Florida Senate - 2026 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 1178
Ì226318.Î226318
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: FAV .
01/28/2026 .
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The Committee on Ethics and Elections (Grall) recommended the
following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete lines 192 - 589
4 and insert:
5 (a) For any willful violation, a fine of up to $500 per
6 violation.
7 (b) For any repeated willful violation, a fine of up to
8 $2,000 per violation.
9 Section 3. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 112.313,
10 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
11 112.313 Standards of conduct for public officers, employees
12 of agencies, and local government attorneys.—
13 (1) DEFINITIONS DEFINITION.—As used in this section, unless
14 the context otherwise requires, the term:
15 (a) “Designated foreign terrorist organization” has the
16 same meaning as in s. 775.32.
17 (b) “Foreign country of concern” has the same meaning as in
18 s. 286.101(1).
19 (c) “Public officer” includes any person elected or
20 appointed to hold office in any agency, including any person
21 serving on an advisory body.
22 (2) SOLICITATION OR ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS.—
23 (a) A No public officer, an employee of an agency, a local
24 government attorney, or a candidate for nomination or election
25 may not shall solicit or accept anything of value to the
26 recipient, including a gift, loan, reward, promise of future
27 employment, favor, or service, based upon any understanding that
28 the vote, official action, or judgment of the public officer,
29 employee, local government attorney, or candidate would be
30 influenced thereby.
31 (b) A public officer, an employee of an agency, a local
32 government attorney, or a candidate for nomination or election
33 may not solicit or accept anything of value to the recipient,
34 including a gift, loan, reward, promise of future employment,
35 favor, or service, for any purpose, including, but not limited
36 to, a gift from a designated foreign terrorist organization or
37 any person or entity representing or acting on behalf of a
38 foreign terrorist organization, or travel costs or any
39 reimbursement for costs of attending a conference or other
40 event, from a foreign country of concern or any of its
41 subdivisions, or from any person or entity representing or
42 acting on behalf of a foreign country of concern or any of its
43 subdivisions.
44 Section 4. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section
45 112.3142, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
46 112.3142 Ethics training for specified constitutional
47 officers, elected municipal officers, commissioners of community
48 redevelopment agencies, and elected local officers of
49 independent special districts.—
50 (2)
51 (e) The commission shall adopt rules establishing minimum
52 course content for the portion of an ethics training class which
53 addresses s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution and the Code
54 of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees. By November 1,
55 2026, the commission shall adopt revised rules to supplement the
56 minimum course content, including all of the following:
57 1. Known efforts by foreign countries of concern to target
58 and influence subnational governments, including, but not
59 limited to, the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front strategy.
60 2. How to identify, recognize, and report suspected foreign
61 influence campaigns.
62 3. Prohibitions on receiving gifts from foreign countries
63 of concern as defined in s. 287.138 or designated foreign
64 terrorist organizations as defined in s. 775.32.
65 Section 5. Present paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of
66 section 287.138, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph
67 (e), a new paragraph (d) is added to that subsection, and
68 paragraph (c) of subsection (1) and subsections (2), (3), and
69 (4) of that section are amended, to read:
70 287.138 Contracting with entities of foreign sources and
71 countries of concern prohibited.—
72 (1) As used in this section, the term:
73 (c) “Foreign country of concern” means the People’s
74 Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic
75 of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic
76 of Cuba, the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro, or the Syrian
77 Arab Republic, including any agency of or any other entity under
78 of significant control of such foreign country of concern.
79 (d) “Foreign source of concern” has the same meaning as in
80 s. 496.404.
81 (2)(a) A governmental entity may not knowingly enter into a
82 contract with an entity in which a foreign source of concern has
83 an ownership or controlling interest if the contract would give
84 access to an individual’s personal identifying information.
85 (b) A governmental entity may not enter into a contract for
86 information technology as defined in s. 282.0041, or for any
87 services related to information technology, with an entity in
88 which a foreign source of concern has an ownership or
89 controlling interest or through a third-party seller when the
90 information technology is designed, manufactured, or assembled
91 by any entity in which a foreign source of concern has an
92 ownership or controlling interest if:
93 (a) The entity is owned by the government of a foreign
94 country of concern;
95 (b) The government of a foreign country of concern has a
96 controlling interest in the entity; or
97 (c) The entity is organized under the laws of or has its
98 principal place of business in a foreign country of concern.
