Florida Senate - 2026 SENATOR AMENDMENT
Bill No. HB 5003
Ì952064$Î952064
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
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Floor: 1/AD/2R .
02/20/2026 10:39 AM .
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Senator Hooper moved the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. It is the intent of the Legislature that the
6 implementing and administering provisions of this act apply to
7 the General Appropriations Act for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
8 Section 2. In order to implement Specific Appropriations 5,
9 6, 88, and 89 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the
10 calculations of the Florida Education Finance Program for the
11 2026-2027 fiscal year included in the document titled “Public
12 School Funding: The Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP)
13 Fiscal Year 2026-2027,” dated February 18, 2026, and filed with
14 the Secretary of the Senate, are incorporated by reference for
15 the purpose of displaying the calculations used by the
16 Legislature, consistent with the requirements of state law, in
17 making appropriations for the Florida Education Finance Program.
18 This section expires July 1, 2027.
19 Section 3. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 80
20 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the school
21 readiness reimbursement rates for the 2026-2027 fiscal year
22 included in the document titled “School Readiness Program
23 Reimbursement Rates Fiscal Year 2026-2027,” dated February 18,
24 2026, and filed with the Secretary of the Senate, are
25 incorporated by reference, consistent with the requirements of
26 state law, in making appropriations for the school readiness
27 program allocation. This section expires July 1, 2027.
28 Section 4. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 102
29 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsections (1),
30 (2), and (5) of section 1001.451, Florida Statutes, are amended
31 to read:
32 1001.451 Regional consortium service organizations.—In
33 order to provide a full range of programs to larger numbers of
34 students, minimize duplication of services, and encourage the
35 development of new programs and services:
36 (1) School districts with 20,000 or fewer unweighted full
37 time equivalent students, developmental research (laboratory)
38 schools established pursuant to s. 1002.32, and the Florida
39 School for the Deaf and the Blind may enter into cooperative
40 agreements to form a regional consortium service organization.
41 Each regional consortium service organization shall provide any,
42 at a minimum, three of the following services determined
43 necessary and appropriate by the board of directors:
44 (a) Exceptional student education;
45 (b) Safe schools support teacher education centers;
46 environmental education;
47 (c) State and federal grant procurement and coordination;
48 (d) Data services processing; health
49 (e) Insurance services;
50 (f) Risk management insurance;
51 (g) Professional learning;
52 (h) College, career, and workforce development;
53 (i) Business and operational services staff development;
54 (j) Purchasing; or
55 (k) Planning and accountability.
56 (2)(a) Each regional consortium service organization
57 composed that consists of four or more school districts is
58 eligible to receive, through the Department of Education,
59 subject to the funds provided in the General Appropriations Act,
60 an allocation incentive grant of $150,000 $50,000 per school
61 district and eligible member to be used for the delivery of
62 services within the participating school districts. The
63 determination of services and use of such funds must shall be
64 established by the board of directors of the regional consortium
65 service organization. The funds must shall be distributed to
66 each regional consortium service organization no later than 30
67 days following the release of the funds to the department. Each
68 regional consortium service organization shall submit an annual
69 report to the department regarding the use of funds for
70 consortia services. Unexpended amounts in any fund in a
71 consortium’s current year operating budget must be carried
72 forward and included as the balance forward for that fund in the
73 approved operating budget for the following year. Each regional
74 consortium service organization shall provide quarterly
75 financial reports to member districts.
76 (b) Member districts shall designate a district to serve as
77 a fiscal agent for contractual and reporting purposes. Such
78 fiscal agent district is entitled to reasonable compensation for
79 accounting and other services performed. The regional consortium
80 service organization shall retain all funds received from grants
81 or contracted services to cover indirect or administrative costs
82 associated with the provision of such services. The regional
83 consortium service organization board of directors shall
84 determine the products and services to be provided by the
85 consortium; however, in all contractual matters, the school
86 board of the fiscal agent district shall act on proposed actions
87 of the regional consortium service organization.
88 (c) The regional consortium service organization board of
89 directors shall recommend establishment of positions and
90 individuals for appointment to the fiscal agent district.
91 Personnel must be employed under the personnel policies of the
92 fiscal agent district and are deemed to be public employees of
93 the fiscal agent district. The regional consortium service
94 organization board of directors may recommend a salary schedule
95 and job descriptions specific to its personnel.
96 (d) The regional consortium service organization may
97 purchase or lease property and facilities essential for its
98 operations and is responsible for their maintenance and
99 associated overhead costs.
100 (e) If a regional consortium service organization is
101 dissolved, any revenue from the sale of assets must be
102 distributed among the member districts as determined by the
103 board of directors Application for incentive grants shall be
104 made to the Commissioner of Education by July 30 of each year
105 for distribution to qualifying regional consortium service
106 organizations by January 1 of the fiscal year.
107 (5) The board of directors of a regional consortium service
108 organization may use various means to generate revenue in
109 support of its activities, including, but not limited to,
110 contracting for services to nonmember districts. The board of
111 directors may acquire, enjoy, use, and dispose of patents,
112 copyrights, and trademarks and any licenses and associated other
113 rights or interests thereunder or therein. Ownership of all such
114 patents, copyrights, trademarks, licenses, and associated rights
115 or interests thereunder or therein shall vest in the state, with
116 the board of directors having full right of use and full right
117 to retain associated the revenues derived therefrom. Any funds
118 realized from contracted services, patents, copyrights,
119 trademarks, or licenses are shall be considered internal funds
120 as provided in s. 1011.07. A fund balance must be established
121 for maintaining or expanding services, facilities maintenance,
122 terminal pay, and other liabilities Such funds shall be used to
123 support the organization’s marketing and research and
124 development activities in order to improve and increase services
125 to its member districts.
126 Section 5. The amendments to s. 1001.451, Florida Statutes,
127 made by this act expire July 1, 2027, and the text of that
128 section shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2026,
129 except that any amendments to such text enacted other than by
130 this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
131 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
132 of text which expire pursuant to this section.
133 Section 6. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 102
134 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section 1001.4511,
135 Florida Statutes, is created to read:
136 1001.4511 Regional Consortia Service Organization
137 Supplemental Services Program.—
138 (1) There is created the Regional Consortia Service
139 Organization Supplemental Services Program to increase the
140 ability of regional consortium service organizations under s.
141 1001.451 to provide programs and services to consortia members
142 through cooperative agreements. Program funds may be used to
143 supplement member needs related to transportation; district
144 finance personnel services; property insurance, including
145 property insurance obtained from any source; cybersecurity
146 support; school safety; college, career, and workforce
147 development; academic support; and behavior support within
148 exceptional student education services.
149 (2) Each regional consortium service organization shall
150 annually report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker
151 of the House of Representatives the distribution of funds,
152 including members awarded and services provided.
153 (3) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351,
154 funds allocated for this purpose which are not disbursed by June
155 30 of the fiscal year in which the funds are allocated may be
156 carried forward for up to 5 years after the effective date of
157 the original appropriation.
158 (4) This section expires July 1, 2027.
159 Section 7. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 64A
160 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section 1009.635,
161 Florida Statutes, is created to read:
162 1009.635 Rural Incentive for Professional Educators
163 Program.—
164 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Rural Incentive for Professional
165 Educators (RIPE) Program is established within the Department of
166 Education to support the recruitment and retention of qualified
167 instructional personnel in rural communities. The program shall
168 provide financial assistance for the repayment of student loans
169 for eligible participants who establish permanent residency and
170 employment in rural areas of opportunity.
171 (2) ELIGIBILITY.—An individual is eligible to participate
172 in the RIPE Program if he or she does all of the following:
173 (a) Establishes permanent residency on or after July 1,
174 2026, in a rural area of opportunity as designated pursuant to
175 s. 288.0656. The address on an individual’s state-issued
176 identification card or driver license is evidence of residence.
177 (b) Secures full-time employment as a teacher or
178 administrator in a private school as defined in s. 1002.01, or
179 as instructional or administrative personnel as those terms are
180 defined in s. 1012.01(2) and (3), respectively, in the public
181 school district located within the same rural area of
182 opportunity as he or she resides.
183 (c) Holds an associate degree, bachelor’s degree,
184 postgraduate degree, or certificate from an accredited
185 institution earned before establishing residency.
186 (d) Has an active student loan balance incurred for the
187 completion of the qualifying degree or certificate.
188 (3) LOAN REPAYMENT.—Eligible participants may receive up to
189 $15,000 in total student loan repayment assistance over 5 years,
190 disbursed in annual payments not to exceed $3,000 per year.
191 Payments must be made directly to the lender servicing the
192 participant’s student loan.
193 (4) AWARD DISTRIBUTION.—Before disbursement of an award,
194 the department shall verify that the participant:
195 (a) Has maintained continuous employment with the school
196 district in an instructional or administrative position;
197 (b) Has received a rating of effective or highly effective
198 pursuant to s. 1012.34; and
199 (c) Has not been placed on probation, had his or her
200 certificate suspended or revoked, or been placed on the
201 disqualification list, pursuant to s. 1012.796.
202 (5) ADMINISTRATION.—The program shall be administered by
203 the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Department
204 of Education, which shall:
205 (a) Develop application procedures requiring documentation,
206 including proof of residency, verification of employment,
207 official academic transcripts, and details of outstanding
208 student loans; and
209 (b) Monitor compliance with program requirements.
210 (6) RULEMAKING.—The State Board of Education shall adopt
211 rules no later than January 31, 2027, to administer this
212 section.
213 (7) EXPIRATION.—This section expires July 1, 2027.
214 Section 8. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 17
215 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, a state university
216 board of trustees that is beginning an approved capital outlay
217 project with a health care provider may accept the health care
218 provider’s procurement methods and construction contracts
219 entered thereunder and may reimburse the health care provider
220 for its expenses using the proceeds from a bond issuance
221 approved by the Board of Governors. This section expires July 1,
222 2027.
223 Section 9. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 152
224 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding
225 ss. 1011.45 and 1012.975, Florida Statutes, the Florida
226 Agricultural and Mechanical University board of trustees may
227 expend available reserves or carry forward balances from
228 previous years’ operational and programmatic appropriations, or
229 other available reserves or balances from funds not appropriated
230 from the General Revenue Fund, from state trust funds, or from
231 tuition and fees, for the remuneration of the president of the
232 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. This section
233 expires July 1, 2027.
234 Section 10. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
235 209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
236 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
237 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
238 amendment, subject to the notice, review, and objection
239 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to realign funding
240 within the Medicaid program appropriation categories to address
241 projected surpluses and deficits within the program and to
242 maximize the use of state trust funds. A single budget amendment
243 shall be submitted in the last quarter of the 2026-2027 fiscal
244 year only. This section expires July 1, 2027.
245 Section 11. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
246 190 through 195 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
247 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
248 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
249 amendment, subject to the notice, review, and objection
250 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to realign funding
251 within the Florida Kidcare program appropriation categories, or
252 to increase budget authority in the Children’s Medical Services
253 network category, to address projected surpluses and deficits
254 within the program or to maximize the use of state trust funds.
255 A single budget amendment must be submitted in the last quarter
256 of the 2026-2027 fiscal year only. This section expires July 1,
257 2027.
258 Section 12. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
259 490 through 499 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
260 subsection (17) of section 381.986, Florida Statutes, is amended
261 to read:
262 381.986 Medical use of marijuana.—
263 (17) Rules adopted pursuant to this section before July 1,
264 2027 2026, are not subject to ss. 120.54(3)(b) and 120.541. This
265 subsection expires July 1, 2027 2026.
266 Section 13. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
267 217, 219, and 223 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
268 the Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
269 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
270 additional spending authority to implement the federally
271 approved directed payment program for hospitals statewide
272 providing inpatient and outpatient services to Medicaid managed
273 care enrollees, the Indirect Medical Education (IME) Program,
274 and a nursing workforce expansion and education program for
275 certain institutions participating in a graduate medical
276 education or nursing education program. For institutions
277 participating in the nursing workforce expansion and education
278 program, the budget amendment must identify the educational
279 institutions partnering with the teaching hospital. Institutions
280 participating in the nursing workforce expansion and education
281 program shall provide quarterly reports to the agency detailing
282 the number of nurses participating in the program. This section
283 expires July 1, 2027.
284 Section 14. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
285 217, 219, and 223 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
286 the Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
287 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
288 additional spending authority to implement the federally
289 approved Directed Payment Program and fee-for-service
290 supplemental payments for cancer hospitals that meet the
291 criteria in 42 U.S.C. s. 1395ww(d)(1)(B)(v). This section
292 expires July 1, 2027.
293 Section 15. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
294 209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the
295 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
296 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
297 additional spending authority to implement the Low Income Pool
298 component of the Florida Managed Medical Assistance
299 Demonstration up to the total computable funds authorized by the
300 federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The budget
301 amendment must include the final terms and conditions of the Low
302 Income Pool, a proposed distribution model by entity, and a
303 listing of entities contributing intergovernmental transfers to
304 support the state match required. In addition, for each entity
305 included in the distribution model, a signed attestation must be
306 provided which includes the charity care cost upon which the Low
307 Income Pool payment is based and an acknowledgment that should
308 the distribution result in an overpayment based on the Low
309 Income Pool cost limit audit, the entity is responsible for
310 returning that overpayment to the agency for return to the
311 federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This section
312 expires July 1, 2027.
313 Section 16. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
314 222 and 223 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the
315 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
316 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
317 additional spending authority to implement fee-for-service
318 supplemental payments and a directed payment program for
319 physicians and subordinate licensed health care practitioners
320 employed by or under contract with a Florida medical or dental
321 school, or a public hospital. This section expires July 1, 2027.
322 Section 17. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
323 220, 223, and 235 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
324 the Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
325 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
326 additional spending authority to implement a certified
327 expenditure program for emergency medical transportation
328 services. This section expires July 1, 2027.
329 Section 18. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
330 209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
331 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
332 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
333 amendment, subject to the notice, review, and objection
334 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, requesting
335 additional spending authority to implement the Disproportionate
336 Share Hospital Program. The budget amendment must include a
337 proposed distribution model by entity and a listing of entities
338 contributing intergovernmental transfers and certified public
339 expenditures to support the state match required. This section
340 expires July 1, 2027.
341 Section 19. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
342 209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the
343 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
344 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
345 additional spending authority to implement fee-for-service
346 inpatient and outpatient supplemental payments for specialty
347 hospitals as defined in s. 395.002(28), Florida Statutes,
348 providing comprehensive acute care services to children with
349 Medicaid inpatient utilization equal to or greater than 50
350 percent and located in a county with greater than 250,000
351 Medicaid enrollees in 2023. This section expires July 1, 2027.
352 Section 20. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
353 201 and 228 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
354 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
355 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit budget
356 amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection
357 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget
358 authority to support the Florida School-Based Services program.
359 This section expires July 1, 2027.
360 Section 21. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
361 209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:
362 (1) the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Task Force, a task
363 force as defined in s. 20.03(5), Florida Statutes, is created
364 within the Agency for Health Care Administration to evaluate the
365 delivery of applied behavior analysis services in a manner that
366 promotes high-quality, family-centered care while ensuring long
367 term financial sustainability of the Medicaid program and cost
368 predictability without disrupting access for current enrollees
369 and families.
370 (2) The task force shall evaluate:
371 (a) Clinical care models that lead to best practices for
372 the provision of therapy at the appropriate ages;
373 (b) Appropriate transitions for enrollees receiving ABA
374 services across developmental, educational, and community
375 settings;
376 (c) Quality metrics for ABA therapy services;
377 (d) Limits and utilization controls related to the length
378 of time ABA services may be authorized;
379 (e) Potential caps on the number of months an enrollee may
380 receive ABA services; and
381 (f) Ways to enhance Medicaid provider enrollment and
382 billing standards for ABA services to promote program integrity
383 and fiscal accountability.
384 (3) The task force shall develop recommendations for
385 revising the state’s service delivery model to improve care
386 experience and service continuity for enrollees and families
387 receiving ABA services, while safeguarding long-term program
388 sustainability.
389 (4) The task force shall consist of 10 members as provided
390 in this subsection.
391 (a) The Secretary of Health Care Administration, or his or
392 her designee, shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member of
393 the task force and shall serve as the chair.
394 (b) The remainder of the task force membership shall be
395 composed as follows:
396 1. Two members appointed by the Governor, three members
397 appointed by the President of the Senate, and three members
398 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, based
399 upon the criteria of this subparagraph. The appointing officers
400 must make their appointments prioritizing members who have the
401 following experience or expertise:
402 a. Persons with academic credentials or scientific
403 expertise relating to autism and applied behavior analysis;
404 b. Representatives of the applied behavior analysis
405 provider community;
406 c. Representatives of Medicaid managed care plans with
407 managerial experience and expertise relating to autism and
408 applied behavior analysis; or
409 d. Physicians licensed under chapter 458, Florida Statutes,
410 or chapter 459, Florida Statutes, with expertise relating to
411 autism and applied behavior analysis.
412 2. One family member of a Medicaid managed care plan
413 enrollee who receives applied behavior analysis services,
414 appointed by the Governor.
415 (c) The Secretary of Health Care Administration shall
416 coordinate with the appointing officers to ensure the task
417 force’s membership adequately represents the criteria provided
418 under paragraph (b).
419 (d) Any vacancy occurring on the task force must be filled
420 in the same manner as the original appointment.
421 (5) The Agency for Health Care Administration must provide
422 staff support for the work of the task force, and staff from the
423 Department of Health, the Department of Children and Families,
424 the Department of Education, and the Agency for Persons with
425 Disabilities may provide additional expertise.
426 (6) Meetings of the task force may be held through
427 teleconference or other electronic means. The task force shall
428 convene for its initial meeting by August 15, 2026, and
429 thereafter, upon the call of the chair. Notices for any task
430 force meetings must be published in advance on the Agency for
431 Health Care Administration’s website.
432 (7) Members of the task force shall serve without
433 compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as
434 provided in s. 112.061, Florida Statutes.
435 (8) The task force shall report its findings and
436 recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
437 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 31,
438 2026. The report must include advantages and disadvantages of
439 each recommendation.
440 (9) This section expires July 1, 2027.
441 Section 22. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
442 339, 339B, 368 through 369 of the 2026-2027 General
443 Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292,
444 Florida Statutes, the Department of Children and Families may
445 submit a budget amendment, subject to the notice, review, and
446 objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to realign
447 funding within the department based on the implementation of the
448 Guardianship Assistance Program, between the specific
449 appropriations for guardianship assistance payments, foster care
450 Level 1 room and board payments, relative caregiver payments,
451 and nonrelative caregiver payments. This section expires July 1,
452 2027.
453 Section 23. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
454 209 through 212, 217, 219, 220, 222 through 224, 363, 372, 475,
455 479, 480, 486, 501, 502, 508, and 512 of the 2026-2027 General
456 Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292,
457 Florida Statutes, the Department of Children and Families, the
458 Department of Health, and the Agency for Health Care
459 Administration may submit budget amendments, subject to the
460 notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida
461 Statutes, to increase budget authority to support refugee
462 programs administered by the federal Office of Refugee
463 Resettlement due to the ongoing instability of federal
464 immigration policy and the resulting inability of the state to
465 reasonably predict, with certainty, the budgetary needs of this
466 state with respect to the number of refugees relocated to the
467 state as part of those federal programs. The Department of
468 Children and Families shall submit quarterly reports to the
469 Executive Office of the Governor, the President of the Senate,
470 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the number of
471 refugees entering the state, the nations of origin of such
472 refugees, and current expenditure projections. This section
473 expires July 1, 2027.
474 Section 24. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
475 295 through 390A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
476 and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes,
477 the Department of Children and Families may submit budget
478 amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection
479 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget
480 authority to support the following federal grant programs: the
481 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Grant Program, the Pandemic
482 Electronic Benefit Transfer, the American Rescue Plan Grant, the
483 State Opioid Response Grant, the Substance Use Prevention and
484 Treatment Block Grant, the Chafee Grant for Independent Living
485 Services, the Education and Traditional Voucher Grant, Title IV
486 B Subparts 1 and 2 Grants, the Elder Justice Act, the STOP
487 Violence Against Women Grant, the Rapid Unsheltered Survivor
488 Housing Grant, and the Mental Health Block Grant. This section
489 expires July 1, 2027.
490 Section 25. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
491 267 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
492 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 32 of chapter
493 2025-199, Laws of Florida, subsection (2) of section 393.066,
494 Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
495 393.066 Community services and treatment.—
496 (2) Necessary services shall be purchased, rather than
497 provided directly by the agency, when the purchase of services
498 is more cost-efficient than providing them directly. All
499 purchased services must be approved by the agency. As a
500 condition of payment and before billing, persons or entities
501 under contract with the agency to provide services shall use
502 agency data management systems to document service provision to
503 clients or shall maintain such information in its own data
504 management system and electronically transmit it to the agency
505 data management system in an industry standard electronic format
506 designated by the agency. The agency may not require training on
507 the use of agency data management systems by persons or entities
508 that choose to maintain data in their own data management
509 system, provided that they electronically transmit required
510 information in a format and frequency designated by the agency.
511 Contracted persons and entities shall meet the minimum hardware
512 and software technical requirements established by the agency
513 for the use of such systems. Such persons or entities shall also
514 meet any requirements established by the agency for training and
515 professional development of staff providing direct services to
516 clients.
517 Section 26. The text of s. 393.066(2), Florida Statutes, as
518 carried forward from chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida, by this
519 act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that subsection shall
520 revert to that in existence on June 30, 2025, except that any
521 amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall be
522 preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
523 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
524 expire pursuant to this section.
525 Section 27. Effective upon this act becoming a law, and in
526 order to implement Specific Appropriation 382 of the 2026-2027
527 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (c) of subsection (9) of
528 section 394.9082, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
529 394.9082 Behavioral health managing entities.—
530 (9) FUNDING FOR MANAGING ENTITIES.—
531 (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), for the 2026-2027 2025
532 2026 fiscal year, a managing entity may carry forward documented
533 unexpended funds appropriated from the State Opioid Settlement
534 Trust Fund from 1 fiscal year to the next. Nonqualified funds
535 carried forward pursuant to this paragraph are not included in
536 the 8 percent cumulative cap that may be carried forward. This
537 paragraph expires July 1, 2027 2026.
538 Section 28. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
539 324A, 339, 339B, and 384A of the 2026-2027 General
540 Appropriations Act, subsection (10) is added to section
541 409.9913, Florida Statutes, to read:
542 409.9913 Funding methodology to allocate funding to lead
543 agencies.—
544 (10) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, core
545 services funding shall be allocated as provided in the General
546 Appropriations Act. The department shall use the Tiered Funding
547 Model developed and submitted to the Legislature pursuant to
548 section 34 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida, as the baseline
549 framework for any updates, refinements, or enhancements to the
550 model and shall continue to collect detailed cost, expenditure,
551 and census data from community-based care lead agencies.
552 (a) Each lead agency shall submit any cost, expenditure,
553 and census data requested by the department to support the
554 continued development and refinement of the Tiered Funding
555 Model. Lead agencies shall complete and validate a standardized
556 expenditure report template in the form and manner prescribed by
557 the department.
558 (b) The department shall conduct ongoing performance
559 monitoring by comparing trends in individual metrics against
560 broader indicators of system health and shall analyze emerging
561 market trends that may impact organizational financial
562 stability. The department’s analysis and reporting shall include
563 a comprehensive explanation of the methodology used to establish
564 residential group home rates, a description of the current rate
565 setting processes employed by each community-based care lead
566 agency, and recommendations to enhance the fiscal sustainability
567 and transparency of those processes.
568 (c) Beginning in July 2026 and continuing through November
569 2026, the department shall provide monthly status reports to the
570 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
571 House of Representatives detailing activities and progress
572 related to the development of the funding methodology, including
573 preliminary recommendations for adjustments for the subsequent
574 fiscal year.
