SB 2502 full text · Session Watch

Florida Senate - 2026 SB 2502 By the Committee on Appropriations 576-02995-26 20262502__

1 A bill to be entitled

2 An act implementing the 2026-2027 General

3 Appropriations Act; providing legislative intent;

4 incorporating by reference certain calculations;

5 amending s. 1001.451, F.S.; revising the services

6 required to be provided by regional consortium service

7 organizations under certain circumstances; revising

8 the allocation that certain regional consortium

9 service organizations are eligible to receive from the

10 General Appropriations Act; requiring regional

11 consortium service organizations to submit certain

12 annual reports to the Department of Education;

13 requiring the carry forward of certain unexpended

14 funds; requiring each regional consortium service

15 organization to provide quarterly financial reports to

16 member districts; requiring member districts to

17 designate fiscal agent districts for certain purposes;

18 providing for compensation of fiscal agent districts;

19 providing for certain personnel recommendations,

20 policies, salary schedules, and job descriptions;

21 authorizing the purchase or lease of property and

22 facilities; providing for the distribution of certain

23 revenues upon dissolution of a regional consortium

24 service organization; revising authorized means of

25 revenue generation; requiring the establishment of a

26 fund balance for certain purposes; providing for the

27 future expiration and reversion of specified statutory

28 text; creating s. 1001.4511, F.S.; creating the

29 Regional Consortia Service Organization Supplemental

30 Services Program; authorizing the use of program funds

31 for specified purposes; requiring each regional

32 consortium service organization to annually report

33 certain information to the Legislature; authorizing

34 the carryforward of certain funds; creating s.

35 1009.635, F.S.; establishing the Rural Incentive for

36 Professional Educators (RIPE) Program within the

37 Department of Education for a specified purpose;

38 providing eligibility requirements for the program;

39 providing for student loan repayment assistance, up to

40 a specified amount; requiring the department to verify

41 certain participant information before disbursement of

42 an award; specifying that the program is administered

43 by the Office of Student Financial Assistance within

44 the department; requiring the State Board of Education

45 to adopt rules by a specified date; authorizing

46 certain state university boards of trustees to accept

47 a health care provider’s procurement methods and

48 construction contracts under certain circumstances;

49 authorizing the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical

50 University board of trustees to expend available

51 reserves or carryforward certain balances for a

52 specified purpose; authorizing the Agency for Health

53 Care Administration to submit a budget amendment to

54 realign Medicaid funding for specified purposes,

55 subject to certain limitations; authorizing the Agency

56 for Health Care Administration to submit a budget

57 amendment to realign funding within the Florida

58 Kidcare program appropriation categories or to

59 increase budget authority for certain purposes;

60 specifying the time period within which such budget

61 amendment must be submitted; amending s. 381.986,

62 F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year the exemption of

63 certain rules pertaining to the medical use of

64 marijuana from certain rulemaking requirements;

65 authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration

66 to submit a budget amendment requesting additional

67 spending authority to implement specified programs and

68 payments; requiring institutions participating in a

69 specified workforce expansion and education program to

70 provide quarterly reports to the agency; authorizing

71 the Agency for Health Care Administration to submit a

72 budget amendment for a specified purpose; authorizing

73 the Agency for Health Care Administration to submit a

74 budget amendment requesting additional spending

75 authority to implement the Low Income Pool component

76 of the Florida Managed Medical Assistance

77 Demonstration up to a certain amount; requiring that

78 the amendment include a signed attestation and

79 acknowledgment for entities relating to the Low Income

80 Pool; authorizing the Agency for Health Care

81 Administration to submit a budget amendment requesting

82 additional spending authority to implement certain

83 payments and specified programs; authorizing the

84 Agency for Health Care Administration to submit a

85 budget amendment requesting additional spending

86 authority to implement a certified expenditure program

87 for emergency medical transportation services;

88 authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration

89 to submit a budget amendment requesting additional

90 spending authority to implement the Disproportionate

91 Share Hospital Program; requiring such amendment to

92 include specified information; authorizing the Agency

93 for Health Care Administration to submit a budget

94 amendment requesting additional spending authority to

95 implement fee-for-service inpatient and outpatient

96 supplemental payments for specialty hospitals;

97 authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration

98 to submit budget amendments to increase budget

99 authority to support the Florida School-Based Services

100 program; requiring the Agency for Health Care

101 Administration to create the Applied Behavior Analysis

102 (ABA) Task Force for a certain purpose; requiring the

103 task force to evaluate certain information and develop

104 recommendations; providing for membership of the task

105 force; requiring the Agency for Health Care

106 Administration to provide staff support; authorizing

107 staff from specified agencies to provide additional

108 expertise; providing for meetings of the task force;

109 providing that members of the task force serve without

110 compensation but are entitled to reimbursement of

111 travel expenses; requiring the task force to provide a

112 report to the Governor and the Legislature by a

113 specified date; authorizing the Department of Children

114 and Families to submit a budget amendment to realign

115 funding within specified areas of the department based

116 on implementation of the Guardianship Assistance

117 Program; authorizing the Department of Children and

118 Families, the Department of Health, and the Agency for

119 Health Care Administration to submit budget amendments

120 to increase budget authority to support certain

121 refugee programs; requiring the Department of Children

122 and Families to submit quarterly reports to the

123 Executive Office of the Governor and the Legislature;

124 authorizing the Department of Children and Families to

125 submit budget amendments to increase budget authority

126 to support specified federal grant programs;

127 reenacting s. 393.066(2), F.S., relating to community

128 services and treatment; providing for the future

129 expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;

130 amending s. 394.9082, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal

131 year the authority of a managing entity to carry

132 forward certain unexpended funds; specifying that

133 nonqualified funds carried forward are not included in

134 a cumulative cap on the percentage that may be carried

135 forward; amending s. 409.9913, F.S.; requiring that

136 core services funding be allocated as provided in the

137 General Appropriations Act; requiring the Department

138 of Children and Families to continue to collect

139 certain data from community-based care lead agencies

140 and to use a certain Tiered Funding Model; requiring

141 community-based care lead agencies to submit certain

142 data to the department; requiring the department to

143 conduct certain ongoing performance monitoring;

144 requiring the department to provide monthly status

145 reports to the Governor and the Legislature; requiring

146 the department to submit a final report to the

147 Governor and the Legislature by a specified date;

148 amending s. 409.990, F.S.; requiring that certain

149 funds held by a community-based care lead agency and

150 carried forward be returned to the Department of

151 Children and Families; requiring the department to

152 hold such funds in a separate account and report

153 certain information to specified entities; providing

154 for the reversion of such funds to the General Revenue

155 Fund; authorizing the Department of Health to submit a

156 budget amendment to increase budget authority for the

157 Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and

158 Children (WIC) and the Child Care Food Program if a

159 certain condition is met; authorizing the Department

160 of Health to submit a budget amendment to increase

161 budget authority for the HIV/AIDS Prevention and

162 Treatment Program if a certain condition is met;

163 authorizing the Department of Health to submit a

164 budget amendment to increase budget authority for the

165 department if additional federal revenues specific to

166 COVID-19 relief funds become available; requiring the

167 Agency for Health Care Administration to replace the

168 Florida Medicaid Management Information System (FMMIS)

169 and fiscal agent operations with a specified new

170 system; specifying items that may not be included in

171 the new system; providing directives to the Agency for

172 Health Care Administration related to the new Florida

173 Health Care Connection (FX) system; requiring the

174 Agency for Health Care Administration to meet certain

175 requirements in replacing FMMIS and the current

176 Medicaid fiscal agent; requiring the Agency for Health

177 Care Administration to implement a specified program

178 governance structure that includes an executive

179 steering committee composed of specified members;

180 providing the duties of the executive steering

181 committee; requiring the establishment of specified

182 working groups; providing the composition of such

183 groups; providing requirements for such groups;

