Title XXXVI, Business Organizations

(1) An annual public fair conducted by a fair association may not be approved by the department for a tax exemption certificate unless the fair association displays at least the following exhibits:(a) Three exhibits from 4-H Clubs or Future Farmers of America chapters which are o…

(1) For the purposes of this chapter, trespass upon the grounds of the Florida State Fair Authority or any other fair association permitted under s. 616.15 means:(a) Entering and remaining upon any grounds or facilities owned, operated, or controlled by the Florida State Fair Aut…

Any fair association created pursuant to this chapter shall be designated by the name stated in the permit required or stated by its fair association and is recognized by the state as equal in dignity to the Florida State Fair and as fully recognized as the Florida State Fair.His…

Appropriated funds may not be expended except upon approval and with the recommendation of the department. Further, the appropriation may not be expended for the construction of a building unless fee simple title to the land on which the building is to be constructed is vested in…

In the construction or repair of buildings as authorized by any annual appropriation, the money to be expended therefor from the appropriation shall be matched in an equal amount by the county, municipality, or fair association for which the buildings are to be constructed or rep…

The buildings authorized by ss. 616.21-616.23 may be used by the county, municipality, or fair association for public fair or exposition purposes. These buildings may be used as office space for agricultural agents; however, no more than 20 percent of the buildings may be so used…

(1) The department shall administer and enforce the provisions of this chapter and the rules adopted pursuant thereto.(2) It is the duty of each state attorney, law enforcement officer as defined by chapter 943, and other appropriate county or municipal officer to enforce this ch…

Trade standards for the operation of shows or games in connection with public fairs and expositions are as follows:(1) APPROVAL OF SHOWS.—The approval of all shows will be left to the discretion of the fair management.(2) WALK-THROUGH SHOW.—When donations are accepted, a sign to …

(1) OWNER AND MANAGER RESPONSIBILITIES.—The owner and the manager of an amusement ride, and each amusement ride, must meet at all times the requirements of this section and any rules adopted hereunder.(2) SCOPE.—This section applies to all amusement rides within this state unless…

(1) There is created and constituted the “Florida State Fair Authority,” a public body corporate and politic, for the purposes and with the powers set forth in this part. Such instrumentality, hereinafter referred to as “the authority,” shall have perpetual succession. For the pu…

(1)(a) The authority shall be composed of 22 members. The Commissioner of Agriculture, or her or his designee, shall serve as a voting member. There shall also be a member who is the member of the Board of County Commissioners of Hillsborough County representing the county commis…

The authority shall elect from among its members an executive committee to consist of a chair, who shall preside, a vice chair, a secretary, a treasurer, and such other officers as the authority may deem necessary or expedient in the performance of its functions. The same person …

The authority may sue and be sued, plead and be impleaded, and complain and defend in all courts of law and equity with respect to its contractual rights and obligations and its responsibility to carry out its proper purposes and functions.History.—s. 4, ch. 74-322; s. 2, ch. 81-…

The authority shall:(1) Designate a suitable location in Hillsborough County as the Florida State Fairgrounds.(2) Throughout each year, promote the progress of the state and stimulate public interest in the advantages and development of the state by providing facilities for agric…

(1) The authority shall have power to:(a) Have a seal and alter the same at its pleasure.(b) Acquire, hold, lease, and dispose of real and personal property for authorized purposes.(c) Own, operate, maintain, repair, and improve its facilities.(d) Acquire in its own name by purch…

(1) Revenue bonds may be issued on behalf of and at the request of the authority, as provided in the State Bond Act. The proceeds of each issue of bonds shall be used solely for the payment of the cost of the state fair project or projects for which the bonds were issued, as prov…

(1) The authority shall fix and revise from time to time rates, fees, rentals, tolls, or other charges for the use of each project or for the services and facilities furnished thereby and charge and collect the same. Such rates, fees, rentals, tolls, or other charges shall be so …

All moneys received pursuant to the authority of this part, whether as proceeds from the sale of revenue bonds or as revenues, shall be deemed to be trust funds. Proceeds from the sale of revenue bonds shall be held and applied as provided by law. Revenues of the authority shall …

It is hereby found and determined that all of the projects authorized by this part constitute essential governmental purposes, and all of the properties, revenues, moneys, and other assets owned and used in the operation of those projects shall be exempt from all taxation, includ…

Operation of the Florida State Fair, and custody and maintenance of the buildings and grounds, shall be financed from the revenues derived from the state fair and other exhibits or events; revenue bonds; lease, rental, or other charges for the use of the buildings or grounds; and…

Any provision of this part to the contrary notwithstanding, no transfer, lease, conveyance, or encumbrance of any land or interest therein inconsistent with the development of a state fair as provided in this part shall be made without prior approval from the Board of Trustees of…

(1) The authority shall submit each year, at least 60 days prior to the convening of the Legislature in regular session, a comprehensive report to the Commissioner of Agriculture outlining the progress and the activities of the authority, including all land bought, leased, acquir…

(1) The Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation is authorized, upon application, to issue a beverage license, as contemplated in ss. 561.17 and 565.02, to the Florida State Fair Authority for use by the authority or by…

This chapter may be cited as the “Florida Nonprofit Corporation Act.”History.—s. 1, ch. 90-179; s. 1, ch. 2026-168.

