CS/SB 572: Ethics for Public Officers and Employees
GENERAL BILL by Governmental Oversight and Accountability ; Harrell
Ethics for Public Officers and Employees; Revising the definition of the term “relative” to include foster parents and foster children; providing that specified provisions do not prohibit a board, council, commission, or collegial body from appointing, employing, promoting, or advancing elected public officials who are related to a leadership position on the same board, council, commission, or collegial body, etc.
Effective Date: Upon becoming a law
Last Action: 2/11/2026 House - In Messages
Bill Text: Web Page | PDF
Last Action: 2/11/2026 House - In Messages
Bill Text: Web Page | PDF
Senate Committee References:
- Ethics and Elections (EE)
- Governmental Oversight and Accountability (GO)
- Rules (RC)
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Bill History
Date Chamber Action 11/18/2025 Senate • Filed
12/9/2025 Senate • Referred to Ethics and Elections; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Rules
1/8/2026 Senate • On Committee agenda-- Ethics and Elections, 01/13/26, 4:00 pm, 37 Senate Building
1/13/2026 Senate • Favorable by Ethics and Elections; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
• Introduced
1/14/2026 Senate • Now in Governmental Oversight and Accountability
1/21/2026 Senate • On Committee agenda-- Governmental Oversight and Accountability, 01/26/26, 3:30 pm, 110 Senate Building
1/26/2026 Senate • CS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability; YEAS 9 NAYS 0
1/27/2026 Senate • Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
1/28/2026 Senate • Now in Rules
1/29/2026 Senate • CS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability read 1st time
• On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/03/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
2/3/2026 Senate • Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 23 NAYS 0
• Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/9/2026 Senate • Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/11/26
2/11/2026 Senate • Read 2nd time -SJ 295
• Amendment(s) adopted (807008) -SJ 295
• Read 3rd time -SJ 299
• CS passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 299
• Immediately certified -SJ 299
2/11/2026 House • In Messages
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CS/SB 572, Engrossed 1 (Current Bill Version) Posted 2/11/2026 at 4:46 PM
Bill Text: Web Page | PDF Analyses: None Related Bills (1)
Bill Number Subject Filed By Relationship Last Action and Location Track Bills H 603 Ethics for Public Employees López Compare Last Action: 2/17/2026 H Added to Rules & Ethics Committee agenda 
Citations - Statutes (15)
Citation Catchline Location in Bill Location In Bill Help 28.35 Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation. Page 13 (pdf) 106.07 Reports; certification and filing. Page 4 (pdf) 106.0702 Reporting; political party executive committee candidates. Page 6 (pdf) 112.312 Definitions. Page 21 (pdf) 112.3135 Restriction on employment of relatives. Page 3 (pdf) 288.012 State of Florida international offices; direct-support organization. Page 14 (pdf) 288.8014 Triumph Gulf Coast, Inc.; organization; board of directors. Page 15 (pdf) 288.9604 Creation of the corporation. Page 16 (pdf) 295.21 Florida Is For Veterans, Inc. Page 16 (pdf) 348.0305 Ethics requirements. Page 8 (pdf) 627.311 Joint underwriters and joint reinsurers; public records and public meetings exemptions. Page 17 (pdf) 1001.421 Gifts. Page 12 (pdf) 1002.33 Charter schools. Page 18 (pdf) 1002.83 Early learning coalitions. Page 20 (pdf) 1012.23 School district personnel policies. Page 20 (pdf) -
CS/SB 572, Committee Substitute 1 Posted 1/27/2026 at 11:02 AM
Bill Text: Web Page | PDF Analyses: Rules (Pre-Meeting) 2/2/2026 (pdf)
Rules (Post-Meeting) 2/3/2026 (pdf)
Related Bills (1)
Bill Number Subject Filed By Relationship Last Action and Location Track Bills H 603 Ethics for Public Employees López Similar Last Action: 2/17/2026 H Added to Rules & Ethics Committee agenda
Floor Amendments (1)
Amendment Sponsor Filed Last Floor Action Format 807008 - Amendment
Delete lines 46 - 310 and insert:Yarborough 2/11/2026
8:46 AMSenate: Adopted
2/11/2026Web Page
PDFCommittee Votes (1)
Date Committee Result 2/3/2026 9:00 AM Rules 23 Yeas - 0 Nays Floor Votes (1)
Date Chamber Result 2/11/2026 1:50 PM Senate 38 Yeas - 0 Nays Citations - Statutes (5)
Citation Catchline Location in Bill Location In Bill Help 106.07 Reports; certification and filing. Page 2 (pdf) 106.0702 Reporting; political party executive committee candidates. Page 5 (pdf) 112.312 Definitions. Page 1 (pdf) 348.0305 Ethics requirements. Page 7 (pdf) 1001.421 Gifts. Page 2 (pdf) -
SB 572, Original Filed Version Posted 11/18/2025 at 5:05 PM
Bill Text: Web Page | PDF Related Bills (1)
Bill Number Subject Filed By Relationship Last Action and Location Track Bills H 603 Ethics for Public Employees López Identical Last Action: 2/17/2026 H Added to Rules & Ethics Committee agenda
Committee Amendments (1)
Amendment Sponsor Filed Last Committee Action Format 913752 - Amendment
Between lines 38 and 39 insert:Governmental Oversight and Accountability
(Harrell)1/23/2026
2:06 PMReplaced by Committee Substitute
1/26/2026Web Page
PDFCommittee Votes (2)
Date Committee Result 1/13/2026 4:00 PM Ethics and Elections 8 Yeas - 0 Nays 1/26/2026 3:30 PM Governmental Oversight and Accountability 9 Yeas - 0 Nays Citations - Statutes (2)
Citation Catchline Location in Bill Location In Bill Help 112.312 Definitions. Page 1 (pdf) 1001.421 Gifts. Page 2 (pdf)