Florida Senate - 2025 SB 2502
By the Committee on Appropriations
576-03198-25 20252502__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act implementing the 2025-2026 General
3 Appropriations Act; providing legislative intent;
4 incorporating by reference certain calculations;
5 authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration,
6 in consultation with the Department of Health, to
7 submit a budget amendment to realign funding for
8 specified purposes; specifying requirements for such
9 realignment; authorizing the Agency for Health Care
10 Administration to request nonoperating budget
11 authority to transfer certain federal funds to the
12 Department of Health; authorizing the Agency for
13 Health Care Administration to submit a budget
14 amendment to realign Medicaid funding for specified
15 purposes, subject to certain limitations; authorizing
16 the Agency for Health Care Administration to submit a
17 budget amendment to realign Medicaid funding for a
18 specified purpose within a specified fiscal year;
19 specifying requirements for such realignment;
20 authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration
21 and the Department of Health to each submit a budget
22 amendment to realign funding within the Florida
23 Kidcare program appropriation categories or to
24 increase budget authority for certain purposes;
25 specifying the time period within which each budget
26 amendment must be submitted; amending s. 381.986,
27 F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year the exemption of
28 certain rules pertaining to the medical use of
29 marijuana from certain rulemaking requirements;
30 amending s. 14(1), chapter 2017-232, Laws of Florida;
31 exempting certain rules pertaining to medical
32 marijuana adopted to replace emergency rules from
33 specified rulemaking requirements; providing for the
34 future expiration and reversion of specified law;
35 authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration
36 to submit a budget amendment requesting additional
37 spending authority to implement specified programs and
38 payments; requiring institutions participating in a
39 specified workforce expansion and education program to
40 provide quarterly reports to the agency; authorizing
41 the Agency for Health Care Administration to a submit
42 budget amendment for a specified purpose; authorizing
43 the Agency for Health Care Administration to submit a
44 budget amendment requesting additional spending
45 authority to implement the Low Income Pool component
46 of the Florida Managed Medical Assistance
47 Demonstration up to a certain amount; requiring that
48 the amendment include a signed attestation and
49 acknowledgment for entities relating to the Low Income
50 Pool; authorizing the Agency for Health Care
51 Administration to submit a budget amendment requesting
52 additional spending authority to implement certain
53 payments and specified programs; authorizing the
54 Agency for Health Care Administration to submit a
55 budget amendment requesting additional spending
56 authority to implement a certified expenditure program
57 for emergency medical transportation services;
58 authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration
59 to submit a budget amendment requesting additional
60 spending authority to implement the Disproportionate
61 Share Hospital Program; requiring such amendment to
62 include specified information; amending s. 409.908,
63 F.S.; revising the Quality Incentive Program payment
64 pool percentage for the reimbursement of Medicaid
65 providers; providing for the future expiration and
66 reversion of specified law; authorizing the Department
67 of Children and Families to submit a budget amendment
68 to realign funding within specified areas of the
69 department based on implementation of the Guardianship
70 Assistance Program; authorizing the Department of
71 Children and Families, the Department of Health, and
72 the Agency for Health Care Administration to submit
73 budget amendments to increase budget authority to
74 support certain refugee programs; requiring the
75 Department of Children and Families to submit
76 quarterly reports to the Executive Office of the
77 Governor and the Legislature; authorizing the
78 Department of Children and Families to submit budget
79 amendments to increase budget authority to support
80 specified federal grant programs; amending s.
81 394.9082, F.S.; authorizing a managing entity to carry
82 forward certain unexpended funds; providing
83 construction; amending s. 409.9913, F.S.; requiring
84 core services funding to be allocated as provided in
85 the General Appropriations Act; requiring the
86 Department of Children and Families to develop and
87 report on an alternative tiered funding methodology
88 and to provide certain information; providing
89 requirements for the methodology; requiring lead
90 agencies and providers to submit detailed cost and
91 expenditure data as requested by the department for a
92 specified purpose; providing reporting requirements;
93 authorizing the Department of Health to submit a
94 budget amendment to increase budget authority for the
95 Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
96 Children (WIC) and the Child Care Food Program if a
97 certain condition is met; authorizing the Department
98 of Health to submit a budget amendment to increase
99 budget authority for the HIV/AIDS Prevention and
100 Treatment Program if a certain condition is met;
101 authorizing the Department of Health to submit a
102 budget amendment to increase budget authority for the
103 department if additional federal revenues specific to
104 COVID-19 relief funds become available; requiring the
105 Agency for Health Care Administration to replace the
106 Florida Medicaid Management Information System (FMMIS)
107 and fiscal agent operations with a specified new
108 system; specifying items that may not be included in
109 the new system; providing directives to the Agency for
110 Health Care Administration related to the new Florida
111 Health Care Connection (FX) system; requiring the
112 Agency for Health Care Administration to meet certain
113 requirements in replacing FMMIS and the current
114 Medicaid fiscal agent; requiring the Agency for Health
115 Care Administration to implement a specified program
116 governance structure that includes an executive
117 steering committee composed of specified members;
118 providing the duties of the executive steering
119 committee; requiring the establishment of specified
120 working groups; providing the composition of such
121 groups; providing requirements for such groups;
122 requiring the Agency for Health Care Administration,
123 in consultation with the Department of Health, the
124 Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Department
125 of Children and Families, and the Department of
126 Corrections, to competitively procure a contract with
127 a vendor to negotiate prices for certain prescribed
128 drugs and biological products; providing
129 specifications for such contract; authorizing the
130 Agency for Persons with Disabilities to submit budget
131 amendments to transfer funding from the Salaries and
132 Benefits appropriation categories for a specified
133 purpose; authorizing the Agency for Persons with
134 Disabilities to submit budget amendments to request
135 funds from the Lump Sum-Home and Community Based
136 Waiver category for a specified purpose; authorizing
137 the Agency for Health Care Administration to submit
138 budget amendments within a specified timeframe for a
139 specified purpose; authorizing the Department of
140 Veterans’ Affairs to submit a budget amendment,
141 subject to Legislative Budget Commission approval,
142 requesting certain authority for certain purposes
143 relating to veterans’ nursing homes; amending s.
144 296.34, F.S.; authorizing the Department of Veterans’
145 Affairs to contract with a vendor for the management
146 and operations of the Alwyn C. Cashe State Veterans’
147 Nursing Home; authorizing the department to submit a
148 budget amendment, subject to Legislative Budget
149 Commission approval, for a specified purpose; amending
150 s. 409.915, F.S.; extending for 1 year the expiration
151 of an exception for certain funds used for the
152 hospital directed payment program; authorizing the
153 Department of Veterans’ Affairs to submit budget
154 amendments, subject to certain approval, for the
155 development and construction of a new State Veterans
156 Nursing Home and Adult Day Health Care Center in a
157 specified county; authorizing the Department of
158 Elderly Affairs to submit a budget amendment
159 requesting certain authority for an Adult Care Food
160 Program under certain circumstances; amending s.
161 216.262, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year the
162 authority of the Department of Corrections to submit a
163 budget amendment for additional positions and
164 appropriations under certain circumstances; amending
165 s. 215.18, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year the
166 authority and related repayment requirements for
167 temporary trust fund loans to the state court system
168 which are sufficient to meet the system’s
169 appropriation; requiring the Department of Juvenile
170 Justice to review county juvenile detention payments
171 to determine whether a county has met specified
172 financial responsibilities; requiring that amounts
173 owed by certain county for such financial
174 responsibilities be deducted from certain county
175 funds; requiring the Department of Revenue to transfer
176 withheld funds to a specified trust fund; requiring
177 the Department of Revenue to ensure that such
178 reductions in amounts distributed do not reduce
179 distributions below amounts necessary for certain
180 payments due on bonds and to comply with bond
181 covenants; requiring the Department of Revenue to
182 notify the Department of Juvenile Justice if bond
183 payment requirements mandate a reduction in deductions
184 for amounts owed by a county; requiring the Department
185 of Juvenile Justice to take certain actions;
186 reenacting s. 27.40(1), (2)(a), (3)(a), (5), (6), and
187 (7), F.S., relating to court-appointed counsel;
188 extending for 1 fiscal year provisions governing the
189 appointment of court-appointed counsel; providing for
190 the future expiration and reversion of specified
191 statutory text; reenacting and amending s. 27.5304,
192 F.S., relating to the extension for 1 fiscal year
193 limitations on compensation for representation in
194 criminal proceedings; revising the maximum
195 compensation for certain proceedings; providing for
196 the future expiration and reversion of specified
197 statutory text; amending s. 934.50, F.S.; providing
198 how certain appropriated funds may be used; extending
199 for 1 year the expiration of a certain grant program;
200 requiring the Department of Management Services, with
201 the cooperation of certain agencies, to use tenant
202 broker services to renegotiate or reprocure certain
203 private lease agreements for office or storage space;
204 requiring the Department of Management Services to
205 provide a report to the Governor and the Legislature
206 by a specified date; prohibiting an agency from
207 transferring funds from a data processing category to
208 another category other than another data processing
209 category; authorizing the Executive Office of the
210 Governor to transfer funds appropriated in certain
211 categories between departments for purposes of
212 aligning amounts paid for risk management insurance
213 and for human resources services purchased per
214 statewide contract; authorizing the Department of
215 Management Services to use certain facility
216 disposition funds from the Architects Incidental Trust
217 Fund to pay for certain relocation expenses;
218 authorizing the Department of Management Services to
219 submit budget amendments for an increase in
220 appropriation under certain circumstances; requiring
221 that such amendments include specified information;
222 authorizing all agencies to continue to purchase
223 productivity tools and services; requiring the
224 Department of Financial Services to replace specified
225 components of the Florida Accounting Information
226 Resource Subsystem (FLAIR) and the Cash Management
227 Subsystem (CMS) with a specified integrated enterprise
228 system; prohibiting the Department of Financial
229 Services from including certain components in the
230 replacement of FLAIR and CMS; providing requirements
231 for the Department of Financial services related to
232 replacing FLAIR and CMS; providing for the composition
233 of an executive steering committee to oversee FLAIR
234 and CMS replacement; providing requirements for the
235 executive steering committee chair; providing duties
236 and responsibilities of the executive steering
237 committee; reenacting s. 282.709(3), F.S., relating to
238 the state agency law enforcement radio system and
239 interoperability network; providing for future
240 expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;
241 authorizing state agencies and other eligible users of
242 the Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System to use the
243 Department of Management Services contract to purchase
244 equipment and services; requiring that a specified
245 transaction fee percentage for use of the online
246 procurement system be collected for a specified fiscal
247 year; reenacting and amending s. 627.351, F.S.;
248 extending for 1 year the specified authority of
249 Citizens Property Insurance Corporation; amending s.
250 110.116, F.S.; requiring the Department of Management
251 Services to enter into, by a specified date, a
252 contract with the entity operating the People First
253 System for a specified time period; revising contract
254 requirements; requiring the department to enter into a
255 contract with an independent software quality
256 assurance and testing provider for specified purposes;
257 providing reporting requirements; extending for 1
258 fiscal year provisions relating to the department’s
259 renewal of specified contracts with current vendors;
260 amending s. 215.5586, F.S.; revising homeowner
261 eligibility criteria for a hurricane mitigation grant
262 from the My Safe Florida Home Program; providing that
263 certain funds appropriated to the Department of
264 Financial Services may be carried forward through a
265 specified fiscal year; authorizing the Department of
266 Environmental Protection, the Fish and Wildlife
267 Conservation Commission, and the Department of
268 Agriculture and Consumer Services to submit a budget
269 amendment, subject to Legislative Budget Commission
270 approval, to increase budget authority for land
271 management under certain circumstances; authorizing
272 the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to
273 submit budget amendments to increase budget authority
274 for the National School Lunch Program; amending s.
275 215.18, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year certain
276 authority to transfer funds from certain trust funds
277 in the State Treasury to other trust funds in certain
278 circumstances; requiring the Department of
279 Environmental Protection to transfer designated
280 proportions of the revenues deposited in the Land
281 Acquisition Trust Fund within the department to land
282 acquisition trust funds in the Department of
283 Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of
284 State, and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
285 Commission according to specified parameters and
286 calculations; defining the term “department”;
287 requiring the Department of Environmental Protection
288 to make transfers to land acquisition trust funds
289 monthly; specifying the method of determining transfer
290 amounts; authorizing the Department of Environmental
291 Protection to advance funds from its land acquisition
292 trust fund to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
293 Commission’s land acquisition trust fund for specified
294 purposes; amending s. 259.105, F.S.; providing that
295 proceeds from a specified trust fund shall be
296 distributed as provided in the General Appropriations
297 Act for a specified fiscal year; amending s. 376.91,
298 F.S.; extending for 1 year the date by which the
299 Department of Environmental Protection shall adopt
300 statewide cleanup target levels for PFAS under certain
301 circumstances; providing for future expiration and
302 reversion of specified statutory text; reenacting s.
303 376.3071(15)(g), F.S., relating to the Inland
304 Protection Trust Fund; providing for the future
305 expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;
306 requiring the Department of Citrus to enter into
307 agreements for specified purposes by a certain date;
308 requiring the Department of Citrus to file certain
309 information with the department’s Inspector General;
310 reenacting and amending s. 380.5105, F.S., relating to
311 the Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts; revising the
312 intent of the program; providing for the future
313 expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;
314 authorizing the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
315 Commission to use specified funds to provide grants
316 for a specified purpose; amending s. 403.0673, F.S.;
317 requiring that funds appropriated for the water
318 quality improvement grant program be used for a
319 specified fiscal year as provided in the General
320 Appropriations Act; amending s. 288.80125, F.S.;
321 extending for 1 fiscal year a requirement that funds
322 in the Triumph Gulf Coast Trust Fund be related to
323 Hurricane Michael recovery; amending s. 339.135, F.S.;
324 extending for 1 fiscal year the authority for the
325 chair and vice chair of the Legislative Budget
326 Commission to approve certain work program amendments
327 under specified circumstances; amending s. 339.08,
328 F.S.; revising the use of moneys in the State
329 Transportation Trust Fund for a specified fiscal year;
330 amending s. 250.245, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year
331 the Florida National Guard Joint Enlistment
332 Enhancement Program within the Department of Military
333 Affairs; amending s. 288.0655, F.S.; extending for 1
334 fiscal year a requirement that certain appropriated
335 funds relating to the Rural Infrastructure Fund be
336 distributed in a specified manner; authorizing the
337 Division of Emergency Management to submit budget
338 amendments to increase budget authority for certain
339 expenditures; requiring the Department of Management
340 Services to assess an administrative health insurance
341 assessment on each state agency; providing the rate of
342 such assessment; defining the term “state agency”;
343 providing how a state agency shall remit certain
344 funds; requiring the Department of Management Services
345 to take certain actions in case of delinquencies;
346 requiring the Chief Financial Officer to transfer
347 funds under specified circumstances; requiring state
348 agencies to provide a list of positions that qualify
349 for such exception by a specified date and to update
350 the list monthly thereafter; requiring state agencies
351 to include the administrative health insurance
352 assessment in their indirect cost plan beginning for a
353 specified fiscal year and annually thereafter;
354 requiring agencies to notify the Department of
355 Management Services, the Executive Office of the
356 Governor, and the Legislature regarding the approval
357 of their updated indirect cost plans; authorizing the
358 Executive Office of the Governor to transfer budget
359 authority between agencies in specified circumstances;
360 providing that the annual salaries of the members of
361 the Legislature be maintained at a specified level for
362 a specified fiscal year; reenacting s. 215.32(2)(b),
363 F.S., relating to the authorization for transferring
364 unappropriated cash balances from selected trust funds
365 to the Budget Stabilization Fund and General Revenue
366 Fund; providing for future expiration and reversion of
367 specific statutory text; specifying the type of travel
368 which may be used with state employee travel funds for
369 a specified fiscal year; providing exceptions;
370 providing applicability; providing a monetary cap on
371 lodging costs for state employee travel to certain
372 meetings organized or sponsored by a state agency or
373 the judicial branch; authorizing employees to expend
374 their own funds for lodging expenses that exceed the
375 monetary caps; providing construction; amending s.
376 216.181, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year the
377 authority of the Legislative Budget Commission to
378 approve budget amendments for certain fixed capital
379 outlay projects; amending s. 216.292, F.S.; extending
380 for 1 fiscal year the requirements for certain
381 transfers; authorizing state agencies to purchase
382 vehicles from nonstate term contract vendors without
383 prior approval from the Department of Management
384 Services under certain circumstances; providing that
385 the annual salary rate for specified departments will
386 be controlled at the budget entity level; providing
387 conditions under which the veto of certain
388 appropriations or proviso language in the General
389 Appropriations Act voids language that implements such
390 appropriation; providing for the continued operation
391 of certain provisions notwithstanding a future repeal
392 or expiration provided by the act; providing
393 severability; providing for contingent retroactivity;
394 providing effective dates.
395
396 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
397
398 Section 1. It is the intent of the Legislature that the
399 implementing and administering provisions of this act apply to
400 the General Appropriations Act for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
401 Section 2. In order to implement Specific Appropriations 5,
402 6, 88, 89, and 89A of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
403 the calculations of the Florida Education Finance Program for
404 the 2025-2026 fiscal year included in the document titled
405 “Public School Funding: The Florida Education Finance Program
406 (FEFP) Fiscal Year 2025-2026,” dated March 28, 2025, and filed
407 with the Secretary of the Senate, are incorporated by reference
408 for the purpose of displaying the calculations used by the
409 Legislature, consistent with the requirements of state law, in
410 making appropriations for the Florida Education Finance Program.
