SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/SB 18

Relief of the Estate of M.N. by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office
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SPONSOR
Judiciary; Martin
FILED BY
Jonathan Martin — District 33, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
Upon becoming a law
DIED IN
Rules

Filed under Local Government.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Relief of the Estate of M.N. by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office; Providing for the relief of the Estate of M.N. by the Broward County Sheriff’s Office; providing an appropriation to compensate the estate for injuries sustained by M.N. and her subsequent death as a result of the negligence of the Broward County Sheriff’s Office; providing a limitation on compensation and the payment of attorney fees, etc. CLAIM: $2,588,259

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Directs the Broward Sheriff's Office to pay M.N.'s estate $2,588,258.50.

The Broward County Sheriff's Office must appropriate $2,588,258.50 from unencumbered funds and pay it to the Estate of M.N. as compensation for injuries and damages, an amount that remains owed after the office's earlier $110,000 payment under the standard sovereign-immunity cap.

The act first declares the facts recited in its preamble to be true, legislatively closing off dispute over the underlying events before ordering payment.

The payment is defined as the sole compensation for all present and future claims arising from the same incident, so the estate cannot pursue a further claim over these injuries later.

Attorney fees connected to the claim are capped at 25 percent of the total amount awarded, though the cap does not mention lobbying fees.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Appropriates $2,588,258.50 to pay the estate's claim majors. 2

AIRequires the Broward County Sheriff's Office to appropriate $2,588,258.50 from funds not otherwise encumbered and draw a warrant paying the Estate of M.N. as compensation for injuries and damages sustained.

“authorized and directed to appropriate from funds not otherwise encumbered and to draw a warrant in the sum of $2,588,258.50” bill text, line 167 →
§ 2 Makes the payment sole compensation for the claim majors. 3

AIBars the Estate of M.N. from bringing any further claim against the Broward County Sheriff's Office over the same injuries, whether that claim would arise now or later.

“intended to provide the sole compensation for all present and future claims arising out of the factual situation described in this act” bill text, line 173 →
§ 3 Caps attorney fees at 25 percent of the award moderates. 3

AILimits the attorney fees that may be paid in connection with this claim to no more than 25 percent of the $2,588,258.50 awarded, leaving the remainder for the estate.

“The total amount paid for attorney fees relating to this claim may not exceed 25 percent of the total amount awarded under this act” bill text, line 176 →
§ 4 Declares the preamble's facts legally true moderates. 1

AILegislatively establishes the account recited in the act's preamble as fact, removing it from further dispute before the payment is ordered.

“The facts stated in the preamble to this act are found and declared to be true” bill text, line 164 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Rules
2/10/2026
Now in Rules
2/10/2026
Favorable by Community Affairs; YEAS 6 NAYS 2
2/5/2026
On Committee agenda-- Community Affairs, 02/10/26, 3:00 pm, 37...
2/4/2026
Now in Community Affairs
2/4/2026
CS by Judiciary read 1st time
2/4/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
2/3/2026
CS by Judiciary; YEAS 10 NAYS 1
1/29/2026
On Committee agenda-- Judiciary, 02/03/26, 1:00 pm, 110 Senate Building
1/29/2026
Now in Judiciary
1/29/2026
Recommendation: Favorable by Special Master on Claim Bills
1/13/2026
Introduced
10/6/2025
Referred to Special Master on Claim Bills; Judiciary; Community...
8/1/2025
Filed
8 EARLIER →
STAFF ANALYSES