SB 846 Florida Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Advertisements for Representation Services

Summary

Advertisements for Representation Services; Prohibiting notaries public from using specified terms to describe themselves under certain circumstances; creating a civil cause of action for declaratory or injunctive relief and to recover damages and attorney fees and costs; requiring certain businesses or persons offering immigration services to post a conspicuous notice with a specified statement, etc.

Issues: ✓ Immigration

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 28, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

S 846 c1 → S 846 c2 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was substantially rewritten and reorganized, shifting from a notary-focused statute to a broader immigration services regulation. The new version adds a new section for civil causes of action and creates a new statute specifically for immigration fraud prevention, while expanding disclosure requirements for non-lawyers offering immigration services.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from primarily regulating notary public advertising to also regulating general immigration service providers and creating a new civil cause of action for violations.

REQUIREMENT

Added new section 117.051 creating a civil cause of action for declaratory or injunctive relief and damages for notary public advertising violations.

Created new section 501.1391 establishing fraud prevention requirements for immigration service providers, including mandatory conspicuous notices at websites and places of business.

Modified disclosure requirements to apply to all immigration service providers rather than just notaries, with specific language about not being accredited to represent clients in immigration matters.

ENFORCEMENT

Changed enforcement mechanism from Attorney General/state attorney filing suits to allowing aggrieved persons to bring civil actions for injunctive relief and damages.

TIMELINE

Added specific effective date of July 1, 2025.

TECHNICAL

Removed references to section 908.107 and 908.113 which were replaced with new section 501.1391 for immigration fraud prevention.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 16, 2025

How they voted

23–0

Passed · 2 other

Total votes 25

Apr 16, 2025

D Democratic5

4 Yea 1

80% 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 17, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Apr 16, 2025

Senate · Passed

Senate Vote: pass (23-0-2)

senate

Apr 11, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Rules, 04/16/25, 8:30 am, 412 Knott Building

upper

Apr 1, 2025

Upper · Passed

Favorable by Judiciary; YEAS 11 NAYS 0

upper

Mar 27, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Judiciary, 04/01/25, 4:00 pm, 110 Senate Building

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

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

upper

Mar 20, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Commerce and Tourism, 03/25/25, 8:30 am, 110 Senate Building

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to Commerce and Tourism; Judiciary; Rules

upper

1 primary · 2 co-sponsors