SB 576 Florida Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Service of Process

Summary

Service of Process; Expanding the hours during which registered agents are required to keep the designated registered office open for the purpose of process service; authorizing service of process by personally serving the receiver for specified domestic entities in receivership during pendency of the receivership; requiring that a certain substituted service of process be issued in the name of the party to be served in care of the Secretary of State; specifying that registered agents must have been designated under a specified provision for a specified purpose, etc.

Bill status in committee 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Apr 2025

House Passage

Governor

Introduced Mar 4, 2025 Last action Apr 16, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S 576 Filed → S 576 c1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

This bill expands service of process rules for registered agents in Florida, requiring them to keep offices open during specific hours (10 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.) and allowing service on employees when the agent is absent. It also adds provisions for serving entities in receivership and clarifies substituted service procedures for nonresidents and concealed parties.

Scope change

The bill expands applicability to include service on receivers for entities in receivership and clarifies procedures for substituted service on nonresidents and concealed individuals.

REQUIREMENT

Registered agents must now keep offices open from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. each day except weekends and holidays, with individuals available to accept service during these hours.

Substituted service procedures were revised to require sending notice and copies of process to last known physical and electronic addresses of the party being served.

ELIGIBILITY

Service of process may now be made on employees of registered agents when the agent is not present, including during the first attempt at service.

Parties may now serve process by personally serving the receiver for domestic business entities in receivership during the pendency of the receivership.

ENFORCEMENT

The Secretary of State and Department of State are clarified as not being parties to lawsuits and cannot be served additional court filings due to substituted service.

TIMELINE

New provisions for service on receivers and certain substituted service methods apply retroactively to causes of action accruing on or after January 2, 2023.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 8, 2025

How they voted

24–0

Passed · 1 other

Total votes 25

Apr 8, 2025

D Democratic5

5 Yea

100% Yea

I Independent1

1 Yea

100% Yea

R Republican19

18 Yea 1

94% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 8, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (24-0-1)

senate

Apr 8, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 24 NAYS 0

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Rules, 04/08/25, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable by Governmental Oversight and Accountability; YEAS 7 NAYS 0

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Governmental Oversight and Accountability, 04/01/25, 1:30 pm, 110 Senate Building

upper

Mar 12, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

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

Feb 20, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Rules

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors