Florida Senate - 2026 SB 620
By Senator Mayfield
19-00947-26 2026620__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to candidate qualifying; amending ss.
3 99.061 and 105.031, F.S.; requiring certain candidates
4 to provide the filing officer a statement disclosing
5 dual citizenship for nomination and election to
6 federal, state, county, multicounty, district, or
7 judicial office or to a district school board;
8 reenacting s. 99.012(1)(b), F.S., relating to
9 definition of the term “qualifying,” to incorporate
10 the amendments made to ss. 99.061 and 105.031, F.S.,
11 in references thereto; providing an effective date.
12
13 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
14
15 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section
16 99.061, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
17 99.061 Method of qualifying for nomination or election to
18 federal, state, county, or district office.—
19 (7)(a) In order for a candidate to be qualified, the
20 following items must be received by the filing officer by the
21 end of the qualifying period:
22 1. A properly executed check drawn upon the candidate’s
23 campaign account payable to the person or entity as prescribed
24 by the filing officer in an amount not less than the fee
25 required by s. 99.092, unless the candidate obtained the
26 required number of signatures on petitions pursuant to s.
27 99.095. The filing fee for a special district candidate is not
28 required to be drawn upon the candidate’s campaign account. If a
29 candidate’s check is returned by the bank for any reason, the
30 filing officer shall immediately notify the candidate and the
31 candidate shall have until the end of qualifying to pay the fee
32 with a cashier’s check purchased from funds of the campaign
33 account. Failure to pay the fee as provided in this subparagraph
34 shall disqualify the candidate.
35 2. The candidate’s oath required by s. 99.021, which must
36 contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the
37 ballot; the office sought, including the district or group
38 number if applicable; and the signature of the candidate, which
39 must be verified under oath or affirmation pursuant to s.
40 92.525(1)(a).
41 3. If the office sought is partisan, the written statement
42 of political party affiliation required by s. 99.021(1)(b); or
43 if the candidate is running without party affiliation for a
44 partisan office, the written statement required by s.
45 99.021(1)(c).
46 4. The completed form for the appointment of campaign
47 treasurer and designation of campaign depository, as required by
48 s. 106.021.
49 5. The full and public disclosure or statement of financial
50 interests required by subsection (5). A public officer who has
51 filed the full and public disclosure or statement of financial
52 interests with the Commission on Ethics before qualifying for
53 office may file a copy of that disclosure or a verification or
54 receipt of electronic filing as provided in subsection (5) at
55 the time of qualifying.
56 6. If the candidate is a citizen of another country in
57 addition to being a citizen of the United States, a statement
58 disclosing any other country the candidate is also a citizen of.
59 Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section
60 105.031, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
61 105.031 Qualification; filing fee; candidate’s oath; items
62 required to be filed.—
63 (5) ITEMS REQUIRED TO BE FILED.—
64 (a) In order for a candidate for judicial office or the
65 office of school board member to be qualified, the following
66 items must be received by the filing officer by the end of the
67 qualifying period:
68 1. Except for candidates for retention to judicial office,
69 a properly executed check drawn upon the candidate’s campaign
70 account in an amount not less than the fee required by
71 subsection (3) or, in lieu thereof, the copy of the notice of
72 obtaining ballot position pursuant to s. 105.035. If a
73 candidate’s check is returned by the bank for any reason, the
74 filing officer shall immediately notify the candidate and the
75 candidate shall, the end of qualifying notwithstanding, have 48
76 hours from the time such notification is received, excluding
77 Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, to pay the fee with a
78 cashier’s check purchased from funds of the campaign account.
79 Failure to pay the fee as provided in this subparagraph shall
80 disqualify the candidate.
81 2. The candidate’s oath required by subsection (4), which
82 must contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the
83 ballot; the office sought, including the district or group
84 number if applicable; and the signature of the candidate, duly
85 acknowledged.
86 3. The loyalty oath required by s. 876.05, signed by the
87 candidate and duly acknowledged.
88 4. The completed form for the appointment of campaign
89 treasurer and designation of campaign depository, as required by
90 s. 106.021. In addition, each candidate for judicial office,
91 including an incumbent judge, shall file a statement with the
92 qualifying officer, within 10 days after filing the appointment
93 of campaign treasurer and designation of campaign depository,
94 stating that the candidate has read and understands the
95 requirements of the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct. Such
96 statement shall be in substantially the following form:
97
98 Statement of Candidate for Judicial Office
99
100 I, ...(name of candidate)..., a judicial candidate, have
101 received, read, and understand the requirements of the Florida
102 Code of Judicial Conduct.
103 ...(Signature of candidate)...
104 ...(Date)...
105
106 5. The full and public disclosure of financial interests
107 required by s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution or the
108 statement of financial interests required by s. 112.3145,
109 whichever is applicable. A public officer who has filed the full
110 and public disclosure or statement of financial interests with
111 the Commission on Ethics or the supervisor of elections prior to
112 qualifying for office may file a copy of that disclosure at the
113 time of qualifying.
114 6. If the candidate is a citizen of another country in
115 addition to being a citizen of the United States, a statement
116 disclosing any other country the candidate is also a citizen of.
117 Section 3. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments
118 made by this act to sections 99.061 and 105.031, Florida
119 Statutes, in references thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (1)
120 of section 99.012, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
121 99.012 Restrictions on individuals qualifying for public
122 office.—
123 (1) As used in this section:
124 (b) “Qualify” means to fulfill the requirements set forth
125 in s. 99.061(7)(a) or s. 105.031(5)(a).
126 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.