Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 1178
By the Committee on Ethics and Elections; and Senators Grall and
Avila
582-02284-26 20261178c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to foreign influence; providing a
3 short title; creating s. 106.031, F.S.; defining
4 terms; requiring agents of foreign countries of
5 concern and foreign-supported political organizations
6 to register with the Division of Elections; providing
7 registration requirements; requiring periodic updates
8 by such agents and organizations; requiring foreign
9 supported political organizations to register with the
10 division on a specified form created by the division
11 within a specified timeframe; providing requirements
12 for such forms; providing penalties; amending s.
13 112.313, F.S.; defining the terms “designated foreign
14 terrorist organization” and “foreign country of
15 concern”; prohibiting specified persons from
16 soliciting or accepting anything of value from a
17 designated foreign terrorist organization or a foreign
18 country of concern; amending s. 112.3142, F.S.;
19 requiring the Commission on Ethics to adopt certain
20 rules by a specified date; amending s. 287.138, F.S.;
21 revising the definition of the term “foreign country
22 of concern”; defining the term “foreign source of
23 concern”; prohibiting a governmental entity from
24 entering into certain contracts with certain entities
25 owned or partially owned by foreign sources of concern
26 or affiliated with a foreign country of concern;
27 prohibiting governmental entities from extending and
28 renewing certain contracts beginning on a specified
29 date; prohibiting governmental entities from accepting
30 a bid on, a proposal for, or a reply to, or entering
31 into, contracts involving information technology or
32 providing access to an individual’s personal
33 identifying information unless a certain affidavit
34 signed by an officer or representative is provided to
35 the governmental entity; amending s. 288.816, F.S.;
36 prohibiting certain activities encouraging
37 affiliations with foreign countries of concern;
38 requiring the Department of Commerce to publish and
39 update certain information on its website; amending s.
40 288.8175, F.S.; deleting the Florida-China Institute
41 from the list of linkage institutes; deleting an
42 exemption for linkage institutes; prohibiting a
43 linkage institute from entering into an agreement or
44 participating in an activity with a foreign country of
45 concern; amending s. 288.860, F.S.; requiring that
46 certain agreements be terminated by a specified date;
47 amending s. 496.404, F.S.; revising the definition of
48 the term “foreign source of concern”; amending s.
49 692.201, F.S.; revising the definition of the term
50 “foreign country of concern”; creating s. 692.21,
51 F.S.; defining terms; prohibiting governmental
52 entities and business entities with access to critical
53 infrastructure facilities from entering into certain
54 contracts with foreign sources of concern; requiring
55 business entities to register with the department by a
56 specified date; requiring the department to adopt
57 registration forms; providing requirements for such
58 forms; providing civil and criminal penalties;
59 requiring certain business entities to provide a
60 signed affidavit to the department attesting that the
61 buyer or transferee of a critical infrastructure
62 facility is not a foreign source of concern;
63 prohibiting information technology from a foreign
64 source of concern from being used in critical
65 infrastructure facilities; requiring the department to
66 adopt rules; creating s. 775.08255, F.S.; defining
67 terms; providing for the reclassification of criminal
68 penalties under certain circumstances; providing a
69 mandatory minimum term of imprisonment; creating s.
70 775.36, F.S.; defining terms; prohibiting enforcement
71 of certain laws of a foreign government; providing
72 criminal penalties; amending s. 316.0078, F.S.;
73 conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
74 providing an effective date.
75
76 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
77
78 Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Foreign
79 Interference Restriction and Enforcement Act.”
80 Section 2. Section 106.031, Florida Statutes, is created to
81 read:
82 106.031 Registration of agents and organizations associated
83 with foreign nations.—
84 (1) As used in this section, the term:
85 (a) “Address” includes any address, no matter the location,
86 inside or outside of the United States.
87 (b) “Agent of a foreign country of concern” means a person:
88 1. Who acts as an agent, an employee, a representative, or
89 a servant, or who otherwise acts at the order, at the request,
90 or under the direction or control, of a foreign country of
91 concern;
92 2. Whose actions are financed, in whole or in part, by a
93 foreign country of concern; and
94 3. Who engages in political activity.
95 (c) “Foreign country of concern” means the People’s
96 Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic
97 of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic
98 of Cuba, the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro, the State of
99 Qatar, or the Syrian Arab Republic, including any agency of or
100 any other entity under significant control of such foreign
101 country of concern.
