Florida Senate - 2025 SB 598
By Senator Collins
14-00758-25 2025598__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to enhanced firearms training
3 facilities; creating s. 790.41, F.S.; defining terms;
4 establishing procedures for licensure by the
5 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services;
6 authorizing a sheriff to provide supporting
7 documentation to an application for licensure;
8 specifying the duration of a license; specifying
9 conditions under which a license must be revoked;
10 authorizing a sheriff to enter into an agreement with
11 the owner of an enhanced firearms training facility to
12 conduct training for the school guardian program at
13 the facility; exempting an enhanced firearms training
14 facility from complying with specified local
15 government requirements under certain circumstances;
16 authorizing the department to adopt rules; providing
17 an effective date.
18
19 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
20
21 Section 1. Section 790.41, Florida Statutes, is created to
22 read:
23 790.41 Enhanced firearms training facilities.—
24 (1) As used in this section, the term:
25 (a) “Department” means the Department of Agriculture and
26 Consumer Services.
27 (b) “Enhanced firearms training facility” means a facility
28 located on land zoned for agricultural use or its equivalent
29 which is used to train people in the use of firearms and
30 personal safety.
31 (c) “Owner” means a person who:
32 1. Holds the legal title to the agricultural land and
33 facilities upon which the enhanced firearms training facility
34 will be licensed; or
35 2. Holds a percentage interest in the agricultural land and
36 facilities which is equal to or greater than that of the other
37 persons who also hold a legal interest, if the legal title is
38 held in the name of two or more people.
39 (2) The department may issue a license to designate a
40 facility as an enhanced firearms training facility. To receive
41 such a license, the owner must complete and submit an
42 application to the department and must satisfy all of the
43 following criteria:
44 (a) Successfully complete a level 2 background screening as
45 provided in s. 435.04(2). The applicant must submit a full set
46 of fingerprints to the department or to a vendor, an entity, or
47 an agency authorized by s. 943.053(13). The department, vendor,
48 entity, or agency shall forward the fingerprints to the
49 Department of Law Enforcement for state processing, and the
50 Department of Law Enforcement shall forward the fingerprints to
51 the Federal Bureau of Investigation for national processing.
52 Fees for state and federal fingerprint processing and retention
53 must be borne by the applicant. The state cost for fingerprint
54 processing is as provided in s. 943.053(3)(e).
55 (b) Not have been convicted of a felony.
56 (c) Successfully complete the National Rifle Association
57 Chief Range Safety Officer training program or an equivalent
58 program conducted by a nationally recognized organization that
59 provides similar firearms training.
60 (d) Hold a valid class “K” license issued by the department
61 as a firearm instructor as defined in s. 493.6101.
62 (3) In support of an owner’s application submitted under
63 subsection (2), the owner may provide to the department a
64 written attestation from the sheriff who has jurisdiction over
65 the property on which the enhanced firearms training facility is
66 or will be located, if the sheriff, at his or her sole
67 discretion, agrees to provide such attestation, confirming that
68 the sheriff or his or her designee has:
69 (a) Visited the property and facilities on which the
70 enhanced firearms training facility is or will be located;
71 (b) Determined that the property and facilities are large
72 enough and sufficient enough to be designated as an enhanced
73 firearms training facility; and
74 (c) Determined that the property and facilities may fulfill
75 a public safety training need, including providing a place for
76 the sheriff or a law enforcement agency to provide firearms or
77 other training to the public, including for local law
78 enforcement agencies to provide firearm safety training as
79 authorized under s. 37, chapter 2023–18, Laws of Florida.
80 (4)(a) An enhanced firearms training facility license
81 issued by the department is valid for 12 months and must be
82 renewed annually by the owner to remain valid.
83 (b) The department must revoke the license of an enhanced
84 firearms training facility if the department determines that the
85 owner is no longer in compliance with the requirements listed in
86 paragraph (2)(b) or paragraph (2)(d).
87 (5) A sheriff, under an agreement with an enhanced firearms
88 training facility, may provide training for the school guardian
89 program under s. 30.15 at an enhanced firearms training
90 facility.
91 (6) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, an
92 enhanced firearms training facility licensed by the department
93 is not subject to local government planning and zoning or public
94 works restrictions if the facility is located in an
95 unincorporated area of a county.
96 (7) The department may adopt rules to implement this
97 section.
98 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.