575 (d) By December 1, 2026, the department shall submit a
576 final report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
577 the Speaker of the House of Representatives that includes
578 recommendations for adjustments to the funding methodology for
579 the next fiscal year. The recommendations shall continue the
580 Tiered Funding Model approach while proposing enhancements
581 intended to strengthen operational and financial outcomes.
582 (e) This subsection expires July 1, 2027.
583 Section 29. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
584 324A, 339, 339B, and 384A and section 74 of the 2026-2027
585 General Appropriations Act, subsection (9) is added to section
586 409.990, Florida Statutes, to read:
587 409.990 Funding for lead agencies.—A contract established
588 between the department and a lead agency must be funded by a
589 grant of general revenue, other applicable state funds, or
590 applicable federal funding sources.
591 (9) Notwithstanding subsection (5), all funds held by a
592 lead agency carried forward pursuant to subsection (5) as of
593 July 1, 2026, must be returned to the department. The department
594 must hold such funds in a separate account and, by August 1,
595 2026, report to the chair of the Senate Committee on
596 Appropriations, the chair of the House of Representatives Budget
597 Committee, and the Executive Office of the Governor’s Office of
598 Policy and Budget the amount of funds returned by each lead
599 agency. As of September 30, 2026, all funds returned pursuant to
600 this subsection shall revert to the General Revenue Fund. This
601 subsection expires July 1, 2027.
602 Section 30. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
603 465 and 467 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
604 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
605 Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject to
606 the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,
607 Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the
608 Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
609 (WIC) and the Child Care Food Program if additional federal
610 revenues will be expended in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This
611 section expires July 1, 2027.
612 Section 31. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
613 476 and 526 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
614 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
615 Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject to
616 the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,
617 Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the HIV/AIDS
618 Prevention and Treatment Program if additional federal revenues
619 specific to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment become available
620 in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This section expires July 1, 2027.
621 Section 32. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
622 432 through 593 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
623 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
624 Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject to
625 the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,
626 Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the
627 department if additional federal revenues specific to COVID-19
628 relief funds become available in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This
629 section expires July 1, 2027.
630 Section 33. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
631 203 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:
632 (1) The Agency for Health Care Administration shall replace
633 the current Florida Medicaid Management Information System
634 (FMMIS) and fiscal agent operations with a system that is
635 modular, interoperable, and scalable for the Florida Medicaid
636 program and that complies with all applicable federal and state
637 laws and requirements. The agency may not include in the program
638 to replace the current FMMIS and fiscal agent contract:
639 (a) Functionality that duplicates any of the information
640 systems of the other health and human services state agencies;
641 (b) Procurement for agency requirements external to
642 Medicaid programs with the intent to leverage the Medicaid
643 technology infrastructure for other purposes without legislative
644 appropriation or legislative authorization to procure these
645 requirements. The new system, the Florida Health Care Connection
646 (FX) system, must provide better integration with subsystems
647 supporting Florida’s Medicaid program; uniformity, consistency,
648 and improved access to data; and compatibility with the Centers
649 for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Medicaid Information
650 Technology Architecture (MITA) as the system matures and expands
651 its functionality; or
652 (c) Any contract executed after July 1, 2022, not including
653 staff augmentation services purchased off the Department of
654 Management Services Information Technology staff augmentation
655 state term contract which are not deliverables based fixed price
656 contracts.
657 (2) For purposes of replacing FMMIS and the current
658 Medicaid fiscal agent, the Agency for Health Care Administration
659 shall:
660 (a) Prioritize procurements for the replacement of the
661 current functions of FMMIS and the responsibilities of the
662 current Medicaid fiscal agent, to minimize the need to extend
663 all or portions of the current fiscal agent contract.
664 (b) Comply with and not exceed the Centers for Medicare and
665 Medicaid Services funding authorizations for the FX system.
666 (c) Develop and mature an enterprise architecture framework
667 to align the requirements of the FX project phases and
668 overarching program objectives, including completing and
669 maintaining key components such as the Business Capability Model
670 and Business Value Model.
671 (d) Apply value-based measures to support informed
672 decisionmaking around release readiness and go-live criteria.
673 These measures must be tracked and reported quarterly to the
674 executive steering committee established in paragraph (k) post
675 implementation to support performance monitoring and continuous
676 improvement.
677 (e) Through documented FX architecture governance
678 practices, ensure that the Medicaid business needs and the
679 business architecture are the primary drivers of information and
680 technical architecture design decisions. All such decisions must
681 be documented with traceable rationale to promote transparency
682 and accountability across the program. The business,
683 information, and technical architectures must align with the
684 MITA framework where applicable. In areas where MITA guidance is
685 not available, alignment will be maintained through adherence to
686 The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF).
687 (f) Ensure compliance and uniformity with the published
688 MITA framework and guidelines. The agency shall:
689 1. Implement an Enterprise Architecture (EA) management
690 tool that supports an integrated approach to FX program
691 architecture. The EA tool must serve as a centralized repository
692 for the FX Business Process Inventory and support the integrated
693 management and oversight of the FX business, technical, and
694 information architectures.
695 2. Establish governance structures and define user roles
696 within the EA tool for the business, technical, and information
697 architecture components.
698 (g) Ensure that all business requirements and technical
699 specifications have been provided to all affected state agencies
700 for their review and input and approved by the executive
701 steering committee.
702 (h) Consult with the Executive Office of the Governor’s
703 working group for interagency information technology integration
704 for the development of competitive solicitations that provide
705 for data interoperability and shared information technology
706 services across the state’s health and human services agencies.
707 (i) Implement a data governance structure for the program
708 to coordinate data sharing and interoperability across state
709 health care entities.
710 (j) Establish a continuing oversight team for each contract
711 pursuant to s. 287.057(26), Florida Statutes. The teams must
712 provide quarterly reports to the executive steering committee,
713 summarizing the status of the contract, the pace of
714 deliverables, the quality of deliverables, contractor
715 responsiveness, and contractor performance.
716 (k) Implement a program governance structure that includes
717 an executive steering committee composed of:
718 1. The Secretary of Health Care Administration, or the
719 executive sponsor of the program.
720 2. A representative of the Division of Health Care Finance
721 and Data of the Agency for Health Care Administration, appointed
722 by the Secretary of Health Care Administration.
723 3. Two representatives from the Division of Medicaid
724 Policy, Quality, and Operations of the Agency for Health Care
725 Administration, appointed by the Secretary of Health Care
726 Administration.
727 4. A representative of the Division of Health Care Policy
728 and Oversight of the Agency for Health Care Administration,
729 appointed by the Secretary of Health Care Administration.
730 5. A representative of the Florida Center for Health
731 Information and Transparency of the Agency for Health Care
732 Administration, appointed by the Secretary of Health Care
733 Administration.
734 6. The Chief Information Officer of the Agency for Health
735 Care Administration, or his or her designee.
736 (3)(a) The Secretary of Health Care Administration or the
737 executive sponsor of the program shall serve as chair of the
738 executive steering committee, and the committee shall take
739 action by a vote of at least 5 affirmative votes with the chair
740 voting on the prevailing side. A quorum of the executive
741 steering committee consists of at least 5 members.
742 (b)1. The chair shall establish a program finance and
743 contracting working group composed of:
744 a. The FX program director.
745 b. A representative from the agency’s Office of the General
746 Counsel.
747 c. A representative from the agency’s Division of
748 Administration.
749 d. Representatives from each continuing oversight team.
750 e. The FX program strategic roadmap manager.
751 f. The FX program project managers.
752 g. The FX program risk manager.
753 h. Any other personnel deemed necessary by the chair.
754 2. The working group shall meet at least monthly to review
755 the program status and all contract and program operations,
756 policies, risks, and issues related to the budget, spending
757 plans and contractual obligations, and shall develop
758 recommendations to the executive steering committee for
759 improvement. The working group shall review all change requests
760 that impact the program’s scope, schedule, or budget related to
761 contract management and vendor payments and submit those
762 recommended for adoption to the executive steering committee.
763 The chair shall request input from the working group on agenda
764 items for each scheduled meeting. The program shall make
765 available program staff to the group, as needed, for the group
766 to fulfill its duties.
767 (c)1. The chair shall establish a state agency stakeholder
768 working group composed of:
769 a. The executive sponsor of the FX program.
770 b. A representative of the Department of Children and
771 Families, appointed by the Secretary of Children and Families.
772 c. A representative of the Department of Health, appointed
773 by the State Surgeon General.
774 d. A representative of the Agency for Persons with
775 Disabilities, appointed by the director of the Agency for
776 Persons with Disabilities.
777 e. A representative from the Florida Healthy Kids
778 Corporation.
779 f. A representative from the Department of Elderly Affairs,
780 appointed by the Secretary of Elderly Affairs.
781 g. The state chief information officer, or his or her
782 designee.
783 h. A representative of the Department of Financial Services
784 who has experience with the state’s financial processes,
785 including development of the PALM system, appointed by the Chief
786 Financial Officer.
787 2. The working group shall meet at least quarterly to
788 review the program status and all program operations, policies,
789 risks, and issues that may impact the operations external to the
790 Agency for Health Care Administration FX program, and shall
791 develop recommendations to the executive steering committee for
792 improvement. The chair shall request input from the working
793 group on agenda items for each scheduled meeting. The program
794 shall make available program staff to the group to provide
795 system demonstrations and any program documentation, as needed,
796 for the group to fulfill its duties.
797 (4) The executive steering committee has the overall
798 responsibility for ensuring that the program to replace FMMIS
799 and the Medicaid fiscal agent meets its primary business
800 objectives and shall:
801 (a) Identify and recommend to the Executive Office of the
802 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
803 House of Representatives any statutory changes needed to
804 implement the modular replacement to standardize, to the fullest
805 extent possible, the state’s health care data and business
806 processes.
807 (b) Review and approve any changes to the program’s scope,
808 schedule, and budget.
809 (c) Review and approve any changes to the program’s
810 strategic roadmap.
811 (d) Review and approve change requests that impact the
812 program’s scope, schedule, or budget recommended for adoption by
813 the program finance and contracting working group.
814 (e) Review recommendations provided by the program working
815 groups.
816 (f) Review vendor scorecards, reports, and notifications
817 produced by the continuing oversight teams.
818 (g) Ensure that adequate resources are provided throughout
819 all phases of the program.
820 (h) Approve all major program deliverables.
821 (i) Review and verify that all procurement and contractual
822 documents associated with the replacement of the current FMMIS
823 and Medicaid fiscal agent align with the scope, schedule, and
824 anticipated budget for the program.
825 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
826 Section 34. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
827 203 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the Agency for
828 Health Care Administration shall contract for a comprehensive,
829 independent technical architecture and feasibility assessment of
830 the agency’s Medicaid management information system (MMIS),
831 including components completed under the FX project.
832 (1) The assessment must evaluate the agency’s current
833 technical architecture and technology standards related to its
834 MMIS replacement activities and assess alignment with all
835 applicable federal and state laws and requirements, including,
836 but not limited to, the federal Centers for Medicare and
837 Medicaid Services (CMS) Interoperability and Patient Access Rule
838 (CMS-9115), the Medicaid Information Technology Architecture
839 (MITA) frameworks and guidelines, and recognized industry and
840 governmental best practices, including CMS modularity guidance
841 and National Institute of Standards and Technology cybersecurity
842 standards.
843 (2) The assessment must, at a minimum:
844 (a) Identify and document current deficiencies in the
845 technical architecture, system design, and standards that may
846 affect long-term sustainability, including issues related to
847 maintainability, scalability, security, interoperability,
848 technical debt, vendor dependency, and compliance with evolving
849 federal and state requirements.
850 (b) Develop a future-state technical architecture that is
851 driven by and aligned with the business architecture, Medicaid
852 program needs, and CMS modularity and interoperability
853 principles, including identification of core components,
854 interfaces, data flows, and applicable standards.
855 (c) Evaluate the feasibility of transitioning from the
856 current-state architecture to the future-state architecture,
857 including phased or modular implementation options, associated
858 risks, estimated costs, implementation timelines, operational
859 impacts, and implications for federal funding eligibility.
860 (d) Prioritize replacement of the functionality provided
861 under the current fiscal agent contract and recommend a
862 sustainable path forward, including identification of any
863 prerequisite governance, policy, or remediation actions required
864 prior to implementation.
865 (e) Assess the agency’s readiness to implement and operate
866 the recommended solution, including evaluation of governance
867 structures, staffing capacity, and resource sufficiency.
868 (3) The completed assessment must be submitted
869 simultaneously to the Agency for Health Care Administration, the
870 chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the chair of
871 the House of Representatives Budget Committee, and the Executive
872 Office of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget by January
873 8, 2027.
874 (4) Based on the results of the assessment, the Agency for
875 Health Care Administration shall develop a new time-phased
876 implementation roadmap with measurable success criteria for the
877 MMIS replacement that aligns investments with the agency’s
878 Medicaid program goals and business strategy. The agency must
879 submit the roadmap to chair of the Senate Committee on
880 Appropriations, the chair of the House of Representatives Budget
881 Committee, and the Executive Office of the Governor’s Office of
882 Policy and Budget by February 2, 2027.
883 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
884 Section 35. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
885 223, 224, 279, 290, 349, 503, 526, and 751 of the 2026-2027
886 General Appropriations Act, the Agency for Health Care
887 Administration, in consultation with the Department of Health,
888 the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Department of
889 Children and Families, and the Department of Corrections, shall
890 competitively procure a contract with a vendor to negotiate, for
891 these agencies, prices for prescribed drugs and biological
892 products excluded from the program established under s.
893 381.02035, Florida Statutes, and ineligible under 21 U.S.C. s.
894 384, including, but not limited to, insulin and epinephrine. The
895 contract may allow the vendor to directly purchase these
896 products for participating agencies when feasible and
897 advantageous. The contracted vendor must be compensated on a
898 contingency basis, paid from a portion of the savings achieved
899 by its price negotiation or purchase of the prescription drugs
900 and products. This section expires July 1, 2027.
901 Section 36. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
902 238 through 245 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
903 notwithstanding ss. 408.040(2) and 408.808(3), Florida Statutes:
904 (1)(a) An inactive license or a partially inactive license
905 with an expiration date on or after June 1, 2024, may be issued
906 or renewed to a skilled nursing provider subject to the
907 certificate-of-need provisions in part I of chapter 408, Florida
908 Statutes, if the provider currently holds an active or inactive
909 license, does not have a provisional license, and will be
910 temporarily unable to provide services due to impacts from a
911 natural disaster or state of emergency; or will be deactivating
912 or has deactivated beds to improve and modernize the licensees
913 physical plant, but is reasonably expected to resume services
914 within 48 months.
915 (b) Such issuance or renewal may be made for a period of 12
916 months and may be further renewed for up to 36 additional months
917 upon demonstration by the licensee of the provider’s progress
918 toward reopening. During each 12-month renewal cycle, the
919 applicant shall attest that good-faith progress towards
920 commencement of the project is ongoing or that the project is
921 delayed by litigation or by governmental action or inaction with
922 respect to regulations or permitting that precludes commencement
923 of the project.
924 (2)(a) The certificate-of-need validity period for a
925 project shall be extended by the agency if the certificateholder
926 demonstrates to the satisfaction of the agency that good-faith
927 progress toward the commencement of the project is ongoing or
928 that the project is delayed by litigation or by government
929 action or inaction with respect to regulations or permitting
930 that precludes commencement of the project.
931 (b) Such extension may be made for a period of 12 months
932 and may be renewed for up to 36 additional months upon
933 demonstration by the certificateholder of the progress towards
934 opening. During each 12-month validity period renewal cycle, the
935 certificateholder shall attest that good-faith progress towards
936 commencement of the project is ongoing or that the project is
937 being delayed by litigation or by governmental action or
938 inaction.
939 (3) This section expires July 1, 2027.
940 Section 37. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
941 272, 277, 278, 283, 288, and 289 of the 2026-2027 General
942 Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292,
943 Florida Statutes, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities may
944 submit budget amendments, subject to the notice, review, and
945 objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to
946 transfer funding from the Salaries and Benefits appropriation
947 categories to categories used for contractual services in order
948 to support additional staff augmentation resources needed at the
949 Developmental Disability Centers. This section expires July 1,
950 2027.
951 Section 38. In order to implement section 66 of the 2026
952 2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181
953 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the Agency for Persons with
954 Disabilities may submit budget amendments, subject to the
955 notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida
956 Statutes, to request the appropriation of funds from the Lump
957 Sum-Home and Community-Based Services Waiver category to address
958 any deficits or funding shortfalls. This section expires July 1,
959 2027.
960 Section 39. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
961 231 and 254 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
962 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
963 Agency for Health Care Administration and the Agency for Persons
964 with Disabilities may submit budget amendments, subject to the
965 notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida
966 Statutes, at least 3 days before the effective date of the
967 action, to increase budget authority to support the
968 implementation of the home and community-based services Medicaid
969 waiver program of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. This
970 section expires July 1, 2027.
971 Section 40. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
972 594 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
973 notwithstanding chapter 216, Florida Statutes, the Department of
974 Veterans’ Affairs may submit a budget amendment, subject to
975 Legislative Budget Commission approval, requesting the authority
976 to establish positions in excess of the number authorized by the
977 Legislature, increase appropriations from the Operations and
978 Maintenance Trust Fund, or provide a necessary salary rate
979 sufficient to provide for essential staff for veterans’ nursing
980 homes, if the department projects that additional direct care
981 staff are needed to meet its established staffing ratio. This
982 section expires July 1, 2027.
983 Section 41. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
984 223 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (1)
985 of section 409.915, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
986 409.915 County contributions to Medicaid.—Although the
987 state is responsible for the full portion of the state share of
988 the matching funds required for the Medicaid program, the state
989 shall charge the counties an annual contribution in order to
990 acquire a certain portion of these funds.
991 (1)(a) As used in this section, the term “state Medicaid
992 expenditures” means those expenditures used as matching funds
993 for the federal Medicaid program.
994 (b) The term does not include funds specially assessed by
995 any local governmental entity and used as the nonfederal share
996 for the hospital directed payment program after July 1, 2021.
997 This paragraph expires July 1, 2027 2026.
998 Section 42. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
999 594 through 622A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
1000 and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes,
1001 the Department of Veterans’ Affairs is authorized to:
1002 (1) Expend funds pursuant to a Memorandum of Agreement
1003 between the department and the Collier County Board of County
1004 Commissioners, as well as funds appropriated in chapter 2023
1005 239, Laws of Florida, for the planning and construction of a new
1006 State Veterans’ Nursing Home and Adult Day Health Center in
1007 Collier County.
1008 (2) Apply for a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
1009 Construction Grant for the Collier County State Veterans’
1010 Nursing Home.
1011 (3) Submit budget amendments subject to the notice, review,
1012 and objection procedures in s. 216.177, Florida Statutes,
1013 subject to federal approval, requesting additional spending
1014 authority to support the development and construction of a new
1015 State Veterans’ Nursing Home and Adult Day Health Care Center in
1016 Collier County.
1017
1018 This section expires July 1, 2027.
1019 Section 43. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1020 404 and 406 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
1021 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
1022 Department of Elderly Affairs may submit a budget amendment,
1023 subject to the notice, review, and objection procedures of s.
1024 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the
1025 United States Department of Agriculture’s Adult Care Food
1026 Program or the Older Americans Act if additional federal
1027 revenues will be expended in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This
1028 section expires July 1, 2027.
1029 Section 44. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1030 626 through 718 and 729 through 782 of the 2026-2027 General
1031 Appropriations Act, subsection (4) of section 216.262, Florida
1032 Statutes, is amended to read:
1033 216.262 Authorized positions.—
1034 (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter relating
1035 to increasing the number of authorized positions, and for the
1036 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal year only, if the actual inmate
1037 population of the Department of Corrections exceeds the inmate
1038 population projections of the December 23 February 21, 2025,
1039 Criminal Justice Estimating Conference by 1 percent for 2
1040 consecutive months or 2 percent for any month, the Executive
1041 Office of the Governor, with the approval of the Legislative
1042 Budget Commission, shall immediately notify the Criminal Justice
1043 Estimating Conference, which shall convene as soon as possible
1044 to revise the estimates. The Department of Corrections may then
1045 submit a budget amendment requesting the establishment of
1046 positions in excess of the number authorized by the Legislature
1047 and additional appropriations from unallocated general revenue
1048 sufficient to provide for essential staff, fixed capital
1049 improvements, and other resources to provide classification,
1050 security, food services, health services, and other variable
1051 expenses within the institutions to accommodate the estimated
1052 increase in the inmate population. All actions taken pursuant to
1053 this subsection are subject to review and approval by the
1054 Legislative Budget Commission. This subsection expires July 1,
1055 2027 2026.
1056 Section 45. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1057 3340 through 3409 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
1058 subsection (2) of section 215.18, Florida Statutes, is amended
1059 to read:
1060 215.18 Transfers between funds; limitation.—
1061 (2) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may receive one
1062 or more trust fund loans to ensure that the state court system
1063 has funds sufficient to meet its appropriations in the 2026-2027
1064 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act. If the Chief Justice
1065 accesses the loan, he or she must notify the Governor and the
1066 chairs of the legislative appropriations committees in writing.
1067 The loan must come from other funds in the State Treasury which
1068 are for the time being or otherwise in excess of the amounts
1069 necessary to meet the just requirements of such last-mentioned
1070 funds. The Governor shall order the transfer of funds within 5
1071 days after the written notification from the Chief Justice. If
1072 the Governor does not order the transfer, the Chief Financial
1073 Officer shall transfer the requested funds. The loan of funds
1074 from which any money is temporarily transferred must be repaid
1075 by the end of the 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal year. This
1076 subsection expires July 1, 2027 2026.
1077 Section 46. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1078 1183 through 1194 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:
1079 (1) The Department of Juvenile Justice shall review county
1080 juvenile detention payments to ensure that counties fulfill
1081 their financial responsibilities required in s. 985.6865,
1082 Florida Statutes. If the Department of Juvenile Justice
1083 determines that a county has not met its obligations, the
1084 department shall direct the Department of Revenue to deduct the
1085 amount owed to the Department of Juvenile Justice from the funds
1086 provided to the county under s. 218.23, Florida Statutes. The
1087 Department of Revenue shall transfer the funds withheld to the
1088 Shared County/State Juvenile Detention Trust Fund.
1089 (2) As an assurance to holders of bonds issued by counties
1090 before July 1, 2026, for which distributions made pursuant to s.
1091 218.23, Florida Statutes, are pledged, or bonds issued to refund
1092 such bonds which mature no later than the bonds they refunded
1093 and which result in a reduction of debt service payable in each
1094 fiscal year, the amount available for distribution to a county
1095 shall remain as provided by law and continue to be subject to
1096 any lien or claim on behalf of the bondholders. The Department
1097 of Revenue must ensure, based on information provided by an
1098 affected county, that any reduction in amounts distributed
1099 pursuant to subsection (1) does not reduce the amount of
1100 distribution to a county below the amount necessary for the
1101 timely payment of principal and interest when due on the bonds
1102 and the amount necessary to comply with any covenant under the
1103 bond resolution or other documents relating to the issuance of
1104 the bonds. If a reduction to a county’s monthly distribution
1105 must be decreased in order to comply with this section, the
1106 Department of Revenue must notify the Department of Juvenile
1107 Justice of the amount of the decrease, and the Department of
1108 Juvenile Justice must send a bill for payment of such amount to
1109 the affected county.
1110 (3) This section expires July 1, 2027.