184 requiring the Agency for Health Care Administration to

185 contract for a certain assessment of the agency’s

186 Medicaid management information system (MMIS);

187 providing requirements for the assessment; requiring

188 submission of the assessment to specified entities by

189 a certain date; requiring the agency to develop a new

190 time-phased implementation roadmap for the MMIS

191 replacement based on the assessment; requiring the

192 agency to submit the roadmap to specified entities by

193 a certain date; requiring the Agency for Health Care

194 Administration, in consultation with the Department of

195 Health, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the

196 Department of Children and Families, and the

197 Department of Corrections, to competitively procure a

198 contract with a vendor to negotiate prices for certain

199 prescribed drugs and biological products; providing

200 specifications for such contract; authorizing the

201 issuance or renewal of certain inactive or partially

202 inactive licenses to skilled nursing providers and

203 requiring the extension of certificate-of-need

204 validity periods under certain circumstances;

205 providing for subsequent renewal periods of such

206 inactive licenses and validity periods under certain

207 circumstances; authorizing the Agency for Persons with

208 Disabilities to submit budget amendments to transfer

209 funding from the Salaries and Benefits appropriation

210 categories for a specified purpose; authorizing the

211 Agency for Persons with Disabilities to submit budget

212 amendments to request funds from the Lump Sum-Home and

213 Community-Based Waiver category for a specified

214 purpose; authorizing the Agency for Health Care

215 Administration and the Agency for Persons with

216 Disabilities to submit budget amendments within a

217 specified timeframe for a specified purpose;

218 authorizing the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to

219 submit a budget amendment, subject to Legislative

220 Budget Commission approval, requesting certain

221 authority for certain purposes relating to veterans’

222 nursing homes; amending s. 409.915, F.S.; extending

223 for 1 year the expiration of an exception for certain

224 funds used for the hospital directed payment program;

225 authorizing the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to

226 expend certain funds and submit budget amendments,

227 subject to certain approval, for the planning and

228 construction of a new State Veterans’ Nursing Home and

229 Adult Day Health Center in a specified county;

230 authorizing the department to apply for a specified

231 federal grant for the Collier County State Veterans’

232 Nursing Home; authorizing the Department of Elderly

233 Affairs to submit a budget amendment requesting

234 certain authority for an Adult Care Food Program or

235 the Older Americans Act under certain circumstances;

236 amending s. 216.262, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year

237 the authority of the Department of Corrections to

238 submit a budget amendment for additional positions and

239 appropriations under certain circumstances; amending

240 s. 215.18, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year the

241 authority and related repayment requirements for

242 temporary trust fund loans to the state court system

243 which are sufficient to meet the system’s

244 appropriation; requiring the Department of Juvenile

245 Justice to review county juvenile detention payments

246 to determine whether a county has met specified

247 financial responsibilities; requiring that amounts

248 owed by a certain county for such financial

249 responsibilities be deducted from certain county

250 funds; requiring the Department of Revenue to transfer

251 withheld funds to a specified trust fund; requiring

252 the Department of Revenue to ensure that such

253 reductions in amounts distributed do not reduce

254 distributions below amounts necessary for certain

255 payments due on bonds and to comply with bond

256 covenants; requiring the Department of Revenue to

257 notify the Department of Juvenile Justice if bond

258 payment requirements mandate a reduction in deductions

259 for amounts owed by a county; requiring the Department

260 of Juvenile Justice to take certain actions;

261 reenacting s. 27.40(1), (2)(a), (3)(a), (5), (6), and

262 (7), F.S., relating to court-appointed counsel;

263 providing for the future expiration and reversion of

264 specified statutory text; reenacting and amending s.

265 27.5304, F.S., relating to the extension for 1 fiscal

266 year of limitations on compensation for representation

267 in criminal proceedings; providing for the future

268 expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;

269 amending s. 908.1033, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal

270 year provisions authorizing local law enforcement

271 agencies to apply to the State Board of Immigration

272 Enforcement to provide bonus payments for certain

273 certified correctional officers; amending s. 934.50,

274 F.S.; creating the Drone as First Responder Grant

275 Program within the Department of Law Enforcement;

276 providing the purpose of the program; providing

277 eligibility requirements; requiring the department to

278 develop an application process and allocate funds on a

279 first-come, first-served basis; requiring that grants

280 be matched by local funds in a specified percentage;

281 authorizing the department to waive the matching funds

282 requirement for certain agencies; defining the term

283 “first responder agency”; authorizing the department

284 to adopt rules; authorizing emergency rulemaking;

285 requiring the Department of Management Services, with

286 the cooperation of certain agencies, to use tenant

287 broker services to renegotiate or reprocure certain

288 private lease agreements for office or storage space;

289 requiring the Department of Management Services to

290 provide a report to the Governor and the Legislature

291 by a specified date; prohibiting an agency from

292 transferring funds from a data processing category to

293 another category other than another data processing

294 category; authorizing the Executive Office of the

295 Governor to transfer funds appropriated in certain

296 categories between departments for purposes of

297 aligning amounts paid for risk management insurance

298 and for human resources services purchased per

299 statewide contract; authorizing the Department of

300 Management Services to use certain facility

301 disposition funds from the Architects Incidental Trust

302 Fund to pay for certain relocation expenses;

303 authorizing the Department of Management Services to

304 submit budget amendments for an increase in

305 appropriation under certain circumstances; requiring

306 that such amendments include specified information;

307 requiring the Department of Financial Services to

308 replace specified components of the Florida Accounting

309 Information Resource Subsystem (FLAIR) and the Cash

310 Management Subsystem (CMS) with a specified integrated

311 enterprise system; prohibiting the Department of

312 Financial Services from including certain components

313 in the replacement of FLAIR and CMS; providing

314 requirements for the Department of Financial Services

315 related to replacing FLAIR and CMS; providing for the

316 composition of an executive steering committee to

317 oversee FLAIR and CMS replacement; providing

318 requirements for the executive steering committee

319 chair; providing duties and responsibilities of the

320 executive steering committee; reenacting s.

321 282.709(3), F.S., relating to the state agency law

322 enforcement radio system and interoperability network;

323 providing for future expiration and reversion of

324 specified statutory text; authorizing state agencies

325 and other eligible users of the Statewide Law

326 Enforcement Radio System to use the Department of

327 Management Services contract to purchase equipment and

328 services; requiring that a specified transaction fee

329 percentage for use of the online procurement system be

330 collected for a specified fiscal year; amending s.

331 24.105, F.S.; specifying requirements for the adoption

332 of rules of the Department of the Lottery, excluding

333 certain rules for 1 fiscal year regarding the

334 commission for lottery ticket sales; limiting

335 additional retailer compensation in a specified

336 manner; providing for the future expiration and

337 reversion of specified statutory text; amending s.

338 627.351, F.S.; extending for 1 year the specified

339 authority of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation;

340 amending s. 215.5586, F.S.; extending for 1 year the

341 homeowner eligibility criteria for a hurricane

342 mitigation grant from the My Safe Florida Home

343 Program; providing that certain funds appropriated to

344 the Department of Financial Services may be carried

345 forward through a specified fiscal year; authorizing

346 the Executive Office of the Governor to transfer funds

347 between departments to align the budget authority

348 granted based on the estimated costs for data

349 processing services for a specified fiscal year;

350 limiting the auxiliary assessments that may be charged

351 to state agencies related to contract management

352 services provided to the Northwest Regional Data

353 Center; reenacting and amending s. 284.51, F.S.,

354 relating to the electroencephalogram combined

355 transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment (eTMS)

356 pilot program; extending for 1 year the expiration of

357 the program; requiring the Department of Financial

358 Services to continue its existing contract for the

359 establishment of the eTMS pilot program for veterans

360 and first responders; amending s. 717.123, F.S.;

361 authorizing the Department of Financial Services to

362 retain specified funds, not to exceed a certain

363 amount; requiring that the funds be held in a separate

364 account; requiring the department to make prompt

365 payment of certain claims from the separate account;

366 amending s. 215.18, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year

367 certain authority to transfer funds from certain trust

368 funds in the State Treasury to other trust funds in

369 certain circumstances; requiring the Department of

370 Environmental Protection to transfer designated

371 proportions of the revenues deposited in the Land

372 Acquisition Trust Fund within the department to land

373 acquisition trust funds in the Department of

374 Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of

375 State, and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation

376 Commission according to specified parameters and

377 calculations; defining the term “department”;

378 requiring the Department of Environmental Protection

379 to make transfers to land acquisition trust funds

380 monthly; specifying the method of determining transfer

381 amounts; authorizing the Department of Environmental

382 Protection to advance funds from its land acquisition

383 trust fund to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation

384 Commission’s land acquisition trust fund for specified

385 purposes; amending s. 259.105, F.S.; requiring that

386 proceeds from a specified trust fund be distributed as

387 provided in the General Appropriations Act for a

388 specified fiscal year; amending s. 376.91, F.S.;

389 extending for 1 year the date by which the Department

390 of Environmental Protection shall adopt statewide

391 cleanup target levels for PFAS under certain

392 circumstances; providing for future expiration and

393 reversion of specified statutory text; reenacting s.

