SB 554: Nonprofit Corporations
GENERAL BILL by Bernard
Nonprofit Corporations; Renaming the “Florida Not For Profit Corporation Act” as the “Florida Nonprofit Corporation Act”; revising the circumstances in which a domestic or foreign corporation may correct a document filed with the department; requiring all courts, public offices, and official bodies to receive all certificates issued by the department as prima facie evidence of certain facts; authorizing a corporation to register under a name that is not otherwise distinguishable on the records of the department under certain circumstances; prohibiting a corporation from paying any dividend and making distributions of any part of its net income or net earnings to its members, directors, or officers, etc.
Senate Committee References:
- Commerce and Tourism (CM)
- Judiciary (JU)
- Fiscal Policy (FP)
Bill History
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 11/18/2025 | Senate |
• Filed |
| 12/9/2025 | Senate |
• Referred to Commerce and Tourism; Judiciary; Fiscal Policy |
| 1/13/2026 | Senate |
• Introduced |
| 1/16/2026 | Senate |
• On Committee agenda-- Commerce and Tourism, 01/21/26, 8:30 am, 110 Senate Building |
| 1/21/2026 | Senate |
• Favorable by Commerce and Tourism; YEAS 10 NAYS 0 • Now in Judiciary |
Related Bills
| Bill Number | Subject | Filed By | Relationship | Last Action and Location | Track Bills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| H 797 (c1) | Nonprofit Corporations | Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee | Similar | Last Action: 1/26/2026 H Now in Commerce Committee |
|
Committee Amendments
No Committee Amendments Available
Floor Amendments
No Floor Amendments Available
Bill Analyses
| Type | Analysis | Author | Posted | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Analysis | S 554 | Commerce and Tourism (Pre-Meeting) | 1/20/2026 8:49 AM | |
| Bill Analysis | S 554 | Commerce and Tourism (Post-Meeting) | 1/21/2026 12:19 PM |
Vote History - Committee
| Version | Committee | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| S 554 Filed | Commerce and Tourism | 1/21/2026 8:30 AM | 10 Yeas - 0 Nays |
Vote History - Floor
No Vote History AvailableCitations - Statutes (189)
| Citation | Catchline | Location in Bill Location In Bill Help |
|---|---|---|
| 39.8298 | Guardian ad Litem direct-support organization. | Page 236 (pdf) |
| 295.21 | Florida Is For Veterans, Inc. | Page 265 (pdf) |
| 381.00316 | Discrimination by governmental and business entities based on health care choices; prohibition. | Page 237 (pdf) |
| 409.987 | Lead agency procurement; boards; conflicts of interest. | Page 265 (pdf) |
| 605.1025 | Articles of merger. | Page 237 (pdf) |
| 617.01011 | Short title. | Page 36 (pdf) |
| 617.0102 | Reservation of power to amend or repeal. | Page 238 (pdf) |
| 617.01201 | Filing requirements. | Page 37 (pdf) |
| 617.0121 | Forms. | Page 238 (pdf) |
| 617.0122 | Fees for filing documents and issuing certificates. | Page 238 (pdf) |
| 617.0123 | Effective date of document. | Page 40 (pdf) |
| 617.0124 | Correcting filed document. | Page 42 (pdf) |
| 617.0125 | Filing duties of Department of State. | Page 240 (pdf) |
| 617.0126 | Appeal from Department of State’s refusal to file document. | Page 44 (pdf) |
| 617.0127 | Evidentiary effect of copy of filed document. | Page 45 (pdf) |
| 617.0128 | Certificate of status. | Page 45 (pdf) |
| 617.01301 | Powers of Department of State. | Page 46 (pdf) |
| 617.01401 | Definitions. | Page 47 (pdf) |
| 617.0141 | Notice. | Page 56 (pdf) |
| 617.0143 | Page 59 (pdf) | |
| 617.02011 | Incorporators. | Page 242 (pdf) |