1111 Section 47. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1112 793 through 817A, 978 through 1125, and 1146 through 1182 of the
1113 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding the
1114 expiration date in section 52 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of
1115 Florida, subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection (2),
1116 paragraph (a) of subsection (3), and subsections (5), (6), and
1117 (7) of section 27.40, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
1118 27.40 Court-appointed counsel; circuit registries; minimum
1119 requirements; appointment by court.—
1120 (1) Counsel shall be appointed to represent any individual
1121 in a criminal or civil proceeding entitled to court-appointed
1122 counsel under the Federal or State Constitution or as authorized
1123 by general law. The court shall appoint a public defender to
1124 represent indigent persons as authorized in s. 27.51. The office
1125 of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel shall be
1126 appointed to represent persons in those cases in which provision
1127 is made for court-appointed counsel, but only after the public
1128 defender has certified to the court in writing that the public
1129 defender is unable to provide representation due to a conflict
1130 of interest or is not authorized to provide representation. The
1131 public defender shall report, in the aggregate, the specific
1132 basis of all conflicts of interest certified to the court. On a
1133 quarterly basis, the public defender shall submit this
1134 information to the Justice Administrative Commission.
1135 (2)(a) Private counsel shall be appointed to represent
1136 persons in those cases in which provision is made for court
1137 appointed counsel but only after the office of criminal conflict
1138 and civil regional counsel has been appointed and has certified
1139 to the court in writing that the criminal conflict and civil
1140 regional counsel is unable to provide representation due to a
1141 conflict of interest. The criminal conflict and civil regional
1142 counsel shall report, in the aggregate, the specific basis of
1143 all conflicts of interest certified to the court. On a quarterly
1144 basis, the criminal conflict and civil regional counsel shall
1145 submit this information to the Justice Administrative
1146 Commission.
1147 (3) In using a registry:
1148 (a) The chief judge of the circuit shall compile a list of
1149 attorneys in private practice, by county and by category of
1150 cases, and provide the list to the clerk of court in each
1151 county. The chief judge of the circuit may restrict the number
1152 of attorneys on the general registry list. To be included on a
1153 registry, an attorney must certify that he or she:
1154 1. Meets any minimum requirements established by the chief
1155 judge and by general law for court appointment;
1156 2. Is available to represent indigent defendants in cases
1157 requiring court appointment of private counsel; and
1158 3. Is willing to abide by the terms of the contract for
1159 services, s. 27.5304, and this section.
1160
1161 To be included on a registry, an attorney must enter into a
1162 contract for services with the Justice Administrative
1163 Commission. Failure to comply with the terms of the contract for
1164 services may result in termination of the contract and removal
1165 from the registry. Each attorney on the registry is responsible
1166 for notifying the clerk of the court and the Justice
1167 Administrative Commission of any change in his or her status.
1168 Failure to comply with this requirement is cause for termination
1169 of the contract for services and removal from the registry until
1170 the requirement is fulfilled.
1171 (5) The Justice Administrative Commission shall approve
1172 uniform contract forms for use in procuring the services of
1173 private court-appointed counsel and uniform procedures and forms
1174 for use by a court-appointed attorney in support of billing for
1175 attorney’s fees, costs, and related expenses to demonstrate the
1176 attorney’s completion of specified duties. Such uniform
1177 contracts and forms for use in billing must be consistent with
1178 s. 27.5304, s. 216.311, and the General Appropriations Act and
1179 must contain the following statement: “The State of Florida’s
1180 performance and obligation to pay under this contract is
1181 contingent upon an annual appropriation by the Legislature.”
1182 (6) After court appointment, the attorney must immediately
1183 file a notice of appearance with the court indicating acceptance
1184 of the appointment to represent the defendant and of the terms
1185 of the uniform contract as specified in subsection (5).
1186 (7)(a) A private attorney appointed by the court from the
1187 registry to represent a client is entitled to payment as
1188 provided in s. 27.5304 so long as the requirements of subsection
1189 (1) and paragraph (2)(a) are met. An attorney appointed by the
1190 court who is not on the registry list may be compensated under
1191 s. 27.5304 only if the court finds in the order of appointment
1192 that there were no registry attorneys available for
1193 representation for that case and only if the requirements of
1194 subsection (1) and paragraph (2)(a) are met.
1195 (b)1. The flat fee established in s. 27.5304 and the
1196 General Appropriations Act shall be presumed by the court to be
1197 sufficient compensation. The attorney shall maintain appropriate
1198 documentation, including contemporaneous and detailed hourly
1199 accounting of time spent representing the client. If the
1200 attorney fails to maintain such contemporaneous and detailed
1201 hourly records, the attorney waives the right to seek
1202 compensation in excess of the flat fee established in s. 27.5304
1203 and the General Appropriations Act. These records and documents
1204 are subject to review by the Justice Administrative Commission
1205 and audit by the Auditor General, subject to the attorney-client
1206 privilege and work-product privilege. The attorney shall
1207 maintain the records and documents in a manner that enables the
1208 attorney to redact any information subject to a privilege in
1209 order to facilitate the commission’s review of the records and
1210 documents and not to impede such review. The attorney may redact
1211 information from the records and documents only to the extent
1212 necessary to comply with the privilege. The Justice
1213 Administrative Commission shall review such records and shall
1214 contemporaneously document such review before authorizing
1215 payment to an attorney. Objections by or on behalf of the
1216 Justice Administrative Commission to records or documents or to
1217 claims for payment by the attorney shall be presumed correct by
1218 the court unless the court determines, in writing, that
1219 competent and substantial evidence exists to justify overcoming
1220 the presumption.
1221 2. If an attorney fails, refuses, or declines to permit the
1222 commission or the Auditor General to review documentation for a
1223 case as provided in this paragraph, the attorney waives the
1224 right to seek, and the commission may not pay, compensation in
1225 excess of the flat fee established in s. 27.5304 and the General
1226 Appropriations Act for that case.
1227 3. A finding by the commission that an attorney has waived
1228 the right to seek compensation in excess of the flat fee
1229 established in s. 27.5304 and the General Appropriations Act, as
1230 provided in this paragraph, shall be presumed to be correct,
1231 unless the court determines, in writing, that competent and
1232 substantial evidence exists to justify overcoming the
1233 presumption.
1234 Section 48. The text of s. 27.40(1), (2)(a), (3)(a), (5),
1235 (6), and (7), Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter
1236 2019-116, Laws of Florida, by this act expires July 1, 2027, and
1237 the text of those subsections and paragraphs, as applicable,
1238 shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2019, except that
1239 any amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall
1240 be preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
1241 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
1242 expire pursuant to this section.
1243 Section 49. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1244 793 through 817A, 978 through 1125, and 1146 through 1182 of the
1245 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding the
1246 expiration date in section 54 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of
1247 Florida, subsection (13) of section 27.5304, Florida Statutes,
1248 is amended, and subsections (1), (3), (6), (7), and (11) and
1249 paragraphs (a) through (e) of subsection (12) of that section
1250 are reenacted, to read:
1251 27.5304 Private court-appointed counsel; compensation;
1252 notice.—
1253 (1) Private court-appointed counsel appointed in the manner
1254 prescribed in s. 27.40(1) and (2)(a) shall be compensated by the
1255 Justice Administrative Commission only as provided in this
1256 section and the General Appropriations Act. The flat fees
1257 prescribed in this section are limitations on compensation. The
1258 specific flat fee amounts for compensation shall be established
1259 annually in the General Appropriations Act. The attorney also
1260 shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses in
1261 accordance with s. 29.007. If the attorney is representing a
1262 defendant charged with more than one offense in the same case,
1263 the attorney shall be compensated at the rate provided for the
1264 most serious offense for which he or she represented the
1265 defendant. This section does not allow stacking of the fee
1266 limits established by this section.
1267 (3) The court retains primary authority and responsibility
1268 for determining the reasonableness of all billings for attorney
1269 fees, costs, and related expenses, subject to statutory
1270 limitations and the requirements of s. 27.40(7). Private court
1271 appointed counsel is entitled to compensation upon final
1272 disposition of a case.
1273 (6) For compensation for representation pursuant to a court
1274 appointment in a proceeding under chapter 39:
1275 (a) At the trial level, compensation for representation for
1276 dependency proceedings shall not exceed $1,450 for the first
1277 year following the date of appointment and shall not exceed $700
1278 each year thereafter. Compensation shall be paid based upon
1279 representation of a parent irrespective of the number of case
1280 numbers that may be assigned or the number of children involved,
1281 including any children born during the pendency of the
1282 proceeding. Any appeal, except for an appeal from an
1283 adjudication of dependency, shall be completed by the trial
1284 attorney and is considered compensated by the flat fee for
1285 dependency proceedings.
1286 1. Counsel may bill the flat fee not exceeding $1,450
1287 following disposition or upon dismissal of the petition.
1288 2. Counsel may bill the annual flat fee not exceeding $700
1289 following the first judicial review in the second year following
1290 the date of appointment and each year thereafter as long as the
1291 case remains under protective supervision.
1292 3. If the court grants a motion to reactivate protective
1293 supervision, the attorney shall receive the annual flat fee not
1294 exceeding $700 following the first judicial review and up to an
1295 additional $700 each year thereafter.
1296 4. If, during the course of dependency proceedings, a
1297 proceeding to terminate parental rights is initiated,
1298 compensation shall be as set forth in paragraph (b). If counsel
1299 handling the dependency proceeding is not authorized to handle
1300 proceedings to terminate parental rights, the counsel must
1301 withdraw and new counsel must be appointed.
1302 (b) At the trial level, compensation for representation in
1303 termination of parental rights proceedings shall not exceed
1304 $1,800 for the first year following the date of appointment and
1305 shall not exceed $700 each year thereafter. Compensation shall
1306 be paid based upon representation of a parent irrespective of
1307 the number of case numbers that may be assigned or the number of
1308 children involved, including any children born during the
1309 pendency of the proceeding. Any appeal, except for an appeal
1310 from an order granting or denying termination of parental
1311 rights, shall be completed by trial counsel and is considered
1312 compensated by the flat fee for termination of parental rights
1313 proceedings. If the individual has dependency proceedings
1314 ongoing as to other children, those proceedings are considered
1315 part of the termination of parental rights proceedings as long
1316 as that termination of parental rights proceeding is ongoing.
1317 1. Counsel may bill the flat fee not exceeding $1,800 30
1318 days after rendition of the final order. Each request for
1319 payment submitted to the Justice Administrative Commission must
1320 include the trial counsel’s certification that:
1321 a. Counsel discussed grounds for appeal with the parent or
1322 that counsel attempted and was unable to contact the parent; and
1323 b. No appeal will be filed or that a notice of appeal and a
1324 motion for appointment of appellate counsel, containing the
1325 signature of the parent, have been filed.
1326 2. Counsel may bill the annual flat fee not exceeding $700
1327 following the first judicial review in the second year after the
1328 date of appointment and each year thereafter as long as the
1329 termination of parental rights proceedings are still ongoing.
1330 (c) For appeals from an adjudication of dependency,
1331 compensation may not exceed $1,800.
1332 1. Counsel may bill a flat fee not exceeding $1,200 upon
1333 filing the initial brief or the granting of a motion to
1334 withdraw.
1335 2. If a brief is filed, counsel may bill an additional flat
1336 fee not exceeding $600 upon rendition of the mandate.
1337 (d) For an appeal from an adjudication of termination of
1338 parental rights, compensation may not exceed $3,500.
1339 1. Counsel may bill a flat fee not exceeding $1,750 upon
1340 filing the initial brief or the granting of a motion to
1341 withdraw.
1342 2. If a brief is filed, counsel may bill an additional flat
1343 fee not exceeding $1,750 upon rendition of the mandate.
1344 (7) Counsel eligible to receive compensation from the state
1345 for representation pursuant to court appointment made in
1346 accordance with the requirements of s. 27.40(1) and (2)(a) in a
1347 proceeding under chapter 384, chapter 390, chapter 392, chapter
1348 393, chapter 394, chapter 397, chapter 415, chapter 743, chapter
1349 744, or chapter 984 shall receive compensation not to exceed the
1350 limits prescribed in the General Appropriations Act. Any such
1351 compensation must be determined as provided in s. 27.40(7).
1352 (11) It is the intent of the Legislature that the flat fees
1353 prescribed under this section and the General Appropriations Act
1354 comprise the full and complete compensation for private court
1355 appointed counsel. It is further the intent of the Legislature
1356 that the fees in this section are prescribed for the purpose of
1357 providing counsel with notice of the limit on the amount of
1358 compensation for representation in particular proceedings and
1359 the sole procedure and requirements for obtaining payment for
1360 the same.
1361 (a) If court-appointed counsel moves to withdraw prior to
1362 the full performance of his or her duties through the completion
1363 of the case, the court shall presume that the attorney is not
1364 entitled to the payment of the full flat fee established under
1365 this section and the General Appropriations Act.
1366 (b) If court-appointed counsel is allowed to withdraw from
1367 representation prior to the full performance of his or her
1368 duties through the completion of the case and the court appoints
1369 a subsequent attorney, the total compensation for the initial
1370 and any and all subsequent attorneys may not exceed the flat fee
1371 established under this section and the General Appropriations
1372 Act, except as provided in subsection (12).
1373
1374 This subsection constitutes notice to any subsequently appointed
1375 attorney that he or she will not be compensated the full flat
1376 fee.
1377 (12) The Legislature recognizes that on rare occasions an
1378 attorney may receive a case that requires extraordinary and
1379 unusual effort.
1380 (a) If counsel seeks compensation that exceeds the limits
1381 prescribed by law, he or she must file a motion with the chief
1382 judge for an order approving payment of attorney fees in excess
1383 of these limits.
1384 1. Before filing the motion, the counsel shall deliver a
1385 copy of the intended billing, together with supporting
1386 affidavits and all other necessary documentation, to the Justice
1387 Administrative Commission.
1388 2. The Justice Administrative Commission shall review the
1389 billings, affidavit, and documentation for completeness and
1390 compliance with contractual and statutory requirements and shall
1391 contemporaneously document such review before authorizing
1392 payment to an attorney. If the Justice Administrative Commission
1393 objects to any portion of the proposed billing, the objection
1394 and supporting reasons must be communicated in writing to the
1395 private court-appointed counsel. The counsel may thereafter file
1396 his or her motion, which must specify whether the commission
1397 objects to any portion of the billing or the sufficiency of
1398 documentation, and shall attach the commission’s letter stating
1399 its objection.
1400 (b) Following receipt of the motion to exceed the fee
1401 limits, the chief judge or a single designee shall hold an
1402 evidentiary hearing. The chief judge may select only one judge
1403 per circuit to hear and determine motions pursuant to this
1404 subsection, except multicounty circuits and the eleventh circuit
1405 may have up to two designees.
1406 1. At the hearing, the attorney seeking compensation must
1407 prove by competent and substantial evidence that the case
1408 required extraordinary and unusual efforts. The chief judge or
1409 single designee shall consider criteria such as the number of
1410 witnesses, the complexity of the factual and legal issues, and
1411 the length of trial. The fact that a trial was conducted in a
1412 case does not, by itself, constitute competent substantial
1413 evidence of an extraordinary and unusual effort. In a criminal
1414 case, relief under this section may not be granted if the number
1415 of work hours does not exceed 75 or the number of the state’s
1416 witnesses deposed does not exceed 20.
1417 2. Objections by or on behalf of the Justice Administrative
1418 Commission to records or documents or to claims for payment by
1419 the attorney shall be presumed correct by the court unless the
1420 court determines, in writing, that competent and substantial
1421 evidence exists to justify overcoming the presumption. The chief
1422 judge or single designee shall enter a written order detailing
1423 his or her findings and identifying the extraordinary nature of
1424 the time and efforts of the attorney in the case which warrant
1425 exceeding the flat fee established by this section and the
1426 General Appropriations Act.
1427 (c) A copy of the motion and attachments shall be served on
1428 the Justice Administrative Commission at least 20 business days
1429 before the date of a hearing. The Justice Administrative
1430 Commission has standing to appear before the court, and may
1431 appear in person or telephonically, including at the hearing
1432 under paragraph (b), to contest any motion for an order
1433 approving payment of attorney fees, costs, or related expenses
1434 and may participate in a hearing on the motion by use of
1435 telephonic or other communication equipment. The Justice
1436 Administrative Commission may contract with other public or
1437 private entities or individuals to appear before the court for
1438 the purpose of contesting any motion for an order approving
1439 payment of attorney fees, costs, or related expenses. The fact
1440 that the Justice Administrative Commission has not objected to
1441 any portion of the billing or to the sufficiency of the
1442 documentation is not binding on the court.
1443 (d) If the chief judge or a single designee finds that
1444 counsel has proved by competent and substantial evidence that
1445 the case required extraordinary and unusual efforts, the chief
1446 judge or single designee shall order the compensation to be paid
1447 to the attorney at a percentage above the flat fee rate,
1448 depending on the extent of the unusual and extraordinary effort
1449 required. The percentage must be only the rate necessary to
1450 ensure that the fees paid are not confiscatory under common law.
1451 The percentage may not exceed 200 percent of the established
1452 flat fee, absent a specific finding that 200 percent of the flat
1453 fee in the case would be confiscatory. If the chief judge or
1454 single designee determines that 200 percent of the flat fee
1455 would be confiscatory, he or she shall order the amount of
1456 compensation using an hourly rate not to exceed $75 per hour for
1457 a noncapital case and $100 per hour for a capital case. However,
1458 the compensation calculated by using the hourly rate shall be
1459 only that amount necessary to ensure that the total fees paid
1460 are not confiscatory, subject to the requirements of s.
1461 27.40(7).
1462 (e) Any order granting relief under this subsection must be
1463 attached to the final request for a payment submitted to the
1464 Justice Administrative Commission and must satisfy the
1465 requirements of subparagraph (b)2.
1466 (13) Notwithstanding the limitation set forth in subsection
1467 (5) and for the 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal year only, the
1468 compensation for representation in a criminal proceeding may not
1469 exceed the following:
1470 (a) For misdemeanors and juveniles represented at the trial
1471 level: $2,000.
1472 (b) For noncapital, nonlife felonies represented at the
1473 trial level: $15,000.
1474 (c) For life felonies represented at the trial level:
1475 $15,000.
1476 (d) For capital cases represented at the trial level:
1477 $25,000. For purposes of this paragraph, a “capital case” is any
1478 offense for which the potential sentence is death and the state
1479 has not waived seeking the death penalty.
1480 (e) For representation on appeal: $9,000.
1481 (f) This subsection expires July 1, 2027 2026.
1482 Section 50. The text of s. 27.5304(1), (3), (7), (11), and
1483 (12)(a)-(e), Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter
1484 2019-116, Laws of Florida, and the text of s. 27.5304(6),
1485 Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter 2023-240, Laws
1486 of Florida, by this act, expire July 1, 2027, and the text of
1487 those subsections and paragraphs, as applicable, shall revert to
1488 that in existence on June 30, 2019, except that any amendments
1489 to such text enacted other than by this act shall be preserved
1490 and continue to operate to the extent that such amendments are
1491 not dependent upon the portions of text which expire pursuant to
1492 this section.
1493 Section 51. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1494 1348 through 1353 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
1495 subsection (3) of section 908.1033, Florida Statutes, is amended
1496 to read:
1497 908.1033 Local Law Enforcement Immigration Grant Program.—
1498 (3)(a) A local law enforcement agency may apply to the
1499 State Board of Immigration Enforcement to provide bonus payments
1500 for the agency’s local law enforcement officers who participate
1501 in United States Department of Homeland Security at-large task
1502 force operations. The local law enforcement agency may apply for
1503 a bonus of up to $1,000 for each local law enforcement officer
1504 employed within that agency. The local law enforcement agency
1505 must certify to the board that the local law enforcement officer
1506 participated in one or more operations and provide any
1507 information required by the board. Eligible participation does
1508 not include operations occurring solely at state correctional
1509 facilities or county detention facilities.
1510 (b) The bonus payment shall be adjusted to include 7.65
1511 percent for the officers’ share of Federal Insurance
1512 Contribution Act tax on the bonus.
1513 (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), and for the 2026-2027
1514 2025-2026 fiscal year, a local law enforcement agency may apply
1515 to the State Board of Immigration Enforcement to provide bonus
1516 payments for the agency’s certified correctional officers under
1517 s. 943.10(2), who are a warrant service officer under s. 287(g)
1518 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. s. 1357 or an
1519 immigration officer under the jail enforcement model under s.
1520 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. s. 1357.
1521 The local law enforcement agency may apply for a bonus of up to
1522 $1,000 for each certified correctional officer employed with
1523 that county detention facility. The local law enforcement agency
1524 must certify to the board that the certified correctional
1525 officer acted in such capacity as a warrant service officer or
1526 an immigration officer under the jail enforcement model for at
1527 least 6 months preceding the application and provide any
1528 information required by the board. Eligible participation does
1529 not include operations occurring solely at state correctional
1530 facilities. This paragraph expires July 1, 2027 2026.
1531 Section 52. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1532 1336A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (g)
1533 is added to subsection (7) of section 934.50, Florida Statutes,
1534 to read:
1535 934.50 Searches and seizure using a drone.—
1536 (7) SECURITY STANDARDS FOR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY DRONE USE.—
1537 (g) Subject to appropriation, the Drone as First Responder
1538 Grant Program is created within the Department of Law
1539 Enforcement.
1540 1. The grant program shall provide funds to law enforcement
1541 agencies, fire service providers, ambulance crews, or other
1542 first responders that apply for funding to acquire new drones
1543 that comply with this section. To be eligible, the applicant
1544 must provide the department with any information the department
1545 deems necessary. A law enforcement agency, fire service,
1546 ambulance service, or other first responder agency may apply
1547 directly to the department or a local governmental entity may
1548 submit an application on behalf of one or more of its agencies
1549 to purchase one or more new drones.
1550 2. The department shall expeditiously develop an
1551 application process. Funds shall be allocated on a first-come,
1552 first-served basis, determined by the date the department
1553 receives the application.
1554 3. Grants must be matched by at least 50 percent local
1555 funds, but the department may waive this requirement for
1556 agencies solely serving within a fiscally constrained county as
1557 described in s. 218.67(1), Florida Statutes. Each grant is
1558 limited to a total of $250,000 per agency and a maximum $50,000
1559 per drone.
1560 4. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term “first
1561 responder agency“ has the same meaning as in s. 365.179(1)(a).
1562 5. The department may adopt rules to implement this
1563 paragraph. The department is authorized, and all conditions are
1564 deemed met, to adopt emergency rules under s. 120.54(4) for the
1565 purpose of implementing this paragraph. Notwithstanding any
1566 other law, emergency rules adopted under this section are
1567 effective for 12 months after adoption and may be renewed during
1568 the pendency of procedures to adopt permanent rules addressing
1569 the subject of the emergency rules.
1570
1571 This paragraph expires July 1, 2027.
1572 Section 53. In order to implement appropriations used to
1573 pay existing lease contracts for private lease space in excess
1574 of 2,000 square feet in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations
1575 Act, the Department of Management Services, with the cooperation
1576 of the agencies having the existing lease contracts for office
1577 or storage space, shall use tenant broker services to
1578 renegotiate or reprocure all private lease agreements for office
1579 or storage space which are expiring between July 1, 2027, and
1580 June 30, 2029, in order to reduce costs in future years. The
1581 department shall incorporate this initiative into its 2026
1582 master leasing report required under s. 255.249(7), Florida
1583 Statutes, and may use tenant broker services to explore the
1584 possibilities of colocating office or storage space, to review
1585 the space needs of each agency, and to review the length and
1586 terms of potential renewals or renegotiations. The department
1587 shall provide a report to the Executive Office of the Governor,
1588 the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
1589 Representatives by November 1, 2026, which lists each lease
1590 contract for private office or storage space, the status of
1591 renegotiations, and the savings achieved. This section expires
1592 July 1, 2027.
1593 Section 54. In order to implement appropriations authorized
1594 in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for data center
1595 services, and notwithstanding s. 216.292(2)(a), Florida
1596 Statutes, an agency may not transfer funds from a data
1597 processing category to a category other than another data
1598 processing category or a cloud computing category for
1599 information technology resources hosted outside an agency. This
1600 section expires July 1, 2027.