394 376.3071(15)(g), F.S., relating to the Inland

395 Protection Trust Fund; providing for the future

396 expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;

397 requiring the Department of Citrus to enter into

398 agreements for specified purposes by a certain date;

399 requiring the Department of Citrus to file certain

400 information with the department’s Inspector General;

401 reenacting s. 380.5105, F.S., relating to the Stan

402 Mayfield Working Waterfronts; providing for the future

403 expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;

404 authorizing the Fish and Wildlife Conservation

405 Commission to use specified funds to provide grants

406 for a specified purpose; amending s. 403.890, F.S.;

407 authorizing the use of revenues deposited into or

408 appropriated to the Water Protection and

409 Sustainability Program Trust Fund as provided in the

410 General Appropriations Act; amending s. 375.041, F.S.;

411 extending for 1 fiscal year the requirement that funds

412 for the Land Acquisition Trust Fund be appropriated in

413 a specified manner; authorizing the Department of

414 Agriculture and Consumer Services to lease an existing

415 facility and administer a specified program;

416 authorizing the Department of Agriculture and Consumer

417 Services to submit budget amendments to increase

418 budget authority for the National School Lunch

419 Program; amending s. 288.80125, F.S.; extending for 1

420 fiscal year a requirement that the use of funds in the

421 Triumph Gulf Coast Trust Fund be related to Hurricane

422 Michael recovery; amending s. 339.135, F.S.; extending

423 for 1 year the authority for the chair and vice chair

424 of the Legislative Budget Commission to approve

425 certain work program amendments under specified

426 circumstances; authorizing the Department of

427 Transportation to request a specified amount of budget

428 authority to the extent necessary to advance or defer

429 certain projects in the Work Program and align

430 resources for a specified purpose; amending s.

431 288.0655, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year a

432 requirement that certain appropriated funds relating

433 to the Rural Infrastructure Fund be distributed in a

434 specified manner; creating s. 288.013, F.S.; providing

435 legislative findings; creating the Office of Rural

436 Prosperity within the Department of Commerce;

437 requiring the Governor to appoint a director, subject

438 to Senate confirmation; providing that the director

439 reports to and serves at the pleasure of the secretary

440 of the department; providing duties of the office;

441 requiring the office to establish and staff a certain

442 number of regional rural community liaison centers for

443 a specified purpose; providing the powers and duties

444 of the liaison centers; requiring coordination between

445 certain entities; requiring the liaison centers to

446 engage with the Rural Economic Development Initiative

447 (REDI); requiring at least one staff member of a

448 liaison center to attend the monthly REDI meetings in

449 person or by means of electronic communication;

450 requiring the director of the office to submit a

451 report to the Administration Commission within the

452 Executive Office of the Governor; specifying

453 requirements for the report; requiring that the report

454 also be submitted to the Legislature by a specified

455 date and published on the office’s website; requiring

456 the director of the office to attend the next

457 Administration Commission meeting to present detailed

458 information from the annual report; amending s.

459 288.001, F.S.; requiring the Florida Small Business

460 Development Center Network to use certain funds

461 appropriated for a specified purpose; authorizing the

462 network to dedicate funds to facilitate certain

463 events; creating s. 288.014, F.S.; providing

464 legislative findings; requiring the Office of Rural

465 Prosperity to administer the Renaissance Grants

466 Program to provide block grants to eligible

467 communities; requiring the Office of Economic and

468 Demographic Research to certify to the Office of Rural

469 Prosperity certain information by a specified date;

470 defining the term “growth-impeded”; requiring the

471 Office of Economic and Demographic Research to certify

472 annually that a county remains growth-impeded until

473 certain conditions are met; providing that a county is

474 eligible to participate in the program for 1

475 additional year under certain circumstances; requiring

476 participating counties to enter into an agreement with

477 the Office of Rural Prosperity to receive a block

478 grant; giving such counties certain authority;

479 prohibiting the Office of Rural Prosperity from

480 determining how such counties implement the block

481 grant; requiring regional rural community liaison

482 center staff to provide certain assistance; requiring

483 participating counties to report certain information

484 to the Office of Rural Prosperity; providing that a

485 participating county receives a specified amount from

486 funds appropriated to the program, or an equal share

487 of the funds appropriated under certain circumstances;

488 requiring participating counties to limit certain

489 expenses; authorizing participating counties to

490 supplement the block grant with other funding sources;

491 requiring participating counties to hire and retain a

492 renaissance coordinator; providing the

493 responsibilities of the renaissance coordinator;

494 requiring the regional rural community liaison center

495 staff to provide assistance and training to the

496 renaissance coordinator, upon request; requiring

497 participating counties to design a certain plan;

498 specifying requirements for such plan; requiring

499 participating counties to develop intergovernmental

500 agreements with certain entities to implement the

501 plan; requiring the Auditor General to conduct an

502 operational audit of each county’s grant activities;

503 requiring the Office of Economic and Demographic

504 Research to submit a certain report to the

505 Legislature; specifying requirements for the report;

506 providing that funds appropriated from the program are

507 not subject to reversion; creating s. 288.0175, F.S.;

508 creating the Public Infrastructure Smart Technology

509 Grant Program within the Office of Rural Prosperity;

510 defining terms; requiring the office to contract with

511 one or more smart technology lead organizations to

512 administer the grant program for a specified purpose;

513 providing the criteria for such contracts; requiring

514 that a summary of projects funded by the grant program

515 be included in the office’s annual report; amending s.

516 288.065, F.S.; establishing the Rural Community

517 Development Revolving Loan Fund within the Office of

518 Rural Prosperity, rather than the Department of

519 Commerce; defining the term “unit of local

520 government”; requiring the office to include in its

521 annual report certain information about the Rural

522 Community Development Revolving Loan Fund; providing

523 for future expiration and reversion of specified

524 statutory text; authorizing the Division of Emergency

525 Management to submit budget amendments to increase

526 budget authority for certain expenditures under

527 certain circumstances; amending s. 282.201, F.S.;

528 extending for 1 year the Division of Emergency

529 Management’s exemption from the use of the state data

530 center; amending s. 443.1113, F.S.; providing that

531 certain improvements to the Reemployment Assistance

532 Claims and Benefits Information System are subject to

533 appropriation; revising the date a certain report from

534 the Department of Commerce is required to be

535 submitted; revising the report requirements; providing

536 for the future expiration and reversion of specified

537 statutory text; reenacting and amending s. 445.08,

538 F.S., relating to the Florida Law Enforcement

539 Recruitment Bonus Payment Program; extending the

540 program for 1 year; authorizing the Department of

541 Commerce to submit budget amendments to increase

542 budget authority to support specified federal grant

543 programs; requiring the Department of Management

544 Services to assess an administrative health insurance

545 assessment on each state agency; providing the rate of

546 such assessment; defining the term “state agency”;

547 requiring the Department of Management Services to

548 take certain actions in case of delinquencies;

549 requiring the Chief Financial Officer to transfer

550 funds under specified circumstances; requiring state

551 agencies to provide a list of positions that qualify

552 for a certain exception by a specified date and to

553 update the list monthly thereafter; requiring state

554 agencies to include the administrative health

555 insurance assessment in their indirect cost plan

556 beginning for a specified fiscal year and annually

557 thereafter; requiring agencies to notify the

558 Department of Management Services, the Executive

559 Office of the Governor, and the Legislature regarding

560 the approval of their updated indirect cost plans;

561 authorizing the Executive Office of the Governor to

562 transfer budget authority between agencies in

563 specified circumstances; providing that the annual

564 salaries of the members of the Legislature be

565 maintained at a specified level for a specified fiscal

566 year; reenacting s. 215.32(2)(b), F.S., relating to

567 the authorization for transferring unappropriated cash

568 balances from selected trust funds to the Budget

569 Stabilization Fund and General Revenue Fund; providing

570 for the future expiration and reversion of specified

571 statutory text; specifying the type of travel which

572 may be used with state employee travel funds for a

573 specified fiscal year; providing exceptions; providing

574 applicability; providing a monetary cap on lodging

575 costs for state employee travel to certain meetings

576 organized or sponsored by a state agency or the

577 judicial branch; authorizing employees to expend their

578 own funds for lodging expenses that exceed the

579 monetary caps; providing construction; amending s.