411 This section expires July 1, 2026.
412 Section 3. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 81
413 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, the school
414 readiness reimbursement rates for the 2025-2026 fiscal year
415 included in the document titled “School Readiness Program
416 Reimbursement Rates Fiscal Year 2025-2026,” dated March 28,
417 2025, and filed with the Secretary of the Senate, are
418 incorporated by reference, consistent with the requirements of
419 state law, in making appropriations for the school readiness
420 program allocation. This section expires July 1, 2026.
421 Section 4. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
422 197 through 225 and 530 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations
423 Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida
424 Statutes, the Agency for Health Care Administration, in
425 consultation with the Department of Health, may submit a budget
426 amendment, subject to the notice, review, and objection
427 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to realign funding
428 within and between agencies based on implementation of the
429 managed medical assistance component of the Statewide Medicaid
430 Managed Care program for the Children’s Medical Services program
431 of the Department of Health. The funding realignment shall
432 reflect the actual enrollment changes due to the transfer of
433 beneficiaries from fee-for-service to the capitated Children’s
434 Medical Services network. The Agency for Health Care
435 Administration may submit a request for nonoperating budget
436 authority to transfer the federal funds to the Department of
437 Health pursuant to s. 216.181(12), Florida Statutes. This
438 section expires July 1, 2026.
439 Section 5. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
440 197 through 225 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
441 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
442 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
443 amendment, subject to the notice, review, and objection
444 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to realign funding
445 within the Medicaid program appropriation categories to address
446 projected surpluses and deficits within the program and to
447 maximize the use of state trust funds. A single budget amendment
448 shall be submitted in the last quarter of the 2025-2026 fiscal
449 year only. This section expires July 1, 2026.
450 Section 6. Effective upon this act becoming a law, and in
451 order to implement Specific Appropriations 197 through 225 of
452 the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding
453 section 6 of chapter 2024-228, Laws of Florida, the Agency for
454 Health Care Administration is authorized to submit a budget
455 amendment, subject to the notice, review and objection
456 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to realign funding
457 within the Medicaid program appropriation categories to address
458 projected surpluses and deficits within the program for the
459 2025-2026 fiscal year. The Agency for Health Care Administration
460 may not realign funds to provide Medicaid reimbursements at
461 rates above the amounts adopted at the February 27, 2025, Social
462 Services Estimating Conference. This section expires July 1,
463 2025.
464 Section 7. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
465 179 through 184 and 530 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations
466 Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida
467 Statutes, the Agency for Health Care Administration and the
468 Department of Health may each submit a budget amendment, subject
469 to the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,
470 Florida Statutes, to realign funding within the Florida Kidcare
471 program appropriation categories, or to increase budget
472 authority in the Children’s Medical Services network category,
473 to address projected surpluses and deficits within the program
474 or to maximize the use of state trust funds. A single budget
475 amendment must be submitted by each agency in the last quarter
476 of the 2025-2026 fiscal year only. This section expires July 1,
477 2026.
478 Section 8. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
479 461 through 469A of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
480 subsection (17) of section 381.986, Florida Statutes, is amended
481 to read:
482 381.986 Medical use of marijuana.—
483 (17) Rules adopted pursuant to this section before July 1,
484 2026 2025, are not subject to ss. 120.54(3)(b) and 120.541. This
485 subsection expires July 1, 2026 2025.
486 Section 9. Effective July 1, 2025, upon the expiration and
487 reversion of the amendments made to subsection (1) of section 14
488 of chapter 2017-232, Laws of Florida, pursuant to section 10 of
489 chapter 2024-228, Laws of Florida, and in order to implement
490 Specific Appropriations 461 through 469A of the 2025-2026
491 General Appropriations Act, subsection (1) of section 14 of
492 chapter 2017-232, Laws of Florida, is amended to read:
493 Section 14. Department of Health; authority to adopt rules;
494 cause of action.—
495 (1) EMERGENCY RULEMAKING.—
496 (a) The Department of Health and the applicable boards
497 shall adopt emergency rules pursuant to s. 120.54(4), Florida
498 Statutes, and this section necessary to implement s. 381.986 ss.
499 381.986 and 381.988, Florida Statutes. If an emergency rule
500 adopted under this section is held to be unconstitutional or an
501 invalid exercise of delegated legislative authority, and becomes
502 void, the department or the applicable boards may adopt an
503 emergency rule pursuant to this section to replace the rule that
504 has become void. If the emergency rule adopted to replace the
505 void emergency rule is also held to be unconstitutional or an
506 invalid exercise of delegated legislative authority and becomes
507 void, the department and the applicable boards must follow the
508 nonemergency rulemaking procedures of the Administrative
509 Procedures Act to replace the rule that has become void.
510 (b) For emergency rules adopted under this section, the
511 department and the applicable boards need not make the findings
512 required by s. 120.54(4)(a), Florida Statutes. Emergency rules
513 adopted under this section are exempt from ss. 120.54(3)(b) and
514 120.541, Florida Statutes. The department and the applicable
515 boards shall meet the procedural requirements in s. 120.54(4)(a)
516 s. 120.54(a), Florida Statutes, if the department or the
517 applicable boards have, before July 1, 2019 the effective date
518 of this act, held any public workshops or hearings on the
519 subject matter of the emergency rules adopted under this
520 subsection. Challenges to emergency rules adopted under this
521 subsection are subject to the time schedules provided in s.
522 120.56(5), Florida Statutes.
523 (c) Emergency rules adopted under this section are exempt
524 from s. 120.54(4)(c), Florida Statutes, and shall remain in
525 effect until replaced by rules adopted under the nonemergency
526 rulemaking procedures of the Administrative Procedures Act.
527 Rules adopted under the nonemergency rulemaking procedures of
528 the Administrative Procedures Act to replace emergency rules
529 adopted under this section are exempt from ss. 120.54(3)(b) and
530 120.541, Florida Statutes. By July 1, 2026 January 1, 2018, the
531 department and the applicable boards shall initiate nonemergency
532 rulemaking pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act to
533 replace all emergency rules adopted under this section by
534 publishing a notice of rule development in the Florida
535 Administrative Register. Except as provided in paragraph (a),
536 after July 1, 2026 January 1, 2018, the department and
537 applicable boards may not adopt rules pursuant to the emergency
538 rulemaking procedures provided in this section.
539 Section 10. The amendments to subsection (1) of section 14
540 of chapter 2017-232, Laws of Florida, made by this act expire
541 July 1, 2026, and the text of that subsection shall revert to
542 that in existence on June 30, 2019, except that any amendments
543 to such text enacted other than by this act shall be preserved
544 and continue to operate to the extent that such amendments are
545 not dependent upon the portions of text which expire pursuant to
546 this section.
547 Section 11. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
548 203, 204, 207, and 211 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations
549 Act, the Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a
550 budget amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes,
551 requesting additional spending authority to implement the
552 federally approved Directed Payment Program for hospitals
553 statewide providing inpatient and outpatient services to
554 Medicaid managed care enrollees, the Indirect Medical Education
555 (IME) Program, and a nursing workforce expansion and education
556 program for certain institutions participating in a graduate
557 medical education or nursing education program. For institutions
558 participating in the nursing workforce expansion and education
559 program, the budget amendment must identify the educational
560 institutions partnering with the teaching hospital. Institutions
561 participating in the nursing workforce expansion and education
562 program shall provide quarterly reports to the agency detailing
563 the number of nurses participating in the program. This section
564 expires July 1, 2026.
565 Section 12. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
566 204, 207, and 211 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
567 the Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
568 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
569 additional spending authority to implement the federally
570 approved Directed Payment Program and fee-for-service
571 supplemental payments for cancer hospitals that meet the
572 criteria in 42 U.S.C. s. 1395ww(d)(1)(B)(v). This section
573 expires July 1, 2026.
574 Section 13. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
575 197 through 225 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, the
576 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
577 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
578 additional spending authority to implement the Low Income Pool
579 component of the Florida Managed Medical Assistance
580 Demonstration up to the total computable funds authorized by the
581 federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The budget
582 amendment must include the final terms and conditions of the Low
583 Income Pool, a proposed distribution model by entity, and a
584 listing of entities contributing intergovernmental transfers to
585 support the state match required. In addition, for each entity
586 included in the distribution model, a signed attestation must be
587 provided that includes the charity care cost upon which the Low
588 Income Pool payment is based and an acknowledgment that should
589 the distribution result in an overpayment based on the Low
590 Income Pool cost limit audit, the entity is responsible for
591 returning that overpayment to the agency for return to the
592 federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This section
593 expires July 1, 2026.
594 Section 14. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
595 210 and 211 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, the
596 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
597 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
598 additional spending authority to implement fee-for-service
599 supplemental payments and a directed payment program for
600 physicians and subordinate licensed health care practitioners
601 employed by or under contract with a Florida medical or dental
602 school, or a public hospital. This section expires July 1, 2026.
603 Section 15. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
604 208, 211, and 223 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
605 the Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
606 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
607 additional spending authority to implement a certified
608 expenditure program for emergency medical transportation
609 services. This section expires July 1, 2026.
610 Section 16. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
611 197 through 225 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, the
612 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
613 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
614 additional spending authority to implement the Disproportionate
615 Share Hospital Program. The budget amendment must include a
616 proposed distribution model by entity and a listing of entities
617 contributing intergovernmental transfers and certified public
618 expenditures to support the state match required. This section
619 expires July 1, 2026.
620 Section 17. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
621 208, 222, and 223 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
622 paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 409.908, Florida
623 Statutes, is amended to read:
624 409.908 Reimbursement of Medicaid providers.—Subject to
625 specific appropriations, the agency shall reimburse Medicaid
626 providers, in accordance with state and federal law, according
627 to methodologies set forth in the rules of the agency and in
628 policy manuals and handbooks incorporated by reference therein.
629 These methodologies may include fee schedules, reimbursement
630 methods based on cost reporting, negotiated fees, competitive
631 bidding pursuant to s. 287.057, and other mechanisms the agency
632 considers efficient and effective for purchasing services or
633 goods on behalf of recipients. If a provider is reimbursed based
634 on cost reporting and submits a cost report late and that cost
635 report would have been used to set a lower reimbursement rate
636 for a rate semester, then the provider’s rate for that semester
637 shall be retroactively calculated using the new cost report, and
638 full payment at the recalculated rate shall be effected
639 retroactively. Medicare-granted extensions for filing cost
640 reports, if applicable, shall also apply to Medicaid cost
641 reports. Payment for Medicaid compensable services made on
642 behalf of Medicaid-eligible persons is subject to the
643 availability of moneys and any limitations or directions
644 provided for in the General Appropriations Act or chapter 216.
645 Further, nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent
646 or limit the agency from adjusting fees, reimbursement rates,
647 lengths of stay, number of visits, or number of services, or
648 making any other adjustments necessary to comply with the
649 availability of moneys and any limitations or directions
650 provided for in the General Appropriations Act, provided the
651 adjustment is consistent with legislative intent.
652 (2)
653 (b) Subject to any limitations or directions in the General
654 Appropriations Act, the agency shall establish and implement a
655 state Title XIX Long-Term Care Reimbursement Plan for nursing
656 home care in order to provide care and services in conformance
657 with the applicable state and federal laws, rules, regulations,
658 and quality and safety standards and to ensure that individuals
659 eligible for medical assistance have reasonable geographic
660 access to such care.
661 1. The agency shall amend the long-term care reimbursement
662 plan and cost reporting system to create direct care and
663 indirect care subcomponents of the patient care component of the
664 per diem rate. These two subcomponents together shall equal the
665 patient care component of the per diem rate. Separate prices
666 shall be calculated for each patient care subcomponent,
667 initially based on the September 2016 rate setting cost reports
668 and subsequently based on the most recently audited cost report
669 used during a rebasing year. The direct care subcomponent of the
670 per diem rate for any providers still being reimbursed on a cost
671 basis shall be limited by the cost-based class ceiling, and the
672 indirect care subcomponent may be limited by the lower of the
673 cost-based class ceiling, the target rate class ceiling, or the
674 individual provider target. The ceilings and targets apply only
675 to providers being reimbursed on a cost-based system. Effective
676 October 1, 2018, a prospective payment methodology shall be
677 implemented for rate setting purposes with the following
678 parameters:
679 a. Peer Groups, including:
680 (I) North-SMMC Regions 1-9, less Palm Beach and Okeechobee
681 Counties; and
682 (II) South-SMMC Regions 10-11, plus Palm Beach and
683 Okeechobee Counties.
684 b. Percentage of Median Costs based on the cost reports
685 used for September 2016 rate setting:
686 (I) Direct Care Costs........................100 percent.
687 (II) Indirect Care Costs......................92 percent.
688 (III) Operating Costs.........................86 percent.
689 c. Floors:
690 (I) Direct Care Component.....................95 percent.
691 (II) Indirect Care Component................92.5 percent.
692 (III) Operating Component...........................None.
693 d. Pass-through Payments..................Real Estate and
694 ...............................................Personal Property
695 ...................................Taxes and Property Insurance.
696 e. Quality Incentive Program Payment
697 Pool..................................12 10 percent of September
698 .......................................2016 non-property related
699 ................................payments of included facilities.
700 f. Quality Score Threshold to Qualify Quality for Quality
701 Incentive Payment...........................................20th
702 ..............................percentile of included facilities.
703 g. Fair Rental Value System Payment Parameters:
704 (I) Building Value per Square Foot based on 2018 RS Means.
705 (II) Land Valuation...10 percent of Gross Building value.
706 (III) Facility Square Footage......Actual Square Footage.
707 (IV) Movable Equipment Allowance..........$8,000 per bed.
708 (V) Obsolescence Factor......................1.5 percent.
709 (VI) Fair Rental Rate of Return................8 percent.
710 (VII) Minimum Occupancy.......................90 percent.
711 (VIII) Maximum Facility Age.....................40 years.
712 (IX) Minimum Square Footage per Bed..................350.
713 (X) Maximum Square Footage for Bed...................500.
714 (XI) Minimum Cost of a renovation/replacements$500 per bed.
715 h. Ventilator Supplemental payment of $200 per Medicaid day
716 of 40,000 ventilator Medicaid days per fiscal year.
717 2. The direct care subcomponent shall include salaries and
718 benefits of direct care staff providing nursing services
719 including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, and
720 certified nursing assistants who deliver care directly to
721 residents in the nursing home facility, allowable therapy costs,
722 and dietary costs. This excludes nursing administration, staff
723 development, the staffing coordinator, and the administrative
724 portion of the minimum data set and care plan coordinators. The
725 direct care subcomponent also includes medically necessary
726 dental care, vision care, hearing care, and podiatric care.
727 3. All other patient care costs shall be included in the
728 indirect care cost subcomponent of the patient care per diem
729 rate, including complex medical equipment, medical supplies, and
730 other allowable ancillary costs. Costs may not be allocated
731 directly or indirectly to the direct care subcomponent from a
732 home office or management company.
733 4. On July 1 of each year, the agency shall report to the
734 Legislature direct and indirect care costs, including average
735 direct and indirect care costs per resident per facility and
736 direct care and indirect care salaries and benefits per category
737 of staff member per facility.
738 5. Every fourth year, the agency shall rebase nursing home
739 prospective payment rates to reflect changes in cost based on
740 the most recently audited cost report for each participating
741 provider.
742 6. A direct care supplemental payment may be made to
743 providers whose direct care hours per patient day are above the
744 80th percentile and who provide Medicaid services to a larger
745 percentage of Medicaid patients than the state average.
746 7. Pediatric, Florida Department of Veterans Affairs, and
747 government-owned facilities are exempt from the pricing model
748 established in this subsection and shall remain on a cost-based
749 prospective payment system. Effective October 1, 2018, the
750 agency shall set rates for all facilities remaining on a cost
751 based prospective payment system using each facility’s most
752 recently audited cost report, eliminating retroactive
753 settlements.
754
755 It is the intent of the Legislature that the reimbursement plan
756 achieve the goal of providing access to health care for nursing
757 home residents who require large amounts of care while
758 encouraging diversion services as an alternative to nursing home
759 care for residents who can be served within the community. The
760 agency shall base the establishment of any maximum rate of
761 payment, whether overall or component, on the available moneys
762 as provided for in the General Appropriations Act. The agency
763 may base the maximum rate of payment on the results of
764 scientifically valid analysis and conclusions derived from
765 objective statistical data pertinent to the particular maximum
766 rate of payment. The agency shall base the rates of payments in
767 accordance with the minimum wage requirements as provided in the
768 General Appropriations Act.
769 Section 18. The amendments to s. 409.908, Florida Statutes,
770 made by this act expire July 1, 2026, and the text of that
771 section shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2025,
772 except that any amendments to such text enacted other than by
773 this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
774 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
775 of text which expire pursuant to this section.