1601 Section 55. In order to implement the appropriation of
1602 funds in the appropriation category “Special Categories-Risk
1603 Management Insurance” in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations
1604 Act, and pursuant to the notice, review, and objection
1605 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the Executive Office
1606 of the Governor may transfer funds appropriated in that category
1607 between departments in order to align the budget authority
1608 granted with the premiums paid by each department for risk
1609 management insurance. This section expires July 1, 2027.
1610 Section 56. In order to implement the appropriation of
1611 funds in the appropriation category “Special Categories-Transfer
1612 to Department of Management Services-Human Resources Services
1613 Purchased per Statewide Contract” in the 2026-2027 General
1614 Appropriations Act, and pursuant to the notice, review, and
1615 objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the
1616 Executive Office of the Governor may transfer funds appropriated
1617 in that category between departments in order to align the
1618 budget authority granted with the assessments that must be paid
1619 by each agency to the Department of Management Services for
1620 human resource management services. This section expires July 1,
1621 2027.
1622 Section 57. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
1623 2935 in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act in the Building
1624 Relocation appropriation category from the Architects Incidental
1625 Trust Fund of the Department of Management Services, and in
1626 accordance with s. 215.196, Florida Statutes:
1627 (1) Upon the final disposition of a state-owned building,
1628 the Department of Management Services may use up to 5 percent of
1629 facility disposition funds from the Architects Incidental Trust
1630 Fund to defer, offset, or otherwise pay for all or a portion of
1631 relocation expenses, including furniture, fixtures, and
1632 equipment for state agencies impacted by the disposition of the
1633 department’s managed facilities in the Florida Facilities Pool.
1634 The extent of the financial assistance provided to impacted
1635 state agencies shall be determined by the department.
1636 (2) The Department of Management Services may submit budget
1637 amendments for an increase in appropriation if necessary for the
1638 implementation of this section pursuant to chapter 216, Florida
1639 Statutes. Budget amendments for an increase in appropriation
1640 shall include a detailed plan providing all estimated costs and
1641 relocation proposals.
1642 (3) This section expires July 1, 2027.
1643 Section 58. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1644 2513 through 2516 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:
1645 (1) The Department of Financial Services shall replace the
1646 four main components of the Florida Accounting Information
1647 Resource Subsystem (FLAIR), which include central FLAIR,
1648 departmental FLAIR, payroll, and information warehouse, and
1649 shall replace the cash management and accounting management
1650 components of the Cash Management Subsystem (CMS) with an
1651 integrated enterprise system that allows the state to organize,
1652 define, and standardize its financial management business
1653 processes and that complies with ss. 215.90-215.96, Florida
1654 Statutes. The department may not include in the replacement of
1655 FLAIR and CMS:
1656 (a) Functionality that duplicates any of the other
1657 information subsystems of the Florida Financial Management
1658 Information System; or
1659 (b) Agency business processes related to any of the
1660 functions included in the Personnel Information System, the
1661 Purchasing Subsystem, or the Legislative Appropriations
1662 System/Planning and Budgeting Subsystem.
1663 (2) For purposes of replacing FLAIR and CMS, the Department
1664 of Financial Services shall:
1665 (a) Take into consideration the cost and implementation
1666 data identified for Option 3 as recommended in the March 31,
1667 2014, Florida Department of Financial Services FLAIR Study,
1668 version 031.
1669 (b) Ensure that all business requirements and technical
1670 specifications have been provided to all state agencies for
1671 their review and input and approved by the executive steering
1672 committee established in paragraph (c), including any updates to
1673 these documents.
1674 (c) Implement a project governance structure that includes
1675 an executive steering committee composed of:
1676 1. The Chief Financial Officer or the executive sponsor of
1677 the project.
1678 2. A representative of the Division of Treasury of the
1679 Department of Financial Services, appointed by the Chief
1680 Financial Officer.
1681 3. The Chief Information Officers of the Department of
1682 Financial Services and the Department of Environmental
1683 Protection.
1684 4. Two employees from the Division of Accounting and
1685 Auditing of the Department of Financial Services, appointed by
1686 the Chief Financial Officer. Each employee must have experience
1687 relating to at least one of the four main components that
1688 compose FLAIR.
1689 5. Two employees from the Executive Office of the Governor,
1690 appointed by the Governor. One employee must have experience
1691 relating to the Legislative Appropriations System/Planning and
1692 Budgeting Subsystem.
1693 6. One employee from the Department of Revenue, appointed
1694 by the executive director, who has experience using or
1695 maintaining the department’s finance and accounting systems.
1696 7. Two employees from the Department of Management
1697 Services, appointed by the Secretary of Management Services. One
1698 employee must have experience relating to the department’s
1699 personnel information subsystem and one employee must have
1700 experience relating to the department’s purchasing subsystem.
1701 8. A state agency administrative services director,
1702 appointed by the Governor.
1703 9. The executive sponsor of the Florida Health Care
1704 Connection (FX) System or his or her designee, appointed by the
1705 Secretary of Health Care Administration.
1706 10. The state chief information officer, or his or her
1707 designee, as a nonvoting member. The state chief information
1708 officer, or his or her designee, shall provide monthly status
1709 reports to the executive steering committee pursuant to the
1710 oversight responsibilities in s. 282.0051, Florida Statutes.
1711 11. One employee from the Department of Business and
1712 Professional Regulation who has experience in finance and
1713 accounting and FLAIR, appointed by the Secretary of Business and
1714 Professional Regulation.
1715 12. One employee from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
1716 Commission who has experience using or maintaining the
1717 commission’s finance and accounting systems, appointed by the
1718 chair of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
1719 13. The budget director of the Department of Education, or
1720 his or her designee.
1721 (3)(a) The Chief Financial Officer or the executive sponsor
1722 of the project shall serve as chair of the executive steering
1723 committee, and the committee shall take action by a vote of at
1724 least eight affirmative votes with the Chief Financial Officer
1725 or the executive sponsor of the project voting on the prevailing
1726 side. A quorum of the executive steering committee consists of
1727 at least 10 members.
1728 (b) No later than 14 days before a meeting of the executive
1729 steering committee, the chair shall request input from committee
1730 members on agenda items for the next scheduled meeting.
1731 (c) The chair shall establish a working group composed of
1732 FLAIR users, state agency technical staff who maintain
1733 applications that integrate with FLAIR, and no less than four
1734 state agency finance and accounting or budget directors. The
1735 working group shall meet at least monthly to review PALM
1736 functionality, assess project impacts to state financial
1737 business processes and agency staff, and develop recommendations
1738 to the executive steering committee for improvements. The chair
1739 shall request input from the working group on agenda items for
1740 each scheduled meeting. The Florida PALM project team shall
1741 dedicate a staff member to the group and provide system
1742 demonstrations and any project documentation, as needed, for the
1743 group to fulfill its duties.
1744 (d) The chair shall request all agency project sponsors to
1745 provide bimonthly status reports to the executive steering
1746 committee. The form and format of the bimonthly status reports
1747 shall be developed by the Florida PALM project and provided to
1748 the executive steering committee meeting for approval. Such
1749 agency status reports shall provide information to the executive
1750 steering committee on the activities and ongoing work within the
1751 agency to prepare its systems and impacted employees for the
1752 deployment of the Florida PALM System. The first bimonthly
1753 status report is due September 1, 2026, and bimonthly
1754 thereafter.
1755 (4) The executive steering committee has the overall
1756 responsibility for ensuring that the project to replace FLAIR
1757 and CMS meets its primary business objectives and shall:
1758 (a) Identify and recommend to the Executive Office of the
1759 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
1760 House of Representatives any statutory changes needed to
1761 implement the replacement subsystem that will standardize, to
1762 the fullest extent possible, the state’s financial management
1763 business processes.
1764 (b) Review and approve any changes to the project’s scope,
1765 schedule, and budget which do not conflict with the requirements
1766 of subsection (1).
1767 (c) Ensure that adequate resources are provided throughout
1768 all phases of the project.
1769 (d) Approve all major project deliverables and any cost
1770 changes to each deliverable over $250,000.
1771 (e) Approve contract amendments and changes to all
1772 contract-related documents associated with the replacement of
1773 FLAIR and CMS.
1774 (f) Review, and approve as warranted, the format of the
1775 bimonthly agency status reports to include objective and
1776 quantifiable information on each agency’s progress in planning
1777 for the Florida PALM Major Implementation, covering the agency’s
1778 people, processes, technology, and data transformation
1779 activities.
1780 (g) Ensure compliance with ss. 216.181(16), 216.311,
1781 216.313, 282.318(4)(h), and 287.058, Florida Statutes.
1782 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
1783 Section 59. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
1784 3040 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
1785 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 65 of chapter
1786 2025-199, Laws of Florida, subsection (3) of section 282.709,
1787 Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
1788 282.709 State agency law enforcement radio system and
1789 interoperability network.—
1790 (3) In recognition of the critical nature of the statewide
1791 law enforcement radio communications system, the Legislature
1792 finds that there is an immediate danger to the public health,
1793 safety, and welfare, and that it is in the best interest of the
1794 state to continue partnering with the system’s current operator.
1795 The Legislature finds that continuity of coverage is critical to
1796 supporting law enforcement, first responders, and other public
1797 safety users. The potential for a loss in coverage or a lack of
1798 interoperability between users requires emergency action and is
1799 a serious concern for officers’ safety and their ability to
1800 communicate and respond to various disasters and events.
1801 (a) The department, pursuant to s. 287.057(11), shall enter
1802 into a 15-year contract with the entity that was operating the
1803 statewide radio communications system on January 1, 2021. The
1804 contract must include:
1805 1. The purchase of radios;
1806 2. The upgrade to the Project 25 communications standard;
1807 3. Increased system capacity and enhanced coverage for
1808 system users;
1809 4. Operations, maintenance, and support at a fixed annual
1810 rate;
1811 5. The conveyance of communications towers to the
1812 department; and
1813 6. The assignment of communications tower leases to the
1814 department.
1815 (b) The State Agency Law Enforcement Radio System Trust
1816 Fund is established in the department and funded from surcharges
1817 collected under ss. 318.18, 320.0802, and 328.72. Upon
1818 appropriation, moneys in the trust fund may be used by the
1819 department to acquire the equipment, software, and engineering,
1820 administrative, and maintenance services it needs to construct,
1821 operate, and maintain the statewide radio system. Moneys in the
1822 trust fund from surcharges shall be used to help fund the costs
1823 of the system. Upon completion of the system, moneys in the
1824 trust fund may also be used by the department for payment of the
1825 recurring maintenance costs of the system.
1826 Section 60. The text of s. 282.709(3), Florida Statutes, as
1827 carried forward from chapter 2021-37, Laws of Florida, by this
1828 act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that subsection shall
1829 revert to that in existence on June 1, 2021, except that any
1830 amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall be
1831 preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
1832 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
1833 expire pursuant to this section.
1834 Section 61. In order to implement appropriations relating
1835 to the purchase of equipment and services related to the
1836 Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) as authorized in
1837 the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding s.
1838 287.057, Florida Statutes, state agencies and other eligible
1839 users of the SLERS network may use the Department of Management
1840 Services SLERS contract for purchase of equipment and services.
1841 This section expires July 1, 2027.
1842 Section 62. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1843 2954 through 2965 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
1844 and notwithstanding rule 60A-1.031, Florida Administrative Code,
1845 the transaction fee as identified in s. 287.057(24)(c), Florida
1846 Statutes, shall be collected for use of the online procurement
1847 system and is 0.7 percent for the 2026-2027 fiscal year only.
1848 This section expires July 1, 2027.
1849 Section 63. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1850 2866 through 2892 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
1851 and upon the expiration and reversion of the amendments made by
1852 section 69 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida, paragraph (i)
1853 of subsection (9) of section 24.105, Florida Statutes, is
1854 amended to read:
1855 24.105 Powers and duties of department.—The department
1856 shall:
1857 (9) Adopt rules governing the establishment and operation
1858 of the state lottery, including:
1859 (i) The manner and amount of compensation of retailers,
1860 except for the 2026-2027 fiscal year only, effective July 1,
1861 2026, the commission for lottery ticket sales shall be 6 percent
1862 of the purchase price of each ticket sold or issued as a prize
1863 by a retailer. Any additional retailer compensation is limited
1864 to the Florida Lottery Retailer Bonus Commission program
1865 appropriated in Specific Appropriation 2892 of the 2026-2027
1866 General Appropriations Act.
1867 Section 64. The amendment to s. 24.105(9)(i), Florida
1868 Statutes, made by this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of
1869 that paragraph shall revert to that in existence on June 30,
1870 2022, except that any amendments to such text enacted other than
1871 by this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
1872 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
1873 of text which expire pursuant to this section.
1874 Section 65. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1875 3084 through 3092 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
1876 paragraph (ll) of subsection (6) of section 627.351, Florida
1877 Statutes, is amended to read:
1878 627.351 Insurance risk apportionment plans.—
1879 (6) CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE CORPORATION.—
1880 (ll)1. In addition to any other method of alternative
1881 dispute resolution authorized by state law, the corporation may
1882 adopt policy forms that provide for the resolution of disputes
1883 regarding its claim determinations, including disputes regarding
1884 coverage for, or the scope and value of, a claim, in a
1885 proceeding before the Division of Administrative Hearings. Any
1886 such policies are not subject to s. 627.70154. All proceedings
1887 in the Division of Administrative Hearings pursuant to such
1888 policies are subject to ss. 57.105 and 768.79 as if filed in the
1889 courts of this state and are not considered chapter 120
1890 administrative proceedings. Rule 1.442, Florida Rules of Civil
1891 Procedure, applies to any offer served pursuant to s. 768.79,
1892 except that, notwithstanding any provision in Rule 1.442,
1893 Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, to the contrary, an offer
1894 shall not be served earlier than 10 days after filing the
1895 request for hearing with the Division of Administrative Hearings
1896 and shall not be served later than 10 days before the date set
1897 for the final hearing. The administrative law judge in such
1898 proceedings shall award attorney fees and other relief pursuant
1899 to ss. 57.105 and 768.79. The corporation may not seek, and the
1900 office may not approve, a maximum hourly rate for attorney fees.
1901 2. The corporation may contract with the division to
1902 conduct proceedings to resolve disputes regarding its claim
1903 determinations as may be provided for in the applicable policies
1904 of insurance. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 2026.
1905 Section 66. In order to implement section 125 of the 2026
1906 2027 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (a) of subsection (2)
1907 of section 215.5586, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1908 215.5586 My Safe Florida Home Program.—There is established
1909 within the Department of Financial Services the My Safe Florida
1910 Home Program. The department shall provide fiscal
1911 accountability, contract management, and strategic leadership
1912 for the program, consistent with this section. This section does
1913 not create an entitlement for property owners or obligate the
1914 state in any way to fund the inspection or retrofitting of
1915 residential property in this state. Implementation of this
1916 program is subject to annual legislative appropriations. It is
1917 the intent of the Legislature that, subject to the availability
1918 of funds, the My Safe Florida Home Program provide licensed
1919 inspectors to perform hurricane mitigation inspections of
1920 eligible homes and grants to fund hurricane mitigation projects
1921 on those homes. The department shall implement the program in
1922 such a manner that the total amount of funding requested by
1923 accepted applications, whether for inspections, grants, or other
1924 services or assistance, does not exceed the total amount of
1925 available funds. If, after applications are processed and
1926 approved, funds remain available, the department may accept
1927 applications up to the available amount. The program shall
1928 develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated approach
1929 for hurricane damage mitigation pursuant to the requirements
1930 provided in this section.
1931 (2) HURRICANE MITIGATION GRANTS.—Financial grants shall be
1932 used by homeowners to make improvements recommended by an
1933 inspection which increase resistance to hurricane damage.
1934 (a) A homeowner is eligible for a hurricane mitigation
1935 grant if all of the following criteria are met:
1936 1. The home must be eligible for an inspection under
1937 subsection (1).
1938 2. The home must be a dwelling with an insured value of
1939 $700,000 or less. Homeowners who are low-income persons, as
1940 defined in s. 420.0004(11), are exempt from this requirement.
1941 3. The home must undergo an acceptable hurricane mitigation
1942 inspection as provided in subsection (1).
1943 4. The building permit application for initial construction
1944 of the home must have been made before January 1, 2008.
1945 5. The homeowner must agree to make his or her home
1946 available for inspection once a mitigation project is completed.
1947 6. The homeowner must agree to provide to the department
1948 information received from the homeowner’s insurer identifying
1949 the discounts realized by the homeowner because of the
1950 mitigation improvements funded through the program.
1951 7.a. The homeowner must be a low-income person or moderate
1952 income person as defined in s. 420.0004.
1953 b. The hurricane mitigation inspection must have occurred
1954 within the previous 24 months from the date of application.
1955 c. Notwithstanding subparagraph 2., homeowners who are low
1956 income persons, as defined in s. 420.0004(11), are not exempt
1957 from the requirement that the home must be a dwelling with an
1958 insured value of $700,000 or less.
1959 d. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 2026.
1960 Section 67. Effective upon this act becoming a law, in
1961 order to implement Specific Appropriation 2544A of the 2026-2027
1962 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding s. 216.301,
1963 Florida Statutes, the funds appropriated to the Department of
1964 Financial Services in Specific Appropriation 2245A and section
1965 74 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act will not revert
1966 and may be carried forward through the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
1967 This section expires July 1, 2027.
1968 Section 68. In order to implement the appropriation of
1969 funds in the appropriation category “Northwest Regional Data
1970 Center” in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
1971 pursuant to the notice, review, and objection procedures of s.
1972 216.177, Florida Statutes, the Executive Office of the Governor
1973 may transfer funds appropriated in that category between
1974 departments in order to align the budget authority granted based
1975 on the estimated costs for data processing services for the
1976 2026-2027 fiscal year. This section expires July 1, 2027.
1977 Section 69. In order to implement appropriations authorized
1978 in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for state data
1979 center services, auxiliary assessments charged to state agencies
1980 related to contract management services provided to Northwest
1981 Regional Data Center may not exceed 3 percent. This section
1982 expires July 1, 2027.
1983 Section 70. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
1984 2563A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section
1985 284.51, Florida Statutes, is reenacted and amended to read:
1986 284.51 Electroencephalogram combined transcranial magnetic
1987 stimulation treatment pilot program.—
1988 (1) As used in this section, the term:
1989 (a) “Division” means the Division of Risk Management of the
1990 Department of Financial Services.
1991 (b) “Electroencephalogram combined Transcranial Magnetic
1992 Stimulation” or “eTMS” means treatment in which transcranial
1993 magnetic stimulation frequency pulses are tuned to the patient’s
1994 physiology and biometric data.
1995 (c) “First responder” means a law enforcement officer, a
1996 part-time law enforcement officer, or an auxiliary law
1997 enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10; a firefighter as
1998 defined in s. 633.102; a 911 public safety telecommunicator as
1999 defined in s. 401.465; or an emergency medical technician or
2000 paramedic as defined in s. 401.23 employed by state or local
2001 government. The term also includes a volunteer or retired law
2002 enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical
2003 technician or paramedic engaged, or previously engaged, by the
2004 state or a local government.
2005 (d) “Veteran” means:
2006 1. A veteran as defined in 38 U.S.C. s. 101(2);
2007 2. A person who served in a reserve component as defined in
2008 38 U.S.C. s. 101(27); or
2009 3. A person who served in the National Guard of any state.
2010 (2) The division shall select a provider to establish a
2011 statewide pilot program to make eTMS available for veterans,
2012 first responders, and immediate family members of veterans and
2013 first responders with:
2014 (a) Substance use disorders.
2015 (b) Mental illness.
2016 (c) Sleep disorders.
2017 (d) Traumatic brain injuries.
2018 (e) Sexual trauma.
2019 (f) Posttraumatic stress disorder and accompanying
2020 comorbidities.
2021 (g) Concussions.
2022 (h) Other brain trauma.
2023 (i) Quality of life issues affecting human performance,
2024 including issues related to or resulting from problems with
2025 cognition and problems maintaining attention, concentration, or
2026 focus.
2027 (3) The provider must display a history of serving veteran
2028 and first responder populations at a statewide level. The
2029 provider shall establish a network for in-person and offsite
2030 care with the goal of providing statewide access. Consideration
2031 shall be provided to locations with a large population of first
2032 responders and veterans. In addition to traditional eTMS
2033 devices, the provider may utilize nonmedical Portable Magnetic
2034 Stimulation devices to improve access to underserved populations
2035 in remote areas or to be used to serve as a pre-post treatment
2036 or a stand-alone device. The provider shall be required to
2037 establish and operate a clinical practice and to evaluate
2038 outcomes of such clinical practice.
2039 (4) The pilot program shall include:
2040 (a) The establishment of a peer-to-peer support network by
2041 the provider made available to all individuals receiving
2042 treatment under the program.
2043 (b) The requirement that each individual who receives
2044 treatment under the program also must receive neurophysiological
2045 monitoring, monitoring for symptoms of substance use and other
2046 mental health disorders, and access to counseling and wellness
2047 programming. Each individual who receives treatment must also
2048 participate in the peer-to-peer support network established by
2049 the provider.
2050 (c) The establishment of protocols which include the use of
2051 adopted stimulation frequency and intensity modulation based on
2052 EEGs done on days 0, 10, and 20 and motor threshold testing, as
2053 well as clinical symptoms, signs, and biometrics.
2054 (d) The requirement that protocols and outcomes of any
2055 treatment provided by the clinical practice shall be collected
2056 and reported by the provider quarterly to the division, the
2057 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
2058 Representatives. Such report shall include the biodata metrics
2059 and all expenditures and accounting of the use of funds received
2060 from the department.
2061 (e) The requirement that protocols and outcomes of any
2062 treatment provided by the clinical practice shall be collected
2063 and reported to the University of South Florida and may be
2064 provided by the provider to any relevant Food and Drug
2065 Administration studies or trials.
2066 (5) The division may adopt rules to implement this section.
2067 (6) This section expires July 1, 2027 2026.
2068 Section 71. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2069 2563A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the
2070 Department of Financial Services shall continue its existing
2071 contract for the establishment of the Electroencephalogram
2072 Combined Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment pilot
2073 program for veterans and first responders. The department’s
2074 existing contract, and all funds paid by the department pursuant
2075 to that contract, do not constitute state financial assistance
2076 as provided in s. 215.97, Florida Statutes. This section expires
2077 July 1, 2027.
2078 Section 72. Effective upon this act becoming a law, and in
2079 order to implement Specific Appropriations 2505 through 2512 of
2080 the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (3) is
2081 added to section 717.123, Florida Statutes, to read:
2082 717.123 Deposit of funds.—
2083 (3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), and for the 2025-2026
2084 and 2026-2027 fiscal years, the department shall retain, from
2085 the funds received under this chapter, an amount not to exceed
2086 the amount estimated to be received as atypical receipts for the
2087 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 fiscal years by the Revenue Estimating
2088 Conference resulting from the implementation of chapter 2024
2089 140, Laws of Florida. This amount must be held in a separate
2090 account and is in addition to the $15 million the department is
2091 authorized to retain pursuant to subsection (1). From the
2092 separate account the department shall make prompt payment of
2093 claims relating to the atypical receipts allowed by the
2094 department. This subsection expires July 1, 2027.