580 216.181, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year the

581 authority of the Legislative Budget Commission to

582 approve budget amendments for certain fixed capital

583 outlay projects; amending s. 216.292, F.S.; extending

584 for 1 fiscal year the requirements for certain

585 transfers; authorizing state agencies to purchase

586 vehicles from nonstate term contract vendors without

587 prior approval from the Department of Management

588 Services under certain circumstances; amending s.

589 11.52, F.S.; extending for 1 year certain state agency

590 reporting requirements regarding implementation of

591 legislation; amending s. 216.013, F.S.; extending for

592 1 fiscal year an exception from certain planning

593 requirements; amending s. 216.023, F.S.; extending for

594 1 year a requirement that certain entities include a

595 specified inventory in their legislative budget

596 requests; requiring that a specified percentage of

597 funds appropriated for information technology projects

598 be held in reserve and that general revenue funds not

599 held in reserve be released; authorizing the Agency

600 for Health Care Administration, Department of Children

601 and Families, Department of Corrections, Department of

602 Financial Services, Florida Gaming Control Commission,

603 Department of Health, and Department of Revenue to

604 submit a budget amendment to request release of funds;

605 limiting the amount that may be requested; providing

606 that release is contingent upon certain submissions;

607 requiring entities receiving such funds to submit

608 monthly project status reports to certain entities;

609 providing requirements for such status reports;

610 providing conditions under which the veto of certain

611 appropriations or proviso language in the General

612 Appropriations Act voids language that implements such

613 appropriation; providing for the continued operation

614 of certain provisions notwithstanding a future repeal

615 or expiration provided by the act; providing for

616 severability; providing for contingent retroactivity;

617 providing effective dates.

619 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

621 Section 1. It is the intent of the Legislature that the

622 implementing and administering provisions of this act apply to

623 the General Appropriations Act for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

624 Section 2. In order to implement Specific Appropriations 5,

625 6, 88, and 89 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the

626 calculations of the Florida Education Finance Program for the

627 2026-2027 fiscal year included in the document titled “Public

628 School Funding: The Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP)

629 Fiscal Year 2026-2027,” dated February 18, 2026, and filed with

630 the Secretary of the Senate, are incorporated by reference for

631 the purpose of displaying the calculations used by the

632 Legislature, consistent with the requirements of state law, in

633 making appropriations for the Florida Education Finance Program.

634 This section expires July 1, 2027.

635 Section 3. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 80

636 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the school

637 readiness reimbursement rates for the 2026-2027 fiscal year

638 included in the document titled “School Readiness Program

639 Reimbursement Rates Fiscal Year 2026-2027,” dated February 18,

640 2026, and filed with the Secretary of the Senate, are

641 incorporated by reference, consistent with the requirements of

642 state law, in making appropriations for the school readiness

643 program allocation. This section expires July 1, 2027.

644 Section 4. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 102

645 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsections (1),

646 (2), and (5) of section 1001.451, Florida Statutes, are amended

647 to read:

648 1001.451 Regional consortium service organizations.—In

649 order to provide a full range of programs to larger numbers of

650 students, minimize duplication of services, and encourage the

651 development of new programs and services:

652 (1) School districts with 20,000 or fewer unweighted full

653 time equivalent students, developmental research (laboratory)

654 schools established pursuant to s. 1002.32, and the Florida

655 School for the Deaf and the Blind may enter into cooperative

656 agreements to form a regional consortium service organization.

657 Each regional consortium service organization shall provide any ,

658 ~~at a minimum, three~~ of the following services determined

659 necessary and appropriate by the board of directors :

660 (a) Exceptional student education;

661 (b) Safe schools support ~~teacher education centers;~~

662 ~~environmental education~~ ;

663 (c) State and federal grant procurement and coordination;

664 (d) Data services ~~processing~~ ; ~~health~~

665 (e) Insurance services ;

666 (f) Risk management ~~insurance~~ ;

667 (g) Professional learning;

668 (h) College, career, and workforce development;

669 (i) Business and operational services ~~staff development~~ ;

670 (j) Purchasing; or

671 (k) Planning and accountability.

672 (2)(a) Each regional consortium service organization

673 composed ~~that consists~~ of four or more school districts is

674 eligible to receive, through the Department of Education,

675 subject to the funds provided in the General Appropriations Act,

676 an allocation ~~incentive grant~~ of $150,000 ~~$50,000~~ per school

677 district and eligible member to be used for the delivery of

678 services within ~~the~~ participating school districts. The

679 determination of services and use of such funds must ~~shall~~ be

680 established by the board of directors of the regional consortium

681 service organization. The funds must ~~shall~~ be distributed to

682 each regional consortium service organization no later than 30

683 days following the release of the funds to the department. Each

684 regional consortium service organization shall submit an annual

685 report to the department regarding the use of funds for

686 consortia services. Unexpended amounts in any fund in a

687 consortium’s current year operating budget must be carried

688 forward and included as the balance forward for that fund in the

689 approved operating budget for the following year. Each regional

690 consortium service organization shall provide quarterly

691 financial reports to member districts.

692 (b) Member districts shall designate a district to serve as

693 a fiscal agent for contractual and reporting purposes. Such

694 fiscal agent district is entitled to reasonable compensation for

695 accounting and other services performed. The regional consortium

696 service organization shall retain all funds received from grants

697 or contracted services to cover indirect or administrative costs

698 associated with the provision of such services. The regional

699 consortium service organization board of directors shall

700 determine the products and services to be provided by the

701 consortium; however, in all contractual matters, the school

702 board of the fiscal agent district shall act on proposed actions

703 of the regional consortium service organization.

704 (c) The regional consortium service organization board of

705 directors shall recommend establishment of positions and

706 individuals for appointment to the fiscal agent district.

707 Personnel must be employed under the personnel policies of the

708 fiscal agent district and are deemed to be public employees of

709 the fiscal agent district. The regional consortium service

710 organization board of directors may recommend a salary schedule

711 and job descriptions specific to its personnel.

712 (d) The regional consortium service organization may

713 purchase or lease property and facilities essential for its

714 operations and is responsible for their maintenance and

715 associated overhead costs.

716 (e) If a regional consortium service organization is

717 dissolved, any revenue from the sale of assets must be

718 distributed among the member districts as determined by the

719 board of directors ~~Application for incentive grants shall be~~

720 ~~made to the Commissioner of Education by July 30 of each year~~

721 ~~for distribution to qualifying regional consortium service~~

722 ~~organizations by January 1 of the fiscal year~~ .

723 (5) The board of directors of a regional consortium service

724 organization may use various means to generate revenue in

725 support of its activities , including, but not limited to,

726 contracting for services to nonmember districts . The board of

727 directors may acquire, enjoy, use, and dispose of patents,

728 copyrights, and trademarks and any licenses and associated ~~other~~

729 rights or interests ~~thereunder or therein~~ . Ownership of all such

730 patents, copyrights, trademarks, licenses, and associated rights

731 or interests ~~thereunder or therein shall~~ vest in the state, with

732 the board of directors having full right of use and full right

733 to retain associated ~~the~~ revenues ~~derived therefrom~~ . Any funds

734 realized from contracted services, patents, copyrights,

735 trademarks, or licenses are ~~shall be~~ considered internal funds

736 as provided in s. 1011.07. A fund balance must be established

737 for maintaining or expanding services, facilities maintenance,

738 terminal pay, and other liabilities ~~Such funds shall be used to~~

739 ~~support the organization’s marketing and research and~~

740 ~~development activities in order to improve and increase services~~

741 ~~to its member districts~~ .

742 Section 5. The amendments to s. 1001.451, Florida Statutes,

743 made by this act expire July 1, 2027, and the text of that

744 section shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2026,

745 except that any amendments to such text enacted other than by

746 this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the

747 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions

748 of text which expire pursuant to this section.

749 Section 6. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 102

750 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section 1001.4511,

751 Florida Statutes, is created to read:

752 1001.4511 Regional Consortia Service Organization

753 Supplemental Services Program.—

754 (1) There is created the Regional Consortia Service

755 Organization Supplemental Services Program to increase the

756 ability of regional consortium service organizations under s.

757 1001.451 to provide programs and services to consortia members

758 through cooperative agreements. Program funds may be used to

759 supplement member needs related to transportation; district

760 finance personnel services; property insurance, including

761 property insurance obtained from any source; cybersecurity

762 support; school safety; college, career, and workforce

763 development; academic support; and behavior support within

764 exceptional student education services.

765 (2) Each regional consortium service organization shall

766 annually report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker

767 of the House of Representatives the distribution of funds,

768 including members awarded and services provided.

769 (3) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351,

770 funds allocated for this purpose which are not disbursed by June

771 30 of the fiscal year in which the funds are allocated may be

772 carried forward for up to 5 years after the effective date of

773 the original appropriation.

774 (4) This section expires July 1, 2027.

775 Section 7. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 64A

776 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section 1009.635,

777 Florida Statutes, is created to read:

778 1009.635 Rural Incentive for Professional Educators

779 Program.—

780 (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Rural Incentive for Professional

781 Educators (RIPE) Program is established within the Department of

782 Education to support the recruitment and retention of qualified

783 instructional personnel in rural communities. The program shall

784 provide financial assistance for the repayment of student loans

785 for eligible participants who establish permanent residency and

786 employment in rural areas of opportunity.

787 (2) ELIGIBILITY.—An individual is eligible to participate

788 in the RIPE Program if he or she does all of the following:

789 (a) Establishes permanent residency on or after July 1,

790 2026, in a rural area of opportunity as designated pursuant to

791 s. 288.0656. The address on an individual’s state-issued

792 identification card or driver license is evidence of residence.

793 (b) Secures full-time employment as a teacher or

794 administrator in a private school as defined in s. 1002.01, or

795 as instructional or administrative personnel as those terms are

796 defined in s. 1012.01(2) and (3), respectively, in the public

797 school district located within the same rural area of

798 opportunity as he or she resides.

799 (c) Holds an associate degree, bachelor’s degree,

800 postgraduate degree, or certificate from an accredited

801 institution earned before establishing residency.

802 (d) Has an active student loan balance incurred for the

803 completion of the qualifying degree or certificate.

804 (3) LOAN REPAYMENT.—Eligible participants may receive up to

805 $15,000 in total student loan repayment assistance over 5 years,

806 disbursed in annual payments not to exceed $3,000 per year.

807 Payments must be made directly to the lender servicing the

808 participant’s student loan.

809 (4) AWARD DISTRIBUTION.—Before disbursement of an award,

810 the department shall verify that the participant:

811 (a) Has maintained continuous employment with the school

812 district in an instructional or administrative position;

813 (b) Has received a rating of effective or highly effective

814 pursuant to s. 1012.34; and

815 (c) Has not been placed on probation, had his or her

816 certificate suspended or revoked, or been placed on the

817 disqualification list, pursuant to s. 1012.796.

818 (5) ADMINISTRATION.—The program shall be administered by

819 the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Department

820 of Education, which shall:

821 (a) Develop application procedures requiring documentation,

822 including proof of residency, verification of employment,

823 official academic transcripts, and details of outstanding

824 student loans; and

825 (b) Monitor compliance with program requirements.

826 (6) RULEMAKING.—The State Board of Education shall adopt

827 rules no later than January 31, 2027, to administer this

828 section.

829 (7) EXPIRATION.—This section expires July 1, 2027.

830 Section 8. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 17

831 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, a state university

832 board of trustees that is beginning an approved capital outlay

833 project with a health care provider may accept the health care

834 provider’s procurement methods and construction contracts

835 entered thereunder and may reimburse the health care provider

836 for its expenses using the proceeds from a bond issuance

837 approved by the Board of Governors. This section expires July 1,

838 2027.

839 Section 9. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 152

840 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding

841 ss. 1011.45 and 1012.975, Florida Statutes, the Florida

842 Agricultural and Mechanical University board of trustees may

843 expend available reserves or carry forward balances from

844 previous years’ operational and programmatic appropriations, or

845 other available reserves or balances from funds not appropriated

846 from the General Revenue Fund, from state trust funds, or from

847 tuition and fees, for the remuneration of the president of the

848 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. This section

849 expires July 1, 2027.

850 Section 10. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

851 209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

852 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the

853 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget

854 amendment, subject to the notice, review, and objection

855 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to realign funding

856 within the Medicaid program appropriation categories to address

857 projected surpluses and deficits within the program and to

858 maximize the use of state trust funds. A single budget amendment

859 shall be submitted in the last quarter of the 2026-2027 fiscal

860 year only. This section expires July 1, 2027.

861 Section 11. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

862 190 through 195 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

863 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the

864 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget

865 amendment, subject to the notice, review, and objection

866 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to realign funding

867 within the Florida Kidcare program appropriation categories, or

868 to increase budget authority in the Children’s Medical Services

869 network category, to address projected surpluses and deficits

870 within the program or to maximize the use of state trust funds.

871 A single budget amendment must be submitted in the last quarter

872 of the 2026-2027 fiscal year only. This section expires July 1,

873 2027.

874 Section 12. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

875 490 through 499 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,

876 subsection (17) of section 381.986, Florida Statutes, is amended

877 to read:

878 381.986 Medical use of marijuana.—

879 (17) Rules adopted pursuant to this section before July 1,

880 2027 ~~2026~~ , are not subject to ss. 120.54(3)(b) and 120.541. This

881 subsection expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

882 Section 13. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

883 217, 219, and 223 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,

884 the Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget

885 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting

886 additional spending authority to implement the federally

887 approved directed payment program for hospitals statewide

888 providing inpatient and outpatient services to Medicaid managed

889 care enrollees, the Indirect Medical Education (IME) Program,

890 and a nursing workforce expansion and education program for

891 certain institutions participating in a graduate medical

892 education or nursing education program. For institutions

893 participating in the nursing workforce expansion and education

894 program, the budget amendment must identify the educational

895 institutions partnering with the teaching hospital. Institutions

896 participating in the nursing workforce expansion and education

897 program shall provide quarterly reports to the agency detailing

898 the number of nurses participating in the program. This section

899 expires July 1, 2027.

900 Section 14. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

901 217, 219, and 223 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,

902 the Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget

903 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting

904 additional spending authority to implement the federally

905 approved Directed Payment Program and fee-for-service

906 supplemental payments for cancer hospitals that meet the

907 criteria in 42 U.S.C. s. 1395ww(d)(1)(B)(v). This section

908 expires July 1, 2027.

909 Section 15. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

910 209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the

911 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget

912 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting

913 additional spending authority to implement the Low Income Pool

914 component of the Florida Managed Medical Assistance

915 Demonstration up to the total computable funds authorized by the

916 federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The budget

917 amendment must include the final terms and conditions of the Low

918 Income Pool, a proposed distribution model by entity, and a

919 listing of entities contributing intergovernmental transfers to

920 support the state match required. In addition, for each entity

921 included in the distribution model, a signed attestation must be

922 provided which includes the charity care cost upon which the Low

923 Income Pool payment is based and an acknowledgment that should

924 the distribution result in an overpayment based on the Low

925 Income Pool cost limit audit, the entity is responsible for

926 returning that overpayment to the agency for return to the

927 federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This section

928 expires July 1, 2027.

929 Section 16. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

930 222 and 223 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the

931 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget

932 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting

933 additional spending authority to implement fee-for-service

934 supplemental payments and a directed payment program for

935 physicians and subordinate licensed health care practitioners

936 employed by or under contract with a Florida medical or dental

937 school, or a public hospital. This section expires July 1, 2027.

938 Section 17. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

939 220, 223, and 235 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,

940 the Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget

941 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting

942 additional spending authority to implement a certified

943 expenditure program for emergency medical transportation

944 services. This section expires July 1, 2027.

945 Section 18. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

946 209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

947 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the

948 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget

949 amendment, subject to the notice, review, and objection

950 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, requesting

951 additional spending authority to implement the Disproportionate

952 Share Hospital Program. The budget amendment must include a

953 proposed distribution model by entity and a listing of entities

954 contributing intergovernmental transfers and certified public

955 expenditures to support the state match required. This section

956 expires July 1, 2027.