102 (d) “Foreign-supported political organization” means a
103 political party or a domestic partnership, an association, a
104 corporation, an organization, or any other business entity that
105 engages in political activity within this state and that:
106 1. Has its principal place of business in a foreign country
107 of concern; or
108 2. Is at least 20 percent beneficially owned by a foreign
109 country of concern, a nonresident alien from a foreign country
110 of concern, or an entity organized under the laws of or having
111 its principal place of business in a foreign country of concern.
112 (e) “Payment” includes compensation and disbursement made
113 in any form, including, but not limited to, contributions,
114 income, money, tangible property, and intangible property.
115 (f) “Political activity” means an activity that is
116 performed to:
117 1. Influence an agency, a public official, or a local
118 governmental entity;
119 2. Influence the public in creating, adopting, or changing
120 state laws or government policies;
121 3. Support or oppose a candidate for office;
122 4. Influence the outcome of an election; or
123 5. Support or oppose any issue.
124 (2)(a) A person who becomes an agent of a foreign country
125 of concern must, within 10 days after becoming such an agent,
126 register with the division. The registration must be signed
127 under oath.
128 (b) The division shall create a form for the registration
129 required under paragraph (a). Such form must require, at a
130 minimum, all of the following information:
131 1. The registrant’s name.
132 2. The address of the registrant’s primary residence and
133 all other addresses associated with the registrant.
134 3. The name and address of the registrant’s principal place
135 of business.
136 4. A detailed statement describing the nature of the
137 registrant’s business.
138 5. The name of each foreign country of concern for whom the
139 registrant is acting, is assuming or purporting to act, or has
140 agreed to act.
141 6. A detailed statement describing the nature of the work
142 and the character of the business or other activities of each
143 foreign country of concern identified in subparagraph 5.
144 7. A statement detailing each time the registrant received
145 a payment from a foreign country of concern identified in
146 subparagraph 5. within the previous 90 days. The statement must
147 identify the amount of the payment and the nature of such
148 payment.
149 8. The total amount of such payments the registrant has
150 received within the previous 90 days from a foreign country of
151 concern identified in subparagraph 5.
152 9. A detailed statement of every activity the registrant,
153 or a person acting on behalf of the registrant, is performing,
154 has performed, or has agreed to perform on behalf of a foreign
155 country of concern identified in subparagraph 5.
156 10. If the registrant is also engaged in political activity
157 on behalf of a person who is not associated with a foreign
158 country of concern but who is an agent of a foreign country of
159 concern, include:
160 a. The name, employer, business and residence addresses,
161 and, if applicable, nationality of such person;
162 b. A detailed statement of every activity the registrant,
163 or a person acting on behalf of the registrant, is performing,
164 has performed, or has agreed to perform on behalf of such
165 person; and
166 c. A statement detailing each time the registrant received
167 a payment from such person within the previous 90 days. The
168 statement must identify the amount of the payment and the nature
169 of the payment.
170 11. A detailed statement of the payments made by the
171 registrant during the previous 90 days in connection with
172 actions taken by the registrant as an agent of, on behalf of, or
173 in furtherance of the goals of a foreign country of concern or a
174 person identified in subparagraph 10.
175 12. A detailed statement of all payments relating to
176 political activity made by the registrant during the previous 90
177 days.
178 (c) A registrant must update the information required under
179 paragraph (b) at least every 90 days.
180 (d) A person must register as an agent of a foreign country
181 of concern for any period of time he or she was engaged in such
182 position.
183 (3)(a) On or before January 1, 2027, each foreign-supported
184 political organization must register with the division.
185 (b) The division shall create a form for the registration
186 required under paragraph (a). The form must require, at minimum,
187 all of the following information:
188 1. The organization’s name and mailing address and the
189 address of any physical office.
190 2. The names, titles, and addresses of all officers or
191 directors of the organization.
192 3. A detailed statement of all payments made by the
193 organization that would constitute political activity during the
194 previous calendar year.
195 4. A detailed statement of all payments made to, or
196 received by, the organization from a foreign country of concern
197 or an agent of a foreign country of concern during the previous
198 calendar year.
199 (c) An organization must update the information required
200 under paragraph (b) at least every 90 days.
201 (4) Upon finding a violation of this section, in addition
202 to the remedies provided in ss. 106.265 and 106.27, the Florida
203 Elections Commission may assess the following penalties:
204 (a) For any willful violation, a fine of up to $500 per
205 violation.
206 (b) For any repeated willful violation, a fine of up to
207 $2,000 per violation.
