Florida Senate - 2025 (PROPOSED BILL) SPB 2502
FOR CONSIDERATION By the Committee on Appropriations
576-02575-25 20252502pb
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) is added
828 to subsection (9) of section 394.9082, Florida Statutes, to
829 read:
830 394.9082 Behavioral health managing entities.—
831 (9) FUNDING FOR MANAGING ENTITIES.—
832 (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), for the 2025-2026 fiscal
833 year, a managing entity may carry forward documented unexpended
834 funds appropriated from the State Opioid Settlement Trust Fund
835 from 1 fiscal year to the next. Funds carried forward pursuant
836 to this paragraph are not included in the 8 percent cumulative
837 cap that may be carried forward. This paragraph expires July 1,
838 2026.
839 Section 23. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
840 302, 316 through 318, and 364 of the 2025-2026 General
841 Appropriations Act, subsection (9) is added to section 409.9913,
842 Florida Statutes, to read:
843 409.9913 Funding methodology to allocate funding to lead
844 agencies.—
845 (9) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, core
846 services funding shall be allocated as provided in the General
847 Appropriations Act. The department shall develop and report on
848 an alternative tiered funding methodology to allocate funding to
849 lead agencies. The department shall provide additional data and
850 analysis to strengthen the existing proposed funding framework.
851 This enhancement will aim to maximize transparency, drive
852 performance and quality measures, and build on prior provisions
853 and innovative practices.
854 (a) The methodology must include, but is not limited to,
855 the following components:
856 1. Administration tier.—A distinct allocation reflecting
857 actual, allowable operational and fixed costs, consistent with
858 federal and state guidelines, including, but not limited to:
859 a. Salaries and benefits.
860 b. Information technology.
861 c. Lease payments.
862 d. Asset depreciation.
863 e. Utilities.
864 f. Administrative components of case management.
865 g. Mandated activities such as training, quality
866 improvement, or contract management.
867 2. Prevention tier.—A dedicated prevention tier to
868 incorporate early intervention strategies and services that
869 reduce the need for higher-intensity system involvement which
870 includes, but is not limited to:
871 a. Family support services.
872 b. Family-focused prevention programs.
873 c. Hotline referrals and nonjudicial services.
874 d. Differential response/child protection team
875 coordination.
876 3. Core services tier.—A base funding allocation that
877 includes:
878 a. Direct service delivery costs for case management,
879 foster care, and post-placement services.
880 b. Pass-through obligations, including, but not limited to:
881 (I) Funds appropriated for independent living services.
882 (II) Funds appropriated for maintenance adoption subsidies.
883 (III) Funds allocated by the department for child
884 protective investigation service training.
885 (IV) Nonrecurring funds.
886 (V) Designated mental health wrap-around service funds.
887 (VI) Funds for special projects for a designated lead
888 agency.
889 (VII) Funds appropriated for the Guardianship Assistance
890 Program established under s. 39.6225.
891 4. Performance and quality measures tier.—Funding
892 adjustments or incentives based on performance against outcome
893 based metrics, which may include, but are not limited to:
894 a. Maintaining or increasing sibling group placements
895 together.
896 b. Average yearly caseload of case managers, including only
897 filled positions, at or below 1:14.
898 c. Increasing finalized adoptions by at least 3 percent
899 over the prior fiscal year.
900 d. Reducing reentry into foster care within 12 months of
901 case closure.
902 e. Placement stability and least-restrictive placement
903 rates.
904 f. Other department-defined measures aligned with federal
905 Child and Family Services Reviews.
906 5. Innovation tier.—A competitive or direct grant mechanism
907 that allows lead agencies to propose and implement innovative,
908 evidence-informed practices aimed at improving family
909 preservation, child well-being, community partnerships, or
910 service delivery models. Funded projects under this tier must be
911 time-limited and subject to performance benchmarks, be evaluated
912 independently for effectiveness and scalability, and support
913 goals not currently funded through core allocations.
914 (b) At a minimum, the methodology must be:
915 1. Cost-based.
916 2. Actuarially sound.
917 3. Designed to incentivize efficient and effective lead
918 agency operation, prevention, family preservation, and
919 permanency.
920 4. Regionally scaled for cost-of-living factors.
921 (c) The lead agencies and providers shall submit any
922 detailed cost and expenditure data that the department requests
923 for the development of the funding methodology.
924 (d) By December 1, 2025, the department shall submit a
925 detailed report to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
926 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report must
927 include:
928 1. A proposed structure and funding methodology for each
929 tier;
930 2. A summary of stakeholder input;
931 3. Projected fiscal impacts by community-based care region;
932 4. Recommended statutory or budgetary changes needed to
933 implement the new methodology; and
934 5. A plan for phased implementation, including performance
935 tracking and reporting.
936 (e) The department shall provide to the Governor, the
937 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
938 Representatives monthly reports beginning July 2025 through
939 November 2025 which provide updates on activities and progress
940 in developing the funding methodology.
941 (f) This subsection expires July 1, 2026.
942 Section 24. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
943 439 and 441 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
944 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
945 Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject to
946 the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,
947 Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the
948 Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
949 (WIC) and the Child Care Food Program if additional federal
950 revenues will be expended in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This
951 section expires July 1, 2026.
952 Section 25. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
953 448 and 496 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
954 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
955 Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject to
956 the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,
957 Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the HIV/AIDS
958 Prevention and Treatment Program if additional federal revenues
959 specific to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment become available
960 in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This section expires July 1, 2026.
961 Section 26. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
962 409 through 556A of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
963 and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes,
964 the Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject
965 to the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,
966 Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the
967 department if additional federal revenues specific to COVID-19
968 relief funds become available in the 2025-2026 fiscal year. This
969 section expires July 1, 2026.
970 Section 27. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
971 192 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act:
972 (1) The Agency for Health Care Administration shall replace
973 the current Florida Medicaid Management Information System
974 (FMMIS) and fiscal agent operations with a system that is
975 modular, interoperable, and scalable for the Florida Medicaid
976 program and that complies with all applicable federal and state
977 laws and requirements. The agency may not include in the program
978 to replace the current FMMIS and fiscal agent contract:
979 (a) Functionality that duplicates any of the information
980 systems of the other health and human services state agencies;
981 (b) Procurement for agency requirements external to
982 Medicaid programs with the intent to leverage the Medicaid
983 technology infrastructure for other purposes without legislative
984 appropriation or legislative authorization to procure these
985 requirements. The new system, the Florida Health Care Connection
986 (FX) system, must provide better integration with subsystems
987 supporting Florida’s Medicaid program; uniformity, consistency,
988 and improved access to data; and compatibility with the Centers
989 for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Medicaid Information
990 Technology Architecture (MITA) as the system matures and expands
991 its functionality; or
992 (c) Any contract executed after July 1, 2022, not including
993 staff augmentation services purchased off the Department of
994 Management Services Information Technology staff augmentation
995 state term contract that are not deliverables based fixed price
996 contracts.
997 (2) For purposes of replacing FMMIS and the current
998 Medicaid fiscal agent, the Agency for Health Care Administration
999 shall:
1000 (a) Prioritize procurements for the replacement of the
1001 current functions of FMMIS and the responsibilities of the
1002 current Medicaid fiscal agent, to minimize the need to extend
1003 all or portions of the current fiscal agent contract.
1004 (b) Comply with and not exceed the Centers for Medicare and
1005 Medicaid Services funding authorizations for the FX system.
1006 (c) Ensure compliance and uniformity with the published
1007 MITA framework and guidelines.
1008 (d) Ensure that all business requirements and technical
1009 specifications have been provided to all affected state agencies
1010 for their review and input and approved by the executive
1011 steering committee established in paragraph (h).
1012 (e) Consult with the Executive Office of the Governor’s
1013 working group for interagency information technology integration
1014 for the development of competitive solicitations that provide
1015 for data interoperability and shared information technology
1016 services across the state’s health and human services agencies.
1017 (f) Implement a data governance structure for the program
1018 to coordinate data sharing and interoperability across state
1019 health care entities.
1020 (g) Establish a continuing oversight team for each contract
1021 pursuant to s. 287.057(26), Florida Statutes. The teams must
1022 provide quarterly reports to the executive steering committee,
1023 summarizing the status of the contract, the pace of
1024 deliverables, the quality of deliverables, contractor
1025 responsiveness, and contractor performance.
1026 (h) Implement a program governance structure that includes
1027 an executive steering committee composed of:
1028 1. The Secretary of Health Care Administration, or the
1029 executive sponsor of the program.
1030 2. A representative of the Division of Health Care Finance
1031 and Data of the Agency for Health Care Administration, appointed
1032 by the Secretary of Health Care Administration.
1033 3. Two representatives from the Division of Medicaid
1034 Policy, Quality, and Operations of the Agency for Health Care
1035 Administration, appointed by the Secretary of Health Care
1036 Administration.
1037 4. A representative of the Division of Health Care Policy
1038 and Oversight of the Agency for Health Care Administration,
1039 appointed by the Secretary of Health Care Administration.
1040 5. A representative of the Florida Center for Health
1041 Information and Transparency of the Agency for Health Care
1042 Administration, appointed by the Secretary of Health Care
1043 Administration.
1044 6. The Chief Information Officer of the Agency for Health
1045 Care Administration, or his or her designee.
1046 (3)(a) The Secretary of Health Care Administration or the
1047 executive sponsor of the program shall serve as chair of the
1048 executive steering committee, and the committee shall take
1049 action by a vote of at least 5 affirmative votes with the chair
1050 voting on the prevailing side. A quorum of the executive
1051 steering committee consists of at least 5 members.
1052 (b)1. The chair shall establish a program finance and
1053 contracting working group composed of:
1054 a. The FX program director.
1055 b. A representative from the agency’s Office of the General
1056 Counsel.
1057 c. A representative from the agency’s Division of
1058 Administration.
1059 d. Representatives from each continuing oversight team.
1060 e. The FX program strategic roadmap manager.
1061 f. The FX program project managers.
1062 g. The FX program risk manager.
1063 h. Any other personnel deemed necessary by the chair.
1064 2. The working group shall meet at least monthly to review
1065 the program status and all contract and program operations,
1066 policies, risks, and issues related to the budget, spending
1067 plans and contractual obligations, and shall develop
1068 recommendations to the executive steering committee for
1069 improvement. The working group shall review all change requests
1070 that impact the program’s scope, schedule, or budget related to
1071 contract management and vendor payments and submit those
1072 recommended for adoption to the executive steering committee.
1073 The chair shall request input from the working group on agenda
1074 items for each scheduled meeting. The program shall make
1075 available program staff to the group, as needed, for the group
1076 to fulfill its duties.
1077 (c)1. The chair shall establish a state agency stakeholder
1078 working group composed of:
1079 a. The executive sponsor of the FX program.
1080 b. A representative of the Department of Children and
1081 Families, appointed by the Secretary of Children and Families.
1082 c. A representative of the Department of Health, appointed
1083 by the State Surgeon General.
1084 d. A representative of the Agency for Persons with
1085 Disabilities, appointed by the director of the Agency for
1086 Persons with Disabilities.
1087 e. A representative from the Florida Healthy Kids
1088 Corporation.
1089 f. A representative from the Department of Elderly Affairs,
1090 appointed by the Secretary of Elderly Affairs.
1091 g. The state chief information officer, or his or her
1092 designee.
1093 h. A representative of the Department of Financial Services
1094 who has experience with the state’s financial processes,
1095 including development of the PALM system, appointed by the Chief
1096 Financial Officer.
1097 2. The working group shall meet at least quarterly to
1098 review the program status and all program operations, policies,
1099 risks, and issues that may impact the operations external to the
1100 Agency for Health Care Administration FX program, and shall
1101 develop recommendations to the executive steering committee for
1102 improvement. The chair shall request input from the working
1103 group on agenda items for each scheduled meeting. The program
1104 shall make available program staff to the group to provide
1105 system demonstrations and any program documentation, as needed,
1106 for the group to fulfill its duties.
1107 (4) The executive steering committee has the overall
1108 responsibility for ensuring that the program to replace FMMIS
1109 and the Medicaid fiscal agent meets its primary business
1110 objectives and shall:
1111 (a) Identify and recommend to the Executive Office of the
1112 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
1113 House of Representatives any statutory changes needed to
1114 implement the modular replacement to standardize, to the fullest
1115 extent possible, the state’s health care data and business
1116 processes.
1117 (b) Review and approve any changes to the program’s scope,
1118 schedule, and budget.
1119 (c) Review and approve any changes to the program’s
1120 strategic roadmap.
1121 (d) Review and approve change requests that impact the
1122 program’s scope, schedule, or budget recommended for adoption by
1123 the program finance and contracting working group.
1124 (e) Review recommendations provided by the program working
1125 groups.