776 Section 19. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
777 316, 318, 347, and 348 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations
778 Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida
779 Statutes, the Department of Children and Families may submit a
780 budget amendment, subject to the notice, review, and objection
781 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to realign funding
782 within the department based on the implementation of the
783 Guardianship Assistance Program, between the specific
784 appropriations for guardianship assistance payments, foster care
785 Level 1 room and board payments, relative caregiver payments,
786 and nonrelative caregiver payments. This section expires July 1,
787 2026.
788 Section 20. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
789 197 through 199, 204, 207, 208, 210 through 212, 342, 351, 447,
790 451 through 452, 458, 471, 472, 478, and 482 of the 2025-2026
791 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and
792 216.292, Florida Statutes, the Department of Children and
793 Families, the Department of Health, and the Agency for Health
794 Care Administration may submit budget amendments, subject to the
795 notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida
796 Statutes, to increase budget authority to support refugee
797 programs administered by the federal Office of Refugee
798 Resettlement due to the ongoing instability of federal
799 immigration policy and the resulting inability of the state to
800 reasonably predict, with certainty, the budgetary needs of this
801 state with respect to the number of refugees relocated to the
802 state as part of those federal programs. The Department of
803 Children and Families shall submit quarterly reports to the
804 Executive Office of the Governor, the President of the Senate,
805 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the number of
806 refugees entering the state, the nations of origin of such
807 refugees, and current expenditure projections. This section
808 expires July 1, 2026.
809 Section 21. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
810 276 through 370 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
811 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
812 Department of Children and Families may submit budget
813 amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection
814 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget
815 authority to support the following federal grant programs: the
816 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Grant Program, the Pandemic
817 Electronic Benefit Transfer, the American Rescue Plan Grant, the
818 State Opioid Response Grant, the Substance Use Prevention and
819 Treatment Block Grant, the Chafee Grant for Independent Living
820 Services, Education and Traditional Voucher Grant, Title IV-B
821 Subparts 1 and 2 Grants, Elder Justice Act, STOP Violence
822 Against Women Grant, the Rapid Unsheltered Survivor Housing
823 Grant, and the Mental Health Block Grant. This section expires
824 July 1, 2026.
825 Section 22. Effective upon this act becoming a law, and in
826 order to implement Specific Appropriations 354 through 370A of
827 the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (c) of
828 subsection (9) of section 394.9082, Florida Statutes, is amended
829 to read:
830 394.9082 Behavioral health managing entities.—
831 (9) FUNDING FOR MANAGING ENTITIES.—
832 (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), for the 2025-2026 2023
833 2024 fiscal year and the 2024-2025 fiscal year, a managing
834 entity may carry forward documented unexpended funds
835 appropriated from the State Opioid Settlement Trust Fund from 1
836 one fiscal year to the next. Funds carried forward pursuant to
837 this paragraph are not included in the 8 percent cumulative cap
838 that may be carried forward. This paragraph expires July 1, 2026
839 2025.
840 Section 23. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
841 302, 316 through 318, and 364 of the 2025-2026 General
842 Appropriations Act, subsection (9) is added to section 409.9913,
843 Florida Statutes, to read:
844 409.9913 Funding methodology to allocate funding to lead
845 agencies.—
846 (9) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, core
847 services funding shall be allocated as provided in the General
848 Appropriations Act. The department shall develop and report on
849 an alternative tiered funding methodology to allocate funding to
850 lead agencies. The department shall provide additional data and
851 analysis to strengthen the existing proposed funding framework.
852 This enhancement will aim to maximize transparency, drive
853 performance and quality measures, and build on prior provisions
854 and innovative practices.
855 (a) The methodology must include, but is not limited to,
856 the following components:
857 1. Administration tier.—A distinct allocation reflecting
858 actual, allowable operational and fixed costs, consistent with
859 federal and state guidelines, including, but not limited to:
860 a. Salaries and benefits.
861 b. Information technology.
862 c. Lease payments.
863 d. Asset depreciation.
864 e. Utilities.
865 f. Administrative components of case management.
866 g. Mandated activities such as training, quality
867 improvement, or contract management.
868 2. Prevention tier.—A dedicated prevention tier to
869 incorporate early intervention strategies and services that
870 reduce the need for higher-intensity system involvement which
871 includes, but is not limited to:
872 a. Family support services.
873 b. Family-focused prevention programs.
874 c. Hotline referrals and nonjudicial services.
875 d. Differential response/child protection team
876 coordination.
877 3. Core services tier.—A base funding allocation that
878 includes:
879 a. Direct service delivery costs for case management,
880 foster care, and post-placement services.
881 b. Pass-through obligations, including, but not limited to:
882 (I) Funds appropriated for independent living services.
883 (II) Funds appropriated for maintenance adoption subsidies.
884 (III) Funds allocated by the department for child
885 protective investigation service training.
886 (IV) Nonrecurring funds.
887 (V) Designated mental health wrap-around service funds.
888 (VI) Funds for special projects for a designated lead
889 agency.
890 (VII) Funds appropriated for the Guardianship Assistance
891 Program established under s. 39.6225.
892 4. Performance and quality measures tier.—Funding
893 adjustments or incentives based on performance against outcome
894 based metrics, which may include, but are not limited to:
895 a. Maintaining or increasing sibling group placements
896 together.
897 b. Average yearly caseload of case managers, including only
898 filled positions, at or below 1:14.
899 c. Increasing finalized adoptions by at least 3 percent
900 over the prior fiscal year.
901 d. Reducing reentry into foster care within 12 months of
902 case closure.
903 e. Placement stability and least-restrictive placement
904 rates.
905 f. Other department-defined measures aligned with federal
906 Child and Family Services Reviews.
907 5. Innovation tier.—A competitive or direct grant mechanism
908 that allows lead agencies to propose and implement innovative,
909 evidence-informed practices aimed at improving family
910 preservation, child well-being, community partnerships, or
911 service delivery models. Funded projects under this tier must be
912 time-limited and subject to performance benchmarks, be evaluated
913 independently for effectiveness and scalability, and support
914 goals not currently funded through core allocations.
915 (b) At a minimum, the methodology must be:
916 1. Cost-based.
917 2. Actuarially sound.
918 3. Designed to incentivize efficient and effective lead
919 agency operation, prevention, family preservation, and
920 permanency.
921 4. Regionally scaled for cost-of-living factors.
922 (c) The lead agencies and providers shall submit any
923 detailed cost and expenditure data that the department requests
924 for the development of the funding methodology.
925 (d) By December 1, 2025, the department shall submit a
926 detailed report to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
927 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report must
928 include:
929 1. A proposed structure and funding methodology for each
930 tier;
931 2. A summary of stakeholder input;
932 3. Projected fiscal impacts by community-based care region;
933 4. Recommended statutory or budgetary changes needed to
934 implement the new methodology; and
935 5. A plan for phased implementation, including performance
936 tracking and reporting.
937 (e) The department shall provide to the Governor, the
938 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
939 Representatives monthly reports beginning July 2025 through
940 November 2025 which provide updates on activities and progress
941 in developing the funding methodology.
942 (f) This subsection expires July 1, 2026.
943 Section 24. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
944 439 and 441 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
945 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
946 Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject to
947 the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,
948 Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the
949 Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
950 (WIC) and the Child Care Food Program if additional federal
951 revenues will be expended in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This
952 section expires July 1, 2026.
953 Section 25. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
954 448 and 496 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
955 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
956 Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject to
957 the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,
958 Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the HIV/AIDS
959 Prevention and Treatment Program if additional federal revenues
960 specific to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment become available
961 in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This section expires July 1, 2026.
962 Section 26. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
963 409 through 556A of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
964 and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes,
965 the Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject
966 to the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,
967 Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the
968 department if additional federal revenues specific to COVID-19
969 relief funds become available in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This
970 section expires July 1, 2026.
971 Section 27. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
972 192 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act:
973 (1) The Agency for Health Care Administration shall replace
974 the current Florida Medicaid Management Information System
975 (FMMIS) and fiscal agent operations with a system that is
976 modular, interoperable, and scalable for the Florida Medicaid
977 program and that complies with all applicable federal and state
978 laws and requirements. The agency may not include in the program
979 to replace the current FMMIS and fiscal agent contract:
980 (a) Functionality that duplicates any of the information
981 systems of the other health and human services state agencies;
982 (b) Procurement for agency requirements external to
983 Medicaid programs with the intent to leverage the Medicaid
984 technology infrastructure for other purposes without legislative
985 appropriation or legislative authorization to procure these
986 requirements. The new system, the Florida Health Care Connection
987 (FX) system, must provide better integration with subsystems
988 supporting Florida’s Medicaid program; uniformity, consistency,
989 and improved access to data; and compatibility with the Centers
990 for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Medicaid Information
991 Technology Architecture (MITA) as the system matures and expands
992 its functionality; or
993 (c) Any contract executed after July 1, 2022, not including
994 staff augmentation services purchased off the Department of
995 Management Services Information Technology staff augmentation
996 state term contract that are not deliverables based fixed price
997 contracts.
998 (2) For purposes of replacing FMMIS and the current
999 Medicaid fiscal agent, the Agency for Health Care Administration
1000 shall:
1001 (a) Prioritize procurements for the replacement of the
1002 current functions of FMMIS and the responsibilities of the
1003 current Medicaid fiscal agent, to minimize the need to extend
1004 all or portions of the current fiscal agent contract.
1005 (b) Comply with and not exceed the Centers for Medicare and
1006 Medicaid Services funding authorizations for the FX system.
1007 (c) Ensure compliance and uniformity with the published
1008 MITA framework and guidelines.
1009 (d) Ensure that all business requirements and technical
1010 specifications have been provided to all affected state agencies
1011 for their review and input and approved by the executive
1012 steering committee established in paragraph (h).
1013 (e) Consult with the Executive Office of the Governor’s
1014 working group for interagency information technology integration
1015 for the development of competitive solicitations that provide
1016 for data interoperability and shared information technology
1017 services across the state’s health and human services agencies.
1018 (f) Implement a data governance structure for the program
1019 to coordinate data sharing and interoperability across state
1020 health care entities.
1021 (g) Establish a continuing oversight team for each contract
1022 pursuant to s. 287.057(26), Florida Statutes. The teams must
1023 provide quarterly reports to the executive steering committee,
1024 summarizing the status of the contract, the pace of
1025 deliverables, the quality of deliverables, contractor
1026 responsiveness, and contractor performance.
1027 (h) Implement a program governance structure that includes
1028 an executive steering committee composed of:
1029 1. The Secretary of Health Care Administration, or the
1030 executive sponsor of the program.
1031 2. A representative of the Division of Health Care Finance
1032 and Data of the Agency for Health Care Administration, appointed
1033 by the Secretary of Health Care Administration.
1034 3. Two representatives from the Division of Medicaid
1035 Policy, Quality, and Operations of the Agency for Health Care
1036 Administration, appointed by the Secretary of Health Care
1037 Administration.
1038 4. A representative of the Division of Health Care Policy
1039 and Oversight of the Agency for Health Care Administration,
1040 appointed by the Secretary of Health Care Administration.
1041 5. A representative of the Florida Center for Health
1042 Information and Transparency of the Agency for Health Care
1043 Administration, appointed by the Secretary of Health Care
1044 Administration.
1045 6. The Chief Information Officer of the Agency for Health
1046 Care Administration, or his or her designee.
1047 (3)(a) The Secretary of Health Care Administration or the
1048 executive sponsor of the program shall serve as chair of the
1049 executive steering committee, and the committee shall take
1050 action by a vote of at least 5 affirmative votes with the chair
1051 voting on the prevailing side. A quorum of the executive
1052 steering committee consists of at least 5 members.
1053 (b)1. The chair shall establish a program finance and
1054 contracting working group composed of:
1055 a. The FX program director.
1056 b. A representative from the agency’s Office of the General
1057 Counsel.
1058 c. A representative from the agency’s Division of
1059 Administration.
1060 d. Representatives from each continuing oversight team.
1061 e. The FX program strategic roadmap manager.
1062 f. The FX program project managers.
1063 g. The FX program risk manager.
1064 h. Any other personnel deemed necessary by the chair.
1065 2. The working group shall meet at least monthly to review
1066 the program status and all contract and program operations,
1067 policies, risks, and issues related to the budget, spending
1068 plans and contractual obligations, and shall develop
1069 recommendations to the executive steering committee for
1070 improvement. The working group shall review all change requests
1071 that impact the program’s scope, schedule, or budget related to
1072 contract management and vendor payments and submit those
1073 recommended for adoption to the executive steering committee.
1074 The chair shall request input from the working group on agenda
1075 items for each scheduled meeting. The program shall make
1076 available program staff to the group, as needed, for the group
1077 to fulfill its duties.
1078 (c)1. The chair shall establish a state agency stakeholder
1079 working group composed of:
1080 a. The executive sponsor of the FX program.
1081 b. A representative of the Department of Children and
1082 Families, appointed by the Secretary of Children and Families.
1083 c. A representative of the Department of Health, appointed
1084 by the State Surgeon General.
1085 d. A representative of the Agency for Persons with
1086 Disabilities, appointed by the director of the Agency for
1087 Persons with Disabilities.
1088 e. A representative from the Florida Healthy Kids
1089 Corporation.
1090 f. A representative from the Department of Elderly Affairs,
1091 appointed by the Secretary of Elderly Affairs.
1092 g. The state chief information officer, or his or her
1093 designee.
1094 h. A representative of the Department of Financial Services
1095 who has experience with the state’s financial processes,
1096 including development of the PALM system, appointed by the Chief
1097 Financial Officer.
1098 2. The working group shall meet at least quarterly to
1099 review the program status and all program operations, policies,
1100 risks, and issues that may impact the operations external to the
1101 Agency for Health Care Administration FX program, and shall
1102 develop recommendations to the executive steering committee for
1103 improvement. The chair shall request input from the working
1104 group on agenda items for each scheduled meeting. The program
1105 shall make available program staff to the group to provide
1106 system demonstrations and any program documentation, as needed,
1107 for the group to fulfill its duties.
1108 (4) The executive steering committee has the overall
1109 responsibility for ensuring that the program to replace FMMIS
1110 and the Medicaid fiscal agent meets its primary business
1111 objectives and shall:
1112 (a) Identify and recommend to the Executive Office of the
1113 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
1114 House of Representatives any statutory changes needed to
1115 implement the modular replacement to standardize, to the fullest
1116 extent possible, the state’s health care data and business
1117 processes.
1118 (b) Review and approve any changes to the program’s scope,
1119 schedule, and budget.
1120 (c) Review and approve any changes to the program’s
1121 strategic roadmap.
1122 (d) Review and approve change requests that impact the
1123 program’s scope, schedule, or budget recommended for adoption by
1124 the program finance and contracting working group.
1125 (e) Review recommendations provided by the program working
1126 groups.
1127 (f) Review vendor scorecards, reports, and notifications
1128 produced by the continuing oversight teams.
1129 (g) Ensure that adequate resources are provided throughout
1130 all phases of the program.
1131 (h) Approve all major program deliverables.
1132 (i) Review and verify that all procurement and contractual
1133 documents associated with the replacement of the current FMMIS
1134 and Medicaid fiscal agent align with the scope, schedule, and
1135 anticipated budget for the program.
1136 (5) This section expires July 1, 2026.
1137 Section 28. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1138 211, 212, 262, 272, 328, 474, 496, and 699 of the 2025-2026
1139 General Appropriations Act, the Agency for Health Care
1140 Administration, in consultation with the Department of Health,
1141 the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Department of
1142 Children and Families, and the Department of Corrections, shall
1143 competitively procure a contract with a vendor to negotiate, for
1144 these agencies, prices for prescribed drugs and biological
1145 products excluded from the program established under s.
1146 381.02035, Florida Statutes, and ineligible under 21 U.S.C. s.
1147 384, including, but not limited to, insulin and epinephrine. The
1148 contract may allow the vendor to directly purchase these
1149 products for participating agencies when feasible and
1150 advantageous. The contracted vendor must be compensated on a
1151 contingency basis, paid from a portion of the savings achieved
1152 by its price negotiation or purchase of the prescription drugs
1153 and products. This section expires July 1, 2026.
1154 Section 29. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1155 254, 260, 261, 265, 270, and 271 of the 2025-2026 General
1156 Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292,
1157 Florida Statutes, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities may
1158 submit budget amendments, subject to the notice, review, and
1159 objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to
1160 transfer funding from the Salaries and Benefits appropriation
1161 categories to categories used for contractual services in order
1162 to support additional staff augmentation resources needed at the
1163 Developmental Disability Centers. This section expires July 1,
1164 2026.
1165 Section 30. In order to implement section 52 of the 2025
1166 2026 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181
1167 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the Agency for Persons with
1168 Disabilities may submit budget amendments, subject to the
1169 notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida
1170 Statutes, to request the appropriation of funds from the Lump
1171 Sum-Home and Community Based Waiver category to address any
1172 deficits or funding shortfalls. This section expires July 1,
1173 2026.
1174 Section 31. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1175 219 and 242 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
1176 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
1177 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit budget
1178 amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection
1179 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, at least 3 days
1180 before the effective date of the action, to increase budget
1181 authority to support the implementation of the home and
1182 community-based services Medicaid waiver program of the Agency
1183 for Persons with Disabilities. This section expires July 1,
1184 2026.