| 617.0202 | Articles of incorporation; content. | Page 60 (pdf) |
| 617.0203 | Incorporation. | Page 242 (pdf) |
| 617.0204 | Liability for preincorporation transactions. | Page 62 (pdf) |
| 617.0205 | Organizational meeting of directors. | Page 242 (pdf) |
| 617.0206 | Bylaws. | Page 63 (pdf) |
| 617.0301 | Purposes and application. | Page 243 (pdf) |
| 617.0302 | Corporate powers. | Page 63 (pdf) |
| 617.0304 | Ultra vires. | Page 65 (pdf) |
| 617.0401 | Corporate name. | Page 66 (pdf) |
| 617.0403 | Registered name; application; renewal; revocation. | Page 66 (pdf) |
| 617.0501 | Registered office and registered agent. | Page 68 (pdf) |
| 617.0502 | Change of registered office or registered agent; resignation of registered agent. | Page 69 (pdf) |
| 617.05021 | Page 72 (pdf) | |
| 617.05022 | Page 74 (pdf) | |
| 617.0503 | Registered agent; duties; confidentiality of investigation records. | Page 75 (pdf) |
| 617.0504 | Serving process, giving notice, or making a demand on a corporation. | Page 243 (pdf) |
| 617.0505 | Distributions; exceptions. | Page 86 (pdf) |
| 617.0601 | Members, generally. | Page 89 (pdf) |
| 617.0603 | Page 91 (pdf) | |
| 617.0604 | Liability of members. | Page 91 (pdf) |
| 617.0605 | Transfer of membership interests. | Page 93 (pdf) |
| 617.0606 | Resignation of members. | Page 93 (pdf) |
| 617.0607 | Termination, expulsion, and suspension. | Page 94 (pdf) |
| 617.0608 | Purchase of memberships. | Page 94 (pdf) |
| 617.0701 | Meetings of members, generally; failure to hold annual meeting; special meeting; consent to corporate actions without meetings; waiver of notice of meetings. | Page 95 (pdf) |
| 617.0721 | Voting by members. | Page 101 (pdf) |
| 617.07401 | Members’ derivative actions. | Page 263 (pdf) |
| 617.0741 | Page 106 (pdf) | |
| 617.0742 | Page 106 (pdf) | |
| 617.0743 | Page 107 (pdf) | |
| 617.0744 | Page 107 (pdf) | |
| 617.0745 | Page 108 (pdf) | |
| 617.0746 | Page 109 (pdf) | |
| 617.0747 | Page 109 (pdf) | |
| 617.0803 | Number of directors. | Page 109 (pdf) |
| 617.0804 | Page 110 (pdf) | |
| 617.0805 | Page 111 (pdf) | |
| 617.0806 | Staggered terms for directors. | Page 243 (pdf) |
| 617.0808 | Removal of directors. | Page 111 (pdf) |
| 617.0809 | Board vacancy. | Page 114 (pdf) |
| 617.08091 | Page 115 (pdf) | |
| 617.0820 | Meetings. | Page 116 (pdf) |
| 617.0821 | Action by directors without a meeting. | Page 117 (pdf) |
| 617.0822 | Notice of meetings. | Page 263 (pdf) |
| 617.0823 | Waiver of notice. | Page 118 (pdf) |
| 617.0824 | Quorum and voting. | Page 244 (pdf) |
| 617.0825 | Board committees and advisory committees. | Page 244 (pdf) |
| 617.0830 | General standards for directors. | Page 119 (pdf) |
| 617.0831 | Indemnification and liability of officers, directors, employees, and agents. | Page 245 (pdf) |
| 617.0832 | Director conflicts of interest. | Page 121 (pdf) |
| 617.0834 | Officers and directors of certain corporations and associations not for profit; immunity from civil liability. | Page 125 (pdf) |
| 617.0835 | Prohibited activities by private foundations. | Page 128 (pdf) |
| 617.0844 | Page 128 (pdf) | |
| 617.0901 | Reincorporation. | Page 246 (pdf) |
| 617.1001 | Authority to amend the articles of incorporation. | Page 130 (pdf) |
| 617.1002 | Procedure for amending articles of incorporation. | Page 131 (pdf) |
| 617.1006 | Contents of articles of amendment. | Page 134 (pdf) |
| 617.1007 | Restated articles of incorporation. | Page 264 (pdf) |
| 617.1008 | Amendment pursuant to reorganization. | Page 247 (pdf) |
| 617.1009 | Effect of amendment. | Page 248 (pdf) |
| 617.1101 | Plan of merger. | Page 135 (pdf) |