208 Section 3. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 112.313,
209 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
210 112.313 Standards of conduct for public officers, employees
211 of agencies, and local government attorneys.—
212 (1) DEFINITIONS DEFINITION.—As used in this section, unless
213 the context otherwise requires, the term:
214 (a) “Designated foreign terrorist organization” has the
215 same meaning as in s. 775.32.
216 (b) “Foreign country of concern” has the same meaning as in
217 s. 286.101(1).
218 (c) “Public officer” includes any person elected or
219 appointed to hold office in any agency, including any person
220 serving on an advisory body.
221 (2) SOLICITATION OR ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS.—
222 (a) A No public officer, an employee of an agency, a local
223 government attorney, or a candidate for nomination or election
224 may not shall solicit or accept anything of value to the
225 recipient, including a gift, loan, reward, promise of future
226 employment, favor, or service, based upon any understanding that
227 the vote, official action, or judgment of the public officer,
228 employee, local government attorney, or candidate would be
229 influenced thereby.
230 (b) A public officer, an employee of an agency, a local
231 government attorney, or a candidate for nomination or election
232 may not solicit or accept anything of value to the recipient,
233 including a gift, loan, reward, promise of future employment,
234 favor, or service, for any purpose, including, but not limited
235 to, a gift from a designated foreign terrorist organization or
236 any person or entity representing or acting on behalf of a
237 foreign terrorist organization, or travel costs or any
238 reimbursement for costs of attending a conference or other
239 event, from a foreign country of concern or any of its
240 subdivisions, or from any person or entity representing or
241 acting on behalf of a foreign country of concern or any of its
242 subdivisions.
243 Section 4. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section
244 112.3142, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
245 112.3142 Ethics training for specified constitutional
246 officers, elected municipal officers, commissioners of community
247 redevelopment agencies, and elected local officers of
248 independent special districts.—
249 (2)
250 (e) The commission shall adopt rules establishing minimum
251 course content for the portion of an ethics training class which
252 addresses s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution and the Code
253 of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees. By November 1,
254 2026, the commission shall adopt revised rules to supplement the
255 minimum course content, including all of the following:
256 1. Known efforts by foreign countries of concern to target
257 and influence subnational governments, including, but not
258 limited to, the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front strategy.
259 2. How to identify, recognize, and report suspected foreign
260 influence campaigns.
261 3. Prohibitions on receiving gifts from foreign countries
262 of concern as defined in s. 287.138 or designated foreign
263 terrorist organizations as defined in s. 775.32.
264 Section 5. Present paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of
265 section 287.138, Florida Statutes, is redesignated as paragraph
266 (e), a new paragraph (d) is added to that subsection, and
267 paragraph (c) of subsection (1) and subsections (2), (3), and
268 (4) of that section are amended, to read:
269 287.138 Contracting with entities of foreign sources and
270 countries of concern prohibited.—
271 (1) As used in this section, the term:
272 (c) “Foreign country of concern” means the People’s
273 Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic
274 of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic
275 of Cuba, the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro, or the Syrian
276 Arab Republic, including any agency of or any other entity under
277 of significant control of such foreign country of concern.
278 (d) “Foreign source of concern” has the same meaning as in
279 s. 496.404.
280 (2)(a) A governmental entity may not knowingly enter into a
281 contract with an entity in which a foreign source of concern has
282 an ownership or controlling interest if the contract would give
283 access to an individual’s personal identifying information.
284 (b) A governmental entity may not enter into a contract for
285 information technology as defined in s. 282.0041, or for any
286 services related to information technology, with an entity in
287 which a foreign source of concern has an ownership or
288 controlling interest or through a third-party seller when the
289 information technology is designed, manufactured, or assembled
290 by any entity in which a foreign source of concern has an
291 ownership or controlling interest if:
292 (a) The entity is owned by the government of a foreign
293 country of concern;
294 (b) The government of a foreign country of concern has a
295 controlling interest in the entity; or
296 (c) The entity is organized under the laws of or has its
297 principal place of business in a foreign country of concern.
298 (3) Beginning July 1, 2026 2025, a governmental entity may
299 not extend or renew a contract with an entity listed in
300 subsection (2) paragraphs (2)(a)-(c) if the contract would give
301 such entity access to an individual’s personal identifying
302 information.