1126 (f) Review vendor scorecards, reports, and notifications
1127 produced by the continuing oversight teams.
1128 (g) Ensure that adequate resources are provided throughout
1129 all phases of the program.
1130 (h) Approve all major program deliverables.
1131 (i) Review and verify that all procurement and contractual
1132 documents associated with the replacement of the current FMMIS
1133 and Medicaid fiscal agent align with the scope, schedule, and
1134 anticipated budget for the program.
1135 (5) This section expires July 1, 2026.
1136 Section 28. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1137 211, 212, 262, 272, 328, 474, 496, and 699 of the 2025-2026
1138 General Appropriations Act, the Agency for Health Care
1139 Administration, in consultation with the Department of Health,
1140 the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Department of
1141 Children and Families, and the Department of Corrections, shall
1142 competitively procure a contract with a vendor to negotiate, for
1143 these agencies, prices for prescribed drugs and biological
1144 products excluded from the program established under s.
1145 381.02035, Florida Statutes, and ineligible under 21 U.S.C. s.
1146 384, including, but not limited to, insulin and epinephrine. The
1147 contract may allow the vendor to directly purchase these
1148 products for participating agencies when feasible and
1149 advantageous. The contracted vendor must be compensated on a
1150 contingency basis, paid from a portion of the savings achieved
1151 by its price negotiation or purchase of the prescription drugs
1152 and products. This section expires July 1, 2026.
1153 Section 29. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1154 254, 260, 261, 265, 270, and 271 of the 2025-2026 General
1155 Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292,
1156 Florida Statutes, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities may
1157 submit budget amendments, subject to the notice, review, and
1158 objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to
1159 transfer funding from the Salaries and Benefits appropriation
1160 categories to categories used for contractual services in order
1161 to support additional staff augmentation resources needed at the
1162 Developmental Disability Centers. This section expires July 1,
1163 2026.
1164 Section 30. In order to implement section 52 of the 2025
1165 2026 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181
1166 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the Agency for Persons with
1167 Disabilities may submit budget amendments, subject to the
1168 notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida
1169 Statutes, to request the appropriation of funds from the Lump
1170 Sum-Home and Community Based Waiver category to address any
1171 deficits or funding shortfalls. This section expires July 1,
1172 2026.
1173 Section 31. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1174 219 and 242 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
1175 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
1176 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit budget
1177 amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection
1178 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, at least 3 days
1179 before the effective date of the action, to increase budget
1180 authority to support the implementation of the home and
1181 community-based services Medicaid waiver program of the Agency
1182 for Persons with Disabilities. This section expires July 1,
1183 2026.
1184 Section 32. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
1185 557 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
1186 notwithstanding chapter 216, Florida Statutes, the Department of
1187 Veterans’ Affairs may submit a budget amendment, subject to
1188 Legislative Budget Commission approval, requesting the authority
1189 to establish positions in excess of the number authorized by the
1190 Legislature, increase appropriations from the Operations and
1191 Maintenance Trust Fund, or provide a necessary salary rate
1192 sufficient to provide for essential staff for veterans’ nursing
1193 homes, if the department projects that additional direct care
1194 staff are needed to meet its established staffing ratio. This
1195 section expires July 1, 2026.
1196 Section 33. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1197 557 and 563 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
1198 subsection (6) is added to section 296.34, Florida Statutes, to
1199 read:
1200 296.34 Administrator; qualifications, duties, and
1201 responsibilities.—
1202 (6) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (4), the department
1203 may contract with a vendor for the management and operations of
1204 the Alwyn C. Cashe State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Orlando. The
1205 contracted vendor may appoint an administrator of the home and
1206 the employees of the home may be contracted staff. The
1207 department may submit a budget amendment, subject to Legislative
1208 Budget Commission approval, and pursuant to chapter 216, to move
1209 funds from Salaries and Benefits to Contracted Services to
1210 implement this subsection. This subsection expires July 1, 2026.
1211 Section 34. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
1212 211 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, subsection (1)
1213 of section 409.915, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1214 409.915 County contributions to Medicaid.—Although the
1215 state is responsible for the full portion of the state share of
1216 the matching funds required for the Medicaid program, the state
1217 shall charge the counties an annual contribution in order to
1218 acquire a certain portion of these funds.
1219 (1)(a) As used in this section, the term “state Medicaid
1220 expenditures” means those expenditures used as matching funds
1221 for the federal Medicaid program.
1222 (b) The term does not include funds specially assessed by
1223 any local governmental entity and used as the nonfederal share
1224 for the hospital directed payment program after July 1, 2021.
1225 This paragraph expires July 1, 2026 2025.
1226 Section 35. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1227 557 through 581B of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
1228 the Department of Veterans’ Affairs may submit budget amendments
1229 pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, subject to federal
1230 approval, requesting additional spending authority to support
1231 the development and construction of a new State Veterans’
1232 Nursing Home and Adult Day Health Care Center in Collier County.
1233 This section expires July 1, 2026.
1234 Section 36. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1235 386 and 396 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
1236 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
1237 Department of Elderly Affairs may submit a budget amendment,
1238 subject to the notice, review, and objection procedures of s.
1239 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the
1240 United States Department of Agriculture’s Adult Care Food
1241 Program if additional federal revenues will be expended in the
1242 2025-2026 fiscal year. This section expires July 1, 2026.
1243 Section 37. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1244 584 through 671 and 680 through 723 of the 2025-2026 General
1245 Appropriations Act, subsection (4) of section 216.262, Florida
1246 Statutes, is amended to read:
1247 216.262 Authorized positions.—
1248 (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter relating
1249 to increasing the number of authorized positions, and for the
1250 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal year only, if the actual inmate
1251 population of the Department of Corrections exceeds the inmate
1252 population projections of the February 21, 2025 December 15,
1253 2023, Criminal Justice Estimating Conference by 1 percent for 2
1254 consecutive months or 2 percent for any month, the Executive
1255 Office of the Governor, with the approval of the Legislative
1256 Budget Commission, shall immediately notify the Criminal Justice
1257 Estimating Conference, which shall convene as soon as possible
1258 to revise the estimates. The Department of Corrections may then
1259 submit a budget amendment requesting the establishment of
1260 positions in excess of the number authorized by the Legislature
1261 and additional appropriations from unallocated general revenue
1262 sufficient to provide for essential staff, fixed capital
1263 improvements, and other resources to provide classification,
1264 security, food services, health services, and other variable
1265 expenses within the institutions to accommodate the estimated
1266 increase in the inmate population. All actions taken pursuant to
1267 this subsection are subject to review and approval by the
1268 Legislative Budget Commission. This subsection expires July 1,
1269 2026 2025.
1270 Section 38. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1271 2956 through 3018A of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
1272 subsection (2) of section 215.18, Florida Statutes, is amended
1273 to read:
1274 215.18 Transfers between funds; limitation.—
1275 (2) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may receive one
1276 or more trust fund loans to ensure that the state court system
1277 has funds sufficient to meet its appropriations in the 2025-2026
1278 2024-2025 General Appropriations Act. If the Chief Justice
1279 accesses the loan, he or she must notify the Governor and the
1280 chairs of the legislative appropriations committees in writing.
1281 The loan must come from other funds in the State Treasury which
1282 are for the time being or otherwise in excess of the amounts
1283 necessary to meet the just requirements of such last-mentioned
1284 funds. The Governor shall order the transfer of funds within 5
1285 days after the written notification from the Chief Justice. If
1286 the Governor does not order the transfer, the Chief Financial
1287 Officer shall transfer the requested funds. The loan of funds
1288 from which any money is temporarily transferred must be repaid
1289 by the end of the 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal year. This
1290 subsection expires July 1, 2026 2025.
1291 Section 39. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1292 1051 through 1061 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act:
1293 (1) The Department of Juvenile Justice shall review county
1294 juvenile detention payments to ensure that counties fulfill
1295 their financial responsibilities required in s. 985.6865,
1296 Florida Statutes. If the Department of Juvenile Justice
1297 determines that a county has not met its obligations, the
1298 department shall direct the Department of Revenue to deduct the
1299 amount owed to the Department of Juvenile Justice from the funds
1300 provided to the county under s. 218.23, Florida Statutes. The
1301 Department of Revenue shall transfer the funds withheld to the
1302 Shared County/State Juvenile Detention Trust Fund.
1303 (2) As an assurance to holders of bonds issued by counties
1304 before July 1, 2025, for which distributions made pursuant to s.
1305 218.23, Florida Statutes, are pledged, or bonds issued to refund
1306 such bonds which mature no later than the bonds they refunded
1307 and which result in a reduction of debt service payable in each
1308 fiscal year, the amount available for distribution to a county
1309 shall remain as provided by law and continue to be subject to
1310 any lien or claim on behalf of the bondholders. The Department
1311 of Revenue must ensure, based on information provided by an
1312 affected county, that any reduction in amounts distributed
1313 pursuant to subsection (1) does not reduce the amount of
1314 distribution to a county below the amount necessary for the
1315 timely payment of principal and interest when due on the bonds
1316 and the amount necessary to comply with any covenant under the
1317 bond resolution or other documents relating to the issuance of
1318 the bonds. If a reduction to a county’s monthly distribution
1319 must be decreased in order to comply with this section, the
1320 Department of Revenue must notify the Department of Juvenile
1321 Justice of the amount of the decrease, and the Department of
1322 Juvenile Justice must send a bill for payment of such amount to
1323 the affected county.
1324 (3) This section expires July 1, 2026.
1325 Section 40. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1326 733 through 754A, 880 through 1002A, and 1020 through 1050A of
1327 the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding
1328 the expiration date in section 41 of chapter 2024-228, Laws of
1329 Florida, subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection (2),
1330 paragraph (a) of subsection (3), and subsections (5), (6), and
1331 (7) of section 27.40, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
1332 27.40 Court-appointed counsel; circuit registries; minimum
1333 requirements; appointment by court.—
1334 (1) Counsel shall be appointed to represent any individual
1335 in a criminal or civil proceeding entitled to court-appointed
1336 counsel under the Federal or State Constitution or as authorized
1337 by general law. The court shall appoint a public defender to
1338 represent indigent persons as authorized in s. 27.51. The office
1339 of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel shall be
1340 appointed to represent persons in those cases in which provision
1341 is made for court-appointed counsel, but only after the public
1342 defender has certified to the court in writing that the public
1343 defender is unable to provide representation due to a conflict
1344 of interest or is not authorized to provide representation. The
1345 public defender shall report, in the aggregate, the specific
1346 basis of all conflicts of interest certified to the court. On a
1347 quarterly basis, the public defender shall submit this
1348 information to the Justice Administrative Commission.
1349 (2)(a) Private counsel shall be appointed to represent
1350 persons in those cases in which provision is made for court
1351 appointed counsel but only after the office of criminal conflict
1352 and civil regional counsel has been appointed and has certified
1353 to the court in writing that the criminal conflict and civil
1354 regional counsel is unable to provide representation due to a
1355 conflict of interest. The criminal conflict and civil regional
1356 counsel shall report, in the aggregate, the specific basis of
1357 all conflicts of interest certified to the court. On a quarterly
1358 basis, the criminal conflict and civil regional counsel shall
1359 submit this information to the Justice Administrative
1360 Commission.
1361 (3) In using a registry:
1362 (a) The chief judge of the circuit shall compile a list of
1363 attorneys in private practice, by county and by category of
1364 cases, and provide the list to the clerk of court in each
1365 county. The chief judge of the circuit may restrict the number
1366 of attorneys on the general registry list. To be included on a
1367 registry, an attorney must certify that he or she:
1368 1. Meets any minimum requirements established by the chief
1369 judge and by general law for court appointment;
1370 2. Is available to represent indigent defendants in cases
1371 requiring court appointment of private counsel; and
1372 3. Is willing to abide by the terms of the contract for
1373 services, s. 27.5304, and this section.
1374
1375 To be included on a registry, an attorney must enter into a
1376 contract for services with the Justice Administrative
1377 Commission. Failure to comply with the terms of the contract for
1378 services may result in termination of the contract and removal
1379 from the registry. Each attorney on the registry is responsible
1380 for notifying the clerk of the court and the Justice
1381 Administrative Commission of any change in his or her status.
1382 Failure to comply with this requirement is cause for termination
1383 of the contract for services and removal from the registry until
1384 the requirement is fulfilled.
1385 (5) The Justice Administrative Commission shall approve
1386 uniform contract forms for use in procuring the services of
1387 private court-appointed counsel and uniform procedures and forms
1388 for use by a court-appointed attorney in support of billing for
1389 attorney’s fees, costs, and related expenses to demonstrate the
1390 attorney’s completion of specified duties. Such uniform
1391 contracts and forms for use in billing must be consistent with
1392 s. 27.5304, s. 216.311, and the General Appropriations Act and
1393 must contain the following statement: “The State of Florida’s
1394 performance and obligation to pay under this contract is
1395 contingent upon an annual appropriation by the Legislature.”
