HB 139 Florida House · 2026 Regular Session

Adverse Personnel Actions and Ethics Complaints

Summary
Adverse Personnel Actions and Ethics Complaints; Prohibits agencies & independent contractors from taking specified actions against employees for disclosing certain information to Commission on Ethics; requires that information disclosed include specified violations or alleged violations; requires disclosure of specified information to commission; provides that specified provisions protect employees who submit written complaints to commission or provide information to investigator during investigation of complaint or referral; authorizes certain employees to file complaints in accordance with specified provisions; authorizes such employees to pursue specified administrative remedy or civil action within specified timeframe; authorizes local public employees to file complaint with appropriate local governmental authority; specifies requirements for administrative procedures created by local governmental authorities; authorizes such employees to bring civil actions in court of competent jurisdiction under specified conditions; provides that it is affirmative defense to certain actions that adverse personnel action was predicated on grounds other than exercising of certain protected rights; requires commission to deliver complaints & any amendment thereto to agency conducting certain investigation, upon agency's written request; provides that such delivery does not affect specified exemptions in regard to complaint & amendments; requires that such delivery be within reasonable timeframe; requires that commission redact certain information under specified conditions; requires commission to deliver complaints & any amendment thereto to certain persons upon notarized written request.
Bill status died 3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Oct 2025
Committee Review
Mar 2026
House Passage
Feb 2026
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Oct 9, 2025 Last action Mar 13, 2026
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

H 139 Filed H 139 c1 · 3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to remove protections for independent contractors and certain persons who disclose information, narrowing the scope to protect only employees. The definition of adverse personnel actions was expanded to include 'any other adverse action taken against an employee within the' scope of employment, broadening the types of retaliatory actions covered. Several formatting and line break changes were made throughout the document.
Scope change
The bill's scope was narrowed by removing protections for independent contractors and certain persons who disclose information, while simultaneously broadening the definition of adverse personnel actions to cover more types of retaliatory actions against employees.
ELIGIBILITY

Removed protection for independent contractors and certain persons who disclose information to the Commission on Ethics, limiting protection to employees only.

DEFINITION

Expanded the definition of 'adverse personnel action' to include 'any other adverse action taken against an employee within the' scope of employment, broadening the types of retaliatory actions covered.

TECHNICAL

Various formatting changes including line breaks and spacing adjustments throughout the document.

Floor votes · House Feb 26, 2026

How they voted

260
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 27
Feb 26, 2026
D Democratic8
7 Yea 1
87% Yea
R Republican19
19 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
24
Key actions
13
Committee
16
Mar 2, 2026
Committee
Bill referred to House Calendar
lower
Feb 27, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of State Affairs Committee
lower
Feb 26, 2026
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (26-0-1)
house
Feb 26, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable with CS by State Affairs Committee
lower
Feb 24, 2026
Lower · Passed
Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Now in State Affairs Committee
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Rules & Ethics Committee
lower
Feb 19, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable by Rules & Ethics Committee
lower
Feb 17, 2026
Lower · Passed
Added to Rules & Ethics Committee agenda
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Now in Rules & Ethics Committee
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Government Operations Subcommittee
lower
Feb 11, 2026
Lower · Passed
Favorable by Government Operations Subcommittee
lower
Feb 9, 2026
Lower · Passed
Added to Government Operations Subcommittee agenda
lower
Oct 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
lower
Oct 21, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs Committee
lower
Oct 21, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules & Ethics Committee
lower
Oct 21, 2025
Committee
Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors