CS/CS/HB 797: Nonprofit Corporations
GENERAL BILL by Commerce Committee ; Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee ; Tuck
Nonprofit Corporations; Conforms terminology for consistency with Model Nonprofit Corporation Act adopted by American Bar Association; aligns provisions with Florida Business Corporation Act; revises corporate powers; updates provisions on distributions, dividends, & board vacancies; revises who may answer DOS interrogatories; specifies acceptable methods of written notice; requires officers to act in good faith, with reasonable care, & in corporation’s best interests; establishes requirements for judicial removal of directors; provides construction; allows board actions to satisfy meeting & voting requirements if no members exist; removes affiliate chapter registration requirement; ensures equal member rights & obligations; authorizes board to admit members for consideration & set payment terms; permits membership termination per terms; prohibits corporation from being its own member; allows fines or penalties if authorized; permits certain nonprofits to purchase membership interests; sets rules for buying interests of resigned or terminated members; revises meeting procedures & special meeting requirements; provides proxy voting rules & effects of incapacity; revises remote participation provisions; updates board composition, election, & term rules; grants liability immunity to all officers & directors; authorizes eligible mergers; requires statements for property held for charitable purposes.
Senate Committee References:
- Rules (RC)
Bill History
| Date | Chamber | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 12/17/2025 | House |
• Filed |
| 1/5/2026 | House |
• Referred to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee • Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee • Referred to Commerce Committee • Now in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee |
| 1/12/2026 | House |
• Added to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee agenda |
| 1/13/2026 | House |
• 1st Reading (Original Filed Version) |
| 1/14/2026 | House |
• Favorable by Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee |
| 1/15/2026 | House |
• Reported out of Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee • Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee |
| 1/16/2026 | House |
• Added to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee agenda |
| 1/21/2026 | House |
• Favorable with CS by Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee |
| 1/22/2026 | House |
• Reported out of Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee |
| 1/23/2026 | House |
• Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) • CS Filed • 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1) |
| 1/26/2026 | House |
• Referred to Commerce Committee • Now in Commerce Committee |
| 2/6/2026 | House |
• Added to Commerce Committee agenda |
| 2/10/2026 | House |
• Favorable with CS by Commerce Committee |
| 2/11/2026 | House |
• Reported out of Commerce Committee • Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) • CS Filed • 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2) |
| 2/12/2026 | House |
• Bill referred to House Calendar • Added to Second Reading Calendar |
| 2/19/2026 | House |
• Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026) |
| 2/25/2026 | House |
• Read 2nd time • Added to Third Reading Calendar • Read 3rd time • CS passed; YEAS 114, NAYS 0 |
| 2/25/2026 | Senate |
• In Messages |
| 2/26/2026 | Senate |
