Florida Senate - 2026 SB 2502-E
By Senator Hooper
21-00004-26E 20262502E__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act implementing the 2026-2027 General
3 Appropriations Act; providing legislative intent;
4 incorporating by reference certain calculations;
5 amending s. 1001.451, F.S.; revising the services
6 required to be provided by regional consortium service
7 organizations under certain circumstances; revising
8 the allocation that certain regional consortium
9 service organizations are eligible to receive from the
10 General Appropriations Act; requiring regional
11 consortium service organizations to submit certain
12 annual reports to the Department of Education;
13 requiring certain unexpended funds to be carried
14 forward; requiring each regional consortium service
15 organization to provide quarterly financial reports to
16 member districts; requiring member districts to
17 designate fiscal agent districts for certain purposes;
18 providing for compensation of fiscal agent districts;
19 providing for certain personnel recommendations,
20 policies, salary schedules, and job descriptions;
21 authorizing the purchase or lease of property and
22 facilities; providing for the distribution of certain
23 revenues upon dissolution of a regional consortium
24 service organization; revising authorized means of
25 revenue generation; requiring the establishment of a
26 fund balance for certain purposes; providing for the
27 future expiration and reversion of specified statutory
28 text; creating s. 1001.4511, F.S.; creating the
29 Regional Consortia Service Organization Supplemental
30 Services Program; authorizing the use of program funds
31 for specified purposes; requiring each regional
32 consortium service organization to annually report
33 certain information to the Legislature; authorizing
34 certain funds to be carried forward; creating s.
35 1009.635, F.S.; establishing the Rural Incentive for
36 Professional Educators (RIPE) Program within the
37 Department of Education for a specified purpose;
38 providing eligibility requirements for the program;
39 providing for student loan repayment assistance, up to
40 a specified amount; requiring the department to verify
41 certain participant information before disbursement of
42 an award; specifying that the program is administered
43 by the Office of Student Financial Assistance within
44 the department; requiring the State Board of Education
45 to adopt rules by a specified date; authorizing
46 certain state university boards of trustees to accept
47 a health care provider’s procurement methods and
48 construction contracts under certain circumstances;
49 authorizing the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical
50 University board of trustees to expend available
51 reserves or carry forward certain balances for a
52 specified purpose; authorizing the Agency for Health
53 Care Administration to submit a budget amendment to
54 realign Medicaid funding for specified purposes,
55 subject to certain limitations; authorizing the Agency
56 for Health Care Administration to submit a budget
57 amendment to realign funding within the Florida
58 Kidcare program appropriation categories or to
59 increase budget authority for certain purposes;
60 specifying the time period within which such budget
61 amendment must be submitted; amending s. 381.986,
62 F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year the exemption of
63 certain rules pertaining to the medical use of
64 marijuana from certain rulemaking requirements;
65 authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration
66 to submit a budget amendment requesting additional
67 spending authority to implement specified programs and
68 payments; requiring institutions participating in a
69 specified workforce expansion and education program to
70 provide quarterly reports to the agency; authorizing
71 the Agency for Health Care Administration to submit a
72 budget amendment for a specified purpose; authorizing
73 the Agency for Health Care Administration to submit a
74 budget amendment requesting additional spending
75 authority to implement the Low Income Pool component
76 of the Florida Managed Medical Assistance
77 Demonstration up to a certain amount; requiring that
78 the amendment include a signed attestation and
79 acknowledgment for entities relating to the Low Income
80 Pool; authorizing the Agency for Health Care
81 Administration to submit a budget amendment requesting
82 additional spending authority to implement certain
83 payments and specified programs; authorizing the
84 Agency for Health Care Administration to submit a
85 budget amendment requesting additional spending
86 authority to implement a certified expenditure program
87 for emergency medical transportation services;
88 authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration
89 to submit a budget amendment requesting additional
90 spending authority to implement the Disproportionate
91 Share Hospital Program; requiring such amendment to
92 include specified information; authorizing the Agency
93 for Health Care Administration to submit a budget
94 amendment requesting additional spending authority to
95 implement fee-for-service inpatient and outpatient
96 supplemental payments for specialty hospitals;
97 authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration
98 to submit budget amendments to increase budget
99 authority to support the Florida School-Based Services
100 program; requiring the Agency for Health Care
101 Administration to create the Applied Behavior Analysis
102 (ABA) Task Force for a certain purpose; requiring the
103 task force to evaluate certain information and develop
104 recommendations; providing for membership of the task
105 force; requiring the Agency for Health Care
106 Administration to provide staff support; authorizing
107 staff from specified agencies to provide additional
108 expertise; providing for meetings of the task force;
109 providing that members of the task force serve without
110 compensation but are entitled to reimbursement of
111 travel expenses; requiring the task force to provide a
112 report to the Governor and the Legislature by a
113 specified date; authorizing the Department of Children
114 and Families to submit a budget amendment to realign
115 funding within specified areas of the department based
116 on implementation of the Guardianship Assistance
117 Program; authorizing the Department of Children and
118 Families, the Department of Health, and the Agency for
119 Health Care Administration to submit budget amendments
120 to increase budget authority to support certain
121 refugee programs; requiring the Department of Children
122 and Families to submit quarterly reports to the
123 Executive Office of the Governor and the Legislature;
124 authorizing the Department of Children and Families to
125 submit budget amendments to increase budget authority
126 to support specified federal grant programs;
127 reenacting s. 393.066(2), F.S., relating to community
128 services and treatment; providing for the future
129 expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;
130 amending s. 394.9082, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal
131 year the authority of a managing entity to carry
132 forward certain unexpended funds; specifying that
133 nonqualified funds carried forward are not included in
134 a cumulative cap on the percentage that may be carried
135 forward; amending s. 409.9913, F.S.; requiring that
136 core services funding be allocated as provided in the
137 General Appropriations Act; requiring the Department
138 of Children and Families to continue to collect
139 certain data from community-based care lead agencies
140 and to use a certain Tiered Funding Model; requiring
141 community-based care lead agencies to submit certain
142 data to the department; requiring the department to
143 conduct certain ongoing performance monitoring;
144 requiring the department to provide monthly status
145 reports to the Governor and the Legislature; requiring
146 the department to submit a final report to the
147 Governor and the Legislature by a specified date;
148 amending s. 409.990, F.S.; requiring that certain
149 funds held by a community-based care lead agency and
150 carried forward be returned to the Department of
151 Children and Families; requiring the department to
152 hold such funds in a separate account and report
153 certain information to specified entities; providing
154 for the reversion of such funds to the General Revenue
155 Fund; authorizing the Department of Health to submit a
156 budget amendment to increase budget authority for the
157 Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
158 Children (WIC) and the Child Care Food Program if a
159 certain condition is met; authorizing the Department
160 of Health to submit a budget amendment to increase
161 budget authority for the HIV/AIDS Prevention and
162 Treatment Program if a certain condition is met;
163 authorizing the Department of Health to submit a
164 budget amendment to increase budget authority for the
165 department if additional federal revenues specific to
166 COVID-19 relief funds become available; requiring the
167 Agency for Health Care Administration to replace the
168 Florida Medicaid Management Information System (FMMIS)
169 and fiscal agent operations with a specified new
170 system; specifying items that may not be included in
171 the new system; providing directives to the Agency for
172 Health Care Administration related to the new Florida
173 Health Care Connection (FX) system; requiring the
174 Agency for Health Care Administration to meet certain
175 requirements in replacing FMMIS and the current
176 Medicaid fiscal agent; requiring the Agency for Health
177 Care Administration to implement a specified program
178 governance structure that includes an executive
179 steering committee composed of specified members;
180 providing the duties of the executive steering
181 committee; requiring the establishment of specified
182 working groups; providing the composition of such
183 groups; providing requirements for such groups;
184 requiring the Agency for Health Care Administration to
185 contract for a certain assessment of the agency’s
186 Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS);
187 providing requirements for the assessment; requiring
188 submission of the assessment to specified entities by
189 a certain date; requiring the agency to develop a new
190 time-phased implementation roadmap for the MMIS
191 replacement based on the assessment; requiring the
192 agency to submit the roadmap to specified entities by
193 a certain date; requiring the Agency for Health Care
194 Administration, in consultation with the Department of
195 Health, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the
196 Department of Children and Families, and the
197 Department of Corrections, to competitively procure a
198 contract with a vendor to negotiate prices for certain
199 prescribed drugs and biological products; providing
200 specifications for such contract; authorizing the
201 issuance or renewal of certain inactive or partially
202 inactive licenses to skilled nursing providers and
203 requiring the extension of certificate-of-need
204 validity periods under certain circumstances;
205 providing for subsequent renewal periods of such
206 inactive licenses and validity periods under certain
207 circumstances; authorizing the Agency for Persons with
208 Disabilities to submit budget amendments to transfer
209 funding from the Salaries and Benefits appropriation
210 categories for a specified purpose; authorizing the
211 Agency for Persons with Disabilities to submit budget
212 amendments to request funds from the Lump Sum-Home and
213 Community-Based Waiver category for a specified
214 purpose; authorizing the Agency for Health Care
215 Administration and the Agency for Persons with
216 Disabilities to submit budget amendments within a
217 specified timeframe for a specified purpose;
218 authorizing the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to
219 submit a budget amendment, subject to Legislative
220 Budget Commission approval, requesting certain
221 authority for certain purposes relating to veterans’
222 nursing homes; amending s. 409.915, F.S.; extending
223 for 1 year the expiration of an exception for certain
224 funds used for the hospital directed payment program;
225 authorizing the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to
226 expend certain funds and submit budget amendments,
227 subject to certain approval, for the planning and
228 construction of a new State Veterans’ Nursing Home and
229 Adult Day Health Center in a specified county;
230 authorizing the department to apply for a specified
231 federal grant for the Collier County State Veterans’
232 Nursing Home; authorizing the Department of Elderly
233 Affairs to submit a budget amendment requesting
234 certain authority for an Adult Care Food Program or
235 the Older Americans Act under certain circumstances;
236 amending s. 216.262, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year
237 the authority of the Department of Corrections to
238 submit a budget amendment for additional positions and
239 appropriations under certain circumstances; amending
240 s. 215.18, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year the
241 authority and related repayment requirements for
242 temporary trust fund loans to the state court system
243 which are sufficient to meet the system’s
244 appropriation; requiring the Department of Juvenile
245 Justice to review county juvenile detention payments
246 to determine whether a county has met specified
247 financial responsibilities; requiring that amounts
248 owed by a certain county for such financial
249 responsibilities be deducted from certain county
250 funds; requiring the Department of Revenue to transfer
251 withheld funds to a specified trust fund; requiring
252 the Department of Revenue to ensure that such
253 reductions in amounts distributed do not reduce
254 distributions below amounts necessary for certain
255 payments due on bonds and to comply with bond
256 covenants; requiring the Department of Revenue to
257 notify the Department of Juvenile Justice if bond
258 payment requirements mandate a reduction in deductions
259 for amounts owed by a county; requiring the Department
260 of Juvenile Justice to take certain actions;
261 reenacting s. 27.40(1), (2)(a), (3)(a), (5), (6), and
262 (7), F.S., relating to court-appointed counsel;
263 providing for the future expiration and reversion of
264 specified statutory text; reenacting and amending s.
265 27.5304, F.S., relating to the extension for 1 fiscal
266 year of limitations on compensation for representation
267 in criminal proceedings; providing for the future
268 expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;
269 amending s. 908.1033, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal
270 year provisions authorizing local law enforcement
271 agencies to apply to the State Board of Immigration
272 Enforcement to provide bonus payments for certain
273 certified correctional officers; amending s. 934.50,
274 F.S.; creating the Drone as First Responder Grant
275 Program within the Department of Law Enforcement;
276 providing the purpose of the program; providing
277 eligibility requirements; requiring the department to
278 develop an application process and allocate funds on a
279 first-come, first-served basis; requiring that grants
280 be matched by local funds in a specified percentage;
281 authorizing the department to waive the matching funds
282 requirement for certain agencies; defining the term
283 “first responder agency”; authorizing the department
284 to adopt rules; authorizing emergency rulemaking;
285 requiring the Department of Management Services, with
286 the cooperation of certain agencies, to use tenant
287 broker services to renegotiate or reprocure certain
288 private lease agreements for office or storage space;
289 requiring the Department of Management Services to
290 provide a report to the Governor and the Legislature
291 by a specified date; prohibiting an agency from
292 transferring funds from a data processing category to
293 another category other than another data processing
294 category; authorizing the Executive Office of the
295 Governor to transfer funds appropriated in certain
296 categories between departments for purposes of
297 aligning amounts paid for risk management insurance
298 and for human resources services purchased per
299 statewide contract; authorizing the Department of
300 Management Services to use certain facility
301 disposition funds from the Architects Incidental Trust
302 Fund to pay for certain relocation expenses;
303 authorizing the Department of Management Services to
304 submit budget amendments for an increase in
305 appropriation under certain circumstances; requiring
306 that such amendments include specified information;
307 requiring the Department of Financial Services to
308 replace specified components of the Florida Accounting
309 Information Resource Subsystem (FLAIR) and the Cash
310 Management Subsystem (CMS) with a specified integrated
311 enterprise system; prohibiting the Department of
312 Financial Services from including certain components
313 in the replacement of FLAIR and CMS; providing
314 requirements for the Department of Financial Services
315 related to replacing FLAIR and CMS; providing for the
316 composition of an executive steering committee to
317 oversee FLAIR and CMS replacement; providing
318 requirements for the executive steering committee
319 chair; providing duties and responsibilities of the
320 executive steering committee; reenacting s.
321 282.709(3), F.S., relating to the state agency law
322 enforcement radio system and interoperability network;
323 providing for future expiration and reversion of
324 specified statutory text; authorizing state agencies
325 and other eligible users of the Statewide Law
326 Enforcement Radio System to use the Department of
327 Management Services contract to purchase equipment and
328 services; requiring that a specified transaction fee
329 percentage for use of the online procurement system be
330 collected for a specified fiscal year; amending s.
331 24.105, F.S.; specifying requirements for the adoption
332 of rules of the Department of the Lottery, excluding
333 certain rules for 1 fiscal year regarding the
334 commission for lottery ticket sales; limiting
335 additional retailer compensation in a specified
336 manner; providing for the future expiration and
337 reversion of specified statutory text; amending s.
338 627.351, F.S.; extending for 1 year the specified
339 authority of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation;
340 amending s. 215.5586, F.S.; extending for 1 year the
341 homeowner eligibility criteria for a hurricane
342 mitigation grant from the My Safe Florida Home
343 Program; providing that certain funds appropriated to
344 the Department of Financial Services may be carried
345 forward through a specified fiscal year; authorizing
346 the Executive Office of the Governor to transfer funds
347 between departments to align the budget authority
348 granted based on the estimated costs for data
349 processing services for a specified fiscal year;
350 limiting the auxiliary assessments that may be charged
351 to state agencies related to contract management
352 services provided to the Northwest Regional Data
353 Center; reenacting and amending s. 284.51, F.S.,
354 relating to the electroencephalogram combined
355 transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment (eTMS)
356 pilot program; extending for 1 year the expiration of
357 the program; requiring the Department of Financial
358 Services to continue its existing contract for the
359 establishment of the eTMS pilot program for veterans
360 and first responders; amending s. 717.123, F.S.;
361 authorizing the Department of Financial Services to
362 retain specified funds, not to exceed a certain
363 amount; requiring that the funds be held in a separate
364 account; requiring the department to make prompt
365 payment of certain claims from the separate account;
366 amending s. 215.18, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year
367 certain authority to transfer funds from certain trust
368 funds in the State Treasury to other trust funds in
369 certain circumstances; requiring the Department of
370 Environmental Protection to transfer designated
371 proportions of the revenues deposited in the Land
372 Acquisition Trust Fund within the department to land
373 acquisition trust funds in the Department of
374 Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of
375 State, and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
376 Commission according to specified parameters and
377 calculations; defining the term “department”;
378 requiring the Department of Environmental Protection
379 to make transfers to land acquisition trust funds
380 monthly; specifying the method of determining transfer
381 amounts; authorizing the Department of Environmental
382 Protection to advance funds from its land acquisition
383 trust fund to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
384 Commission’s land acquisition trust fund for specified
385 purposes; amending s. 259.105, F.S.; requiring that
386 proceeds from a specified trust fund be distributed as
387 provided in the General Appropriations Act for a
388 specified fiscal year; amending s. 376.91, F.S.;
389 extending for 1 year the date by which the Department
390 of Environmental Protection shall adopt statewide
391 cleanup target levels for PFAS under certain
392 circumstances; providing for future expiration and
393 reversion of specified statutory text; reenacting s.
394 376.3071(15)(g), F.S., relating to the Inland
395 Protection Trust Fund; providing for the future
396 expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;
397 requiring the Department of Citrus to enter into
398 agreements for specified purposes by a certain date;
399 requiring the Department of Citrus to file certain
400 information with the department’s Inspector General;
401 reenacting s. 380.5105, F.S., relating to the Stan
402 Mayfield Working Waterfronts; providing for the future
403 expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;
404 authorizing the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
405 Commission to use specified funds to provide grants
406 for a specified purpose; amending s. 403.890, F.S.;
407 authorizing the use of revenues deposited into or
408 appropriated to the Water Protection and
409 Sustainability Program Trust Fund as provided in the
410 General Appropriations Act; amending s. 375.041, F.S.;
411 extending for 1 fiscal year the requirement that funds
412 for the Land Acquisition Trust Fund be appropriated in
413 a specified manner; authorizing the Department of
414 Agriculture and Consumer Services to lease an existing
415 facility and administer a specified program;
416 authorizing the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
417 Services to submit budget amendments to increase
418 budget authority for the National School Lunch
419 Program; amending s. 288.80125, F.S.; extending for 1
420 fiscal year a requirement that the use of funds in the
421 Triumph Gulf Coast Trust Fund be related to Hurricane
422 Michael recovery; amending s. 339.135, F.S.; extending
423 for 1 year the authority for the chair and vice chair
424 of the Legislative Budget Commission to approve
425 certain work program amendments under specified
426 circumstances; authorizing the Department of
427 Transportation to request a specified amount of budget
428 authority to the extent necessary to advance or defer
429 certain projects in the Work Program and align
430 resources for a specified purpose; amending s.
431 288.0655, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year a
432 requirement that certain appropriated funds relating
433 to the Rural Infrastructure Fund be distributed in a
434 specified manner; creating s. 288.013, F.S.; providing
435 legislative findings; creating the Office of Rural
436 Prosperity within the Department of Commerce;
437 requiring the Governor to appoint a director, subject
438 to Senate confirmation; providing that the director
439 reports to and serves at the pleasure of the secretary
440 of the department; providing duties of the office;
441 requiring the office to establish and staff a certain
442 number of regional rural community liaison centers for
443 a specified purpose; providing the powers and duties
444 of the liaison centers; requiring coordination between
445 certain entities; requiring the liaison centers to
446 engage with the Rural Economic Development Initiative
447 (REDI); requiring at least one staff member of a
448 liaison center to attend the monthly REDI meetings in
449 person or by means of electronic communication;
450 requiring the director of the office to submit a
451 report to the Administration Commission within the
452 Executive Office of the Governor; specifying
453 requirements for the report; requiring that the report
454 also be submitted to the Legislature by a specified
455 date and published on the office’s website; requiring
456 the director of the office to attend the next
457 Administration Commission meeting to present detailed
458 information from the annual report; amending s.
459 288.001, F.S.; requiring the Florida Small Business
460 Development Center Network to use certain funds
461 appropriated for a specified purpose; authorizing the
462 network to dedicate funds to facilitate certain
463 events; creating s. 288.014, F.S.; providing
464 legislative findings; requiring the Office of Rural
465 Prosperity to administer the Renaissance Grants
466 Program to provide block grants to eligible
467 communities; requiring the Office of Economic and
468 Demographic Research to certify to the Office of Rural
469 Prosperity certain information by a specified date;
470 defining the term “growth-impeded”; requiring the
471 Office of Economic and Demographic Research to certify
472 annually that a county remains growth-impeded until
473 certain conditions are met; providing that a county is
474 eligible to participate in the program for 1
475 additional year under certain circumstances; requiring
476 participating counties to enter into an agreement with
477 the Office of Rural Prosperity to receive a block
478 grant; giving such counties certain authority;
479 prohibiting the Office of Rural Prosperity from
480 determining how such counties implement the block
481 grant; requiring regional rural community liaison
482 center staff to provide certain assistance; requiring
483 participating counties to report certain information
484 to the Office of Rural Prosperity; providing that a
485 participating county receives a specified amount from
486 funds appropriated to the program, or an equal share
487 of the funds appropriated under certain circumstances;
488 requiring participating counties to limit certain
489 expenses; authorizing participating counties to
490 supplement the block grant with other funding sources;
491 requiring participating counties to hire and retain a
492 renaissance coordinator; providing the
493 responsibilities of the renaissance coordinator;
494 requiring the regional rural community liaison center
495 staff to provide assistance and training to the
496 renaissance coordinator, upon request; requiring
497 participating counties to design a certain plan;
498 specifying requirements for such plan; requiring
499 participating counties to develop intergovernmental
500 agreements with certain entities to implement the
501 plan; requiring the Auditor General to conduct an
502 operational audit of each county’s grant activities;
503 requiring the Office of Economic and Demographic
504 Research to submit a certain report to the
505 Legislature; specifying requirements for the report;
506 providing that funds appropriated from the program are
507 not subject to reversion; creating s. 288.0175, F.S.;
508 creating the Public Infrastructure Smart Technology
509 Grant Program within the Office of Rural Prosperity;
510 defining terms; requiring the office to contract with
511 one or more smart technology lead organizations to
512 administer the grant program for a specified purpose;
513 providing the criteria for such contracts; requiring
514 that a summary of projects funded by the grant program
515 be included in the office’s annual report; amending s.
516 288.065, F.S.; establishing the Rural Community
517 Development Revolving Loan Fund within the Office of
518 Rural Prosperity, rather than the Department of
519 Commerce; defining the term “unit of local
520 government”; requiring the office to include in its
521 annual report certain information about the Rural
522 Community Development Revolving Loan Fund; providing
523 for future expiration and reversion of specified
524 statutory text; authorizing the Division of Emergency
525 Management to submit budget amendments to increase
526 budget authority for certain expenditures under
527 certain circumstances; amending s. 282.201, F.S.;
528 extending for 1 year the Division of Emergency
529 Management’s exemption from the use of the state data
530 center; amending s. 443.1113, F.S.; providing that
531 certain improvements to the Reemployment Assistance
532 Claims and Benefits Information System are subject to
533 appropriation; revising the date a certain report from
534 the Department of Commerce is required to be
535 submitted; revising the report requirements; providing
536 for the future expiration and reversion of specified
537 statutory text; reenacting and amending s. 445.08,
538 F.S., relating to the Florida Law Enforcement
539 Recruitment Bonus Payment Program; extending the
540 program for 1 year; authorizing the Department of
541 Commerce to submit budget amendments to increase
542 budget authority to support specified federal grant
543 programs; requiring the Department of Management
544 Services to assess an administrative health insurance
545 assessment on each state agency; providing the rate of
546 such assessment; defining the term “state agency”;
547 requiring the Department of Management Services to
548 take certain actions in case of delinquencies;
549 requiring the Chief Financial Officer to transfer
550 funds under specified circumstances; requiring state
551 agencies to provide a list of positions that qualify
552 for a certain exception by a specified date and to
553 update the list monthly thereafter; requiring state
554 agencies to include the administrative health
555 insurance assessment in their indirect cost plan
556 beginning for a specified fiscal year and annually
557 thereafter; requiring agencies to notify the
558 Department of Management Services, the Executive
559 Office of the Governor, and the Legislature regarding
560 the approval of their updated indirect cost plans;
561 authorizing the Executive Office of the Governor to
562 transfer budget authority between agencies in
563 specified circumstances; providing that the annual
564 salaries of the members of the Legislature be
565 maintained at a specified level for a specified fiscal
566 year; reenacting s. 215.32(2)(b), F.S., relating to
567 the authorization for transferring unappropriated cash
568 balances from selected trust funds to the Budget
569 Stabilization Fund and General Revenue Fund; providing
570 for the future expiration and reversion of specified
571 statutory text; specifying the type of travel which
572 may be used with state employee travel funds for a
573 specified fiscal year; providing exceptions; providing
574 applicability; providing a monetary cap on lodging
575 costs for state employee travel to certain meetings
576 organized or sponsored by a state agency or the
577 judicial branch; authorizing employees to expend their
578 own funds for lodging expenses that exceed the
579 monetary caps; providing construction; amending s.