1185 Section 32. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
1186 557 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
1187 notwithstanding chapter 216, Florida Statutes, the Department of
1188 Veterans’ Affairs may submit a budget amendment, subject to
1189 Legislative Budget Commission approval, requesting the authority
1190 to establish positions in excess of the number authorized by the
1191 Legislature, increase appropriations from the Operations and
1192 Maintenance Trust Fund, or provide a necessary salary rate
1193 sufficient to provide for essential staff for veterans’ nursing
1194 homes, if the department projects that additional direct care
1195 staff are needed to meet its established staffing ratio. This
1196 section expires July 1, 2026.
1197 Section 33. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1198 557 and 563 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
1199 subsection (6) is added to section 296.34, Florida Statutes, to
1200 read:
1201 296.34 Administrator; qualifications, duties, and
1202 responsibilities.—
1203 (6) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (4), the department
1204 may contract with a vendor for the management and operations of
1205 the Alwyn C. Cashe State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Orlando. The
1206 contracted vendor may appoint an administrator of the home and
1207 the employees of the home may be contracted staff. The
1208 department may submit a budget amendment, subject to Legislative
1209 Budget Commission approval, and pursuant to chapter 216, to move
1210 funds from Salaries and Benefits to Contracted Services to
1211 implement this subsection. This subsection expires July 1, 2026.
1212 Section 34. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
1213 211 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, subsection (1)
1214 of section 409.915, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1215 409.915 County contributions to Medicaid.—Although the
1216 state is responsible for the full portion of the state share of
1217 the matching funds required for the Medicaid program, the state
1218 shall charge the counties an annual contribution in order to
1219 acquire a certain portion of these funds.
1220 (1)(a) As used in this section, the term “state Medicaid
1221 expenditures” means those expenditures used as matching funds
1222 for the federal Medicaid program.
1223 (b) The term does not include funds specially assessed by
1224 any local governmental entity and used as the nonfederal share
1225 for the hospital directed payment program after July 1, 2021.
1226 This paragraph expires July 1, 2026 2025.
1227 Section 35. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1228 557 through 581B of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
1229 the Department of Veterans’ Affairs may submit budget amendments
1230 pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, subject to federal
1231 approval, requesting additional spending authority to support
1232 the development and construction of a new State Veterans’
1233 Nursing Home and Adult Day Health Care Center in Collier County.
1234 This section expires July 1, 2026.
1235 Section 36. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1236 386 and 396 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
1237 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
1238 Department of Elderly Affairs may submit a budget amendment,
1239 subject to the notice, review, and objection procedures of s.
1240 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the
1241 United States Department of Agriculture’s Adult Care Food
1242 Program if additional federal revenues will be expended in the
1243 2025-2026 fiscal year. This section expires July 1, 2026.
1244 Section 37. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1245 584 through 671 and 680 through 723 of the 2025-2026 General
1246 Appropriations Act, subsection (4) of section 216.262, Florida
1247 Statutes, is amended to read:
1248 216.262 Authorized positions.—
1249 (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter relating
1250 to increasing the number of authorized positions, and for the
1251 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal year only, if the actual inmate
1252 population of the Department of Corrections exceeds the inmate
1253 population projections of the February 21, 2025 December 15,
1254 2023, Criminal Justice Estimating Conference by 1 percent for 2
1255 consecutive months or 2 percent for any month, the Executive
1256 Office of the Governor, with the approval of the Legislative
1257 Budget Commission, shall immediately notify the Criminal Justice
1258 Estimating Conference, which shall convene as soon as possible
1259 to revise the estimates. The Department of Corrections may then
1260 submit a budget amendment requesting the establishment of
1261 positions in excess of the number authorized by the Legislature
1262 and additional appropriations from unallocated general revenue
1263 sufficient to provide for essential staff, fixed capital
1264 improvements, and other resources to provide classification,
1265 security, food services, health services, and other variable
1266 expenses within the institutions to accommodate the estimated
1267 increase in the inmate population. All actions taken pursuant to
1268 this subsection are subject to review and approval by the
1269 Legislative Budget Commission. This subsection expires July 1,
1270 2026 2025.
1271 Section 38. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1272 2956 through 3018A of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
1273 subsection (2) of section 215.18, Florida Statutes, is amended
1274 to read:
1275 215.18 Transfers between funds; limitation.—
1276 (2) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may receive one
1277 or more trust fund loans to ensure that the state court system
1278 has funds sufficient to meet its appropriations in the 2025-2026
1279 2024-2025 General Appropriations Act. If the Chief Justice
1280 accesses the loan, he or she must notify the Governor and the
1281 chairs of the legislative appropriations committees in writing.
1282 The loan must come from other funds in the State Treasury which
1283 are for the time being or otherwise in excess of the amounts
1284 necessary to meet the just requirements of such last-mentioned
1285 funds. The Governor shall order the transfer of funds within 5
1286 days after the written notification from the Chief Justice. If
1287 the Governor does not order the transfer, the Chief Financial
1288 Officer shall transfer the requested funds. The loan of funds
1289 from which any money is temporarily transferred must be repaid
1290 by the end of the 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal year. This
1291 subsection expires July 1, 2026 2025.
1292 Section 39. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1293 1051 through 1061 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act:
1294 (1) The Department of Juvenile Justice shall review county
1295 juvenile detention payments to ensure that counties fulfill
1296 their financial responsibilities required in s. 985.6865,
1297 Florida Statutes. If the Department of Juvenile Justice
1298 determines that a county has not met its obligations, the
1299 department shall direct the Department of Revenue to deduct the
1300 amount owed to the Department of Juvenile Justice from the funds
1301 provided to the county under s. 218.23, Florida Statutes. The
1302 Department of Revenue shall transfer the funds withheld to the
1303 Shared County/State Juvenile Detention Trust Fund.
1304 (2) As an assurance to holders of bonds issued by counties
1305 before July 1, 2025, for which distributions made pursuant to s.
1306 218.23, Florida Statutes, are pledged, or bonds issued to refund
1307 such bonds which mature no later than the bonds they refunded
1308 and which result in a reduction of debt service payable in each
1309 fiscal year, the amount available for distribution to a county
1310 shall remain as provided by law and continue to be subject to
1311 any lien or claim on behalf of the bondholders. The Department
1312 of Revenue must ensure, based on information provided by an
1313 affected county, that any reduction in amounts distributed
1314 pursuant to subsection (1) does not reduce the amount of
1315 distribution to a county below the amount necessary for the
1316 timely payment of principal and interest when due on the bonds
1317 and the amount necessary to comply with any covenant under the
1318 bond resolution or other documents relating to the issuance of
1319 the bonds. If a reduction to a county’s monthly distribution
1320 must be decreased in order to comply with this section, the
1321 Department of Revenue must notify the Department of Juvenile
1322 Justice of the amount of the decrease, and the Department of
1323 Juvenile Justice must send a bill for payment of such amount to
1324 the affected county.
1325 (3) This section expires July 1, 2026.
1326 Section 40. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1327 733 through 754A, 880 through 1002A, and 1020 through 1050A of
1328 the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding
1329 the expiration date in section 41 of chapter 2024-228, Laws of
1330 Florida, subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection (2),
1331 paragraph (a) of subsection (3), and subsections (5), (6), and
1332 (7) of section 27.40, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
1333 27.40 Court-appointed counsel; circuit registries; minimum
1334 requirements; appointment by court.—
1335 (1) Counsel shall be appointed to represent any individual
1336 in a criminal or civil proceeding entitled to court-appointed
1337 counsel under the Federal or State Constitution or as authorized
1338 by general law. The court shall appoint a public defender to
1339 represent indigent persons as authorized in s. 27.51. The office
1340 of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel shall be
1341 appointed to represent persons in those cases in which provision
1342 is made for court-appointed counsel, but only after the public
1343 defender has certified to the court in writing that the public
1344 defender is unable to provide representation due to a conflict
1345 of interest or is not authorized to provide representation. The
1346 public defender shall report, in the aggregate, the specific
1347 basis of all conflicts of interest certified to the court. On a
1348 quarterly basis, the public defender shall submit this
1349 information to the Justice Administrative Commission.
1350 (2)(a) Private counsel shall be appointed to represent
1351 persons in those cases in which provision is made for court
1352 appointed counsel but only after the office of criminal conflict
1353 and civil regional counsel has been appointed and has certified
1354 to the court in writing that the criminal conflict and civil
1355 regional counsel is unable to provide representation due to a
1356 conflict of interest. The criminal conflict and civil regional
1357 counsel shall report, in the aggregate, the specific basis of
1358 all conflicts of interest certified to the court. On a quarterly
1359 basis, the criminal conflict and civil regional counsel shall
1360 submit this information to the Justice Administrative
1361 Commission.
1362 (3) In using a registry:
1363 (a) The chief judge of the circuit shall compile a list of
1364 attorneys in private practice, by county and by category of
1365 cases, and provide the list to the clerk of court in each
1366 county. The chief judge of the circuit may restrict the number
1367 of attorneys on the general registry list. To be included on a
1368 registry, an attorney must certify that he or she:
1369 1. Meets any minimum requirements established by the chief
1370 judge and by general law for court appointment;
1371 2. Is available to represent indigent defendants in cases
1372 requiring court appointment of private counsel; and
1373 3. Is willing to abide by the terms of the contract for
1374 services, s. 27.5304, and this section.
1375
1376 To be included on a registry, an attorney must enter into a
1377 contract for services with the Justice Administrative
1378 Commission. Failure to comply with the terms of the contract for
1379 services may result in termination of the contract and removal
1380 from the registry. Each attorney on the registry is responsible
1381 for notifying the clerk of the court and the Justice
1382 Administrative Commission of any change in his or her status.
1383 Failure to comply with this requirement is cause for termination
1384 of the contract for services and removal from the registry until
1385 the requirement is fulfilled.
1386 (5) The Justice Administrative Commission shall approve
1387 uniform contract forms for use in procuring the services of
1388 private court-appointed counsel and uniform procedures and forms
1389 for use by a court-appointed attorney in support of billing for
1390 attorney’s fees, costs, and related expenses to demonstrate the
1391 attorney’s completion of specified duties. Such uniform
1392 contracts and forms for use in billing must be consistent with
1393 s. 27.5304, s. 216.311, and the General Appropriations Act and
1394 must contain the following statement: “The State of Florida’s
1395 performance and obligation to pay under this contract is
1396 contingent upon an annual appropriation by the Legislature.”
1397 (6) After court appointment, the attorney must immediately
1398 file a notice of appearance with the court indicating acceptance
1399 of the appointment to represent the defendant and of the terms
1400 of the uniform contract as specified in subsection (5).
1401 (7)(a) A private attorney appointed by the court from the
1402 registry to represent a client is entitled to payment as
1403 provided in s. 27.5304 so long as the requirements of subsection
1404 (1) and paragraph (2)(a) are met. An attorney appointed by the
1405 court who is not on the registry list may be compensated under
1406 s. 27.5304 only if the court finds in the order of appointment
1407 that there were no registry attorneys available for
1408 representation for that case and only if the requirements of
1409 subsection (1) and paragraph (2)(a) are met.
1410 (b)1. The flat fee established in s. 27.5304 and the
1411 General Appropriations Act shall be presumed by the court to be
1412 sufficient compensation. The attorney shall maintain appropriate
1413 documentation, including contemporaneous and detailed hourly
1414 accounting of time spent representing the client. If the
1415 attorney fails to maintain such contemporaneous and detailed
1416 hourly records, the attorney waives the right to seek
1417 compensation in excess of the flat fee established in s. 27.5304
1418 and the General Appropriations Act. These records and documents
1419 are subject to review by the Justice Administrative Commission
1420 and audit by the Auditor General, subject to the attorney-client
1421 privilege and work-product privilege. The attorney shall
1422 maintain the records and documents in a manner that enables the
1423 attorney to redact any information subject to a privilege in
1424 order to facilitate the commission’s review of the records and
1425 documents and not to impede such review. The attorney may redact
1426 information from the records and documents only to the extent
1427 necessary to comply with the privilege. The Justice
1428 Administrative Commission shall review such records and shall
1429 contemporaneously document such review before authorizing
1430 payment to an attorney. Objections by or on behalf of the
1431 Justice Administrative Commission to records or documents or to
1432 claims for payment by the attorney shall be presumed correct by
1433 the court unless the court determines, in writing, that
1434 competent and substantial evidence exists to justify overcoming
1435 the presumption.
1436 2. If an attorney fails, refuses, or declines to permit the
1437 commission or the Auditor General to review documentation for a
1438 case as provided in this paragraph, the attorney waives the
1439 right to seek, and the commission may not pay, compensation in
1440 excess of the flat fee established in s. 27.5304 and the General
1441 Appropriations Act for that case.
1442 3. A finding by the commission that an attorney has waived
1443 the right to seek compensation in excess of the flat fee
1444 established in s. 27.5304 and the General Appropriations Act, as
1445 provided in this paragraph, shall be presumed to be correct,
1446 unless the court determines, in writing, that competent and
1447 substantial evidence exists to justify overcoming the
1448 presumption.
1449 Section 41. The text of s. 27.40(1), (2)(a), (3)(a), (5),
1450 (6), and (7), Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter
1451 2019-116, Laws of Florida, by this act, expires July 1, 2026,
1452 and the text of those subsections and paragraphs, as applicable,
1453 shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2019, except that
1454 any amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall
1455 be preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
1456 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
1457 expire pursuant to this section.
1458 Section 42. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1459 733 through 754A, 880 through 1002A, and 1020 through 1050A of
1460 the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding
1461 the expiration date in section 43 of chapter 2024-228, Laws of
1462 Florida, subsection (13) of section 27.5304, Florida Statutes,
1463 is amended, and subsections (1), (3), (6), (7), and (11), and
1464 paragraphs (a) through (e) of subsection (12) of that section
1465 are reenacted, to read:
1466 27.5304 Private court-appointed counsel; compensation;
1467 notice.—
1468 (1) Private court-appointed counsel appointed in the manner
1469 prescribed in s. 27.40(1) and (2)(a) shall be compensated by the
1470 Justice Administrative Commission only as provided in this
1471 section and the General Appropriations Act. The flat fees
1472 prescribed in this section are limitations on compensation. The
1473 specific flat fee amounts for compensation shall be established
1474 annually in the General Appropriations Act. The attorney also
1475 shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses in
1476 accordance with s. 29.007. If the attorney is representing a
1477 defendant charged with more than one offense in the same case,
1478 the attorney shall be compensated at the rate provided for the
1479 most serious offense for which he or she represented the
1480 defendant. This section does not allow stacking of the fee
1481 limits established by this section.
1482 (3) The court retains primary authority and responsibility
1483 for determining the reasonableness of all billings for attorney
1484 fees, costs, and related expenses, subject to statutory
1485 limitations and the requirements of s. 27.40(7). Private court
1486 appointed counsel is entitled to compensation upon final
1487 disposition of a case.
1488 (6) For compensation for representation pursuant to a court
1489 appointment in a proceeding under chapter 39:
1490 (a) At the trial level, compensation for representation for
1491 dependency proceedings shall not exceed $1,450 for the first
1492 year following the date of appointment and shall not exceed $700
1493 each year thereafter. Compensation shall be paid based upon
1494 representation of a parent irrespective of the number of case
1495 numbers that may be assigned or the number of children involved,
1496 including any children born during the pendency of the
1497 proceeding. Any appeal, except for an appeal from an
1498 adjudication of dependency, shall be completed by the trial
1499 attorney and is considered compensated by the flat fee for
1500 dependency proceedings.
1501 1. Counsel may bill the flat fee not exceeding $1,450
1502 following disposition or upon dismissal of the petition.
1503 2. Counsel may bill the annual flat fee not exceeding $700
1504 following the first judicial review in the second year following
1505 the date of appointment and each year thereafter as long as the
1506 case remains under protective supervision.
1507 3. If the court grants a motion to reactivate protective
1508 supervision, the attorney shall receive the annual flat fee not
1509 exceeding $700 following the first judicial review and up to an
1510 additional $700 each year thereafter.
1511 4. If, during the course of dependency proceedings, a
1512 proceeding to terminate parental rights is initiated,
1513 compensation shall be as set forth in paragraph (b). If counsel
1514 handling the dependency proceeding is not authorized to handle
1515 proceedings to terminate parental rights, the counsel must
1516 withdraw and new counsel must be appointed.
1517 (b) At the trial level, compensation for representation in
1518 termination of parental rights proceedings shall not exceed
1519 $1,800 for the first year following the date of appointment and
1520 shall not exceed $700 each year thereafter. Compensation shall
1521 be paid based upon representation of a parent irrespective of
1522 the number of case numbers that may be assigned or the number of
1523 children involved, including any children born during the
1524 pendency of the proceeding. Any appeal, except for an appeal
1525 from an order granting or denying termination of parental
1526 rights, shall be completed by trial counsel and is considered
1527 compensated by the flat fee for termination of parental rights
1528 proceedings. If the individual has dependency proceedings
1529 ongoing as to other children, those proceedings are considered
1530 part of the termination of parental rights proceedings as long
1531 as that termination of parental rights proceeding is ongoing.
