SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/SB 1612

Electronic Payments Made to Units of Local Governments
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SPONSOR
Governmental Oversight and Accountability; DiCeglie
FILED BY
Nick DiCeglie — District 18, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
1/1/2027
COMPANION
CS/HB 967 — CS/SB 1612 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Taxes & Budget.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Electronic Payments Made to Units of Local Governments; Requiring units of local government to accept certain forms of payments; providing an exception; requiring such local governments to accept payments online, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates local governments to accept online payments.

Local governments must now accept online payments, shifting from optional to mandatory status.

They must also accept credit, debit, and electronic funds transfers for all financial obligations.

An exception exists when another payment form is legally required.

Local governments may still surcharge fees to cover processing costs.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Acceptance of Electronic Payments majors. 215.322(5)(a)

AIChanges local government acceptance of electronic payments from optional to mandatory.

“shall accept payment by use of credit cards, charge cards, bank debit cards, and electronic funds transfers”
§ 2 Mandatory Online Payment Methods majors. 215.322(5)(b)

AIRequires local governments to provide online payment options for all accepted electronic payment types.

“is required to have a method for accepting such payment online” bill text, line 53 →
§ 3 Legal Exception for Required Payment Forms moderates. 215.322(5)(a)

AIExempts local governments from accepting electronic payments when another payment form is legally required.

“except when another form of payment is required by law” bill text, line 37 →
§ 4 Legislative Declaration of State Interest moderates. 2

AIDeclares the act fulfills an important state interest, potentially strengthening legal standing.

“The Legislature finds and declares that this act fulfills an important state interest” bill text, line 55 →
TIMELINE
3/6/2026
Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 967 (Ch....
3/6/2026
Substituted CS/HB 967 -SJ 637
3/6/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 637
3/3/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/06/26
2/25/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/24/2026
Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 21 NAYS 0
2/19/2026
On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/24/26, 12:00 pm, 412 Knott Building
2/18/2026
CS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability read 1st time
2/12/2026
Now in Rules
2/12/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
2/11/2026
CS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability; YEAS 9 NAYS 0
2/6/2026
On Committee agenda-- Governmental Oversight and Accountability,...
1/28/2026
Now in Governmental Oversight and Accountability
1/27/2026
Favorable by Community Affairs; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
1/22/2026
Introduced
1/22/2026
On Committee agenda-- Community Affairs, 01/27/26, 3:30 pm, 37...
1/16/2026
Referred to Community Affairs; Governmental Oversight and...
1/9/2026
Filed
12 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 215.322
+71 / −30
STAFF ANALYSES
2 MORE →