580 216.181, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year the
581 authority of the Legislative Budget Commission to
582 approve budget amendments for certain fixed capital
583 outlay projects; amending s. 216.292, F.S.; extending
584 for 1 fiscal year the requirements for certain
585 transfers; authorizing state agencies to purchase
586 vehicles from nonstate term contract vendors without
587 prior approval from the Department of Management
588 Services under certain circumstances; amending s.
589 11.52, F.S.; extending for 1 year certain state agency
590 reporting requirements regarding implementation of
591 legislation; amending s. 216.013, F.S.; extending for
592 1 fiscal year an exception from certain planning
593 requirements; amending s. 216.023, F.S.; extending for
594 1 year a requirement that certain entities include a
595 specified inventory in their legislative budget
596 requests; requiring that a specified percentage of
597 funds appropriated for information technology projects
598 be held in reserve and that general revenue funds not
599 held in reserve be released; authorizing the Agency
600 for Health Care Administration, Department of Children
601 and Families, Department of Corrections, Department of
602 Financial Services, Florida Gaming Control Commission,
603 Department of Health, and Department of Revenue to
604 submit a budget amendment to request release of funds;
605 limiting the amount that may be requested; providing
606 that release is contingent upon certain submissions;
607 requiring entities receiving such funds to submit
608 monthly project status reports to certain entities;
609 providing requirements for such status reports;
610 providing conditions under which the veto of certain
611 appropriations or proviso language in the General
612 Appropriations Act voids language that implements such
613 appropriation; providing for the continued operation
614 of certain provisions notwithstanding a future repeal
615 or expiration provided by the act; providing for
616 construction of the act in pari materia with laws
617 enacted during the 2026 Regular Session of the
618 Legislature; providing for severability; providing for
619 contingent retroactivity; providing effective dates.
620
621 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
622
623 Section 1. It is the intent of the Legislature that the
624 implementing and administering provisions of this act apply to
625 the General Appropriations Act for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
626 Section 2. In order to implement Specific Appropriations 5,
627 6, 88, and 89 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the
628 calculations of the Florida Education Finance Program for the
629 2026-2027 fiscal year included in the document titled “Public
630 School Funding: The Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP)
631 Fiscal Year 2026-2027,” dated May 7, 2026, and filed with the
632 Secretary of the Senate, are incorporated by reference for the
633 purpose of displaying the calculations used by the Legislature,
634 consistent with the requirements of state law, in making
635 appropriations for the Florida Education Finance Program. This
636 section expires July 1, 2027.
637 Section 3. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 80
638 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the school
639 readiness reimbursement rates for the 2026-2027 fiscal year
640 included in the document titled “School Readiness Program
641 Reimbursement Rates Fiscal Year 2026-2027,” dated May 7, 2026,
642 and filed with the Secretary of the Senate, are incorporated by
643 reference, consistent with the requirements of state law, in
644 making appropriations for the school readiness program
645 allocation. This section expires July 1, 2027.
646 Section 4. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 102
647 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsections (1),
648 (2), and (5) of section 1001.451, Florida Statutes, are amended
649 to read:
650 1001.451 Regional consortium service organizations.—In
651 order to provide a full range of programs to larger numbers of
652 students, minimize duplication of services, and encourage the
653 development of new programs and services:
654 (1) School districts with 20,000 or fewer unweighted full
655 time equivalent students, developmental research (laboratory)
656 schools established pursuant to s. 1002.32, and the Florida
657 School for the Deaf and the Blind may enter into cooperative
658 agreements to form a regional consortium service organization.
659 Each regional consortium service organization shall provide any,
660 at a minimum, three of the following services determined
661 necessary and appropriate by the board of directors:
662 (a) Exceptional student education;
663 (b) Safe schools support teacher education centers;
664 environmental education;
665 (c) State and federal grant procurement and coordination;
666 (d) Data services processing; health
667 (e) Insurance services;
668 (f) Risk management insurance;
669 (g) Professional learning;
670 (h) College, career, and workforce development;
671 (i) Business and operational services staff development;
672 (j) Purchasing; or
673 (k) Planning and accountability.
674 (2)(a) Each regional consortium service organization
675 composed that consists of four or more school districts is
676 eligible to receive, through the Department of Education,
677 subject to the funds provided in the General Appropriations Act,
678 an allocation incentive grant of $150,000 $50,000 per school
679 district and eligible member to be used for the delivery of
680 services within the participating school districts. The
681 determination of services and use of such funds must shall be
682 established by the board of directors of the regional consortium
683 service organization. The funds must shall be distributed to
684 each regional consortium service organization no later than 30
685 days following the release of the funds to the department. Each
686 regional consortium service organization shall submit an annual
687 report to the department regarding the use of funds for
688 consortia services. Unexpended amounts in any fund in a
689 consortium’s current year operating budget must be carried
690 forward and included as the balance forward for that fund in the
691 approved operating budget for the following year. Each regional
692 consortium service organization shall provide quarterly
693 financial reports to member districts.
694 (b) Member districts shall designate a district to serve as
695 a fiscal agent for contractual and reporting purposes. Such
696 fiscal agent district is entitled to reasonable compensation for
697 accounting and other services performed. The regional consortium
698 service organization shall retain all funds received from grants
699 or contracted services to cover indirect or administrative costs
700 associated with the provision of such services. The regional
701 consortium service organization board of directors shall
702 determine the products and services to be provided by the
703 consortium; however, in all contractual matters, the school
704 board of the fiscal agent district shall act on proposed actions
705 of the regional consortium service organization.
706 (c) The regional consortium service organization board of
707 directors shall recommend establishment of positions and
708 individuals for appointment to the fiscal agent district.
709 Personnel must be employed under the personnel policies of the
710 fiscal agent district and are deemed to be public employees of
711 the fiscal agent district. The regional consortium service
712 organization board of directors may recommend a salary schedule
713 and job descriptions specific to its personnel.
714 (d) The regional consortium service organization may
715 purchase or lease property and facilities essential for its
716 operations and is responsible for their maintenance and
717 associated overhead costs.
718 (e) If a regional consortium service organization is
719 dissolved, any revenue from the sale of assets must be
720 distributed among the member districts as determined by the
721 board of directors Application for incentive grants shall be
722 made to the Commissioner of Education by July 30 of each year
723 for distribution to qualifying regional consortium service
724 organizations by January 1 of the fiscal year.
725 (5) The board of directors of a regional consortium service
726 organization may use various means to generate revenue in
727 support of its activities, including, but not limited to,
728 contracting for services to nonmember districts. The board of
729 directors may acquire, enjoy, use, and dispose of patents,
730 copyrights, and trademarks and any licenses and associated other
731 rights or interests thereunder or therein. Ownership of all such
732 patents, copyrights, trademarks, licenses, and associated rights
733 or interests thereunder or therein shall vest in the state, with
734 the board of directors having full right of use and full right
735 to retain associated the revenues derived therefrom. Any funds
736 realized from contracted services, patents, copyrights,
737 trademarks, or licenses are shall be considered internal funds
738 as provided in s. 1011.07. A fund balance must be established
739 for maintaining or expanding services, facilities maintenance,
740 terminal pay, and other liabilities Such funds shall be used to
741 support the organization’s marketing and research and
742 development activities in order to improve and increase services
743 to its member districts.
744 Section 5. The amendments to s. 1001.451, Florida Statutes,
745 made by this act expire July 1, 2027, and the text of that
746 section shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2026,
747 except that any amendments to such text enacted other than by
748 this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
749 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
750 of text which expire pursuant to this section.
751 Section 6. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 102
752 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section 1001.4511,
753 Florida Statutes, is created to read:
754 1001.4511 Regional Consortia Service Organization
755 Supplemental Services Program.—
756 (1) There is created the Regional Consortia Service
757 Organization Supplemental Services Program to increase the
758 ability of regional consortium service organizations under s.
759 1001.451 to provide programs and services to consortia members
760 through cooperative agreements. Program funds may be used to
761 supplement member needs related to transportation; district
762 finance personnel services; property insurance, including
763 property insurance obtained from any source; cybersecurity
764 support; school safety; college, career, and workforce
765 development; academic support; and behavior support within
766 exceptional student education services.
767 (2) Each regional consortium service organization shall
768 annually report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker
769 of the House of Representatives the distribution of funds,
770 including members awarded and services provided.
771 (3) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351,
772 funds allocated for this purpose which are not disbursed by June
773 30 of the fiscal year in which the funds are allocated may be
774 carried forward for up to 5 years after the effective date of
775 the original appropriation.
776 (4) This section expires July 1, 2027.
777 Section 7. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 64A
778 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section 1009.635,
779 Florida Statutes, is created to read:
780 1009.635 Rural Incentive for Professional Educators
781 Program.—
782 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Rural Incentive for Professional
783 Educators (RIPE) Program is established within the Department of
784 Education to support the recruitment and retention of qualified
785 instructional personnel in rural communities. The program shall
786 provide financial assistance for the repayment of student loans
787 for eligible participants who establish permanent residency and
788 employment in rural areas of opportunity.
789 (2) ELIGIBILITY.—An individual is eligible to participate
790 in the RIPE Program if he or she does all of the following:
791 (a) Establishes permanent residency on or after July 1,
792 2026, in a rural area of opportunity as designated pursuant to
793 s. 288.0656. The address on an individual’s state-issued
794 identification card or driver license is evidence of residence.
795 (b) Secures full-time employment as a teacher or
796 administrator in a private school as defined in s. 1002.01, or
797 as instructional or administrative personnel as those terms are
798 defined in s. 1012.01(2) and (3), respectively, in the public
799 school district located within the same rural area of
800 opportunity as he or she resides.
801 (c) Holds an associate degree, bachelor’s degree,
802 postgraduate degree, or certificate from an accredited
803 institution earned before establishing residency.
804 (d) Has an active student loan balance incurred for the
805 completion of the qualifying degree or certificate.
806 (3) LOAN REPAYMENT.—Eligible participants may receive up to
807 $15,000 in total student loan repayment assistance over 5 years,
808 disbursed in annual payments not to exceed $3,000 per year.
809 Payments must be made directly to the lender servicing the
810 participant’s student loan.
811 (4) AWARD DISTRIBUTION.—Before disbursement of an award,
812 the department shall verify that the participant:
813 (a) Has maintained continuous employment with the school
814 district in an instructional or administrative position;
815 (b) Has received a rating of effective or highly effective
816 pursuant to s. 1012.34; and
817 (c) Has not been placed on probation, had his or her
818 certificate suspended or revoked, or been placed on the
819 disqualification list, pursuant to s. 1012.796.
820 (5) ADMINISTRATION.—The program shall be administered by
821 the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Department
822 of Education, which shall:
823 (a) Develop application procedures requiring documentation,
824 including proof of residency, verification of employment,
825 official academic transcripts, and details of outstanding
826 student loans; and
827 (b) Monitor compliance with program requirements.
828 (6) RULEMAKING.—The State Board of Education shall adopt
829 rules no later than January 31, 2027, to administer this
830 section.
831 (7) EXPIRATION.—This section expires July 1, 2027.
832 Section 8. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 17
833 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, a state university
834 board of trustees that is beginning an approved capital outlay
835 project with a health care provider may accept the health care
836 provider’s procurement methods and construction contracts
837 entered thereunder and may reimburse the health care provider
838 for its expenses using the proceeds from a bond issuance
839 approved by the Board of Governors. This section expires July 1,
840 2027.
841 Section 9. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 152
842 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding
843 ss. 1011.45 and 1012.975, Florida Statutes, the Florida
844 Agricultural and Mechanical University board of trustees may
845 expend available reserves or carry forward balances from
846 previous years’ operational and programmatic appropriations, or
847 other available reserves or balances from funds not appropriated
848 from the General Revenue Fund, from state trust funds, or from
849 tuition and fees, for the remuneration of the president of the
850 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. This section
851 expires July 1, 2027.
852 Section 10. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
853 209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
854 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
855 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
856 amendment, subject to the notice, review, and objection
857 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to realign funding
858 within the Medicaid program appropriation categories to address
859 projected surpluses and deficits within the program and to
860 maximize the use of state trust funds. A single budget amendment
861 shall be submitted in the last quarter of the 2026-2027 fiscal
862 year only. This section expires July 1, 2027.
863 Section 11. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
864 190 through 195 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
865 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
866 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
867 amendment, subject to the notice, review, and objection
868 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to realign funding
869 within the Florida Kidcare program appropriation categories, or
870 to increase budget authority in the Children’s Medical Services
871 network category, to address projected surpluses and deficits
872 within the program or to maximize the use of state trust funds.
873 A single budget amendment must be submitted in the last quarter
874 of the 2026-2027 fiscal year only. This section expires July 1,
875 2027.
876 Section 12. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
877 490 through 499 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
878 subsection (17) of section 381.986, Florida Statutes, is amended
879 to read:
880 381.986 Medical use of marijuana.—
881 (17) Rules adopted pursuant to this section before July 1,
882 2027 2026, are not subject to ss. 120.54(3)(b) and 120.541. This
883 subsection expires July 1, 2027 2026.
884 Section 13. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
885 217, 219, and 223 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
886 the Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
887 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
888 additional spending authority to implement the federally
889 approved directed payment program for hospitals statewide
890 providing inpatient and outpatient services to Medicaid managed
891 care enrollees, the Indirect Medical Education (IME) Program,
892 and a nursing workforce expansion and education program for
893 certain institutions participating in a graduate medical
894 education or nursing education program. For institutions
895 participating in the nursing workforce expansion and education
896 program, the budget amendment must identify the educational
897 institutions partnering with the teaching hospital. Institutions
898 participating in the nursing workforce expansion and education
899 program shall provide quarterly reports to the agency detailing
900 the number of nurses participating in the program. This section
901 expires July 1, 2027.
902 Section 14. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
903 217, 219, and 223 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
904 the Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
905 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
906 additional spending authority to implement the federally
907 approved Directed Payment Program and fee-for-service
908 supplemental payments for cancer hospitals that meet the
909 criteria in 42 U.S.C. s. 1395ww(d)(1)(B)(v). This section
910 expires July 1, 2027.
911 Section 15. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
912 209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the
913 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
914 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
915 additional spending authority to implement the Low Income Pool
916 component of the Florida Managed Medical Assistance
917 Demonstration up to the total computable funds authorized by the
918 federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The budget
919 amendment must include the final terms and conditions of the Low
920 Income Pool, a proposed distribution model by entity, and a
921 listing of entities contributing intergovernmental transfers to
922 support the state match required. In addition, for each entity
923 included in the distribution model, a signed attestation must be
924 provided which includes the charity care cost upon which the Low
925 Income Pool payment is based and an acknowledgment that should
926 the distribution result in an overpayment based on the Low
927 Income Pool cost limit audit, the entity is responsible for
928 returning that overpayment to the agency for return to the
929 federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This section
930 expires July 1, 2027.
931 Section 16. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
932 222 and 223 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the
933 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
934 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
935 additional spending authority to implement fee-for-service
936 supplemental payments and a directed payment program for
937 physicians and subordinate licensed health care practitioners
938 employed by or under contract with a Florida medical or dental
939 school, or a public hospital. This section expires July 1, 2027.
940 Section 17. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
941 220, 223, and 235 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
942 the Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
943 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
944 additional spending authority to implement a certified
945 expenditure program for emergency medical transportation
946 services. This section expires July 1, 2027.
947 Section 18. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
948 209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
949 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
950 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
951 amendment, subject to the notice, review, and objection
952 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, requesting
953 additional spending authority to implement the Disproportionate
954 Share Hospital Program. The budget amendment must include a
955 proposed distribution model by entity and a listing of entities
956 contributing intergovernmental transfers and certified public
957 expenditures to support the state match required. This section
958 expires July 1, 2027.
959 Section 19. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
960 209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the
961 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
962 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
963 additional spending authority to implement fee-for-service
964 inpatient and outpatient supplemental payments for specialty
965 hospitals as defined in s. 395.002(28), Florida Statutes,
966 providing comprehensive acute care services to children with
967 Medicaid inpatient utilization equal to or greater than 50
968 percent and located in a county with greater than 250,000
969 Medicaid enrollees in 2023. This section expires July 1, 2027.
970 Section 20. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
971 201 and 228 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
972 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
973 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit budget
974 amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection
975 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget
976 authority to support the Florida School-Based Services program.
977 This section expires July 1, 2027.
978 Section 21. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
979 209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:
980 (1) the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Task Force, a task
981 force as defined in s. 20.03(5), Florida Statutes, is created
982 within the Agency for Health Care Administration to evaluate the
983 delivery of applied behavior analysis services in a manner that
984 promotes high-quality, family-centered care while ensuring long
985 term financial sustainability of the Medicaid program and cost
986 predictability without disrupting access for current enrollees
987 and families.
988 (2) The task force shall evaluate:
989 (a) Clinical care models that lead to best practices for
990 the provision of therapy at the appropriate ages;
991 (b) Appropriate transitions for enrollees receiving ABA
992 services across developmental, educational, and community
993 settings;
994 (c) Quality metrics for ABA therapy services;
995 (d) Limits and utilization controls related to the length
996 of time ABA services may be authorized;
997 (e) Potential caps on the number of months an enrollee may
998 receive ABA services; and
999 (f) Ways to enhance Medicaid provider enrollment and
1000 billing standards for ABA services to promote program integrity
1001 and fiscal accountability.
1002 (3) The task force shall develop recommendations for
1003 revising the state’s service delivery model to improve care
1004 experience and service continuity for enrollees and families
1005 receiving ABA services, while safeguarding long-term program
1006 sustainability.
1007 (4) The task force shall consist of 10 members as provided
1008 in this subsection.
1009 (a) The Secretary of Health Care Administration, or his or
1010 her designee, shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member of
1011 the task force and shall serve as the chair.
1012 (b) The remainder of the task force membership shall be
1013 composed as follows:
1014 1. Two members appointed by the Governor, three members
1015 appointed by the President of the Senate, and three members
1016 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, based
1017 upon the criteria of this subparagraph. The appointing officers
1018 must make their appointments prioritizing members who have the
1019 following experience or expertise:
1020 a. Persons with academic credentials or scientific
1021 expertise relating to autism and applied behavior analysis;
1022 b. Representatives of the applied behavior analysis
1023 provider community;
1024 c. Representatives of Medicaid managed care plans with
1025 managerial experience and expertise relating to autism and
1026 applied behavior analysis; or
1027 d. Physicians licensed under chapter 458, Florida Statutes,
1028 or chapter 459, Florida Statutes, with expertise relating to
1029 autism and applied behavior analysis.
1030 2. One family member of a Medicaid managed care plan
1031 enrollee who receives applied behavior analysis services,
1032 appointed by the Governor.
1033 (c) The Secretary of Health Care Administration shall
1034 coordinate with the appointing officers to ensure the task
1035 force’s membership adequately represents the criteria provided
1036 under paragraph (b).
1037 (d) Any vacancy occurring on the task force must be filled
1038 in the same manner as the original appointment.
1039 (5) The Agency for Health Care Administration must provide
1040 staff support for the work of the task force, and staff from the
1041 Department of Health, the Department of Children and Families,
1042 the Department of Education, and the Agency for Persons with
1043 Disabilities may provide additional expertise.
1044 (6) Meetings of the task force may be held through
1045 teleconference or other electronic means. The task force shall
1046 convene for its initial meeting by August 15, 2026, and
1047 thereafter, upon the call of the chair. Notices for any task
1048 force meetings must be published in advance on the Agency for
1049 Health Care Administration’s website.
1050 (7) Members of the task force shall serve without
1051 compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as
1052 provided in s. 112.061, Florida Statutes.
1053 (8) The task force shall report its findings and
1054 recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
1055 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 31,
1056 2026. The report must include advantages and disadvantages of
1057 each recommendation.
1058 (9) This section expires July 1, 2027.
1059 Section 22. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1060 339, 339B, 368 through 369 of the 2026-2027 General
1061 Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292,
1062 Florida Statutes, the Department of Children and Families may
1063 submit a budget amendment, subject to the notice, review, and
1064 objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to realign
1065 funding within the department based on the implementation of the
1066 Guardianship Assistance Program, between the specific
1067 appropriations for guardianship assistance payments, foster care
1068 Level 1 room and board payments, relative caregiver payments,
1069 and nonrelative caregiver payments. This section expires July 1,
1070 2027.
1071 Section 23. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1072 209 through 212, 217, 219, 220, 222 through 224, 363, 372, 475,
1073 479, 480, 486, 501, 502, 508, and 512 of the 2026-2027 General
1074 Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292,
1075 Florida Statutes, the Department of Children and Families, the
1076 Department of Health, and the Agency for Health Care
1077 Administration may submit budget amendments, subject to the
1078 notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida
1079 Statutes, to increase budget authority to support refugee
1080 programs administered by the federal Office of Refugee
1081 Resettlement due to the ongoing instability of federal
1082 immigration policy and the resulting inability of the state to
1083 reasonably predict, with certainty, the budgetary needs of this
1084 state with respect to the number of refugees relocated to the
1085 state as part of those federal programs. The Department of
1086 Children and Families shall submit quarterly reports to the
1087 Executive Office of the Governor, the President of the Senate,
1088 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the number of
1089 refugees entering the state, the nations of origin of such
1090 refugees, and current expenditure projections. This section
1091 expires July 1, 2027.
1092 Section 24. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1093 295 through 390A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
1094 and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes,
1095 the Department of Children and Families may submit budget
1096 amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection
1097 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget
1098 authority to support the following federal grant programs: the
1099 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Grant Program, the Pandemic
1100 Electronic Benefit Transfer, the American Rescue Plan Grant, the
1101 State Opioid Response Grant, the Substance Use Prevention and
1102 Treatment Block Grant, the Chafee Grant for Independent Living
1103 Services, the Education and Traditional Voucher Grant, Title IV
1104 B Subparts 1 and 2 Grants, the Elder Justice Act, the STOP
1105 Violence Against Women Grant, the Rapid Unsheltered Survivor
1106 Housing Grant, and the Mental Health Block Grant. This section
1107 expires July 1, 2027.
1108 Section 25. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
1109 267 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
1110 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 32 of chapter
1111 2025-199, Laws of Florida, subsection (2) of section 393.066,
1112 Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
1113 393.066 Community services and treatment.—
1114 (2) Necessary services shall be purchased, rather than
1115 provided directly by the agency, when the purchase of services
1116 is more cost-efficient than providing them directly. All
1117 purchased services must be approved by the agency. As a
1118 condition of payment and before billing, persons or entities
1119 under contract with the agency to provide services shall use
1120 agency data management systems to document service provision to
1121 clients or shall maintain such information in its own data
1122 management system and electronically transmit it to the agency
1123 data management system in an industry standard electronic format
1124 designated by the agency. The agency may not require training on
1125 the use of agency data management systems by persons or entities
1126 that choose to maintain data in their own data management
1127 system, provided that they electronically transmit required
1128 information in a format and frequency designated by the agency.
1129 Contracted persons and entities shall meet the minimum hardware
1130 and software technical requirements established by the agency
1131 for the use of such systems. Such persons or entities shall also
1132 meet any requirements established by the agency for training and
1133 professional development of staff providing direct services to
1134 clients.