1532 1. Counsel may bill the flat fee not exceeding $1,800 30
1533 days after rendition of the final order. Each request for
1534 payment submitted to the Justice Administrative Commission must
1535 include the trial counsel’s certification that:
1536 a. Counsel discussed grounds for appeal with the parent or
1537 that counsel attempted and was unable to contact the parent; and
1538 b. No appeal will be filed or that a notice of appeal and a
1539 motion for appointment of appellate counsel, containing the
1540 signature of the parent, have been filed.
1541 2. Counsel may bill the annual flat fee not exceeding $700
1542 following the first judicial review in the second year after the
1543 date of appointment and each year thereafter as long as the
1544 termination of parental rights proceedings are still ongoing.
1545 (c) For appeals from an adjudication of dependency,
1546 compensation may not exceed $1,800.
1547 1. Counsel may bill a flat fee not exceeding $1,200 upon
1548 filing the initial brief or the granting of a motion to
1549 withdraw.
1550 2. If a brief is filed, counsel may bill an additional flat
1551 fee not exceeding $600 upon rendition of the mandate.
1552 (d) For an appeal from an adjudication of termination of
1553 parental rights, compensation may not exceed $3,500.
1554 1. Counsel may bill a flat fee not exceeding $1,750 upon
1555 filing the initial brief or the granting of a motion to
1556 withdraw.
1557 2. If a brief is filed, counsel may bill an additional flat
1558 fee not exceeding $1,750 upon rendition of the mandate.
1559 (7) Counsel eligible to receive compensation from the state
1560 for representation pursuant to court appointment made in
1561 accordance with the requirements of s. 27.40(1) and (2)(a) in a
1562 proceeding under chapter 384, chapter 390, chapter 392, chapter
1563 393, chapter 394, chapter 397, chapter 415, chapter 743, chapter
1564 744, or chapter 984 shall receive compensation not to exceed the
1565 limits prescribed in the General Appropriations Act. Any such
1566 compensation must be determined as provided in s. 27.40(7).
1567 (11) It is the intent of the Legislature that the flat fees
1568 prescribed under this section and the General Appropriations Act
1569 comprise the full and complete compensation for private court
1570 appointed counsel. It is further the intent of the Legislature
1571 that the fees in this section are prescribed for the purpose of
1572 providing counsel with notice of the limit on the amount of
1573 compensation for representation in particular proceedings and
1574 the sole procedure and requirements for obtaining payment for
1575 the same.
1576 (a) If court-appointed counsel moves to withdraw prior to
1577 the full performance of his or her duties through the completion
1578 of the case, the court shall presume that the attorney is not
1579 entitled to the payment of the full flat fee established under
1580 this section and the General Appropriations Act.
1581 (b) If court-appointed counsel is allowed to withdraw from
1582 representation prior to the full performance of his or her
1583 duties through the completion of the case and the court appoints
1584 a subsequent attorney, the total compensation for the initial
1585 and any and all subsequent attorneys may not exceed the flat fee
1586 established under this section and the General Appropriations
1587 Act, except as provided in subsection (12).
1588
1589 This subsection constitutes notice to any subsequently appointed
1590 attorney that he or she will not be compensated the full flat
1591 fee.
1592 (12) The Legislature recognizes that on rare occasions an
1593 attorney may receive a case that requires extraordinary and
1594 unusual effort.
1595 (a) If counsel seeks compensation that exceeds the limits
1596 prescribed by law, he or she must file a motion with the chief
1597 judge for an order approving payment of attorney fees in excess
1598 of these limits.
1599 1. Before filing the motion, the counsel shall deliver a
1600 copy of the intended billing, together with supporting
1601 affidavits and all other necessary documentation, to the Justice
1602 Administrative Commission.
1603 2. The Justice Administrative Commission shall review the
1604 billings, affidavit, and documentation for completeness and
1605 compliance with contractual and statutory requirements and shall
1606 contemporaneously document such review before authorizing
1607 payment to an attorney. If the Justice Administrative Commission
1608 objects to any portion of the proposed billing, the objection
1609 and supporting reasons must be communicated in writing to the
1610 private court-appointed counsel. The counsel may thereafter file
1611 his or her motion, which must specify whether the commission
1612 objects to any portion of the billing or the sufficiency of
1613 documentation, and shall attach the commission’s letter stating
1614 its objection.
1615 (b) Following receipt of the motion to exceed the fee
1616 limits, the chief judge or a single designee shall hold an
1617 evidentiary hearing. The chief judge may select only one judge
1618 per circuit to hear and determine motions pursuant to this
1619 subsection, except multicounty circuits and the eleventh circuit
1620 may have up to two designees.
1621 1. At the hearing, the attorney seeking compensation must
1622 prove by competent and substantial evidence that the case
1623 required extraordinary and unusual efforts. The chief judge or
1624 single designee shall consider criteria such as the number of
1625 witnesses, the complexity of the factual and legal issues, and
1626 the length of trial. The fact that a trial was conducted in a
1627 case does not, by itself, constitute competent substantial
1628 evidence of an extraordinary and unusual effort. In a criminal
1629 case, relief under this section may not be granted if the number
1630 of work hours does not exceed 75 or the number of the state’s
1631 witnesses deposed does not exceed 20.
1632 2. Objections by or on behalf of the Justice Administrative
1633 Commission to records or documents or to claims for payment by
1634 the attorney shall be presumed correct by the court unless the
1635 court determines, in writing, that competent and substantial
1636 evidence exists to justify overcoming the presumption. The chief
1637 judge or single designee shall enter a written order detailing
1638 his or her findings and identifying the extraordinary nature of
1639 the time and efforts of the attorney in the case which warrant
1640 exceeding the flat fee established by this section and the
1641 General Appropriations Act.
1642 (c) A copy of the motion and attachments shall be served on
1643 the Justice Administrative Commission at least 20 business days
1644 before the date of a hearing. The Justice Administrative
1645 Commission has standing to appear before the court, and may
1646 appear in person or telephonically, including at the hearing
1647 under paragraph (b), to contest any motion for an order
1648 approving payment of attorney fees, costs, or related expenses
1649 and may participate in a hearing on the motion by use of
1650 telephonic or other communication equipment. The Justice
1651 Administrative Commission may contract with other public or
1652 private entities or individuals to appear before the court for
1653 the purpose of contesting any motion for an order approving
1654 payment of attorney fees, costs, or related expenses. The fact
1655 that the Justice Administrative Commission has not objected to
1656 any portion of the billing or to the sufficiency of the
1657 documentation is not binding on the court.
1658 (d) If the chief judge or a single designee finds that
1659 counsel has proved by competent and substantial evidence that
1660 the case required extraordinary and unusual efforts, the chief
1661 judge or single designee shall order the compensation to be paid
1662 to the attorney at a percentage above the flat fee rate,
1663 depending on the extent of the unusual and extraordinary effort
1664 required. The percentage must be only the rate necessary to
1665 ensure that the fees paid are not confiscatory under common law.
1666 The percentage may not exceed 200 percent of the established
1667 flat fee, absent a specific finding that 200 percent of the flat
1668 fee in the case would be confiscatory. If the chief judge or
1669 single designee determines that 200 percent of the flat fee
1670 would be confiscatory, he or she shall order the amount of
1671 compensation using an hourly rate not to exceed $75 per hour for
1672 a noncapital case and $100 per hour for a capital case. However,
1673 the compensation calculated by using the hourly rate shall be
1674 only that amount necessary to ensure that the total fees paid
1675 are not confiscatory, subject to the requirements of s.
1676 27.40(7).
1677 (e) Any order granting relief under this subsection must be
1678 attached to the final request for a payment submitted to the
1679 Justice Administrative Commission and must satisfy the
1680 requirements of subparagraph (b)2.
1681 (13) Notwithstanding the limitation set forth in subsection
1682 (5) and for the 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal year only, the
1683 compensation for representation in a criminal proceeding may not
1684 exceed the following:
1685 (a) For misdemeanors and juveniles represented at the trial
1686 level: $2,000.
1687 (b) For noncapital, nonlife felonies represented at the
1688 trial level: $15,000.
1689 (c) For life felonies represented at the trial level:
1690 $15,000.
1691 (d) For capital cases represented at the trial level:
1692 $25,000. For purposes of this paragraph, a “capital case” is any
1693 offense for which the potential sentence is death and the state
1694 has not waived seeking the death penalty.
1695 (e) For representation on appeal: $9,000.
1696 (f) This subsection expires July 1, 2026 2025.
1697 Section 43. The text of s. 27.5304(1), (3), (7), (11), and
1698 (12)(a)-(e), Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter
1699 2019-116, Laws of Florida, and the text of s. 27.5304(6),
1700 Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter 2023-240, Laws
1701 of Florida, by this act, expire July 1, 2026, and the text of
1702 those subsections and paragraphs, as applicable, shall revert to
1703 that in existence on June 30, 2019, except that any amendments
1704 to such text enacted other than by this act shall be preserved
1705 and continue to operate to the extent that such amendments are
1706 not dependent upon the portions of text which expire pursuant to
1707 this section.
1708 Section 44. In order to implement section 97 of the 2025
1709 2026 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (f) of subsection (7)
1710 of section 934.50, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1711 934.50 Searches and seizure using a drone.—
1712 (7) SECURITY STANDARDS FOR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY DRONE USE.—
1713 (f) Notwithstanding this subsection:
1714 1. Subject to appropriation, the drone replacement grant
1715 program is created within the Department of Law Enforcement. The
1716 program shall provide funds to law enforcement agencies, fire
1717 service providers, ambulance crews, or other first responders
1718 that turn in drones that are not in compliance with this
1719 section. To be eligible, the drone must have not reached its end
1720 of life and must still be in working condition. Funds shall be
1721 provided per drone based upon the drone’s replacement costs.
1722 Grant funds may only be used to purchase drones that are in
1723 compliance with this section. The Department of Law Enforcement
1724 shall expeditiously develop an application process, and funds
1725 shall be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis,
1726 determined by the date the department receives the application.
1727 The department may adopt rules to implement this program. For
1728 the purposes of this paragraph, the term “law enforcement
1729 agency” has the same meaning as in this section.
1730 2. The Department of Law Enforcement shall provide the
1731 first two functional drones of each unique make and model
1732 received through the drone grant replacement program to the
1733 Florida Center for Cybersecurity within the University of South
1734 Florida. The Florida Center for Cybersecurity shall analyze each
1735 drone received from the Department of Law Enforcement to
1736 determine whether the drones presented a cybersecurity concern
1737 during its time of use and shall provide a report of its
1738 findings and a list of any specific security vulnerabilities
1739 found in the drone to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
1740 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The center must
1741 return any drone received through the drone replacement grant
1742 program to the Department of Law Enforcement for destruction
1743 pursuant to subparagraph 3., following the completion of the
1744 cybersecurity analysis.
1745 3. The Department of Law Enforcement shall ensure the
1746 destruction of all drones received through the drone replacement
1747 grant program after ensuring that the first two functional
1748 drones of each unique make and model received have been
1749 transmitted to the Florida Center for Cybersecurity for
1750 analysis. The Florida Center for Cybersecurity shall return to
1751 the department for destruction any duplicate model drones in
1752 their possession which were previously transmitted to the
1753 center, and which are not being retained for analysis.
1754 4. From the funds appropriated to the drone replacement
1755 grant program, the Department of Law Enforcement:
1756 a. May expend funds to directly cause, or contract for, the
1757 secure destruction of all drones received under the program
1758 during fiscal years 2023-2024, and 2024-2025, 2025-2026 which
1759 are not being retained for analysis or retained by the
1760 department following a completed analysis.
1761 b. Must provide to the Florida Center for Cybersecurity
1762 $25,000 to cover the center’s expenses associated with the
1763 analysis, transport, secure storage, reporting, and other
1764 related costs necessary to comply with the requirements of this
1765 subsection.
1766 c. May increase the awards previously provided in fiscal
1767 year 2024-2025 2023-2024, which were based on the drone’s value,
1768 to award the value to reflect the drone’s replacement cost.
1769 5. The Department of Law Enforcement is authorized, and all
1770 conditions are deemed met, to adopt emergency rules under s.
1771 120.54(4) for the purpose of implementing the drone replacement
1772 grant program. Notwithstanding any other law, emergency rules
1773 adopted under this section are effective for 12 months after
1774 adoption and may be renewed during the pendency of procedures to
1775 adopt permanent rules addressing the subject of the emergency
1776 rules.
1777
1778 This paragraph expires July 1, 2026 2025.
1779 Section 45. In order to implement appropriations used to
1780 pay existing lease contracts for private lease space in excess
1781 of 2,000 square feet in the 2025-2026 General Appropriations
1782 Act, the Department of Management Services, with the cooperation
1783 of the agencies having the existing lease contracts for office
1784 or storage space, shall use tenant broker services to
1785 renegotiate or reprocure all private lease agreements for office
1786 or storage space expiring between July 1, 2026, and June 30,
1787 2028, in order to reduce costs in future years. The department
1788 shall incorporate this initiative into its 2025 master leasing
1789 report required under s. 255.249(7), Florida Statutes, and may
1790 use tenant broker services to explore the possibilities of
1791 collocating office or storage space, to review the space needs
1792 of each agency, and to review the length and terms of potential
1793 renewals or renegotiations. The department shall provide a
1794 report to the Executive Office of the Governor, the President of
1795 the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by
1796 November 1, 2025, which lists each lease contract for private
1797 office or storage space, the status of renegotiations, and the
1798 savings achieved. This section expires July 1, 2026.
1799 Section 46. In order to implement appropriations authorized
1800 in the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act for data center
1801 services, and notwithstanding s. 216.292(2)(a), Florida
1802 Statutes, an agency may not transfer funds from a data
1803 processing category to a category other than another data
1804 processing category. This section expires July 1, 2026.
1805 Section 47. In order to implement the appropriation of
1806 funds in the appropriation category “Special Categories-Risk
1807 Management Insurance” in the 2025-2026 General Appropriations
1808 Act, and pursuant to the notice, review, and objection
1809 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the Executive Office
1810 of the Governor may transfer funds appropriated in that category
1811 between departments in order to align the budget authority
1812 granted with the premiums paid by each department for risk
1813 management insurance. This section expires July 1, 2026.
1814 Section 48. In order to implement the appropriation of
1815 funds in the appropriation category “Special Categories-Transfer
1816 to Department of Management Services-Human Resources Services
1817 Purchased per Statewide Contract” in the 2025-2026 General
1818 Appropriations Act, and pursuant to the notice, review, and
1819 objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the
1820 Executive Office of the Governor may transfer funds appropriated
1821 in that category between departments in order to align the
1822 budget authority granted with the assessments that must be paid
1823 by each agency to the Department of Management Services for
1824 human resource management services. This section expires July 1,
1825 2026.
1826 Section 49. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
1827 2602 in the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act in the Building
1828 Relocation appropriation category from the Architects Incidental
1829 Trust Fund of the Department of Management Services, and in
1830 accordance with s. 215.196, Florida Statutes:
1831 (1) Upon the final disposition of a state-owned building,
1832 the Department of Management Services may use up to 5 percent of
1833 facility disposition funds from the Architects Incidental Trust
1834 Fund to defer, offset, or otherwise pay for all or a portion of
1835 relocation expenses, including furniture, fixtures, and
1836 equipment for state agencies impacted by the disposition of the
1837 department’s managed facilities in the Florida Facilities Pool.
1838 The extent of the financial assistance provided to impacted
1839 state agencies shall be determined by the department.
1840 (2) The Department of Management Services may submit budget
1841 amendments for an increase in appropriation if necessary for the
1842 implementation of this section pursuant to the provisions of
1843 chapter 216, Florida Statutes. Budget amendments for an increase
1844 in appropriation shall include a detailed plan providing all
1845 estimated costs and relocation proposals.
1846 (3) This section expires July 1, 2026.
1847 Section 50. In order to implement the appropriation of
1848 funds in the appropriation category “Enterprise Cybersecurity
1849 Resiliency” in the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
1850 notwithstanding chapter 287, Florida Statutes, in order to
1851 ensure continued operations, all agencies may continue to
1852 purchase, subject to appropriation, their current productivity
1853 tools and services. This section expires July 1, 2026.
1854 Section 51. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1855 2217 through 2220A of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act:
1856 (1) The Department of Financial Services shall replace the
1857 four main components of the Florida Accounting Information
1858 Resource Subsystem (FLAIR), which include central FLAIR,
1859 departmental FLAIR, payroll, and information warehouse, and
1860 shall replace the cash management and accounting management
1861 components of the Cash Management Subsystem (CMS) with an
1862 integrated enterprise system that allows the state to organize,
1863 define, and standardize its financial management business
1864 processes and that complies with ss. 215.90-215.96, Florida
1865 Statutes. The department may not include in the replacement of
1866 FLAIR and CMS:
1867 (a) Functionality that duplicates any of the other
1868 information subsystems of the Florida Financial Management
1869 Information System; or
1870 (b) Agency business processes related to any of the
1871 functions included in the Personnel Information System, the
1872 Purchasing Subsystem, or the Legislative Appropriations
1873 System/Planning and Budgeting Subsystem.
1874 (2) For purposes of replacing FLAIR and CMS, the Department
1875 of Financial Services shall:
1876 (a) Take into consideration the cost and implementation
1877 data identified for Option 3 as recommended in the March 31,
1878 2014, Florida Department of Financial Services FLAIR Study,
1879 version 031.