1396 (6) After court appointment, the attorney must immediately
1397 file a notice of appearance with the court indicating acceptance
1398 of the appointment to represent the defendant and of the terms
1399 of the uniform contract as specified in subsection (5).
1400 (7)(a) A private attorney appointed by the court from the
1401 registry to represent a client is entitled to payment as
1402 provided in s. 27.5304 so long as the requirements of subsection
1403 (1) and paragraph (2)(a) are met. An attorney appointed by the
1404 court who is not on the registry list may be compensated under
1405 s. 27.5304 only if the court finds in the order of appointment
1406 that there were no registry attorneys available for
1407 representation for that case and only if the requirements of
1408 subsection (1) and paragraph (2)(a) are met.
1409 (b)1. The flat fee established in s. 27.5304 and the
1410 General Appropriations Act shall be presumed by the court to be
1411 sufficient compensation. The attorney shall maintain appropriate
1412 documentation, including contemporaneous and detailed hourly
1413 accounting of time spent representing the client. If the
1414 attorney fails to maintain such contemporaneous and detailed
1415 hourly records, the attorney waives the right to seek
1416 compensation in excess of the flat fee established in s. 27.5304
1417 and the General Appropriations Act. These records and documents
1418 are subject to review by the Justice Administrative Commission
1419 and audit by the Auditor General, subject to the attorney-client
1420 privilege and work-product privilege. The attorney shall
1421 maintain the records and documents in a manner that enables the
1422 attorney to redact any information subject to a privilege in
1423 order to facilitate the commission’s review of the records and
1424 documents and not to impede such review. The attorney may redact
1425 information from the records and documents only to the extent
1426 necessary to comply with the privilege. The Justice
1427 Administrative Commission shall review such records and shall
1428 contemporaneously document such review before authorizing
1429 payment to an attorney. Objections by or on behalf of the
1430 Justice Administrative Commission to records or documents or to
1431 claims for payment by the attorney shall be presumed correct by
1432 the court unless the court determines, in writing, that
1433 competent and substantial evidence exists to justify overcoming
1434 the presumption.
1435 2. If an attorney fails, refuses, or declines to permit the
1436 commission or the Auditor General to review documentation for a
1437 case as provided in this paragraph, the attorney waives the
1438 right to seek, and the commission may not pay, compensation in
1439 excess of the flat fee established in s. 27.5304 and the General
1440 Appropriations Act for that case.
1441 3. A finding by the commission that an attorney has waived
1442 the right to seek compensation in excess of the flat fee
1443 established in s. 27.5304 and the General Appropriations Act, as
1444 provided in this paragraph, shall be presumed to be correct,
1445 unless the court determines, in writing, that competent and
1446 substantial evidence exists to justify overcoming the
1447 presumption.
1448 Section 41. The text of s. 27.40(1), (2)(a), (3)(a), (5),
1449 (6), and (7), Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter
1450 2019-116, Laws of Florida, by this act, expires July 1, 2026,
1451 and the text of those subsections and paragraphs, as applicable,
1452 shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2019, except that
1453 any amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall
1454 be preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
1455 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
1456 expire pursuant to this section.
1457 Section 42. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1458 733 through 754A, 880 through 1002A, and 1020 through 1050A of
1459 the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding
1460 the expiration date in section 43 of chapter 2024-228, Laws of
1461 Florida, subsection (13) of section 27.5304, Florida Statutes,
1462 is amended, and subsections (1), (3), (6), (7), and (11), and
1463 paragraphs (a) through (e) of subsection (12) of that section
1464 are reenacted, to read:
1465 27.5304 Private court-appointed counsel; compensation;
1466 notice.—
1467 (1) Private court-appointed counsel appointed in the manner
1468 prescribed in s. 27.40(1) and (2)(a) shall be compensated by the
1469 Justice Administrative Commission only as provided in this
1470 section and the General Appropriations Act. The flat fees
1471 prescribed in this section are limitations on compensation. The
1472 specific flat fee amounts for compensation shall be established
1473 annually in the General Appropriations Act. The attorney also
1474 shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses in
1475 accordance with s. 29.007. If the attorney is representing a
1476 defendant charged with more than one offense in the same case,
1477 the attorney shall be compensated at the rate provided for the
1478 most serious offense for which he or she represented the
1479 defendant. This section does not allow stacking of the fee
1480 limits established by this section.
1481 (3) The court retains primary authority and responsibility
1482 for determining the reasonableness of all billings for attorney
1483 fees, costs, and related expenses, subject to statutory
1484 limitations and the requirements of s. 27.40(7). Private court
1485 appointed counsel is entitled to compensation upon final
1486 disposition of a case.
1487 (6) For compensation for representation pursuant to a court
1488 appointment in a proceeding under chapter 39:
1489 (a) At the trial level, compensation for representation for
1490 dependency proceedings shall not exceed $1,450 for the first
1491 year following the date of appointment and shall not exceed $700
1492 each year thereafter. Compensation shall be paid based upon
1493 representation of a parent irrespective of the number of case
1494 numbers that may be assigned or the number of children involved,
1495 including any children born during the pendency of the
1496 proceeding. Any appeal, except for an appeal from an
1497 adjudication of dependency, shall be completed by the trial
1498 attorney and is considered compensated by the flat fee for
1499 dependency proceedings.
1500 1. Counsel may bill the flat fee not exceeding $1,450
1501 following disposition or upon dismissal of the petition.
1502 2. Counsel may bill the annual flat fee not exceeding $700
1503 following the first judicial review in the second year following
1504 the date of appointment and each year thereafter as long as the
1505 case remains under protective supervision.
1506 3. If the court grants a motion to reactivate protective
1507 supervision, the attorney shall receive the annual flat fee not
1508 exceeding $700 following the first judicial review and up to an
1509 additional $700 each year thereafter.
1510 4. If, during the course of dependency proceedings, a
1511 proceeding to terminate parental rights is initiated,
1512 compensation shall be as set forth in paragraph (b). If counsel
1513 handling the dependency proceeding is not authorized to handle
1514 proceedings to terminate parental rights, the counsel must
1515 withdraw and new counsel must be appointed.
1516 (b) At the trial level, compensation for representation in
1517 termination of parental rights proceedings shall not exceed
1518 $1,800 for the first year following the date of appointment and
1519 shall not exceed $700 each year thereafter. Compensation shall
1520 be paid based upon representation of a parent irrespective of
1521 the number of case numbers that may be assigned or the number of
1522 children involved, including any children born during the
1523 pendency of the proceeding. Any appeal, except for an appeal
1524 from an order granting or denying termination of parental
1525 rights, shall be completed by trial counsel and is considered
1526 compensated by the flat fee for termination of parental rights
1527 proceedings. If the individual has dependency proceedings
1528 ongoing as to other children, those proceedings are considered
1529 part of the termination of parental rights proceedings as long
1530 as that termination of parental rights proceeding is ongoing.
1531 1. Counsel may bill the flat fee not exceeding $1,800 30
1532 days after rendition of the final order. Each request for
1533 payment submitted to the Justice Administrative Commission must
1534 include the trial counsel’s certification that:
1535 a. Counsel discussed grounds for appeal with the parent or
1536 that counsel attempted and was unable to contact the parent; and
1537 b. No appeal will be filed or that a notice of appeal and a
1538 motion for appointment of appellate counsel, containing the
1539 signature of the parent, have been filed.
1540 2. Counsel may bill the annual flat fee not exceeding $700
1541 following the first judicial review in the second year after the
1542 date of appointment and each year thereafter as long as the
1543 termination of parental rights proceedings are still ongoing.
1544 (c) For appeals from an adjudication of dependency,
1545 compensation may not exceed $1,800.
1546 1. Counsel may bill a flat fee not exceeding $1,200 upon
1547 filing the initial brief or the granting of a motion to
1548 withdraw.
1549 2. If a brief is filed, counsel may bill an additional flat
1550 fee not exceeding $600 upon rendition of the mandate.
1551 (d) For an appeal from an adjudication of termination of
1552 parental rights, compensation may not exceed $3,500.
1553 1. Counsel may bill a flat fee not exceeding $1,750 upon
1554 filing the initial brief or the granting of a motion to
1555 withdraw.
1556 2. If a brief is filed, counsel may bill an additional flat
1557 fee not exceeding $1,750 upon rendition of the mandate.
1558 (7) Counsel eligible to receive compensation from the state
1559 for representation pursuant to court appointment made in
1560 accordance with the requirements of s. 27.40(1) and (2)(a) in a
1561 proceeding under chapter 384, chapter 390, chapter 392, chapter
1562 393, chapter 394, chapter 397, chapter 415, chapter 743, chapter
1563 744, or chapter 984 shall receive compensation not to exceed the
1564 limits prescribed in the General Appropriations Act. Any such
1565 compensation must be determined as provided in s. 27.40(7).
1566 (11) It is the intent of the Legislature that the flat fees
1567 prescribed under this section and the General Appropriations Act
1568 comprise the full and complete compensation for private court
1569 appointed counsel. It is further the intent of the Legislature
1570 that the fees in this section are prescribed for the purpose of
1571 providing counsel with notice of the limit on the amount of
1572 compensation for representation in particular proceedings and
1573 the sole procedure and requirements for obtaining payment for
1574 the same.
1575 (a) If court-appointed counsel moves to withdraw prior to
1576 the full performance of his or her duties through the completion
1577 of the case, the court shall presume that the attorney is not
1578 entitled to the payment of the full flat fee established under
1579 this section and the General Appropriations Act.
1580 (b) If court-appointed counsel is allowed to withdraw from
1581 representation prior to the full performance of his or her
1582 duties through the completion of the case and the court appoints
1583 a subsequent attorney, the total compensation for the initial
1584 and any and all subsequent attorneys may not exceed the flat fee
1585 established under this section and the General Appropriations
1586 Act, except as provided in subsection (12).
1587
1588 This subsection constitutes notice to any subsequently appointed
1589 attorney that he or she will not be compensated the full flat
1590 fee.
1591 (12) The Legislature recognizes that on rare occasions an
1592 attorney may receive a case that requires extraordinary and
1593 unusual effort.
1594 (a) If counsel seeks compensation that exceeds the limits
1595 prescribed by law, he or she must file a motion with the chief
1596 judge for an order approving payment of attorney fees in excess
1597 of these limits.
1598 1. Before filing the motion, the counsel shall deliver a
1599 copy of the intended billing, together with supporting
1600 affidavits and all other necessary documentation, to the Justice
1601 Administrative Commission.
1602 2. The Justice Administrative Commission shall review the
1603 billings, affidavit, and documentation for completeness and
1604 compliance with contractual and statutory requirements and shall
1605 contemporaneously document such review before authorizing
1606 payment to an attorney. If the Justice Administrative Commission
1607 objects to any portion of the proposed billing, the objection
1608 and supporting reasons must be communicated in writing to the
1609 private court-appointed counsel. The counsel may thereafter file
1610 his or her motion, which must specify whether the commission
1611 objects to any portion of the billing or the sufficiency of
1612 documentation, and shall attach the commission’s letter stating
1613 its objection.
1614 (b) Following receipt of the motion to exceed the fee
1615 limits, the chief judge or a single designee shall hold an
1616 evidentiary hearing. The chief judge may select only one judge
1617 per circuit to hear and determine motions pursuant to this
1618 subsection, except multicounty circuits and the eleventh circuit
1619 may have up to two designees.
1620 1. At the hearing, the attorney seeking compensation must
1621 prove by competent and substantial evidence that the case
1622 required extraordinary and unusual efforts. The chief judge or
1623 single designee shall consider criteria such as the number of
1624 witnesses, the complexity of the factual and legal issues, and
1625 the length of trial. The fact that a trial was conducted in a
1626 case does not, by itself, constitute competent substantial
1627 evidence of an extraordinary and unusual effort. In a criminal
1628 case, relief under this section may not be granted if the number
1629 of work hours does not exceed 75 or the number of the state’s
1630 witnesses deposed does not exceed 20.
1631 2. Objections by or on behalf of the Justice Administrative
1632 Commission to records or documents or to claims for payment by
1633 the attorney shall be presumed correct by the court unless the
1634 court determines, in writing, that competent and substantial
1635 evidence exists to justify overcoming the presumption. The chief
1636 judge or single designee shall enter a written order detailing
1637 his or her findings and identifying the extraordinary nature of
1638 the time and efforts of the attorney in the case which warrant
1639 exceeding the flat fee established by this section and the
1640 General Appropriations Act.
1641 (c) A copy of the motion and attachments shall be served on
1642 the Justice Administrative Commission at least 20 business days
1643 before the date of a hearing. The Justice Administrative
1644 Commission has standing to appear before the court, and may
1645 appear in person or telephonically, including at the hearing
1646 under paragraph (b), to contest any motion for an order
1647 approving payment of attorney fees, costs, or related expenses
1648 and may participate in a hearing on the motion by use of
1649 telephonic or other communication equipment. The Justice
1650 Administrative Commission may contract with other public or
1651 private entities or individuals to appear before the court for
1652 the purpose of contesting any motion for an order approving
1653 payment of attorney fees, costs, or related expenses. The fact
1654 that the Justice Administrative Commission has not objected to
1655 any portion of the billing or to the sufficiency of the
1656 documentation is not binding on the court.
1657 (d) If the chief judge or a single designee finds that
1658 counsel has proved by competent and substantial evidence that
1659 the case required extraordinary and unusual efforts, the chief
1660 judge or single designee shall order the compensation to be paid
1661 to the attorney at a percentage above the flat fee rate,
1662 depending on the extent of the unusual and extraordinary effort
1663 required. The percentage must be only the rate necessary to
1664 ensure that the fees paid are not confiscatory under common law.
1665 The percentage may not exceed 200 percent of the established
1666 flat fee, absent a specific finding that 200 percent of the flat
1667 fee in the case would be confiscatory. If the chief judge or
1668 single designee determines that 200 percent of the flat fee
1669 would be confiscatory, he or she shall order the amount of
1670 compensation using an hourly rate not to exceed $75 per hour for
1671 a noncapital case and $100 per hour for a capital case. However,
1672 the compensation calculated by using the hourly rate shall be
1673 only that amount necessary to ensure that the total fees paid
1674 are not confiscatory, subject to the requirements of s.
1675 27.40(7).
1676 (e) Any order granting relief under this subsection must be
1677 attached to the final request for a payment submitted to the
1678 Justice Administrative Commission and must satisfy the
1679 requirements of subparagraph (b)2.
1680 (13) Notwithstanding the limitation set forth in subsection
1681 (5) and for the 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal year only, the
1682 compensation for representation in a criminal proceeding may not
1683 exceed the following:
1684 (a) For misdemeanors and juveniles represented at the trial
1685 level: $2,000.
1686 (b) For noncapital, nonlife felonies represented at the
1687 trial level: $15,000.
1688 (c) For life felonies represented at the trial level:
1689 $15,000.
1690 (d) For capital cases represented at the trial level:
1691 $25,000. For purposes of this paragraph, a “capital case” is any
1692 offense for which the potential sentence is death and the state
1693 has not waived seeking the death penalty.
1694 (e) For representation on appeal: $9,000.
1695 (f) This subsection expires July 1, 2026 2025.
1696 Section 43. The text of s. 27.5304(1), (3), (7), (11), and
1697 (12)(a)-(e), Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter
1698 2019-116, Laws of Florida, and the text of s. 27.5304(6),
1699 Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter 2023-240, Laws
1700 of Florida, by this act, expire July 1, 2026, and the text of
1701 those subsections and paragraphs, as applicable, shall revert to
1702 that in existence on June 30, 2019, except that any amendments
1703 to such text enacted other than by this act shall be preserved
1704 and continue to operate to the extent that such amendments are
1705 not dependent upon the portions of text which expire pursuant to
1706 this section.
1707 Section 44. In order to implement section 97 of the 2025
1708 2026 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (f) of subsection (7)
1709 of section 934.50, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1710 934.50 Searches and seizure using a drone.—
1711 (7) SECURITY STANDARDS FOR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY DRONE USE.—
1712 (f) Notwithstanding this subsection:
1713 1. Subject to appropriation, the drone replacement grant
1714 program is created within the Department of Law Enforcement. The
1715 program shall provide funds to law enforcement agencies, fire
1716 service providers, ambulance crews, or other first responders
1717 that turn in drones that are not in compliance with this
1718 section. To be eligible, the drone must have not reached its end
1719 of life and must still be in working condition. Funds shall be
1720 provided per drone based upon the drone’s replacement costs.
1721 Grant funds may only be used to purchase drones that are in
1722 compliance with this section. The Department of Law Enforcement
1723 shall expeditiously develop an application process, and funds
1724 shall be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis,
1725 determined by the date the department receives the application.
1726 The department may adopt rules to implement this program. For
1727 the purposes of this paragraph, the term “law enforcement
1728 agency” has the same meaning as in this section.
1729 2. The Department of Law Enforcement shall provide the
1730 first two functional drones of each unique make and model
1731 received through the drone grant replacement program to the
1732 Florida Center for Cybersecurity within the University of South
1733 Florida. The Florida Center for Cybersecurity shall analyze each
1734 drone received from the Department of Law Enforcement to
1735 determine whether the drones presented a cybersecurity concern
1736 during its time of use and shall provide a report of its
1737 findings and a list of any specific security vulnerabilities
1738 found in the drone to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
1739 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The center must
1740 return any drone received through the drone replacement grant
1741 program to the Department of Law Enforcement for destruction
1742 pursuant to subparagraph 3., following the completion of the
1743 cybersecurity analysis.
1744 3. The Department of Law Enforcement shall ensure the
1745 destruction of all drones received through the drone replacement
1746 grant program after ensuring that the first two functional
1747 drones of each unique make and model received have been
1748 transmitted to the Florida Center for Cybersecurity for
1749 analysis. The Florida Center for Cybersecurity shall return to
1750 the department for destruction any duplicate model drones in
1751 their possession which were previously transmitted to the
1752 center, and which are not being retained for analysis.
1753 4. From the funds appropriated to the drone replacement
1754 grant program, the Department of Law Enforcement:
1755 a. May expend funds to directly cause, or contract for, the
1756 secure destruction of all drones received under the program
1757 during fiscal years 2023-2024, and 2024-2025, 2025-2026 which
1758 are not being retained for analysis or retained by the
1759 department following a completed analysis.
1760 b. Must provide to the Florida Center for Cybersecurity
1761 $25,000 to cover the center’s expenses associated with the
1762 analysis, transport, secure storage, reporting, and other
1763 related costs necessary to comply with the requirements of this
1764 subsection.
1765 c. May increase the awards previously provided in fiscal
1766 year 2024-2025 2023-2024, which were based on the drone’s value,
1767 to award the value to reflect the drone’s replacement cost.
1768 5. The Department of Law Enforcement is authorized, and all
1769 conditions are deemed met, to adopt emergency rules under s.
1770 120.54(4) for the purpose of implementing the drone replacement
1771 grant program. Notwithstanding any other law, emergency rules
1772 adopted under this section are effective for 12 months after
1773 adoption and may be renewed during the pendency of procedures to
1774 adopt permanent rules addressing the subject of the emergency
1775 rules.
1776
1777 This paragraph expires July 1, 2026 2025.
1778 Section 45. In order to implement appropriations used to
1779 pay existing lease contracts for private lease space in excess
1780 of 2,000 square feet in the 2025-2026 General Appropriations
1781 Act, the Department of Management Services, with the cooperation
1782 of the agencies having the existing lease contracts for office
1783 or storage space, shall use tenant broker services to
1784 renegotiate or reprocure all private lease agreements for office
1785 or storage space expiring between July 1, 2026, and June 30,
1786 2028, in order to reduce costs in future years. The department
1787 shall incorporate this initiative into its 2025 master leasing
1788 report required under s. 255.249(7), Florida Statutes, and may
1789 use tenant broker services to explore the possibilities of
1790 collocating office or storage space, to review the space needs
1791 of each agency, and to review the length and terms of potential
1792 renewals or renegotiations. The department shall provide a
1793 report to the Executive Office of the Governor, the President of
1794 the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by
1795 November 1, 2025, which lists each lease contract for private
1796 office or storage space, the status of renegotiations, and the
1797 savings achieved. This section expires July 1, 2026.
1798 Section 46. In order to implement appropriations authorized
1799 in the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act for data center
1800 services, and notwithstanding s. 216.292(2)(a), Florida
1801 Statutes, an agency may not transfer funds from a data
1802 processing category to a category other than another data
1803 processing category. This section expires July 1, 2026.
1804 Section 47. In order to implement the appropriation of
1805 funds in the appropriation category “Special Categories-Risk
1806 Management Insurance” in the 2025-2026 General Appropriations
1807 Act, and pursuant to the notice, review, and objection
1808 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the Executive Office
1809 of the Governor may transfer funds appropriated in that category
1810 between departments in order to align the budget authority
1811 granted with the premiums paid by each department for risk
1812 management insurance. This section expires July 1, 2026.
1813 Section 48. In order to implement the appropriation of
1814 funds in the appropriation category “Special Categories-Transfer
1815 to Department of Management Services-Human Resources Services
1816 Purchased per Statewide Contract” in the 2025-2026 General
1817 Appropriations Act, and pursuant to the notice, review, and
1818 objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the
1819 Executive Office of the Governor may transfer funds appropriated
1820 in that category between departments in order to align the
1821 budget authority granted with the assessments that must be paid
1822 by each agency to the Department of Management Services for
1823 human resource management services. This section expires July 1,
1824 2026.
1825 Section 49. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
1826 2602 in the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act in the Building
1827 Relocation appropriation category from the Architects Incidental
1828 Trust Fund of the Department of Management Services, and in
1829 accordance with s. 215.196, Florida Statutes:
1830 (1) Upon the final disposition of a state-owned building,
1831 the Department of Management Services may use up to 5 percent of
1832 facility disposition funds from the Architects Incidental Trust
1833 Fund to defer, offset, or otherwise pay for all or a portion of
1834 relocation expenses, including furniture, fixtures, and
1835 equipment for state agencies impacted by the disposition of the
1836 department’s managed facilities in the Florida Facilities Pool.
1837 The extent of the financial assistance provided to impacted
1838 state agencies shall be determined by the department.
1839 (2) The Department of Management Services may submit budget
1840 amendments for an increase in appropriation if necessary for the
1841 implementation of this section pursuant to the provisions of
1842 chapter 216, Florida Statutes. Budget amendments for an increase
1843 in appropriation shall include a detailed plan providing all
1844 estimated costs and relocation proposals.
1845 (3) This section expires July 1, 2026.
1846 Section 50. In order to implement the appropriation of
1847 funds in the appropriation category “Enterprise Cybersecurity
1848 Resiliency” in the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
1849 notwithstanding chapter 287, Florida Statutes, in order to
1850 ensure continued operations, all agencies may continue to
1851 purchase, subject to appropriation, their current productivity
1852 tools and services. This section expires July 1, 2026.
1853 Section 51. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1854 2217 through 2220A of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act:
1855 (1) The Department of Financial Services shall replace the
1856 four main components of the Florida Accounting Information
1857 Resource Subsystem (FLAIR), which include central FLAIR,
1858 departmental FLAIR, payroll, and information warehouse, and
1859 shall replace the cash management and accounting management
1860 components of the Cash Management Subsystem (CMS) with an
1861 integrated enterprise system that allows the state to organize,
1862 define, and standardize its financial management business
1863 processes and that complies with ss. 215.90-215.96, Florida
1864 Statutes. The department may not include in the replacement of
1865 FLAIR and CMS:
1866 (a) Functionality that duplicates any of the other
1867 information subsystems of the Florida Financial Management
1868 Information System; or
1869 (b) Agency business processes related to any of the
1870 functions included in the Personnel Information System, the
1871 Purchasing Subsystem, or the Legislative Appropriations
1872 System/Planning and Budgeting Subsystem.
1873 (2) For purposes of replacing FLAIR and CMS, the Department
1874 of Financial Services shall:
1875 (a) Take into consideration the cost and implementation
1876 data identified for Option 3 as recommended in the March 31,
1877 2014, Florida Department of Financial Services FLAIR Study,
1878 version 031.
1879 (b) Ensure that all business requirements and technical
1880 specifications have been provided to all state agencies for
1881 their review and input and approved by the executive steering
1882 committee established in paragraph (c), including any updates to
1883 these documents.
1884 (c) Implement a project governance structure that includes
1885 an executive steering committee composed of:
1886 1. The Chief Financial Officer or the executive sponsor of
1887 the project.
1888 2. A representative of the Division of Treasury of the
1889 Department of Financial Services, appointed by the Chief
1890 Financial Officer.
1891 3. The Chief Information Officers of the Department of
1892 Financial Services and the Department of Environmental
1893 Protection.
1894 4. Two employees from the Division of Accounting and
1895 Auditing of the Department of Financial Services, appointed by
1896 the Chief Financial Officer. Each employee must have experience
1897 relating to at least one of the four main components that
1898 compose FLAIR.
1899 5. Two employees from the Executive Office of the Governor,
1900 appointed by the Governor. One employee must have experience
1901 relating to the Legislative Appropriations System/Planning and
1902 Budgeting Subsystem.
1903 6. One employee from the Department of Revenue, appointed
1904 by the executive director, who has experience using or
1905 maintaining the department’s finance and accounting systems.