| 617.1102 | Limitation on merger. | Page 138 (pdf) |
| 617.1103 | Approval of plan of merger; abandonment of plan thereafter. | Page 138 (pdf) |
| 617.1104 | Page 141 (pdf) | |
| 617.1105 | Articles of merger. | Page 142 (pdf) |
| 617.1106 | Effect of merger. | Page 144 (pdf) |
| 617.1107 | Merger of domestic and foreign corporations. | Page 147 (pdf) |
| 617.1108 | Merger of domestic corporation and other eligible entities. | Page 263 (pdf) |
| 617.1202 | Sale, lease, exchange, or other disposition of corporate property and assets requiring member approval. | Page 148 (pdf) |
| 617.1301 | Prohibited distributions. | Page 263 (pdf) |
| 617.1302 | Authorized distributions. | Page 264 (pdf) |
| 617.1401 | Voluntary dissolution of corporation prior to conducting its affairs. | Page 151 (pdf) |
| 617.1402 | Dissolution of corporation. | Page 152 (pdf) |
| 617.1403 | Articles of dissolution. | Page 153 (pdf) |
| 617.1404 | Revocation of dissolution. | Page 248 (pdf) |
| 617.1405 | Effect of dissolution. | Page 154 (pdf) |
| 617.1406 | Plan of distribution of assets. | Page 155 (pdf) |
| 617.1407 | Unknown claims against dissolved corporation. | Page 157 (pdf) |
| 617.1408 | Known claims against dissolved corporation. | Page 159 (pdf) |
| 617.1409 | Page 162 (pdf) | |
| 617.14091 | Page 163 (pdf) | |
| 617.1420 | Grounds for administrative dissolution. | Page 164 (pdf) |
| 617.1421 | Procedure for and effect of administrative dissolution. | Page 165 (pdf) |
| 617.1422 | Reinstatement following administrative dissolution. | Page 249 (pdf) |
| 617.1423 | Appeal from denial of reinstatement. | Page 249 (pdf) |
| 617.1430 | Grounds for judicial dissolution. | Page 167 (pdf) |
| 617.1431 | Procedure for judicial dissolution. | Page 168 (pdf) |
| 617.1432 | Receivership or custodianship. | Page 169 (pdf) |
| 617.1433 | Judgment of dissolution. | Page 171 (pdf) |
| 617.1434 | Page 172 (pdf) | |
| 617.1435 | Page 173 (pdf) | |
| 617.1440 | Deposit with Department of Financial Services. | Page 174 (pdf) |
| 617.1501 | Authority of foreign corporation to conduct affairs required. | Page 250 (pdf) |
| 617.15015 | Page 175 (pdf) | |
| 617.1502 | Consequences of conducting affairs without authority. | Page 175 (pdf) |
| 617.1503 | Application for certificate of authority. | Page 176 (pdf) |
| 617.1504 | Amended certificate of authority. | Page 177 (pdf) |
| 617.1505 | Effect of certificate of authority. | Page 179 (pdf) |
| 617.1506 | Corporate name of foreign corporation. | Page 180 (pdf) |
| 617.1507 | Registered office and registered agent of foreign corporation. | Page 183 (pdf) |
| 617.1508 | Change of registered office and registered agent of foreign corporation. | Page 184 (pdf) |
| 617.1509 | Resignation of registered agent of foreign corporation. | Page 185 (pdf) |
| 617.15091 | Page 187 (pdf) | |
| 617.1510 | Serving process, giving notice, or making a demand on a foreign corporation. | Page 250 (pdf) |
| 617.1520 | Withdrawal of foreign corporation. | Page 187 (pdf) |
| 617.1521 | Page 189 (pdf) | |
| 617.1522 | Page 189 (pdf) | |
| 617.1523 | Page 190 (pdf) | |
| 617.1530 | Grounds for revocation of authority to conduct affairs. | Page 190 (pdf) |
| 617.1531 | Procedure for and effect of revocation. | Page 264 (pdf) |
| 617.15315 | Page 193 (pdf) | |
| 617.1532 | Appeal from revocation. | Page 195 (pdf) |
| 617.1533 | Reinstatement following revocation. | Page 264 (pdf) |
| 617.1601 | Corporate records. | Page 195 (pdf) |
| 617.1602 | Inspection of records by members. | Page 197 (pdf) |
| 617.1603 | Scope of inspection right. | Page 201 (pdf) |
| 617.1604 | Court-ordered inspection. | Page 202 (pdf) |
