THE BILL ITSELF
HB 1251
Expenditure of Public Funds by Local Governments
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to the expenditure of public funds by
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local governments; creating s. 11.063, F.S.; providing
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a short title; providing definitions; prohibiting
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local governments from expending public funds for
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specified purposes; prohibiting the acceptance of
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public funds from local governments for lobbying;
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providing applicability; authorizing the filing of
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complaints with the Commission on Ethics alleging
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violations; requiring the commission to investigate
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and provide a report of its findings to certain
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entities; requiring the commission to adopt rules;
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providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Section 11.063, Florida Statutes, is created to
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read:
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11.063 Use of public funds for lobbying and discretionary
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expenditure prohibited.—
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(1) This section may be cited as the "Federalism
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Protection Act."
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(2) For purposes of this section, the term:
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(a) "Elected official" means:
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1. A member of the governing body of a county,
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municipality, or any other political subdivision of this state;
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or
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2. An elected official chosen by the governing body of a
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county, municipality, or any other political subdivision of this
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state.
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(b) "Local government" means:
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1. A county, municipality, or any other political
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subdivision of this state.
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2. Any department, agency, board, bureau, district,
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commission, authority, or similar body of a county, a
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municipality, or any other political subdivision of the state.
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(c) "Public funds" has the same meaning as s. 106.113(1).
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(3)(a) A local government may not expend public funds to
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retain a lobbyist for representation before the legislative or
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executive branch. In addition, a person may not accept public
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funds from a local government for lobbying.
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(b) An elected official of a local government may not
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expend or enter into a contract requiring expenditure of public
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funds for any purpose not itemized in the budget of the local
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government.
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(c) This subsection does not apply to the expenditure of
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public funds by a local government or an elected official for
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the purpose of hiring of in-house staff.
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(4) A person may file a written complaint with the
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Commission on Ethics alleging a violation of this subsection.
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The commission shall investigate and report its finding to the
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President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of
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Representatives, and the Governor and Cabinet. The commission
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shall adopt rules necessary to conduct investigations under this
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paragraph.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.