The Legislature has the power to amend or repeal all or part of this chapter at any time, and all domestic and foreign corporations subject to this chapter shall be governed by the amendment or repeal.History.—s. 2, ch. 90-179; s. 125, ch. 2026-168.

(1) A document must satisfy the requirements of this section and of any other section that adds to or varies these requirements to be entitled to filing by the department.(2) This chapter must require or permit filing the document in the office of the department.(3) The document …

(1) The department may prescribe and furnish on request forms for:(a) An application for certificate of status,(b) A foreign corporation’s application for certificate of authority to conduct its affairs in the state,(c) A foreign corporation’s application for certificate of withd…

The department shall collect the following fees on documents delivered to the department for filing:(1) Articles of incorporation: $35.(2) Application for registered name: $87.50.(3) Application for renewal of registered name: $87.50.(4) Corporation’s statement of change of regis…

Except as provided in subsection (1) and in s. 617.0124(3), a document accepted for filing under this chapter may specify an effective time and a delayed effective date. In the case of the initial articles of incorporation, a prior effective date may be specified in the articles …

(1) A domestic or foreign corporation may correct a document filed by the department within 30 days after filing if:(a) The document contains an inaccuracy;(b) The document contains false, misleading, or fraudulent information;(c) The document was defectively executed, attested, …

(1) If a document delivered to the department for filing satisfies the requirements of s. 617.01201, the department shall file it.(2) The department files a document by stamping or otherwise endorsing “filed,” together with the Secretary of State’s official title and the date and…

If the department refuses to file a document delivered to its office for filing, within 30 days after return of the document by the department by mail, as evidenced by the postmark, the domestic or foreign corporation may:(1) Appeal the refusal pursuant to s. 120.68; or(2) Petiti…

All certificates issued by the department pursuant to this chapter must be taken and received in all courts, public offices, and official bodies as prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein. A certificate attached to a copy of a document filed by the department, bearing th…

(1) The department, upon request, shall issue a certificate of status for a domestic corporation or a certificate of authorization for a foreign corporation.(2) A certificate of status or authorization sets forth:(a) The domestic corporation’s corporate name or the foreign corpor…

(1) The department may propound to any corporation subject to this chapter, and to any officer or director thereof, such interrogatories as may be reasonably necessary and proper to enable it to ascertain whether the corporation has complied with all applicable filing provisions …

As used in this chapter, the term:(1) “Articles of incorporation” includes original, amended, and restated articles of incorporation, articles of consolidation, and articles of merger, and all amendments thereto, including documents designated by the laws of this state as charter…

(1) Notice under this chapter must be in writing, unless oral notice is:(a) Expressly authorized by the articles of incorporation or the bylaws; and(b) Reasonable under the circumstances.(2) Written notice may be communicated by mail, electronic mail, facsimile, or other form of …

(1) For purposes of this chapter, the term:(a) “Material interest” means an actual or potential benefit or detriment, other than one which would devolve on the corporation or the members generally, which would reasonably be expected to impair the objectivity of the director’s jud…

One or more persons may act as the incorporator or incorporators of a corporation by delivering articles of incorporation to the department for filing.History.—s. 16, ch. 90-179; s. 129, ch. 2026-168.

(1) The articles of incorporation must set forth:(a) A name for the corporation that satisfies the requirements of s. 617.0401;(b) The street address of the initial principal office and, if different, the mailing address of the corporation;(c) The purpose or purposes for which th…

(1) Unless a delayed effective date is specified, the corporate existence begins when the articles of incorporation are filed or on a date specified in the articles of incorporation, if such date is within 5 business days prior to the date of filing.(2) The department’s filing of…

All persons purporting to act as or on behalf of a corporation, knowing that there was no incorporation under this chapter, are jointly and severally liable for all liabilities created while so acting.History.—s. 19, ch. 90-179; s. 13, ch. 2026-168.

(1) After incorporation:(a) If initial directors are named in the articles of incorporation, the initial directors shall hold an organizational meeting, at the call of a majority of the directors, to complete the organization of the corporation by appointing officers, adopting by…

The initial bylaws of a corporation shall be adopted by its board of directors unless that power is reserved to the members by the articles of incorporation. The power to alter, amend, or repeal the bylaws or adopt new bylaws is vested in the board of directors unless otherwise p…

(1) Unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise, the board of directors of a corporation may adopt bylaws to be effective only in an emergency defined in subsection (5). The emergency bylaws may make all provisions necessary for managing the corporation during an emerg…

Corporations may be organized under this chapter for any lawful purpose or purposes not for pecuniary profit and not specifically prohibited to corporations under other laws of this state. Such purposes include, without limitation, charitable, benevolent, educational, historical,…