• Referred to Rules • Received |
| 3/4/2026 | Senate |
• Withdrawn from Rules • Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading • Substituted for CS/SB 554 • Read 2nd time • Read 3rd time • CS passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0 |
| 3/4/2026 | House |
• In Messages • Ordered enrolled |
Related Bills
| Bill Number | Subject | Filed By | Relationship | Last Action and Location | Track Bills |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S 554 (c1) | Nonprofit Corporations | Bernard | Identical | Last Action: 3/4/2026 S Laid on Table, refer to CS/CS/HB 797 |
|
Bill Text
| Version | Posted | Format |
|---|---|---|
| H 797 Filed | 12/17/2025 10:44 AM | |
| H 797 c1 | 1/23/2026 9:21 AM | |
| H 797 c2 | 2/11/2026 12:54 PM | |
| H 797 er | 3/4/2026 11:48 AM |
Committee Amendments
| Amendment | Sponsor | Filed | Last Committee Action | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
556269 - Amendment Remove lines 3101-6462 and insert: |
Tuck |
1/20/2026 3:14 PM |
Adopted
1/21/2026 |
| Amendment | Sponsor | Filed | Last Committee Action | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
182849 - Amendment Remove lines 4730-4731 and insert: |
Tuck |
2/9/2026 11:20 AM |
Adopted without Objection
2/10/2026 |
Floor Amendments
No Floor Amendments Available
Bill Analyses
| Type | Analysis | Author | Posted | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bill Analysis | H 797 | Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee (Post-Meeting) | 1/15/2026 4:10 PM | |
| Bill Analysis | H 797 | Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee (Post-Meeting) | 1/23/2026 1:19 PM | |
| Bill Analysis | H 797 | Commerce Committee (Post-Meeting) | 2/11/2026 1:57 PM |
Vote History - Committee
No Committee Vote History AvailableVote History - Floor
| Vote | Date | Chamber | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| H 797 c2 | 2/25/2026 2:30 PM | House | 114 Yeas - 0 Nays |
| H 797 c2 | 3/4/2026 11:16 AM | Senate | 36 Yeas - 0 Nays |
Citations - Statutes (188)
| Citation | Catchline | Location in Bill Location In Bill Help |
|---|---|---|
| 39.8298 | Guardian ad Litem direct-support organization. | Page 275 (pdf) |
| 295.21 | Florida Is For Veterans, Inc. | Page 308 (pdf) |
| 381.00316 | Discrimination by governmental and business entities based on health care choices; prohibition. | Page 276 (pdf) |
| 409.987 | Lead agency procurement; boards; conflicts of interest. | Page 309 (pdf) |
| 605.1025 | Articles of merger. | Page 276 (pdf) |
| 617.01011 | Short title. | Page 42 (pdf) |
| 617.0102 | Reservation of power to amend or repeal. | Page 276 (pdf) |
| 617.01201 | Filing requirements. | Page 42 (pdf) |
| 617.0121 | Forms. | Page 277 (pdf) |
| 617.0122 | Fees for filing documents and issuing certificates. | Page 278 (pdf) |
| 617.0123 | Effective date of document. | Page 46 (pdf) |
| 617.0124 | Correcting filed document. | Page 49 (pdf) |
| 617.0125 | Filing duties of Department of State. | Page 280 (pdf) |
| 617.0126 | Appeal from Department of State’s refusal to file document. | Page 51 (pdf) |
| 617.0127 | Evidentiary effect of copy of filed document. | Page 52 (pdf) |
| 617.0128 | Certificate of status. | Page 52 (pdf) |
| 617.01301 | Powers of Department of State. | Page 53 (pdf) |
| 617.01401 | Definitions. | Page 55 (pdf) |
| 617.0141 | Notice. | Page 65 (pdf) |
| 617.0143 | Page 68 (pdf) | |
| 617.02011 | Incorporators. | Page 281 (pdf) |
| 617.0202 | Articles of incorporation; content. | Page 70 (pdf) |
| 617.0203 | Incorporation. | Page 282 (pdf) |