| 617.1605 | Financial reports for members. | Page 203 (pdf) |
| 617.16051 | Page 206 (pdf) | |
| 617.1606 | Access to records. | Page 250 (pdf) |
| 617.1622 | Annual report for Department of State. | Page 207 (pdf) |
| 617.1623 | Corporate information available to the public; application to corporations incorporated by circuit courts and by special act of the Legislature. | Page 251 (pdf) |
| 617.1701 | Application to existing domestic corporation. | Page 252 (pdf) |
| 617.1702 | Application to qualified foreign corporations. | Page 253 (pdf) |
| 617.1703 | Application of chapter. | Page 253 (pdf) |
| 617.1711 | Application to foreign and interstate commerce. | Page 253 (pdf) |
| 617.1803 | Domestication of foreign not-for-profit corporations. | Page 264 (pdf) |
| 617.180301 | Page 211 (pdf) | |
| 617.18031 | Page 212 (pdf) | |
| 617.18032 | Page 215 (pdf) | |
| 617.18033 | Page 216 (pdf) | |
| 617.18034 | Page 218 (pdf) | |
| 617.1804 | Page 221 (pdf) | |
| 617.18041 | Page 222 (pdf) | |
| 617.18042 | Page 222 (pdf) | |
| 617.18043 | Page 223 (pdf) | |
| 617.18044 | Page 226 (pdf) | |
| 617.18045 | Page 228 (pdf) | |
| 617.18046 | Page 230 (pdf) | |
| 617.1805 | Corporations for profit; when may become corporations not for profit. | Page 264 (pdf) |
| 617.1806 | Conversion to corporation not for profit; petition and contents. | Page 264 (pdf) |
| 617.1807 | Conversion to corporation not for profit; authority of circuit judge. | Page 264 (pdf) |
| 617.1808 | Application of act to corporation converted to corporation not for profit. | Page 253 (pdf) |
| 617.1809 | Limited agricultural association; conversion to a domestic corporation not for profit. | Page 254 (pdf) |
| 617.1904 | Estoppel. | Page 256 (pdf) |
| 617.1907 | Effect of repeal or amendment of prior acts. | Page 257 (pdf) |
| 617.1908 | Applicability of Florida Business Corporation Act. | Page 257 (pdf) |
| 617.2001 | Corporations which may be incorporated hereunder; incorporation of certain medical services corporations. | Page 257 (pdf) |
| 617.2002 | Corporation not for profit organized pursuant to s. 2, ch. 87-296; requirements. | Page 258 (pdf) |
| 617.2003 | Proceedings to revoke articles of incorporation or charter or prevent its use. | Page 258 (pdf) |
| 617.2005 | Extinct churches and religious societies; dissolution. | Page 233 (pdf) |
| 617.2006 | Incorporation of labor unions or bodies. | Page 234 (pdf) |
| 617.2007 | Sponge packing and marketing corporations. | Page 259 (pdf) |
| 617.2101 | Corporation authorized to act as trustee. | Page 259 (pdf) |
| 617.2102 | Fines and penalties against members. | Page 264 (pdf) |
| 617.221 | Membership associations. | Page 260 (pdf) |
| 620.2108 | Filings required for merger; effective date. | Page 260 (pdf) |
| 620.8918 | Filings required for merger; effective date. | Page 261 (pdf) |
| 628.910 | Incorporation options and requirements. | Page 261 (pdf) |
| 718.111 | The association. | Page 279 (pdf) |
| 718.1265 | Association emergency powers. | Page 267 (pdf) |
| 718.3027 | Conflicts of interest. | Page 276 (pdf) |
| 719.128 | Association emergency powers. | Page 270 (pdf) |
| 720.3033 | Officers and directors. | Page 277 (pdf) |
| 720.316 | Association emergency powers. | Page 273 (pdf) |
| 721.13 | Management. | Page 278 (pdf) |
| 768.38 | Liability protections for COVID-19-related claims. | Page 263 (pdf) |
| 893.055 | Prescription drug monitoring program. | Page 263 (pdf) |
Citations - Constitution (0)
No Constitutional citations.
Citations - Chapter Law (0)
No Chapter Law citations.
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