1135 Section 26. The text of s. 393.066(2), Florida Statutes, as
1136 carried forward from chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida, by this
1137 act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that subsection shall
1138 revert to that in existence on June 30, 2025, except that any
1139 amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall be
1140 preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
1141 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
1142 expire pursuant to this section.
1143 Section 27. Effective upon this act becoming a law, and in
1144 order to implement Specific Appropriation 382 of the 2026-2027
1145 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (c) of subsection (9) of
1146 section 394.9082, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1147 394.9082 Behavioral health managing entities.—
1148 (9) FUNDING FOR MANAGING ENTITIES.—
1149 (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), for the 2026-2027 2025
1150 2026 fiscal year, a managing entity may carry forward documented
1151 unexpended funds appropriated from the State Opioid Settlement
1152 Trust Fund from 1 fiscal year to the next. Nonqualified funds
1153 carried forward pursuant to this paragraph are not included in
1154 the 8 percent cumulative cap that may be carried forward. This
1155 paragraph expires July 1, 2027 2026.
1156 Section 28. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1157 324A, 339, 339B, and 384A of the 2026-2027 General
1158 Appropriations Act, subsection (10) is added to section
1159 409.9913, Florida Statutes, to read:
1160 409.9913 Funding methodology to allocate funding to lead
1161 agencies.—
1162 (10) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, core
1163 services funding shall be allocated as provided in the General
1164 Appropriations Act. The department shall use the Tiered Funding
1165 Model developed and submitted to the Legislature pursuant to
1166 section 34 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida, as the baseline
1167 framework for any updates, refinements, or enhancements to the
1168 model and shall continue to collect detailed cost, expenditure,
1169 and census data from community-based care lead agencies.
1170 (a) Each lead agency shall submit any cost, expenditure,
1171 and census data requested by the department to support the
1172 continued development and refinement of the Tiered Funding
1173 Model. Lead agencies shall complete and validate a standardized
1174 expenditure report template in the form and manner prescribed by
1175 the department.
1176 (b) The department shall conduct ongoing performance
1177 monitoring by comparing trends in individual metrics against
1178 broader indicators of system health and shall analyze emerging
1179 market trends that may impact organizational financial
1180 stability. The department’s analysis and reporting shall include
1181 a comprehensive explanation of the methodology used to establish
1182 residential group home rates, a description of the current rate
1183 setting processes employed by each community-based care lead
1184 agency, and recommendations to enhance the fiscal sustainability
1185 and transparency of those processes.
1186 (c) Beginning in July 2026 and continuing through November
1187 2026, the department shall provide monthly status reports to the
1188 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
1189 House of Representatives detailing activities and progress
1190 related to the development of the funding methodology, including
1191 preliminary recommendations for adjustments for the subsequent
1192 fiscal year.
1193 (d) By December 1, 2026, the department shall submit a
1194 final report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
1195 the Speaker of the House of Representatives that includes
1196 recommendations for adjustments to the funding methodology for
1197 the next fiscal year. The recommendations shall continue the
1198 Tiered Funding Model approach while proposing enhancements
1199 intended to strengthen operational and financial outcomes.
1200 (e) This subsection expires July 1, 2027.
1201 Section 29. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1202 324A, 339, 339B, and 384A and section 74 of the 2026-2027
1203 General Appropriations Act, subsection (9) is added to section
1204 409.990, Florida Statutes, to read:
1205 409.990 Funding for lead agencies.—A contract established
1206 between the department and a lead agency must be funded by a
1207 grant of general revenue, other applicable state funds, or
1208 applicable federal funding sources.
1209 (9) Notwithstanding subsection (5), all funds held by a
1210 lead agency carried forward pursuant to subsection (5) as of
1211 July 1, 2026, must be returned to the department. The department
1212 must hold such funds in a separate account and, by August 1,
1213 2026, report to the chair of the Senate Committee on
1214 Appropriations, the chair of the House of Representatives Budget
1215 Committee, and the Executive Office of the Governor’s Office of
1216 Policy and Budget the amount of funds returned by each lead
1217 agency. As of September 30, 2026, all funds returned pursuant to
1218 this subsection shall revert to the General Revenue Fund. This
1219 subsection expires July 1, 2027.
1220 Section 30. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1221 465 and 467 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
1222 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
1223 Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject to
1224 the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,
1225 Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the
1226 Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
1227 (WIC) and the Child Care Food Program if additional federal
1228 revenues will be expended in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This
1229 section expires July 1, 2027.
1230 Section 31. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1231 476 and 526 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
1232 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
1233 Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject to
1234 the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,
1235 Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the HIV/AIDS
1236 Prevention and Treatment Program if additional federal revenues
1237 specific to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment become available
1238 in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This section expires July 1, 2027.
1239 Section 32. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1240 432 through 593 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
1241 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
1242 Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject to
1243 the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,
1244 Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the
1245 department if additional federal revenues specific to COVID-19
1246 relief funds become available in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This
1247 section expires July 1, 2027.
1248 Section 33. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
1249 203 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:
1250 (1) The Agency for Health Care Administration shall replace
1251 the current Florida Medicaid Management Information System
1252 (FMMIS) and fiscal agent operations with a system that is
1253 modular, interoperable, and scalable for the Florida Medicaid
1254 program and that complies with all applicable federal and state
1255 laws and requirements. The agency may not include in the program
1256 to replace the current FMMIS and fiscal agent contract:
1257 (a) Functionality that duplicates any of the information
1258 systems of the other health and human services state agencies;
1259 (b) Procurement for agency requirements external to
1260 Medicaid programs with the intent to leverage the Medicaid
1261 technology infrastructure for other purposes without legislative
1262 appropriation or legislative authorization to procure these
1263 requirements. The new system, the Florida Health Care Connection
1264 (FX) system, must provide better integration with subsystems
1265 supporting Florida’s Medicaid program; uniformity, consistency,
1266 and improved access to data; and compatibility with the Centers
1267 for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Medicaid Information
1268 Technology Architecture (MITA) as the system matures and expands
1269 its functionality; or
1270 (c) Any contract executed after July 1, 2022, not including
1271 staff augmentation services purchased off the Department of
1272 Management Services Information Technology staff augmentation
1273 state term contract which are not deliverables based fixed price
1274 contracts.
1275 (2) For purposes of replacing FMMIS and the current
1276 Medicaid fiscal agent, the Agency for Health Care Administration
1277 shall:
1278 (a) Prioritize procurements for the replacement of the
1279 current functions of FMMIS and the responsibilities of the
1280 current Medicaid fiscal agent, to minimize the need to extend
1281 all or portions of the current fiscal agent contract.
1282 (b) Comply with and not exceed the Centers for Medicare and
1283 Medicaid Services funding authorizations for the FX system.
1284 (c) Develop and mature an enterprise architecture framework
1285 to align the requirements of the FX project phases and
1286 overarching program objectives, including completing and
1287 maintaining key components such as the Business Capability Model
1288 and Business Value Model.
1289 (d) Apply value-based measures to support informed
1290 decisionmaking around release readiness and go-live criteria.
1291 These measures must be tracked and reported quarterly to the
1292 executive steering committee established in paragraph (k) post
1293 implementation to support performance monitoring and continuous
1294 improvement.
1295 (e) Through documented FX architecture governance
1296 practices, ensure that the Medicaid business needs and the
1297 business architecture are the primary drivers of information and
1298 technical architecture design decisions. All such decisions must
1299 be documented with traceable rationale to promote transparency
1300 and accountability across the program. The business,
1301 information, and technical architectures must align with the
1302 MITA framework where applicable. In areas where MITA guidance is
1303 not available, alignment will be maintained through adherence to
1304 The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF).
1305 (f) Ensure compliance and uniformity with the published
1306 MITA framework and guidelines. The agency shall:
1307 1. Implement an Enterprise Architecture (EA) management
1308 tool that supports an integrated approach to FX program
1309 architecture. The EA tool must serve as a centralized repository
1310 for the FX Business Process Inventory and support the integrated
1311 management and oversight of the FX business, technical, and
1312 information architectures.
1313 2. Establish governance structures and define user roles
1314 within the EA tool for the business, technical, and information
1315 architecture components.
1316 (g) Ensure that all business requirements and technical
1317 specifications have been provided to all affected state agencies
1318 for their review and input and approved by the executive
1319 steering committee.
1320 (h) Consult with the Executive Office of the Governor’s
1321 working group for interagency information technology integration
1322 for the development of competitive solicitations that provide
1323 for data interoperability and shared information technology
1324 services across the state’s health and human services agencies.
1325 (i) Implement a data governance structure for the program
1326 to coordinate data sharing and interoperability across state
1327 health care entities.
1328 (j) Establish a continuing oversight team for each contract
1329 pursuant to s. 287.057(26), Florida Statutes. The teams must
1330 provide quarterly reports to the executive steering committee,
1331 summarizing the status of the contract, the pace of
1332 deliverables, the quality of deliverables, contractor
1333 responsiveness, and contractor performance.
1334 (k) Implement a program governance structure that includes
1335 an executive steering committee composed of:
1336 1. The Secretary of Health Care Administration, or the
1337 executive sponsor of the program.
1338 2. A representative of the Division of Health Care Finance
1339 and Data of the Agency for Health Care Administration, appointed
1340 by the Secretary of Health Care Administration.
1341 3. Two representatives from the Division of Medicaid
1342 Policy, Quality, and Operations of the Agency for Health Care
1343 Administration, appointed by the Secretary of Health Care
1344 Administration.
1345 4. A representative of the Division of Health Care Policy
1346 and Oversight of the Agency for Health Care Administration,
1347 appointed by the Secretary of Health Care Administration.
1348 5. A representative of the Florida Center for Health
1349 Information and Transparency of the Agency for Health Care
1350 Administration, appointed by the Secretary of Health Care
1351 Administration.
1352 6. The Chief Information Officer of the Agency for Health
1353 Care Administration, or his or her designee.
1354 (3)(a) The Secretary of Health Care Administration or the
1355 executive sponsor of the program shall serve as chair of the
1356 executive steering committee, and the committee shall take
1357 action by a vote of at least 5 affirmative votes with the chair
1358 voting on the prevailing side. A quorum of the executive
1359 steering committee consists of at least 5 members.
1360 (b)1. The chair shall establish a program finance and
1361 contracting working group composed of:
1362 a. The FX program director.
1363 b. A representative from the agency’s Office of the General
1364 Counsel.
1365 c. A representative from the agency’s Division of
1366 Administration.
1367 d. Representatives from each continuing oversight team.
1368 e. The FX program strategic roadmap manager.
1369 f. The FX program project managers.
1370 g. The FX program risk manager.
1371 h. Any other personnel deemed necessary by the chair.
1372 2. The working group shall meet at least monthly to review
1373 the program status and all contract and program operations,
1374 policies, risks, and issues related to the budget, spending
1375 plans and contractual obligations, and shall develop
1376 recommendations to the executive steering committee for
1377 improvement. The working group shall review all change requests
1378 that impact the program’s scope, schedule, or budget related to
1379 contract management and vendor payments and submit those
1380 recommended for adoption to the executive steering committee.
1381 The chair shall request input from the working group on agenda
1382 items for each scheduled meeting. The program shall make
1383 available program staff to the group, as needed, for the group
1384 to fulfill its duties.
1385 (c)1. The chair shall establish a state agency stakeholder
1386 working group composed of:
1387 a. The executive sponsor of the FX program.
1388 b. A representative of the Department of Children and
1389 Families, appointed by the Secretary of Children and Families.
1390 c. A representative of the Department of Health, appointed
1391 by the State Surgeon General.
1392 d. A representative of the Agency for Persons with
1393 Disabilities, appointed by the director of the Agency for
1394 Persons with Disabilities.
1395 e. A representative from the Florida Healthy Kids
1396 Corporation.
1397 f. A representative from the Department of Elderly Affairs,
1398 appointed by the Secretary of Elderly Affairs.
1399 g. The state chief information officer, or his or her
1400 designee.
1401 h. A representative of the Department of Financial Services
1402 who has experience with the state’s financial processes,
1403 including development of the PALM system, appointed by the Chief
1404 Financial Officer.
1405 2. The working group shall meet at least quarterly to
1406 review the program status and all program operations, policies,
1407 risks, and issues that may impact the operations external to the
1408 Agency for Health Care Administration FX program, and shall
1409 develop recommendations to the executive steering committee for
1410 improvement. The chair shall request input from the working
1411 group on agenda items for each scheduled meeting. The program
1412 shall make available program staff to the group to provide
1413 system demonstrations and any program documentation, as needed,
1414 for the group to fulfill its duties.
1415 (4) The executive steering committee has the overall
1416 responsibility for ensuring that the program to replace FMMIS
1417 and the Medicaid fiscal agent meets its primary business
1418 objectives and shall:
1419 (a) Identify and recommend to the Executive Office of the
1420 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
1421 House of Representatives any statutory changes needed to
1422 implement the modular replacement to standardize, to the fullest
1423 extent possible, the state’s health care data and business
1424 processes.
1425 (b) Review and approve any changes to the program’s scope,
1426 schedule, and budget.
1427 (c) Review and approve any changes to the program’s
1428 strategic roadmap.
1429 (d) Review and approve change requests that impact the
1430 program’s scope, schedule, or budget recommended for adoption by
1431 the program finance and contracting working group.
1432 (e) Review recommendations provided by the program working
1433 groups.
1434 (f) Review vendor scorecards, reports, and notifications
1435 produced by the continuing oversight teams.
1436 (g) Ensure that adequate resources are provided throughout
1437 all phases of the program.
1438 (h) Approve all major program deliverables.
1439 (i) Review and verify that all procurement and contractual
1440 documents associated with the replacement of the current FMMIS
1441 and Medicaid fiscal agent align with the scope, schedule, and
1442 anticipated budget for the program.
1443 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
1444 Section 34. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
1445 203 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the Agency for
1446 Health Care Administration shall contract for a comprehensive,
1447 independent technical architecture and feasibility assessment of
1448 the agency’s Medicaid management information system (MMIS),
1449 including components completed under the FX project.
1450 (1) The assessment must evaluate the agency’s current
1451 technical architecture and technology standards related to its
1452 MMIS replacement activities and assess alignment with all
1453 applicable federal and state laws and requirements, including,
1454 but not limited to, the federal Centers for Medicare and
1455 Medicaid Services (CMS) Interoperability and Patient Access Rule
1456 (CMS-9115), the Medicaid Information Technology Architecture
1457 (MITA) frameworks and guidelines, and recognized industry and
1458 governmental best practices, including CMS modularity guidance
1459 and National Institute of Standards and Technology cybersecurity
1460 standards.
1461 (2) The assessment must, at a minimum:
1462 (a) Identify and document current deficiencies in the
1463 technical architecture, system design, and standards that may
1464 affect long-term sustainability, including issues related to
1465 maintainability, scalability, security, interoperability,
1466 technical debt, vendor dependency, and compliance with evolving
1467 federal and state requirements.
1468 (b) Develop a future-state technical architecture that is
1469 driven by and aligned with the business architecture, Medicaid
1470 program needs, and CMS modularity and interoperability
1471 principles, including identification of core components,
1472 interfaces, data flows, and applicable standards.
1473 (c) Evaluate the feasibility of transitioning from the
1474 current-state architecture to the future-state architecture,
1475 including phased or modular implementation options, associated
1476 risks, estimated costs, implementation timelines, operational
1477 impacts, and implications for federal funding eligibility.
1478 (d) Prioritize replacement of the functionality provided
1479 under the current fiscal agent contract and recommend a
1480 sustainable path forward, including identification of any
1481 prerequisite governance, policy, or remediation actions required
1482 prior to implementation.
1483 (e) Assess the agency’s readiness to implement and operate
1484 the recommended solution, including evaluation of governance
1485 structures, staffing capacity, and resource sufficiency.
1486 (3) The completed assessment must be submitted
1487 simultaneously to the Agency for Health Care Administration, the
1488 chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the chair of
1489 the House of Representatives Budget Committee, and the Executive
1490 Office of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget by January
1491 8, 2027.
1492 (4) Based on the results of the assessment, the Agency for
1493 Health Care Administration shall develop a new time-phased
1494 implementation roadmap with measurable success criteria for the
1495 MMIS replacement that aligns investments with the agency’s
1496 Medicaid program goals and business strategy. The agency must
1497 submit the roadmap to chair of the Senate Committee on
1498 Appropriations, the chair of the House of Representatives Budget
1499 Committee, and the Executive Office of the Governor’s Office of
1500 Policy and Budget by February 2, 2027.
1501 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
1502 Section 35. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1503 223, 224, 279, 290, 349, 503, 526, and 751 of the 2026-2027
1504 General Appropriations Act, the Agency for Health Care
1505 Administration, in consultation with the Department of Health,
1506 the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Department of
1507 Children and Families, and the Department of Corrections, shall
1508 competitively procure a contract with a vendor to negotiate, for
1509 these agencies, prices for prescribed drugs and biological
1510 products excluded from the program established under s.
1511 381.02035, Florida Statutes, and ineligible under 21 U.S.C. s.
1512 384, including, but not limited to, insulin and epinephrine. The
1513 contract may allow the vendor to directly purchase these
1514 products for participating agencies when feasible and
1515 advantageous. The contracted vendor must be compensated on a
1516 contingency basis, paid from a portion of the savings achieved
1517 by its price negotiation or purchase of the prescription drugs
1518 and products. This section expires July 1, 2027.
1519 Section 36. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1520 238 through 245 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
1521 notwithstanding ss. 408.040(2) and 408.808(3), Florida Statutes:
1522 (1)(a) An inactive license or a partially inactive license
1523 with an expiration date on or after June 1, 2024, may be issued
1524 or renewed to a skilled nursing provider subject to the
1525 certificate-of-need provisions in part I of chapter 408, Florida
1526 Statutes, if the provider currently holds an active or inactive
1527 license, does not have a provisional license, and will be
1528 temporarily unable to provide services due to impacts from a
1529 natural disaster or state of emergency; or will be deactivating
1530 or has deactivated beds to improve and modernize the licensees
1531 physical plant, but is reasonably expected to resume services
1532 within 48 months.
1533 (b) Such issuance or renewal may be made for a period of 12
1534 months and may be further renewed for up to 36 additional months
1535 upon demonstration by the licensee of the provider’s progress
1536 toward reopening. During each 12-month renewal cycle, the
1537 applicant shall attest that good-faith progress towards
1538 commencement of the project is ongoing or that the project is
1539 delayed by litigation or by governmental action or inaction with
1540 respect to regulations or permitting that precludes commencement
1541 of the project.
1542 (2)(a) The certificate-of-need validity period for a
1543 project shall be extended by the agency if the certificateholder
1544 demonstrates to the satisfaction of the agency that good-faith
1545 progress toward the commencement of the project is ongoing or
1546 that the project is delayed by litigation or by government
1547 action or inaction with respect to regulations or permitting
1548 that precludes commencement of the project.
1549 (b) Such extension may be made for a period of 12 months
1550 and may be renewed for up to 36 additional months upon
1551 demonstration by the certificateholder of the progress towards
1552 opening. During each 12-month validity period renewal cycle, the
1553 certificateholder shall attest that good-faith progress towards
1554 commencement of the project is ongoing or that the project is
1555 being delayed by litigation or by governmental action or
1556 inaction.
1557 (3) This section expires July 1, 2027.
1558 Section 37. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1559 272, 277, 278, 283, 288, and 289 of the 2026-2027 General
1560 Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292,
1561 Florida Statutes, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities may
1562 submit budget amendments, subject to the notice, review, and
1563 objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to
1564 transfer funding from the Salaries and Benefits appropriation
1565 categories to categories used for contractual services in order
1566 to support additional staff augmentation resources needed at the
1567 Developmental Disability Centers. This section expires July 1,
1568 2027.
1569 Section 38. In order to implement section 66 of the 2026
1570 2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181
1571 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the Agency for Persons with
1572 Disabilities may submit budget amendments, subject to the
1573 notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida
1574 Statutes, to request the appropriation of funds from the Lump
1575 Sum-Home and Community-Based Services Waiver category to address
1576 any deficits or funding shortfalls. This section expires July 1,
1577 2027.
1578 Section 39. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1579 231 and 254 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
1580 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
1581 Agency for Health Care Administration and the Agency for Persons
1582 with Disabilities may submit budget amendments, subject to the
1583 notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida
1584 Statutes, at least 3 days before the effective date of the
1585 action, to increase budget authority to support the
1586 implementation of the home and community-based services Medicaid
1587 waiver program of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. This
1588 section expires July 1, 2027.
1589 Section 40. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
1590 594 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
1591 notwithstanding chapter 216, Florida Statutes, the Department of
1592 Veterans’ Affairs may submit a budget amendment, subject to
1593 Legislative Budget Commission approval, requesting the authority
1594 to establish positions in excess of the number authorized by the
1595 Legislature, increase appropriations from the Operations and
1596 Maintenance Trust Fund, or provide a necessary salary rate
1597 sufficient to provide for essential staff for veterans’ nursing
1598 homes, if the department projects that additional direct care
1599 staff are needed to meet its established staffing ratio. This
1600 section expires July 1, 2027.
1601 Section 41. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
1602 223 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (1)
1603 of section 409.915, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
1604 409.915 County contributions to Medicaid.—Although the
1605 state is responsible for the full portion of the state share of
1606 the matching funds required for the Medicaid program, the state
1607 shall charge the counties an annual contribution in order to
1608 acquire a certain portion of these funds.
1609 (1)(a) As used in this section, the term “state Medicaid
1610 expenditures” means those expenditures used as matching funds
1611 for the federal Medicaid program.
1612 (b) The term does not include funds specially assessed by
1613 any local governmental entity and used as the nonfederal share
1614 for the hospital directed payment program after July 1, 2021.
1615 This paragraph expires July 1, 2027 2026.
1616 Section 42. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1617 594 through 622A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
1618 and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes,
1619 the Department of Veterans’ Affairs is authorized to:
1620 (1) Expend funds pursuant to a Memorandum of Agreement
1621 between the department and the Collier County Board of County
1622 Commissioners, as well as funds appropriated in chapter 2023
1623 239, Laws of Florida, for the planning and construction of a new
1624 State Veterans’ Nursing Home and Adult Day Health Center in
1625 Collier County.
1626 (2) Apply for a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
1627 Construction Grant for the Collier County State Veterans’
1628 Nursing Home.
1629 (3) Submit budget amendments subject to the notice, review,
1630 and objection procedures in s. 216.177, Florida Statutes,
1631 subject to federal approval, requesting additional spending
1632 authority to support the development and construction of a new
1633 State Veterans’ Nursing Home and Adult Day Health Care Center in
1634 Collier County.
1635
1636 This section expires July 1, 2027.
1637 Section 43. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1638 404 and 406 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
1639 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
1640 Department of Elderly Affairs may submit a budget amendment,
1641 subject to the notice, review, and objection procedures of s.
1642 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the
1643 United States Department of Agriculture’s Adult Care Food
1644 Program or the Older Americans Act if additional federal
1645 revenues will be expended in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This
1646 section expires July 1, 2027.
1647 Section 44. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1648 626 through 718 and 729 through 782 of the 2026-2027 General
1649 Appropriations Act, subsection (4) of section 216.262, Florida
1650 Statutes, is amended to read:
1651 216.262 Authorized positions.—
1652 (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter relating
1653 to increasing the number of authorized positions, and for the
1654 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal year only, if the actual inmate
1655 population of the Department of Corrections exceeds the inmate
1656 population projections of the December 23 February 21, 2025,
1657 Criminal Justice Estimating Conference by 1 percent for 2
1658 consecutive months or 2 percent for any month, the Executive
1659 Office of the Governor, with the approval of the Legislative
1660 Budget Commission, shall immediately notify the Criminal Justice
1661 Estimating Conference, which shall convene as soon as possible
1662 to revise the estimates. The Department of Corrections may then
1663 submit a budget amendment requesting the establishment of
1664 positions in excess of the number authorized by the Legislature
1665 and additional appropriations from unallocated general revenue
1666 sufficient to provide for essential staff, fixed capital
1667 improvements, and other resources to provide classification,
1668 security, food services, health services, and other variable
1669 expenses within the institutions to accommodate the estimated
1670 increase in the inmate population. All actions taken pursuant to
1671 this subsection are subject to review and approval by the
1672 Legislative Budget Commission. This subsection expires July 1,
1673 2027 2026.