1906 7. Two employees from the Department of Management
1907 Services, appointed by the Secretary of Management Services. One
1908 employee must have experience relating to the department’s
1909 personnel information subsystem and one employee must have
1910 experience relating to the department’s purchasing subsystem.
1911 8. A state agency administrative services director,
1912 appointed by the Governor.
1913 9. Two employees from the Agency for Health Care
1914 Administration. One employee shall be the executive sponsor of
1915 the Florida Health Care Connection (FX) System or his or her
1916 designee, appointed by the Secretary of Health Care
1917 Administration, and one employee shall be the Assistant Deputy
1918 Secretary for Finance or his or her designee.
1919 10. The State Chief Information Officer, or his or her
1920 designee, as a nonvoting member. The State Chief Information
1921 Officer, or his or her designee, shall provide monthly status
1922 reports to the executive steering committee pursuant to the
1923 oversight responsibilities in s. 282.0051, Florida Statutes.
1924 11. One employee from the Department of Business and
1925 Professional Regulation who has experience in finance and
1926 accounting and FLAIR, appointed by the Secretary of Business and
1927 Professional Regulation.
1928 12. One employee from the Florida Fish and Wildlife
1929 Conservation Commission who has experience using or maintaining
1930 the commission’s finance and accounting systems, appointed by
1931 the Chair of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
1932 Commission.
1933 13. The budget director of the Department of Education, or
1934 his or her designee.
1935 (3)(a) The Chief Financial Officer or the executive sponsor
1936 of the project shall serve as chair of the executive steering
1937 committee, and the committee shall take action by a vote of at
1938 least eight affirmative votes with the Chief Financial Officer
1939 or the executive sponsor of the project voting on the prevailing
1940 side. A quorum of the executive steering committee consists of
1941 at least 10 members.
1942 (b) No later than 14 days before a meeting of the executive
1943 steering committee, the chair shall request input from committee
1944 members on agenda items for the next scheduled meeting.
1945 (c) The chair shall establish a working group consisting of
1946 FLAIR users, state agency technical staff who maintain
1947 applications that integrate with FLAIR, and no less than four
1948 state agency finance and accounting or budget directors. The
1949 working group shall meet at least monthly to review PALM
1950 functionality, assess project impacts to state financial
1951 business processes and agency staff, and develop recommendations
1952 to the executive steering committee for improvements. The chair
1953 shall request input from the working group on agenda items for
1954 each scheduled meeting. The PALM project team shall dedicate a
1955 staff member to the group and provide system demonstrations and
1956 any project documentation, as needed, for the group to fulfill
1957 its duties.
1958 (d) The chair shall request all agency project sponsors to
1959 provide bimonthly status reports to the executive steering
1960 committee. The form and format of the bimonthly status reports
1961 shall be developed by the Florida PALM project and provided to
1962 the executive steering committee meeting for approval. Such
1963 agency status reports shall provide information to the executive
1964 steering committee on the activities and ongoing work within the
1965 agency to prepare their systems and impacted employees for the
1966 deployment of the Florida PALM System. The first bimonthly
1967 status report is due September 1, 2025, and bimonthly
1968 thereafter.
1969 (4) The executive steering committee has the overall
1970 responsibility for ensuring that the project to replace FLAIR
1971 and CMS meets its primary business objectives and shall:
1972 (a) Identify and recommend to the Executive Office of the
1973 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
1974 House of Representatives any statutory changes needed to
1975 implement the replacement subsystem that will standardize, to
1976 the fullest extent possible, the state’s financial management
1977 business processes.
1978 (b) Review and approve any changes to the project’s scope,
1979 schedule, and budget which do not conflict with the requirements
1980 of subsection (1).
1981 (c) Ensure that adequate resources are provided throughout
1982 all phases of the project.
1983 (d) Approve all major project deliverables and any cost
1984 changes to each deliverable over $250,000.
1985 (e) Approve contract amendments and changes to all
1986 contract-related documents associated with the replacement of
1987 FLAIR and CMS.
1988 (f) Review, and approve as warranted, the format of the
1989 bimonthly agency status reports to include objective and
1990 quantifiable information on each agency’s progress in planning
1991 for the Florida PALM Major Implementation, covering the agency’s
1992 people, processes, technology, and data transformation
1993 activities.
1994 (g) Ensure compliance with ss. 216.181(16), 216.311,
1995 216.313, 282.318(4)(h), and 287.058, Florida Statutes.
1996 (5) This section expires July 1, 2026.
1997 Section 52. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
1998 2698 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
1999 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 53 of chapter
2000 2024-228, Laws of Florida, subsection (3) of section 282.709,
2001 Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
2002 282.709 State agency law enforcement radio system and
2003 interoperability network.—
2004 (3) In recognition of the critical nature of the statewide
2005 law enforcement radio communications system, the Legislature
2006 finds that there is an immediate danger to the public health,
2007 safety, and welfare, and that it is in the best interest of the
2008 state to continue partnering with the system’s current operator.
2009 The Legislature finds that continuity of coverage is critical to
2010 supporting law enforcement, first responders, and other public
2011 safety users. The potential for a loss in coverage or a lack of
2012 interoperability between users requires emergency action and is
2013 a serious concern for officers’ safety and their ability to
2014 communicate and respond to various disasters and events.
2015 (a) The department, pursuant to s. 287.057(11), shall enter
2016 into a 15-year contract with the entity that was operating the
2017 statewide radio communications system on January 1, 2021. The
2018 contract must include:
2019 1. The purchase of radios;
2020 2. The upgrade to the Project 25 communications standard;
2021 3. Increased system capacity and enhanced coverage for
2022 system users;
2023 4. Operations, maintenance, and support at a fixed annual
2024 rate;
2025 5. The conveyance of communications towers to the
2026 department; and
2027 6. The assignment of communications tower leases to the
2028 department.
2029 (b) The State Agency Law Enforcement Radio System Trust
2030 Fund is established in the department and funded from surcharges
2031 collected under ss. 318.18, 320.0802, and 328.72. Upon
2032 appropriation, moneys in the trust fund may be used by the
2033 department to acquire the equipment, software, and engineering,
2034 administrative, and maintenance services it needs to construct,
2035 operate, and maintain the statewide radio system. Moneys in the
2036 trust fund from surcharges shall be used to help fund the costs
2037 of the system. Upon completion of the system, moneys in the
2038 trust fund may also be used by the department for payment of the
2039 recurring maintenance costs of the system.
2040 Section 53. The text of s. 282.709(3), Florida Statutes, as
2041 carried forward from chapter 2024-228, Laws of Florida, by this
2042 act expires July 1, 2026, and the text of that subsection, shall
2043 revert to that in existence on June 1, 2021, except that any
2044 amendments to such text enacted other than by this act, shall be
2045 preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
2046 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
2047 expire pursuant to this section.
2048 Section 54. In order to implement appropriations relating
2049 to the purchase of equipment and services related to the
2050 Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) as authorized in
2051 the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding s.
2052 287.057, Florida Statutes, state agencies and other eligible
2053 users of the SLERS network may use the Department of Management
2054 Services SLERS contract for purchase of equipment and services.
2055 This section expires July 1, 2026.
2056 Section 55. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2057 2616 through 2626 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
2058 and notwithstanding rule 60A-1.031, Florida Administrative Code,
2059 the transaction fee as identified in s. 287.057(24)(c), Florida
2060 Statutes, shall be collected for use of the online procurement
2061 system and is 0.7 percent for the 2025-2026 fiscal year only.
2062 This section expires July 1, 2026.
2063 Section 56. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2064 2733 through 2740A of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
2065 paragraph (ll) of subsection (6) of section 627.351, Florida
2066 Statutes, is reenacted and amended to read:
2067 627.351 Insurance risk apportionment plans.—
2068 (6) CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE CORPORATION.—
2069 (ll)1. In addition to any other method of alternative
2070 dispute resolution authorized by state law, the corporation may
2071 adopt policy forms that provide for the resolution of disputes
2072 regarding its claim determinations, including disputes regarding
2073 coverage for, or the scope and value of, a claim, in a
2074 proceeding before the Division of Administrative Hearings. Any
2075 such policies are not subject to s. 627.70154. All proceedings
2076 in the Division of Administrative Hearings pursuant to such
2077 policies are subject to ss. 57.105 and 768.79 as if filed in the
2078 courts of this state and are not considered chapter 120
2079 administrative proceedings. Rule 1.442, Florida Rules of Civil
2080 Procedure, applies to any offer served pursuant to s. 768.79,
2081 except that, notwithstanding any provision in Rule 1.442,
2082 Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, to the contrary, an offer
2083 shall not be served earlier than 10 days after filing the
2084 request for hearing with the Division of Administrative Hearings
2085 and shall not be served later than 10 days before the date set
2086 for the final hearing. The administrative law judge in such
2087 proceedings shall award attorney fees and other relief pursuant
2088 to ss. 57.105 and 768.79. The corporation may not seek, and the
2089 office may not approve, a maximum hourly rate for attorney fees.
2090 2. The corporation may contract with the division to
2091 conduct proceedings to resolve disputes regarding its claim
2092 determinations as may be provided for in the applicable policies
2093 of insurance. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2094 Section 57. Effective upon this act becoming law, and in
2095 order to implement Specific Appropriations 2665 through 2671A of
2096 the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding
2097 the proviso language for Specific Appropriation 2966 in chapter
2098 2023-239, Laws of Florida, subsection (2) of section 110.116,
2099 Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2100 110.116 Personnel information system; payroll procedures.—
2101 (2) In recognition of the critical nature of the statewide
2102 personnel and payroll system commonly known as People First, the
2103 Legislature finds that it is in the best interest of the state
2104 to continue partnering with the current People First third-party
2105 operator. The People First System annually processes 500,000
2106 employment applications, 455,000 personnel actions, and the
2107 state’s $9.5-billion payroll. The Legislature finds that the
2108 continuity of operations of the People First System and the
2109 critical functions it provides such as payroll, employee health
2110 insurance benefit records, and other critical services must not
2111 be interrupted. Presently, the Chief Financial Officer is
2112 undertaking the development of a new statewide accounting and
2113 financial management system, commonly known as the Planning,
2114 Accounting, and Ledger Management (PALM) system, scheduled to be
2115 operational in the year 2026. The procurement and implementation
2116 of an entire replacement of the People First System will impede
2117 the timeframe needed to successfully integrate the state’s
2118 payroll system with the PALM System. In order to maintain
2119 continuity of operations and to ensure the successful completion
2120 of the PALM System, the Legislature directs that:
2121 (a) The department, pursuant to s. 287.057(11), shall enter
2122 into one a 3-year contract extension for a period of 3 years
2123 with the entity operating the People First System by on January
2124 1, 2026 2024. The contract extension must:
2125 1. Provide for the integration of the current People First
2126 System with PALM.
2127 2. Exclude major functionality updates or changes to the
2128 People First System prior to completion of the PALM System. This
2129 does not include:
2130 a. Routine system maintenance such as code updates
2131 following open enrollment; or
2132 b. The technical remediation necessary to integrate the
2133 system with PALM within the PALM project’s planned
2134 implementation schedule.
2135 3. Include project planning and analysis deliverables
2136 necessary to:
2137 a. Detail and document the state’s functional requirements.
2138 b. Estimate the cost of transitioning the current People
2139 First System to a cloud-based supported version of the current
2140 software cloud computing infrastructure within the contract
2141 extension and after the successful integration with PALM. The
2142 project cost evaluation shall estimate the annual cost and
2143 capacity growth required to host the system in a cloud
2144 environment.
2145
2146 The department shall develop these system specifications in
2147 conjunction with the Department of Financial Services and the
2148 Auditor General.
2149 4. Include technical support for state agencies that may
2150 need assistance in remediating or integrating current financial
2151 shadow systems with People First in order to integrate with PALM
2152 or the cloud version of People First.
2153 5. Include organizational change management and training
2154 deliverables needed to support the implementation of PALM
2155 payroll functionality and the People First System cloud upgrade.
2156 Responsibilities of the operator and the department shall be
2157 outlined in a project role and responsibility assignment chart
2158 within the contract.
2159 6. Include an option to renew the contract for one
2160 additional year.
2161 (b) The department shall submit, no later than June 30,
2162 2026, its project planning and detailed cost estimate to upgrade
2163 the current People First System to the chair of the Senate
2164 Committee on Appropriations, the chair of the House of
2165 Representatives Budget Appropriations Committee, and the
2166 Executive Office of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget,
2167 for preliminary review and consideration of funding the
2168 department’s Fiscal Year 2026-2027 legislative budget request to
2169 update the system.