| 617.0204 | Liability for preincorporation transactions. | Page 72 (pdf) |
| 617.0205 | Organizational meeting of directors. | Page 282 (pdf) |
| 617.0206 | Bylaws. | Page 73 (pdf) |
| 617.0301 | Purposes and application. | Page 282 (pdf) |
| 617.0302 | Corporate powers. | Page 73 (pdf) |
| 617.0304 | Ultra vires. | Page 75 (pdf) |
| 617.0401 | Corporate name. | Page 76 (pdf) |
| 617.0403 | Registered name; application; renewal; revocation. | Page 77 (pdf) |
| 617.0501 | Registered office and registered agent. | Page 78 (pdf) |
| 617.0502 | Change of registered office or registered agent; resignation of registered agent. | Page 80 (pdf) |
| 617.05021 | Page 84 (pdf) | |
| 617.05022 | Page 85 (pdf) | |
| 617.0503 | Registered agent; duties; confidentiality of investigation records. | Page 86 (pdf) |
| 617.0504 | Serving process, giving notice, or making a demand on a corporation. | Page 283 (pdf) |
| 617.0505 | Distributions; exceptions. | Page 100 (pdf) |
| 617.0601 | Members, generally. | Page 103 (pdf) |
| 617.0603 | Page 105 (pdf) | |
| 617.0604 | Liability of members. | Page 106 (pdf) |
| 617.0605 | Transfer of membership interests. | Page 108 (pdf) |
| 617.0606 | Resignation of members. | Page 108 (pdf) |
| 617.0607 | Termination, expulsion, and suspension. | Page 109 (pdf) |
| 617.0608 | Purchase of memberships. | Page 110 (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 111 (pdf) |
| 617.0721 | Voting by members. | Page 117 (pdf) |
| 617.07401 | Members’ derivative actions. | Page 306 (pdf) |
| 617.0741 | Page 123 (pdf) | |
| 617.0742 | Page 123 (pdf) | |
| 617.0743 | Page 124 (pdf) | |
| 617.0744 | Page 124 (pdf) | |
| 617.0745 | Page 126 (pdf) | |
| 617.0746 | Page 126 (pdf) | |
| 617.0747 | Page 127 (pdf) | |
| 617.0803 | Number of directors. | Page 127 (pdf) |
| 617.0804 | Page 128 (pdf) | |
| 617.0805 | Page 129 (pdf) | |
| 617.0806 | Staggered terms for directors. | Page 283 (pdf) |
| 617.0808 | Removal of directors. | Page 130 (pdf) |
| 617.0809 | Board vacancy. | Page 132 (pdf) |
| 617.08091 | Page 134 (pdf) | |
| 617.0820 | Meetings. | Page 135 (pdf) |
| 617.0821 | Action by directors without a meeting. | Page 136 (pdf) |
| 617.0822 | Notice of meetings. | Page 307 (pdf) |
| 617.0823 | Waiver of notice. | Page 137 (pdf) |
| 617.0824 | Quorum and voting. | Page 284 (pdf) |
| 617.0825 | Board committees and advisory committees. | Page 284 (pdf) |
| 617.0830 | General standards for directors. | Page 138 (pdf) |
| 617.0831 | Indemnification and liability of officers, directors, employees, and agents. | Page 285 (pdf) |
| 617.0832 | Director conflicts of interest. | Page 140 (pdf) |
| 617.0834 | Officers and directors of certain corporations and associations not for profit; immunity from civil liability. | Page 145 (pdf) |
| 617.0835 | Prohibited activities by private foundations. | Page 148 (pdf) |
| 617.0844 | Page 149 (pdf) | |
| 617.0901 | Reincorporation. | Page 286 (pdf) |
| 617.1001 | Authority to amend the articles of incorporation. | Page 151 (pdf) |
| 617.1002 | Procedure for amending articles of incorporation. | Page 152 (pdf) |
| 617.1006 | Contents of articles of amendment. | Page 155 (pdf) |
| 617.1007 | Restated articles of incorporation. | Page 308 (pdf) |
| 617.1008 | Amendment pursuant to reorganization. | Page 288 (pdf) |
| 617.1009 | Effect of amendment. | Page 288 (pdf) |
| 617.1101 | Plan of merger. | Page 157 (pdf) |
| 617.1102 | Limitation on merger. | Page 160 (pdf) |
| 617.1103 | Approval of plan of merger; abandonment of plan thereafter. | Page 161 (pdf) |