1674 Section 45. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1675 3340 through 3409 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
1676 subsection (2) of section 215.18, Florida Statutes, is amended
1677 to read:
1678 215.18 Transfers between funds; limitation.—
1679 (2) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may receive one
1680 or more trust fund loans to ensure that the state court system
1681 has funds sufficient to meet its appropriations in the 2026-2027
1682 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act. If the Chief Justice
1683 accesses the loan, he or she must notify the Governor and the
1684 chairs of the legislative appropriations committees in writing.
1685 The loan must come from other funds in the State Treasury which
1686 are for the time being or otherwise in excess of the amounts
1687 necessary to meet the just requirements of such last-mentioned
1688 funds. The Governor shall order the transfer of funds within 5
1689 days after the written notification from the Chief Justice. If
1690 the Governor does not order the transfer, the Chief Financial
1691 Officer shall transfer the requested funds. The loan of funds
1692 from which any money is temporarily transferred must be repaid
1693 by the end of the 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal year. This
1694 subsection expires July 1, 2027 2026.
1695 Section 46. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1696 1183 through 1194 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:
1697 (1) The Department of Juvenile Justice shall review county
1698 juvenile detention payments to ensure that counties fulfill
1699 their financial responsibilities required in s. 985.6865,
1700 Florida Statutes. If the Department of Juvenile Justice
1701 determines that a county has not met its obligations, the
1702 department shall direct the Department of Revenue to deduct the
1703 amount owed to the Department of Juvenile Justice from the funds
1704 provided to the county under s. 218.23, Florida Statutes. The
1705 Department of Revenue shall transfer the funds withheld to the
1706 Shared County/State Juvenile Detention Trust Fund.
1707 (2) As an assurance to holders of bonds issued by counties
1708 before July 1, 2026, for which distributions made pursuant to s.
1709 218.23, Florida Statutes, are pledged, or bonds issued to refund
1710 such bonds which mature no later than the bonds they refunded
1711 and which result in a reduction of debt service payable in each
1712 fiscal year, the amount available for distribution to a county
1713 shall remain as provided by law and continue to be subject to
1714 any lien or claim on behalf of the bondholders. The Department
1715 of Revenue must ensure, based on information provided by an
1716 affected county, that any reduction in amounts distributed
1717 pursuant to subsection (1) does not reduce the amount of
1718 distribution to a county below the amount necessary for the
1719 timely payment of principal and interest when due on the bonds
1720 and the amount necessary to comply with any covenant under the
1721 bond resolution or other documents relating to the issuance of
1722 the bonds. If a reduction to a county’s monthly distribution
1723 must be decreased in order to comply with this section, the
1724 Department of Revenue must notify the Department of Juvenile
1725 Justice of the amount of the decrease, and the Department of
1726 Juvenile Justice must send a bill for payment of such amount to
1727 the affected county.
1728 (3) This section expires July 1, 2027.
1729 Section 47. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1730 793 through 817A, 978 through 1125, and 1146 through 1182 of the
1731 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding the
1732 expiration date in section 52 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of
1733 Florida, subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection (2),
1734 paragraph (a) of subsection (3), and subsections (5), (6), and
1735 (7) of section 27.40, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
1736 27.40 Court-appointed counsel; circuit registries; minimum
1737 requirements; appointment by court.—
1738 (1) Counsel shall be appointed to represent any individual
1739 in a criminal or civil proceeding entitled to court-appointed
1740 counsel under the Federal or State Constitution or as authorized
1741 by general law. The court shall appoint a public defender to
1742 represent indigent persons as authorized in s. 27.51. The office
1743 of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel shall be
1744 appointed to represent persons in those cases in which provision
1745 is made for court-appointed counsel, but only after the public
1746 defender has certified to the court in writing that the public
1747 defender is unable to provide representation due to a conflict
1748 of interest or is not authorized to provide representation. The
1749 public defender shall report, in the aggregate, the specific
1750 basis of all conflicts of interest certified to the court. On a
1751 quarterly basis, the public defender shall submit this
1752 information to the Justice Administrative Commission.
1753 (2)(a) Private counsel shall be appointed to represent
1754 persons in those cases in which provision is made for court
1755 appointed counsel but only after the office of criminal conflict
1756 and civil regional counsel has been appointed and has certified
1757 to the court in writing that the criminal conflict and civil
1758 regional counsel is unable to provide representation due to a
1759 conflict of interest. The criminal conflict and civil regional
1760 counsel shall report, in the aggregate, the specific basis of
1761 all conflicts of interest certified to the court. On a quarterly
1762 basis, the criminal conflict and civil regional counsel shall
1763 submit this information to the Justice Administrative
1764 Commission.
1765 (3) In using a registry:
1766 (a) The chief judge of the circuit shall compile a list of
1767 attorneys in private practice, by county and by category of
1768 cases, and provide the list to the clerk of court in each
1769 county. The chief judge of the circuit may restrict the number
1770 of attorneys on the general registry list. To be included on a
1771 registry, an attorney must certify that he or she:
1772 1. Meets any minimum requirements established by the chief
1773 judge and by general law for court appointment;
1774 2. Is available to represent indigent defendants in cases
1775 requiring court appointment of private counsel; and
1776 3. Is willing to abide by the terms of the contract for
1777 services, s. 27.5304, and this section.
1778
1779 To be included on a registry, an attorney must enter into a
1780 contract for services with the Justice Administrative
1781 Commission. Failure to comply with the terms of the contract for
1782 services may result in termination of the contract and removal
1783 from the registry. Each attorney on the registry is responsible
1784 for notifying the clerk of the court and the Justice
1785 Administrative Commission of any change in his or her status.
1786 Failure to comply with this requirement is cause for termination
1787 of the contract for services and removal from the registry until
1788 the requirement is fulfilled.
1789 (5) The Justice Administrative Commission shall approve
1790 uniform contract forms for use in procuring the services of
1791 private court-appointed counsel and uniform procedures and forms
1792 for use by a court-appointed attorney in support of billing for
1793 attorney’s fees, costs, and related expenses to demonstrate the
1794 attorney’s completion of specified duties. Such uniform
1795 contracts and forms for use in billing must be consistent with
1796 s. 27.5304, s. 216.311, and the General Appropriations Act and
1797 must contain the following statement: “The State of Florida’s
1798 performance and obligation to pay under this contract is
1799 contingent upon an annual appropriation by the Legislature.”
1800 (6) After court appointment, the attorney must immediately
1801 file a notice of appearance with the court indicating acceptance
1802 of the appointment to represent the defendant and of the terms
1803 of the uniform contract as specified in subsection (5).
1804 (7)(a) A private attorney appointed by the court from the
1805 registry to represent a client is entitled to payment as
1806 provided in s. 27.5304 so long as the requirements of subsection
1807 (1) and paragraph (2)(a) are met. An attorney appointed by the
1808 court who is not on the registry list may be compensated under
1809 s. 27.5304 only if the court finds in the order of appointment
1810 that there were no registry attorneys available for
1811 representation for that case and only if the requirements of
1812 subsection (1) and paragraph (2)(a) are met.
1813 (b)1. The flat fee established in s. 27.5304 and the
1814 General Appropriations Act shall be presumed by the court to be
1815 sufficient compensation. The attorney shall maintain appropriate
1816 documentation, including contemporaneous and detailed hourly
1817 accounting of time spent representing the client. If the
1818 attorney fails to maintain such contemporaneous and detailed
1819 hourly records, the attorney waives the right to seek
1820 compensation in excess of the flat fee established in s. 27.5304
1821 and the General Appropriations Act. These records and documents
1822 are subject to review by the Justice Administrative Commission
1823 and audit by the Auditor General, subject to the attorney-client
1824 privilege and work-product privilege. The attorney shall
1825 maintain the records and documents in a manner that enables the
1826 attorney to redact any information subject to a privilege in
1827 order to facilitate the commission’s review of the records and
1828 documents and not to impede such review. The attorney may redact
1829 information from the records and documents only to the extent
1830 necessary to comply with the privilege. The Justice
1831 Administrative Commission shall review such records and shall
1832 contemporaneously document such review before authorizing
1833 payment to an attorney. Objections by or on behalf of the
1834 Justice Administrative Commission to records or documents or to
1835 claims for payment by the attorney shall be presumed correct by
1836 the court unless the court determines, in writing, that
1837 competent and substantial evidence exists to justify overcoming
1838 the presumption.
1839 2. If an attorney fails, refuses, or declines to permit the
1840 commission or the Auditor General to review documentation for a
1841 case as provided in this paragraph, the attorney waives the
1842 right to seek, and the commission may not pay, compensation in
1843 excess of the flat fee established in s. 27.5304 and the General
1844 Appropriations Act for that case.
1845 3. A finding by the commission that an attorney has waived
1846 the right to seek compensation in excess of the flat fee
1847 established in s. 27.5304 and the General Appropriations Act, as
1848 provided in this paragraph, shall be presumed to be correct,
1849 unless the court determines, in writing, that competent and
1850 substantial evidence exists to justify overcoming the
1851 presumption.
1852 Section 48. The text of s. 27.40(1), (2)(a), (3)(a), (5),
1853 (6), and (7), Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter
1854 2019-116, Laws of Florida, by this act expires July 1, 2027, and
1855 the text of those subsections and paragraphs, as applicable,
1856 shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2019, except that
1857 any amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall
1858 be preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
1859 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
1860 expire pursuant to this section.
1861 Section 49. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
1862 793 through 817A, 978 through 1125, and 1146 through 1182 of the
1863 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding the
1864 expiration date in section 54 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of
1865 Florida, subsection (13) of section 27.5304, Florida Statutes,
1866 is amended, and subsections (1), (3), (6), (7), and (11) and
1867 paragraphs (a) through (e) of subsection (12) of that section
1868 are reenacted, to read:
1869 27.5304 Private court-appointed counsel; compensation;
1870 notice.—
1871 (1) Private court-appointed counsel appointed in the manner
1872 prescribed in s. 27.40(1) and (2)(a) shall be compensated by the
1873 Justice Administrative Commission only as provided in this
1874 section and the General Appropriations Act. The flat fees
1875 prescribed in this section are limitations on compensation. The
1876 specific flat fee amounts for compensation shall be established
1877 annually in the General Appropriations Act. The attorney also
1878 shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses in
1879 accordance with s. 29.007. If the attorney is representing a
1880 defendant charged with more than one offense in the same case,
1881 the attorney shall be compensated at the rate provided for the
1882 most serious offense for which he or she represented the
1883 defendant. This section does not allow stacking of the fee
1884 limits established by this section.
1885 (3) The court retains primary authority and responsibility
1886 for determining the reasonableness of all billings for attorney
1887 fees, costs, and related expenses, subject to statutory
1888 limitations and the requirements of s. 27.40(7). Private court
1889 appointed counsel is entitled to compensation upon final
1890 disposition of a case.
1891 (6) For compensation for representation pursuant to a court
1892 appointment in a proceeding under chapter 39:
1893 (a) At the trial level, compensation for representation for
1894 dependency proceedings shall not exceed $1,450 for the first
1895 year following the date of appointment and shall not exceed $700
1896 each year thereafter. Compensation shall be paid based upon
1897 representation of a parent irrespective of the number of case
1898 numbers that may be assigned or the number of children involved,
1899 including any children born during the pendency of the
1900 proceeding. Any appeal, except for an appeal from an
1901 adjudication of dependency, shall be completed by the trial
1902 attorney and is considered compensated by the flat fee for
1903 dependency proceedings.
1904 1. Counsel may bill the flat fee not exceeding $1,450
1905 following disposition or upon dismissal of the petition.
1906 2. Counsel may bill the annual flat fee not exceeding $700
1907 following the first judicial review in the second year following
1908 the date of appointment and each year thereafter as long as the
1909 case remains under protective supervision.
1910 3. If the court grants a motion to reactivate protective
1911 supervision, the attorney shall receive the annual flat fee not
1912 exceeding $700 following the first judicial review and up to an
1913 additional $700 each year thereafter.
1914 4. If, during the course of dependency proceedings, a
1915 proceeding to terminate parental rights is initiated,
1916 compensation shall be as set forth in paragraph (b). If counsel
1917 handling the dependency proceeding is not authorized to handle
1918 proceedings to terminate parental rights, the counsel must
1919 withdraw and new counsel must be appointed.
1920 (b) At the trial level, compensation for representation in
1921 termination of parental rights proceedings shall not exceed
1922 $1,800 for the first year following the date of appointment and
1923 shall not exceed $700 each year thereafter. Compensation shall
1924 be paid based upon representation of a parent irrespective of
1925 the number of case numbers that may be assigned or the number of
1926 children involved, including any children born during the
1927 pendency of the proceeding. Any appeal, except for an appeal
1928 from an order granting or denying termination of parental
1929 rights, shall be completed by trial counsel and is considered
1930 compensated by the flat fee for termination of parental rights
1931 proceedings. If the individual has dependency proceedings
1932 ongoing as to other children, those proceedings are considered
1933 part of the termination of parental rights proceedings as long
1934 as that termination of parental rights proceeding is ongoing.
1935 1. Counsel may bill the flat fee not exceeding $1,800 30
1936 days after rendition of the final order. Each request for
1937 payment submitted to the Justice Administrative Commission must
1938 include the trial counsel’s certification that:
1939 a. Counsel discussed grounds for appeal with the parent or
1940 that counsel attempted and was unable to contact the parent; and
1941 b. No appeal will be filed or that a notice of appeal and a
1942 motion for appointment of appellate counsel, containing the
1943 signature of the parent, have been filed.
1944 2. Counsel may bill the annual flat fee not exceeding $700
1945 following the first judicial review in the second year after the
1946 date of appointment and each year thereafter as long as the
1947 termination of parental rights proceedings are still ongoing.
1948 (c) For appeals from an adjudication of dependency,
1949 compensation may not exceed $1,800.
1950 1. Counsel may bill a flat fee not exceeding $1,200 upon
1951 filing the initial brief or the granting of a motion to
1952 withdraw.
1953 2. If a brief is filed, counsel may bill an additional flat
1954 fee not exceeding $600 upon rendition of the mandate.
1955 (d) For an appeal from an adjudication of termination of
1956 parental rights, compensation may not exceed $3,500.
1957 1. Counsel may bill a flat fee not exceeding $1,750 upon
1958 filing the initial brief or the granting of a motion to
1959 withdraw.
1960 2. If a brief is filed, counsel may bill an additional flat
1961 fee not exceeding $1,750 upon rendition of the mandate.
1962 (7) Counsel eligible to receive compensation from the state
1963 for representation pursuant to court appointment made in
1964 accordance with the requirements of s. 27.40(1) and (2)(a) in a
1965 proceeding under chapter 384, chapter 390, chapter 392, chapter
1966 393, chapter 394, chapter 397, chapter 415, chapter 743, chapter
1967 744, or chapter 984 shall receive compensation not to exceed the
1968 limits prescribed in the General Appropriations Act. Any such
1969 compensation must be determined as provided in s. 27.40(7).
1970 (11) It is the intent of the Legislature that the flat fees
1971 prescribed under this section and the General Appropriations Act
1972 comprise the full and complete compensation for private court
1973 appointed counsel. It is further the intent of the Legislature
1974 that the fees in this section are prescribed for the purpose of
1975 providing counsel with notice of the limit on the amount of
1976 compensation for representation in particular proceedings and
1977 the sole procedure and requirements for obtaining payment for
1978 the same.
1979 (a) If court-appointed counsel moves to withdraw prior to
1980 the full performance of his or her duties through the completion
1981 of the case, the court shall presume that the attorney is not
1982 entitled to the payment of the full flat fee established under
1983 this section and the General Appropriations Act.
1984 (b) If court-appointed counsel is allowed to withdraw from
1985 representation prior to the full performance of his or her
1986 duties through the completion of the case and the court appoints
1987 a subsequent attorney, the total compensation for the initial
1988 and any and all subsequent attorneys may not exceed the flat fee
1989 established under this section and the General Appropriations
1990 Act, except as provided in subsection (12).
1991
1992 This subsection constitutes notice to any subsequently appointed
1993 attorney that he or she will not be compensated the full flat
1994 fee.
1995 (12) The Legislature recognizes that on rare occasions an
1996 attorney may receive a case that requires extraordinary and
1997 unusual effort.
1998 (a) If counsel seeks compensation that exceeds the limits
1999 prescribed by law, he or she must file a motion with the chief
2000 judge for an order approving payment of attorney fees in excess
2001 of these limits.
2002 1. Before filing the motion, the counsel shall deliver a
2003 copy of the intended billing, together with supporting
2004 affidavits and all other necessary documentation, to the Justice
2005 Administrative Commission.
2006 2. The Justice Administrative Commission shall review the
2007 billings, affidavit, and documentation for completeness and
2008 compliance with contractual and statutory requirements and shall
2009 contemporaneously document such review before authorizing
2010 payment to an attorney. If the Justice Administrative Commission
2011 objects to any portion of the proposed billing, the objection
2012 and supporting reasons must be communicated in writing to the
2013 private court-appointed counsel. The counsel may thereafter file
2014 his or her motion, which must specify whether the commission
2015 objects to any portion of the billing or the sufficiency of
2016 documentation, and shall attach the commission’s letter stating
2017 its objection.
2018 (b) Following receipt of the motion to exceed the fee
2019 limits, the chief judge or a single designee shall hold an
2020 evidentiary hearing. The chief judge may select only one judge
2021 per circuit to hear and determine motions pursuant to this
2022 subsection, except multicounty circuits and the eleventh circuit
2023 may have up to two designees.
2024 1. At the hearing, the attorney seeking compensation must
2025 prove by competent and substantial evidence that the case
2026 required extraordinary and unusual efforts. The chief judge or
2027 single designee shall consider criteria such as the number of
2028 witnesses, the complexity of the factual and legal issues, and
2029 the length of trial. The fact that a trial was conducted in a
2030 case does not, by itself, constitute competent substantial
2031 evidence of an extraordinary and unusual effort. In a criminal
2032 case, relief under this section may not be granted if the number
2033 of work hours does not exceed 75 or the number of the state’s
2034 witnesses deposed does not exceed 20.
2035 2. Objections by or on behalf of the Justice Administrative
2036 Commission to records or documents or to claims for payment by
2037 the attorney shall be presumed correct by the court unless the
2038 court determines, in writing, that competent and substantial
2039 evidence exists to justify overcoming the presumption. The chief
2040 judge or single designee shall enter a written order detailing
2041 his or her findings and identifying the extraordinary nature of
2042 the time and efforts of the attorney in the case which warrant
2043 exceeding the flat fee established by this section and the
2044 General Appropriations Act.
2045 (c) A copy of the motion and attachments shall be served on
2046 the Justice Administrative Commission at least 20 business days
2047 before the date of a hearing. The Justice Administrative
2048 Commission has standing to appear before the court, and may
2049 appear in person or telephonically, including at the hearing
2050 under paragraph (b), to contest any motion for an order
2051 approving payment of attorney fees, costs, or related expenses
2052 and may participate in a hearing on the motion by use of
2053 telephonic or other communication equipment. The Justice
2054 Administrative Commission may contract with other public or
2055 private entities or individuals to appear before the court for
2056 the purpose of contesting any motion for an order approving
2057 payment of attorney fees, costs, or related expenses. The fact
2058 that the Justice Administrative Commission has not objected to
2059 any portion of the billing or to the sufficiency of the
2060 documentation is not binding on the court.
2061 (d) If the chief judge or a single designee finds that
2062 counsel has proved by competent and substantial evidence that
2063 the case required extraordinary and unusual efforts, the chief
2064 judge or single designee shall order the compensation to be paid
2065 to the attorney at a percentage above the flat fee rate,
2066 depending on the extent of the unusual and extraordinary effort
2067 required. The percentage must be only the rate necessary to
2068 ensure that the fees paid are not confiscatory under common law.
2069 The percentage may not exceed 200 percent of the established
2070 flat fee, absent a specific finding that 200 percent of the flat
2071 fee in the case would be confiscatory. If the chief judge or
2072 single designee determines that 200 percent of the flat fee
2073 would be confiscatory, he or she shall order the amount of
2074 compensation using an hourly rate not to exceed $75 per hour for
2075 a noncapital case and $100 per hour for a capital case. However,
2076 the compensation calculated by using the hourly rate shall be
2077 only that amount necessary to ensure that the total fees paid
2078 are not confiscatory, subject to the requirements of s.
2079 27.40(7).
2080 (e) Any order granting relief under this subsection must be
2081 attached to the final request for a payment submitted to the
2082 Justice Administrative Commission and must satisfy the
2083 requirements of subparagraph (b)2.
2084 (13) Notwithstanding the limitation set forth in subsection
2085 (5) and for the 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal year only, the
2086 compensation for representation in a criminal proceeding may not
2087 exceed the following:
2088 (a) For misdemeanors and juveniles represented at the trial
2089 level: $2,000.
2090 (b) For noncapital, nonlife felonies represented at the
2091 trial level: $15,000.
2092 (c) For life felonies represented at the trial level:
2093 $15,000.
2094 (d) For capital cases represented at the trial level:
2095 $25,000. For purposes of this paragraph, a “capital case” is any
2096 offense for which the potential sentence is death and the state
2097 has not waived seeking the death penalty.
2098 (e) For representation on appeal: $9,000.
2099 (f) This subsection expires July 1, 2027 2026.
2100 Section 50. The text of s. 27.5304(1), (3), (7), (11), and
2101 (12)(a)-(e), Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter
2102 2019-116, Laws of Florida, and the text of s. 27.5304(6),
2103 Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter 2023-240, Laws
2104 of Florida, by this act, expire July 1, 2027, and the text of
2105 those subsections and paragraphs, as applicable, shall revert to
2106 that in existence on June 30, 2019, except that any amendments
2107 to such text enacted other than by this act shall be preserved
2108 and continue to operate to the extent that such amendments are
2109 not dependent upon the portions of text which expire pursuant to
2110 this section.
2111 Section 51. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2112 1348 through 1353 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
2113 subsection (3) of section 908.1033, Florida Statutes, is amended
2114 to read:
2115 908.1033 Local Law Enforcement Immigration Grant Program.—
2116 (3)(a) A local law enforcement agency may apply to the
2117 State Board of Immigration Enforcement to provide bonus payments
2118 for the agency’s local law enforcement officers who participate
2119 in United States Department of Homeland Security at-large task
2120 force operations. The local law enforcement agency may apply for
2121 a bonus of up to $1,000 for each local law enforcement officer
2122 employed within that agency. The local law enforcement agency
2123 must certify to the board that the local law enforcement officer
2124 participated in one or more operations and provide any
2125 information required by the board. Eligible participation does
2126 not include operations occurring solely at state correctional
2127 facilities or county detention facilities.
2128 (b) The bonus payment shall be adjusted to include 7.65
2129 percent for the officers’ share of Federal Insurance
2130 Contribution Act tax on the bonus.
2131 (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), and for the 2026-2027
2132 2025-2026 fiscal year, a local law enforcement agency may apply
2133 to the State Board of Immigration Enforcement to provide bonus
2134 payments for the agency’s certified correctional officers under
2135 s. 943.10(2), who are a warrant service officer under s. 287(g)
2136 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. s. 1357 or an
2137 immigration officer under the jail enforcement model under s.
2138 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. s. 1357.