2170 (c) The department shall contract with an independent
2171 software quality assurance and testing provider to work with all
2172 stakeholders to:
2173 1. Conduct a comprehensive business process analysis to
2174 document current workflows, identify inefficiencies, and develop
2175 recommendations to streamline business processes to improve
2176 service delivery, reduce redundancy, and enhance operational
2177 efficiency.
2178 2. Develop detailed current and future state business,
2179 functional, and technical requirements, including, but not
2180 limited to:
2181 a. System capabilities and user requirements;
2182 b. Security, accessibility, and compliance standards;
2183 c. Data migration and conversion requirements;
2184 d. Integration points with existing enterprise systems and
2185 third-party applications; and
2186 e. Verifiable acceptance criteria for each requirement.
2187 3. Conduct a complete system integration assessment to
2188 identify dependencies, interoperability challenges, and
2189 strategies for seamless data exchange.
2190 4. Deliver a streamlined transparent process to track,
2191 test, and update all system requirements.
2192 5. Submit a report detailing these requirements, process
2193 improvements, and any related statutory change recommendations
2194 to the chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the chair
2195 of the House Budget Committee, and the Executive Office of the
2196 Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget by June 30, 2026.
2197 (d) This subsection expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2198 Section 58. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2199 2139 through 2141 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
2200 paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 215.5586, Florida
2201 Statutes, is amended to read:
2202 215.5586 My Safe Florida Home Program.—There is established
2203 within the Department of Financial Services the My Safe Florida
2204 Home Program. The department shall provide fiscal
2205 accountability, contract management, and strategic leadership
2206 for the program, consistent with this section. This section does
2207 not create an entitlement for property owners or obligate the
2208 state in any way to fund the inspection or retrofitting of
2209 residential property in this state. Implementation of this
2210 program is subject to annual legislative appropriations. It is
2211 the intent of the Legislature that, subject to the availability
2212 of funds, the My Safe Florida Home Program provide licensed
2213 inspectors to perform hurricane mitigation inspections of
2214 eligible homes and grants to fund hurricane mitigation projects
2215 on those homes. The department shall implement the program in
2216 such a manner that the total amount of funding requested by
2217 accepted applications, whether for inspections, grants, or other
2218 services or assistance, does not exceed the total amount of
2219 available funds. If, after applications are processed and
2220 approved, funds remain available, the department may accept
2221 applications up to the available amount. The program shall
2222 develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated approach
2223 for hurricane damage mitigation pursuant to the requirements
2224 provided in this section.
2225 (2) HURRICANE MITIGATION GRANTS.—Financial grants shall be
2226 used by homeowners to make improvements recommended by an
2227 inspection which increase resistance to hurricane damage.
2228 (a) A homeowner is eligible for a hurricane mitigation
2229 grant if all of the following criteria are met:
2230 1. The home must be eligible for an inspection under
2231 subsection (1).
2232 2. The home must be a dwelling with an insured value of
2233 $700,000 or less. Homeowners who are low-income persons, as
2234 defined in s. 420.0004(11), are exempt from this requirement.
2235 3. The home must undergo an acceptable hurricane mitigation
2236 inspection as provided in subsection (1).
2237 4. The building permit application for initial construction
2238 of the home must have been made before January 1, 2008.
2239 5. The homeowner must agree to make his or her home
2240 available for inspection once a mitigation project is completed.
2241 6. The homeowner must agree to provide to the department
2242 information received from the homeowner’s insurer identifying
2243 the discounts realized by the homeowner because of the
2244 mitigation improvements funded through the program.
2245 7.a. The homeowner must be a low-income person or moderate
2246 income person as defined in s. 420.0004.
2247 b. The hurricane mitigation inspection must have occurred
2248 within the previous 24 months from the date of application.
2249 c. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2026.
2250 Section 59. Effective upon this act becoming a law, in
2251 order to implement Specific Appropriation 2245A of the 2025-2026
2252 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding s. 216.301,
2253 Florida Statutes, the funds appropriated to the Department of
2254 Financial Services in Specific Appropriation 2849A or section
2255 179 of the 2024-2025 General Appropriations Act will not revert
2256 and may be carried forward through the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
2257 This section expires July 1, 2026.
2258 Section 60. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2259 1362, 1622, and 1752A of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations
2260 Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida
2261 Statutes, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Fish
2262 and Wildlife Conservation Commission, and the Department of
2263 Agriculture and Consumer Services may submit a budget amendment,
2264 subject to Legislative Budget Commission approval, to increase
2265 budget authority for land management contingent upon the
2266 submission of a detailed spend and activity plan for the funds
2267 and shall focus on enhanced upland management activities and
2268 invasive species removal beyond the recurring funding for land
2269 management activities. This section expires July 1, 2026.
2270 Section 61. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2271 1456 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
2272 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
2273 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may submit
2274 budget amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection
2275 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget
2276 authority to support the National School Lunch Program. This
2277 section expires July 1, 2026.
2278 Section 62. In order to implement specific appropriations
2279 from the land acquisition trust funds within the Department of
2280 Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of
2281 Environmental Protection, the Department of State, and the Fish
2282 and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which are contained in the
2283 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, subsection (3) of section
2284 215.18, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2285 215.18 Transfers between funds; limitation.—
2286 (3) Notwithstanding subsection (1) and only with respect to
2287 a land acquisition trust fund in the Department of Agriculture
2288 and Consumer Services, the Department of Environmental
2289 Protection, the Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife
2290 Conservation Commission, whenever there is a deficiency in a
2291 land acquisition trust fund which would render that trust fund
2292 temporarily insufficient to meet its just requirements,
2293 including the timely payment of appropriations from that trust
2294 fund, and other trust funds in the State Treasury have moneys
2295 that are for the time being or otherwise in excess of the
2296 amounts necessary to meet the just requirements, including
2297 appropriated obligations, of those other trust funds, the
2298 Governor may order a temporary transfer of moneys from one or
2299 more of the other trust funds to a land acquisition trust fund
2300 in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the
2301 Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of State,
2302 or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Any action
2303 proposed pursuant to this subsection is subject to the notice,
2304 review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, and the Governor
2305 shall provide notice of such action at least 7 days before the
2306 effective date of the transfer of trust funds, except that
2307 during July 2025 2024, notice of such action shall be provided
2308 at least 3 days before the effective date of a transfer unless
2309 such 3-day notice is waived by the chair and vice chair of the
2310 Legislative Budget Commission. Any transfer of trust funds to a
2311 land acquisition trust fund in the Department of Agriculture and
2312 Consumer Services, the Department of Environmental Protection,
2313 the Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
2314 Commission must be repaid to the trust funds from which the
2315 moneys were loaned by the end of the 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal
2316 year. The Legislature has determined that the repayment of the
2317 other trust fund moneys temporarily loaned to a land acquisition
2318 trust fund in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
2319 Services, the Department of Environmental Protection, the
2320 Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
2321 Commission pursuant to this subsection is an allowable use of
2322 the moneys in a land acquisition trust fund because the moneys
2323 from other trust funds temporarily loaned to a land acquisition
2324 trust fund shall be expended solely and exclusively in
2325 accordance with s. 28, Art. X of the State Constitution. This
2326 subsection expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2327 Section 63. (1) In order to implement specific
2328 appropriations from the land acquisition trust funds within the
2329 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department
2330 of Environmental Protection, the Department of State, and the
2331 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission which are contained in
2332 the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, the Department of
2333 Environmental Protection shall transfer revenues from the Land
2334 Acquisition Trust Fund within the department to the land
2335 acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and
2336 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
2337 Wildlife Conservation Commission as provided in this section. As
2338 used in this section, the term “department” means the Department
2339 of Environmental Protection.
2340 (2) After subtracting any required debt service payments,
2341 the proportionate share of revenues to be transferred to each
2342 land acquisition trust fund shall be calculated by dividing the
2343 appropriations from each of the land acquisition trust funds for
2344 the fiscal year by the total appropriations from the Land
2345 Acquisition Trust Fund within the department and the land
2346 acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and
2347 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
2348 Wildlife Conservation Commission for the fiscal year. The
2349 department shall transfer the proportionate share of the
2350 revenues in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the
2351 department on a monthly basis to the appropriate land
2352 acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and
2353 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
2354 Wildlife Conservation Commission and shall retain its
2355 proportionate share of the revenues in the Land Acquisition
2356 Trust Fund within the department. Total distributions to a land
2357 acquisition trust fund within the Department of Agriculture and
2358 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
2359 Wildlife Conservation Commission may not exceed the total
2360 appropriations from such trust fund for the fiscal year.
2361 (3) In addition, the department shall transfer from the
2362 Land Acquisition Trust Fund to land acquisition trust funds
2363 within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the
2364 Department of State, and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
2365 Commission amounts equal to the difference between the amounts
2366 appropriated in chapter 2024-231, Laws of Florida, to the
2367 department’s Land Acquisition Trust Fund and the other land
2368 acquisition trust funds, and the amounts actually transferred
2369 between those trust funds during the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
2370 (4) The department may advance funds from the beginning
2371 unobligated fund balance in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to
2372 the Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the Fish and Wildlife
2373 Conservation Commission needed for cash flow purposes based on a
2374 detailed expenditure plan. The department shall prorate amounts
2375 transferred quarterly to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
2376 Commission to recoup the amount of funds advanced by June 30,
2377 2026.
2378 (5) This section expires July 1, 2026.
2379 Section 64. In order to implement specific appropriations
2380 from the Florida Forever Trust Fund within the Department of
2381 Environmental Protection, which are contained in the 2025-2026
2382 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (m) of subsection (3) of
2383 section 259.105, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2384 259.105 The Florida Forever Act.—
2385 (3) Less the costs of issuing and the costs of funding
2386 reserve accounts and other costs associated with bonds, the
2387 proceeds of cash payments or bonds issued pursuant to this
2388 section shall be deposited into the Florida Forever Trust Fund
2389 created by s. 259.1051. The proceeds shall be distributed by the
2390 Department of Environmental Protection in the following manner:
2391 (m) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a)-(j) and for the 2025
2392 2026 2024-2025 fiscal year, the proceeds shall be distributed as
2393 provided in the General Appropriations Act. This paragraph
2394 expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2395 Section 65. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2396 1609 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (a)
2397 of subsection (2) of section 376.91, Florida Statutes, is
2398 amended to read:
2399 376.91 Statewide cleanup of perfluoroalkyl and
2400 polyfluoroalkyl substances.—
2401 (2) STATEWIDE CLEANUP TARGET LEVELS.—
2402 (a) If the United States Environmental Protection Agency
2403 has not finalized its standards for PFAS in drinking water,
2404 groundwater, and soil by January 1, 2026 2025, the department
2405 shall adopt by rule statewide cleanup target levels for PFAS in
2406 drinking water, groundwater, and soil using criteria set forth
2407 in s. 376.30701, with priority given to PFOA and PFOS. The rules
2408 for statewide cleanup target levels may not take effect until
2409 ratified by the Legislature.
2410 Section 66. The amendments to s. 376.91, Florida Statutes,
2411 made by this act expire July 1, 2026, and the text of that
2412 section shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2025,
2413 except that any amendments to such text enacted other than by
2414 this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
2415 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
2416 of text which expire pursuant to this section.
2417 Section 67. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2418 1609 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
2419 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 66 of chapter
2420 2024-228, Laws of Florida, paragraph (g) of subsection (15) of
2421 section 376.3071, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
2422 376.3071 Inland Protection Trust Fund; creation; purposes;
2423 funding.—
2424 (15) ETHANOL OR BIODIESEL DAMAGE; PREVENTIVE MEASURES.—The
2425 department shall pay, pursuant to this subsection, up to $10
2426 million each fiscal year from the fund for the costs of labor
2427 and equipment to repair or replace petroleum storage systems
2428 that may have been damaged due to the storage of fuels blended
2429 with ethanol or biodiesel, or for preventive measures to reduce
2430 the potential for such damage.
2431 (g) Payments may not be made for the following:
2432 1. Proposal costs or costs related to preparation of the
2433 application and required documentation;
2434 2. Certified public accountant costs;
2435 3. Except as provided in paragraph (j), any costs in excess
2436 of the amount approved by the department under paragraph (b) or
2437 which are not in substantial compliance with the purchase order;
2438 4. Costs associated with storage tanks, piping, or
2439 ancillary equipment that has previously been repaired or
2440 replaced for which costs have been paid under this section;
2441 5. Facilities that are not in compliance with department
2442 storage tank rules, until the noncompliance issues have been
2443 resolved; or
2444 6. Costs associated with damage to petroleum storage
2445 systems caused in whole or in part by causes other than the
2446 storage of fuels blended with ethanol or biodiesel.
2447 Section 68. The text of s. 376.3071(15)(g), Florida
2448 Statutes, as carried forward from chapter 2020-114, Laws of
2449 Florida, by this act expires July 1, 2026, and the text of that
2450 paragraph shall revert to that in existence on July 1, 2020, but
2451 not including any amendments made by this act or chapter 2020
2452 114, Laws of Florida, and any amendments to such text enacted
2453 other than by this act shall be preserved and continue to
2454 operate to the extent that such amendments are not dependent
2455 upon the portion of text which expires pursuant to this section.
2456 Section 69. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2457 2052 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
2458 notwithstanding chapter 287, Florida Statutes, the Department of
2459 Citrus shall enter into agreements for the purpose of increasing
2460 production of trees that show tolerance or resistance to citrus
2461 greening and to commercialize technologies that produce
2462 tolerance or resistance to citrus greening in trees. The
2463 department shall enter into these agreements no later than
2464 January 1, 2026, and shall file with the department’s Inspector
2465 General a certification of conditions and circumstances
2466 justifying each agreement entered into without competitive
2467 solicitation. This section expires July 1, 2026.
2468 Section 70. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2469 1502 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
2470 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 71 of chapter
2471 2024-228, Laws of Florida, section 380.5105, Florida Statutes,
2472 is reenacted and amended to read:
2473 380.5105 The Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts; Florida
2474 Forever program.—
2475 (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it
2476 is the intent of the Legislature that the trust shall administer
2477 the working waterfronts land acquisition program as set forth in
2478 this section.
2479 (a) The trust and the Department of Agriculture and
2480 Consumer Services shall jointly develop rules specifically
2481 establishing an application process and a process for the
2482 evaluation, scoring and ranking of working waterfront projects.
2483 The proposed rules jointly developed pursuant to this paragraph
2484 shall be promulgated by the trust. Such rules shall establish a
2485 system of weighted criteria to give increased priority to
2486 projects:
2487 1. Within a municipality with a population less than
2488 30,000;
2489 2. Within a municipality or area under intense growth and
2490 development pressures, as evidenced by a number of factors,
2491 including a determination that the municipality’s growth rate
2492 exceeds the average growth rate for the state;
2493 3. Within the boundary of a community redevelopment agency
2494 established pursuant to s. 163.356;
2495 4. Adjacent to state-owned submerged lands designated as an
2496 aquatic preserve identified in s. 258.39; or
2497 5. That provide a demonstrable benefit to the local
2498 economy.
2499 (b) For projects that will require more than the grant
2500 amount awarded for completion, the applicant must identify in
2501 their project application funding sources that will provide the
2502 difference between the grant award and the estimated project
2503 completion cost. Such rules may be incorporated into those
2504 developed pursuant to s. 380.507(11).
2505 (c) The trust shall develop a ranking list based on
2506 criteria identified in paragraph (a) for proposed fee simple and
2507 less-than-fee simple acquisition projects developed pursuant to
2508 this section. The trust shall, by the first Board of Trustees of
2509 the Internal Improvement Trust Fund meeting in February, present
2510 the ranking list pursuant to this section to the board of
2511 trustees for final approval of projects for funding. The board
2512 of trustees may remove projects from the ranking list but may
2513 not add projects.
2514 (d) Grant awards, acquisition approvals, and terms of less
2515 than-fee acquisitions shall be approved by the trust. Waterfront
2516 communities that receive grant awards must submit annual
2517 progress reports to the trust identifying project activities
2518 which are complete, and the progress achieved in meeting the
2519 goals outlined in the project application. The trust must
2520 implement a process to monitor and evaluate the performance of
2521 grant recipients in completing projects that are funded through
2522 the working waterfronts program.
2523 (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it
2524 is the intent of the Legislature that the Department of
2525 Environmental Protection shall administer the working
2526 waterfronts capital outlay grant program as set forth in this
2527 section to support the commercial fishing and marine aquaculture
2528 industries industry, including the infrastructure for receiving
2529 or unloading seafood for the purpose of supporting the seafood
2530 economy.
2531 (a) The working waterfronts capital outlay grant program is
2532 created to provide funding to assist commercial saltwater
2533 products or commercial saltwater wholesale dealer or retailer
2534 license holders and seafood houses in maintaining their
2535 operations.
2536 (b) Eligible costs and expenditures include fixed capital
2537 outlay and operating capital outlay, including, but not limited
2538 to, the repair and maintenance or replacement of equipment, the
2539 repair and maintenance or replacement of water-adjacent
2540 facilities or infrastructure, and the construction or renovation
2541 of shoreside facilities.
2542 (c) The applicant must demonstrate a benefit to the local
2543 economy.
2544 (d) Grant recipients must submit annual progress reports to
2545 the department identifying project activities that are complete
2546 and the progress achieved in meeting the goals outlined in the
2547 project application.
2548 (e) The department shall implement a process to monitor and
2549 evaluate the performance of grant recipients in completing
2550 projects funded through the program.
2551 Section 71. The text of s. 380.5105, Florida Statutes, as
2552 carried forward from chapter 2024-228, Laws of Florida, by this
2553 act expire July 1, 2026, and the text of that section shall
2554 revert to that in existence on June 30, 2024, except that any
2555 amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall be
2556 preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
2557 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
2558 expire pursuant to this section.
2559 Section 72. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2560 1725 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act and
2561 notwithstanding s. 823.11(4)(c), Florida Statutes, the Fish and
2562 Wildlife Conservation Commission may use funds appropriated for
2563 the derelict vessel removal program for grants to local
2564 governments or to remove, store, destroy, and dispose of, or to
2565 pay private contractors to remove, store, destroy, and dispose
2566 of, derelict vessels or vessels declared a public nuisance
2567 pursuant to s. 327.73(1)(aa), Florida Statutes. This section
2568 expires July 1, 2026.
2569 Section 73. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2570 1555 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, subsection (9)
2571 of section 403.0673, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2572 403.0673 Water quality improvement grant program.—A grant
2573 program is established within the Department of Environmental
2574 Protection to address wastewater, stormwater, and agricultural
2575 sources of nutrient loading to surface water or groundwater.
2576 (9) For the 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal year, and
2577 notwithstanding the requirements of this section, funds
2578 appropriated for the water quality improvement grant program
2579 must be used as provided in the General Appropriations Act
2580 subsections (4)-(6), the department shall dedicate at least $25
2581 million of the revenues transferred from s. 201.15(4)(h), for
2582 priority projects to improve water quality in the Indian River
2583 Lagoon. This subsection expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2584 Section 74. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2585 2059 through 2065 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
2586 subsection (3) of section 288.80125, Florida Statutes, is
2587 amended to read:
2588 288.80125 Triumph Gulf Coast Trust Fund.—
2589 (3) For the 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal year, funds shall be
2590 used for the Rebuild Florida Revolving Loan Fund program to
2591 provide assistance to businesses impacted by Hurricane Michael
2592 as provided in the General Appropriations Act. This subsection
2593 expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2594 Section 75. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2595 1822 through 1835, 1840, 1841, 1853 through 1858, 1860 through
2596 1864, 1866 through 1874, and 1905 through 1914 of the 2025-2026
2597 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (h) of subsection (7) of
2598 section 339.135, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2599 339.135 Work program; legislative budget request;
2600 definitions; preparation, adoption, execution, and amendment.—
2601 (7) AMENDMENT OF THE ADOPTED WORK PROGRAM.—
2602 (h)1. Any work program amendment that also adds a new
2603 project, or phase thereof, to the adopted work program in excess
2604 of $3 million is subject to approval by the Legislative Budget
2605 Commission. Any work program amendment submitted under this
2606 paragraph must include, as supplemental information, a list of
2607 projects, or phases thereof, in the current 5-year adopted work
2608 program which are eligible for the funds within the
2609 appropriation category being used for the proposed amendment.
2610 The department shall provide a narrative with the rationale for
2611 not advancing an existing project, or phase thereof, in lieu of
2612 the proposed amendment.
2613 2. If the department submits an amendment to the
2614 Legislative Budget Commission and the commission does not meet
2615 or consider the amendment within 30 days after its submittal,
2616 the chair and vice chair of the commission may authorize the
2617 amendment to be approved pursuant to s. 216.177. This
2618 subparagraph expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2619 Section 76. Effective upon this act becoming a law, and in
2620 order to implement section 181 of the 2025-2026 General
2621 Appropriations Act, subsection (4) of section 339.08, Florida
2622 Statutes, is amended to read:
2623 339.08 Use of moneys in State Transportation Trust Fund.—
2624 (4) Notwithstanding any other law, and for the 2025-2026
2625 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 fiscal year years only, funds are
2626 appropriated to the State Transportation Trust Fund from the
2627 General Revenue Fund and the Discretionary Sales Surtax Clearing
2628 Trust Fund as provided in the General Appropriations Act. The
2629 department is not required to deplete the resources transferred
2630 from the General Revenue Fund for the fiscal year as required in
2631 s. 339.135(3)(b), and the funds may not be used in calculating
2632 the required quarterly cash balance of the trust fund as
2633 required in s. 339.135(6)(b). The department shall track and
2634 account for appropriated funds from the General Revenue Fund as
2635 a separate funding source for eligible projects on the State
2636 Highway System and from the Discretionary Sales Surtax Clearing
2637 Trust Fund for eligible projects pursuant to the General
2638 Appropriations Act. This subsection expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2639 Section 77. In order to implement section 175 of the 2025
2640 2026 General Appropriations Act, section 250.245, Florida
2641 Statutes, is amended to read:
2642 250.245 Florida National Guard Joint Enlistment Enhancement
2643 Program.—
2644 (1) The Florida National Guard Joint Enlistment Enhancement
2645 Program (JEEP) is established within the Department of Military
2646 Affairs. The purpose of the program is to motivate soldiers,
2647 airmen, and retirees of the Florida National Guard to bolster
2648 recruitment efforts and increase the force structure of the
2649 Florida National Guard.
2650 (2) As used in this section, the term “recruiting
2651 assistant” means a member of the Florida National Guard or a
2652 retiree of the Florida National Guard who assists in the
2653 recruitment of a new member and who provides motivation,
2654 encouragement, and moral support until the enlistment of such
2655 new member.
2656 (3) A current member in pay grade E-1 to O-3 or a retiree
2657 in any pay grade is eligible for participation in JEEP as a
2658 recruiting assistant.
2659 (4) The Adjutant General shall provide compensation to
2660 recruiting assistants participating in JEEP. A recruiting
2661 assistant shall receive $1,000 for each new member referred by
2662 them to the Florida National Guard upon the enlistment of such
2663 referred member.
2664 (5) The Department of Military Affairs, in cooperation with
2665 the Florida National Guard, shall adopt rules to administer the
2666 program.
2667 (6) This section expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2668 Section 78. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2669 2113 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, subsection (6)
2670 of section 288.0655, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2671 288.0655 Rural Infrastructure Fund.—
2672 (6) For the 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal year, the funds
2673 appropriated for the grant program for Florida Panhandle
2674 counties shall be distributed pursuant to and for the purposes
2675 described in the proviso language associated with Specific
2676 Appropriation 2113 2348 of the 2025-2026 2024-2025 General
2677 Appropriations Act. This subsection expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2678 Section 79. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2679 2445 through 2454 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
2680 and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes,
2681 the Division of Emergency Management may submit budget
2682 amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection
2683 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget
2684 authority for projected expenditures due to reimbursements from
2685 federally declared disasters. This section expires July 1, 2026.
2686 Section 80. (1) In order to implement section 8 of the
2687 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, beginning July 1, 2025,
2688 and on the first day of each month thereafter, the Department of
2689 Management Services shall assess an administrative health
2690 insurance assessment on each state agency equal to the
2691 employer’s cost of individual employee health care coverage for
2692 each vacant position within such agency eligible for coverage
2693 through the Division of State Group Insurance. As used in this
2694 section, the term “state agency” means an agency within the
2695 State Personnel System, the Department of the Lottery, the
2696 Justice Administrative Commission and all entities
2697 administratively housed in the Justice Administrative
2698 Commission, and the state courts system.
2699 (2) Each state agency shall remit the assessed
2700 administrative health insurance assessment under subsection (1)
2701 to the State Employees Health Insurance Trust Fund, for the
2702 State Group Insurance Program, as provided in ss. 110.123 and
2703 110.1239, Florida Statutes, from currently allocated monies for
2704 salaries and benefits, within 30 days after receipt of the
2705 assessment from the Department of Management Services. Should
2706 any state agency become more than 60 days delinquent in payment
2707 of this obligation, the Department of Management Services shall
2708 certify to the Chief Financial Officer the amount due and the
2709 Chief Financial Officer shall transfer the amount due to the
2710 Department of Management Services.
2711 (3) The administrative health insurance assessment shall
2712 apply to all vacant positions funded with state funds whether
2713 fully or partially funded with state funds. Vacant positions
2714 partially funded with state funds shall pay a percentage of the
2715 assessment imposed in subsection (1) equal to the percentage
2716 share of state funds provided for such vacant positions. No
2717 assessment shall apply to vacant positions fully funded with
2718 federal funds. Each state agency shall provide the Department of
2719 Management Services with a complete list of position numbers
2720 that are funded, or partially funded, with federal funding, and
2721 include the percentage of federal funding for each position no
2722 later than July 31, 2025, and shall update the list on the last
2723 day of each month thereafter. For federally funded vacant
2724 positions, or partially funded vacant positions, each state
2725 agency shall immediately take steps to include the
2726 administrative health insurance assessment in its indirect cost
2727 plan for the 2026-2027 fiscal year and each fiscal year
2728 thereafter. A state agency shall notify the Department of
2729 Management Services, the Executive Office of the Governor, and
2730 the chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the
2731 chair of the House of Representatives Budget Committee, upon
2732 approval of the updated indirect cost plan. If the state agency
2733 is not able to obtain approval from its federal awarding agency,
2734 the state agency must notify the Department of Management
2735 Services, the Executive Office of the Governor, and the
2736 appropriation and budget chairs no later than January 15, 2026.
