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FloridaSB 5722026SenateWALLET

Ethics for Public Officers and Employees

Sponsored By: Governmental Oversight and Accountability, Gayle Harrell (Republican)

Signed by Governor

AppropriationEthics and ElectionsGovernmental Oversight and AccountabilityRulesHouse Calendar

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 6 costs, 2 mixed.

Less donor info for small contributions

Campaigns may omit a donor’s job or business for gifts of $100 or less. They may also omit job info for donations from relatives if they report the relationship. These rules also apply to candidates for party executive committees.

Post-appointment bans for Triumph and Veterans

Triumph Gulf Coast board members cannot hold a direct interest in any contract or benefit from a Triumph award while serving and for 6 years after leaving. Florida Is For Veterans board members face a similar ban for 2 years after leaving. Taking an appointment in violation of these rules or accepting a barred interest is a first‑degree misdemeanor. Members who do not already file must submit a financial interests statement.

Stronger ethics and training at expressway agency

Members and employees of the Greater Miami Expressway Agency must follow the state ethics code. Officers, employees, and consultants must promptly disclose conflicts, relatives who are lobbyists and their principals, and any land interest within one‑half mile of a current or planned project. These disclosures are filed with the agency’s general counsel. Breaking these ethics rules counts as a breach of your official or contractual duties. Staff must receive ongoing ethics training to stay compliant.

Tougher lobbying and job limits at agency

Former officers, employees, and consultants of the agency cannot lobby the agency for 4 years after leaving. For 4 years, they also cannot work on or for contracts they personally handled or were responsible for, unless the executive director gives prior written approval when a position is eliminated and it is in the agency’s best interest. The law defines what counts as lobbying and who is a lobbyist. Lobbyists cannot serve on the board. Officers cannot be recent lobbyists (within 4 years), have done business with the agency in the last 4 years, or be former agency employees within 2 years. Professional firms hired for architecture, engineering, landscape architecture, or surveying are not treated as “consultants” under these rules.

Ethics and voting rules for coalitions

Members of early learning coalitions must follow state ethics and disclosure laws. Voting members are treated as local public officers and must abstain from any vote when a conflict exists.

New gift and hiring limits for districts

District school board members and their relatives may not ask for or accept gifts over $50 from anyone doing business with the district. A district superintendent and school board members cannot appoint or employ a relative to work under their direct supervision. This does not apply to employees hired before the official took office. The Commission on Ethics accepts and investigates complaints.

No hiring relatives at private charters

Leaders at privately run charter schools cannot appoint, employ, promote, or advocate for relatives in jobs they control. This applies to governing board leaders, superintendents, principals, and similar roles. Simply approving a budget is not considered control.

Broader 'relative' rules, narrow exception

The law expands who counts as a relative under state ethics rules. It now includes foster parents and children, people you are engaged to, and others who share your legal residence, plus a wide range of family relations. A collegial body may still elevate a relative who is already an elected member to a leadership role on that same body. The act takes effect upon becoming law.

More ethics rules for state-backed boards

Executive council members of the Clerks of Court corporation, senior managers and board members of the state’s international offices support group, and directors of the s. 288.9604 corporation are treated as public officers under state ethics laws. Joint underwriters and reinsurers’ leaders must follow ethics and disclosure rules and file required reports with the Commission on Ethics and the Office of Insurance Regulation. Those with insurance ties cannot vote on matters that give their insurance group a special benefit, and the executive director must send the Commission a quarterly list of people whose disclosures are public.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsors

  • Governmental Oversight and Accountability

    Affiliation unavailable

  • Gayle Harrell

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

There are no cosponsors for this bill.

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 229 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/12/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 38 • No: 0

House vote • 3/10/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 113 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/11/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 38 • No: 0

Senate vote • 2/3/2026

Rules Vote

Yes: 23 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/26/2026

Governmental Oversight and Accountability Vote

Yes: 9 • No: 0

Senate vote • 1/13/2026

Ethics and Elections Vote

Yes: 8 • No: 0

Actions Timeline

  1. • Chapter No. 2026-22

    4/2/2026

  2. • Approved by Governor

    4/1/2026

  3. • Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

    3/31/2026

  4. • Concurred in 1 amendment(s) (187567) -SJ 829 • CS passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 829 • Ordered engrossed, then enrolled

    3/12/2026Senate

  5. • In returning messages

    3/10/2026Senate

  6. • Read 2nd time • Amendment 187567 adopted • Amendment 620573 superseded by substitute • Added to Third Reading Calendar • Read 3rd time • CS passed as amended; YEAS 113, NAYS 0

    3/10/2026House

  7. • Bill referred to House Calendar • Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/10/2026) • 1st Reading (Engrossed 1)

    3/9/2026House

  8. • In Messages

    2/11/2026House

  9. • Read 2nd time -SJ 295 • Amendment(s) adopted (807008) -SJ 295 • Read 3rd time -SJ 299 • CS passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 299 • Immediately certified -SJ 299

    2/11/2026Senate

  10. • Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/11/26

    2/9/2026Senate

  11. • Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 23 NAYS 0 • Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading

    2/3/2026Senate

  12. • CS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability read 1st time • On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/03/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building

    1/29/2026Senate

  13. • Now in Rules

    1/28/2026Senate

  14. • Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

    1/27/2026Senate

  15. • CS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability; YEAS 9 NAYS 0

    1/26/2026Senate

  16. • On Committee agenda-- Governmental Oversight and Accountability, 01/26/26, 3:30 pm, 110 Senate Building

    1/21/2026Senate

  17. • Now in Governmental Oversight and Accountability

    1/14/2026Senate

  18. • Favorable by Ethics and Elections; YEAS 8 NAYS 0 • Introduced

    1/13/2026Senate

  19. • On Committee agenda-- Ethics and Elections, 01/13/26, 4:00 pm, 37 Senate Building

    1/8/2026Senate

  20. • Referred to Ethics and Elections; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Rules

    12/9/2025Senate

  21. • Filed

    11/18/2025Senate

Bill Text

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