Notary Publlc State ot Florida
Wanda L Penland
My Commission
Print Name HH 262068
Exp. 7/30/2026
Tile
Personally Kown OR Produced tatenancana~ L]
Court Type ofIdentification Produced
ACCEPTANCE
I accept the office listed in the above Oath of Office.
Moire Address. none [f omce []
52 Zaic el De
Street or Post Office Box
city, Sate. zi Ce
DS-DE 56 (Rev. 07/25)
s
ifs%its hf
A black and white co of this documn
• 4±
STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Division of Elections
I, Cord Byrd, Secretary of State,
do hereby certify that
Thomas Matthew Ravenscroft
is duly appointed a member of the
Board of Supervisors,
Central Florida Tourism Oversight District
for a term beginning on the Twelfth day of January, A.D., 2026,
until the Twenty-Sixth day of February, A.D., 2027 and is
subject to be confirmed by the Senate during the next regular
session of the Legislature.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal ofthe
State ofFlorida, at Tallahassee, the Capital, this
the Sixteenth day ofJanuary, A.D., 2026
Secretary of State
RON DESANTIS
GOVERNOR
January 12, 2026
Secretary Cord Byrd
Department of State
R.A. Gray Building, Room316
500 South Bronough Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0250
Dear Secretary Byrd:
Please be advised I have made the following appointment under the provisions
of Chapter 2023-5, Laws of Florida:
Mr. Matt Ravenscroft
1600 Alden Road
Apartment 622
Orlando, Florida 32803
as a member of the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, filling a vacant seat
previously occupied by Brian Aungst, subject to confirmation by the Senate. This
appointment is effective January 12, 2026, for a term ending February 26, 2027.
Sincerely,
er5 Governor
RD/ch
THE CAPITOL
Tua ass+, Fox 32399 • (850) 717.9249
r ,
)
. »..£.
: 4.iii ' fr .-
- ! c +,
OATH OF OFFICE gr mp.+
(Art. II. 5(b), Fla. Const.; $ 92.50, Florida Statutes)
• '
STATE OF FLORIDA
County of _Fa9
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, protect, and defend the Constitution and
Government of the United States and of the State of Florida; that I am duly qualified to hold office
under the Constitution of the State, and that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of
Central Florida Tourism Oversight District Board of Supervisors
(FuJJ Name of Office - Abbreviations Not Accepted)
on which l am now about to enter, so help me God.
[NOTE: If you affirm,uay omit the words "so help me God." See $ 92.52, Fla. Stat.]
Sigoatur~ • •
Sworn to and subscribed before me by means ofphysical presence OR online notarization D
us l1av or Jan0u0/,20 2(o
$px-ta
Signature of Officer Administering Oath or of Notary Public
(To be completed only by judges administering (To be completed by officer administering oath, other than
oath-- see $ 92.50, Florida Statutes.) judges - see $ 92.50, Florida Statutes.)
Affix Seal Below
Print Name
Title
Court
Personally Known G OR Produced Identification D
Type ofIdentification Produced _
ACCEPTANCE
I accept the office listed in the above Oath of Office.
Maine Adoress: tome E] om«e [
loo A[del, Aet22 Thorns ntarhey Kans-«ft
•
Street or Post Office Box Print Nam
City, State, Zip Code Signature
DS-DE 56 (Rev. 07/25)
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