2737 (4) Pursuant to the notice, review, and objection
2738 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the Executive Office
2739 of the Governor may transfer budget authority appropriated in
2740 the Salaries and Benefits appropriation category between
2741 agencies in order to align the appropriations granted with the
2742 assessments that must be paid by each agency to the Department
2743 of Management Services for the administrative health insurance
2744 assessment.
2745 (5) This section expires July 1, 2026.
2746 Section 81. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2747 2530 and 2531 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and
2748 notwithstanding s. 11.13(1), Florida Statutes, the authorized
2749 salaries for members of the Legislature for the 2025-2026 fiscal
2750 year shall be set at the same level in effect on July 1, 2010.
2751 This section expires July 1, 2026.
2752 Section 82. In order to implement the transfer of funds
2753 from the General Revenue Fund from trust funds for the 2025-2026
2754 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding the expiration
2755 date in section 91 of chapter 2024-228, Laws of Florida,
2756 paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 215.32, Florida
2757 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
2758 215.32 State funds; segregation.—
2759 (2) The source and use of each of these funds shall be as
2760 follows:
2761 (b)1. The trust funds shall consist of moneys received by
2762 the state which under law or under trust agreement are
2763 segregated for a purpose authorized by law. The state agency or
2764 branch of state government receiving or collecting such moneys
2765 is responsible for their proper expenditure as provided by law.
2766 Upon the request of the state agency or branch of state
2767 government responsible for the administration of the trust fund,
2768 the Chief Financial Officer may establish accounts within the
2769 trust fund at a level considered necessary for proper
2770 accountability. Once an account is established, the Chief
2771 Financial Officer may authorize payment from that account only
2772 upon determining that there is sufficient cash and releases at
2773 the level of the account.
2774 2. In addition to other trust funds created by law, to the
2775 extent possible, each agency shall use the following trust funds
2776 as described in this subparagraph for day-to-day operations:
2777 a. Operations or operating trust fund, for use as a
2778 depository for funds to be used for program operations funded by
2779 program revenues, with the exception of administrative
2780 activities when the operations or operating trust fund is a
2781 proprietary fund.
2782 b. Operations and maintenance trust fund, for use as a
2783 depository for client services funded by third-party payors.
2784 c. Administrative trust fund, for use as a depository for
2785 funds to be used for management activities that are departmental
2786 in nature and funded by indirect cost earnings and assessments
2787 against trust funds. Proprietary funds are excluded from the
2788 requirement of using an administrative trust fund.
2789 d. Grants and donations trust fund, for use as a depository
2790 for funds to be used for allowable grant or donor agreement
2791 activities funded by restricted contractual revenue from private
2792 and public nonfederal sources.
2793 e. Agency working capital trust fund, for use as a
2794 depository for funds to be used pursuant to s. 216.272.
2795 f. Clearing funds trust fund, for use as a depository for
2796 funds to account for collections pending distribution to lawful
2797 recipients.
2798 g. Federal grant trust fund, for use as a depository for
2799 funds to be used for allowable grant activities funded by
2800 restricted program revenues from federal sources.
2801
2802 To the extent possible, each agency must adjust its internal
2803 accounting to use existing trust funds consistent with the
2804 requirements of this subparagraph. If an agency does not have
2805 trust funds listed in this subparagraph and cannot make such
2806 adjustment, the agency must recommend the creation of the
2807 necessary trust funds to the Legislature no later than the next
2808 scheduled review of the agency’s trust funds pursuant to s.
2809 215.3206.
2810 3. All such moneys are hereby appropriated to be expended
2811 in accordance with the law or trust agreement under which they
2812 were received, subject always to the provisions of chapter 216
2813 relating to the appropriation of funds and to the applicable
2814 laws relating to the deposit or expenditure of moneys in the
2815 State Treasury.
2816 4.a. Notwithstanding any provision of law restricting the
2817 use of trust funds to specific purposes, unappropriated cash
2818 balances from selected trust funds may be authorized by the
2819 Legislature for transfer to the Budget Stabilization Fund and
2820 General Revenue Fund in the General Appropriations Act.
2821 b. This subparagraph does not apply to trust funds required
2822 by federal programs or mandates; trust funds established for
2823 bond covenants, indentures, or resolutions whose revenues are
2824 legally pledged by the state or public body to meet debt service
2825 or other financial requirements of any debt obligations of the
2826 state or any public body; the Division of Licensing Trust Fund
2827 in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; the
2828 State Transportation Trust Fund; the trust fund containing the
2829 net annual proceeds from the Florida Education Lotteries; the
2830 Florida Retirement System Trust Fund; trust funds under the
2831 management of the State Board of Education or the Board of
2832 Governors of the State University System, where such trust funds
2833 are for auxiliary enterprises, self-insurance, and contracts,
2834 grants, and donations, as those terms are defined by general
2835 law; trust funds that serve as clearing funds or accounts for
2836 the Chief Financial Officer or state agencies; trust funds that
2837 account for assets held by the state in a trustee capacity as an
2838 agent or fiduciary for individuals, private organizations, or
2839 other governmental units; and other trust funds authorized by
2840 the State Constitution.
2841 Section 83. The text of s. 215.32(2)(b), Florida Statutes,
2842 as carried forward from chapter 2011-47, Laws of Florida, by
2843 this act expires July 1, 2026, and the text of that paragraph
2844 shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2011, except that
2845 any amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall
2846 be preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
2847 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
2848 expire pursuant to this section.
2849 Section 84. In order to implement appropriations in the
2850 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act for state employee travel,
2851 the funds appropriated to each state agency which may be used
2852 for travel by state employees are limited during the 2025-2026
2853 fiscal year to travel for activities that are critical to each
2854 state agency’s mission. Funds may not be used for travel by
2855 state employees to foreign countries, other states, conferences,
2856 staff training activities, or other administrative functions
2857 unless the agency head has approved, in writing, that such
2858 activities are critical to the agency’s mission. The agency head
2859 shall consider using teleconferencing and other forms of
2860 electronic communication to meet the needs of the proposed
2861 activity before approving mission-critical travel. This section
2862 does not apply to travel for law enforcement purposes, military
2863 purposes, emergency management activities, or public health
2864 activities. This section expires July 1, 2026.
2865 Section 85. In order to implement appropriations in the
2866 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act for state employee travel
2867 and notwithstanding s. 112.061, Florida Statutes, costs for
2868 lodging associated with a meeting, conference, or convention
2869 organized or sponsored in whole or in part by a state agency or
2870 the judicial branch may not exceed $225 per day. An employee may
2871 expend his or her own funds for any lodging expenses in excess
2872 of $225 per day. For purposes of this section, a meeting does
2873 not include travel activities for conducting an audit,
2874 examination, inspection, or investigation or travel activities
2875 related to a litigation or emergency response. This section
2876 expires July 1, 2026.
2877 Section 86. In order to implement the appropriations and
2878 reappropriations authorized in the 2025-2026 General
2879 Appropriations Act, paragraph (d) of subsection (11) of section
2880 216.181, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2881 216.181 Approved budgets for operations and fixed capital
2882 outlay.—
2883 (11)
2884 (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) and paragraph (2)(b), and
2885 for the 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal year only, the Legislative
2886 Budget Commission may approve budget amendments for new fixed
2887 capital outlay projects or increase the amounts appropriated to
2888 state agencies for fixed capital outlay projects. This paragraph
2889 expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2890
2891 The provisions of this subsection are subject to the notice and
2892 objection procedures set forth in s. 216.177.
2893 Section 87. In order to implement the salaries and
2894 benefits, expenses, other personal services, contracted
2895 services, special categories, and operating capital outlay
2896 categories of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act,
2897 paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 216.292, Florida
2898 Statutes, is amended to read:
2899 216.292 Appropriations nontransferable; exceptions.—
2900 (2) The following transfers are authorized to be made by
2901 the head of each department or the Chief Justice of the Supreme
2902 Court whenever it is deemed necessary by reason of changed
2903 conditions:
2904 (a) The transfer of appropriations funded from identical
2905 funding sources, except appropriations for fixed capital outlay,
2906 and the transfer of amounts included within the total original
2907 approved budget and plans of releases of appropriations as
2908 furnished pursuant to ss. 216.181 and 216.192, as follows:
2909 1. Between categories of appropriations within a budget
2910 entity, if no category of appropriation is increased or
2911 decreased by more than 5 percent of the original approved budget
2912 or $250,000, whichever is greater, by all action taken under
2913 this subsection.
2914 2. Between budget entities within identical categories of
2915 appropriations, if no category of appropriation is increased or
2916 decreased by more than 5 percent of the original approved budget
2917 or $250,000, whichever is greater, by all action taken under
2918 this subsection.
2919 3. Any agency exceeding salary rate established pursuant to
2920 s. 216.181(8) on June 30th of any fiscal year shall not be
2921 authorized to make transfers pursuant to subparagraphs 1. and 2.
2922 in the subsequent fiscal year.
2923 4. Notice of proposed transfers under subparagraphs 1. and
2924 2. shall be provided to the Executive Office of the Governor and
2925 the chairs of the legislative appropriations committees at least
2926 3 days prior to agency implementation in order to provide an
2927 opportunity for review. The review shall be limited to ensuring
2928 that the transfer is in compliance with the requirements of this
2929 paragraph.
2930 5. For the 2025-2026 2024-2025 fiscal year, the review
2931 shall ensure that transfers proposed pursuant to this paragraph
2932 comply with this chapter, maximize the use of available and
2933 appropriate trust funds, and are not contrary to legislative
2934 policy and intent. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2026 2025.
2935 Section 88. In order to implement appropriations in the
2936 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act for the acquisitions of
2937 motor vehicles, and notwithstanding chapter 287, Florida
2938 Statutes, relating to the purchase of motor vehicles from a
2939 state term contract, state agencies may purchase vehicles from
2940 nonstate term contract vendors without prior approval from the
2941 Department of Management Services, provided the cost of the
2942 motor vehicle is equal to or less than the cost of a similar
2943 class of vehicle found on a state term contract and provided the
2944 funds for the purchase have been specifically appropriated. This
2945 section expires July 1, 2026.
2946 Section 89. In order to implement specific appropriations
2947 containing salary rate in the 2025-2026 General Appropriations
2948 Act, and notwithstanding s. 216.181(8)(b), Florida Statutes, the
2949 annual salary rate for all agencies as defined in s. 216.011,
2950 Florida Statutes, shall be controlled at the budget entity
2951 level. This section expires July 1, 2026.
2952 Section 90. Any section of this act which implements a
2953 specific appropriation or specifically identified proviso
2954 language in the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act is void if
2955 the specific appropriation or specifically identified proviso
2956 language is vetoed. Any section of this act which implements
2957 more than one specific appropriation or more than one portion of
2958 specifically identified proviso language in the 2025-2026
2959 General Appropriations Act is void if all the specific
2960 appropriations or portions of specifically identified proviso
2961 language are vetoed.
2962 Section 91. If any other act passed during the 2025 Regular
2963 Session of the Legislature contains a provision that is
2964 substantively the same as a provision in this act, but that
2965 removes or is otherwise not subject to the future repeal applied
2966 to such provision by this act, the Legislature intends that the
2967 provision in the other act takes precedence and continues to
2968 operate, notwithstanding the future repeal provided by this act.
2969 Section 92. If any provision of this act or its application
2970 to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity
2971 does not affect other provisions or applications of the act
2972 which can be given effect without the invalid provision or
2973 application, and to this end the provisions of this act are
2974 severable.
2975 Section 93. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
2976 act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon
2977 this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1,
2978 2025, or, if this act fails to become a law until after that
2979 date, it shall take effect upon becoming a law and shall operate
2980 retroactively to July 1, 2025.