2095 Section 73. In order to implement specific appropriations
2096 from the land acquisition trust funds within the Department of
2097 Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of
2098 Environmental Protection, the Department of State, and the Fish
2099 and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which are contained in the
2100 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (3) of section
2101 215.18, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2102 215.18 Transfers between funds; limitation.—
2103 (3) Notwithstanding subsection (1) and only with respect to
2104 a land acquisition trust fund in the Department of Agriculture
2105 and Consumer Services, the Department of Environmental
2106 Protection, the Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife
2107 Conservation Commission, whenever there is a deficiency in a
2108 land acquisition trust fund which would render that trust fund
2109 temporarily insufficient to meet its just requirements,
2110 including the timely payment of appropriations from that trust
2111 fund, and other trust funds in the State Treasury have moneys
2112 that are for the time being or otherwise in excess of the
2113 amounts necessary to meet the just requirements, including
2114 appropriated obligations, of those other trust funds, the
2115 Governor may order a temporary transfer of moneys from one or
2116 more of the other trust funds to a land acquisition trust fund
2117 in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the
2118 Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of State,
2119 or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Any action
2120 proposed pursuant to this subsection is subject to the notice,
2121 review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, and the Governor
2122 shall provide notice of such action at least 7 days before the
2123 effective date of the transfer of trust funds, except that
2124 during July 2026 2025, notice of such action shall be provided
2125 at least 3 days before the effective date of a transfer unless
2126 such 3-day notice is waived by the chair and vice chair of the
2127 Legislative Budget Commission. Any transfer of trust funds to a
2128 land acquisition trust fund in the Department of Agriculture and
2129 Consumer Services, the Department of Environmental Protection,
2130 the Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
2131 Commission must be repaid to the trust funds from which the
2132 moneys were loaned by the end of the 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal
2133 year. The Legislature has determined that the repayment of the
2134 other trust fund moneys temporarily loaned to a land acquisition
2135 trust fund in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
2136 Services, the Department of Environmental Protection, the
2137 Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
2138 Commission pursuant to this subsection is an allowable use of
2139 the moneys in a land acquisition trust fund because the moneys
2140 from other trust funds temporarily loaned to a land acquisition
2141 trust fund shall be expended solely and exclusively in
2142 accordance with s. 28, Art. X of the State Constitution. This
2143 subsection expires July 1, 2027 2026.
2144 Section 74. (1) In order to implement specific
2145 appropriations from the land acquisition trust funds within the
2146 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department
2147 of Environmental Protection, the Department of State, and the
2148 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission which are contained in
2149 the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the Department of
2150 Environmental Protection shall transfer revenues from the Land
2151 Acquisition Trust Fund within the department to the land
2152 acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and
2153 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
2154 Wildlife Conservation Commission as provided in this section. As
2155 used in this section, the term “department” means the Department
2156 of Environmental Protection.
2157 (2) After subtracting any required debt service payments,
2158 the proportionate share of revenues to be transferred to each
2159 land acquisition trust fund shall be calculated by dividing the
2160 appropriations from each of the land acquisition trust funds for
2161 the fiscal year by the total appropriations from the Land
2162 Acquisition Trust Fund within the department and the land
2163 acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and
2164 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
2165 Wildlife Conservation Commission for the fiscal year. The
2166 department shall transfer the proportionate share of the
2167 revenues in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the
2168 department on a monthly basis to the appropriate land
2169 acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and
2170 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
2171 Wildlife Conservation Commission and shall retain its
2172 proportionate share of the revenues in the Land Acquisition
2173 Trust Fund within the department. Total distributions to a land
2174 acquisition trust fund within the Department of Agriculture and
2175 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
2176 Wildlife Conservation Commission may not exceed the total
2177 appropriations from such trust fund for the fiscal year.
2178 (3) In addition, the department shall transfer from the
2179 Land Acquisition Trust Fund to land acquisition trust funds
2180 within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the
2181 Department of State, and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
2182 Commission amounts equal to the difference between the amounts
2183 appropriated in chapter 2025-198, Laws of Florida, to the
2184 department’s Land Acquisition Trust Fund and the other land
2185 acquisition trust funds, and the amounts actually transferred
2186 between those trust funds during the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
2187 (4) The department may advance funds from the beginning
2188 unobligated fund balance in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to
2189 the Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the Fish and Wildlife
2190 Conservation Commission needed for cash flow purposes based on a
2191 detailed expenditure plan. The department shall prorate amounts
2192 transferred quarterly to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
2193 Commission to recoup the amount of funds advanced by June 30,
2194 2027.
2195 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
2196 Section 75. In order to implement specific appropriations
2197 from the Florida Forever Trust Fund within the Department of
2198 Environmental Protection, which are contained in the 2026-2027
2199 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (m) of subsection (3) of
2200 section 259.105, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2201 259.105 The Florida Forever Act.—
2202 (3) Less the costs of issuing and the costs of funding
2203 reserve accounts and other costs associated with bonds, the
2204 proceeds of cash payments or bonds issued pursuant to this
2205 section shall be deposited into the Florida Forever Trust Fund
2206 created by s. 259.1051. The proceeds shall be distributed by the
2207 Department of Environmental Protection in the following manner:
2208 (m) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a)-(j) and for the 2026
2209 2027 2025-2026 fiscal year, the proceeds shall be distributed as
2210 provided in the General Appropriations Act. This paragraph
2211 expires July 1, 2027 2026.
2212 Section 76. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2213 1776 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
2214 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 85 of chapter
2215 2025-199, Laws of Florida, paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of
2216 section 376.91, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2217 376.91 Statewide cleanup of perfluoroalkyl and
2218 polyfluoroalkyl substances.—
2219 (2) STATEWIDE CLEANUP TARGET LEVELS.—
2220 (a) If the United States Environmental Protection Agency
2221 has not finalized its standards for PFAS in drinking water,
2222 groundwater, and soil by January 1, 2027 2026, the department
2223 shall adopt by rule statewide cleanup target levels for PFAS in
2224 drinking water, groundwater, and soil using criteria set forth
2225 in s. 376.30701, with priority given to PFOA and PFOS. The rules
2226 for statewide cleanup target levels may not take effect until
2227 ratified by the Legislature.
2228 Section 77. The amendment to s. 376.91(2)(a), Florida
2229 Statutes, made by this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of
2230 that paragraph shall revert to that in existence on June 30,
2231 2025, except that any amendments to such text enacted other than
2232 by this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
2233 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
2234 of text which expire pursuant to this section.
2235 Section 78. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2236 1831A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
2237 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 89 of chapter
2238 2025-199, Laws of Florida, paragraph (g) of subsection (15) of
2239 section 376.3071, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
2240 376.3071 Inland Protection Trust Fund; creation; purposes;
2241 funding.—
2242 (15) ETHANOL OR BIODIESEL DAMAGE; PREVENTIVE MEASURES.—The
2243 department shall pay, pursuant to this subsection, up to $10
2244 million each fiscal year from the fund for the costs of labor
2245 and equipment to repair or replace petroleum storage systems
2246 that may have been damaged due to the storage of fuels blended
2247 with ethanol or biodiesel, or for preventive measures to reduce
2248 the potential for such damage.
2249 (g) Payments may not be made for the following:
2250 1. Proposal costs or costs related to preparation of the
2251 application and required documentation;
2252 2. Certified public accountant costs;
2253 3. Except as provided in paragraph (j), any costs in excess
2254 of the amount approved by the department under paragraph (b) or
2255 which are not in substantial compliance with the purchase order;
2256 4. Costs associated with storage tanks, piping, or
2257 ancillary equipment that has previously been repaired or
2258 replaced for which costs have been paid under this section;
2259 5. Facilities that are not in compliance with department
2260 storage tank rules, until the noncompliance issues have been
2261 resolved; or
2262 6. Costs associated with damage to petroleum storage
2263 systems caused in whole or in part by causes other than the
2264 storage of fuels blended with ethanol or biodiesel.
2265 Section 79. The text of s. 376.3071(15)(g), Florida
2266 Statutes, as carried forward from chapter 2020-114, Laws of
2267 Florida, by this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that
2268 paragraph shall revert to that in existence on July 1, 2020, but
2269 not including any amendments made by this act or chapter 2020
2270 114, Laws of Florida, and any amendments to such text enacted
2271 other than by this act shall be preserved and continue to
2272 operate to the extent that such amendments are not dependent
2273 upon the portion of text which expires pursuant to this section.
2274 Section 80. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2275 2320 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
2276 notwithstanding chapter 287, Florida Statutes, the Department of
2277 Citrus shall enter into agreements for the purpose of increasing
2278 production of trees that show tolerance or resistance to citrus
2279 greening and to commercialize technologies that produce
2280 tolerance or resistance to citrus greening in trees. The
2281 department shall enter into these agreements no later than
2282 January 1, 2027, and shall file with the department’s Inspector
2283 General a certification of conditions and circumstances
2284 justifying each agreement entered into without competitive
2285 solicitation. This section expires July 1, 2027.
2286 Section 81. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2287 1715 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
2288 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 92 of chapter
2289 2025-199, Laws of Florida, section 380.5105, Florida Statutes,
2290 as amended by chapters 2024-228 and 2025-199, Laws of Florida,
2291 is reenacted to read:
2292 380.5105 The Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts; Florida
2293 Forever program.—
2294 (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it
2295 is the intent of the Legislature that the trust shall administer
2296 the working waterfronts land acquisition program as set forth in
2297 this section.
2298 (a) The trust and the Department of Agriculture and
2299 Consumer Services shall jointly develop rules specifically
2300 establishing an application process and a process for the
2301 evaluation, scoring and ranking of working waterfront projects.
2302 The proposed rules jointly developed pursuant to this paragraph
2303 shall be promulgated by the trust. Such rules shall establish a
2304 system of weighted criteria to give increased priority to
2305 projects:
2306 1. Within a municipality with a population less than
2307 30,000;
2308 2. Within a municipality or area under intense growth and
2309 development pressures, as evidenced by a number of factors,
2310 including a determination that the municipality’s growth rate
2311 exceeds the average growth rate for the state;
2312 3. Within the boundary of a community redevelopment agency
2313 established pursuant to s. 163.356;
2314 4. Adjacent to state-owned submerged lands designated as an
2315 aquatic preserve identified in s. 258.39; or
2316 5. That provide a demonstrable benefit to the local
2317 economy.
2318 (b) For projects that will require more than the grant
2319 amount awarded for completion, the applicant must identify in
2320 their project application funding sources that will provide the
2321 difference between the grant award and the estimated project
2322 completion cost. Such rules may be incorporated into those
2323 developed pursuant to s. 380.507(11).
2324 (c) The trust shall develop a ranking list based on
2325 criteria identified in paragraph (a) for proposed fee simple and
2326 less-than-fee simple acquisition projects developed pursuant to
2327 this section. The trust shall, by the first Board of Trustees of
2328 the Internal Improvement Trust Fund meeting in February, present
2329 the ranking list pursuant to this section to the board of
2330 trustees for final approval of projects for funding. The board
2331 of trustees may remove projects from the ranking list but may
2332 not add projects.
2333 (d) Grant awards, acquisition approvals, and terms of less
2334 than-fee acquisitions shall be approved by the trust. Waterfront
2335 communities that receive grant awards must submit annual
2336 progress reports to the trust identifying project activities
2337 which are complete, and the progress achieved in meeting the
2338 goals outlined in the project application. The trust must
2339 implement a process to monitor and evaluate the performance of
2340 grant recipients in completing projects that are funded through
2341 the working waterfronts program.
2342 (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it
2343 is the intent of the Legislature that the Department of
2344 Environmental Protection shall administer the working
2345 waterfronts capital outlay grant program as set forth in this
2346 section to support the commercial fishing and marine aquaculture
2347 industries, including the infrastructure for receiving or
2348 unloading seafood for the purpose of supporting the seafood
2349 economy.
2350 (a) The working waterfronts capital outlay grant program is
2351 created to provide funding to assist commercial saltwater
2352 products or commercial saltwater wholesale dealer or retailer
2353 license holders and seafood houses in maintaining their
2354 operations.
2355 (b) Eligible costs and expenditures include fixed capital
2356 outlay and operating capital outlay, including, but not limited
2357 to, the repair and maintenance or replacement of equipment, the
2358 repair and maintenance or replacement of water-adjacent
2359 facilities or infrastructure, and the construction or renovation
2360 of shoreside facilities.
2361 (c) The applicant must demonstrate a benefit to the local
2362 economy.
2363 (d) Grant recipients must submit annual progress reports to
2364 the department identifying project activities that are complete
2365 and the progress achieved in meeting the goals outlined in the
2366 project application.
2367 (e) The department shall implement a process to monitor and
2368 evaluate the performance of grant recipients in completing
2369 projects funded through the program.
2370 Section 82. The text of s. 380.5105, Florida Statutes, as
2371 carried forward from chapters 2024-228 and 2025-199, Laws of
2372 Florida, by this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that
2373 section shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2024,
2374 except that any amendments to such text enacted other than by
2375 this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
2376 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
2377 of text which expire pursuant to this section.
2378 Section 83. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2379 1951 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act and
2380 notwithstanding s. 823.11(4)(c), Florida Statutes, the Fish and
2381 Wildlife Conservation Commission may use funds appropriated for
2382 the derelict vessel removal program for grants to local
2383 governments or to remove, store, destroy, and dispose of, or to
2384 pay private contractors to remove, store, destroy, and dispose
2385 of, derelict vessels or vessels declared a public nuisance
2386 pursuant to s. 327.73(1)(aa), Florida Statutes. This section
2387 expires July 1, 2027.
2388 Section 84. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2389 1744A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection
2390 (4) is added to section 403.890, Florida Statutes, to read:
2391 403.890 Water Protection and Sustainability Program.—
2392 (4) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), revenues
2393 deposited into or appropriated to the Water Protection and
2394 Sustainability Program Trust Fund may be used as provided in the
2395 General Appropriations Act. This subsection expires July 1,
2396 2027.
2397 Section 85. In order to implement appropriations from the
2398 Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the Department of
2399 Environmental Protection in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations
2400 Act, paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section 375.041, Florida
2401 Statutes, is amended to read:
2402 375.041 Land Acquisition Trust Fund.—
2403 (3) Funds distributed into the Land Acquisition Trust Fund
2404 pursuant to s. 201.15 shall be applied:
2405 (b) Of the funds remaining after the payments required
2406 under paragraph (a), but before funds may be appropriated,
2407 pledged, or dedicated for other uses:
2408 1. A minimum of the lesser of 25 percent or $200 million
2409 shall be appropriated annually for Everglades projects that
2410 implement the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan as set
2411 forth in s. 373.470, including the Central Everglades Planning
2412 Project subject to congressional authorization; the Long-Term
2413 Plan as defined in s. 373.4592(2); and the Northern Everglades
2414 and Estuaries Protection Program as set forth in s. 373.4595.
2415 From these funds, $32 million shall be distributed each fiscal
2416 year through the 2023-2024 fiscal year to the South Florida
2417 Water Management District for the Long-Term Plan as defined in
2418 s. 373.4592(2). After deducting the $32 million distributed
2419 under this subparagraph, from the funds remaining, a minimum of
2420 the lesser of 76.5 percent or $100 million shall be appropriated
2421 each fiscal year through the 2025-2026 fiscal year for the
2422 planning, design, engineering, and construction of the
2423 Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan as set forth in s.
2424 373.470, including the Central Everglades Planning Project, the
2425 Everglades Agricultural Area Storage Reservoir Project, the Lake
2426 Okeechobee Watershed Project, the C-43 West Basin Storage
2427 Reservoir Project, the Indian River Lagoon-South Project, the
2428 Western Everglades Restoration Project, and the Picayune Strand
2429 Restoration Project. The Department of Environmental Protection
2430 and the South Florida Water Management District shall give
2431 preference to those Everglades restoration projects that reduce
2432 harmful discharges of water from Lake Okeechobee to the St.
2433 Lucie or Caloosahatchee estuaries in a timely manner. For the
2434 purpose of performing the calculation provided in this
2435 subparagraph, the amount of debt service paid pursuant to
2436 paragraph (a) for bonds issued after July 1, 2016, for the
2437 purposes set forth under this paragraph shall be added to the
2438 amount remaining after the payments required under paragraph
2439 (a). The amount of the distribution calculated shall then be
2440 reduced by an amount equal to the debt service paid pursuant to
2441 paragraph (a) on bonds issued after July 1, 2016, for the
2442 purposes set forth under this subparagraph.
2443 2. A minimum of the lesser of 7.6 percent or $50 million
2444 shall be appropriated annually for spring restoration,
2445 protection, and management projects. For the purpose of
2446 performing the calculation provided in this subparagraph, the
2447 amount of debt service paid pursuant to paragraph (a) for bonds
2448 issued after July 1, 2016, for the purposes set forth under this
2449 paragraph shall be added to the amount remaining after the
2450 payments required under paragraph (a). The amount of the
2451 distribution calculated shall then be reduced by an amount equal
2452 to the debt service paid pursuant to paragraph (a) on bonds
2453 issued after July 1, 2016, for the purposes set forth under this
2454 subparagraph.
2455 3. The sum of $5 million shall be appropriated annually
2456 each fiscal year through the 2025-2026 fiscal year to the St.
2457 Johns River Water Management District for projects dedicated to
2458 the restoration of Lake Apopka. This distribution shall be
2459 reduced by an amount equal to the debt service paid pursuant to
2460 paragraph (a) on bonds issued after July 1, 2016, for the
2461 purposes set forth in this subparagraph.
2462 4. The sum of $64 million is appropriated and shall be
2463 transferred to the Everglades Trust Fund for the 2018-2019
2464 fiscal year, and each fiscal year thereafter, for the EAA
2465 reservoir project pursuant to s. 373.4598. Any funds remaining
2466 in any fiscal year shall be made available only for Phase II of
2467 the C-51 reservoir project or projects identified in
2468 subparagraph 1. and must be used in accordance with laws
2469 relating to such projects. Any funds made available for such
2470 purposes in a fiscal year are in addition to the amount
2471 appropriated under subparagraph 1. This distribution shall be
2472 reduced by an amount equal to the debt service paid pursuant to
2473 paragraph (a) on bonds issued after July 1, 2017, for the
2474 purposes set forth in this subparagraph.
2475 5. The sum of $50 million shall be appropriated annually to
2476 the South Florida Water Management District for the Lake
2477 Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project in accordance with s.
2478 373.4599. This distribution must be reduced by an amount equal
2479 to the debt service paid pursuant to paragraph (a) on bonds
2480 issued after July 1, 2021, for the purposes set forth in this
2481 subparagraph.
2482 6. The sum of $100 million shall be appropriated annually
2483 to the Department of Environmental Protection for the
2484 acquisition of land pursuant to s. 259.105.
2485 7. Notwithstanding subparagraph 6. subparagraphs 3. and 6.,
2486 for the 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal year, funds shall be
2487 appropriated as provided in the General Appropriations Act. This
2488 subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 2026.
2489 Section 86. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2490 1650 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
2491 notwithstanding chapter 255, Florida Statutes, the Department of
2492 Agriculture and Consumer Services may lease an existing facility
2493 that meets the requirements of s. 581.1843(6), Florida Statutes,
2494 and may administer a program to expedite the expansion of the
2495 propagation of Citrus sinensis or Citrus sinensis-like budwood
2496 trees and seedlings that show tolerance or resistance to citrus
2497 greening, and to commercialize technologies that produce
2498 tolerance or resistance to citrus greening in trees. This
2499 section expires July 1, 2027.
2500 Section 87. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2501 1660 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
2502 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
2503 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may submit
2504 budget amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection
2505 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget
2506 authority to support the National School Lunch Program. This
2507 section expires July 1, 2027.
2508 Section 88. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2509 2331 through 2338 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
2510 subsection (3) of section 288.80125, Florida Statutes, is
2511 amended to read:
2512 288.80125 Triumph Gulf Coast Trust Fund.—
2513 (3) For the 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal year, funds shall be
2514 used for the Rebuild Florida Revolving Loan Fund program to
2515 provide assistance to businesses impacted by Hurricane Michael
2516 as provided in the General Appropriations Act. This subsection
2517 expires July 1, 2027 2026.
2518 Section 89. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2519 2055 through 2068, 2069D through 2069E, 2080 through 2090, 2092
2520 through 2100, and 2138 through 2151 of the 2026-2027 General
2521 Appropriations Act, paragraph (h) of subsection (7) of section
2522 339.135, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2523 339.135 Work program; legislative budget request;
2524 definitions; preparation, adoption, execution, and amendment.—
2525 (7) AMENDMENT OF THE ADOPTED WORK PROGRAM.—
2526 (h)1. Any work program amendment that also adds a new
2527 project, or phase thereof, to the adopted work program in excess
2528 of $3 million is subject to approval by the Legislative Budget
2529 Commission. Any work program amendment submitted under this
2530 paragraph must include, as supplemental information, a list of
2531 projects, or phases thereof, in the current 5-year adopted work
2532 program which are eligible for the funds within the
2533 appropriation category being used for the proposed amendment.
2534 The department shall provide a narrative with the rationale for
2535 not advancing an existing project, or phase thereof, in lieu of
2536 the proposed amendment.
2537 2. If the department submits an amendment to the
2538 Legislative Budget Commission and the commission does not meet
2539 or consider the amendment within 30 days after its submittal,
2540 the chair and vice chair of the commission may authorize the
2541 amendment to be approved pursuant to s. 216.177. This
2542 subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 2026.
2543 Section 90. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2544 2055 through 2068, 2069D, 2069E, 2080 through 2082, 2092 through
2545 2100 and 2138 through 2151 of the 2026-2027 General
2546 Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding s. 339.135(7)(b),
2547 Florida Statutes, the Department of Transportation is authorized
2548 to request up to $100 million of budget authority to the extent
2549 necessary to advance or defer projects programmed in the Work
2550 Program and realign resources to safeguard district allocations
2551 and ensure projects programmed in the Work Program are balanced
2552 to the finance plan. The department may submit budget amendments
2553 to realign budget authority consistent with this section and
2554 pursuant to s. 339.135(7), Florida Statutes. This section
2555 expires July 1, 2027.
2556 Section 91. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2557 2396 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (6)
2558 of section 288.0655, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2559 288.0655 Rural Infrastructure Fund.—
2560 (6) For the 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal year, the funds
2561 appropriated for the grant program for Florida Panhandle
2562 counties shall be distributed pursuant to and for the purposes
2563 described in the proviso language associated with Specific
2564 Appropriation 2396 2113 of the 2026-2027 2025-2026 General
2565 Appropriations Act. This subsection expires July 1, 2027 2026.
2566 Section 92. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2567 2396A through 2396J of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
2568 section 288.013, Florida Statutes, is created to read:
2569 288.013 Office of Rural Prosperity.—
2570 (1) The Legislature finds that the unique characteristics
2571 of the rural communities in this state are integral to making
2572 Florida an attractive place to visit, work, and live. The
2573 Legislature further finds that fostering a prosperous rural
2574 economy and vibrant rural communities serves the best interests
2575 of this state. Rural prosperity supports this state’s
2576 infrastructure, housing, agricultural, and food-processing needs
2577 and advances the overall health of Florida’s economy. It is
2578 essential that rural areas be able to grow and thrive, whether
2579 independently or through regional partnerships. To better serve
2580 rural communities, and in recognition of the unique challenges
2581 and opportunities they face, the Office of Rural Prosperity is
2582 established to ensure that state efforts to support rural
2583 Florida are coordinated, focused, and effective.
2584 (2) Notwithstanding s. 20.60, the Office of Rural
2585 Prosperity is created within the Department of Commerce to
2586 support rural communities by helping rural stakeholders navigate
2587 available programs and resources and by representing rural
2588 interests across state government.
2589 (3) The Governor shall appoint a director to lead the
2590 office, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The director
2591 shall report to the secretary of the department and shall serve
2592 at the pleasure of the secretary.
2593 (4) The office shall do all of the following:
2594 (a) Serve as the state’s point of contact for rural local
2595 governments.
2596 (b) Provide administrative support to the Rural Economic
2597 Development Initiative (REDI) pursuant to s. 288.0656.
2598 (c) Provide training and technical assistance to rural
2599 local governments on a broad range of community and economic
2600 development activities. The training and technical assistance
2601 may be offered using communications technology or in person. In
2602 addition, the office shall post a recorded training and
2603 technical assistance video to the office’s website which covers
2604 all of the required topics. The training and technical
2605 assistance must include, at a minimum, the following topics:
2606 1. How to access state and federal resources, including
2607 training on the online rural resource directory required under
2608 paragraph (d).
