PRIA Logo™
FloridaHB 15592025House

Vexatious Litigants

Sponsored By: Judson Sapp (Republican)

Signed by Governor

AppropriationCivil Justice & Claims SubcommitteeJudiciary CommitteeHouse CalendarRules

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

3 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.

Abusive litigants face legal cost guarantees

Beginning July 1, 2025, parties in Florida courts can request a financial guarantee covering reasonable expected attorney fees and taxable costs. After notice and a hearing, courts must require this security from a vexatious litigant unlikely to win against the requesting party. The court sets the amount and payment deadline; a request made before trial automatically pauses the case while pending. A plaintiff or petitioner who fails to provide security loses the case permanently against the requesting party. A defendant or respondent who fails to provide it can have relief denied, filings struck, or judgment entered against them. These remedies do not replace other sanctions available under Florida law or court rules.

Abusive litigants face new filing limits

Beginning July 1, 2025, courts can require vexatious litigants to get approval before starting new cases without lawyers in that circuit. Approval requires a case with merit, not one meant to delay or harass; courts can also require financial security. Clerks must reject filings lacking approval and send prefiling orders to the Florida Supreme Court clerk for a central registry. If a filing slips through, notice automatically pauses the case. The court must dismiss it permanently within 10 days unless the litigant asks for permission to proceed. If permission is granted, responses to the complaint are not due until 10 days after the approval order is served.

Broader rules target abusive court filings

Beginning July 1, 2025, Florida expands rules protecting people from abusive cases filed by people without lawyers. A person representing themselves can be labeled a vexatious litigant after five or more final court losses in the previous seven years. Cases found to have been pursued in good faith do not count, nor do cases with pending appeals. Other grounds include repeated attempts to revisit settled issues, repeat filings already ruled on, and meritless filings or tactics intended to delay or harass. A prior vexatious-litigant finding in Florida, another state, or federal court also qualifies. Covered cases include civil, family, small-claims, and specified probate proceedings; comparable cases in other states or federal courts also count.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Judson Sapp

    Republican • House

Cosponsors

  • Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Tom Fabricio

    Republican • House

  • Judiciary Committee

    Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 151 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/23/2025

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 37 • No: 0

House vote • 4/16/2025

House Floor Vote

Yes: 114 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. Chapter No. 2025-128

    6/6/2025

  2. Approved by Governor

    6/5/2025

  3. Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

    6/4/2025

  4. Ordered enrolled

    4/23/2025House

  5. In Messages

    4/23/2025House

  6. In Messages

    4/23/2025House

  7. CS passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 498

    4/23/2025Senate

  8. Read 3rd time -SJ 498

    4/23/2025Senate

  9. Read 2nd time -SJ 498

    4/23/2025Senate

  10. Substituted for CS/CS/SB 1650 -SJ 498

    4/23/2025Senate

  11. Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

    4/23/2025Senate

  12. Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 498

    4/23/2025Senate

  13. Received

    4/22/2025Senate

  14. Referred to Rules

    4/16/2025Senate

  15. In Messages

    4/16/2025Senate

  16. CS passed; YEAS 114, NAYS 0

    4/16/2025House

  17. Read 3rd time

    4/16/2025House

  18. Added to Third Reading Calendar

    4/16/2025House

  19. Placed on 3rd reading

    4/16/2025House

  20. Read 2nd time

    4/16/2025House

  21. Bill added to Special Order Calendar (4/16/2025)

    4/10/2025House

  22. Added to Second Reading Calendar

    4/9/2025House

  23. Bill referred to House Calendar

    4/9/2025House

  24. 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)

    4/8/2025House

  25. CS Filed

    4/8/2025House

Bill Text

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation