Rep. Susan Valdés

Maddy summaryHB 603 updates Florida's ethics rules for public employees by expanding the definition of "relative" to include foster parents and foster children. This change directly affects public employees and school board members, who must now consider foster relationships when applying gift restrictions. The bill revises Section 112.312 to include foster parents/children in the "relative" definition, ensuring school board members (per Section 1001.421) cannot accept gifts over $50 from foster relatives. The policy clarifies existing ethics standards without creating new restrictions, applying to all public employees subject to these rules. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Law Enforcement Officer Interactions with Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder; Requires DHSMV to establish program to improve communication between individuals with autism spectrum disorder & law enforcement officers under certain circumstances; requires DHSMV to develop & make available to such individuals certain envelope & card by specified date; provides requirements for envelope & card; authorizes such individuals to request envelope & card from DHSMV or tax collector's office beginning on specified date; requires Criminal Justice Standards & Training Commission within FDLE to establish employment training component relating to such individuals; provides requirements for training law enforcement officers on interacting with such individuals; requires training component to be included in specified course by specified date; requires specified law enforcement officers to complete training component by specified date.

Domestic Animals; Requires FDLE to post on its website specified information relating to individuals convicted of specified animal cruelty offenses; requires clerk of each court & county detention facility to provide FDLE with such information; requires pet dealers to disclose financing terms before sale of animals & provide copies of specified medical records to consumers; revises provisions relating to purchase, exchange, & return of animals; authorizes certain actions for contestation of veterinary expenses or demands of pet dealer for refund or exchange; provides for award of punitive damages; provides that certain violations constitute unfair method of competition or unfair or deceptive act or practice & subject to penalties; requires DBPR to post on its website certain best management practices & information related to selection of breeders, purchase of animals, & animal cruelty.

Extracurricular Activities; Revises provisions relating to extracurricular activities & student athletics; revises provisions relating to classification of K-12 administrative personnel.

Citizens Property Insurance Corporation; Prohibits corporation from issuing or renewing coverage for commercial residential & commercial nonresidential risks & from imposing equalization adjustment; requires corporation to implement commercial lines clearinghouse; authorizes corporation to share risk exposure & policy information with commercial lines clearinghouse administrator; authorizes approved surplus lines clearinghouse insurers to participate in commercial lines clearinghouse; prohibits such insurers from participating in personal lines clearinghouse; authorizes OIR to review certain operational processes related to program.

Firefighter Cancer Benefits; Requires former employer to provide death benefits to certain beneficiaries for specified time period; provides finding & declaration of important state interest.

City Pension Fund for Firefighters and Police Officers in the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County; Increases DROP participation from 5 years to 8 years; removes full scale contribution rate; revises, updates, & conforms terminology.

Transportation Facility Designations; Provides honorary designations of certain transportation facilities in specified counties; directs DOT to erect suitable markers.

Boating Safety; Revises & provides penalties for vessel collisions, accidents, casualties, reckless operation, & providing false information in specified reports; revises requirements for operating certain vessels; requires person convicted of certain noncriminal infractions to pay fine; provides minimum mandatory prison term for BUI manslaughter.

Comprehensive Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan; Requires DEP to develop comprehensive waste reduction & recycling plan, create & convene technical assistance group, & submit report to Legislature.