2609 2. Best practices for comprehensive planning, economic
2610 development, and land development in rural communities.
2611 3. Strategies to address staffing shortages and strengthen
2612 management functions in rural local governments.
2613 4. Requirements of, and updates on recent changes to, the
2614 Community Planning Act under s. 163.3161.
2615 5. Updates on other recent state and federal laws affecting
2616 rural local governments.
2617 (d) Create and maintain an online rural resource directory
2618 to serve as an interactive tool for users to navigate state and
2619 federal resources, tools, and services available to rural local
2620 governments. The office shall ensure the directory is regularly
2621 updated and, to the greatest extent possible, includes current
2622 information on programs, resources, and services that address
2623 the needs of rural communities in all areas of governance. Each
2624 state agency shall routinely provide information and updates to
2625 the office to support maintenance of the directory. The
2626 directory must allow users to search by indicators, such as
2627 agency name, resource type, or topic, and include a notification
2628 feature that alerts users when new or updated resources are
2629 available. To the greatest extent possible, the directory must
2630 identify any financial match requirements associated with listed
2631 programs.
2632 (5)(a) By October 1, 2026, the office shall establish and
2633 provide staff for seven regional rural community liaison centers
2634 across this state to provide specialized in-person state support
2635 to rural local governments located in rural areas of opportunity
2636 as defined in s. 288.0656. The department shall, by rule, divide
2637 the state into seven regions and assign a liaison center to each
2638 region. Each liaison center shall serve the local governments
2639 within its geographic area and shall be staffed with at least
2640 two full-time department employees. At a minimum, each liaison
2641 center has the following powers and duties:
2642 1. Assist local governments in planning and achieving goals
2643 related to local or regional growth, economic development, and
2644 rural prosperity.
2645 2. Facilitate access to state and federal resources,
2646 including grants, loans, and other available assistance.
2647 3. Advise local governments on available program waivers,
2648 including financial match waivers or reductions for projects
2649 using state or federal funds through REDI under s. 288.0656.
2650 4. Coordinate technical assistance needs with the
2651 department and other state or federal agencies.
2652 5. Promote model ordinances, policies, and strategies
2653 related to economic development.
2654 6. Assist local governments with regulatory and reporting
2655 compliance requirements.
2656 (b) To the greatest extent possible, each regional rural
2657 community liaison center shall coordinate with local and
2658 regional governmental entities, regional economic development
2659 organizations as defined in s. 288.018, and other appropriate
2660 entities to establish a network that fosters community-driven
2661 solutions promoting viable and sustainable rural communities.
2662 (c) Each regional rural community liaison center shall
2663 regularly engage with REDI established in s. 288.0656, and at
2664 least one staff member from each liaison center shall attend the
2665 monthly REDI meeting, either in person or by means of electronic
2666 communication.
2667 (6) By December 1, 2026, the director of the office shall
2668 submit to the Administration Commission within the Executive
2669 Office of the Governor a written report describing the office’s
2670 operations and accomplishments for the preceding year. In
2671 consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
2672 Services, the office shall also include in the report
2673 recommendations for policies, programs, and funding initiatives
2674 to further support the needs of rural communities in this state.
2675 The office shall also submit the report to the President of the
2676 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by
2677 December 1 of each year and publish it on the office’s website.
2678 At the next scheduled meeting of the Administration Commission
2679 following submission of the report, the director shall, in
2680 person, present detailed information from the report required
2681 under this subsection.
2682 (7) This section expires July 1, 2027.
2683 Section 93. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2684 2396E of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (f)
2685 is added to subsection (7) of section 288.001, Florida Statutes,
2686 to read:
2687 288.001 The Florida Small Business Development Center
2688 Network.—
2689 (7) ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDS; USES; PAY-PER-PERFORMANCE
2690 INCENTIVES; STATEWIDE SERVICE; SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS; BEST
2691 PRACTICES; ELIGIBILITY.—
2692 (f) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), the
2693 network shall use funds directly appropriated for the specific
2694 purpose of expanding service in rural communities as defined in
2695 s. 288.0656, in addition to any funds allocated by the network
2696 from other sources. The network shall use the funds to develop
2697 an activity plan focused on network consultants and resources in
2698 rural communities. In collaboration with regional economic
2699 development organizations as defined in s. 288.018, the plan
2700 must provide for either full- or part-time consultants to be
2701 available for at least 20 hours per week in rural areas or to be
2702 permanently stationed in rural areas. This may include
2703 establishing a circuit in specific rural locations to ensure the
2704 consultants’ availability on a regular basis. By using the funds
2705 to create a regular presence in rural areas, the network will
2706 strengthen community collaboration, raise awareness of available
2707 resources to provide opportunities for new business development
2708 or existing business growth, and make professional experience,
2709 education, and business information available in these essential
2710 communities. The network may dedicate funds to facilitate local
2711 or regional events that focus on small business topics, provide
2712 consulting services, and leverage partner organizations, such as
2713 the regional economic development organizations, local workforce
2714 development boards as described in s. 445.007, and Florida
2715 College System institutions. This paragraph expires July 1,
2716 2027.
2717 Section 94. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2718 2396F of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section
2719 288.014, Florida Statutes, is created to read:
2720 288.014 Renaissance Grants Program.—
2721 (1) The Legislature finds that it has historically provided
2722 programs to assist rural communities with economic development
2723 and to enhance their ability to attract businesses and that, by
2724 providing that extra component of economic viability, rural
2725 communities are able to attract new businesses and grow existing
2726 ones. However, the Legislature further finds that a subset of
2727 rural communities has decreased in population over the past
2728 decade, contributing to a decline in local business activity and
2729 economic development. The Legislature therefore determines that
2730 state assistance must evolve to support these communities in
2731 achieving the foundation necessary for economic viability. The
2732 intent of the Renaissance Grants Program is to reverse economic
2733 deterioration in such rural communities by retaining and
2734 attracting residents by giving them a reason to stay, which will
2735 stimulate natural economic growth, business opportunities, and
2736 improved quality of life.
2737 (2) The Office of Rural Prosperity within the department
2738 shall administer the Renaissance Grants Program to provide block
2739 grants to eligible counties. By August 1, 2026, the Office of
2740 Economic and Demographic Research shall certify to the Office of
2741 Rural Prosperity which counties are growth-impeded. For the
2742 purposes of this section, the term “growth-impeded” means a
2743 county that, as of the most recent population estimate, has
2744 experienced a declining population over the previous 10 years.
2745 After the initial certification, the Office of Economic and
2746 Demographic Research shall annually certify whether the county
2747 remains growth-impeded, until the office certifies the county
2748 has had 3 consecutive years of population growth. Upon such
2749 certification of population growth, the county remains eligible
2750 for the program for 1 additional year to prepare for the end of
2751 block grant funding.
2752 (3)(a) Each participating county shall enter into an
2753 agreement with the Office of Rural Prosperity to receive block
2754 grant funds. Counties have broad authority to design their
2755 specific plan to achieve population growth consistent with this
2756 section. The Office of Rural Prosperity may not determine the
2757 manner in which a county implements its plan. However, regional
2758 rural community liaison center staff shall provide assistance in
2759 developing the county’s plan, upon the county’s request.
2760 (b) Each participating county shall submit a report to the
2761 Office of Rural Prosperity detailing program activities,
2762 intergovernmental agreements, and other information as required
2763 by the office.
2764 (c) Each participating county shall receive $1 million from
2765 the funds appropriated to the program, or an equal share of the
2766 funds appropriated if insufficient to provide that amount.
2767 Counties shall make all attempts to limit expenses for
2768 administrative costs, consistent with the need for prudent
2769 management and accountability in the use of public funds.
2770 Counties may supplement the block grant with other funding
2771 sources, including local, state, or federal grants, and may seek
2772 public or private contributions or in-kind support to advance
2773 program activities.
2774 (4)(a) Each participating county shall hire and retain a
2775 renaissance coordinator, who may be funded from block grant
2776 proceeds. The renaissance coordinator is responsible for:
2777 1. Ensuring that block grant funds are used as provided in
2778 this section;
2779 2. Coordinating with other local governments, school
2780 boards, Florida College System institutions, and other partners;
2781 and
2782 3. Reporting as necessary to the state, including
2783 information necessary pursuant to subsection (7).
2784 (b) The Office of Rural Prosperity regional rural community
2785 liaison center staff shall, upon request, provide assistance and
2786 training to the renaissance coordinator to support successful
2787 implementation of the block grant.
2788 (5) Each participating county shall design a plan for
2789 targeted community investments designed to achieve population
2790 growth and increase economic vitality. The plan must include the
2791 following key features for use of the state support:
2792 (a) Technology centers located within schools or on school
2793 premises, administered by the local school board, providing
2794 extended hours and access for students.
2795 (b) Facilities that colocate adult day care with child care
2796 facilities. The site-sharing facilities must be managed to also
2797 encourage interaction between generations and increase the
2798 health and well-being of younger and older participants, reduce
2799 social isolation, and create cost and time efficiencies for
2800 working families. The regional rural community liaison center
2801 staff of the Office of Rural Prosperity shall, upon request,
2802 assist the county with bringing recommendations to the Rural
2803 Economic Development Initiative or the appropriate state agency
2804 to streamline all required state permits, licenses, regulations,
2805 or other requirements.
2806 (c) Technology labs operated in partnership with the
2807 nearest Florida College System institution or a career center
2808 under s. 1001.44. Repurposed vacant industrial sites or existing
2809 office space must be given priority in the selection of lab
2810 locations. Each local technology lab must be staffed and open
2811 for extended hours with the capacity to provide:
2812 1. Access to trainers and equipment necessary for earning
2813 certificates or online degrees in technology;
2814 2. Hands-on assistance in securing remote work
2815 opportunities; and
2816 3. Studio space equipped for remote technology-based work
2817 available for graduates and other qualifying residents.
2818 Participating counties may determine which residents receive
2819 priority access. Collaboration with community partners,
2820 including the local workforce development board as described in
2821 s. 445.007, to provide training opportunities, in-kind support
2822 such as transportation to and from the lab, financing of
2823 equipment for in-home use, or basic maintenance of such
2824 equipment is required.
2825 (6) In addition to hiring a renaissance coordinator, each
2826 participating county shall develop intergovernmental agreements
2827 for shared responsibilities with its municipalities, school
2828 board, and Florida College System institution or career center
2829 and enter into necessary contracts with providers and community
2830 partners in order to implement the plan.
2831 (7)(a) Beginning in 2027, the Auditor General shall conduct
2832 an operational audit as defined in s. 11.45 of each county’s
2833 grant activities.
2834 (b) By July 1, 2027, the Office of Economic and Demographic
2835 Research shall submit a report to the President of the Senate
2836 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives summarizing
2837 renaissance block grant recipients by county. The report must
2838 provide key economic indicators that measure progress in
2839 reversing long-term trends in the county. The Office of Rural
2840 Prosperity shall, upon request, provide any data necessary to
2841 complete the report.
2842 (8) Notwithstanding s. 216.301, funds appropriated for the
2843 purposes of this section are not subject to reversion.
2844 (9) This section expires July 1, 2027.
2845 Section 95. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2846 2396G of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section
2847 288.0175, Florida Statutes, is created to read:
2848 288.0175 Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant
2849 Program.—
2850 (1) The Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant
2851 Program is established within the Office of Rural Prosperity
2852 within the department to fund and support public infrastructure
2853 smart technology projects in communities located in rural areas
2854 of opportunity, subject to legislative appropriation.
2855 (2) As used in this section, the term:
2856 (a) “Public infrastructure smart technology” means systems
2857 or applications that use connectivity, data analytics, or
2858 automation to improve public infrastructure by increasing
2859 efficiency, enhancing public services, and promoting sustainable
2860 development.
2861 (b) “Rural area of opportunity” has the same meaning as in
2862 s. 288.0656.
2863 (c) “Smart region” means a geographic area that uses
2864 technology and innovative ideas to improve the quality of life
2865 for its citizens by addressing regional challenges through
2866 collaboration among government, businesses, and communities.
2867 (d) “Smart technology lead organization” means a not-for
2868 profit corporation organized under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal
2869 Revenue Code which has been in existence for at least 3 years
2870 and specializes in smart region planning.
2871 (3)(a) By October 1, 2026, the Office of Rural Prosperity
2872 shall contract with one or more smart technology lead
2873 organizations to administer the grant program for the purpose of
2874 deploying public infrastructure smart technology in rural
2875 communities. Under such contracts, the smart technology lead
2876 organization shall award grants to counties and municipalities
2877 located within a rural area of opportunity for eligible public
2878 infrastructure smart technology projects.
2879 (b) Each contract must specify deliverables, reporting
2880 requirements, timeframes, and any other term the office deems
2881 necessary. At a minimum, the contract must require the smart
2882 technology lead organization to:
2883 1. Collaborate with counties and municipalities in rural
2884 areas of opportunity to identify cost-effective smart technology
2885 solutions for improving public services and infrastructure.
2886 2. Provide technical assistance to counties and
2887 municipalities located in rural areas of opportunity in
2888 developing public infrastructure smart technology project plans.
2889 3. Facilitate connections between rural communities and
2890 other entities, including companies and regional partners to
2891 maximize the impact of funded projects.
2892 (4) The Office of Rural Prosperity shall include a summary
2893 of projects funded under this section in its report required by
2894 s. 288.013(6).
2895 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
2896 Section 96. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2897 2396J of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section
2898 288.065, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2899 288.065 Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund.—
2900 (1) The Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund
2901 Program is established within the Office of Rural Prosperity
2902 department to facilitate the use of existing federal, state, and
2903 local financial resources by providing local governments with
2904 financial assistance to further promote the economic viability
2905 of rural communities. These funds may be used to finance
2906 initiatives directed toward maintaining or developing the
2907 economic base of rural communities, especially initiatives
2908 addressing employment opportunities for residents of these
2909 communities.
2910 (2)(a) The program shall provide for long-term loans, loan
2911 guarantees, and loan loss reserves to units of local
2912 governments, or economic development organizations substantially
2913 underwritten by a unit of local government.,
2914 (b) For purposes of this section, the term “unit of local
2915 government” means any of the following:
2916 1. A county within counties with a population populations
2917 of 75,000 or less. fewer, or within any
2918 2. A county with a population of 125,000 or less fewer
2919 which is contiguous to a county with a population of 75,000 or
2920 less. fewer
2921 3. A municipality within a county described in subparagraph
2922 1. or subparagraph 2.
2923 4. A county or municipality within a rural area of
2924 opportunity designated under s. 288.0656.
2925
2926 For purposes of this paragraph, population is determined in
2927 accordance with the most recent official estimates pursuant to
2928 s. 186.901 and must include those residing in incorporated and
2929 unincorporated areas of a county, based on the most recent
2930 official population estimate as determined under s. 186.901,
2931 including those residing in incorporated areas and those
2932 residing in unincorporated areas of the county, or to units of
2933 local government, or economic development organizations
2934 substantially underwritten by a unit of local government, within
2935 a rural area of opportunity.
2936 (c)(b) Requests for loans must shall be made by application
2937 to the office department. Loans must shall be made pursuant to
2938 agreements specifying the terms and conditions agreed to between
2939 the applicant and the office department. The loans are shall be
2940 the legal obligations of the applicant.
2941 (d)(c) All repayments of principal and interest must shall
2942 be returned to the loan fund and made available for loans to
2943 other applicants. However, in a rural area of opportunity
2944 designated under s. 288.0656 by the Governor, and upon approval
2945 by the office department, repayments of principal and interest
2946 may be retained by the applicant if such repayments are
2947 dedicated and matched to fund regionally based economic
2948 development organizations representing the rural area of
2949 opportunity.
2950 (3) The office department shall manage the fund,
2951 establishing loan practices that must include, but are not
2952 limited to, procedures for establishing loan interest rates,
2953 uses of funding, application procedures, and application review
2954 procedures. The office has department shall have final approval
2955 authority for any loan under this section.
2956 (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301, funds
2957 appropriated for this loan fund may purpose shall not be subject
2958 to reversion.
2959 (5) The office shall include in its report required under
2960 s. 288.013 detailed information about the fund, including loans
2961 made during the previous fiscal year, loans active, loans
2962 terminated or repaid, and the amount of funds not obligated as
2963 of 14 days before the date the report is due.
2964 Section 97. The amendments to s. 288.065, Florida Statutes,
2965 made by this act expire July 1, 2027, and the text of that
2966 section shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2026,
2967 except that any amendments to such text enacted other than by
2968 this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
2969 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
2970 of text which expire pursuant to this section.
2971 Section 98. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2972 2759 through 2764 and sections 157 and 158 of the 2026-2027
2973 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and
2974 216.292, Florida Statutes, the Division of Emergency Management
2975 may submit budget amendments, subject to the notice, review, and
2976 objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to
2977 increase budget authority for projected expenditures due to
2978 reimbursements from federally declared disasters if additional
2979 federal revenues specific to such programs become available in
2980 the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This section expires July 1, 2027.
2981 Section 99. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2982 2750 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (2)
2983 of section 282.201, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2984 282.201 State data center.—The state data center is
2985 established within the department. The provision of data center
2986 services must comply with applicable state and federal laws,
2987 regulations, and policies, including all applicable security,
2988 privacy, and auditing requirements. The department shall appoint
2989 a director of the state data center who has experience in
2990 leading data center facilities and has expertise in cloud
2991 computing management.
2992 (2) USE OF THE STATE DATA CENTER.—
2993 (a) The following are exempt from the use of the state data
2994 center: the Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of the
2995 Lottery’s Gaming System, Systems Design and Development in the
2996 Office of Policy and Budget, the regional traffic management
2997 centers as described in s. 335.14(2) and the Office of Toll
2998 Operations of the Department of Transportation, the State Board
2999 of Administration, state attorneys, public defenders, criminal
3000 conflict and civil regional counsel, capital collateral regional
3001 counsel, and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
3002 (b) The Division of Emergency Management is exempt from the
3003 use of the state data center. This paragraph expires July 1,
3004 2027 2026.
3005 Section 100. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
3006 2367 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and upon the
3007 expiration and reversion of the amendments to s. 443.1113,
3008 Florida Statutes, pursuant to section 105 of chapter 2025-199,
3009 Laws of Florida, subsections (4) and (5) of section 443.1113,
3010 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3011 443.1113 Reemployment Assistance Claims and Benefits
3012 Information System.—
3013 (4)(a) The Department of Commerce shall perform an annual
3014 review of the system and identify enhancements or modernization
3015 efforts that improve the delivery of services to claimants and
3016 employers and reporting to state and federal entities. These
3017 improvements are subject to appropriation, and must include, but
3018 need not be limited to:
3019 1. Infrastructure upgrades through cloud services.
3020 2. Software improvements.
3021 3. Enhanced data analytics and reporting.
3022 4. Increased cybersecurity pursuant to s. 282.318.
3023 (b) The department shall seek input on recommended
3024 enhancements from, at a minimum, the following entities:
3025 1. The Florida Digital Service within the Department of
3026 Management Services.
3027 2. The General Tax Administration Program Office within the
3028 Department of Revenue.
3029 3. The Division of Accounting and Auditing within the
3030 Department of Financial Services.
3031 (5) By September 1, 2026 October 1, 2023, and each year
3032 thereafter, the Department of Commerce shall submit a
3033 Reemployment Assistance Claims and Benefits Information System
3034 report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
3035 Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report must, at a
3036 minimum, include:
3037 (a) A summary of clearly defined deliverables and
3038 measurable outcomes of maintenance, enhancement, and
3039 modernization efforts over the last fiscal year.
3040 (b) A plan for the next 2 fiscal years 3-year outlook of
3041 recommended enhancements or modernization efforts that includes
3042 projected nonrecurring project costs, clear deliverables, and
3043 timeframes for completion of each enhancement or modernization
3044 effort in priority order, and the projected recurring operations
3045 and maintenance costs after the completion of each enhancement
3046 or modernization effort.
3047 Section 101. The amendments to s. 443.1113(4) and (5),
3048 Florida Statutes, made by this act expire July 1, 2027, and the
3049 text of those subsections shall revert to that in existence on
3050 June 30, 2025, except that any amendments to such text enacted
3051 other than by this act shall be preserved and continue to
3052 operate to the extent that such amendments are not dependent
3053 upon the portions of text which expire pursuant to this section.
3054 Section 102. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
3055 2359 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (9)
3056 of section 445.08, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsections
3057 (2) and (4) of that section are reenacted, to read:
3058 445.08 Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment
3059 Program.—
3060 (2)(a) There is created within the department the Florida
3061 Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program to aid in the
3062 recruitment of law enforcement officers within the state. The
3063 purpose of the program is to administer one-time bonus payments
3064 of up to $5,000 to each newly employed officer within the state.
3065 (b) Bonus payments provided to eligible newly employed
3066 officers are contingent upon legislative appropriations and
3067 shall be prorated subject to the amount appropriated for the
3068 program.
3069 (4) The department shall develop an annual plan for the
3070 administration of the program and distribution of bonus
3071 payments. Applicable employing agencies shall assist the
3072 department with the collection of any data necessary to
3073 determine bonus payment amounts and to distribute the bonus
3074 payments, and shall otherwise provide the department with any
3075 information or assistance needed to fulfill the requirements of
3076 this section. At a minimum, the plan must include:
3077 (a) The method for determining the estimated number of
3078 newly employed officers to gain or be appointed to full-time
3079 employment during the applicable fiscal year.
3080 (b) The minimum eligibility requirements a newly employed
3081 officer must meet to receive and retain a bonus payment, which
3082 must include:
3083 1. Obtaining certification for employment or appointment as
3084 a law enforcement officer pursuant to s. 943.1395.
3085 2. Gaining full-time employment with a Florida criminal
3086 justice agency.
3087 3. Maintaining full-time employment as a law enforcement
3088 officer with a Florida criminal justice agency for at least 2
3089 years from the date on which the officer obtained certification.
3090 The required 2-year employment period may be satisfied by
3091 maintaining full-time employment at one or more employing
3092 agencies, but such period must not contain any break in service
3093 longer than 180 calendar days.
3094 (c) The standards by which the department will determine
3095 under what circumstances a break in service is acceptable. A law
3096 enforcement officer must provide documentation to the department
3097 justifying a break in service. For purposes of this section, the
3098 term “break in service” means a period of time during which the
3099 person is employed with a Florida criminal justice agency but is
3100 not employed as a full-time law enforcement officer or a period
3101 of time during which the person is in between employment as a
3102 full-time law enforcement officer for no longer than 15 days.
3103 The time period for any break in service does not count toward
3104 satisfying the 2-year full-time employment requirement of this
3105 section.
3106 (d) The method that will be used to determine the bonus
3107 payment amount to be distributed to each newly employed officer.
3108 (e) The method that will be used to distribute bonus
3109 payments to applicable employing agencies for distribution to
3110 eligible officers. Such method should prioritize distributing
3111 bonus payments to eligible officers in the most efficient and
3112 quickest manner possible.
3113 (f) The estimated cost to the department associated with
3114 developing and administering the program and distributing bonus
3115 payment funds.
3116 (g) The method by which an officer must reimburse the state
3117 if he or she received a bonus payment under the program, but
3118 failed to maintain continuous employment for the required 2-year
3119 period. Reimbursement shall not be required if an officer is
3120 discharged by his or her employing agency for a reason other
3121 than misconduct as designated on the affidavit of separation
3122 completed by the employing agency and maintained by the
3123 commission.
3124
3125 The department may establish other criteria deemed necessary to
3126 determine bonus payment eligibility and distribution.
3127 (9) This section expires July 1, 2027 2026.