2139 The local law enforcement agency may apply for a bonus of up to
2140 $1,000 for each certified correctional officer employed with
2141 that county detention facility. The local law enforcement agency
2142 must certify to the board that the certified correctional
2143 officer acted in such capacity as a warrant service officer or
2144 an immigration officer under the jail enforcement model for at
2145 least 6 months preceding the application and provide any
2146 information required by the board. Eligible participation does
2147 not include operations occurring solely at state correctional
2148 facilities. This paragraph expires July 1, 2027 2026.
2149 Section 52. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2150 1336A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (g)
2151 is added to subsection (7) of section 934.50, Florida Statutes,
2152 to read:
2153 934.50 Searches and seizure using a drone.—
2154 (7) SECURITY STANDARDS FOR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY DRONE USE.—
2155 (g) Subject to appropriation, the Drone as First Responder
2156 Grant Program is created within the Department of Law
2157 Enforcement.
2158 1. The grant program shall provide funds to law enforcement
2159 agencies, fire service providers, ambulance crews, or other
2160 first responders that apply for funding to acquire new drones
2161 that comply with this section. To be eligible, the applicant
2162 must provide the department with any information the department
2163 deems necessary. A law enforcement agency, fire service,
2164 ambulance service, or other first responder agency may apply
2165 directly to the department or a local governmental entity may
2166 submit an application on behalf of one or more of its agencies
2167 to purchase one or more new drones.
2168 2. The department shall expeditiously develop an
2169 application process. Funds shall be allocated on a first-come,
2170 first-served basis, determined by the date the department
2171 receives the application.
2172 3. Grants must be matched by at least 50 percent local
2173 funds, but the department may waive this requirement for
2174 agencies solely serving within a fiscally constrained county as
2175 described in s. 218.67(1), Florida Statutes. Each grant is
2176 limited to a total of $250,000 per agency and a maximum $50,000
2177 per drone.
2178 4. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term “first
2179 responder agency“ has the same meaning as in s. 365.179(1)(a).
2180 5. The department may adopt rules to implement this
2181 paragraph. The department is authorized, and all conditions are
2182 deemed met, to adopt emergency rules under s. 120.54(4) for the
2183 purpose of implementing this paragraph. Notwithstanding any
2184 other law, emergency rules adopted under this section are
2185 effective for 12 months after adoption and may be renewed during
2186 the pendency of procedures to adopt permanent rules addressing
2187 the subject of the emergency rules.
2188
2189 This paragraph expires July 1, 2027.
2190 Section 53. In order to implement appropriations used to
2191 pay existing lease contracts for private lease space in excess
2192 of 2,000 square feet in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations
2193 Act, the Department of Management Services, with the cooperation
2194 of the agencies having the existing lease contracts for office
2195 or storage space, shall use tenant broker services to
2196 renegotiate or reprocure all private lease agreements for office
2197 or storage space which are expiring between July 1, 2027, and
2198 June 30, 2029, in order to reduce costs in future years. The
2199 department shall incorporate this initiative into its 2026
2200 master leasing report required under s. 255.249(7), Florida
2201 Statutes, and may use tenant broker services to explore the
2202 possibilities of colocating office or storage space, to review
2203 the space needs of each agency, and to review the length and
2204 terms of potential renewals or renegotiations. The department
2205 shall provide a report to the Executive Office of the Governor,
2206 the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
2207 Representatives by November 1, 2026, which lists each lease
2208 contract for private office or storage space, the status of
2209 renegotiations, and the savings achieved. This section expires
2210 July 1, 2027.
2211 Section 54. In order to implement appropriations authorized
2212 in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for data center
2213 services, and notwithstanding s. 216.292(2)(a), Florida
2214 Statutes, an agency may not transfer funds from a data
2215 processing category to a category other than another data
2216 processing category or a cloud computing category for
2217 information technology resources hosted outside an agency. This
2218 section expires July 1, 2027.
2219 Section 55. In order to implement the appropriation of
2220 funds in the appropriation category “Special Categories-Risk
2221 Management Insurance” in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations
2222 Act, and pursuant to the notice, review, and objection
2223 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the Executive Office
2224 of the Governor may transfer funds appropriated in that category
2225 between departments in order to align the budget authority
2226 granted with the premiums paid by each department for risk
2227 management insurance. This section expires July 1, 2027.
2228 Section 56. In order to implement the appropriation of
2229 funds in the appropriation category “Special Categories-Transfer
2230 to Department of Management Services-Human Resources Services
2231 Purchased per Statewide Contract” in the 2026-2027 General
2232 Appropriations Act, and pursuant to the notice, review, and
2233 objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the
2234 Executive Office of the Governor may transfer funds appropriated
2235 in that category between departments in order to align the
2236 budget authority granted with the assessments that must be paid
2237 by each agency to the Department of Management Services for
2238 human resource management services. This section expires July 1,
2239 2027.
2240 Section 57. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2241 2935 in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act in the Building
2242 Relocation appropriation category from the Architects Incidental
2243 Trust Fund of the Department of Management Services, and in
2244 accordance with s. 215.196, Florida Statutes:
2245 (1) Upon the final disposition of a state-owned building,
2246 the Department of Management Services may use up to 5 percent of
2247 facility disposition funds from the Architects Incidental Trust
2248 Fund to defer, offset, or otherwise pay for all or a portion of
2249 relocation expenses, including furniture, fixtures, and
2250 equipment for state agencies impacted by the disposition of the
2251 department’s managed facilities in the Florida Facilities Pool.
2252 The extent of the financial assistance provided to impacted
2253 state agencies shall be determined by the department.
2254 (2) The Department of Management Services may submit budget
2255 amendments for an increase in appropriation if necessary for the
2256 implementation of this section pursuant to chapter 216, Florida
2257 Statutes. Budget amendments for an increase in appropriation
2258 shall include a detailed plan providing all estimated costs and
2259 relocation proposals.
2260 (3) This section expires July 1, 2027.
2261 Section 58. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2262 2513 through 2516 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:
2263 (1) The Department of Financial Services shall replace the
2264 four main components of the Florida Accounting Information
2265 Resource Subsystem (FLAIR), which include central FLAIR,
2266 departmental FLAIR, payroll, and information warehouse, and
2267 shall replace the cash management and accounting management
2268 components of the Cash Management Subsystem (CMS) with an
2269 integrated enterprise system that allows the state to organize,
2270 define, and standardize its financial management business
2271 processes and that complies with ss. 215.90-215.96, Florida
2272 Statutes. The department may not include in the replacement of
2273 FLAIR and CMS:
2274 (a) Functionality that duplicates any of the other
2275 information subsystems of the Florida Financial Management
2276 Information System; or
2277 (b) Agency business processes related to any of the
2278 functions included in the Personnel Information System, the
2279 Purchasing Subsystem, or the Legislative Appropriations
2280 System/Planning and Budgeting Subsystem.
2281 (2) For purposes of replacing FLAIR and CMS, the Department
2282 of Financial Services shall:
2283 (a) Take into consideration the cost and implementation
2284 data identified for Option 3 as recommended in the March 31,
2285 2014, Florida Department of Financial Services FLAIR Study,
2286 version 031.
2287 (b) Ensure that all business requirements and technical
2288 specifications have been provided to all state agencies for
2289 their review and input and approved by the executive steering
2290 committee established in paragraph (c), including any updates to
2291 these documents.
2292 (c) Implement a project governance structure that includes
2293 an executive steering committee composed of:
2294 1. The Chief Financial Officer or the executive sponsor of
2295 the project.
2296 2. A representative of the Division of Treasury of the
2297 Department of Financial Services, appointed by the Chief
2298 Financial Officer.
2299 3. The Chief Information Officers of the Department of
2300 Financial Services and the Department of Environmental
2301 Protection.
2302 4. Two employees from the Division of Accounting and
2303 Auditing of the Department of Financial Services, appointed by
2304 the Chief Financial Officer. Each employee must have experience
2305 relating to at least one of the four main components that
2306 compose FLAIR.
2307 5. Two employees from the Executive Office of the Governor,
2308 appointed by the Governor. One employee must have experience
2309 relating to the Legislative Appropriations System/Planning and
2310 Budgeting Subsystem.
2311 6. One employee from the Department of Revenue, appointed
2312 by the executive director, who has experience using or
2313 maintaining the department’s finance and accounting systems.
2314 7. Two employees from the Department of Management
2315 Services, appointed by the Secretary of Management Services. One
2316 employee must have experience relating to the department’s
2317 personnel information subsystem and one employee must have
2318 experience relating to the department’s purchasing subsystem.
2319 8. A state agency administrative services director,
2320 appointed by the Governor.
2321 9. The executive sponsor of the Florida Health Care
2322 Connection (FX) System or his or her designee, appointed by the
2323 Secretary of Health Care Administration.
2324 10. The state chief information officer, or his or her
2325 designee, as a nonvoting member. The state chief information
2326 officer, or his or her designee, shall provide monthly status
2327 reports to the executive steering committee pursuant to the
2328 oversight responsibilities in s. 282.0051, Florida Statutes.
2329 11. One employee from the Department of Business and
2330 Professional Regulation who has experience in finance and
2331 accounting and FLAIR, appointed by the Secretary of Business and
2332 Professional Regulation.
2333 12. One employee from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
2334 Commission who has experience using or maintaining the
2335 commission’s finance and accounting systems, appointed by the
2336 chair of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
2337 13. The budget director of the Department of Education, or
2338 his or her designee.
2339 (3)(a) The Chief Financial Officer or the executive sponsor
2340 of the project shall serve as chair of the executive steering
2341 committee, and the committee shall take action by a vote of at
2342 least eight affirmative votes with the Chief Financial Officer
2343 or the executive sponsor of the project voting on the prevailing
2344 side. A quorum of the executive steering committee consists of
2345 at least 10 members.
2346 (b) No later than 14 days before a meeting of the executive
2347 steering committee, the chair shall request input from committee
2348 members on agenda items for the next scheduled meeting.
2349 (c) The chair shall establish a working group composed of
2350 FLAIR users, state agency technical staff who maintain
2351 applications that integrate with FLAIR, and no less than four
2352 state agency finance and accounting or budget directors. The
2353 working group shall meet at least monthly to review PALM
2354 functionality, assess project impacts to state financial
2355 business processes and agency staff, and develop recommendations
2356 to the executive steering committee for improvements. The chair
2357 shall request input from the working group on agenda items for
2358 each scheduled meeting. The Florida PALM project team shall
2359 dedicate a staff member to the group and provide system
2360 demonstrations and any project documentation, as needed, for the
2361 group to fulfill its duties.
2362 (d) The chair shall request all agency project sponsors to
2363 provide bimonthly status reports to the executive steering
2364 committee. The form and format of the bimonthly status reports
2365 shall be developed by the Florida PALM project and provided to
2366 the executive steering committee meeting for approval. Such
2367 agency status reports shall provide information to the executive
2368 steering committee on the activities and ongoing work within the
2369 agency to prepare its systems and impacted employees for the
2370 deployment of the Florida PALM System. The first bimonthly
2371 status report is due September 1, 2026, and bimonthly
2372 thereafter.
2373 (4) The executive steering committee has the overall
2374 responsibility for ensuring that the project to replace FLAIR
2375 and CMS meets its primary business objectives and shall:
2376 (a) Identify and recommend to the Executive Office of the
2377 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
2378 House of Representatives any statutory changes needed to
2379 implement the replacement subsystem that will standardize, to
2380 the fullest extent possible, the state’s financial management
2381 business processes.
2382 (b) Review and approve any changes to the project’s scope,
2383 schedule, and budget which do not conflict with the requirements
2384 of subsection (1).
2385 (c) Ensure that adequate resources are provided throughout
2386 all phases of the project.
2387 (d) Approve all major project deliverables and any cost
2388 changes to each deliverable over $250,000.
2389 (e) Approve contract amendments and changes to all
2390 contract-related documents associated with the replacement of
2391 FLAIR and CMS.
2392 (f) Review, and approve as warranted, the format of the
2393 bimonthly agency status reports to include objective and
2394 quantifiable information on each agency’s progress in planning
2395 for the Florida PALM Major Implementation, covering the agency’s
2396 people, processes, technology, and data transformation
2397 activities.
2398 (g) Ensure compliance with ss. 216.181(16), 216.311,
2399 216.313, 282.318(4)(h), and 287.058, Florida Statutes.
2400 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
2401 Section 59. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2402 3040 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
2403 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 65 of chapter
2404 2025-199, Laws of Florida, subsection (3) of section 282.709,
2405 Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
2406 282.709 State agency law enforcement radio system and
2407 interoperability network.—
2408 (3) In recognition of the critical nature of the statewide
2409 law enforcement radio communications system, the Legislature
2410 finds that there is an immediate danger to the public health,
2411 safety, and welfare, and that it is in the best interest of the
2412 state to continue partnering with the system’s current operator.
2413 The Legislature finds that continuity of coverage is critical to
2414 supporting law enforcement, first responders, and other public
2415 safety users. The potential for a loss in coverage or a lack of
2416 interoperability between users requires emergency action and is
2417 a serious concern for officers’ safety and their ability to
2418 communicate and respond to various disasters and events.
2419 (a) The department, pursuant to s. 287.057(11), shall enter
2420 into a 15-year contract with the entity that was operating the
2421 statewide radio communications system on January 1, 2021. The
2422 contract must include:
2423 1. The purchase of radios;
2424 2. The upgrade to the Project 25 communications standard;
2425 3. Increased system capacity and enhanced coverage for
2426 system users;
2427 4. Operations, maintenance, and support at a fixed annual
2428 rate;
2429 5. The conveyance of communications towers to the
2430 department; and
2431 6. The assignment of communications tower leases to the
2432 department.
2433 (b) The State Agency Law Enforcement Radio System Trust
2434 Fund is established in the department and funded from surcharges
2435 collected under ss. 318.18, 320.0802, and 328.72. Upon
2436 appropriation, moneys in the trust fund may be used by the
2437 department to acquire the equipment, software, and engineering,
2438 administrative, and maintenance services it needs to construct,
2439 operate, and maintain the statewide radio system. Moneys in the
2440 trust fund from surcharges shall be used to help fund the costs
2441 of the system. Upon completion of the system, moneys in the
2442 trust fund may also be used by the department for payment of the
2443 recurring maintenance costs of the system.
2444 Section 60. The text of s. 282.709(3), Florida Statutes, as
2445 carried forward from chapter 2021-37, Laws of Florida, by this
2446 act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that subsection shall
2447 revert to that in existence on June 1, 2021, except that any
2448 amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall be
2449 preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
2450 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
2451 expire pursuant to this section.
2452 Section 61. In order to implement appropriations relating
2453 to the purchase of equipment and services related to the
2454 Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) as authorized in
2455 the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding s.
2456 287.057, Florida Statutes, state agencies and other eligible
2457 users of the SLERS network may use the Department of Management
2458 Services SLERS contract for purchase of equipment and services.
2459 This section expires July 1, 2027.
2460 Section 62. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2461 2954 through 2965 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
2462 and notwithstanding rule 60A-1.031, Florida Administrative Code,
2463 the transaction fee as identified in s. 287.057(24)(c), Florida
2464 Statutes, shall be collected for use of the online procurement
2465 system and is 0.7 percent for the 2026-2027 fiscal year only.
2466 This section expires July 1, 2027.
2467 Section 63. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2468 2866 through 2892 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
2469 and upon the expiration and reversion of the amendments made by
2470 section 69 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida, paragraph (i)
2471 of subsection (9) of section 24.105, Florida Statutes, is
2472 amended to read:
2473 24.105 Powers and duties of department.—The department
2474 shall:
2475 (9) Adopt rules governing the establishment and operation
2476 of the state lottery, including:
2477 (i) The manner and amount of compensation of retailers,
2478 except for the 2026-2027 fiscal year only, effective July 1,
2479 2026, the commission for lottery ticket sales shall be 6 percent
2480 of the purchase price of each ticket sold or issued as a prize
2481 by a retailer. Any additional retailer compensation is limited
2482 to the Florida Lottery Retailer Bonus Commission program
2483 appropriated in Specific Appropriation 2892 of the 2026-2027
2484 General Appropriations Act.
2485 Section 64. The amendment to s. 24.105(9)(i), Florida
2486 Statutes, made by this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of
2487 that paragraph shall revert to that in existence on June 30,
2488 2022, except that any amendments to such text enacted other than
2489 by this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
2490 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
2491 of text which expire pursuant to this section.
2492 Section 65. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
2493 3084 through 3092 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
2494 paragraph (ll) of subsection (6) of section 627.351, Florida
2495 Statutes, is amended to read:
2496 627.351 Insurance risk apportionment plans.—
2497 (6) CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE CORPORATION.—
2498 (ll)1. In addition to any other method of alternative
2499 dispute resolution authorized by state law, the corporation may
2500 adopt policy forms that provide for the resolution of disputes
2501 regarding its claim determinations, including disputes regarding
2502 coverage for, or the scope and value of, a claim, in a
2503 proceeding before the Division of Administrative Hearings. Any
2504 such policies are not subject to s. 627.70154. All proceedings
2505 in the Division of Administrative Hearings pursuant to such
2506 policies are subject to ss. 57.105 and 768.79 as if filed in the
2507 courts of this state and are not considered chapter 120
2508 administrative proceedings. Rule 1.442, Florida Rules of Civil
2509 Procedure, applies to any offer served pursuant to s. 768.79,
2510 except that, notwithstanding any provision in Rule 1.442,
2511 Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, to the contrary, an offer
2512 shall not be served earlier than 10 days after filing the
2513 request for hearing with the Division of Administrative Hearings
2514 and shall not be served later than 10 days before the date set
2515 for the final hearing. The administrative law judge in such
2516 proceedings shall award attorney fees and other relief pursuant
2517 to ss. 57.105 and 768.79. The corporation may not seek, and the
2518 office may not approve, a maximum hourly rate for attorney fees.
2519 2. The corporation may contract with the division to
2520 conduct proceedings to resolve disputes regarding its claim
2521 determinations as may be provided for in the applicable policies
2522 of insurance. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 2026.
2523 Section 66. In order to implement section 125 of the 2026
2524 2027 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (a) of subsection (2)
2525 of section 215.5586, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2526 215.5586 My Safe Florida Home Program.—There is established
2527 within the Department of Financial Services the My Safe Florida
2528 Home Program. The department shall provide fiscal
2529 accountability, contract management, and strategic leadership
2530 for the program, consistent with this section. This section does
2531 not create an entitlement for property owners or obligate the
2532 state in any way to fund the inspection or retrofitting of
2533 residential property in this state. Implementation of this
2534 program is subject to annual legislative appropriations. It is
2535 the intent of the Legislature that, subject to the availability
2536 of funds, the My Safe Florida Home Program provide licensed
2537 inspectors to perform hurricane mitigation inspections of
2538 eligible homes and grants to fund hurricane mitigation projects
2539 on those homes. The department shall implement the program in
2540 such a manner that the total amount of funding requested by
2541 accepted applications, whether for inspections, grants, or other
2542 services or assistance, does not exceed the total amount of
2543 available funds. If, after applications are processed and
2544 approved, funds remain available, the department may accept
2545 applications up to the available amount. The program shall
2546 develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated approach
2547 for hurricane damage mitigation pursuant to the requirements
2548 provided in this section.
2549 (2) HURRICANE MITIGATION GRANTS.—Financial grants shall be
2550 used by homeowners to make improvements recommended by an
2551 inspection which increase resistance to hurricane damage.
2552 (a) A homeowner is eligible for a hurricane mitigation
2553 grant if all of the following criteria are met:
2554 1. The home must be eligible for an inspection under
2555 subsection (1).
2556 2. The home must be a dwelling with an insured value of
2557 $700,000 or less. Homeowners who are low-income persons, as
2558 defined in s. 420.0004(11), are exempt from this requirement.
2559 3. The home must undergo an acceptable hurricane mitigation
2560 inspection as provided in subsection (1).
2561 4. The building permit application for initial construction
2562 of the home must have been made before January 1, 2008.
2563 5. The homeowner must agree to make his or her home
2564 available for inspection once a mitigation project is completed.
2565 6. The homeowner must agree to provide to the department
2566 information received from the homeowner’s insurer identifying
2567 the discounts realized by the homeowner because of the
2568 mitigation improvements funded through the program.
2569 7.a. The homeowner must be a low-income person or moderate
2570 income person as defined in s. 420.0004.
2571 b. The hurricane mitigation inspection must have occurred
2572 within the previous 24 months from the date of application.
2573 c. Notwithstanding subparagraph 2., homeowners who are low
2574 income persons, as defined in s. 420.0004(11), are not exempt
2575 from the requirement that the home must be a dwelling with an
2576 insured value of $700,000 or less.
2577 d. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 2026.
2578 Section 67. Effective upon this act becoming a law, in
2579 order to implement Specific Appropriation 2544A of the 2026-2027
2580 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding s. 216.301,
2581 Florida Statutes, the funds appropriated to the Department of
2582 Financial Services in Specific Appropriation 2245A and section
2583 74 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act will not revert
2584 and may be carried forward through the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
2585 This section expires July 1, 2027.
2586 Section 68. In order to implement the appropriation of
2587 funds in the appropriation category “Northwest Regional Data
2588 Center” in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
2589 pursuant to the notice, review, and objection procedures of s.
2590 216.177, Florida Statutes, the Executive Office of the Governor
2591 may transfer funds appropriated in that category between
2592 departments in order to align the budget authority granted based
2593 on the estimated costs for data processing services for the
2594 2026-2027 fiscal year. This section expires July 1, 2027.
2595 Section 69. In order to implement appropriations authorized
2596 in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for state data
2597 center services, auxiliary assessments charged to state agencies
2598 related to contract management services provided to Northwest
2599 Regional Data Center may not exceed 3 percent. This section
2600 expires July 1, 2027.
2601 Section 70. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2602 2563A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section
2603 284.51, Florida Statutes, is reenacted and amended to read:
2604 284.51 Electroencephalogram combined transcranial magnetic
2605 stimulation treatment pilot program.—
2606 (1) As used in this section, the term:
2607 (a) “Division” means the Division of Risk Management of the
2608 Department of Financial Services.
2609 (b) “Electroencephalogram combined Transcranial Magnetic
2610 Stimulation” or “eTMS” means treatment in which transcranial
2611 magnetic stimulation frequency pulses are tuned to the patient’s
2612 physiology and biometric data.
2613 (c) “First responder” means a law enforcement officer, a
2614 part-time law enforcement officer, or an auxiliary law
2615 enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10; a firefighter as
2616 defined in s. 633.102; a 911 public safety telecommunicator as
2617 defined in s. 401.465; or an emergency medical technician or
2618 paramedic as defined in s. 401.23 employed by state or local
2619 government. The term also includes a volunteer or retired law
2620 enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical
2621 technician or paramedic engaged, or previously engaged, by the
2622 state or a local government.
2623 (d) “Veteran” means:
2624 1. A veteran as defined in 38 U.S.C. s. 101(2);
2625 2. A person who served in a reserve component as defined in
2626 38 U.S.C. s. 101(27); or
2627 3. A person who served in the National Guard of any state.
2628 (2) The division shall select a provider to establish a
2629 statewide pilot program to make eTMS available for veterans,
2630 first responders, and immediate family members of veterans and
2631 first responders with:
2632 (a) Substance use disorders.
2633 (b) Mental illness.
2634 (c) Sleep disorders.
2635 (d) Traumatic brain injuries.
2636 (e) Sexual trauma.
2637 (f) Posttraumatic stress disorder and accompanying
2638 comorbidities.
2639 (g) Concussions.
2640 (h) Other brain trauma.
2641 (i) Quality of life issues affecting human performance,
2642 including issues related to or resulting from problems with
2643 cognition and problems maintaining attention, concentration, or
2644 focus.
2645 (3) The provider must display a history of serving veteran
2646 and first responder populations at a statewide level. The
2647 provider shall establish a network for in-person and offsite
2648 care with the goal of providing statewide access. Consideration
2649 shall be provided to locations with a large population of first
2650 responders and veterans. In addition to traditional eTMS
2651 devices, the provider may utilize nonmedical Portable Magnetic
2652 Stimulation devices to improve access to underserved populations
2653 in remote areas or to be used to serve as a pre-post treatment
2654 or a stand-alone device. The provider shall be required to
2655 establish and operate a clinical practice and to evaluate
2656 outcomes of such clinical practice.
2657 (4) The pilot program shall include:
2658 (a) The establishment of a peer-to-peer support network by
2659 the provider made available to all individuals receiving
2660 treatment under the program.
2661 (b) The requirement that each individual who receives
2662 treatment under the program also must receive neurophysiological
2663 monitoring, monitoring for symptoms of substance use and other
2664 mental health disorders, and access to counseling and wellness
2665 programming. Each individual who receives treatment must also
2666 participate in the peer-to-peer support network established by
2667 the provider.
2668 (c) The establishment of protocols which include the use of
2669 adopted stimulation frequency and intensity modulation based on
2670 EEGs done on days 0, 10, and 20 and motor threshold testing, as
2671 well as clinical symptoms, signs, and biometrics.
2672 (d) The requirement that protocols and outcomes of any
2673 treatment provided by the clinical practice shall be collected
2674 and reported by the provider quarterly to the division, the
2675 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
2676 Representatives. Such report shall include the biodata metrics
2677 and all expenditures and accounting of the use of funds received
2678 from the department.
2679 (e) The requirement that protocols and outcomes of any
2680 treatment provided by the clinical practice shall be collected
2681 and reported to the University of South Florida and may be
2682 provided by the provider to any relevant Food and Drug
2683 Administration studies or trials.
2684 (5) The division may adopt rules to implement this section.
2685 (6) This section expires July 1, 2027 2026.
2686 Section 71. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2687 2563A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the
2688 Department of Financial Services shall continue its existing
2689 contract for the establishment of the Electroencephalogram
2690 Combined Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment pilot
2691 program for veterans and first responders. The department’s
2692 existing contract, and all funds paid by the department pursuant
2693 to that contract, do not constitute state financial assistance
2694 as provided in s. 215.97, Florida Statutes. This section expires
2695 July 1, 2027.
2696 Section 72. Effective upon this act becoming a law, and in
2697 order to implement Specific Appropriations 2505 through 2512 of
2698 the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (3) is
2699 added to section 717.123, Florida Statutes, to read:
2700 717.123 Deposit of funds.—
2701 (3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), and for the 2025-2026
2702 and 2026-2027 fiscal years, the department shall retain, from
2703 the funds received under this chapter, an amount not to exceed
2704 the amount estimated to be received as atypical receipts for the
2705 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 fiscal years by the Revenue Estimating
2706 Conference resulting from the implementation of chapter 2024
2707 140, Laws of Florida. This amount must be held in a separate
2708 account and is in addition to the $15 million the department is
2709 authorized to retain pursuant to subsection (1). From the
2710 separate account the department shall make prompt payment of
2711 claims relating to the atypical receipts allowed by the
2712 department. This subsection expires July 1, 2027.
2713 Section 73. In order to implement specific appropriations
2714 from the land acquisition trust funds within the Department of
2715 Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of
2716 Environmental Protection, the Department of State, and the Fish
2717 and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which are contained in the
2718 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (3) of section
2719 215.18, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2720 215.18 Transfers between funds; limitation.—
2721 (3) Notwithstanding subsection (1) and only with respect to
2722 a land acquisition trust fund in the Department of Agriculture
2723 and Consumer Services, the Department of Environmental
2724 Protection, the Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife
2725 Conservation Commission, whenever there is a deficiency in a
2726 land acquisition trust fund which would render that trust fund
2727 temporarily insufficient to meet its just requirements,
2728 including the timely payment of appropriations from that trust
2729 fund, and other trust funds in the State Treasury have moneys
2730 that are for the time being or otherwise in excess of the
2731 amounts necessary to meet the just requirements, including
2732 appropriated obligations, of those other trust funds, the
2733 Governor may order a temporary transfer of moneys from one or
2734 more of the other trust funds to a land acquisition trust fund
2735 in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the
2736 Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of State,
2737 or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Any action
2738 proposed pursuant to this subsection is subject to the notice,
2739 review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, and the Governor
2740 shall provide notice of such action at least 7 days before the
2741 effective date of the transfer of trust funds, except that
2742 during July 2026 2025, notice of such action shall be provided
2743 at least 3 days before the effective date of a transfer unless
2744 such 3-day notice is waived by the chair and vice chair of the
2745 Legislative Budget Commission. Any transfer of trust funds to a
2746 land acquisition trust fund in the Department of Agriculture and
2747 Consumer Services, the Department of Environmental Protection,
2748 the Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
2749 Commission must be repaid to the trust funds from which the
2750 moneys were loaned by the end of the 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal
2751 year. The Legislature has determined that the repayment of the
2752 other trust fund moneys temporarily loaned to a land acquisition
2753 trust fund in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
2754 Services, the Department of Environmental Protection, the
2755 Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
2756 Commission pursuant to this subsection is an allowable use of
2757 the moneys in a land acquisition trust fund because the moneys
2758 from other trust funds temporarily loaned to a land acquisition
2759 trust fund shall be expended solely and exclusively in
2760 accordance with s. 28, Art. X of the State Constitution. This
2761 subsection expires July 1, 2027 2026.
2762 Section 74. (1) In order to implement specific
2763 appropriations from the land acquisition trust funds within the
2764 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department
2765 of Environmental Protection, the Department of State, and the
2766 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission which are contained in
2767 the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the Department of
2768 Environmental Protection shall transfer revenues from the Land
2769 Acquisition Trust Fund within the department to the land
2770 acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and
2771 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
2772 Wildlife Conservation Commission as provided in this section. As
2773 used in this section, the term “department” means the Department
2774 of Environmental Protection.
2775 (2) After subtracting any required debt service payments,
2776 the proportionate share of revenues to be transferred to each
2777 land acquisition trust fund shall be calculated by dividing the
2778 appropriations from each of the land acquisition trust funds for
2779 the fiscal year by the total appropriations from the Land
2780 Acquisition Trust Fund within the department and the land
2781 acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and
2782 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
2783 Wildlife Conservation Commission for the fiscal year. The
2784 department shall transfer the proportionate share of the
2785 revenues in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the
2786 department on a monthly basis to the appropriate land
2787 acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and
2788 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
2789 Wildlife Conservation Commission and shall retain its
2790 proportionate share of the revenues in the Land Acquisition
2791 Trust Fund within the department. Total distributions to a land
2792 acquisition trust fund within the Department of Agriculture and
2793 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
2794 Wildlife Conservation Commission may not exceed the total
2795 appropriations from such trust fund for the fiscal year.
2796 (3) In addition, the department shall transfer from the
2797 Land Acquisition Trust Fund to land acquisition trust funds
2798 within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the
2799 Department of State, and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
2800 Commission amounts equal to the difference between the amounts
2801 appropriated in chapter 2025-198, Laws of Florida, to the
2802 department’s Land Acquisition Trust Fund and the other land
2803 acquisition trust funds, and the amounts actually transferred
2804 between those trust funds during the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
2805 (4) The department may advance funds from the beginning
2806 unobligated fund balance in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to
2807 the Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the Fish and Wildlife
2808 Conservation Commission needed for cash flow purposes based on a
2809 detailed expenditure plan. The department shall prorate amounts
2810 transferred quarterly to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
2811 Commission to recoup the amount of funds advanced by June 30,
2812 2027.
2813 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
2814 Section 75. In order to implement specific appropriations
2815 from the Florida Forever Trust Fund within the Department of
2816 Environmental Protection, which are contained in the 2026-2027
2817 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (m) of subsection (3) of
2818 section 259.105, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2819 259.105 The Florida Forever Act.—
2820 (3) Less the costs of issuing and the costs of funding
2821 reserve accounts and other costs associated with bonds, the
2822 proceeds of cash payments or bonds issued pursuant to this
2823 section shall be deposited into the Florida Forever Trust Fund
2824 created by s. 259.1051. The proceeds shall be distributed by the
2825 Department of Environmental Protection in the following manner:
2826 (m) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a)-(j) and for the 2026
2827 2027 2025-2026 fiscal year, the proceeds shall be distributed as
2828 provided in the General Appropriations Act. This paragraph
2829 expires July 1, 2027 2026.
2830 Section 76. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2831 1776 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
2832 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 85 of chapter
2833 2025-199, Laws of Florida, paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of
2834 section 376.91, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
2835 376.91 Statewide cleanup of perfluoroalkyl and
2836 polyfluoroalkyl substances.—
2837 (2) STATEWIDE CLEANUP TARGET LEVELS.—
2838 (a) If the United States Environmental Protection Agency
2839 has not finalized its standards for PFAS in drinking water,
2840 groundwater, and soil by January 1, 2027 2026, the department
2841 shall adopt by rule statewide cleanup target levels for PFAS in
2842 drinking water, groundwater, and soil using criteria set forth
2843 in s. 376.30701, with priority given to PFOA and PFOS. The rules
2844 for statewide cleanup target levels may not take effect until
2845 ratified by the Legislature.
2846 Section 77. The amendment to s. 376.91(2)(a), Florida
2847 Statutes, made by this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of
2848 that paragraph shall revert to that in existence on June 30,
2849 2025, except that any amendments to such text enacted other than
2850 by this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
2851 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
2852 of text which expire pursuant to this section.
2853 Section 78. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2854 1831A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
2855 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 89 of chapter
2856 2025-199, Laws of Florida, paragraph (g) of subsection (15) of
2857 section 376.3071, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
2858 376.3071 Inland Protection Trust Fund; creation; purposes;
2859 funding.—
2860 (15) ETHANOL OR BIODIESEL DAMAGE; PREVENTIVE MEASURES.—The
2861 department shall pay, pursuant to this subsection, up to $10
2862 million each fiscal year from the fund for the costs of labor
2863 and equipment to repair or replace petroleum storage systems
2864 that may have been damaged due to the storage of fuels blended
2865 with ethanol or biodiesel, or for preventive measures to reduce
2866 the potential for such damage.
2867 (g) Payments may not be made for the following:
2868 1. Proposal costs or costs related to preparation of the
2869 application and required documentation;
2870 2. Certified public accountant costs;
2871 3. Except as provided in paragraph (j), any costs in excess
2872 of the amount approved by the department under paragraph (b) or
2873 which are not in substantial compliance with the purchase order;
2874 4. Costs associated with storage tanks, piping, or
2875 ancillary equipment that has previously been repaired or
2876 replaced for which costs have been paid under this section;
2877 5. Facilities that are not in compliance with department
2878 storage tank rules, until the noncompliance issues have been
2879 resolved; or
2880 6. Costs associated with damage to petroleum storage
2881 systems caused in whole or in part by causes other than the
2882 storage of fuels blended with ethanol or biodiesel.
2883 Section 79. The text of s. 376.3071(15)(g), Florida
2884 Statutes, as carried forward from chapter 2020-114, Laws of
2885 Florida, by this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that
2886 paragraph shall revert to that in existence on July 1, 2020, but
2887 not including any amendments made by this act or chapter 2020
2888 114, Laws of Florida, and any amendments to such text enacted
2889 other than by this act shall be preserved and continue to
2890 operate to the extent that such amendments are not dependent
2891 upon the portion of text which expires pursuant to this section.
2892 Section 80. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2893 2320 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
2894 notwithstanding chapter 287, Florida Statutes, the Department of
2895 Citrus shall enter into agreements for the purpose of increasing
2896 production of trees that show tolerance or resistance to citrus
2897 greening and to commercialize technologies that produce
2898 tolerance or resistance to citrus greening in trees. The
2899 department shall enter into these agreements no later than
2900 January 1, 2027, and shall file with the department’s Inspector
2901 General a certification of conditions and circumstances
2902 justifying each agreement entered into without competitive
2903 solicitation. This section expires July 1, 2027.
2904 Section 81. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2905 1715 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
2906 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 92 of chapter
2907 2025-199, Laws of Florida, section 380.5105, Florida Statutes,
2908 as amended by chapters 2024-228 and 2025-199, Laws of Florida,
2909 is reenacted to read:
2910 380.5105 The Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts; Florida
2911 Forever program.—
2912 (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it
2913 is the intent of the Legislature that the trust shall administer
2914 the working waterfronts land acquisition program as set forth in
2915 this section.
2916 (a) The trust and the Department of Agriculture and
2917 Consumer Services shall jointly develop rules specifically
2918 establishing an application process and a process for the
2919 evaluation, scoring and ranking of working waterfront projects.
2920 The proposed rules jointly developed pursuant to this paragraph
2921 shall be promulgated by the trust. Such rules shall establish a
2922 system of weighted criteria to give increased priority to
2923 projects:
2924 1. Within a municipality with a population less than
2925 30,000;
2926 2. Within a municipality or area under intense growth and
2927 development pressures, as evidenced by a number of factors,
2928 including a determination that the municipality’s growth rate
2929 exceeds the average growth rate for the state;
2930 3. Within the boundary of a community redevelopment agency
2931 established pursuant to s. 163.356;
2932 4. Adjacent to state-owned submerged lands designated as an
2933 aquatic preserve identified in s. 258.39; or
2934 5. That provide a demonstrable benefit to the local
2935 economy.
2936 (b) For projects that will require more than the grant
2937 amount awarded for completion, the applicant must identify in
2938 their project application funding sources that will provide the
2939 difference between the grant award and the estimated project
2940 completion cost. Such rules may be incorporated into those
2941 developed pursuant to s. 380.507(11).
2942 (c) The trust shall develop a ranking list based on
2943 criteria identified in paragraph (a) for proposed fee simple and
2944 less-than-fee simple acquisition projects developed pursuant to
2945 this section. The trust shall, by the first Board of Trustees of
2946 the Internal Improvement Trust Fund meeting in February, present
2947 the ranking list pursuant to this section to the board of
2948 trustees for final approval of projects for funding. The board
2949 of trustees may remove projects from the ranking list but may
2950 not add projects.
2951 (d) Grant awards, acquisition approvals, and terms of less
2952 than-fee acquisitions shall be approved by the trust. Waterfront
2953 communities that receive grant awards must submit annual
2954 progress reports to the trust identifying project activities
2955 which are complete, and the progress achieved in meeting the
2956 goals outlined in the project application. The trust must
2957 implement a process to monitor and evaluate the performance of
2958 grant recipients in completing projects that are funded through
2959 the working waterfronts program.
2960 (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it
2961 is the intent of the Legislature that the Department of
2962 Environmental Protection shall administer the working
2963 waterfronts capital outlay grant program as set forth in this
2964 section to support the commercial fishing and marine aquaculture
2965 industries, including the infrastructure for receiving or
2966 unloading seafood for the purpose of supporting the seafood
2967 economy.
2968 (a) The working waterfronts capital outlay grant program is
2969 created to provide funding to assist commercial saltwater
2970 products or commercial saltwater wholesale dealer or retailer
2971 license holders and seafood houses in maintaining their
2972 operations.
2973 (b) Eligible costs and expenditures include fixed capital
2974 outlay and operating capital outlay, including, but not limited
2975 to, the repair and maintenance or replacement of equipment, the
2976 repair and maintenance or replacement of water-adjacent
2977 facilities or infrastructure, and the construction or renovation
2978 of shoreside facilities.
2979 (c) The applicant must demonstrate a benefit to the local
2980 economy.
2981 (d) Grant recipients must submit annual progress reports to
2982 the department identifying project activities that are complete
2983 and the progress achieved in meeting the goals outlined in the
2984 project application.
2985 (e) The department shall implement a process to monitor and
2986 evaluate the performance of grant recipients in completing
2987 projects funded through the program.
2988 Section 82. The text of s. 380.5105, Florida Statutes, as
2989 carried forward from chapters 2024-228 and 2025-199, Laws of
2990 Florida, by this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that
2991 section shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2024,
2992 except that any amendments to such text enacted other than by
2993 this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
2994 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
2995 of text which expire pursuant to this section.
2996 Section 83. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
2997 1951 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act and
2998 notwithstanding s. 823.11(4)(c), Florida Statutes, the Fish and
2999 Wildlife Conservation Commission may use funds appropriated for
3000 the derelict vessel removal program for grants to local
3001 governments or to remove, store, destroy, and dispose of, or to
3002 pay private contractors to remove, store, destroy, and dispose
3003 of, derelict vessels or vessels declared a public nuisance
3004 pursuant to s. 327.73(1)(aa), Florida Statutes. This section
3005 expires July 1, 2027.
3006 Section 84. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
3007 1744A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection
3008 (4) is added to section 403.890, Florida Statutes, to read:
3009 403.890 Water Protection and Sustainability Program.—
3010 (4) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), revenues
3011 deposited into or appropriated to the Water Protection and
3012 Sustainability Program Trust Fund may be used as provided in the
3013 General Appropriations Act. This subsection expires July 1,
3014 2027.
3015 Section 85. In order to implement appropriations from the
3016 Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the Department of
3017 Environmental Protection in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations
3018 Act, paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section 375.041, Florida
3019 Statutes, is amended to read:
3020 375.041 Land Acquisition Trust Fund.—
3021 (3) Funds distributed into the Land Acquisition Trust Fund
3022 pursuant to s. 201.15 shall be applied:
3023 (b) Of the funds remaining after the payments required
3024 under paragraph (a), but before funds may be appropriated,
3025 pledged, or dedicated for other uses:
3026 1. A minimum of the lesser of 25 percent or $200 million
3027 shall be appropriated annually for Everglades projects that
3028 implement the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan as set
3029 forth in s. 373.470, including the Central Everglades Planning
3030 Project subject to congressional authorization; the Long-Term
3031 Plan as defined in s. 373.4592(2); and the Northern Everglades
3032 and Estuaries Protection Program as set forth in s. 373.4595.
3033 From these funds, $32 million shall be distributed each fiscal
3034 year through the 2023-2024 fiscal year to the South Florida
3035 Water Management District for the Long-Term Plan as defined in
3036 s. 373.4592(2). After deducting the $32 million distributed
3037 under this subparagraph, from the funds remaining, a minimum of
3038 the lesser of 76.5 percent or $100 million shall be appropriated
3039 each fiscal year through the 2025-2026 fiscal year for the
3040 planning, design, engineering, and construction of the
3041 Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan as set forth in s.
3042 373.470, including the Central Everglades Planning Project, the
3043 Everglades Agricultural Area Storage Reservoir Project, the Lake
3044 Okeechobee Watershed Project, the C-43 West Basin Storage
3045 Reservoir Project, the Indian River Lagoon-South Project, the
3046 Western Everglades Restoration Project, and the Picayune Strand
3047 Restoration Project. The Department of Environmental Protection
3048 and the South Florida Water Management District shall give
3049 preference to those Everglades restoration projects that reduce
3050 harmful discharges of water from Lake Okeechobee to the St.
3051 Lucie or Caloosahatchee estuaries in a timely manner. For the
3052 purpose of performing the calculation provided in this
3053 subparagraph, the amount of debt service paid pursuant to
3054 paragraph (a) for bonds issued after July 1, 2016, for the
3055 purposes set forth under this paragraph shall be added to the
3056 amount remaining after the payments required under paragraph
3057 (a). The amount of the distribution calculated shall then be
3058 reduced by an amount equal to the debt service paid pursuant to
3059 paragraph (a) on bonds issued after July 1, 2016, for the
3060 purposes set forth under this subparagraph.
3061 2. A minimum of the lesser of 7.6 percent or $50 million
3062 shall be appropriated annually for spring restoration,
3063 protection, and management projects. For the purpose of
3064 performing the calculation provided in this subparagraph, the
3065 amount of debt service paid pursuant to paragraph (a) for bonds
3066 issued after July 1, 2016, for the purposes set forth under this
3067 paragraph shall be added to the amount remaining after the
3068 payments required under paragraph (a). The amount of the
3069 distribution calculated shall then be reduced by an amount equal
3070 to the debt service paid pursuant to paragraph (a) on bonds
3071 issued after July 1, 2016, for the purposes set forth under this
3072 subparagraph.
3073 3. The sum of $5 million shall be appropriated annually
3074 each fiscal year through the 2025-2026 fiscal year to the St.
3075 Johns River Water Management District for projects dedicated to
3076 the restoration of Lake Apopka. This distribution shall be
3077 reduced by an amount equal to the debt service paid pursuant to
3078 paragraph (a) on bonds issued after July 1, 2016, for the
3079 purposes set forth in this subparagraph.
3080 4. The sum of $64 million is appropriated and shall be
3081 transferred to the Everglades Trust Fund for the 2018-2019
3082 fiscal year, and each fiscal year thereafter, for the EAA
3083 reservoir project pursuant to s. 373.4598. Any funds remaining
3084 in any fiscal year shall be made available only for Phase II of
3085 the C-51 reservoir project or projects identified in
3086 subparagraph 1. and must be used in accordance with laws
3087 relating to such projects. Any funds made available for such
3088 purposes in a fiscal year are in addition to the amount
3089 appropriated under subparagraph 1. This distribution shall be
3090 reduced by an amount equal to the debt service paid pursuant to
3091 paragraph (a) on bonds issued after July 1, 2017, for the
3092 purposes set forth in this subparagraph.
3093 5. The sum of $50 million shall be appropriated annually to
3094 the South Florida Water Management District for the Lake
3095 Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project in accordance with s.
3096 373.4599. This distribution must be reduced by an amount equal
3097 to the debt service paid pursuant to paragraph (a) on bonds
3098 issued after July 1, 2021, for the purposes set forth in this
3099 subparagraph.
3100 6. The sum of $100 million shall be appropriated annually
3101 to the Department of Environmental Protection for the
3102 acquisition of land pursuant to s. 259.105.
3103 7. Notwithstanding subparagraph 6. subparagraphs 3. and 6.,
3104 for the 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal year, funds shall be
3105 appropriated as provided in the General Appropriations Act. This
3106 subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 2026.
3107 Section 86. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
3108 1650 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
3109 notwithstanding chapter 255, Florida Statutes, the Department of
3110 Agriculture and Consumer Services may lease an existing facility
3111 that meets the requirements of s. 581.1843(6), Florida Statutes,
3112 and may administer a program to expedite the expansion of the
3113 propagation of Citrus sinensis or Citrus sinensis-like budwood
3114 trees and seedlings that show tolerance or resistance to citrus
3115 greening, and to commercialize technologies that produce
3116 tolerance or resistance to citrus greening in trees. This
3117 section expires July 1, 2027.
3118 Section 87. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
3119 1660 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
3120 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
3121 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may submit
3122 budget amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection
3123 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget
3124 authority to support the National School Lunch Program. This
3125 section expires July 1, 2027.
3126 Section 88. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
3127 2331 through 2338 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
3128 subsection (3) of section 288.80125, Florida Statutes, is
3129 amended to read:
3130 288.80125 Triumph Gulf Coast Trust Fund.—
3131 (3) For the 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal year, funds shall be
3132 used for the Rebuild Florida Revolving Loan Fund program to
3133 provide assistance to businesses impacted by Hurricane Michael
3134 as provided in the General Appropriations Act. This subsection
3135 expires July 1, 2027 2026.
3136 Section 89. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
3137 2055 through 2068, 2069D through 2069E, 2080 through 2090, 2092
3138 through 2100, and 2138 through 2151 of the 2026-2027 General
3139 Appropriations Act, paragraph (h) of subsection (7) of section
3140 339.135, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3141 339.135 Work program; legislative budget request;
3142 definitions; preparation, adoption, execution, and amendment.—
3143 (7) AMENDMENT OF THE ADOPTED WORK PROGRAM.—
3144 (h)1. Any work program amendment that also adds a new
3145 project, or phase thereof, to the adopted work program in excess
3146 of $3 million is subject to approval by the Legislative Budget
3147 Commission. Any work program amendment submitted under this
3148 paragraph must include, as supplemental information, a list of
3149 projects, or phases thereof, in the current 5-year adopted work
3150 program which are eligible for the funds within the
3151 appropriation category being used for the proposed amendment.