| 617.1104 | Page 164 (pdf) | |
| 617.1105 | Articles of merger. | Page 165 (pdf) |
| 617.1106 | Effect of merger. | Page 168 (pdf) |
| 617.1107 | Merger of domestic and foreign corporations. | Page 171 (pdf) |
| 617.1108 | Merger of domestic corporation and other eligible entities. | Page 307 (pdf) |
| 617.1202 | Sale, lease, exchange, or other disposition of corporate property and assets requiring member approval. | Page 172 (pdf) |
| 617.1301 | Prohibited distributions. | Page 307 (pdf) |
| 617.1302 | Authorized distributions. | Page 307 (pdf) |
| 617.1401 | Voluntary dissolution of corporation prior to conducting its affairs. | Page 176 (pdf) |
| 617.1402 | Dissolution of corporation. | Page 177 (pdf) |
| 617.1403 | Articles of dissolution. | Page 178 (pdf) |
| 617.1404 | Revocation of dissolution. | Page 289 (pdf) |
| 617.1405 | Effect of dissolution. | Page 179 (pdf) |
| 617.1406 | Plan of distribution of assets. | Page 180 (pdf) |
| 617.1407 | Unknown claims against dissolved corporation. | Page 182 (pdf) |
| 617.1408 | Known claims against dissolved corporation. | Page 185 (pdf) |
| 617.1409 | Page 188 (pdf) | |
| 617.14091 | Page 189 (pdf) | |
| 617.1420 | Grounds for administrative dissolution. | Page 190 (pdf) |
| 617.1421 | Procedure for and effect of administrative dissolution. | Page 192 (pdf) |
| 617.1422 | Reinstatement following administrative dissolution. | Page 289 (pdf) |
| 617.1423 | Appeal from denial of reinstatement. | Page 290 (pdf) |
| 617.1430 | Grounds for judicial dissolution. | Page 194 (pdf) |
| 617.1431 | Procedure for judicial dissolution. | Page 196 (pdf) |
| 617.1432 | Receivership or custodianship. | Page 196 (pdf) |
| 617.1433 | Judgment of dissolution. | Page 199 (pdf) |
| 617.1434 | Page 200 (pdf) | |
| 617.1435 | Page 201 (pdf) | |
| 617.1440 | Deposit with Department of Financial Services. | Page 202 (pdf) |
| 617.1501 | Authority of foreign corporation to conduct affairs required. | Page 291 (pdf) |
| 617.15015 | Page 203 (pdf) | |
| 617.1502 | Consequences of conducting affairs without authority. | Page 204 (pdf) |
| 617.1503 | Application for certificate of authority. | Page 205 (pdf) |
| 617.1504 | Amended certificate of authority. | Page 206 (pdf) |
| 617.1505 | Effect of certificate of authority. | Page 208 (pdf) |
| 617.1506 | Corporate name of foreign corporation. | Page 209 (pdf) |
| 617.1507 | Registered office and registered agent of foreign corporation. | Page 213 (pdf) |
| 617.1508 | Change of registered office and registered agent of foreign corporation. | Page 214 (pdf) |
| 617.1509 | Resignation of registered agent of foreign corporation. | Page 216 (pdf) |
| 617.15091 | Page 217 (pdf) | |
| 617.1510 | Serving process, giving notice, or making a demand on a foreign corporation. | Page 291 (pdf) |
| 617.1520 | Withdrawal of foreign corporation. | Page 218 (pdf) |
| 617.1521 | Page 219 (pdf) | |
| 617.1522 | Page 220 (pdf) | |
| 617.1523 | Page 221 (pdf) | |
| 617.1530 | Grounds for revocation of authority to conduct affairs. | Page 221 (pdf) |
| 617.1531 | Procedure for and effect of revocation. | Page 307 (pdf) |
| 617.15315 | Page 224 (pdf) | |
| 617.1532 | Appeal from revocation. | Page 226 (pdf) |
| 617.1533 | Reinstatement following revocation. | Page 307 (pdf) |
| 617.1601 | Corporate records. | Page 227 (pdf) |
| 617.1602 | Inspection of records by members. | Page 230 (pdf) |
| 617.1603 | Scope of inspection right. | Page 234 (pdf) |
| 617.1604 | Court-ordered inspection. | Page 235 (pdf) |
| 617.1605 | Financial reports for members. | Page 236 (pdf) |
| 617.16051 | Page 239 (pdf) | |
| 617.1606 | Access to records. | Page 291 (pdf) |
| 617.1622 | Annual report for Department of State. | Page 240 (pdf) |
| 617.1623 | Corporate information available to the public; application to corporations incorporated by circuit courts and by special act of the Legislature. | Page 292 (pdf) |
| 617.1701 | Application to existing domestic corporation. | Page 294 (pdf) |
| 617.1702 | Application to qualified foreign corporations. | Page 294 (pdf) |
| 617.1703 | Application of chapter. | Page 294 (pdf) |
| 617.1711 | Application to foreign and interstate commerce. | Page 295 (pdf) |
| 617.1803 | Domestication of foreign not-for-profit corporations. | Page 307 (pdf) |
| 617.18031 | Page 247 (pdf) | |
| 617.18032 | Page 250 (pdf) | |
| 617.18033 | Page 252 (pdf) | |
| 617.18034 | Page 254 (pdf) | |
| 617.1804 | Page 257 (pdf) | |
| 617.18041 | Page 258 (pdf) | |
| 617.18042 | Page 259 (pdf) | |
| 617.18043 | Page 260 (pdf) | |
| 617.18044 | Page 263 (pdf) | |
| 617.18045 | Page 266 (pdf) | |
| 617.18046 | Page 268 (pdf) | |
| 617.1805 | Corporations for profit; when may become corporations not for profit. | Page 307 (pdf) |
| 617.1806 | Conversion to corporation not for profit; petition and contents. | Page 307 (pdf) |
| 617.1807 | Conversion to corporation not for profit; authority of circuit judge. | Page 307 (pdf) |
| 617.1808 | Application of act to corporation converted to corporation not for profit. | Page 295 (pdf) |
| 617.1809 | Limited agricultural association; conversion to a domestic corporation not for profit. | Page 295 (pdf) |
| 617.1904 | Estoppel. | Page 298 (pdf) |
| 617.1907 | Effect of repeal or amendment of prior acts. | Page 299 (pdf) |
| 617.1908 | Applicability of Florida Business Corporation Act. | Page 299 (pdf) |
| 617.2001 | Corporations which may be incorporated hereunder; incorporation of certain medical services corporations. | Page 299 (pdf) |
| 617.2002 | Corporation not for profit organized pursuant to s. 2, ch. 87-296; requirements. | Page 300 (pdf) |
| 617.2003 | Proceedings to revoke articles of incorporation or charter or prevent its use. | Page 301 (pdf) |
| 617.2005 | Extinct churches and religious societies; dissolution. | Page 272 (pdf) |
| 617.2006 | Incorporation of labor unions or bodies. | Page 272 (pdf) |
| 617.2007 | Sponge packing and marketing corporations. | Page 302 (pdf) |
| 617.2101 | Corporation authorized to act as trustee. | Page 302 (pdf) |
| 617.2102 | Fines and penalties against members. | Page 307 (pdf) |
| 617.221 | Membership associations. | Page 302 (pdf) |
| 620.2108 | Filings required for merger; effective date. | Page 303 (pdf) |
| 620.8918 | Filings required for merger; effective date. | Page 304 (pdf) |
| 628.910 | Incorporation options and requirements. | Page 304 (pdf) |
| 718.111 | The association. | Page 325 (pdf) |
| 718.1265 | Association emergency powers. | Page 311 (pdf) |
| 718.3027 | Conflicts of interest. | Page 321 (pdf) |
| 719.128 | Association emergency powers. | Page 315 (pdf) |
| 720.3033 | Officers and directors. | Page 322 (pdf) |
| 720.316 | Association emergency powers. | Page 318 (pdf) |
| 721.13 | Management. | Page 324 (pdf) |
| 768.38 | Liability protections for COVID-19-related claims. | Page 306 (pdf) |
| 893.055 | Prescription drug monitoring program. | Page 306 (pdf) |
Citations - Constitution (0)
No Constitutional citations.
Citations - Chapter Law (0)
No Chapter Law citations.
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