Ethics; Prohibits candidates, elected public officers, appointed public officers, & public employees from knowingly misrepresenting their Armed Forces of United States service records, awards, or qualifications or wearing any uniform, medal, or insignia that they are not authorized to wear; provides civil penalties; provides that certain penalties are delinquent if they aren't paid to Commission on Ethics within specified timeframe; requires Attorney General to attempt to determine whether individual owing certain penalties is current public officer or public employee; requires Attorney General to notify CFO or governing body of county, municipality, school district, or special district of total amount of any such penalty owed by current public officer or public employee; requires CFO or governing body to begin withholding portions of any salary-related payment that would otherwise be paid to officer or employee; requires that withheld payments be remitted to commission until penalty is satisfied; authorizes CFO or governing body to retain portion of each retained payment for administrative costs; authorizes Attorney General to refer certain unpaid fines to collection agency; authorizes collection agency to use any lawful collection method; authorizes Attorney General to collect unpaid fine within specified period after issuance of civil penalty or restitution penalty.
Sponsored bills
Maddy summaryThis bill updates the official boundaries of the Collier Mosquito Control District in Collier County to include new lands. The change was approved by voters in a previous referendum and is now being formalized through this legislation. By amending the district's charter, the law ensures that the mosquito control agency's authority and tax powers now cover the expanded geographic area.
Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new section in Florida law that officially defines the term "antisemitism" using the working definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in 2016. The legislation provides specific contemporary examples of antisemitism, such as denying the Holocaust, holding Jewish people collectively responsible for actions by Israel, or applying double standards to the State of Israel compared to other nations. It explicitly states that criticizing Israel in a manner similar to how other countries are criticized does not count as antisemitism under this definition. The law aims to help monitor and report hate crimes while ensuring it does not infringe on First Amendment rights or conflict with existing antidiscrimination laws.
Exemption of Homesteads; Requires value of homestead exemption be adjusted annually; requiring Legislature appropriate funds for specified purpose; require funds be distributed in specified manner; requires specified counties provide certain documentation.
Veterans; Revises provisions related to veterans including veterans' history program, Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., Veterans Employment & Training Services Program, grants, workforce training & recruitment, exemption from fees, advisory council on brain & spinal cord injuries, & required instruction on Veterans' Day & Memorial Day. APPROPRIATION: $91,207
Veterans' Long-term Care Facilities Admissions; Revises eligibility for residency in Veterans' Domiciliary Home of Florida to include specified individuals; adds such individuals to priority of admittance schedule; revises admission eligibility for veterans' nursing homes to include specified persons; revises priority of admittance to include such persons.
Provision Of Homeowners' Association Rules and Covenants; Requires association to provide copies of association's rules & covenants to every member before specified date, & every new member thereafter; requires association to provide members with copy of updated rules & covenants; authorizes association to adopt rules relating to standards & manner in which such copies are distributed; authorizes association to post complete copy of association's rules & covenants, or direct link thereto, on homepage of association's website; requires association to provide specified notice to its members.
Maddy summaryThis bill updates Florida's residential tenancy laws by formally defining "Florida financial institution" to include specific types of banks and credit unions with insured deposits. It requires landlords holding tenant security deposits or advance rent to place those funds in separate accounts at these approved institutions, either in non-interest-bearing accounts or interest-bearing accounts where tenants receive at least 75% of the interest earned or a 5% annual rate. The legislation also clarifies that fees or bonds used instead of traditional security deposits are not classified as security deposits and updates fire safety requirements for certain multi-story lodging and timeshare buildings. These changes directly affect landlords, tenants, and financial institutions operating within the state.
Regulation of Commercial Motor Vehicles; Revises federal regulations to which owners & operators of certain commercial motor vehicles are subject; charges DHSMV with administration & enforcement of certain federal regulations; revises provisions relating to issuance of commercial motor vehicle license or temporary commercial instruction permit; requires certain final orders & rulings to be reviewable; requires downgrade of license or permit under certain circumstances; provides for hearing; provides for dismissal of action to downgrade license or permit; provides for reinstatement of license or permit; limits liability of DHSMV; authorizes issuance of Class E driver license to person prohibited from operating commercial motor vehicle.
Health Care Practitioners and Massage Therapy; Requires DOH to report specified data; authorizes DOH to suspend license of certain health care practitioners & massage establishments in certain circumstances; revises advertising requirements for massage therapists & massage establishments; prohibits establishments from sheltering or harboring, or being used as sleeping quarters for any person; requires DOH investigators to request government identification from all employees while in massage establishment; specifies additional documents person operating massage establishment must present, upon request, to DOH investigators & law enforcement officers; requires DOH to notify federal immigration office if specified persons fail to provide government identification; revises definition of “unlicensed massage establishment”. APPROPRIATION: $1,034,032