99 (3) Beginning July 1, 2026 2025, a governmental entity may
100 not extend or renew a contract with an entity listed in
101 subsection (2) paragraphs (2)(a)-(c) if the contract would give
102 such entity access to an individual’s personal identifying
103 information.
104 (4)(a) Beginning January 1, 2026 2024, a governmental
105 entity may not accept a bid on, a proposal for, or a reply to,
106 or enter into, a contract with an entity which would grant the
107 entity access to an individual’s personal identifying
108 information or involve information technology unless the entity
109 provides the governmental entity with an affidavit signed by an
110 officer or representative of the entity under penalty of perjury
111 attesting that the entity does not meet any of the criteria in
112 subsection (2) paragraphs (2)(a)-(c).
113 (b) Beginning July 1, 2026 2025, when an entity extends or
114 renews a contract with a governmental entity which would grant
115 the entity access to an individual’s personal identifying
116 information, the entity must provide the governmental entity
117 with an affidavit signed by an officer or a representative of
118 the entity under penalty of perjury attesting that the entity
119 does not meet any of the criteria in subsection (2) paragraphs
120 (2)(a)-(c).
121 Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
122 288.816, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (7) is
123 added to that section, to read:
124 288.816 Intergovernmental relations.—
125 (3) The state protocol officer may:
126 (a) Coordinate and carry out activities designed to
127 encourage the state and its subdivisions to participate in
128 sister city and sister state affiliations with foreign countries
129 and their subdivisions. Such activities may include a State of
130 Florida sister cities conference. Such activities may not
131 include encouragement of any affiliations with foreign countries
132 of concern as defined in s. 288.860 or their subdivisions.
133 (7) The department shall publish on its website, to be
134 updated quarterly, the following information:
135 (a) A current and accurate list of all foreign consulate
136 offices.
137 (b) A current and accurate list of all sister city and
138 sister state affiliations, including a copy of all such
139 agreements.
140 Section 7. Subsections (3), (4), and (5) of section
141 288.8175, Florida Statutes, are amended, and a new subsection
142 (7) is added to that section, to read:
143 288.8175 Linkage institutes between postsecondary
144 institutions in this state and foreign countries.—
145 (3) Each institute must be co-administered in this state by
146 a university-community college partnership, as designated in
147 subsection (5), and must have a private sector and public sector
148 advisory committee. The advisory committee must be
149 representative of the international education and commercial
150 interests of the state and may have members who are native to
151 the foreign country partner. Six members must be appointed by
152 the Department of Education. The Department of Education must
153 appoint at least one member who is an international educator.
154 The presidents, or their designees, of the participating
155 university and community college must also serve on the advisory
156 committee.
157 (4) The institutes are:
158 (a) Florida-Brazil Institute (University of Florida and
159 Miami Dade College).
160 (b) Florida-Costa Rica Institute (Florida State University
161 and Valencia College).
162 (c) Florida Caribbean Institute (Florida International
163 University and Daytona State College).
164 (d) Florida-Canada Institute (University of Central Florida
165 and Palm Beach State College).
166 (e) Florida-China Institute (University of West Florida,
167 University of South Florida, and Eastern Florida State College).
168 (e)(f) Florida-Japan Institute (University of South
169 Florida, University of West Florida, and St. Petersburg
170 College).
171 (f)(g) Florida-France Institute (New College of the
172 University of South Florida, Miami Dade College, and Florida
173 State University).
174 (g)(h) Florida-Israel Institute (Florida Atlantic
175 University and Broward College).
176 (h)(i) Florida-West Africa Institute (Florida Agricultural
177 and Mechanical University, University of North Florida, and
178 Florida State College at Jacksonville).
179 (i)(j) Florida-Eastern Europe Institute (University of
180 Central Florida and Lake-Sumter State College).
181 (j)(k) Florida-Mexico Institute (Florida International
182 University and Polk State College).
183 (5) Each institute is allowed to exempt from s. 1009.21 up
184 to 25 full-time equivalent students per year from the respective
185 host countries to study in any of the state universities or
186 community colleges in this state as resident students for
187 tuition purposes. The institute directors shall develop
188 criteria, to be approved by the Department of Education, for the
189 selection of these students. Students must return home within 3
190 years after their tenure of graduate or undergraduate study for
191 a length of time equal to their exemption period.
192 (7) A linkage institute may not enter into any agreement or
193 participate in any activities with a foreign country of concern
194 as defined in s. 288.860 or any organization in a foreign
195 country of concern.
196 Section 8. Subsection (2) of section 288.860, Florida
197 Statutes, is amended to read:
198 288.860 International cultural agreements.—
199 (2)(a) A state agency, political subdivision, or public
200 school authorized to expend state-appropriated funds or levy ad
201 valorem taxes may not participate in any agreement with or
202 accept any grant from a foreign country of concern or its
203 subdivisions, or any entity controlled by a foreign country of
204 concern.
205 (b) All agreements under paragraph (a), including, but not
206 limited to, sister city agreements, are terminated as of July 1,
207 2026., which:
208 (a) Constrains the freedom of contract of such public
209 entity;
210 (b) Allows the curriculum or values of a program in the
211 state to be directed or controlled by the foreign country of
212 concern; or
213 (c) Promotes an agenda detrimental to the safety or
214 security of the United States or its residents. Before the
215 execution of any cultural exchange agreement with a foreign
216 country of concern, the substance of the agreement must be
217 shared with federal agencies concerned with protecting national
218 security or enforcing trade sanctions, embargoes, or other
219 restrictions under federal law. If such federal agency provides
220 information suggesting that such agreement promotes an agenda
221 detrimental to the safety or security of the United States or
222 its residents, the public entity may not enter into the
223 agreement.
224 Section 9. Paragraphs (e) and (f) of subsection (14) of
225 section 496.404, Florida Statutes, are amended, and paragraph
226 (g) is added to that subsection, to read:
227 496.404 Definitions.—As used in ss. 496.401-496.424, the
228 term:
229 (14) “Foreign source of concern” means any of the
230 following:
231 (e) An agent, including a subsidiary or an affiliate of a
232 foreign legal entity, acting on behalf of a foreign source of
233 concern; or
234 (f) An entity in which a person, entity, or collection of
235 persons or entities described in paragraphs (a)-(e) has a
236 controlling interest. As used in this paragraph, the term
237 “controlling interest” means the possession of the power to
238 direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of
239 an entity, whether through ownership of securities, by contract,
240 or otherwise. A person or an entity that directly or indirectly
241 has the right to vote 25 percent or more of the voting interest
242 of the company or is entitled to 25 percent or more of its
243 profits is presumed to possess a controlling interest; or
244 (g) A designated foreign terrorist organization as defined
245 in s. 775.32 or an agent acting on behalf of a designated
246 foreign terrorist organization.
247 Section 10. Subsection (3) of section 692.201, Florida
248 Statutes, is amended to read:
249 692.201 Definitions.—As used in this part, the term:
250 (3) “Foreign country of concern” means the People’s
251 Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic
252 of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic
253 of Cuba, the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro, or the Syrian
254 Arab Republic, including any agency of or any other entity under
255 of significant control of such foreign country of concern.
256 Section 11. Section 692.21, Florida Statutes, is created to
257 read:
258 692.21 Protection of state critical infrastructure
259 facilities from a foreign source of concern.—
260 (1) As used in this section, the term:
261 (a) “Business entity” has the same meaning as in s.
262 112.312.
263 (b) “Foreign source of concern” has the same meaning as in
264 s. 496.404.
265 (c) “Governmental entity” has the same meaning as in s.
266 287.138.
267 (2)(a) A governmental entity or a business entity
268 constructing, repairing, operating, or otherwise having
269 significant access to a critical infrastructure facility may not
270 enter into a contract or other agreement relating to a critical
271 infrastructure facility in this state with a foreign source of
272 concern if the contract or agreement authorizes the foreign
273 source of concern to directly or remotely access or otherwise
274 control such critical infrastructure facility.
275 (b) A foreign source of concern may not enter into a
276 contract or other agreement relating to critical infrastructure
277 facilities in this state with a business entity constructing,
278 repairing, operating, or otherwise having significant access to
279 critical infrastructure facilities, or a governmental entity, if
280 the contract or agreement authorizes the foreign source of
281 concern to directly or remotely access or otherwise control such
282 critical infrastructure facility.
283 (3)(a) Beginning January 1, 2027, a business entity
284 constructing, repairing, operating, or otherwise having
285 significant access to a critical infrastructure facility in this
286 state which entered into a contract or other agreement before
287 July 1, 2026, with a foreign source of concern relating to such
288 critical infrastructure facility must register with the
289 Department of Commerce by January 1 of each year for the
290 remainder of the term of the contract or agreement with the
291 foreign source of concern relating to such critical
292 infrastructure facility. The Department of Commerce shall adopt
293 a registration form that includes all of the following:
294 1. The name of the business entity constructing, repairing,
295 operating, or otherwise having significant access to critical
296 infrastructure facilities in this state.
297 2. The address of the critical infrastructure facility the
298 business entity is constructing, repairing, or operating or to
299 which the business entity otherwise has significant access.
300 3. A description of the specific terms of the contract or
301 agreement which authorizes a foreign source of concern to engage
302 in constructing, repairing, or operating or to otherwise have
303 significant access to such critical infrastructure facility.
304 (b) A business entity that violates paragraph (a):
305 1. Is subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 for each day the
306 violation continues.
307 2. Commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable
308 as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
309 (4) Before commencing any sale or other transfer of control
310 of a critical infrastructure facility in this state, the
311 business entity selling or otherwise transferring control of
312 such critical infrastructure facility must provide an affidavit,
313 signed under penalty of perjury, to the Department of Commerce
314 attesting that the buyer or transferee is not a foreign source
315 of concern.
316 (5) Information technology as defined in s. 282.0041
317 produced or manufactured by a foreign source of concern or a
318 company under the direction or control of a foreign source of
319 concern may not be used in a critical infrastructure facility
320 located in or serving this state.
321 (6) The Department of Commerce shall adopt rules to
322 implement this section.
323 Section 12. Section 775.08255, Florida Statutes, is created
324 to read:
325 775.08255 Offenses by foreign agents; reclassification.—
326 (1) As used in this section, the term:
327 (a) “Agent of a foreign government or designated foreign
328 terrorist organization” means a person acting on behalf of or
329 otherwise employed or controlled by a foreign government or a
330 designated foreign terrorist organization.
331 (b) “Designated foreign terrorist organization” has the
332 same meaning as provided in s. 775.32.
333 (c) “Foreign government” has the same meaning as provided
334 in s. 286.101.
335 (2) The penalty for any misdemeanor or felony may be
336 reclassified if the commission of such misdemeanor or felony was
337 for the purpose of benefiting, promoting, or furthering the
338 interests of a foreign government, a designated foreign
339 terrorist organization, or an agent of a foreign government or
340 designated foreign terrorist organization. The reclassification
341 is as follows:
342 (a) A misdemeanor of the second degree is reclassified to a
343 misdemeanor of the first degree.
344 (b) A misdemeanor of the first degree is reclassified to a
345 felony of the third degree.
346 (c) A felony of the third degree is reclassified to a
347 felony of the second degree.
348 (d) A felony of the second degree is reclassified to a
349 felony of the first degree.
350 (e) A felony of the first degree is reclassified to a life
351 felony.
352 (3) In addition to any other penalties prescribed by law, a
353 person convicted of a felony of the first degree or a life
354 felony under this section shall be sentenced to a minimum term
355 of imprisonment of 15 years.
356 Section 13. Section 775.36, Florida Statutes, is created to
357 read:
358 775.36 Unauthorized enforcement of foreign law.—
359 (1) As used in this section, the term:
360 (a) “Agent of a foreign government or designated foreign
361 terrorist organization” means a person acting on behalf of or
362 otherwise employed or controlled by a foreign government or a
363 designated foreign terrorist organization.
364 (b) “Designated foreign terrorist organization” has the
365 same meaning as provided in s. 775.32.
366 (c) “Foreign government” has the same meaning as in s.
367 286.101.
368 (2) Without the approval of this state or the United
369 States, a person may not:
370 (a) Prevent another person in this state from violating the
371 laws of a foreign government which are not also the laws of this
372 state or the United States; or
373 (b) Investigate, monitor, or surveil another person in this
374 state for the purpose of preventing the other person from
375 violating the laws of a foreign government that are not also the
376 laws of this state or the United States.
377 (3) A person who violates this section commits a felony of
378 the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
379 775.083, or s. 775.084. However, a person who violates this
380 section for the purpose of benefiting, promoting, or furthering
381 the interests of a foreign government, a designated foreign
382 terrorist organization, or an agent of a foreign government or
383 designated foreign terrorist organization commits a felony of
384 the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
385 775.083, or s. 775.084.
386 Section 14. Subsection (1) of section 316.0078, Florida
387 Statutes, is amended to read:
388 316.0078 Prohibition on contracting for camera systems of
389 vendors of foreign countries of concern.—
390 (1) As used in this section, the term: terms
391 (a) “Controlling interest” has the same meaning as in s.
392 287.138. and
393 (b) “Foreign country of concern” means the People’s
394 Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic
395 of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic
396 of Cuba, the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro, or the Syrian
397 Arab Republic, including any agency of or any other entity under
398
399 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
400 And the title is amended as follows:
401 Delete lines 21 - 60
402 and insert:
403 revising the definition of the term “foreign country
404 of concern”; defining the term “foreign source of
405 concern”; prohibiting a governmental entity from
406 entering into certain contracts with certain entities
407 owned or partially owned by foreign sources of concern
408 or affiliated with a foreign country of concern;
409 prohibiting governmental entities from extending and
410 renewing certain contracts beginning on a specified
411 date; prohibiting governmental entities from accepting
412 a bid on, a proposal for, or a reply to, or entering
413 into, contracts involving information technology or
414 providing access to an individual’s personal
415 identifying information unless a certain affidavit
416 signed by an officer or representative is provided to
417 the governmental entity; amending s. 288.816, F.S.;
418 prohibiting certain activities encouraging
419 affiliations with foreign countries of concern;
420 requiring the Department of Commerce to publish and
421 update certain information on its website; amending s.
422 288.8175, F.S.; deleting the Florida-China Institute
423 from the list of linkage institutes; deleting an
424 exemption for linkage institutes; prohibiting a
425 linkage institute from entering into an agreement or
426 participating in an activity with a foreign country of
427 concern; amending s. 288.860, F.S.; requiring that
428 certain agreements be terminated by a specified date;
429 amending s. 496.404, F.S.; revising the definition of
430 the term “foreign source of concern”; amending s.
431 692.201, F.S.; revising the definition of the term
432 “foreign country of concern”; creating s. 692.21,
433 F.S.; defining terms; prohibiting governmental
434 entities and business entities with access to critical
435 infrastructure facilities from entering into certain
436 contracts with foreign sources of concern; requiring
437 business entities to register with the department by a
438 specified date; requiring the department to adopt
439 registration forms; providing requirements for such
440 forms; providing civil and criminal penalties;
441 requiring certain business entities to provide a
442 signed affidavit to the department attesting that the
443 buyer or transferee of a critical infrastructure
444 facility is not a foreign source of concern;
445 prohibiting information technology from a foreign
446 source of concern from being used in critical
447 infrastructure facilities; requiring the department to
448 adopt rules; creating s. 775.08255, F.S.; defining
449 terms; providing for the reclassification of criminal
450 penalties under certain circumstances; providing a
451 mandatory minimum term of imprisonment; creating s.
452 775.36, F.S.; defining terms; prohibiting enforcement
453 of certain laws of a foreign government; providing
454 criminal penalties; amending s. 316.0078,