HB 597 Florida House · 2026 Regular Session

Special Elections

Summary
Special Elections; Revises timeframe during which vacancy must be filled by candidates qualifying within timeframes provided by general law; requires Governor to call special primary election & special election under certain circumstance; requires Governor to fix dates of special election after vacancy occurs; requires Governor to consult with Secretary of State & supervisor of elections before setting special election dates; authorizes qualified electors to file petition in circuit court seeking judicial determination of election date under specified conditions; provides that court has authority to fix & declare dates for special election; removes authority of Governor, President of Senate, & Speaker of House of Representatives to waive specified timeframes if all parties concur; requires Governor to fix dates to coincide with already scheduled election; requires that special elections to fill certain vacancies be held no later than election for which resigning officer seeks to qualify; provides that certain persons are deemed elected; requires Governor to consult with certain supervisors of election, in addition to Secretary of State, before declaring date of special election; requires that such order be issued within specified timeframe after occurrence of vacancy.
Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Dec 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Dec 2, 2025 Last action Mar 13, 2026
Floor votes

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Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
7
Key actions
1
Committee
4
Dec 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
lower
Dec 12, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs Committee
lower
Dec 12, 2025
Committee
Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
lower
Dec 12, 2025
Committee
Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee
lower
1 primary · 1 co-sponsor

Sponsors