1880 (b) Ensure that all business requirements and technical
1881 specifications have been provided to all state agencies for
1882 their review and input and approved by the executive steering
1883 committee established in paragraph (c), including any updates to
1884 these documents.
1885 (c) Implement a project governance structure that includes
1886 an executive steering committee composed of:
1887 1. The Chief Financial Officer or the executive sponsor of
1888 the project.
1889 2. A representative of the Division of Treasury of the
1890 Department of Financial Services, appointed by the Chief
1891 Financial Officer.
1892 3. The Chief Information Officers of the Department of
1893 Financial Services and the Department of Environmental
1894 Protection.
1895 4. Two employees from the Division of Accounting and
1896 Auditing of the Department of Financial Services, appointed by
1897 the Chief Financial Officer. Each employee must have experience
1898 relating to at least one of the four main components that
1899 compose FLAIR.
1900 5. Two employees from the Executive Office of the Governor,
1901 appointed by the Governor. One employee must have experience
1902 relating to the Legislative Appropriations System/Planning and
1903 Budgeting Subsystem.
1904 6. One employee from the Department of Revenue, appointed
1905 by the executive director, who has experience using or
1906 maintaining the department’s finance and accounting systems.
1907 7. Two employees from the Department of Management
1908 Services, appointed by the Secretary of Management Services. One
1909 employee must have experience relating to the department’s
1910 personnel information subsystem and one employee must have
1911 experience relating to the department’s purchasing subsystem.
1912 8. A state agency administrative services director,
1913 appointed by the Governor.
1914 9. Two employees from the Agency for Health Care
1915 Administration. One employee shall be the executive sponsor of
1916 the Florida Health Care Connection (FX) System or his or her
1917 designee, appointed by the Secretary of Health Care
1918 Administration, and one employee shall be the Assistant Deputy
1919 Secretary for Finance or his or her designee.
1920 10. The State Chief Information Officer, or his or her
1921 designee, as a nonvoting member. The State Chief Information
1922 Officer, or his or her designee, shall provide monthly status
1923 reports to the executive steering committee pursuant to the
1924 oversight responsibilities in s. 282.0051, Florida Statutes.
1925 11. One employee from the Department of Business and
1926 Professional Regulation who has experience in finance and
1927 accounting and FLAIR, appointed by the Secretary of Business and
1928 Professional Regulation.
1929 12. One employee from the Florida Fish and Wildlife
1930 Conservation Commission who has experience using or maintaining
1931 the commission’s finance and accounting systems, appointed by
1932 the Chair of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
1933 Commission.
1934 13. The budget director of the Department of Education, or
1935 his or her designee.
1936 (3)(a) The Chief Financial Officer or the executive sponsor
1937 of the project shall serve as chair of the executive steering
1938 committee, and the committee shall take action by a vote of at
1939 least eight affirmative votes with the Chief Financial Officer
1940 or the executive sponsor of the project voting on the prevailing
1941 side. A quorum of the executive steering committee consists of
1942 at least 10 members.
1943 (b) No later than 14 days before a meeting of the executive
1944 steering committee, the chair shall request input from committee
1945 members on agenda items for the next scheduled meeting.
1946 (c) The chair shall establish a working group consisting of
1947 FLAIR users, state agency technical staff who maintain
1948 applications that integrate with FLAIR, and no less than four
1949 state agency finance and accounting or budget directors. The
1950 working group shall meet at least monthly to review PALM
1951 functionality, assess project impacts to state financial
1952 business processes and agency staff, and develop recommendations
1953 to the executive steering committee for improvements. The chair
1954 shall request input from the working group on agenda items for
1955 each scheduled meeting. The PALM project team shall dedicate a
1956 staff member to the group and provide system demonstrations and
1957 any project documentation, as needed, for the group to fulfill
1958 its duties.
1959 (d) The chair shall request all agency project sponsors to
1960 provide bimonthly status reports to the executive steering
1961 committee. The form and format of the bimonthly status reports
1962 shall be developed by the Florida PALM project and provided to
1963 the executive steering committee meeting for approval. Such
1964 agency status reports shall provide information to the executive
1965 steering committee on the activities and ongoing work within the
1966 agency to prepare their systems and impacted employees for the
1967 deployment of the Florida PALM System. The first bimonthly
1968 status report is due September 1, 2025, and bimonthly
1969 thereafter.
1970 (4) The executive steering committee has the overall
1971 responsibility for ensuring that the project to replace FLAIR
1972 and CMS meets its primary business objectives and shall:
1973 (a) Identify and recommend to the Executive Office of the
1974 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
1975 House of Representatives any statutory changes needed to
1976 implement the replacement subsystem that will standardize, to
1977 the fullest extent possible, the state’s financial management
1978 business processes.
1979 (b) Review and approve any changes to the project’s scope,
1980 schedule, and budget which do not conflict with the requirements
1981 of subsection (1).
1982 (c) Ensure that adequate resources are provided throughout
1983 all phases of the project.
1984 (d) Approve all major project deliverables and any cost
1985 changes to each deliverable over $250,000.
1986 (e) Approve contract amendments and changes to all
1987 contract-related documents associated with the replacement of
1988 FLAIR and CMS.
1989 (f) Review, and approve as warranted, the format of the
1990 bimonthly agency status reports to include objective and
1991 quantifiable information on each agency’s progress in planning
1992 for the Florida PALM Major Implementation, covering the agency’s
1993 people, processes, technology, and data transformation
1994 activities.
1995 (g) Ensure compliance with ss. 216.181(16), 216.311,
1996 216.313, 282.318(4)(h), and 287.058, Florida Statutes.
1997 (5) This section expires July 1, 2026.
1998 Section 52. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
1999 2698 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
2000 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 53 of chapter
2001 2024-228, Laws of Florida, subsection (3) of section 282.709,
2002 Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
2003 282.709 State agency law enforcement radio system and
2004 interoperability network.—
2005 (3) In recognition of the critical nature of the statewide
2006 law enforcement radio communications system, the Legislature
2007 finds that there is an immediate danger to the public health,
2008 safety, and welfare, and that it is in the best interest of the
2009 state to continue partnering with the system’s current operator.
2010 The Legislature finds that continuity of coverage is critical to
2011 supporting law enforcement, first responders, and other public
2012 safety users. The potential for a loss in coverage or a lack of
2013 interoperability between users requires emergency action and is
2014 a serious concern for officers’ safety and their ability to
2015 communicate and respond to various disasters and events.
2016 (a) The department, pursuant to s. 287.057(11), shall enter
2017 into a 15-year contract with the entity that was operating the
2018 statewide radio communications system on January 1, 2021. The
2019 contract must include:
2020 1. The purchase of radios;
2021 2. The upgrade to the Project 25 communications standard;
2022 3. Increased system capacity and enhanced coverage for
2023 system users;
2024 4. Operations, maintenance, and support at a fixed annual
2025 rate;
2026 5. The conveyance of communications towers to the
2027 department; and
2028 6. The assignment of communications tower leases to the
2029 department.
2030 (b) The State Agency Law Enforcement Radio System Trust
2031 Fund is established in the department and funded from surcharges
2032 collected under ss. 318.18, 320.0802, and 328.72. Upon
2033 appropriation, moneys in the trust fund may be used by the
2034 department to acquire the equipment, software, and engineering,
2035 administrative, and maintenance services it needs to construct,
2036 operate, and maintain the statewide radio system. Moneys in the
2037 trust fund from surcharges shall be used to help fund the costs
2038 of the system. Upon completion of the system, moneys in the
2039 trust fund may also be used by the department for payment of the
2040 recurring maintenance costs of the system.
2041 Section 53. The text of s. 282.709(3), Florida Statutes, as
2042 carried forward from chapter 2024-228, Laws of Florida, by this
2043 act expires July 1, 2026, and the text of that subsection, shall
2044 revert to that in existence on June 1, 2021, except that any
2045 amendments to such text enacted other than by this act, shall be
2046 preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
2047 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
2048 expire pursuant to this section.
2049 Section 54. In order to implement appropriations relating
2050 to the purchase of equipment and services related to the
2051 Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) as authorized in
2052 the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding s.
2053 287.057, Florida Statutes, state agencies and other eligible
2054 users of the SLERS network may use the Department of Management
2055 Services SLERS contract for purchase of equipment and services.
2056 This section expires July 1, 2026.
2057 Section 55. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2058 2616 through 2626 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
2059 and notwithstanding rule 60A-1.031, Florida Administrative Code,
2060 the transaction fee as identified in s. 287.057(24)(c), Florida
2061 Statutes, shall be collected for use of the online procurement
2062 system and is 0.7 percent for the 2025-2026 fiscal year only.
2063 This section expires July 1, 2026.
2064 Section 56. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2065 2733 through 2740A of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
2066 paragraph (ll) of subsection (6) of section 627.351, Florida
2067 Statutes, is reenacted and amended to read:
2068 627.351 Insurance risk apportionment plans.—
2069 (6) CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE CORPORATION.—
2070 (ll)1. In addition to any other method of alternative
2071 dispute resolution authorized by state law, the corporation may
2072 adopt policy forms that provide for the resolution of disputes
2073 regarding its claim determinations, including disputes regarding
2074 coverage for, or the scope and value of, a claim, in a
2075 proceeding before the Division of Administrative Hearings. Any
2076 such policies are not subject to s. 627.70154. All proceedings
2077 in the Division of Administrative Hearings pursuant to such
2078 policies are subject to ss. 57.105 and 768.79 as if filed in the
2079 courts of this state and are not considered chapter 120
2080 administrative proceedings. Rule 1.442, Florida Rules of Civil
2081 Procedure, applies to any offer served pursuant to s. 768.79,
2082 except that, notwithstanding any provision in Rule 1.442,
2083 Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, to the contrary, an offer
2084 shall not be served earlier than 10 days after filing the
2085 request for hearing with the Division of Administrative Hearings
2086 and shall not be served later than 10 days before the date set
2087 for the final hearing. The administrative law judge in such
2088 proceedings shall award attorney fees and other relief pursuant
2089 to ss. 57.105 and 768.79. The corporation may not seek, and the
2090 office may not approve, a maximum hourly rate for attorney fees.
2091 2. The corporation may contract with the division to
2092 conduct proceedings to resolve disputes regarding its claim
2093 determinations as may be provided for in the applicable policies
2094 of insurance. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2095 Section 57. Effective upon this act becoming law, and in
2096 order to implement Specific Appropriations 2665 through 2671A of
2097 the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding
2098 the proviso language for Specific Appropriation 2966 in chapter
2099 2023-239, Laws of Florida, subsection (2) of section 110.116,
2100 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2101 110.116 Personnel information system; payroll procedures.—
2102 (2) In recognition of the critical nature of the statewide
2103 personnel and payroll system commonly known as People First, the
2104 Legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the state
2105 to continue partnering with the current People First third-party
2106 operator. The People First System annually processes 500,000
2107 employment applications, 455,000 personnel actions, and the
2108 state’s $9.5-billion payroll. The Legislature finds that the
2109 continuity of operations of the People First System and the
2110 critical functions it provides such as payroll, employee health
2111 insurance benefit records, and other critical services must not
2112 be interrupted. Presently, the Chief Financial Officer is
2113 undertaking the development of a new statewide accounting and
2114 financial management system, commonly known as the Planning,
2115 Accounting, and Ledger Management (PALM) system, scheduled to be
2116 operational in the year 2026. The procurement and implementation
2117 of an entire replacement of the People First System will impede
2118 the timeframe needed to successfully integrate the state’s
2119 payroll system with the PALM System. In order to maintain
2120 continuity of operations and to ensure the successful completion
2121 of the PALM System, the Legislature directs that:
2122 (a) The department, pursuant to s. 287.057(11), shall enter
2123 into one a 3-year contract extension for a period of 3 years
2124 with the entity operating the People First System by on January
2125 1, 2026 2024. The contract extension must:
2126 1. Provide for the integration of the current People First
2127 System with PALM.
2128 2. Exclude major functionality updates or changes to the
2129 People First System prior to completion of the PALM System. This
2130 does not include:
2131 a. Routine system maintenance such as code updates
2132 following open enrollment; or
2133 b. The technical remediation necessary to integrate the
2134 system with PALM within the PALM project’s planned
2135 implementation schedule.
2136 3. Include project planning and analysis deliverables
2137 necessary to:
2138 a. Detail and document the state’s functional requirements.
2139 b. Estimate the cost of transitioning the current People
2140 First System to a cloud-based supported version of the current
2141 software cloud computing infrastructure within the contract
2142 extension and after the successful integration with PALM. The
2143 project cost evaluation shall estimate the annual cost and
2144 capacity growth required to host the system in a cloud
2145 environment.
2146
2147 The department shall develop these system specifications in
2148 conjunction with the Department of Financial Services and the
2149 Auditor General.
2150 4. Include technical support for state agencies that may
2151 need assistance in remediating or integrating current financial
2152 shadow systems with People First in order to integrate with PALM
2153 or the cloud version of People First.
2154 5. Include organizational change management and training
2155 deliverables needed to support the implementation of PALM
2156 payroll functionality and the People First System cloud upgrade.
2157 Responsibilities of the operator and the department shall be
2158 outlined in a project role and responsibility assignment chart
2159 within the contract.
2160 6. Include an option to renew the contract for one
2161 additional year.
2162 (b) The department shall submit, no later than June 30,
2163 2026, its project planning and detailed cost estimate to upgrade
2164 the current People First System to the chair of the Senate
2165 Committee on Appropriations, the chair of the House of
2166 Representatives Budget Appropriations Committee, and the
2167 Executive Office of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget,
2168 for preliminary review and consideration of funding the
2169 department’s Fiscal Year 2026-2027 legislative budget request to
2170 update the system.
2171 (c) The department shall contract with an independent
2172 software quality assurance and testing provider to work with all
2173 stakeholders to:
2174 1. Conduct a comprehensive business process analysis to
2175 document current workflows, identify inefficiencies, and develop
2176 recommendations to streamline business processes to improve
2177 service delivery, reduce redundancy, and enhance operational
2178 efficiency.
2179 2. Develop detailed current and future state business,
2180 functional, and technical requirements, including, but not
2181 limited to:
2182 a. System capabilities and user requirements;
2183 b. Security, accessibility, and compliance standards;
2184 c. Data migration and conversion requirements;
2185 d. Integration points with existing enterprise systems and
2186 third-party applications; and
2187 e. Verifiable acceptance criteria for each requirement.
2188 3. Conduct a complete system integration assessment to
2189 identify dependencies, interoperability challenges, and
2190 strategies for seamless data exchange.
2191 4. Deliver a streamlined transparent process to track,
2192 test, and update all system requirements.
2193 5. Submit a report detailing these requirements, process
2194 improvements, and any related statutory change recommendations
2195 to the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the chair
2196 of the House Budget Committee, and the Executive Office of the
2197 Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget by June 30, 2026.
2198 (d) This subsection expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2199 Section 58. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2200 2139 through 2141 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
2201 paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 215.5586, Florida
2202 Statutes, is amended to read:
2203 215.5586 My Safe Florida Home Program.—There is established
2204 within the Department of Financial Services the My Safe Florida
2205 Home Program. The department shall provide fiscal
2206 accountability, contract management, and strategic leadership
2207 for the program, consistent with this section. This section does
2208 not create an entitlement for property owners or obligate the
2209 state in any way to fund the inspection or retrofitting of
2210 residential property in this state. Implementation of this
2211 program is subject to annual legislative appropriations. It is
2212 the intent of the Legislature that, subject to the availability
2213 of funds, the My Safe Florida Home Program provide licensed
2214 inspectors to perform hurricane mitigation inspections of
2215 eligible homes and grants to fund hurricane mitigation projects
2216 on those homes. The department shall implement the program in
2217 such a manner that the total amount of funding requested by
2218 accepted applications, whether for inspections, grants, or other
2219 services or assistance, does not exceed the total amount of
2220 available funds. If, after applications are processed and
2221 approved, funds remain available, the department may accept
2222 applications up to the available amount. The program shall
2223 develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated approach
2224 for hurricane damage mitigation pursuant to the requirements
2225 provided in this section.
2226 (2) HURRICANE MITIGATION GRANTS.—Financial grants shall be
2227 used by homeowners to make improvements recommended by an
2228 inspection which increase resistance to hurricane damage.
2229 (a) A homeowner is eligible for a hurricane mitigation
2230 grant if all of the following criteria are met:
2231 1. The home must be eligible for an inspection under
2232 subsection (1).
2233 2. The home must be a dwelling with an insured value of
2234 $700,000 or less. Homeowners who are low-income persons, as
2235 defined in s. 420.0004(11), are exempt from this requirement.
2236 3. The home must undergo an acceptable hurricane mitigation
2237 inspection as provided in subsection (1).
2238 4. The building permit application for initial construction
2239 of the home must have been made before January 1, 2008.
2240 5. The homeowner must agree to make his or her home
2241 available for inspection once a mitigation project is completed.
2242 6. The homeowner must agree to provide to the department
2243 information received from the homeowner’s insurer identifying
2244 the discounts realized by the homeowner because of the
2245 mitigation improvements funded through the program.
2246 7.a. The homeowner must be a low-income person or moderate
2247 income person as defined in s. 420.0004.
2248 b. The hurricane mitigation inspection must have occurred
2249 within the previous 24 months from the date of application.
2250 c. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2026.
2251 Section 59. Effective upon this act becoming a law, in
2252 order to implement Specific Appropriation 2245A of the 2025-2026
2253 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding s. 216.301,
2254 Florida Statutes, the funds appropriated to the Department of
2255 Financial Services in Specific Appropriation 2489A or section
2256 179 of the 2024-2025 General Appropriations Act will not revert
2257 and may be carried forward through the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
2258 This section expires July 1, 2026.
2259 Section 60. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2260 1362, 1622, and 1752A of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations
2261 Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida
2262 Statutes, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Fish
2263 and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Department of
2264 Agriculture and Consumer Services may submit a budget amendment,
2265 subject to Legislative Budget Commission approval, to increase
2266 budget authority for land management contingent upon the
2267 submission of a detailed spend and activity plan for the funds
2268 and shall focus on enhanced upland management activities and
2269 invasive species removal beyond the recurring funding for land
2270 management activities. This section expires July 1, 2026.
2271 Section 61. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2272 1456 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
2273 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
2274 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may submit
2275 budget amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection
2276 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget
2277 authority to support the National School Lunch Program. This
2278 section expires July 1, 2026.
2279 Section 62. In order to implement specific appropriations
2280 from the land acquisition trust funds within the Department of
2281 Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of
2282 Environmental Protection, the Department of State, and the Fish
2283 and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which are contained in the
2284 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, subsection (3) of section
2285 215.18, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2286 215.18 Transfers between funds; limitation.—
2287 (3) Notwithstanding subsection (1) and only with respect to
2288 a land acquisition trust fund in the Department of Agriculture
2289 and Consumer Services, the Department of Environmental
2290 Protection, the Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife
2291 Conservation Commission, whenever there is a deficiency in a
2292 land acquisition trust fund which would render that trust fund
2293 temporarily insufficient to meet its just requirements,
2294 including the timely payment of appropriations from that trust
2295 fund, and other trust funds in the State Treasury have moneys
2296 that are for the time being or otherwise in excess of the
2297 amounts necessary to meet the just requirements, including
2298 appropriated obligations, of those other trust funds, the
2299 Governor may order a temporary transfer of moneys from one or
2300 more of the other trust funds to a land acquisition trust fund
2301 in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the
2302 Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of State,
2303 or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Any action
2304 proposed pursuant to this subsection is subject to the notice,
2305 review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, and the Governor
2306 shall provide notice of such action at least 7 days before the
2307 effective date of the transfer of trust funds, except that
2308 during July 2025 2024, notice of such action shall be provided
2309 at least 3 days before the effective date of a transfer unless
2310 such 3-day notice is waived by the chair and vice chair of the
2311 Legislative Budget Commission. Any transfer of trust funds to a
2312 land acquisition trust fund in the Department of Agriculture and
2313 Consumer Services, the Department of Environmental Protection,
2314 the Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
2315 Commission must be repaid to the trust funds from which the
2316 moneys were loaned by the end of the 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal
2317 year. The Legislature has determined that the repayment of the
2318 other trust fund moneys temporarily loaned to a land acquisition
2319 trust fund in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
2320 Services, the Department of Environmental Protection, the
2321 Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
2322 Commission pursuant to this subsection is an allowable use of
2323 the moneys in a land acquisition trust fund because the moneys
2324 from other trust funds temporarily loaned to a land acquisition
2325 trust fund shall be expended solely and exclusively in
2326 accordance with s. 28, Art. X of the State Constitution. This
2327 subsection expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2328 Section 63. (1) In order to implement specific
2329 appropriations from the land acquisition trust funds within the
2330 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department
2331 of Environmental Protection, the Department of State, and the
2332 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission which are contained in
2333 the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, the Department of
2334 Environmental Protection shall transfer revenues from the Land
2335 Acquisition Trust Fund within the department to the land
2336 acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and
2337 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
2338 Wildlife Conservation Commission as provided in this section. As
2339 used in this section, the term “department” means the Department
2340 of Environmental Protection.
2341 (2) After subtracting any required debt service payments,
2342 the proportionate share of revenues to be transferred to each
2343 land acquisition trust fund shall be calculated by dividing the
2344 appropriations from each of the land acquisition trust funds for
2345 the fiscal year by the total appropriations from the Land
2346 Acquisition Trust Fund within the department and the land
2347 acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and
2348 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
2349 Wildlife Conservation Commission for the fiscal year. The
2350 department shall transfer the proportionate share of the
2351 revenues in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the
2352 department on a monthly basis to the appropriate land
2353 acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and
2354 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
2355 Wildlife Conservation Commission and shall retain its
2356 proportionate share of the revenues in the Land Acquisition
2357 Trust Fund within the department. Total distributions to a land
2358 acquisition trust fund within the Department of Agriculture and
2359 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
2360 Wildlife Conservation Commission may not exceed the total
2361 appropriations from such trust fund for the fiscal year.
2362 (3) In addition, the department shall transfer from the
2363 Land Acquisition Trust Fund to land acquisition trust funds
2364 within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the
2365 Department of State, and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
2366 Commission amounts equal to the difference between the amounts
2367 appropriated in chapter 2024-231, Laws of Florida, to the
2368 department’s Land Acquisition Trust Fund and the other land
2369 acquisition trust funds, and the amounts actually transferred
2370 between those trust funds during the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
2371 (4) The department may advance funds from the beginning
2372 unobligated fund balance in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to
2373 the Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the Fish and Wildlife
2374 Conservation Commission needed for cash flow purposes based on a
2375 detailed expenditure plan. The department shall prorate amounts
2376 transferred quarterly to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
2377 Commission to recoup the amount of funds advanced by June 30,
2378 2026.
2379 (5) This section expires July 1, 2026.
2380 Section 64. In order to implement specific appropriations
2381 from the Florida Forever Trust Fund within the Department of
2382 Environmental Protection, which are contained in the 2025-2026
2383 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (m) of subsection (3) of
2384 section 259.105, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2385 259.105 The Florida Forever Act.—
2386 (3) Less the costs of issuing and the costs of funding
2387 reserve accounts and other costs associated with bonds, the
2388 proceeds of cash payments or bonds issued pursuant to this
2389 section shall be deposited into the Florida Forever Trust Fund
2390 created by s. 259.1051. The proceeds shall be distributed by the
2391 Department of Environmental Protection in the following manner:
2392 (m) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a)-(j) and for the 2025
2393 2026 2024-2025 fiscal year, the proceeds shall be distributed as
2394 provided in the General Appropriations Act. This paragraph
2395 expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2396 Section 65. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2397 1609 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (a)
2398 of subsection (2) of section 376.91, Florida Statutes, is
2399 amended to read:
2400 376.91 Statewide cleanup of perfluoroalkyl and
2401 polyfluoroalkyl substances.—
2402 (2) STATEWIDE CLEANUP TARGET LEVELS.—
2403 (a) If the United States Environmental Protection Agency
2404 has not finalized its standards for PFAS in drinking water,
2405 groundwater, and soil by January 1, 2026 2025, the department
2406 shall adopt by rule statewide cleanup target levels for PFAS in
2407 drinking water, groundwater, and soil using criteria set forth
2408 in s. 376.30701, with priority given to PFOA and PFOS. The rules
2409 for statewide cleanup target levels may not take effect until
2410 ratified by the Legislature.
2411 Section 66. The amendments to s. 376.91, Florida Statutes,
2412 made by this act expire July 1, 2026, and the text of that
2413 section shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2025,
2414 except that any amendments to such text enacted other than by
2415 this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
2416 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
2417 of text which expire pursuant to this section.
2418 Section 67. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2419 1609 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
2420 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 66 of chapter
2421 2024-228, Laws of Florida, paragraph (g) of subsection (15) of
2422 section 376.3071, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
2423 376.3071 Inland Protection Trust Fund; creation; purposes;
2424 funding.—
2425 (15) ETHANOL OR BIODIESEL DAMAGE; PREVENTIVE MEASURES.—The
2426 department shall pay, pursuant to this subsection, up to $10
2427 million each fiscal year from the fund for the costs of labor
2428 and equipment to repair or replace petroleum storage systems
2429 that may have been damaged due to the storage of fuels blended
2430 with ethanol or biodiesel, or for preventive measures to reduce
2431 the potential for such damage.
2432 (g) Payments may not be made for the following:
2433 1. Proposal costs or costs related to preparation of the
2434 application and required documentation;
2435 2. Certified public accountant costs;
2436 3. Except as provided in paragraph (j), any costs in excess
2437 of the amount approved by the department under paragraph (b) or
2438 which are not in substantial compliance with the purchase order;
2439 4. Costs associated with storage tanks, piping, or
2440 ancillary equipment that has previously been repaired or
2441 replaced for which costs have been paid under this section;
2442 5. Facilities that are not in compliance with department
2443 storage tank rules, until the noncompliance issues have been
2444 resolved; or
2445 6. Costs associated with damage to petroleum storage
2446 systems caused in whole or in part by causes other than the
2447 storage of fuels blended with ethanol or biodiesel.
2448 Section 68. The text of s. 376.3071(15)(g), Florida
2449 Statutes, as carried forward from chapter 2020-114, Laws of
2450 Florida, by this act expires July 1, 2026, and the text of that
2451 paragraph shall revert to that in existence on July 1, 2020, but
2452 not including any amendments made by this act or chapter 2020
2453 114, Laws of Florida, and any amendments to such text enacted
2454 other than by this act shall be preserved and continue to
2455 operate to the extent that such amendments are not dependent
2456 upon the portion of text which expires pursuant to this section.
2457 Section 69. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2458 2052 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
2459 notwithstanding chapter 287, Florida Statutes, the Department of
2460 Citrus shall enter into agreements for the purpose of increasing
2461 production of trees that show tolerance or resistance to citrus
2462 greening and to commercialize technologies that produce
2463 tolerance or resistance to citrus greening in trees. The
2464 department shall enter into these agreements no later than
2465 January 1, 2026, and shall file with the department’s Inspector
2466 General a certification of conditions and circumstances
2467 justifying each agreement entered into without competitive
2468 solicitation. This section expires July 1, 2026.
2469 Section 70. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2470 1502 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
2471 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 71 of chapter
2472 2024-228, Laws of Florida, section 380.5105, Florida Statutes,
2473 is reenacted and amended to read:
2474 380.5105 The Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts; Florida
2475 Forever program.—
2476 (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it
2477 is the intent of the Legislature that the trust shall administer
2478 the working waterfronts land acquisition program as set forth in
2479 this section.
2480 (a) The trust and the Department of Agriculture and
2481 Consumer Services shall jointly develop rules specifically
2482 establishing an application process and a process for the
2483 evaluation, scoring and ranking of working waterfront projects.
2484 The proposed rules jointly developed pursuant to this paragraph
2485 shall be promulgated by the trust. Such rules shall establish a
2486 system of weighted criteria to give increased priority to
2487 projects:
2488 1. Within a municipality with a population less than
2489 30,000;
2490 2. Within a municipality or area under intense growth and
2491 development pressures, as evidenced by a number of factors,
2492 including a determination that the municipality’s growth rate
2493 exceeds the average growth rate for the state;
2494 3. Within the boundary of a community redevelopment agency
2495 established pursuant to s. 163.356;
2496 4. Adjacent to state-owned submerged lands designated as an
2497 aquatic preserve identified in s. 258.39; or
2498 5. That provide a demonstrable benefit to the local
2499 economy.
2500 (b) For projects that will require more than the grant
2501 amount awarded for completion, the applicant must identify in
2502 their project application funding sources that will provide the
2503 difference between the grant award and the estimated project
2504 completion cost. Such rules may be incorporated into those
2505 developed pursuant to s. 380.507(11).
2506 (c) The trust shall develop a ranking list based on
2507 criteria identified in paragraph (a) for proposed fee simple and
2508 less-than-fee simple acquisition projects developed pursuant to
2509 this section. The trust shall, by the first Board of Trustees of
2510 the Internal Improvement Trust Fund meeting in February, present
2511 the ranking list pursuant to this section to the board of
2512 trustees for final approval of projects for funding. The board
2513 of trustees may remove projects from the ranking list but may
2514 not add projects.
2515 (d) Grant awards, acquisition approvals, and terms of less
2516 than-fee acquisitions shall be approved by the trust. Waterfront
2517 communities that receive grant awards must submit annual
2518 progress reports to the trust identifying project activities
2519 which are complete, and the progress achieved in meeting the
2520 goals outlined in the project application. The trust must
2521 implement a process to monitor and evaluate the performance of
2522 grant recipients in completing projects that are funded through
2523 the working waterfronts program.
2524 (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it
2525 is the intent of the Legislature that the Department of
2526 Environmental Protection shall administer the working
2527 waterfronts capital outlay grant program as set forth in this
2528 section to support the commercial fishing and marine aquaculture
2529 industries industry, including the infrastructure for receiving
2530 or unloading seafood for the purpose of supporting the seafood
2531 economy.
2532 (a) The working waterfronts capital outlay grant program is
2533 created to provide funding to assist commercial saltwater
2534 products or commercial saltwater wholesale dealer or retailer
2535 license holders and seafood houses in maintaining their
2536 operations.
2537 (b) Eligible costs and expenditures include fixed capital
2538 outlay and operating capital outlay, including, but not limited
2539 to, the repair and maintenance or replacement of equipment, the
2540 repair and maintenance or replacement of water-adjacent
2541 facilities or infrastructure, and the construction or renovation
2542 of shoreside facilities.
2543 (c) The applicant must demonstrate a benefit to the local
2544 economy.
2545 (d) Grant recipients must submit annual progress reports to
2546 the department identifying project activities that are complete
2547 and the progress achieved in meeting the goals outlined in the
2548 project application.
2549 (e) The department shall implement a process to monitor and
2550 evaluate the performance of grant recipients in completing
2551 projects funded through the program.
2552 Section 71. The text of s. 380.5105, Florida Statutes, as
2553 carried forward from chapter 2024-228, Laws of Florida, by this
2554 act expire July 1, 2026, and the text of that section shall
2555 revert to that in existence on June 30, 2024, except that any
2556 amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall be
2557 preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
2558 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
2559 expire pursuant to this section.
2560 Section 72. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2561 1725 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act and
2562 notwithstanding s. 823.11(4)(c), Florida Statutes, the Fish and
2563 Wildlife Conservation Commission may use funds appropriated for
2564 the derelict vessel removal program for grants to local
2565 governments or to remove, store, destroy, and dispose of, or to
2566 pay private contractors to remove, store, destroy, and dispose
2567 of, derelict vessels or vessels declared a public nuisance
2568 pursuant to s. 327.73(1)(aa), Florida Statutes. This section
2569 expires July 1, 2026.
2570 Section 73. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2571 1555 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, subsection (9)
2572 of section 403.0673, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2573 403.0673 Water quality improvement grant program.—A grant
2574 program is established within the Department of Environmental
2575 Protection to address wastewater, stormwater, and agricultural
2576 sources of nutrient loading to surface water or groundwater.
2577 (9) For the 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal year, and
2578 notwithstanding the requirements of this section, funds
2579 appropriated for the water quality improvement grant program
2580 must be used as provided in the General Appropriations Act
2581 subsections (4)-(6), the department shall dedicate at least $25
2582 million of the revenues transferred from s. 201.15(4)(h), for
2583 priority projects to improve water quality in the Indian River
2584 Lagoon. This subsection expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2585 Section 74. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2586 2059 through 2065 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
2587 subsection (3) of section 288.80125, Florida Statutes, is
2588 amended to read:
2589 288.80125 Triumph Gulf Coast Trust Fund.—
2590 (3) For the 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal year, funds shall be
2591 used for the Rebuild Florida Revolving Loan Fund program to
2592 provide assistance to businesses impacted by Hurricane Michael
2593 as provided in the General Appropriations Act. This subsection
2594 expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2595 Section 75. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2596 1822 through 1835, 1840, 1841, 1853 through 1858, 1860 through
2597 1864, 1866 through 1874, and 1905 through 1914 of the 2025-2026
2598 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (h) of subsection (7) of
2599 section 339.135, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2600 339.135 Work program; legislative budget request;
2601 definitions; preparation, adoption, execution, and amendment.—
2602 (7) AMENDMENT OF THE ADOPTED WORK PROGRAM.—
2603 (h)1. Any work program amendment that also adds a new
2604 project, or phase thereof, to the adopted work program in excess
2605 of $3 million is subject to approval by the Legislative Budget
2606 Commission. Any work program amendment submitted under this
2607 paragraph must include, as supplemental information, a list of
2608 projects, or phases thereof, in the current 5-year adopted work
2609 program which are eligible for the funds within the
2610 appropriation category being used for the proposed amendment.
2611 The department shall provide a narrative with the rationale for
2612 not advancing an existing project, or phase thereof, in lieu of
2613 the proposed amendment.
2614 2. If the department submits an amendment to the
2615 Legislative Budget Commission and the commission does not meet
2616 or consider the amendment within 30 days after its submittal,
2617 the chair and vice chair of the commission may authorize the
2618 amendment to be approved pursuant to s. 216.177. This
2619 subparagraph expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2620 Section 76. Effective upon this act becoming a law, and in
2621 order to implement section 181 of the 2025-2026 General
2622 Appropriations Act, subsection (4) of section 339.08, Florida
2623 Statutes, is amended to read:
2624 339.08 Use of moneys in State Transportation Trust Fund.—
2625 (4) Notwithstanding any other law, and for the 2023-2024
2626 and 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 fiscal years only, funds are
2627 appropriated to the State Transportation Trust Fund from the
2628 General Revenue Fund and the Discretionary Sales Surtax Clearing
2629 Trust Fund as provided in the General Appropriations Act. The
2630 department is not required to deplete the resources transferred
2631 from the General Revenue Fund for the fiscal year as required in
2632 s. 339.135(3)(b), and the funds may not be used in calculating
2633 the required quarterly cash balance of the trust fund as
2634 required in s. 339.135(6)(b). The department shall track and
2635 account for appropriated funds from the General Revenue Fund as
2636 a separate funding source for eligible projects on the State
2637 Highway System and from the Discretionary Sales Surtax Clearing
2638 Trust Fund for eligible projects pursuant to the General
2639 Appropriations Act. This subsection expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2640 Section 77. In order to implement section 175 of the 2025
2641 2026 General Appropriations Act, section 250.245, Florida
2642 Statutes, is amended to read:
2643 250.245 Florida National Guard Joint Enlistment Enhancement
2644 Program.—
2645 (1) The Florida National Guard Joint Enlistment Enhancement
2646 Program (JEEP) is established within the Department of Military
2647 Affairs. The purpose of the program is to motivate soldiers,
2648 airmen, and retirees of the Florida National Guard to bolster
2649 recruitment efforts and increase the force structure of the
2650 Florida National Guard.
2651 (2) As used in this section, the term “recruiting
2652 assistant” means a member of the Florida National Guard or a
2653 retiree of the Florida National Guard who assists in the
2654 recruitment of a new member and who provides motivation,
2655 encouragement, and moral support until the enlistment of such
2656 new member.
2657 (3) A current member in pay grade E-1 to O-3 or a retiree
2658 in any pay grade is eligible for participation in JEEP as a
2659 recruiting assistant.
2660 (4) The Adjutant General shall provide compensation to
2661 recruiting assistants participating in JEEP. A recruiting
2662 assistant shall receive $1,000 for each new member referred by
2663 them to the Florida National Guard upon the enlistment of such
2664 referred member.
2665 (5) The Department of Military Affairs, in cooperation with
2666 the Florida National Guard, shall adopt rules to administer the
2667 program.
2668 (6) This section expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2669 Section 78. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2670 2113 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, subsection (6)
2671 of section 288.0655, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2672 288.0655 Rural Infrastructure Fund.—
2673 (6) For the 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal year, the funds
2674 appropriated for the grant program for Florida Panhandle
2675 counties shall be distributed pursuant to and for the purposes
2676 described in the proviso language associated with Specific
2677 Appropriation 2113 2348 of the 2025-2026 2024-2025 General
2678 Appropriations Act. This subsection expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2679 Section 79. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2680 2445 through 2454 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
2681 and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes,
2682 the Division of Emergency Management may submit budget
2683 amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection
2684 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget
2685 authority for projected expenditures due to reimbursements from
2686 federally declared disasters. This section expires July 1, 2026.
2687 Section 80. (1) In order to implement section 8 of the
2688 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, beginning July 1, 2025,
2689 and on the first day of each month thereafter, the Department of
2690 Management Services shall assess an administrative health
2691 insurance assessment on each state agency equal to the
2692 employer’s cost of individual employee health care coverage for
2693 each vacant position within such agency eligible for coverage
2694 through the Division of State Group Insurance. As used in this
2695 section, the term “state agency” means an agency within the
2696 State Personnel System, the Department of the Lottery, the
2697 Justice Administrative Commission and all entities
2698 administratively housed in the Justice Administrative
2699 Commission, and the state courts system.
2700 (2) Each state agency shall remit the assessed
2701 administrative health insurance assessment under subsection (1)
2702 to the State Employees Health Insurance Trust Fund, for the
2703 State Group Insurance Program, as provided in ss. 110.123 and
2704 110.1239, Florida Statutes, from currently allocated monies for
2705 salaries and benefits, within 30 days after receipt of the
2706 assessment from the Department of Management Services. Should
2707 any state agency become more than 60 days delinquent in payment
2708 of this obligation, the Department of Management Services shall
2709 certify to the Chief Financial Officer the amount due and the
2710 Chief Financial Officer shall transfer the amount due to the
2711 Department of Management Services.
2712 (3) The administrative health insurance assessment shall
2713 apply to all vacant positions funded with state funds whether
2714 fully or partially funded with state funds. Vacant positions
2715 partially funded with state funds shall pay a percentage of the
2716 assessment imposed in subsection (1) equal to the percentage
2717 share of state funds provided for such vacant positions. No
2718 assessment shall apply to vacant positions fully funded with
2719 federal funds. Each state agency shall provide the Department of
2720 Management Services with a complete list of position numbers
2721 that are funded, or partially funded, with federal funding, and
2722 include the percentage of federal funding for each position no
2723 later than July 31, 2025, and shall update the list on the last
2724 day of each month thereafter. For federally funded vacant
2725 positions, or partially funded vacant positions, each state
2726 agency shall immediately take steps to include the
2727 administrative health insurance assessment in its indirect cost
2728 plan for the 2026-2027 fiscal year and each fiscal year
2729 thereafter. A state agency shall notify the Department of
2730 Management Services, the Executive Office of the Governor, and
2731 the chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the
2732 chair of the House of Representatives Budget Committee, upon
2733 approval of the updated indirect cost plan. If the state agency
2734 is not able to obtain approval from its federal awarding agency,
2735 the state agency must notify the Department of Management
2736 Services, the Executive Office of the Governor, and the
2737 appropriation and budget chairs no later than January 15, 2026.
2738 (4) Pursuant to the notice, review, and objection
2739 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the Executive Office
2740 of the Governor may transfer budget authority appropriated in
2741 the Salaries and Benefits appropriation category between
2742 agencies in order to align the appropriations granted with the
2743 assessments that must be paid by each agency to the Department
2744 of Management Services for the administrative health insurance
2745 assessment.
2746 (5) This section expires July 1, 2026.
2747 Section 81. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2748 2530 and 2531 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
2749 notwithstanding s. 11.13(1), Florida Statutes, the authorized
2750 salaries for members of the Legislature for the 2025-2026 fiscal
2751 year shall be set at the same level in effect on July 1, 2010.
2752 This section expires July 1, 2026.
2753 Section 82. In order to implement the transfer of funds
2754 from the General Revenue Fund from trust funds for the 2025-2026
2755 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding the expiration
2756 date in section 91 of chapter 2024-228, Laws of Florida,
2757 paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 215.32, Florida
2758 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
2759 215.32 State funds; segregation.—
2760 (2) The source and use of each of these funds shall be as
2761 follows:
2762 (b)1. The trust funds shall consist of moneys received by
2763 the state which under law or under trust agreement are
2764 segregated for a purpose authorized by law. The state agency or
2765 branch of state government receiving or collecting such moneys
2766 is responsible for their proper expenditure as provided by law.
2767 Upon the request of the state agency or branch of state
2768 government responsible for the administration of the trust fund,
2769 the Chief Financial Officer may establish accounts within the
2770 trust fund at a level considered necessary for proper
2771 accountability. Once an account is established, the Chief
2772 Financial Officer may authorize payment from that account only
2773 upon determining that there is sufficient cash and releases at
2774 the level of the account.
2775 2. In addition to other trust funds created by law, to the
2776 extent possible, each agency shall use the following trust funds
2777 as described in this subparagraph for day-to-day operations:
2778 a. Operations or operating trust fund, for use as a
2779 depository for funds to be used for program operations funded by
2780 program revenues, with the exception of administrative
2781 activities when the operations or operating trust fund is a
2782 proprietary fund.
2783 b. Operations and maintenance trust fund, for use as a
2784 depository for client services funded by third-party payors.
2785 c. Administrative trust fund, for use as a depository for
2786 funds to be used for management activities that are departmental
2787 in nature and funded by indirect cost earnings and assessments
2788 against trust funds. Proprietary funds are excluded from the
2789 requirement of using an administrative trust fund.
2790 d. Grants and donations trust fund, for use as a depository
2791 for funds to be used for allowable grant or donor agreement
2792 activities funded by restricted contractual revenue from private
2793 and public nonfederal sources.
2794 e. Agency working capital trust fund, for use as a
2795 depository for funds to be used pursuant to s. 216.272.
2796 f. Clearing funds trust fund, for use as a depository for
2797 funds to account for collections pending distribution to lawful
2798 recipients.
2799 g. Federal grant trust fund, for use as a depository for
2800 funds to be used for allowable grant activities funded by
2801 restricted program revenues from federal sources.
2802
2803 To the extent possible, each agency must adjust its internal
2804 accounting to use existing trust funds consistent with the
2805 requirements of this subparagraph. If an agency does not have
2806 trust funds listed in this subparagraph and cannot make such
2807 adjustment, the agency must recommend the creation of the
2808 necessary trust funds to the Legislature no later than the next
2809 scheduled review of the agency’s trust funds pursuant to s.
2810 215.3206.
2811 3. All such moneys are hereby appropriated to be expended
2812 in accordance with the law or trust agreement under which they
2813 were received, subject always to the provisions of chapter 216
2814 relating to the appropriation of funds and to the applicable
2815 laws relating to the deposit or expenditure of moneys in the
2816 State Treasury.
2817 4.a. Notwithstanding any provision of law restricting the
2818 use of trust funds to specific purposes, unappropriated cash
2819 balances from selected trust funds may be authorized by the
2820 Legislature for transfer to the Budget Stabilization Fund and
2821 General Revenue Fund in the General Appropriations Act.
2822 b. This subparagraph does not apply to trust funds required
2823 by federal programs or mandates; trust funds established for
2824 bond covenants, indentures, or resolutions whose revenues are
2825 legally pledged by the state or public body to meet debt service
2826 or other financial requirements of any debt obligations of the
2827 state or any public body; the Division of Licensing Trust Fund
2828 in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; the
2829 State Transportation Trust Fund; the trust fund containing the
2830 net annual proceeds from the Florida Education Lotteries; the
2831 Florida Retirement System Trust Fund; trust funds under the
2832 management of the State Board of Education or the Board of
2833 Governors of the State University System, where such trust funds
2834 are for auxiliary enterprises, self-insurance, and contracts,
2835 grants, and donations, as those terms are defined by general
2836 law; trust funds that serve as clearing funds or accounts for
2837 the Chief Financial Officer or state agencies; trust funds that
2838 account for assets held by the state in a trustee capacity as an
2839 agent or fiduciary for individuals, private organizations, or
2840 other governmental units; and other trust funds authorized by
2841 the State Constitution.
2842 Section 83. The text of s. 215.32(2)(b), Florida Statutes,
2843 as carried forward from chapter 2011-47, Laws of Florida, by
2844 this act expires July 1, 2026, and the text of that paragraph
2845 shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2011, except that
2846 any amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall
2847 be preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
2848 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
2849 expire pursuant to this section.
2850 Section 84. In order to implement appropriations in the
2851 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act for state employee travel,
2852 the funds appropriated to each state agency which may be used
2853 for travel by state employees are limited during the 2025-2026
2854 fiscal year to travel for activities that are critical to each
2855 state agency’s mission. Funds may not be used for travel by
2856 state employees to foreign countries, other states, conferences,
2857 staff training activities, or other administrative functions
2858 unless the agency head has approved, in writing, that such
2859 activities are critical to the agency’s mission. The agency head
2860 shall consider using teleconferencing and other forms of
2861 electronic communication to meet the needs of the proposed
2862 activity before approving mission-critical travel. This section
2863 does not apply to travel for law enforcement purposes, military
2864 purposes, emergency management activities, or public health
2865 activities. This section expires July 1, 2026.
2866 Section 85. In order to implement appropriations in the
2867 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act for state employee travel
2868 and notwithstanding s. 112.061, Florida Statutes, costs for
2869 lodging associated with a meeting, conference, or convention
2870 organized or sponsored in whole or in part by a state agency or
2871 the judicial branch may not exceed $225 per day. An employee may
2872 expend his or her own funds for any lodging expenses in excess
2873 of $225 per day. For purposes of this section, a meeting does
2874 not include travel activities for conducting an audit,
2875 examination, inspection, or investigation or travel activities
2876 related to a litigation or emergency response. This section
2877 expires July 1, 2026.
2878 Section 86. In order to implement the appropriations and
2879 reappropriations authorized in the 2025-2026 General
2880 Appropriations Act, paragraph (d) of subsection (11) of section
2881 216.181, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2882 216.181 Approved budgets for operations and fixed capital
2883 outlay.—
2884 (11)
2885 (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) and paragraph (2)(b), and
2886 for the 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal year only, the Legislative
2887 Budget Commission may approve budget amendments for new fixed
2888 capital outlay projects or increase the amounts appropriated to
2889 state agencies for fixed capital outlay projects. This paragraph
2890 expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2891
2892 The provisions of this subsection are subject to the notice and
2893 objection procedures set forth in s. 216.177.
2894 Section 87. In order to implement the salaries and
2895 benefits, expenses, other personal services, contracted
2896 services, special categories, and operating capital outlay
2897 categories of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
2898 paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 216.292, Florida
2899 Statutes, is amended to read:
2900 216.292 Appropriations nontransferable; exceptions.—
2901 (2) The following transfers are authorized to be made by
2902 the head of each department or the Chief Justice of the Supreme
2903 Court whenever it is deemed necessary by reason of changed
2904 conditions:
2905 (a) The transfer of appropriations funded from identical
2906 funding sources, except appropriations for fixed capital outlay,
2907 and the transfer of amounts included within the total original
2908 approved budget and plans of releases of appropriations as
2909 furnished pursuant to ss. 216.181 and 216.192, as follows:
2910 1. Between categories of appropriations within a budget
2911 entity, if no category of appropriation is increased or
2912 decreased by more than 5 percent of the original approved budget
2913 or $250,000, whichever is greater, by all action taken under
2914 this subsection.
2915 2. Between budget entities within identical categories of
2916 appropriations, if no category of appropriation is increased or
2917 decreased by more than 5 percent of the original approved budget
2918 or $250,000, whichever is greater, by all action taken under
2919 this subsection.
2920 3. Any agency exceeding salary rate established pursuant to
2921 s. 216.181(8) on June 30th of any fiscal year shall not be
2922 authorized to make transfers pursuant to subparagraphs 1. and 2.
2923 in the subsequent fiscal year.
2924 4. Notice of proposed transfers under subparagraphs 1. and
2925 2. shall be provided to the Executive Office of the Governor and
2926 the chairs of the legislative appropriations committees at least
2927 3 days prior to agency implementation in order to provide an
2928 opportunity for review. The review shall be limited to ensuring
2929 that the transfer is in compliance with the requirements of this
2930 paragraph.
2931 5. For the 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal year, the review
2932 shall ensure that transfers proposed pursuant to this paragraph
2933 comply with this chapter, maximize the use of available and
2934 appropriate trust funds, and are not contrary to legislative
2935 policy and intent. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2936 Section 88. In order to implement appropriations in the
2937 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act for the acquisitions of
2938 motor vehicles, and notwithstanding chapter 287, Florida
2939 Statutes, relating to the purchase of motor vehicles from a
2940 state term contract, state agencies may purchase vehicles from
2941 nonstate term contract vendors without prior approval from the
2942 Department of Management Services, provided the cost of the
2943 motor vehicle is equal to or less than the cost of a similar
2944 class of vehicle found on a state term contract and provided the
2945 funds for the purchase have been specifically appropriated. This
2946 section expires July 1, 2026.
2947 Section 89. In order to implement specific appropriations
2948 containing salary rate in the 2025-2026 General Appropriations
2949 Act, and notwithstanding s. 216.181(8)(b), Florida Statutes, the
2950 annual salary rate for all agencies as defined in s. 216.011,
2951 Florida Statutes, shall be controlled at the budget entity
2952 level. This section expires July 1, 2026.
2953 Section 90. Any section of this act which implements a
2954 specific appropriation or specifically identified proviso
2955 language in the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act is void if
2956 the specific appropriation or specifically identified proviso
2957 language is vetoed. Any section of this act which implements
2958 more than one specific appropriation or more than one portion of
2959 specifically identified proviso language in the 2025-2026
2960 General Appropriations Act is void if all the specific
2961 appropriations or portions of specifically identified proviso
2962 language are vetoed.
2963 Section 91. If any other act passed during the 2025 Regular
2964 Session of the Legislature contains a provision that is
2965 substantively the same as a provision in this act, but that
2966 removes or is otherwise not subject to the future repeal applied
2967 to such provision by this act, the Legislature intends that the
2968 provision in the other act takes precedence and continues to
2969 operate, notwithstanding the future repeal provided by this act.
2970 Section 92. If any provision of this act or its application
2971 to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity
2972 does not affect other provisions or applications of the act
2973 which can be given effect without the invalid provision or
2974 application, and to this end the provisions of this act are
2975 severable.
2976 Section 93. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
2977 act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon
2978 this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1,
2979 2025, or, if this act fails to become a law until after that
2980 date, it shall take effect upon becoming a law and shall operate
2981 retroactively to July 1, 2025.