303 (4)(a) Beginning January 1, 2026 2024, a governmental
304 entity may not accept a bid on, a proposal for, or a reply to,
305 or enter into, a contract with an entity which would grant the
306 entity access to an individual’s personal identifying
307 information or involve information technology unless the entity
308 provides the governmental entity with an affidavit signed by an
309 officer or representative of the entity under penalty of perjury
310 attesting that the entity does not meet any of the criteria in
311 subsection (2) paragraphs (2)(a)-(c).
312 (b) Beginning July 1, 2026 2025, when an entity extends or
313 renews a contract with a governmental entity which would grant
314 the entity access to an individual’s personal identifying
315 information, the entity must provide the governmental entity
316 with an affidavit signed by an officer or a representative of
317 the entity under penalty of perjury attesting that the entity
318 does not meet any of the criteria in subsection (2) paragraphs
319 (2)(a)-(c).
320 Section 6. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
321 288.816, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (7) is
322 added to that section, to read:
323 288.816 Intergovernmental relations.—
324 (3) The state protocol officer may:
325 (a) Coordinate and carry out activities designed to
326 encourage the state and its subdivisions to participate in
327 sister city and sister state affiliations with foreign countries
328 and their subdivisions. Such activities may include a State of
329 Florida sister cities conference. Such activities may not
330 include encouragement of any affiliations with foreign countries
331 of concern as defined in s. 288.860 or their subdivisions.
332 (7) The department shall publish on its website, to be
333 updated quarterly, the following information:
334 (a) A current and accurate list of all foreign consulate
335 offices.
336 (b) A current and accurate list of all sister city and
337 sister state affiliations, including a copy of all such
338 agreements.
339 Section 7. Subsections (3), (4), and (5) of section
340 288.8175, Florida Statutes, are amended, and a new subsection
341 (7) is added to that section, to read:
342 288.8175 Linkage institutes between postsecondary
343 institutions in this state and foreign countries.—
344 (3) Each institute must be co-administered in this state by
345 a university-community college partnership, as designated in
346 subsection (5), and must have a private sector and public sector
347 advisory committee. The advisory committee must be
348 representative of the international education and commercial
349 interests of the state and may have members who are native to
350 the foreign country partner. Six members must be appointed by
351 the Department of Education. The Department of Education must
352 appoint at least one member who is an international educator.
353 The presidents, or their designees, of the participating
354 university and community college must also serve on the advisory
355 committee.
356 (4) The institutes are:
357 (a) Florida-Brazil Institute (University of Florida and
358 Miami Dade College).
359 (b) Florida-Costa Rica Institute (Florida State University
360 and Valencia College).
361 (c) Florida Caribbean Institute (Florida International
362 University and Daytona State College).
363 (d) Florida-Canada Institute (University of Central Florida
364 and Palm Beach State College).
365 (e) Florida-China Institute (University of West Florida,
366 University of South Florida, and Eastern Florida State College).
367 (e)(f) Florida-Japan Institute (University of South
368 Florida, University of West Florida, and St. Petersburg
369 College).
370 (f)(g) Florida-France Institute (New College of the
371 University of South Florida, Miami Dade College, and Florida
372 State University).
373 (g)(h) Florida-Israel Institute (Florida Atlantic
374 University and Broward College).
375 (h)(i) Florida-West Africa Institute (Florida Agricultural
376 and Mechanical University, University of North Florida, and
377 Florida State College at Jacksonville).
378 (i)(j) Florida-Eastern Europe Institute (University of
379 Central Florida and Lake-Sumter State College).
380 (j)(k) Florida-Mexico Institute (Florida International
381 University and Polk State College).
382 (5) Each institute is allowed to exempt from s. 1009.21 up
383 to 25 full-time equivalent students per year from the respective
384 host countries to study in any of the state universities or
385 community colleges in this state as resident students for
386 tuition purposes. The institute directors shall develop
387 criteria, to be approved by the Department of Education, for the
388 selection of these students. Students must return home within 3
389 years after their tenure of graduate or undergraduate study for
390 a length of time equal to their exemption period.
391 (7) A linkage institute may not enter into any agreement or
392 participate in any activities with a foreign country of concern
393 as defined in s. 288.860 or any organization in a foreign
394 country of concern.
395 Section 8. Subsection (2) of section 288.860, Florida
396 Statutes, is amended to read:
397 288.860 International cultural agreements.—
398 (2)(a) A state agency, political subdivision, or public
399 school authorized to expend state-appropriated funds or levy ad
400 valorem taxes may not participate in any agreement with or
401 accept any grant from a foreign country of concern or its
402 subdivisions, or any entity controlled by a foreign country of
403 concern.
404 (b) All agreements under paragraph (a), including, but not
405 limited to, sister city agreements, are terminated as of July 1,
406 2026., which:
407 (a) Constrains the freedom of contract of such public
408 entity;
409 (b) Allows the curriculum or values of a program in the
410 state to be directed or controlled by the foreign country of
411 concern; or
412 (c) Promotes an agenda detrimental to the safety or
413 security of the United States or its residents. Before the
414 execution of any cultural exchange agreement with a foreign
415 country of concern, the substance of the agreement must be
416 shared with federal agencies concerned with protecting national
417 security or enforcing trade sanctions, embargoes, or other
418 restrictions under federal law. If such federal agency provides
419 information suggesting that such agreement promotes an agenda
420 detrimental to the safety or security of the United States or
421 its residents, the public entity may not enter into the
422 agreement.
423 Section 9. Paragraphs (e) and (f) of subsection (14) of
424 section 496.404, Florida Statutes, are amended, and paragraph
425 (g) is added to that subsection, to read:
426 496.404 Definitions.—As used in ss. 496.401-496.424, the
427 term:
428 (14) “Foreign source of concern” means any of the
429 following:
430 (e) An agent, including a subsidiary or an affiliate of a
431 foreign legal entity, acting on behalf of a foreign source of
432 concern; or
433 (f) An entity in which a person, entity, or collection of
434 persons or entities described in paragraphs (a)-(e) has a
435 controlling interest. As used in this paragraph, the term
436 “controlling interest” means the possession of the power to
437 direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of
438 an entity, whether through ownership of securities, by contract,
439 or otherwise. A person or an entity that directly or indirectly
440 has the right to vote 25 percent or more of the voting interest
441 of the company or is entitled to 25 percent or more of its
442 profits is presumed to possess a controlling interest; or
443 (g) A designated foreign terrorist organization as defined
444 in s. 775.32 or an agent acting on behalf of a designated
445 foreign terrorist organization.
446 Section 10. Subsection (3) of section 692.201, Florida
447 Statutes, is amended to read:
448 692.201 Definitions.—As used in this part, the term:
449 (3) “Foreign country of concern” means the People’s
450 Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic
451 of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic
452 of Cuba, the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro, or the Syrian
453 Arab Republic, including any agency of or any other entity under
454 of significant control of such foreign country of concern.
455 Section 11. Section 692.21, Florida Statutes, is created to
456 read:
457 692.21 Protection of state critical infrastructure
458 facilities from a foreign source of concern.—
459 (1) As used in this section, the term:
460 (a) “Business entity” has the same meaning as in s.
461 112.312.
462 (b) “Foreign source of concern” has the same meaning as in
463 s. 496.404.
464 (c) “Governmental entity” has the same meaning as in s.
465 287.138.
466 (2)(a) A governmental entity or a business entity
467 constructing, repairing, operating, or otherwise having
468 significant access to a critical infrastructure facility may not
469 enter into a contract or other agreement relating to a critical
470 infrastructure facility in this state with a foreign source of
471 concern if the contract or agreement authorizes the foreign
472 source of concern to directly or remotely access or otherwise
473 control such critical infrastructure facility.
474 (b) A foreign source of concern may not enter into a
475 contract or other agreement relating to critical infrastructure
476 facilities in this state with a business entity constructing,
477 repairing, operating, or otherwise having significant access to
478 critical infrastructure facilities, or a governmental entity, if
479 the contract or agreement authorizes the foreign source of
480 concern to directly or remotely access or otherwise control such
481 critical infrastructure facility.
482 (3)(a) Beginning January 1, 2027, a business entity
483 constructing, repairing, operating, or otherwise having
484 significant access to a critical infrastructure facility in this
485 state which entered into a contract or other agreement before
486 July 1, 2026, with a foreign source of concern relating to such
487 critical infrastructure facility must register with the
488 Department of Commerce by January 1 of each year for the
489 remainder of the term of the contract or agreement with the
490 foreign source of concern relating to such critical
491 infrastructure facility. The Department of Commerce shall adopt
492 a registration form that includes all of the following:
493 1. The name of the business entity constructing, repairing,
494 operating, or otherwise having significant access to critical
495 infrastructure facilities in this state.
496 2. The address of the critical infrastructure facility the
497 business entity is constructing, repairing, or operating or to
498 which the business entity otherwise has significant access.
499 3. A description of the specific terms of the contract or
500 agreement which authorizes a foreign source of concern to engage
501 in constructing, repairing, or operating or to otherwise have
502 significant access to such critical infrastructure facility.
503 (b) A business entity that violates paragraph (a):
504 1. Is subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 for each day the
505 violation continues.
506 2. Commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable
507 as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.
508 (4) Before commencing any sale or other transfer of control
509 of a critical infrastructure facility in this state, the
510 business entity selling or otherwise transferring control of
511 such critical infrastructure facility must provide an affidavit,
512 signed under penalty of perjury, to the Department of Commerce
513 attesting that the buyer or transferee is not a foreign source
514 of concern.
515 (5) Information technology as defined in s. 282.0041
516 produced or manufactured by a foreign source of concern or a
517 company under the direction or control of a foreign source of
518 concern may not be used in a critical infrastructure facility
519 located in or serving this state.
520 (6) The Department of Commerce shall adopt rules to
521 implement this section.
522 Section 12. Section 775.08255, Florida Statutes, is created
523 to read:
524 775.08255 Offenses by foreign agents; reclassification.—
525 (1) As used in this section, the term:
526 (a) “Agent of a foreign government or designated foreign
527 terrorist organization” means a person acting on behalf of or
528 otherwise employed or controlled by a foreign government or a
529 designated foreign terrorist organization.
530 (b) “Designated foreign terrorist organization” has the
531 same meaning as provided in s. 775.32.
532 (c) “Foreign government” has the same meaning as provided
533 in s. 286.101.
534 (2) The penalty for any misdemeanor or felony may be
535 reclassified if the commission of such misdemeanor or felony was
536 for the purpose of benefiting, promoting, or furthering the
537 interests of a foreign government, a designated foreign
538 terrorist organization, or an agent of a foreign government or
539 designated foreign terrorist organization. The reclassification
540 is as follows:
541 (a) A misdemeanor of the second degree is reclassified to a
542 misdemeanor of the first degree.
543 (b) A misdemeanor of the first degree is reclassified to a
544 felony of the third degree.
545 (c) A felony of the third degree is reclassified to a
546 felony of the second degree.
547 (d) A felony of the second degree is reclassified to a
548 felony of the first degree.
549 (e) A felony of the first degree is reclassified to a life
550 felony.
551 (3) In addition to any other penalties prescribed by law, a
552 person convicted of a felony of the first degree or a life
553 felony under this section shall be sentenced to a minimum term
554 of imprisonment of 15 years.
555 Section 13. Section 775.36, Florida Statutes, is created to
556 read:
557 775.36 Unauthorized enforcement of foreign law.—
558 (1) As used in this section, the term:
559 (a) “Agent of a foreign government or designated foreign
560 terrorist organization” means a person acting on behalf of or
561 otherwise employed or controlled by a foreign government or a
562 designated foreign terrorist organization.
563 (b) “Designated foreign terrorist organization” has the
564 same meaning as provided in s. 775.32.
565 (c) “Foreign government” has the same meaning as in s.
566 286.101.
567 (2) Without the approval of this state or the United
568 States, a person may not:
569 (a) Prevent another person in this state from violating the
570 laws of a foreign government which are not also the laws of this
571 state or the United States; or
572 (b) Investigate, monitor, or surveil another person in this
573 state for the purpose of preventing the other person from
574 violating the laws of a foreign government that are not also the
575 laws of this state or the United States.
576 (3) A person who violates this section commits a felony of
577 the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
578 775.083, or s. 775.084. However, a person who violates this
579 section for the purpose of benefiting, promoting, or furthering
580 the interests of a foreign government, a designated foreign
581 terrorist organization, or an agent of a foreign government or
582 designated foreign terrorist organization commits a felony of
583 the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.
584 775.083, or s. 775.084.
585 Section 14. Subsection (1) of section 316.0078, Florida
586 Statutes, is amended to read:
587 316.0078 Prohibition on contracting for camera systems of
588 vendors of foreign countries of concern.—
589 (1) As used in this section, the term: terms
590 (a) “Controlling interest” has the same meaning as in s.
591 287.138. and
592 (b) “Foreign country of concern” means the People’s
593 Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic
594 of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic
595 of Cuba, the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro, or the Syrian
596 Arab Republic, including any agency of or any other entity under
597 significant control of such foreign country of concern have the
598 same meanings as in s. 287.138(1).
599 Section 15. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.