3152 The department shall provide a narrative with the rationale for
3153 not advancing an existing project, or phase thereof, in lieu of
3154 the proposed amendment.
3155 2. If the department submits an amendment to the
3156 Legislative Budget Commission and the commission does not meet
3157 or consider the amendment within 30 days after its submittal,
3158 the chair and vice chair of the commission may authorize the
3159 amendment to be approved pursuant to s. 216.177. This
3160 subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 2026.
3161 Section 90. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
3162 2055 through 2068, 2069D, 2069E, 2080 through 2082, 2092 through
3163 2100 and 2138 through 2151 of the 2026-2027 General
3164 Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding s. 339.135(7)(b),
3165 Florida Statutes, the Department of Transportation is authorized
3166 to request up to $100 million of budget authority to the extent
3167 necessary to advance or defer projects programmed in the Work
3168 Program and realign resources to safeguard district allocations
3169 and ensure projects programmed in the Work Program are balanced
3170 to the finance plan. The department may submit budget amendments
3171 to realign budget authority consistent with this section and
3172 pursuant to s. 339.135(7), Florida Statutes. This section
3173 expires July 1, 2027.
3174 Section 91. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
3175 2396 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (6)
3176 of section 288.0655, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3177 288.0655 Rural Infrastructure Fund.—
3178 (6) For the 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal year, the funds
3179 appropriated for the grant program for Florida Panhandle
3180 counties shall be distributed pursuant to and for the purposes
3181 described in the proviso language associated with Specific
3182 Appropriation 2396 2113 of the 2026-2027 2025-2026 General
3183 Appropriations Act. This subsection expires July 1, 2027 2026.
3184 Section 92. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
3185 2396A through 2396J of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
3186 section 288.013, Florida Statutes, is created to read:
3187 288.013 Office of Rural Prosperity.—
3188 (1) The Legislature finds that the unique characteristics
3189 of the rural communities in this state are integral to making
3190 Florida an attractive place to visit, work, and live. The
3191 Legislature further finds that fostering a prosperous rural
3192 economy and vibrant rural communities serves the best interests
3193 of this state. Rural prosperity supports this state’s
3194 infrastructure, housing, agricultural, and food-processing needs
3195 and advances the overall health of Florida’s economy. It is
3196 essential that rural areas be able to grow and thrive, whether
3197 independently or through regional partnerships. To better serve
3198 rural communities, and in recognition of the unique challenges
3199 and opportunities they face, the Office of Rural Prosperity is
3200 established to ensure that state efforts to support rural
3201 Florida are coordinated, focused, and effective.
3202 (2) Notwithstanding s. 20.60, the Office of Rural
3203 Prosperity is created within the Department of Commerce to
3204 support rural communities by helping rural stakeholders navigate
3205 available programs and resources and by representing rural
3206 interests across state government.
3207 (3) The Governor shall appoint a director to lead the
3208 office, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The director
3209 shall report to the secretary of the department and shall serve
3210 at the pleasure of the secretary.
3211 (4) The office shall do all of the following:
3212 (a) Serve as the state’s point of contact for rural local
3213 governments.
3214 (b) Provide administrative support to the Rural Economic
3215 Development Initiative (REDI) pursuant to s. 288.0656.
3216 (c) Provide training and technical assistance to rural
3217 local governments on a broad range of community and economic
3218 development activities. The training and technical assistance
3219 may be offered using communications technology or in person. In
3220 addition, the office shall post a recorded training and
3221 technical assistance video to the office’s website which covers
3222 all of the required topics. The training and technical
3223 assistance must include, at a minimum, the following topics:
3224 1. How to access state and federal resources, including
3225 training on the online rural resource directory required under
3226 paragraph (d).
3227 2. Best practices for comprehensive planning, economic
3228 development, and land development in rural communities.
3229 3. Strategies to address staffing shortages and strengthen
3230 management functions in rural local governments.
3231 4. Requirements of, and updates on recent changes to, the
3232 Community Planning Act under s. 163.3161.
3233 5. Updates on other recent state and federal laws affecting
3234 rural local governments.
3235 (d) Create and maintain an online rural resource directory
3236 to serve as an interactive tool for users to navigate state and
3237 federal resources, tools, and services available to rural local
3238 governments. The office shall ensure the directory is regularly
3239 updated and, to the greatest extent possible, includes current
3240 information on programs, resources, and services that address
3241 the needs of rural communities in all areas of governance. Each
3242 state agency shall routinely provide information and updates to
3243 the office to support maintenance of the directory. The
3244 directory must allow users to search by indicators, such as
3245 agency name, resource type, or topic, and include a notification
3246 feature that alerts users when new or updated resources are
3247 available. To the greatest extent possible, the directory must
3248 identify any financial match requirements associated with listed
3249 programs.
3250 (5)(a) By October 1, 2026, the office shall establish and
3251 provide staff for seven regional rural community liaison centers
3252 across this state to provide specialized in-person state support
3253 to rural local governments located in rural areas of opportunity
3254 as defined in s. 288.0656. The department shall, by rule, divide
3255 the state into seven regions and assign a liaison center to each
3256 region. Each liaison center shall serve the local governments
3257 within its geographic area and shall be staffed with at least
3258 two full-time department employees. At a minimum, each liaison
3259 center has the following powers and duties:
3260 1. Assist local governments in planning and achieving goals
3261 related to local or regional growth, economic development, and
3262 rural prosperity.
3263 2. Facilitate access to state and federal resources,
3264 including grants, loans, and other available assistance.
3265 3. Advise local governments on available program waivers,
3266 including financial match waivers or reductions for projects
3267 using state or federal funds through REDI under s. 288.0656.
3268 4. Coordinate technical assistance needs with the
3269 department and other state or federal agencies.
3270 5. Promote model ordinances, policies, and strategies
3271 related to economic development.
3272 6. Assist local governments with regulatory and reporting
3273 compliance requirements.
3274 (b) To the greatest extent possible, each regional rural
3275 community liaison center shall coordinate with local and
3276 regional governmental entities, regional economic development
3277 organizations as defined in s. 288.018, and other appropriate
3278 entities to establish a network that fosters community-driven
3279 solutions promoting viable and sustainable rural communities.
3280 (c) Each regional rural community liaison center shall
3281 regularly engage with REDI established in s. 288.0656, and at
3282 least one staff member from each liaison center shall attend the
3283 monthly REDI meeting, either in person or by means of electronic
3284 communication.
3285 (6) By December 1, 2026, the director of the office shall
3286 submit to the Administration Commission within the Executive
3287 Office of the Governor a written report describing the office’s
3288 operations and accomplishments for the preceding year. In
3289 consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
3290 Services, the office shall also include in the report
3291 recommendations for policies, programs, and funding initiatives
3292 to further support the needs of rural communities in this state.
3293 The office shall also submit the report to the President of the
3294 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by
3295 December 1 of each year and publish it on the office’s website.
3296 At the next scheduled meeting of the Administration Commission
3297 following submission of the report, the director shall, in
3298 person, present detailed information from the report required
3299 under this subsection.
3300 (7) This section expires July 1, 2027.
3301 Section 93. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
3302 2396E of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (f)
3303 is added to subsection (7) of section 288.001, Florida Statutes,
3304 to read:
3305 288.001 The Florida Small Business Development Center
3306 Network.—
3307 (7) ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDS; USES; PAY-PER-PERFORMANCE
3308 INCENTIVES; STATEWIDE SERVICE; SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS; BEST
3309 PRACTICES; ELIGIBILITY.—
3310 (f) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), the
3311 network shall use funds directly appropriated for the specific
3312 purpose of expanding service in rural communities as defined in
3313 s. 288.0656, in addition to any funds allocated by the network
3314 from other sources. The network shall use the funds to develop
3315 an activity plan focused on network consultants and resources in
3316 rural communities. In collaboration with regional economic
3317 development organizations as defined in s. 288.018, the plan
3318 must provide for either full- or part-time consultants to be
3319 available for at least 20 hours per week in rural areas or to be
3320 permanently stationed in rural areas. This may include
3321 establishing a circuit in specific rural locations to ensure the
3322 consultants’ availability on a regular basis. By using the funds
3323 to create a regular presence in rural areas, the network will
3324 strengthen community collaboration, raise awareness of available
3325 resources to provide opportunities for new business development
3326 or existing business growth, and make professional experience,
3327 education, and business information available in these essential
3328 communities. The network may dedicate funds to facilitate local
3329 or regional events that focus on small business topics, provide
3330 consulting services, and leverage partner organizations, such as
3331 the regional economic development organizations, local workforce
3332 development boards as described in s. 445.007, and Florida
3333 College System institutions. This paragraph expires July 1,
3334 2027.
3335 Section 94. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
3336 2396F of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section
3337 288.014, Florida Statutes, is created to read:
3338 288.014 Renaissance Grants Program.—
3339 (1) The Legislature finds that it has historically provided
3340 programs to assist rural communities with economic development
3341 and to enhance their ability to attract businesses and that, by
3342 providing that extra component of economic viability, rural
3343 communities are able to attract new businesses and grow existing
3344 ones. However, the Legislature further finds that a subset of
3345 rural communities has decreased in population over the past
3346 decade, contributing to a decline in local business activity and
3347 economic development. The Legislature therefore determines that
3348 state assistance must evolve to support these communities in
3349 achieving the foundation necessary for economic viability. The
3350 intent of the Renaissance Grants Program is to reverse economic
3351 deterioration in such rural communities by retaining and
3352 attracting residents by giving them a reason to stay, which will
3353 stimulate natural economic growth, business opportunities, and
3354 improved quality of life.
3355 (2) The Office of Rural Prosperity within the department
3356 shall administer the Renaissance Grants Program to provide block
3357 grants to eligible counties. By August 1, 2026, the Office of
3358 Economic and Demographic Research shall certify to the Office of
3359 Rural Prosperity which counties are growth-impeded. For the
3360 purposes of this section, the term “growth-impeded” means a
3361 county that, as of the most recent population estimate, has
3362 experienced a declining population over the previous 10 years.
3363 After the initial certification, the Office of Economic and
3364 Demographic Research shall annually certify whether the county
3365 remains growth-impeded, until the office certifies the county
3366 has had 3 consecutive years of population growth. Upon such
3367 certification of population growth, the county remains eligible
3368 for the program for 1 additional year to prepare for the end of
3369 block grant funding.
3370 (3)(a) Each participating county shall enter into an
3371 agreement with the Office of Rural Prosperity to receive block
3372 grant funds. Counties have broad authority to design their
3373 specific plan to achieve population growth consistent with this
3374 section. The Office of Rural Prosperity may not determine the
3375 manner in which a county implements its plan. However, regional
3376 rural community liaison center staff shall provide assistance in
3377 developing the county’s plan, upon the county’s request.
3378 (b) Each participating county shall submit a report to the
3379 Office of Rural Prosperity detailing program activities,
3380 intergovernmental agreements, and other information as required
3381 by the office.
3382 (c) Each participating county shall receive $1 million from
3383 the funds appropriated to the program, or an equal share of the
3384 funds appropriated if insufficient to provide that amount.
3385 Counties shall make all attempts to limit expenses for
3386 administrative costs, consistent with the need for prudent
3387 management and accountability in the use of public funds.
3388 Counties may supplement the block grant with other funding
3389 sources, including local, state, or federal grants, and may seek
3390 public or private contributions or in-kind support to advance
3391 program activities.
3392 (4)(a) Each participating county shall hire and retain a
3393 renaissance coordinator, who may be funded from block grant
3394 proceeds. The renaissance coordinator is responsible for:
3395 1. Ensuring that block grant funds are used as provided in
3396 this section;
3397 2. Coordinating with other local governments, school
3398 boards, Florida College System institutions, and other partners;
3399 and
3400 3. Reporting as necessary to the state, including
3401 information necessary pursuant to subsection (7).
3402 (b) The Office of Rural Prosperity regional rural community
3403 liaison center staff shall, upon request, provide assistance and
3404 training to the renaissance coordinator to support successful
3405 implementation of the block grant.
3406 (5) Each participating county shall design a plan for
3407 targeted community investments designed to achieve population
3408 growth and increase economic vitality. The plan must include the
3409 following key features for use of the state support:
3410 (a) Technology centers located within schools or on school
3411 premises, administered by the local school board, providing
3412 extended hours and access for students.
3413 (b) Facilities that colocate adult day care with child care
3414 facilities. The site-sharing facilities must be managed to also
3415 encourage interaction between generations and increase the
3416 health and well-being of younger and older participants, reduce
3417 social isolation, and create cost and time efficiencies for
3418 working families. The regional rural community liaison center
3419 staff of the Office of Rural Prosperity shall, upon request,
3420 assist the county with bringing recommendations to the Rural
3421 Economic Development Initiative or the appropriate state agency
3422 to streamline all required state permits, licenses, regulations,
3423 or other requirements.
3424 (c) Technology labs operated in partnership with the
3425 nearest Florida College System institution or a career center
3426 under s. 1001.44. Repurposed vacant industrial sites or existing
3427 office space must be given priority in the selection of lab
3428 locations. Each local technology lab must be staffed and open
3429 for extended hours with the capacity to provide:
3430 1. Access to trainers and equipment necessary for earning
3431 certificates or online degrees in technology;
3432 2. Hands-on assistance in securing remote work
3433 opportunities; and
3434 3. Studio space equipped for remote technology-based work
3435 available for graduates and other qualifying residents.
3436 Participating counties may determine which residents receive
3437 priority access. Collaboration with community partners,
3438 including the local workforce development board as described in
3439 s. 445.007, to provide training opportunities, in-kind support
3440 such as transportation to and from the lab, financing of
3441 equipment for in-home use, or basic maintenance of such
3442 equipment is required.
3443 (6) In addition to hiring a renaissance coordinator, each
3444 participating county shall develop intergovernmental agreements
3445 for shared responsibilities with its municipalities, school
3446 board, and Florida College System institution or career center
3447 and enter into necessary contracts with providers and community
3448 partners in order to implement the plan.
3449 (7)(a) Beginning in 2027, the Auditor General shall conduct
3450 an operational audit as defined in s. 11.45 of each county’s
3451 grant activities.
3452 (b) By July 1, 2027, the Office of Economic and Demographic
3453 Research shall submit a report to the President of the Senate
3454 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives summarizing
3455 renaissance block grant recipients by county. The report must
3456 provide key economic indicators that measure progress in
3457 reversing long-term trends in the county. The Office of Rural
3458 Prosperity shall, upon request, provide any data necessary to
3459 complete the report.
3460 (8) Notwithstanding s. 216.301, funds appropriated for the
3461 purposes of this section are not subject to reversion.
3462 (9) This section expires July 1, 2027.
3463 Section 95. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
3464 2396G of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section
3465 288.0175, Florida Statutes, is created to read:
3466 288.0175 Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant
3467 Program.—
3468 (1) The Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant
3469 Program is established within the Office of Rural Prosperity
3470 within the department to fund and support public infrastructure
3471 smart technology projects in communities located in rural areas
3472 of opportunity, subject to legislative appropriation.
3473 (2) As used in this section, the term:
3474 (a) “Public infrastructure smart technology” means systems
3475 or applications that use connectivity, data analytics, or
3476 automation to improve public infrastructure by increasing
3477 efficiency, enhancing public services, and promoting sustainable
3478 development.
3479 (b) “Rural area of opportunity” has the same meaning as in
3480 s. 288.0656.
3481 (c) “Smart region” means a geographic area that uses
3482 technology and innovative ideas to improve the quality of life
3483 for its citizens by addressing regional challenges through
3484 collaboration among government, businesses, and communities.
3485 (d) “Smart technology lead organization” means a not-for
3486 profit corporation organized under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal
3487 Revenue Code which has been in existence for at least 3 years
3488 and specializes in smart region planning.
3489 (3)(a) By October 1, 2026, the Office of Rural Prosperity
3490 shall contract with one or more smart technology lead
3491 organizations to administer the grant program for the purpose of
3492 deploying public infrastructure smart technology in rural
3493 communities. Under such contracts, the smart technology lead
3494 organization shall award grants to counties and municipalities
3495 located within a rural area of opportunity for eligible public
3496 infrastructure smart technology projects.
3497 (b) Each contract must specify deliverables, reporting
3498 requirements, timeframes, and any other term the office deems
3499 necessary. At a minimum, the contract must require the smart
3500 technology lead organization to:
3501 1. Collaborate with counties and municipalities in rural
3502 areas of opportunity to identify cost-effective smart technology
3503 solutions for improving public services and infrastructure.
3504 2. Provide technical assistance to counties and
3505 municipalities located in rural areas of opportunity in
3506 developing public infrastructure smart technology project plans.
3507 3. Facilitate connections between rural communities and
3508 other entities, including companies and regional partners to
3509 maximize the impact of funded projects.
3510 (4) The Office of Rural Prosperity shall include a summary
3511 of projects funded under this section in its report required by
3512 s. 288.013(6).
3513 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
3514 Section 96. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
3515 2396J of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section
3516 288.065, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3517 288.065 Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund.—
3518 (1) The Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund
3519 Program is established within the Office of Rural Prosperity
3520 department to facilitate the use of existing federal, state, and
3521 local financial resources by providing local governments with
3522 financial assistance to further promote the economic viability
3523 of rural communities. These funds may be used to finance
3524 initiatives directed toward maintaining or developing the
3525 economic base of rural communities, especially initiatives
3526 addressing employment opportunities for residents of these
3527 communities.
3528 (2)(a) The program shall provide for long-term loans, loan
3529 guarantees, and loan loss reserves to units of local
3530 governments, or economic development organizations substantially
3531 underwritten by a unit of local government.,
3532 (b) For purposes of this section, the term “unit of local
3533 government” means any of the following:
3534 1. A county within counties with a population populations
3535 of 75,000 or less. fewer, or within any
3536 2. A county with a population of 125,000 or less fewer
3537 which is contiguous to a county with a population of 75,000 or
3538 less. fewer
3539 3. A municipality within a county described in subparagraph
3540 1. or subparagraph 2.
3541 4. A county or municipality within a rural area of
3542 opportunity designated under s. 288.0656.
3543
3544 For purposes of this paragraph, population is determined in
3545 accordance with the most recent official estimates pursuant to
3546 s. 186.901 and must include those residing in incorporated and
3547 unincorporated areas of a county, based on the most recent
3548 official population estimate as determined under s. 186.901,
3549 including those residing in incorporated areas and those
3550 residing in unincorporated areas of the county, or to units of
3551 local government, or economic development organizations
3552 substantially underwritten by a unit of local government, within
3553 a rural area of opportunity.
3554 (c)(b) Requests for loans must shall be made by application
3555 to the office department. Loans must shall be made pursuant to
3556 agreements specifying the terms and conditions agreed to between
3557 the applicant and the office department. The loans are shall be
3558 the legal obligations of the applicant.
3559 (d)(c) All repayments of principal and interest must shall
3560 be returned to the loan fund and made available for loans to
3561 other applicants. However, in a rural area of opportunity
3562 designated under s. 288.0656 by the Governor, and upon approval
3563 by the office department, repayments of principal and interest
3564 may be retained by the applicant if such repayments are
3565 dedicated and matched to fund regionally based economic
3566 development organizations representing the rural area of
3567 opportunity.
3568 (3) The office department shall manage the fund,
3569 establishing loan practices that must include, but are not
3570 limited to, procedures for establishing loan interest rates,
3571 uses of funding, application procedures, and application review
3572 procedures. The office has department shall have final approval
3573 authority for any loan under this section.
3574 (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 216.301, funds
3575 appropriated for this loan fund may purpose shall not be subject
3576 to reversion.
3577 (5) The office shall include in its report required under
3578 s. 288.013 detailed information about the fund, including loans
3579 made during the previous fiscal year, loans active, loans
3580 terminated or repaid, and the amount of funds not obligated as
3581 of 14 days before the date the report is due.
3582 Section 97. The amendments to s. 288.065, Florida Statutes,
3583 made by this act expire July 1, 2027, and the text of that
3584 section shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2026,
3585 except that any amendments to such text enacted other than by
3586 this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
3587 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
3588 of text which expire pursuant to this section.
3589 Section 98. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
3590 2759 through 2764 and sections 157 and 158 of the 2026-2027
3591 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and
3592 216.292, Florida Statutes, the Division of Emergency Management
3593 may submit budget amendments, subject to the notice, review, and
3594 objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to
3595 increase budget authority for projected expenditures due to
3596 reimbursements from federally declared disasters if additional
3597 federal revenues specific to such programs become available in
3598 the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This section expires July 1, 2027.
3599 Section 99. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
3600 2750 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (2)
3601 of section 282.201, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3602 282.201 State data center.—The state data center is
3603 established within the department. The provision of data center
3604 services must comply with applicable state and federal laws,
3605 regulations, and policies, including all applicable security,
3606 privacy, and auditing requirements. The department shall appoint
3607 a director of the state data center who has experience in
3608 leading data center facilities and has expertise in cloud
3609 computing management.
3610 (2) USE OF THE STATE DATA CENTER.—
3611 (a) The following are exempt from the use of the state data
3612 center: the Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of the
3613 Lottery’s Gaming System, Systems Design and Development in the
3614 Office of Policy and Budget, the regional traffic management
3615 centers as described in s. 335.14(2) and the Office of Toll
3616 Operations of the Department of Transportation, the State Board
3617 of Administration, state attorneys, public defenders, criminal
3618 conflict and civil regional counsel, capital collateral regional
3619 counsel, and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
3620 (b) The Division of Emergency Management is exempt from the
3621 use of the state data center. This paragraph expires July 1,
3622 2027 2026.
3623 Section 100. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
3624 2367 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and upon the
3625 expiration and reversion of the amendments to s. 443.1113,
3626 Florida Statutes, pursuant to section 105 of chapter 2025-199,
3627 Laws of Florida, subsections (4) and (5) of section 443.1113,
3628 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
3629 443.1113 Reemployment Assistance Claims and Benefits
3630 Information System.—
3631 (4)(a) The Department of Commerce shall perform an annual
3632 review of the system and identify enhancements or modernization
3633 efforts that improve the delivery of services to claimants and
3634 employers and reporting to state and federal entities. These
3635 improvements are subject to appropriation, and must include, but
3636 need not be limited to:
3637 1. Infrastructure upgrades through cloud services.
3638 2. Software improvements.
3639 3. Enhanced data analytics and reporting.
3640 4. Increased cybersecurity pursuant to s. 282.318.
3641 (b) The department shall seek input on recommended
3642 enhancements from, at a minimum, the following entities:
3643 1. The Florida Digital Service within the Department of
3644 Management Services.
3645 2. The General Tax Administration Program Office within the
3646 Department of Revenue.
3647 3. The Division of Accounting and Auditing within the
3648 Department of Financial Services.
3649 (5) By September 1, 2026 October 1, 2023, and each year
3650 thereafter, the Department of Commerce shall submit a
3651 Reemployment Assistance Claims and Benefits Information System
3652 report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
3653 Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report must, at a
3654 minimum, include:
3655 (a) A summary of clearly defined deliverables and
3656 measurable outcomes of maintenance, enhancement, and
3657 modernization efforts over the last fiscal year.
3658 (b) A plan for the next 2 fiscal years 3-year outlook of
3659 recommended enhancements or modernization efforts that includes
3660 projected nonrecurring project costs, clear deliverables, and
3661 timeframes for completion of each enhancement or modernization
3662 effort in priority order, and the projected recurring operations
3663 and maintenance costs after the completion of each enhancement
3664 or modernization effort.
3665 Section 101. The amendments to s. 443.1113(4) and (5),
3666 Florida Statutes, made by this act expire July 1, 2027, and the
3667 text of those subsections shall revert to that in existence on
3668 June 30, 2025, except that any amendments to such text enacted
3669 other than by this act shall be preserved and continue to
3670 operate to the extent that such amendments are not dependent
3671 upon the portions of text which expire pursuant to this section.
3672 Section 102. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
3673 2359 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (9)
3674 of section 445.08, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsections
3675 (2) and (4) of that section are reenacted, to read:
3676 445.08 Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment
3677 Program.—
3678 (2)(a) There is created within the department the Florida
3679 Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program to aid in the
3680 recruitment of law enforcement officers within the state. The
3681 purpose of the program is to administer one-time bonus payments
3682 of up to $5,000 to each newly employed officer within the state.
3683 (b) Bonus payments provided to eligible newly employed
3684 officers are contingent upon legislative appropriations and
3685 shall be prorated subject to the amount appropriated for the
3686 program.
3687 (4) The department shall develop an annual plan for the
3688 administration of the program and distribution of bonus
3689 payments. Applicable employing agencies shall assist the
3690 department with the collection of any data necessary to
3691 determine bonus payment amounts and to distribute the bonus
3692 payments, and shall otherwise provide the department with any
3693 information or assistance needed to fulfill the requirements of
3694 this section. At a minimum, the plan must include:
3695 (a) The method for determining the estimated number of
3696 newly employed officers to gain or be appointed to full-time
3697 employment during the applicable fiscal year.
3698 (b) The minimum eligibility requirements a newly employed
3699 officer must meet to receive and retain a bonus payment, which
3700 must include:
3701 1. Obtaining certification for employment or appointment as
3702 a law enforcement officer pursuant to s. 943.1395.
3703 2. Gaining full-time employment with a Florida criminal
3704 justice agency.
3705 3. Maintaining full-time employment as a law enforcement
3706 officer with a Florida criminal justice agency for at least 2
3707 years from the date on which the officer obtained certification.
3708 The required 2-year employment period may be satisfied by
3709 maintaining full-time employment at one or more employing
3710 agencies, but such period must not contain any break in service
3711 longer than 180 calendar days.
3712 (c) The standards by which the department will determine
3713 under what circumstances a break in service is acceptable. A law
3714 enforcement officer must provide documentation to the department
3715 justifying a break in service. For purposes of this section, the
3716 term “break in service” means a period of time during which the
3717 person is employed with a Florida criminal justice agency but is
3718 not employed as a full-time law enforcement officer or a period
3719 of time during which the person is in between employment as a
3720 full-time law enforcement officer for no longer than 15 days.
3721 The time period for any break in service does not count toward
3722 satisfying the 2-year full-time employment requirement of this
3723 section.
3724 (d) The method that will be used to determine the bonus
3725 payment amount to be distributed to each newly employed officer.
3726 (e) The method that will be used to distribute bonus
3727 payments to applicable employing agencies for distribution to
3728 eligible officers. Such method should prioritize distributing
3729 bonus payments to eligible officers in the most efficient and
3730 quickest manner possible.
3731 (f) The estimated cost to the department associated with
3732 developing and administering the program and distributing bonus
3733 payment funds.
3734 (g) The method by which an officer must reimburse the state
3735 if he or she received a bonus payment under the program, but
3736 failed to maintain continuous employment for the required 2-year
3737 period. Reimbursement shall not be required if an officer is
3738 discharged by his or her employing agency for a reason other
3739 than misconduct as designated on the affidavit of separation
3740 completed by the employing agency and maintained by the
3741 commission.
3742
3743 The department may establish other criteria deemed necessary to
3744 determine bonus payment eligibility and distribution.
3745 (9) This section expires July 1, 2027 2026.
3746 Section 103. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
3747 2384 through 2386 and sections 146, 147, 148, 152, and 155 of
3748 the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding
3749 ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the Department of
3750 Commerce may submit budget amendments, subject to the notice,
3751 review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida
3752 Statutes, to increase budget authority to support the following
3753 federal grant programs: the Broadband Equity, Access, and
3754 Deployment Program (BEAD), Capital Projects Fund Program,
3755 Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Program
3756 (CDBG-DR), Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Home Energy
3757 Assistance Programs – Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
3758 (LIHEAP), and Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund, Pub. L.
3759 No. 117-2. This section expires July 1, 2027.
3760 Section 104. (1) In order to implement section 8 of the
3761 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, beginning July 1, 2026,
3762 and on the first day of each month thereafter, the Department of
3763 Management Services shall assess an administrative health
3764 insurance assessment on each state agency equal to the
3765 employer’s cost of individual employee health care coverage for
3766 each vacant position within such agency eligible for coverage
3767 through the Division of State Group Insurance. As used in this
3768 section, the term “state agency” means an agency within the
3769 State Personnel System, the Department of the Lottery, the
3770 Justice Administrative Commission and all entities
3771 administratively housed in the Justice Administrative
3772 Commission, and the state courts system.
3773 (2) Each state agency shall remit the assessed
3774 administrative health insurance assessment under subsection (1)
3775 to the State Employees Health Insurance Trust Fund, for the
3776 State Group Insurance Program, as provided in ss. 110.123 and
3777 110.1239, Florida Statutes, from currently allocated moneys for
3778 salaries and benefits within 30 days after receipt of the
3779 assessment from the Department of Management Services. Should
3780 any state agency become more than 60 days delinquent in payment
3781 of this obligation, the Department of Management Services shall
3782 certify to the Chief Financial Officer the amount due and the
3783 Chief Financial Officer shall transfer the amount due to the
3784 Department of Management Services.
3785 (3) The administrative health insurance assessment shall
3786 apply to all vacant positions funded with state funds whether
3787 fully or partially funded with state funds. Vacant positions
3788 partially funded with state funds shall pay a percentage of the
3789 assessment imposed in subsection (1) equal to the percentage
3790 share of state funds provided for such vacant positions. No
3791 assessment shall apply to vacant positions fully funded with
3792 federal funds. Each state agency shall provide the Department of
3793 Management Services with a complete list of position numbers
3794 that are funded, or partially funded, with federal funding, and
3795 include the percentage of federal funding for each position no
3796 later than July 31, 2026, and shall update the list on the last
3797 day of each month thereafter. For federally funded vacant
3798 positions, or partially funded vacant positions, each state
3799 agency shall immediately take steps to include the
3800 administrative health insurance assessment in its indirect cost
3801 plan for the 2027-2028 fiscal year and each fiscal year
3802 thereafter. A state agency shall notify the Department of
3803 Management Services, the Executive Office of the Governor, the
3804 chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and the chair
3805 of the House of Representatives Budget Committee upon approval
3806 of the updated indirect cost plan. If the state agency is not
3807 able to obtain approval from its federal awarding agency, the
3808 state agency must notify the Department of Management Services,
3809 the Executive Office of the Governor, and the appropriation and
3810 budget chairs no later than January 15, 2027.
3811 (4) Pursuant to the notice, review, and objection
3812 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the Executive Office
3813 of the Governor may transfer budget authority appropriated in
3814 the Salaries and Benefits appropriation category between
3815 agencies in order to align the appropriations granted with the
3816 assessments that must be paid by each agency to the Department
3817 of Management Services for the administrative health insurance
3818 assessment.
3819 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
3820 Section 105. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
3821 2852 and 2855 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
3822 notwithstanding s. 11.13(1), Florida Statutes, the authorized
3823 salaries for members of the Legislature for the 2026-2027 fiscal
3824 year shall be set at the same level in effect on July 1, 2010.
3825 This section expires July 1, 2027.
3826 Section 106. In order to implement the transfer of funds
3827 from the General Revenue Fund from trust funds for the 2026-2027
3828 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding the expiration
3829 date in section 111 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida,
3830 paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 215.32, Florida
3831 Statutes, is reenacted to read:
3832 215.32 State funds; segregation.—
3833 (2) The source and use of each of these funds shall be as
3834 follows:
3835 (b)1. The trust funds shall consist of moneys received by
3836 the state which under law or under trust agreement are
3837 segregated for a purpose authorized by law. The state agency or
3838 branch of state government receiving or collecting such moneys
3839 is responsible for their proper expenditure as provided by law.
3840 Upon the request of the state agency or branch of state
3841 government responsible for the administration of the trust fund,
3842 the Chief Financial Officer may establish accounts within the
3843 trust fund at a level considered necessary for proper
3844 accountability. Once an account is established, the Chief
3845 Financial Officer may authorize payment from that account only
3846 upon determining that there is sufficient cash and releases at
3847 the level of the account.
3848 2. In addition to other trust funds created by law, to the
3849 extent possible, each agency shall use the following trust funds
3850 as described in this subparagraph for day-to-day operations:
3851 a. Operations or operating trust fund, for use as a
3852 depository for funds to be used for program operations funded by
3853 program revenues, with the exception of administrative
3854 activities when the operations or operating trust fund is a
3855 proprietary fund.
3856 b. Operations and maintenance trust fund, for use as a
3857 depository for client services funded by third-party payors.
3858 c. Administrative trust fund, for use as a depository for
3859 funds to be used for management activities that are departmental
3860 in nature and funded by indirect cost earnings and assessments
3861 against trust funds. Proprietary funds are excluded from the
3862 requirement of using an administrative trust fund.
3863 d. Grants and donations trust fund, for use as a depository
3864 for funds to be used for allowable grant or donor agreement
3865 activities funded by restricted contractual revenue from private
3866 and public nonfederal sources.
3867 e. Agency working capital trust fund, for use as a
3868 depository for funds to be used pursuant to s. 216.272.
3869 f. Clearing funds trust fund, for use as a depository for
3870 funds to account for collections pending distribution to lawful
3871 recipients.
3872 g. Federal grant trust fund, for use as a depository for
3873 funds to be used for allowable grant activities funded by
3874 restricted program revenues from federal sources.
3875
3876 To the extent possible, each agency must adjust its internal
3877 accounting to use existing trust funds consistent with the
3878 requirements of this subparagraph. If an agency does not have
3879 trust funds listed in this subparagraph and cannot make such
3880 adjustment, the agency must recommend the creation of the
3881 necessary trust funds to the Legislature no later than the next
3882 scheduled review of the agency’s trust funds pursuant to s.
3883 215.3206.
3884 3. All such moneys are hereby appropriated to be expended
3885 in accordance with the law or trust agreement under which they
3886 were received, subject always to the provisions of chapter 216
3887 relating to the appropriation of funds and to the applicable
3888 laws relating to the deposit or expenditure of moneys in the
3889 State Treasury.
3890 4.a. Notwithstanding any provision of law restricting the
3891 use of trust funds to specific purposes, unappropriated cash
3892 balances from selected trust funds may be authorized by the
3893 Legislature for transfer to the Budget Stabilization Fund and
3894 General Revenue Fund in the General Appropriations Act.
3895 b. This subparagraph does not apply to trust funds required
3896 by federal programs or mandates; trust funds established for
3897 bond covenants, indentures, or resolutions whose revenues are
3898 legally pledged by the state or public body to meet debt service
3899 or other financial requirements of any debt obligations of the
3900 state or any public body; the Division of Licensing Trust Fund
3901 in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; the
3902 State Transportation Trust Fund; the trust fund containing the
3903 net annual proceeds from the Florida Education Lotteries; the
3904 Florida Retirement System Trust Fund; trust funds under the
3905 management of the State Board of Education or the Board of
3906 Governors of the State University System, where such trust funds
3907 are for auxiliary enterprises, self-insurance, and contracts,
3908 grants, and donations, as those terms are defined by general
3909 law; trust funds that serve as clearing funds or accounts for
3910 the Chief Financial Officer or state agencies; trust funds that
3911 account for assets held by the state in a trustee capacity as an
3912 agent or fiduciary for individuals, private organizations, or
3913 other governmental units; and other trust funds authorized by
3914 the State Constitution.
3915 Section 107. The text of s. 215.32(2)(b), Florida Statutes,
3916 as carried forward from chapter 2011-47, Laws of Florida, by
3917 this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that paragraph
3918 shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2011, except that
3919 any amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall
3920 be preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
3921 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
3922 expire pursuant to this section.
3923 Section 108. In order to implement appropriations in the
3924 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for state employee travel,
3925 the funds appropriated to each state agency which may be used
3926 for travel by state employees are limited during the 2026-2027
3927 fiscal year to travel for activities that are critical to each
3928 state agency’s mission. Funds may not be used for travel by
3929 state employees to foreign countries, other states, conferences,
3930 staff training activities, or other administrative functions
3931 unless the agency head has approved, in writing, that such
3932 activities are critical to the agency’s mission. The agency head
3933 shall consider using teleconferencing and other forms of
3934 electronic communication to meet the needs of the proposed
3935 activity before approving mission-critical travel. This section
3936 does not apply to travel for law enforcement purposes, military
3937 purposes, emergency management activities, or public health
3938 activities. This section expires July 1, 2027.
3939 Section 109. In order to implement appropriations in the
3940 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for state employee travel
3941 and notwithstanding s. 112.061, Florida Statutes, costs for
3942 lodging associated with a meeting, conference, or convention
3943 organized or sponsored in whole or in part by a state agency or
3944 the judicial branch may not exceed $225 per day. An employee may
3945 expend his or her own funds for any lodging expenses in excess
3946 of $225 per day. For purposes of this section, a meeting does
3947 not include travel activities for conducting an audit,
3948 examination, inspection, or investigation or travel activities
3949 related to a litigation or emergency response. This section
3950 expires July 1, 2027.
3951 Section 110. In order to implement the appropriations and
3952 reappropriations authorized in the 2026-2027 General
3953 Appropriations Act, paragraph (d) of subsection (11) of section
3954 216.181, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
3955 216.181 Approved budgets for operations and fixed capital
3956 outlay.—
3957 (11)
3958 (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) and paragraph (2)(b), and
3959 for the 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal year only, the Legislative
3960 Budget Commission may approve budget amendments for new fixed
3961 capital outlay projects or increase the amounts appropriated to
3962 state agencies for fixed capital outlay projects. This paragraph
3963 expires July 1, 2027 2026.
3964
3965 The provisions of this subsection are subject to the notice and
3966 objection procedures set forth in s. 216.177.
3967 Section 111. In order to implement the salaries and
3968 benefits, expenses, other personal services, contracted
3969 services, special categories, and operating capital outlay
3970 categories of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
3971 paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 216.292, Florida
3972 Statutes, is amended to read:
3973 216.292 Appropriations nontransferable; exceptions.—
3974 (2) The following transfers are authorized to be made by
3975 the head of each department or the Chief Justice of the Supreme
3976 Court whenever it is deemed necessary by reason of changed
3977 conditions:
3978 (a) The transfer of appropriations funded from identical
3979 funding sources, except appropriations for fixed capital outlay,
3980 and the transfer of amounts included within the total original
3981 approved budget and plans of releases of appropriations as
3982 furnished pursuant to ss. 216.181 and 216.192, as follows:
3983 1. Between categories of appropriations within a budget
3984 entity, if no category of appropriation is increased or
3985 decreased by more than 5 percent of the original approved budget
3986 or $250,000, whichever is greater, by all action taken under
3987 this subsection.
3988 2. Between budget entities within identical categories of
3989 appropriations, if no category of appropriation is increased or
3990 decreased by more than 5 percent of the original approved budget
3991 or $250,000, whichever is greater, by all action taken under
3992 this subsection.
3993 3. Any agency exceeding salary rate established pursuant to
3994 s. 216.181(8) on June 30th of any fiscal year shall not be
3995 authorized to make transfers pursuant to subparagraphs 1. and 2.
3996 in the subsequent fiscal year.
3997 4. Notice of proposed transfers under subparagraphs 1. and
3998 2. shall be provided to the Executive Office of the Governor and
3999 the chairs of the legislative appropriations committees at least
4000 3 days prior to agency implementation in order to provide an
4001 opportunity for review. The review shall be limited to ensuring
4002 that the transfer is in compliance with the requirements of this
4003 paragraph.
4004 5. For the 2026-2027 2025-2026 fiscal year, the review
4005 shall ensure that transfers proposed pursuant to this paragraph
4006 comply with this chapter, maximize the use of available and
4007 appropriate trust funds, and are not contrary to legislative
4008 policy and intent. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 2026.
4009 Section 112. In order to implement appropriations in the
4010 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for the acquisitions of
4011 motor vehicles, and notwithstanding chapter 287, Florida
4012 Statutes, relating to the purchase of motor vehicles from a
4013 state term contract, state agencies may purchase vehicles from
4014 nonstate term contract vendors without prior approval from the
4015 Department of Management Services, provided the cost of the
4016 motor vehicle is equal to or less than the cost of a similar
4017 class of vehicle found on a state term contract and provided the
4018 funds for the purchase have been specifically appropriated. This
4019 section expires July 1, 2027.
4020 Section 113. In order to implement appropriations for state
4021 agencies in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section
4022 11.52, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
4023 11.52 Implementation of enacted legislation.—Each state
4024 agency shall provide the Legislature and the Executive Office of
4025 the Governor with information about the status of implementation
4026 of recently enacted legislation. The implementation status must
4027 be provided 90 days following the effective date of the
4028 legislation and updated each August 1 thereafter until all
4029 provisions of the legislation have been fully implemented. The
4030 implementation status report must include, at a minimum, for
4031 each enacted legislation, the actions or steps taken to
4032 implement the legislation and planned actions or steps for
4033 implementation, such as any rules proposed for implementation,
4034 any procurements required, any contract executed to assist the
4035 agency in the implementation, any contracts executed to
4036 implement or administer the legislation, programs started,
4037 offices established, or other organization administrative
4038 changes made including personnel changes, or federal waivers
4039 requested; any expenditures made directly related to the
4040 implementation; and any impediments or delays in implementation,
4041 including, but not limited to, challenges of administrative
4042 rules. No later than 14 days prior to the next regular
4043 legislative session, the state agency shall provide an update of
4044 any changes to the implementation status, notify the Legislature
4045 of any protests of rulemaking or other communications regarding
4046 the implementation of the legislation and the status of any
4047 litigation related to the legislation, and identify any policy
4048 issues that need to be resolved by the Legislature to ensure
4049 timely and effective implementation of the legislation. This
4050 section expires July 1, 2027 2026.
4051 Section 114. In order to implement appropriations for state
4052 agencies and the judicial branch in the 2026-2027 General
4053 Appropriations Act, subsection (7) of section 216.013, Florida
4054 Statutes, is amended to read:
4055 216.013 Long-range program plan.—State agencies and the
4056 judicial branch shall develop long-range program plans to
4057 achieve state goals using an interagency planning process that
4058 includes the development of integrated agency program service
4059 outcomes. The plans shall be policy based, priority driven,
4060 accountable, and developed through careful examination and
4061 justification of all agency and judicial branch programs.
4062 (7) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, each
4063 state executive agency and the judicial branch are not required
4064 to develop or post a long-range program plan by September 30,
4065 2026 2025, for the 2027-2028 2026-2027 fiscal year, except in
4066 circumstances outlined in any updated written instructions
4067 prepared by the Executive Office of the Governor in consultation
4068 with the chairs of the legislative appropriations committees.
4069 This subsection expires July 1, 2027 2026.
4070 Section 115. In order to implement appropriations for state
4071 agencies and the judicial branch in the 2026-2027 General
4072 Appropriations Act, subsection (7) of section 216.023, Florida
4073 Statutes, is amended to read:
4074 216.023 Legislative budget requests to be furnished to
4075 Legislature by agencies.—
4076 (7) As part of the legislative budget request, each state
4077 agency and the judicial branch shall include an inventory of all
4078 ongoing technology-related projects that have a cumulative
4079 estimated or realized cost of more than $1 million. The
4080 inventory must, at a minimum, contain all of the following
4081 information:
4082 (a) The name of the technology system.
4083 (b) A brief description of the purpose and function of the
4084 system.
4085 (c) A brief description of the goals of the project.
4086 (d) The initiation date of the project.
4087 (e) The key performance indicators for the project.
4088 (f) Any other metrics for the project evaluating the health
4089 and status of the project.
4090 (g) The original and current baseline estimated end dates
4091 of the project.
4092 (h) The original and current estimated costs of the
4093 project.
4094 (i) Total funds appropriated or allocated to the project
4095 and the current realized cost for the project by fiscal year.
4096
4097 For purposes of this subsection, an ongoing technology-related
4098 project is one which has been funded or has had or is expected
4099 to have expenditures in more than one fiscal year. An ongoing
4100 technology-related project does not include the continuance of
4101 existing hardware and software maintenance agreements, the
4102 renewal of existing software licensing agreements, or the
4103 replacement of desktop units with new technology that is
4104 substantially similar to the technology being replaced. This
4105 subsection expires July 1, 2027 2026.
4106 Section 116. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
4107 203, 583, 642, 1455A, 2514, and 3235, and sections 72 and 94 of
4108 the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:
4109 (1) Of the funds appropriated for information technology
4110 projects, 75 percent shall be held in reserve. All general
4111 revenue funds not held in reserve shall be fully released. The
4112 Agency for Health Care Administration, Department of Children
4113 and Families, Department of Corrections, Department of Financial
4114 Services, Florida Gaming Control Commission, Department of
4115 Health, and Department of Revenue are authorized to submit a
4116 budget amendment to request release of funds pursuant to chapter
4117 216, Florida Statutes. The amount requested to be released in
4118 each budget amendment may not exceed the agency’s projected
4119 quarterly expenditures, reduced by any unexpended funds from
4120 prior releases. Release is contingent upon submission of the
4121 following:
4122 (a) An updated and comprehensive operational work plan;
4123 (b) A detailed monthly spend plan with expenditures broken
4124 down by deliverable which identifies all planned and actual
4125 project work and costs specified in the current project
4126 schedule; and
4127 (c) A copy of the project status report from the most
4128 recently completed month at the time of submission which
4129 provides justification for any variance from the most recently
4130 submitted project schedule and spend plan.
4131 (2) The agencies receiving funds pursuant to this section
4132 must submit monthly project status reports to the Executive
4133 Office of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget, the chair
4134 of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the chair of the House
4135 Budget Committee, and any other designated project oversight
4136 entity no later than 30 days after the close of the previous
4137 month. Each status report must include copies of any new or
4138 updated relevant task order, contract, or purchase order. The
4139 status report must also describe progress made to date for each
4140 project milestone and deliverable, planned and actual completion
4141 dates, planned and actual costs incurred, and any current
4142 project issues or risks.
4143 (3) This section expires July 1, 2027.
4144 Section 117. Any section of this act which implements a
4145 specific appropriation or specifically identified proviso
4146 language in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act is void if
4147 the specific appropriation or specifically identified proviso
4148 language is vetoed. Any section of this act which implements
4149 more than one specific appropriation or more than one portion of
4150 specifically identified proviso language in the 2026-2027
4151 General Appropriations Act is void if all the specific
4152 appropriations or portions of specifically identified proviso
4153 language are vetoed.
4154 Section 118. If any other act passed during the 2026
4155 Special Session E of the Legislature contains a provision that
4156 is substantively the same as a provision in this act, but that
4157 removes or is otherwise not subject to the future repeal applied
4158 to such provision by this act, the Legislature intends that the
4159 provision in the other act takes precedence and continues to
4160 operate, notwithstanding the future repeal provided by this act.
4161 Section 119. If any law amended by this act was also
4162 amended by a law enacted during the 2026 Regular Session of the
4163 Legislature, such laws shall be construed as if they had been
4164 enacted during the same session of the Legislature and full
4165 effect shall be given to each if possible.
4166 Section 120. If any provision of this act or its
4167 application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
4168 invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of
4169 the act which can be given effect without the invalid provision
4170 or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are
4171 severable.
4172 Section 121. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
4173 act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon
4174 this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1,
4175 2026, or, if this act fails to become a law until after that
4176 date, it shall take effect upon becoming a law and shall operate
4177 retroactively to July 1, 2026.