SB 280 Florida Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Candidate Qualification

Summary

Candidate Qualification; Providing eligibility requirements for persons seeking to qualify for nomination as candidates of a political party or as candidates with no party affiliation; providing that certain entities may bring an action for declaratory and injunctive relief based on a certain claim; prohibiting a person from qualifying as a candidate for election and prohibiting his or her name from appearing on the ballot under certain circumstances, etc.

Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Mar 2025

Senate Passage

Mar 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 4, 2025 Last action Jun 16, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S 280 Filed → S 280 c1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended from a simple filing to a committee substitute version that adds a new amendment to section 99.021 regarding candidate oaths. The eligibility requirements for candidates remain largely the same (365 days of party registration or no party affiliation), but the committee version adds specific language requiring candidates to state in writing during their oath that they meet the 365-day requirement. It also clarifies that political parties or other candidates for the office sought can bring legal actions for relief.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from only creating section 99.013 to also amending section 99.021 to include written oath requirements for candidates.

REQUIREMENT

Added new section 99.021 amendments requiring candidates to make written statements during their oath confirming they meet the 365-day registration requirement.

ELIGIBILITY

Changed '365 days' to '365 consecutive days' in the eligibility requirements for both party and non-party candidates.

ENFORCEMENT

Expanded who can bring legal actions from just political parties to include 'other candidate for the office sought'.

TECHNICAL

Added minor clarifying language about the timing of the qualifying period in the oath requirements.

Floor votes · Senate Mar 27, 2025

How they voted

38–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 39

Mar 27, 2025

D Democratic10

10 Yea

100% Yea

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican28

27 Yea 1

96% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

CS passed; YEAS 38 NAYS 0

upper

Mar 19, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 25 NAYS 0

upper

Mar 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Rules, 03/19/25, 11:30 am, 412 Knott Building

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable by Judiciary; YEAS 11 NAYS 0

upper

Mar 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Judiciary, 03/12/25, 8:30 am, 110 Senate Building

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Feb 24, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Ethics and Elections, 03/03/25, 1:00 pm, 37 Senate Building

upper

Jan 29, 2025

Committee

Referred to Ethics and Elections; Judiciary; Rules

upper

1 primary · 3 co-sponsors