3128 Section 103. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
3129 2384 through 2386 and sections 146, 147, 148, 152, and 155 of
3130 the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding
3131 ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the Department of
3132 Commerce may submit budget amendments, subject to the notice,
3133 review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida
3134 Statutes, to increase budget authority to support the following
3135 federal grant programs: the Broadband Equity, Access, and
3136 Deployment Program (BEAD), Capital Projects Fund Program,
3137 Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Program
3138 (CDBG-DR), Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Home Energy
3139 Assistance Programs – Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
3140 (LIHEAP), and Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund, Pub. L.
3141 No. 117-2. This section expires July 1, 2027.
3142 Section 104. (1) In order to implement section 8 of the
3143 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, beginning July 1, 2026,
3144 and on the first day of each month thereafter, the Department of
3145 Management Services shall assess an administrative health
3146 insurance assessment on each state agency equal to the
3147 employer’s cost of individual employee health care coverage for
3148 each vacant position within such agency eligible for coverage
3149 through the Division of State Group Insurance. As used in this
3150 section, the term “state agency” means an agency within the
3151 State Personnel System, the Department of the Lottery, the
3152 Justice Administrative Commission and all entities
3153 administratively housed in the Justice Administrative
3154 Commission, and the state courts system.
3155 (2) Each state agency shall remit the assessed
3156 administrative health insurance assessment under subsection (1)
3157 to the State Employees Health Insurance Trust Fund, for the
3158 State Group Insurance Program, as provided in ss. 110.123 and
3159 110.1239, Florida Statutes, from currently allocated moneys for
3160 salaries and benefits within 30 days after receipt of the
3161 assessment from the Department of Management Services. Should
3162 any state agency become more than 60 days delinquent in payment
3163 of this obligation, the Department of Management Services shall
3164 certify to the Chief Financial Officer the amount due and the
3165 Chief Financial Officer shall transfer the amount due to the
3166 Department of Management Services.
3167 (3) The administrative health insurance assessment shall
3168 apply to all vacant positions funded with state funds whether
3169 fully or partially funded with state funds. Vacant positions
3170 partially funded with state funds shall pay a percentage of the
3171 assessment imposed in subsection (1) equal to the percentage
3172 share of state funds provided for such vacant positions. No
3173 assessment shall apply to vacant positions fully funded with
3174 federal funds. Each state agency shall provide the Department of
3175 Management Services with a complete list of position numbers
3176 that are funded, or partially funded, with federal funding, and
3177 include the percentage of federal funding for each position no
3178 later than July 31, 2026, and shall update the list on the last
3179 day of each month thereafter. For federally funded vacant
3180 positions, or partially funded vacant positions, each state
3181 agency shall immediately take steps to include the
3182 administrative health insurance assessment in its indirect cost
3183 plan for the 2027-2028 fiscal year and each fiscal year
3184 thereafter. A state agency shall notify the Department of
3185 Management Services, the Executive Office of the Governor, the
3186 chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and the chair
3187 of the House of Representatives Budget Committee upon approval
3188 of the updated indirect cost plan. If the state agency is not
3189 able to obtain approval from its federal awarding agency, the
3190 state agency must notify the Department of Management Services,
3191 the Executive Office of the Governor, and the appropriation and
3192 budget chairs no later than January 15, 2027.
3193 (4) Pursuant to the notice, review, and objection
3194 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the Executive Office
3195 of the Governor may transfer budget authority appropriated in
3196 the Salaries and Benefits appropriation category between
3197 agencies in order to align the appropriations granted with the
3198 assessments that must be paid by each agency to the Department
3199 of Management Services for the administrative health insurance
3200 assessment.
3201 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
3202 Section 105. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
3203 2852 and 2855 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
3204 notwithstanding s. 11.13(1), Florida Statutes, the authorized
3205 salaries for members of the Legislature for the 2026-2027 fiscal
3206 year shall be set at the same level in effect on July 1, 2010.
3207 This section expires July 1, 2027.
3208 Section 106. In order to implement the transfer of funds
3209 from the General Revenue Fund from trust funds for the 2026-2027
3210 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding the expiration
3211 date in section 111 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida,
3212 paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 215.32, Florida
3213 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3214 215.32 State funds; segregation.—
3215 (2) The source and use of each of these funds shall be as
3216 follows:
3217 (b)1. The trust funds shall consist of moneys received by
3218 the state which under law or under trust agreement are
3219 segregated for a purpose authorized by law. The state agency or
3220 branch of state government receiving or collecting such moneys
3221 is responsible for their proper expenditure as provided by law.
3222 Upon the request of the state agency or branch of state
3223 government responsible for the administration of the trust fund,
3224 the Chief Financial Officer may establish accounts within the
3225 trust fund at a level considered necessary for proper
3226 accountability. Once an account is established, the Chief
3227 Financial Officer may authorize payment from that account only
3228 upon determining that there is sufficient cash and releases at
3229 the level of the account.
3230 2. In addition to other trust funds created by law, to the
3231 extent possible, each agency shall use the following trust funds
3232 as described in this subparagraph for day-to-day operations:
3233 a. Operations or operating trust fund, for use as a
3234 depository for funds to be used for program operations funded by
3235 program revenues, with the exception of administrative
3236 activities when the operations or operating trust fund is a
3237 proprietary fund.
3238 b. Operations and maintenance trust fund, for use as a
3239 depository for client services funded by third-party payors.
3240 c. Administrative trust fund, for use as a depository for
3241 funds to be used for management activities that are departmental
3242 in nature and funded by indirect cost earnings and assessments
3243 against trust funds. Proprietary funds are excluded from the
3244 requirement of using an administrative trust fund.
3245 d. Grants and donations trust fund, for use as a depository
3246 for funds to be used for allowable grant or donor agreement
3247 activities funded by restricted contractual revenue from private
3248 and public nonfederal sources.
3249 e. Agency working capital trust fund, for use as a
3250 depository for funds to be used pursuant to s. 216.272.
3251 f. Clearing funds trust fund, for use as a depository for
3252 funds to account for collections pending distribution to lawful
3253 recipients.
3254 g. Federal grant trust fund, for use as a depository for
3255 funds to be used for allowable grant activities funded by
3256 restricted program revenues from federal sources.
3257
3258 To the extent possible, each agency must adjust its internal
3259 accounting to use existing trust funds consistent with the
3260 requirements of this subparagraph. If an agency does not have
3261 trust funds listed in this subparagraph and cannot make such
3262 adjustment, the agency must recommend the creation of the
3263 necessary trust funds to the Legislature no later than the next
3264 scheduled review of the agency’s trust funds pursuant to s.
3265 215.3206.
3266 3. All such moneys are hereby appropriated to be expended
3267 in accordance with the law or trust agreement under which they
3268 were received, subject always to the provisions of chapter 216
3269 relating to the appropriation of funds and to the applicable
3270 laws relating to the deposit or expenditure of moneys in the
3271 State Treasury.
3272 4.a. Notwithstanding any provision of law restricting the
3273 use of trust funds to specific purposes, unappropriated cash
3274 balances from selected trust funds may be authorized by the
3275 Legislature for transfer to the Budget Stabilization Fund and
3276 General Revenue Fund in the General Appropriations Act.
3277 b. This subparagraph does not apply to trust funds required
3278 by federal programs or mandates; trust funds established for
3279 bond covenants, indentures, or resolutions whose revenues are
3280 legally pledged by the state or public body to meet debt service
3281 or other financial requirements of any debt obligations of the
3282 state or any public body; the Division of Licensing Trust Fund
3283 in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; the
3284 State Transportation Trust Fund; the trust fund containing the
3285 net annual proceeds from the Florida Education Lotteries; the
3286 Florida Retirement System Trust Fund; trust funds under the
3287 management of the State Board of Education or the Board of
3288 Governors of the State University System, where such trust funds
3289 are for auxiliary enterprises, self-insurance, and contracts,
3290 grants, and donations, as those terms are defined by general
3291 law; trust funds that serve as clearing funds or accounts for
3292 the Chief Financial Officer or state agencies; trust funds that
3293 account for assets held by the state in a trustee capacity as an
3294 agent or fiduciary for individuals, private organizations, or
3295 other governmental units; and other trust funds authorized by
3296 the State Constitution.
3297 Section 107. The text of s. 215.32(2)(b), Florida Statutes,
3298 as carried forward from chapter 2011-47, Laws of Florida, by
3299 this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that paragraph
3300 shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2011, except that
3301 any amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall
3302 be preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
3303 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
3304 expire pursuant to this section.
3305 Section 108. In order to implement appropriations in the
3306 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for state employee travel,
3307 the funds appropriated to each state agency which may be used
3308 for travel by state employees are limited during the 2026-2027
3309 fiscal year to travel for activities that are critical to each
3310 state agency’s mission. Funds may not be used for travel by
3311 state employees to foreign countries, other states, conferences,
3312 staff training activities, or other administrative functions
3313 unless the agency head has approved, in writing, that such
3314 activities are critical to the agency’s mission. The agency head
3315 shall consider using teleconferencing and other forms of
3316 electronic communication to meet the needs of the proposed
3317 activity before approving mission-critical travel. This section
3318 does not apply to travel for law enforcement purposes, military
3319 purposes, emergency management activities, or public health
3320 activities. This section expires July 1, 2027.
3321 Section 109. In order to implement appropriations in the
3322 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for state employee travel
3323 and notwithstanding s. 112.061, Florida Statutes, costs for
3324 lodging associated with a meeting, conference, or convention
3325 organized or sponsored in whole or in part by a state agency or
3326 the judicial branch may not exceed $225 per day. An employee may
3327 expend his or her own funds for any lodging expenses in excess
3328 of $225 per day. For purposes of this section, a meeting does
3329 not include travel activities for conducting an audit,
3330 examination, inspection, or investigation or travel activities
3331 related to a litigation or emergency response. This section
3332 expires July 1, 2027.
3333 Section 110. In order to implement the appropriations and
3334 reappropriations authorized in the 2026-2027 General
3335 Appropriations Act, paragraph (d) of subsection (11) of section
3336 216.181, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3337 216.181 Approved budgets for operations and fixed capital
3338 outlay.—
3339 (11)
3340 (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) and paragraph (2)(b), and
3341 for the 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal year only, the Legislative
3342 Budget Commission may approve budget amendments for new fixed
3343 capital outlay projects or increase the amounts appropriated to
3344 state agencies for fixed capital outlay projects. This paragraph
3345 expires July 1, 2027 2026.
3346
3347 The provisions of this subsection are subject to the notice and
3348 objection procedures set forth in s. 216.177.
3349 Section 111. In order to implement the salaries and
3350 benefits, expenses, other personal services, contracted
3351 services, special categories, and operating capital outlay
3352 categories of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
3353 paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 216.292, Florida
3354 Statutes, is amended to read:
3355 216.292 Appropriations nontransferable; exceptions.—
3356 (2) The following transfers are authorized to be made by
3357 the head of each department or the Chief Justice of the Supreme
3358 Court whenever it is deemed necessary by reason of changed
3359 conditions:
3360 (a) The transfer of appropriations funded from identical
3361 funding sources, except appropriations for fixed capital outlay,
3362 and the transfer of amounts included within the total original
3363 approved budget and plans of releases of appropriations as
3364 furnished pursuant to ss. 216.181 and 216.192, as follows:
3365 1. Between categories of appropriations within a budget
3366 entity, if no category of appropriation is increased or
3367 decreased by more than 5 percent of the original approved budget
3368 or $250,000, whichever is greater, by all action taken under
3369 this subsection.
3370 2. Between budget entities within identical categories of
3371 appropriations, if no category of appropriation is increased or
3372 decreased by more than 5 percent of the original approved budget
3373 or $250,000, whichever is greater, by all action taken under
3374 this subsection.
3375 3. Any agency exceeding salary rate established pursuant to
3376 s. 216.181(8) on June 30th of any fiscal year shall not be
3377 authorized to make transfers pursuant to subparagraphs 1. and 2.
3378 in the subsequent fiscal year.
3379 4. Notice of proposed transfers under subparagraphs 1. and
3380 2. shall be provided to the Executive Office of the Governor and
3381 the chairs of the legislative appropriations committees at least
3382 3 days prior to agency implementation in order to provide an
3383 opportunity for review. The review shall be limited to ensuring
3384 that the transfer is in compliance with the requirements of this
3385 paragraph.
3386 5. For the 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal year, the review
3387 shall ensure that transfers proposed pursuant to this paragraph
3388 comply with this chapter, maximize the use of available and
3389 appropriate trust funds, and are not contrary to legislative
3390 policy and intent. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 2026.
3391 Section 112. In order to implement appropriations in the
3392 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for the acquisitions of
3393 motor vehicles, and notwithstanding chapter 287, Florida
3394 Statutes, relating to the purchase of motor vehicles from a
3395 state term contract, state agencies may purchase vehicles from
3396 nonstate term contract vendors without prior approval from the
3397 Department of Management Services, provided the cost of the
3398 motor vehicle is equal to or less than the cost of a similar
3399 class of vehicle found on a state term contract and provided the
3400 funds for the purchase have been specifically appropriated. This
3401 section expires July 1, 2027.
3402 Section 113. In order to implement appropriations for state
3403 agencies in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section
3404 11.52, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3405 11.52 Implementation of enacted legislation.—Each state
3406 agency shall provide the Legislature and the Executive Office of
3407 the Governor with information about the status of implementation
3408 of recently enacted legislation. The implementation status must
3409 be provided 90 days following the effective date of the
3410 legislation and updated each August 1 thereafter until all
3411 provisions of the legislation have been fully implemented. The
3412 implementation status report must include, at a minimum, for
3413 each enacted legislation, the actions or steps taken to
3414 implement the legislation and planned actions or steps for
3415 implementation, such as any rules proposed for implementation,
3416 any procurements required, any contract executed to assist the
3417 agency in the implementation, any contracts executed to
3418 implement or administer the legislation, programs started,
3419 offices established, or other organization administrative
3420 changes made including personnel changes, or federal waivers
3421 requested; any expenditures made directly related to the
3422 implementation; and any impediments or delays in implementation,
3423 including, but not limited to, challenges of administrative
3424 rules. No later than 14 days prior to the next regular
3425 legislative session, the state agency shall provide an update of
3426 any changes to the implementation status, notify the Legislature
3427 of any protests of rulemaking or other communications regarding
3428 the implementation of the legislation and the status of any
3429 litigation related to the legislation, and identify any policy
3430 issues that need to be resolved by the Legislature to ensure
3431 timely and effective implementation of the legislation. This
3432 section expires July 1, 2027 2026.
3433 Section 114. In order to implement appropriations for state
3434 agencies and the judicial branch in the 2026-2027 General
3435 Appropriations Act, subsection (7) of section 216.013, Florida
3436 Statutes, is amended to read:
3437 216.013 Long-range program plan.—State agencies and the
3438 judicial branch shall develop long-range program plans to
3439 achieve state goals using an interagency planning process that
3440 includes the development of integrated agency program service
3441 outcomes. The plans shall be policy based, priority driven,
3442 accountable, and developed through careful examination and
3443 justification of all agency and judicial branch programs.
3444 (7) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, each
3445 state executive agency and the judicial branch are not required
3446 to develop or post a long-range program plan by September 30,
3447 2026 2025, for the 2027-2028 2026-2027 fiscal year, except in
3448 circumstances outlined in any updated written instructions
3449 prepared by the Executive Office of the Governor in consultation
3450 with the chairs of the legislative appropriations committees.
3451 This subsection expires July 1, 2027 2026.
3452 Section 115. In order to implement appropriations for state
3453 agencies and the judicial branch in the 2026-2027 General
3454 Appropriations Act, subsection (7) of section 216.023, Florida
3455 Statutes, is amended to read:
3456 216.023 Legislative budget requests to be furnished to
3457 Legislature by agencies.—
3458 (7) As part of the legislative budget request, each state
3459 agency and the judicial branch shall include an inventory of all
3460 ongoing technology-related projects that have a cumulative
3461 estimated or realized cost of more than $1 million. The
3462 inventory must, at a minimum, contain all of the following
3463 information:
3464 (a) The name of the technology system.
3465 (b) A brief description of the purpose and function of the
3466 system.
3467 (c) A brief description of the goals of the project.
3468 (d) The initiation date of the project.
3469 (e) The key performance indicators for the project.
3470 (f) Any other metrics for the project evaluating the health
3471 and status of the project.
3472 (g) The original and current baseline estimated end dates
3473 of the project.
3474 (h) The original and current estimated costs of the
3475 project.
3476 (i) Total funds appropriated or allocated to the project
3477 and the current realized cost for the project by fiscal year.
3478
3479 For purposes of this subsection, an ongoing technology-related
3480 project is one which has been funded or has had or is expected
3481 to have expenditures in more than one fiscal year. An ongoing
3482 technology-related project does not include the continuance of
3483 existing hardware and software maintenance agreements, the
3484 renewal of existing software licensing agreements, or the
3485 replacement of desktop units with new technology that is
3486 substantially similar to the technology being replaced. This
3487 subsection expires July 1, 2027 2026.
3488 Section 116. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
3489 203, 583, 642, 1455A, 2514, and 3235, and sections 72 and 94 of
3490 the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:
3491 (1) Of the funds appropriated for information technology
3492 projects, 75 percent shall be held in reserve. All general
3493 revenue funds not held in reserve shall be fully released. The
3494 Agency for Health Care Administration, Department of Children
3495 and Families, Department of Corrections, Department of Financial
3496 Services, Florida Gaming Control Commission, Department of
3497 Health, and Department of Revenue are authorized to submit a
3498 budget amendment to request release of funds pursuant to chapter
3499 216, Florida Statutes. The amount requested to be released in
3500 each budget amendment may not exceed the agency’s projected
3501 quarterly expenditures, reduced by any unexpended funds from
3502 prior releases. Release is contingent upon submission of the
3503 following:
3504 (a) An updated and comprehensive operational work plan;
3505 (b) A detailed monthly spend plan with expenditures broken
3506 down by deliverable which identifies all planned and actual
3507 project work and costs specified in the current project
3508 schedule; and
3509 (c) A copy of the project status report from the most
3510 recently completed month at the time of submission which
3511 provides justification for any variance from the most recently
3512 submitted project schedule and spend plan.
3513 (2) The agencies receiving funds pursuant to this section
3514 must submit monthly project status reports to the Executive
3515 Office of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget, the chair
3516 of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the chair of the House
3517 Budget Committee, and any other designated project oversight
3518 entity no later than 30 days after the close of the previous
3519 month. Each status report must include copies of any new or
3520 updated relevant task order, contract, or purchase order. The
3521 status report must also describe progress made to date for each
3522 project milestone and deliverable, planned and actual completion
3523 dates, planned and actual costs incurred, and any current
3524 project issues or risks.
3525 (3) This section expires July 1, 2027.
3526 Section 117. Any section of this act which implements a
3527 specific appropriation or specifically identified proviso
3528 language in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act is void if
3529 the specific appropriation or specifically identified proviso
3530 language is vetoed. Any section of this act which implements
3531 more than one specific appropriation or more than one portion of
3532 specifically identified proviso language in the 2026-2027
3533 General Appropriations Act is void if all the specific
3534 appropriations or portions of specifically identified proviso
3535 language are vetoed.
3536 Section 118. If any other act passed during the 2026
3537 Regular Session of the Legislature contains a provision that is
3538 substantively the same as a provision in this act, but that
3539 removes or is otherwise not subject to the future repeal applied
3540 to such provision by this act, the Legislature intends that the
3541 provision in the other act takes precedence and continues to
3542 operate, notwithstanding the future repeal provided by this act.
3543 Section 119. If any provision of this act or its
3544 application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
3545 invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of
3546 the act which can be given effect without the invalid provision
3547 or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are
3548 severable.
3549 Section 120. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
3550 act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon
3551 this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1,
3552 2026, or, if this act fails to become a law until after that
3553 date, it shall take effect upon becoming a law and shall operate
3554 retroactively to July 1, 2026.
3555
3556 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
3557 And the title is amended as follows:
3558 Delete everything before the enacting clause
3559 and insert:
3560 A bill to be entitled
3561 An act implementing the 2026-2027 General
3562 Appropriations Act; providing legislative intent;
3563 incorporating by reference certain calculations;
3564 amending s. 1001.451, F.S.; revising the services
3565 required to be provided by regional consortium service
3566 organizations under certain circumstances; revising
3567 the allocation that certain regional consortium
3568 service organizations are eligible to receive from the
3569 General Appropriations Act; requiring regional
3570 consortium service organizations to submit certain
3571 annual reports to the Department of Education;
3572 requiring the carry forward of certain unexpended
3573 funds; requiring each regional consortium service
3574 organization to provide quarterly financial reports to
3575 member districts; requiring member districts to
3576 designate fiscal agent districts for certain purposes;
3577 providing for compensation of fiscal agent districts;
3578 providing for certain personnel recommendations,
3579 policies, salary schedules, and job descriptions;
3580 authorizing the purchase or lease of property and
3581 facilities; providing for the distribution of certain
3582 revenues upon dissolution of a regional consortium
3583 service organization; revising authorized means of
3584 revenue generation; requiring the establishment of a
3585 fund balance for certain purposes; providing for the
3586 future expiration and reversion of specified statutory
3587 text; creating s. 1001.4511, F.S.; creating the
3588 Regional Consortia Service Organization Supplemental
3589 Services Program; authorizing the use of program funds
3590 for specified purposes; requiring each regional
3591 consortium service organization to annually report
3592 certain information to the Legislature; authorizing
3593 the carryforward of certain funds; creating s.
3594 1009.635, F.S.; establishing the Rural Incentive for
3595 Professional Educators (RIPE) Program within the
3596 Department of Education for a specified purpose;
3597 providing eligibility requirements for the program;
3598 providing for student loan repayment assistance, up to
3599 a specified amount; requiring the department to verify
3600 certain participant information before disbursement of
3601 an award; specifying that the program is administered
3602 by the Office of Student Financial Assistance within
3603 the department; requiring the State Board of Education
3604 to adopt rules by a specified date; authorizing
3605 certain state university boards of trustees to accept
3606 a health care provider’s procurement methods and
3607 construction contracts under certain circumstances;
3608 authorizing the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical
3609 University board of trustees to expend available
3610 reserves or carryforward certain balances for a
3611 specified purpose; authorizing the Agency for Health
3612 Care Administration to submit a budget amendment to
3613 realign Medicaid funding for specified purposes,
3614 subject to certain limitations; authorizing the Agency
3615 for Health Care Administration to submit a budget
3616 amendment to realign funding within the Florida
3617 Kidcare program appropriation categories or to
3618 increase budget authority for certain purposes;
3619 specifying the time period within which such budget
3620 amendment must be submitted; amending s. 381.986,
3621 F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year the exemption of
3622 certain rules pertaining to the medical use of
3623 marijuana from certain rulemaking requirements;
3624 authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration
3625 to submit a budget amendment requesting additional
3626 spending authority to implement specified programs and
3627 payments; requiring institutions participating in a
3628 specified workforce expansion and education program to
3629 provide quarterly reports to the agency; authorizing
3630 the Agency for Health Care Administration to submit a
3631 budget amendment for a specified purpose; authorizing
3632 the Agency for Health Care Administration to submit a
3633 budget amendment requesting additional spending
3634 authority to implement the Low Income Pool component
3635 of the Florida Managed Medical Assistance
3636 Demonstration up to a certain amount; requiring that
3637 the amendment include a signed attestation and
3638 acknowledgment for entities relating to the Low Income
3639 Pool; authorizing the Agency for Health Care
3640 Administration to submit a budget amendment requesting
3641 additional spending authority to implement certain
3642 payments and specified programs; authorizing the
3643 Agency for Health Care Administration to submit a
3644 budget amendment requesting additional spending
3645 authority to implement a certified expenditure program
3646 for emergency medical transportation services;
3647 authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration
3648 to submit a budget amendment requesting additional
3649 spending authority to implement the Disproportionate
3650 Share Hospital Program; requiring such amendment to
3651 include specified information; authorizing the Agency
3652 for Health Care Administration to submit a budget
3653 amendment requesting additional spending authority to
3654 implement fee-for-service inpatient and outpatient
3655 supplemental payments for specialty hospitals;
3656 authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration
3657 to submit budget amendments to increase budget
3658 authority to support the Florida School-Based Services
3659 program; requiring the Agency for Health Care
3660 Administration to create the Applied Behavior Analysis
3661 (ABA) Task Force for a certain purpose; requiring the
3662 task force to evaluate certain information and develop
3663 recommendations; providing for membership of the task
3664 force; requiring the Agency for Health Care
3665 Administration to provide staff support; authorizing
3666 staff from specified agencies to provide additional
3667 expertise; providing for meetings of the task force;
3668 providing that members of the task force serve without
3669 compensation but are entitled to reimbursement of
3670 travel expenses; requiring the task force to provide a
3671 report to the Governor and the Legislature by a
3672 specified date; authorizing the Department of Children
3673 and Families to submit a budget amendment to realign
3674 funding within specified areas of the department based
3675 on implementation of the Guardianship Assistance
3676 Program; authorizing the Department of Children and
3677 Families, the Department of Health, and the Agency for
3678 Health Care Administration to submit budget amendments
3679 to increase budget authority to support certain
3680 refugee programs; requiring the Department of Children
3681 and Families to submit quarterly reports to the
3682 Executive Office of the Governor and the Legislature;
3683 authorizing the Department of Children and Families to
3684 submit budget amendments to increase budget authority
3685 to support specified federal grant programs;
3686 reenacting s. 393.066(2), F.S., relating to community
3687 services and treatment; providing for the future
3688 expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;
3689 amending s. 394.9082, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal
3690 year the authority of a managing entity to carry
3691 forward certain unexpended funds; specifying that
3692 nonqualified funds carried forward are not included in
3693 a cumulative cap on the percentage that may be carried
3694 forward; amending s. 409.9913, F.S.; requiring that
3695 core services funding be allocated as provided in the
3696 General Appropriations Act; requiring the Department
3697 of Children and Families to continue to collect
3698 certain data from community-based care lead agencies
3699 and to use a certain Tiered Funding Model; requiring
3700 community-based care lead agencies to submit certain
3701 data to the department; requiring the department to
3702 conduct certain ongoing performance monitoring;
3703 requiring the department to provide monthly status
3704 reports to the Governor and the Legislature; requiring
3705 the department to submit a final report to the
3706 Governor and the Legislature by a specified date;
3707 amending s. 409.990, F.S.; requiring that certain
3708 funds held by a community-based care lead agency and
3709 carried forward be returned to the Department of
3710 Children and Families; requiring the department to
3711 hold such funds in a separate account and report
3712 certain information to specified entities; providing
3713 for the reversion of such funds to the General Revenue
3714 Fund; authorizing the Department of Health to submit a
3715 budget amendment to increase budget authority for the
3716 Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
3717 Children (WIC) and the Child Care Food Program if a
3718 certain condition is met; authorizing the Department
3719 of Health to submit a budget amendment to increase
3720 budget authority for the HIV/AIDS Prevention and
3721 Treatment Program if a certain condition is met;
3722 authorizing the Department of Health to submit a
3723 budget amendment to increase budget authority for the
3724 department if additional federal revenues specific to
3725 COVID-19 relief funds become available; requiring the
3726 Agency for Health Care Administration to replace the
3727 Florida Medicaid Management Information System (FMMIS)
3728 and fiscal agent operations with a specified new
3729 system; specifying items that may not be included in
3730 the new system; providing directives to the Agency for
3731 Health Care Administration related to the new Florida
3732 Health Care Connection (FX) system; requiring the
3733 Agency for Health Care Administration to meet certain
3734 requirements in replacing FMMIS and the current
3735 Medicaid fiscal agent; requiring the Agency for Health
3736 Care Administration to implement a specified program
3737 governance structure that includes an executive
3738 steering committee composed of specified members;
3739 providing the duties of the executive steering
3740 committee; requiring the establishment of specified
3741 working groups; providing the composition of such
3742 groups; providing requirements for such groups;
3743 requiring the Agency for Health Care Administration to
3744 contract for a certain assessment of the agency’s
3745 Medicaid management information system (MMIS);
3746 providing requirements for the assessment; requiring
3747 submission of the assessment to specified entities by
3748 a certain date; requiring the agency to develop a new
3749 time-phased implementation roadmap for the MMIS
3750 replacement based on the assessment; requiring the
3751 agency to submit the roadmap to specified entities by
3752 a certain date; requiring the Agency for Health Care
3753 Administration, in consultation with the Department of
3754 Health, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the
3755 Department of Children and Families, and the
3756 Department of Corrections, to competitively procure a
3757 contract with a vendor to negotiate prices for certain
3758 prescribed drugs and biological products; providing
3759 specifications for such contract; authorizing the
3760 issuance or renewal of certain inactive or partially
3761 inactive licenses to skilled nursing providers and
3762 requiring the extension of certificate-of-need
3763 validity periods under certain circumstances;
3764 providing for subsequent renewal periods of such
3765 inactive licenses and validity periods under certain
3766 circumstances; authorizing the Agency for Persons with
3767 Disabilities to submit budget amendments to transfer
3768 funding from the Salaries and Benefits appropriation
3769 categories for a specified purpose; authorizing the
3770 Agency for Persons with Disabilities to submit budget
3771 amendments to request funds from the Lump Sum-Home and
3772 Community-Based Waiver category for a specified
3773 purpose; authorizing the Agency for Health Care
3774 Administration and the Agency for Persons with
3775 Disabilities to submit budget amendments within a
3776 specified timeframe for a specified purpose;
3777 authorizing the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to
3778 submit a budget amendment, subject to Legislative
3779 Budget Commission approval, requesting certain
3780 authority for certain purposes relating to veterans’
3781 nursing homes; amending s. 409.915, F.S.; extending
3782 for 1 year the expiration of an exception for certain
3783 funds used for the hospital directed payment program;
3784 authorizing the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to
3785 expend certain funds and submit budget amendments,
3786 subject to certain approval, for the planning and
3787 construction of a new State Veterans’ Nursing Home and
3788 Adult Day Health Center in a specified county;
3789 authorizing the department to apply for a specified
3790 federal grant for the Collier County State Veterans’
3791 Nursing Home; authorizing the Department of Elderly
3792 Affairs to submit a budget amendment requesting
3793 certain authority for an Adult Care Food Program or
3794 the Older Americans Act under certain circumstances;
3795 amending s. 216.262, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year
3796 the authority of the Department of Corrections to
3797 submit a budget amendment for additional positions and
3798 appropriations under certain circumstances; amending
3799 s. 215.18, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year the
3800 authority and related repayment requirements for
3801 temporary trust fund loans to the state court system
3802 which are sufficient to meet the system’s
3803 appropriation; requiring the Department of Juvenile
3804 Justice to review county juvenile detention payments
3805 to determine whether a county has met specified
3806 financial responsibilities; requiring that amounts
3807 owed by a certain county for such financial
3808 responsibilities be deducted from certain county
3809 funds; requiring the Department of Revenue to transfer
3810 withheld funds to a specified trust fund; requiring
3811 the Department of Revenue to ensure that such
3812 reductions in amounts distributed do not reduce
3813 distributions below amounts necessary for certain
3814 payments due on bonds and to comply with bond
3815 covenants; requiring the Department of Revenue to
3816 notify the Department of Juvenile Justice if bond
3817 payment requirements mandate a reduction in deductions
3818 for amounts owed by a county; requiring the Department
3819 of Juvenile Justice to take certain actions;
3820 reenacting s. 27.40(1), (2)(a), (3)(a), (5), (6), and
3821 (7), F.S., relating to court-appointed counsel;
3822 providing for the future expiration and reversion of
3823 specified statutory text; reenacting and amending s.
3824 27.5304, F.S., relating to the extension for 1 fiscal
3825 year of limitations on compensation for representation
3826 in criminal proceedings; providing for the future
3827 expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;
3828 amending s. 908.1033, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal
3829 year provisions authorizing local law enforcement
3830 agencies to apply to the State Board of Immigration
3831 Enforcement to provide bonus payments for certain
3832 certified correctional officers; amending s. 934.50,
3833 F.S.; creating the Drone as First Responder Grant
3834 Program within the Department of Law Enforcement;
3835 providing the purpose of the program; providing
3836 eligibility requirements; requiring the department to
3837 develop an application process and allocate funds on a
3838 first-come, first-served basis; requiring that grants
3839 be matched by local funds in a specified percentage;
3840 authorizing the department to waive the matching funds
3841 requirement for certain agencies; defining the term
3842 “first responder agency”; authorizing the department
3843 to adopt rules; authorizing emergency rulemaking;
3844 requiring the Department of Management Services, with
3845 the cooperation of certain agencies, to use tenant
3846 broker services to renegotiate or reprocure certain
3847 private lease agreements for office or storage space;
3848 requiring the Department of Management Services to
3849 provide a report to the Governor and the Legislature
3850 by a specified date; prohibiting an agency from
3851 transferring funds from a data processing category to
3852 another category other than another data processing
3853 category; authorizing the Executive Office of the
3854 Governor to transfer funds appropriated in certain
3855 categories between departments for purposes of
3856 aligning amounts paid for risk management insurance
3857 and for human resources services purchased per
3858 statewide contract; authorizing the Department of
3859 Management Services to use certain facility
3860 disposition funds from the Architects Incidental Trust
3861 Fund to pay for certain relocation expenses;
3862 authorizing the Department of Management Services to
3863 submit budget amendments for an increase in
3864 appropriation under certain circumstances; requiring
3865 that such amendments include specified information;
3866 requiring the Department of Financial Services to
3867 replace specified components of the Florida Accounting
3868 Information Resource Subsystem (FLAIR) and the Cash
3869 Management Subsystem (CMS) with a specified integrated
3870 enterprise system; prohibiting the Department of
3871 Financial Services from including certain components
3872 in the replacement of FLAIR and CMS; providing
3873 requirements for the Department of Financial Services
3874 related to replacing FLAIR and CMS; providing for the
3875 composition of an executive steering committee to
3876 oversee FLAIR and CMS replacement; providing
3877 requirements for the executive steering committee
3878 chair; providing duties and responsibilities of the
3879 executive steering committee; reenacting s.
3880 282.709(3), F.S., relating to the state agency law
3881 enforcement radio system and interoperability network;
3882 providing for future expiration and reversion of
3883 specified statutory text; authorizing state agencies
3884 and other eligible users of the Statewide Law
3885 Enforcement Radio System to use the Department of
3886 Management Services contract to purchase equipment and
3887 services; requiring that a specified transaction fee
3888 percentage for use of the online procurement system be
3889 collected for a specified fiscal year; amending s.
3890 24.105, F.S.; specifying requirements for the adoption
3891 of rules of the Department of the Lottery, excluding
3892 certain rules for 1 fiscal year regarding the
3893 commission for lottery ticket sales; limiting
3894 additional retailer compensation in a specified
3895 manner; providing for the future expiration and
3896 reversion of specified statutory text; amending s.
3897 627.351, F.S.; extending for 1 year the specified
3898 authority of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation;
3899 amending s. 215.5586, F.S.; extending for 1 year the
3900 homeowner eligibility criteria for a hurricane
3901 mitigation grant from the My Safe Florida Home
3902 Program; providing that certain funds appropriated to
3903 the Department of Financial Services may be carried
3904 forward through a specified fiscal year; authorizing
3905 the Executive Office of the Governor to transfer funds
3906 between departments to align the budget authority
3907 granted based on the estimated costs for data
3908 processing services for a specified fiscal year;
3909 limiting the auxiliary assessments that may be charged
3910 to state agencies related to contract management
3911 services provided to the Northwest Regional Data
3912 Center; reenacting and amending s. 284.51, F.S.,
3913 relating to the electroencephalogram combined
3914 transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment (eTMS)
3915 pilot program; extending for 1 year the expiration of
3916 the program; requiring the Department of Financial
3917 Services to continue its existing contract for the
3918 establishment of the eTMS pilot program for veterans
3919 and first responders; amending s. 717.123, F.S.;
3920 authorizing the Department of Financial Services to
3921 retain specified funds, not to exceed a certain
3922 amount; requiring that the funds be held in a separate
3923 account; requiring the department to make prompt
3924 payment of certain claims from the separate account;
3925 amending s. 215.18, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year
3926 certain authority to transfer funds from certain trust
3927 funds in the State Treasury to other trust funds in
3928 certain circumstances; requiring the Department of
3929 Environmental Protection to transfer designated
3930 proportions of the revenues deposited in the Land
3931 Acquisition Trust Fund within the department to land
3932 acquisition trust funds in the Department of
3933 Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of
3934 State, and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
3935 Commission according to specified parameters and
3936 calculations; defining the term “department”;
3937 requiring the Department of Environmental Protection
3938 to make transfers to land acquisition trust funds
3939 monthly; specifying the method of determining transfer
3940 amounts; authorizing the Department of Environmental
3941 Protection to advance funds from its land acquisition
3942 trust fund to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
3943 Commission’s land acquisition trust fund for specified
3944 purposes; amending s. 259.105, F.S.; requiring that
3945 proceeds from a specified trust fund be distributed as
3946 provided in the General Appropriations Act for a
3947 specified fiscal year; amending s. 376.91, F.S.;
3948 extending for 1 year the date by which the Department
3949 of Environmental Protection shall adopt statewide
3950 cleanup target levels for PFAS under certain
3951 circumstances; providing for future expiration and
3952 reversion of specified statutory text; reenacting s.
3953 376.3071(15)(g), F.S., relating to the Inland
3954 Protection Trust Fund; providing for the future
3955 expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;
3956 requiring the Department of Citrus to enter into
3957 agreements for specified purposes by a certain date;
3958 requiring the Department of Citrus to file certain
3959 information with the department’s Inspector General;
3960 reenacting s. 380.5105, F.S., relating to the Stan
3961 Mayfield Working Waterfronts; providing for the future
3962 expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;
3963 authorizing the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
3964 Commission to use specified funds to provide grants
3965 for a specified purpose; amending s. 403.890, F.S.;
3966 authorizing the use of revenues deposited into or
3967 appropriated to the Water Protection and
3968 Sustainability Program Trust Fund as provided in the
3969 General Appropriations Act; amending s. 375.041, F.S.;
3970 extending for 1 fiscal year the requirement that funds
3971 for the Land Acquisition Trust Fund be appropriated in
3972 a specified manner; authorizing the Department of
3973 Agriculture and Consumer Services to lease an existing
3974 facility and administer a specified program;
3975 authorizing the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
3976 Services to submit budget amendments to increase
3977 budget authority for the National School Lunch
3978 Program; amending s. 288.80125, F.S.; extending for 1
3979 fiscal year a requirement that the use of funds in the
3980 Triumph Gulf Coast Trust Fund be related to Hurricane
3981 Michael recovery; amending s. 339.135, F.S.; extending
3982 for 1 year the authority for the chair and vice chair
3983 of the Legislative Budget Commission to approve
3984 certain work program amendments under specified
3985 circumstances; authorizing the Department of
3986 Transportation to request a specified amount of budget
3987 authority to the extent necessary to advance or defer
3988 certain projects in the Work Program and align
3989 resources for a specified purpose; amending s.
3990 288.0655, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year a
3991 requirement that certain appropriated funds relating
3992 to the Rural Infrastructure Fund be distributed in a
3993 specified manner; creating s. 288.013, F.S.; providing
3994 legislative findings; creating the Office of Rural
3995 Prosperity within the Department of Commerce;
3996 requiring the Governor to appoint a director, subject
3997 to Senate confirmation; providing that the director
3998 reports to and serves at the pleasure of the secretary
3999 of the department; providing duties of the office;
4000 requiring the office to establish and staff a certain
4001 number of regional rural community liaison centers for
4002 a specified purpose; providing the powers and duties
4003 of the liaison centers; requiring coordination between
4004 certain entities; requiring the liaison centers to
4005 engage with the Rural Economic Development Initiative
4006 (REDI); requiring at least one staff member of a
4007 liaison center to attend the monthly REDI meetings in
4008 person or by means of electronic communication;
4009 requiring the director of the office to submit a
4010 report to the Administration Commission within the
4011 Executive Office of the Governor; specifying
4012 requirements for the report; requiring that the report
4013 also be submitted to the Legislature by a specified
4014 date and published on the office’s website; requiring
4015 the director of the office to attend the next
4016 Administration Commission meeting to present detailed
4017 information from the annual report; amending s.
4018 288.001, F.S.; requiring the Florida Small Business
4019 Development Center Network to use certain funds
4020 appropriated for a specified purpose; authorizing the
4021 network to dedicate funds to facilitate certain
4022 events; creating s. 288.014, F.S.; providing
4023 legislative findings; requiring the Office of Rural
4024 Prosperity to administer the Renaissance Grants
4025 Program to provide block grants to eligible
4026 communities; requiring the Office of Economic and
4027 Demographic Research to certify to the Office of Rural
4028 Prosperity certain information by a specified date;
4029 defining the term “growth-impeded”; requiring the
4030 Office of Economic and Demographic Research to certify
4031 annually that a county remains growth-impeded until
4032 certain conditions are met; providing that a county is
4033 eligible to participate in the program for 1
4034 additional year under certain circumstances; requiring
4035 participating counties to enter into an agreement with
4036 the Office of Rural Prosperity to receive a block
4037 grant; giving such counties certain authority;
4038 prohibiting the Office of Rural Prosperity from
4039 determining how such counties implement the block
4040 grant; requiring regional rural community liaison
4041 center staff to provide certain assistance; requiring
4042 participating counties to report certain information
4043 to the Office of Rural Prosperity; providing that a
4044 participating county receives a specified amount from
4045 funds appropriated to the program, or an equal share
4046 of the funds appropriated under certain circumstances;
4047 requiring participating counties to limit certain
4048 expenses; authorizing participating counties to
4049 supplement the block grant with other funding sources;
4050 requiring participating counties to hire and retain a
4051 renaissance coordinator; providing the
4052 responsibilities of the renaissance coordinator;
4053 requiring the regional rural community liaison center
4054 staff to provide assistance and training to the
4055 renaissance coordinator, upon request; requiring
4056 participating counties to design a certain plan;
4057 specifying requirements for such plan; requiring
4058 participating counties to develop intergovernmental
4059 agreements with certain entities to implement the
4060 plan; requiring the Auditor General to conduct an
4061 operational audit of each county’s grant activities;
4062 requiring the Office of Economic and Demographic
4063 Research to submit a certain report to the
4064 Legislature; specifying requirements for the report;
4065 providing that funds appropriated from the program are
4066 not subject to reversion; creating s. 288.0175, F.S.;
4067 creating the Public Infrastructure Smart Technology
4068 Grant Program within the Office of Rural Prosperity;
4069 defining terms; requiring the office to contract with
4070 one or more smart technology lead organizations to
4071 administer the grant program for a specified purpose;
4072 providing the criteria for such contracts; requiring
4073 that a summary of projects funded by the grant program
4074 be included in the office’s annual report; amending s.
4075 288.065, F.S.; establishing the Rural Community
4076 Development Revolving Loan Fund within the Office of
4077 Rural Prosperity, rather than the Department of
4078 Commerce; defining the term “unit of local
4079 government”; requiring the office to include in its
4080 annual report certain information about the Rural
4081 Community Development Revolving Loan Fund; providing
4082 for future expiration and reversion of specified
4083 statutory text; authorizing the Division of Emergency
4084 Management to submit budget amendments to increase
4085 budget authority for certain expenditures under
4086 certain circumstances; amending s. 282.201, F.S.;
4087 extending for 1 year the Division of Emergency
4088 Management’s exemption from the use of the state data
4089 center; amending s. 443.1113, F.S.; providing that
4090 certain improvements to the Reemployment Assistance
4091 Claims and Benefits Information System are subject to
4092 appropriation; revising the date a certain report from
4093 the Department of Commerce is required to be
4094 submitted; revising the report requirements; providing
4095 for the future expiration and reversion of specified
4096 statutory text; reenacting and amending s. 445.08,
4097 F.S., relating to the Florida Law Enforcement
4098 Recruitment Bonus Payment Program; extending the
4099 program for 1 year; authorizing the Department of
4100 Commerce to submit budget amendments to increase
4101 budget authority to support specified federal grant
4102 programs; requiring the Department of Management
4103 Services to assess an administrative health insurance
4104 assessment on each state agency; providing the rate of
4105 such assessment; defining the term “state agency”;
4106 requiring the Department of Management Services to
4107 take certain actions in case of delinquencies;
4108 requiring the Chief Financial Officer to transfer
4109 funds under specified circumstances; requiring state
4110 agencies to provide a list of positions that qualify
4111 for a certain exception by a specified date and to
4112 update the list monthly thereafter; requiring state
4113 agencies to include the administrative health
4114 insurance assessment in their indirect cost plan
4115 beginning for a specified fiscal year and annually
4116 thereafter; requiring agencies to notify the
4117 Department of Management Services, the Executive
4118 Office of the Governor, and the Legislature regarding
4119 the approval of their updated indirect cost plans;
4120 authorizing the Executive Office of the Governor to
4121 transfer budget authority between agencies in
4122 specified circumstances; providing that the annual
4123 salaries of the members of the Legislature be
4124 maintained at a specified level for a specified fiscal
4125 year; reenacting s. 215.32(2)(b), F.S., relating to
4126 the authorization for transferring unappropriated cash
4127 balances from selected trust funds to the Budget
4128 Stabilization Fund and General Revenue Fund; providing
4129 for the future expiration and reversion of specified
4130 statutory text; specifying the type of travel which
4131 may be used with state employee travel funds for a
4132 specified fiscal year; providing exceptions; providing
4133 applicability; providing a monetary cap on lodging
4134 costs for state employee travel to certain meetings
4135 organized or sponsored by a state agency or the
4136 judicial branch; authorizing employees to expend their
4137 own funds for lodging expenses that exceed the
4138 monetary caps; providing construction; amending s.
4139 216.181, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year the
4140 authority of the Legislative Budget Commission to
4141 approve budget amendments for certain fixed capital
4142 outlay projects; amending s. 216.292, F.S.; extending
4143 for 1 fiscal year the requirements for certain
4144 transfers; authorizing state agencies to purchase
4145 vehicles from nonstate term contract vendors without
4146 prior approval from the Department of Management
4147 Services under certain circumstances; amending s.
4148 11.52, F.S.; extending for 1 year certain state agency
4149 reporting requirements regarding implementation of
4150 legislation; amending s. 216.013, F.S.; extending for
4151 1 fiscal year an exception from certain planning
4152 requirements; amending s. 216.023, F.S.; extending for
4153 1 year a requirement that certain entities include a
4154 specified inventory in their legislative budget
4155 requests; requiring that a specified percentage of
4156 funds appropriated for information technology projects
4157 be held in reserve and that general revenue funds not
4158 held in reserve be released; authorizing the Agency
4159 for Health Care Administration, Department of Children
4160 and Families, Department of Corrections, Department of
4161 Financial Services, Florida Gaming Control Commission,
4162 Department of Health, and Department of Revenue to
4163 submit a budget amendment to request release of funds;
4164 limiting the amount that may be requested; providing
4165 that release is contingent upon certain submissions;
4166 requiring entities receiving such funds to submit
4167 monthly project status reports to certain entities;
4168 providing requirements for such status reports;
4169 providing conditions under which the veto of certain
4170 appropriations or proviso language in the General
4171 Appropriations Act voids language that implements such
4172 appropriation; providing for the continued operation
4173 of certain provisions notwithstanding a future repeal
4174 or expiration provided by the act; providing for
4175 severability; providing for contingent retroactivity;
4176 providing effective dates.