957 Section 19. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

958 209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the

959 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget

960 amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting

961 additional spending authority to implement fee-for-service

962 inpatient and outpatient supplemental payments for specialty

963 hospitals as defined in s. 395.002(28), Florida Statutes,

964 providing comprehensive acute care services to children with

965 Medicaid inpatient utilization equal to or greater than 50

966 percent and located in a county with greater than 250,000

967 Medicaid enrollees in 2023. This section expires July 1, 2027.

968 Section 20. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

969 201 and 228 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

970 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the

971 Agency for Health Care Administration may submit budget

972 amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection

973 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget

974 authority to support the Florida School-Based Services program.

975 This section expires July 1, 2027.

976 Section 21. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

977 209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:

978 (1) the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Task Force, a task

979 force as defined in s. 20.03(5), Florida Statutes, is created

980 within the Agency for Health Care Administration to evaluate the

981 delivery of applied behavior analysis services in a manner that

982 promotes high-quality, family-centered care while ensuring long

983 term financial sustainability of the Medicaid program and cost

984 predictability without disrupting access for current enrollees

985 and families.

986 (2) The task force shall evaluate:

987 (a) Clinical care models that lead to best practices for

988 the provision of therapy at the appropriate ages;

989 (b) Appropriate transitions for enrollees receiving ABA

990 services across developmental, educational, and community

991 settings;

992 (c) Quality metrics for ABA therapy services;

993 (d) Limits and utilization controls related to the length

994 of time ABA services may be authorized;

995 (e) Potential caps on the number of months an enrollee may

996 receive ABA services; and

997 (f) Ways to enhance Medicaid provider enrollment and

998 billing standards for ABA services to promote program integrity

999 and fiscal accountability.

1000 (3) The task force shall develop recommendations for

1001 revising the state’s service delivery model to improve care

1002 experience and service continuity for enrollees and families

1003 receiving ABA services, while safeguarding long-term program

1004 sustainability.

1005 (4) The task force shall consist of 10 members as provided

1006 in this subsection.

1007 (a) The Secretary of Health Care Administration, or his or

1008 her designee, shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member of

1009 the task force and shall serve as the chair.

1010 (b) The remainder of the task force membership shall be

1011 composed as follows:

1012 1. Two members appointed by the Governor, three members

1013 appointed by the President of the Senate, and three members

1014 appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, based

1015 upon the criteria of this subparagraph. The appointing officers

1016 must make their appointments prioritizing members who have the

1017 following experience or expertise:

1018 a. Persons with academic credentials or scientific

1019 expertise relating to autism and applied behavior analysis;

1020 b. Representatives of the applied behavior analysis

1021 provider community;

1022 c. Representatives of Medicaid managed care plans with

1023 managerial experience and expertise relating to autism and

1024 applied behavior analysis; or

1025 d. Physicians licensed under chapter 458, Florida Statutes,

1026 or chapter 459, Florida Statutes, with expertise relating to

1027 autism and applied behavior analysis.

1028 2. One family member of a Medicaid managed care plan

1029 enrollee who receives applied behavior analysis services,

1030 appointed by the Governor.

1031 (c) The Secretary of Health Care Administration shall

1032 coordinate with the appointing officers to ensure the task

1033 force’s membership adequately represents the criteria provided

1034 under paragraph (b).

1035 (d) Any vacancy occurring on the task force must be filled

1036 in the same manner as the original appointment.

1037 (5) The Agency for Health Care Administration must provide

1038 staff support for the work of the task force, and staff from the

1039 Department of Health, the Department of Children and Families,

1040 the Department of Education, and the Agency for Persons with

1041 Disabilities may provide additional expertise.

1042 (6) Meetings of the task force may be held through

1043 teleconference or other electronic means. The task force shall

1044 convene for its initial meeting by August 15, 2026, and

1045 thereafter, upon the call of the chair. Notices for any task

1046 force meetings must be published in advance on the Agency for

1047 Health Care Administration’s website.

1048 (7) Members of the task force shall serve without

1049 compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as

1050 provided in s. 112.061, Florida Statutes.

1051 (8) The task force shall report its findings and

1052 recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate,

1053 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 31,

1054 2026. The report must include advantages and disadvantages of

1055 each recommendation.

1056 (9) This section expires July 1, 2027.

1057 Section 22. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1058 339, 339B, 368 through 369 of the 2026-2027 General

1059 Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292,

1060 Florida Statutes, the Department of Children and Families may

1061 submit a budget amendment, subject to the notice, review, and

1062 objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to realign

1063 funding within the department based on the implementation of the

1064 Guardianship Assistance Program, between the specific

1065 appropriations for guardianship assistance payments, foster care

1066 Level 1 room and board payments, relative caregiver payments,

1067 and nonrelative caregiver payments. This section expires July 1,

1068 2027.

1069 Section 23. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1070 209 through 212, 217, 219, 220, 222 through 224, 363, 372, 475,

1071 479, 480, 486, 501, 502, 508, and 512 of the 2026-2027 General

1072 Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292,

1073 Florida Statutes, the Department of Children and Families, the

1074 Department of Health, and the Agency for Health Care

1075 Administration may submit budget amendments, subject to the

1076 notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida

1077 Statutes, to increase budget authority to support refugee

1078 programs administered by the federal Office of Refugee

1079 Resettlement due to the ongoing instability of federal

1080 immigration policy and the resulting inability of the state to

1081 reasonably predict, with certainty, the budgetary needs of this

1082 state with respect to the number of refugees relocated to the

1083 state as part of those federal programs. The Department of

1084 Children and Families shall submit quarterly reports to the

1085 Executive Office of the Governor, the President of the Senate,

1086 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the number of

1087 refugees entering the state, the nations of origin of such

1088 refugees, and current expenditure projections. This section

1089 expires July 1, 2027.

1090 Section 24. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1091 295 through 390A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,

1092 and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes,

1093 the Department of Children and Families may submit budget

1094 amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection

1095 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget

1096 authority to support the following federal grant programs: the

1097 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Grant Program, the Pandemic

1098 Electronic Benefit Transfer, the American Rescue Plan Grant, the

1099 State Opioid Response Grant, the Substance Use Prevention and

1100 Treatment Block Grant, the Chafee Grant for Independent Living

1101 Services, the Education and Traditional Voucher Grant, Title IV

1102 B Subparts 1 and 2 Grants, the Elder Justice Act, the STOP

1103 Violence Against Women Grant, the Rapid Unsheltered Survivor

1104 Housing Grant, and the Mental Health Block Grant. This section

1105 expires July 1, 2027.

1106 Section 25. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

1107 267 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

1108 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 32 of chapter

1109 2025-199, Laws of Florida, subsection (2) of section 393.066,

1110 Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:

1111 393.066 Community services and treatment.—

1112 (2) Necessary services shall be purchased, rather than

1113 provided directly by the agency, when the purchase of services

1114 is more cost-efficient than providing them directly. All

1115 purchased services must be approved by the agency. As a

1116 condition of payment and before billing, persons or entities

1117 under contract with the agency to provide services shall use

1118 agency data management systems to document service provision to

1119 clients or shall maintain such information in its own data

1120 management system and electronically transmit it to the agency

1121 data management system in an industry standard electronic format

1122 designated by the agency. The agency may not require training on

1123 the use of agency data management systems by persons or entities

1124 that choose to maintain data in their own data management

1125 system, provided that they electronically transmit required

1126 information in a format and frequency designated by the agency.

1127 Contracted persons and entities shall meet the minimum hardware

1128 and software technical requirements established by the agency

1129 for the use of such systems. Such persons or entities shall also

1130 meet any requirements established by the agency for training and

1131 professional development of staff providing direct services to

1132 clients.

1133 Section 26. The text of s. 393.066(2), Florida Statutes, as

1134 carried forward from chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida, by this

1135 act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that subsection shall

1136 revert to that in existence on June 30, 2025, except that any

1137 amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall be

1138 preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such

1139 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which

1140 expire pursuant to this section.

1141 Section 27. Effective upon this act becoming a law, and in

1142 order to implement Specific Appropriation 382 of the 2026-2027

1143 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (c) of subsection (9) of

1144 section 394.9082, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1145 394.9082 Behavioral health managing entities.—

1146 (9) FUNDING FOR MANAGING ENTITIES.—

1147 (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), for the 2026-2027 ~~2025~~

1148 ~~2026~~ fiscal year, a managing entity may carry forward documented

1149 unexpended funds appropriated from the State Opioid Settlement

1150 Trust Fund from 1 fiscal year to the next. Nonqualified funds

1151 carried forward pursuant to this paragraph are not included in

1152 the 8 percent cumulative cap that may be carried forward. This

1153 paragraph expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

1154 Section 28. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1155 324A, 339, 339B, and 384A of the 2026-2027 General

1156 Appropriations Act, subsection (10) is added to section

1157 409.9913, Florida Statutes, to read:

1158 409.9913 Funding methodology to allocate funding to lead

1159 agencies.—

1160 (10) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, core

1161 services funding shall be allocated as provided in the General

1162 Appropriations Act. The department shall use the Tiered Funding

1163 Model developed and submitted to the Legislature pursuant to

1164 section 34 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida, as the baseline

1165 framework for any updates, refinements, or enhancements to the

1166 model and shall continue to collect detailed cost, expenditure,

1167 and census data from community-based care lead agencies.

1168 (a) Each lead agency shall submit any cost, expenditure,

1169 and census data requested by the department to support the

1170 continued development and refinement of the Tiered Funding

1171 Model. Lead agencies shall complete and validate a standardized

1172 expenditure report template in the form and manner prescribed by

1173 the department.

1174 (b) The department shall conduct ongoing performance

1175 monitoring by comparing trends in individual metrics against

1176 broader indicators of system health and shall analyze emerging

1177 market trends that may impact organizational financial

1178 stability. The department’s analysis and reporting shall include

1179 a comprehensive explanation of the methodology used to establish

1180 residential group home rates, a description of the current rate

1181 setting processes employed by each community-based care lead

1182 agency, and recommendations to enhance the fiscal sustainability

1183 and transparency of those processes.

1184 (c) Beginning in July 2026 and continuing through November

1185 2026, the department shall provide monthly status reports to the

1186 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the

1187 House of Representatives detailing activities and progress

1188 related to the development of the funding methodology, including

1189 preliminary recommendations for adjustments for the subsequent

1190 fiscal year.

1191 (d) By December 1, 2026, the department shall submit a

1192 final report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and

1193 the Speaker of the House of Representatives that includes

1194 recommendations for adjustments to the funding methodology for

1195 the next fiscal year. The recommendations shall continue the

1196 Tiered Funding Model approach while proposing enhancements

1197 intended to strengthen operational and financial outcomes.

1198 (e) This subsection expires July 1, 2027.

1199 Section 29. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1200 324A, 339, 339B, and 384A and section 74 of the 2026-2027

1201 General Appropriations Act, subsection (9) is added to section

1202 409.990, Florida Statutes, to read:

1203 409.990 Funding for lead agencies.—A contract established

1204 between the department and a lead agency must be funded by a

1205 grant of general revenue, other applicable state funds, or

1206 applicable federal funding sources.

1207 (9) Notwithstanding subsection (5), all funds held by a

1208 lead agency carried forward pursuant to subsection (5) as of

1209 July 1, 2026, must be returned to the department. The department

1210 must hold such funds in a separate account and, by August 1,

1211 2026, report to the chair of the Senate Committee on

1212 Appropriations, the chair of the House of Representatives Budget

1213 Committee, and the Executive Office of the Governor’s Office of

1214 Policy and Budget the amount of funds returned by each lead

1215 agency. As of September 30, 2026, all funds returned pursuant to

1216 this subsection shall revert to the General Revenue Fund. This

1217 subsection expires July 1, 2027.

1218 Section 30. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1219 465 and 467 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

1220 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the

1221 Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject to

1222 the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,

1223 Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the

1224 Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children

1225 (WIC) and the Child Care Food Program if additional federal

1226 revenues will be expended in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This

1227 section expires July 1, 2027.

1228 Section 31. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1229 476 and 526 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

1230 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the

1231 Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject to

1232 the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,

1233 Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the HIV/AIDS

1234 Prevention and Treatment Program if additional federal revenues

1235 specific to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment become available

1236 in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This section expires July 1, 2027.

1237 Section 32. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1238 432 through 593 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

1239 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the

1240 Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject to

1241 the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,

1242 Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the

1243 department if additional federal revenues specific to COVID-19

1244 relief funds become available in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This

1245 section expires July 1, 2027.

1246 Section 33. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

1247 203 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:

1248 (1) The Agency for Health Care Administration shall replace

1249 the current Florida Medicaid Management Information System

1250 (FMMIS) and fiscal agent operations with a system that is

1251 modular, interoperable, and scalable for the Florida Medicaid

1252 program and that complies with all applicable federal and state

1253 laws and requirements. The agency may not include in the program

1254 to replace the current FMMIS and fiscal agent contract:

1255 (a) Functionality that duplicates any of the information

1256 systems of the other health and human services state agencies;

1257 (b) Procurement for agency requirements external to

1258 Medicaid programs with the intent to leverage the Medicaid

1259 technology infrastructure for other purposes without legislative

1260 appropriation or legislative authorization to procure these

1261 requirements. The new system, the Florida Health Care Connection

1262 (FX) system, must provide better integration with subsystems

1263 supporting Florida’s Medicaid program; uniformity, consistency,

1264 and improved access to data; and compatibility with the Centers

1265 for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Medicaid Information

1266 Technology Architecture (MITA) as the system matures and expands

1267 its functionality; or

1268 (c) Any contract executed after July 1, 2022, not including

1269 staff augmentation services purchased off the Department of

1270 Management Services Information Technology staff augmentation

1271 state term contract which are not deliverables based fixed price

1272 contracts.

1273 (2) For purposes of replacing FMMIS and the current

1274 Medicaid fiscal agent, the Agency for Health Care Administration

1275 shall:

1276 (a) Prioritize procurements for the replacement of the

1277 current functions of FMMIS and the responsibilities of the

1278 current Medicaid fiscal agent, to minimize the need to extend

1279 all or portions of the current fiscal agent contract.

1280 (b) Comply with and not exceed the Centers for Medicare and

1281 Medicaid Services funding authorizations for the FX system.

1282 (c) Develop and mature an enterprise architecture framework

1283 to align the requirements of the FX project phases and

1284 overarching program objectives, including completing and

1285 maintaining key components such as the Business Capability Model

1286 and Business Value Model.

1287 (d) Apply value-based measures to support informed

1288 decisionmaking around release readiness and go-live criteria.

1289 These measures must be tracked and reported quarterly to the

1290 executive steering committee established in paragraph (k) post

1291 implementation to support performance monitoring and continuous

1292 improvement.

1293 (e) Through documented FX architecture governance

1294 practices, ensure that the Medicaid business needs and the

1295 business architecture are the primary drivers of information and

1296 technical architecture design decisions. All such decisions must

1297 be documented with traceable rationale to promote transparency

1298 and accountability across the program. The business,

1299 information, and technical architectures must align with the

1300 MITA framework where applicable. In areas where MITA guidance is

1301 not available, alignment will be maintained through adherence to

1302 The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF).

1303 (f) Ensure compliance and uniformity with the published

1304 MITA framework and guidelines. The agency shall:

1305 1. Implement an Enterprise Architecture (EA) management

1306 tool that supports an integrated approach to FX program

1307 architecture. The EA tool must serve as a centralized repository

1308 for the FX Business Process Inventory and support the integrated

1309 management and oversight of the FX business, technical, and

1310 information architectures.

1311 2. Establish governance structures and define user roles

1312 within the EA tool for the business, technical, and information

1313 architecture components.

1314 (g) Ensure that all business requirements and technical

1315 specifications have been provided to all affected state agencies

1316 for their review and input and approved by the executive

1317 steering committee.

1318 (h) Consult with the Executive Office of the Governor’s

1319 working group for interagency information technology integration

1320 for the development of competitive solicitations that provide

1321 for data interoperability and shared information technology

1322 services across the state’s health and human services agencies.

1323 (i) Implement a data governance structure for the program

1324 to coordinate data sharing and interoperability across state

1325 health care entities.

1326 (j) Establish a continuing oversight team for each contract

1327 pursuant to s. 287.057(26), Florida Statutes. The teams must

1328 provide quarterly reports to the executive steering committee,

1329 summarizing the status of the contract, the pace of

1330 deliverables, the quality of deliverables, contractor

1331 responsiveness, and contractor performance.

1332 (k) Implement a program governance structure that includes

1333 an executive steering committee composed of:

1334 1. The Secretary of Health Care Administration, or the

1335 executive sponsor of the program.

1336 2. A representative of the Division of Health Care Finance

1337 and Data of the Agency for Health Care Administration, appointed

1338 by the Secretary of Health Care Administration.

1339 3. Two representatives from the Division of Medicaid

1340 Policy, Quality, and Operations of the Agency for Health Care

1341 Administration, appointed by the Secretary of Health Care

1342 Administration.

1343 4. A representative of the Division of Health Care Policy

1344 and Oversight of the Agency for Health Care Administration,

1345 appointed by the Secretary of Health Care Administration.

1346 5. A representative of the Florida Center for Health

1347 Information and Transparency of the Agency for Health Care

1348 Administration, appointed by the Secretary of Health Care

1349 Administration.

1350 6. The Chief Information Officer of the Agency for Health

1351 Care Administration, or his or her designee.

1352 (3)(a) The Secretary of Health Care Administration or the

1353 executive sponsor of the program shall serve as chair of the

1354 executive steering committee, and the committee shall take

1355 action by a vote of at least 5 affirmative votes with the chair

1356 voting on the prevailing side. A quorum of the executive

1357 steering committee consists of at least 5 members.

1358 (b)1. The chair shall establish a program finance and

1359 contracting working group composed of:

1360 a. The FX program director.

1361 b. A representative from the agency’s Office of the General

1362 Counsel.

1363 c. A representative from the agency’s Division of

1364 Administration.

1365 d. Representatives from each continuing oversight team.

1366 e. The FX program strategic roadmap manager.

1367 f. The FX program project managers.

1368 g. The FX program risk manager.

1369 h. Any other personnel deemed necessary by the chair.

1370 2. The working group shall meet at least monthly to review

1371 the program status and all contract and program operations,

1372 policies, risks, and issues related to the budget, spending

1373 plans and contractual obligations, and shall develop

1374 recommendations to the executive steering committee for

1375 improvement. The working group shall review all change requests

1376 that impact the program’s scope, schedule, or budget related to

1377 contract management and vendor payments and submit those

1378 recommended for adoption to the executive steering committee.

1379 The chair shall request input from the working group on agenda

1380 items for each scheduled meeting. The program shall make

1381 available program staff to the group, as needed, for the group

1382 to fulfill its duties.

1383 (c)1. The chair shall establish a state agency stakeholder

1384 working group composed of:

1385 a. The executive sponsor of the FX program.

1386 b. A representative of the Department of Children and

1387 Families, appointed by the Secretary of Children and Families.

1388 c. A representative of the Department of Health, appointed

1389 by the State Surgeon General.

1390 d. A representative of the Agency for Persons with

1391 Disabilities, appointed by the director of the Agency for

1392 Persons with Disabilities.

1393 e. A representative from the Florida Healthy Kids

1394 Corporation.

1395 f. A representative from the Department of Elderly Affairs,

1396 appointed by the Secretary of Elderly Affairs.

1397 g. The state chief information officer, or his or her

1398 designee.

1399 h. A representative of the Department of Financial Services

1400 who has experience with the state’s financial processes,

1401 including development of the PALM system, appointed by the Chief

1402 Financial Officer.

1403 2. The working group shall meet at least quarterly to

1404 review the program status and all program operations, policies,

1405 risks, and issues that may impact the operations external to the

1406 Agency for Health Care Administration FX program, and shall

1407 develop recommendations to the executive steering committee for

1408 improvement. The chair shall request input from the working

1409 group on agenda items for each scheduled meeting. The program

1410 shall make available program staff to the group to provide

1411 system demonstrations and any program documentation, as needed,

1412 for the group to fulfill its duties.

1413 (4) The executive steering committee has the overall

1414 responsibility for ensuring that the program to replace FMMIS

1415 and the Medicaid fiscal agent meets its primary business

1416 objectives and shall:

1417 (a) Identify and recommend to the Executive Office of the

1418 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the

1419 House of Representatives any statutory changes needed to

1420 implement the modular replacement to standardize, to the fullest

1421 extent possible, the state’s health care data and business

1422 processes.

1423 (b) Review and approve any changes to the program’s scope,

1424 schedule, and budget.

1425 (c) Review and approve any changes to the program’s

1426 strategic roadmap.

1427 (d) Review and approve change requests that impact the

1428 program’s scope, schedule, or budget recommended for adoption by

1429 the program finance and contracting working group.

1430 (e) Review recommendations provided by the program working

1431 groups.

1432 (f) Review vendor scorecards, reports, and notifications

1433 produced by the continuing oversight teams.

1434 (g) Ensure that adequate resources are provided throughout

1435 all phases of the program.

1436 (h) Approve all major program deliverables.

1437 (i) Review and verify that all procurement and contractual

1438 documents associated with the replacement of the current FMMIS

1439 and Medicaid fiscal agent align with the scope, schedule, and

1440 anticipated budget for the program.

1441 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.

1442 Section 34. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

1443 203 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the Agency for

1444 Health Care Administration shall contract for a comprehensive,

1445 independent technical architecture and feasibility assessment of

1446 the agency’s Medicaid management information system (MMIS),

1447 including components completed under the FX project.

1448 (1) The assessment must evaluate the agency’s current

1449 technical architecture and technology standards related to its

1450 MMIS replacement activities and assess alignment with all

1451 applicable federal and state laws and requirements, including,

1452 but not limited to, the federal Centers for Medicare and

1453 Medicaid Services (CMS) Interoperability and Patient Access Rule

1454 (CMS-9115), the Medicaid Information Technology Architecture

1455 (MITA) frameworks and guidelines, and recognized industry and

1456 governmental best practices, including CMS modularity guidance

1457 and National Institute of Standards and Technology cybersecurity

1458 standards.

1459 (2) The assessment must, at a minimum:

1460 (a) Identify and document current deficiencies in the

1461 technical architecture, system design, and standards that may

1462 affect long-term sustainability, including issues related to

1463 maintainability, scalability, security, interoperability,

1464 technical debt, vendor dependency, and compliance with evolving

1465 federal and state requirements.

1466 (b) Develop a future-state technical architecture that is

1467 driven by and aligned with the business architecture, Medicaid

1468 program needs, and CMS modularity and interoperability

1469 principles, including identification of core components,

1470 interfaces, data flows, and applicable standards.

1471 (c) Evaluate the feasibility of transitioning from the

1472 current-state architecture to the future-state architecture,

1473 including phased or modular implementation options, associated

1474 risks, estimated costs, implementation timelines, operational

1475 impacts, and implications for federal funding eligibility.

1476 (d) Prioritize replacement of the functionality provided

1477 under the current fiscal agent contract and recommend a

1478 sustainable path forward, including identification of any

1479 prerequisite governance, policy, or remediation actions required

1480 prior to implementation.

1481 (e) Assess the agency’s readiness to implement and operate

1482 the recommended solution, including evaluation of governance

1483 structures, staffing capacity, and resource sufficiency.

1484 (3) The completed assessment must be submitted

1485 simultaneously to the Agency for Health Care Administration, the

1486 chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the chair of

1487 the House of Representatives Budget Committee, and the Executive

1488 Office of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget by January

1489 8, 2027.

1490 (4) Based on the results of the assessment, the Agency for

1491 Health Care Administration shall develop a new time-phased

1492 implementation roadmap with measurable success criteria for the

1493 MMIS replacement that aligns investments with the agency’s

1494 Medicaid program goals and business strategy. The agency must

1495 submit the roadmap to chair of the Senate Committee on

1496 Appropriations, the chair of the House of Representatives Budget

1497 Committee, and the Executive Office of the Governor’s Office of

1498 Policy and Budget by February 2, 2027.

1499 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.

1500 Section 35. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1501 223, 224, 279, 290, 349, 503, 526, and 751 of the 2026-2027

1502 General Appropriations Act, the Agency for Health Care

1503 Administration, in consultation with the Department of Health,

1504 the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Department of

1505 Children and Families, and the Department of Corrections, shall

1506 competitively procure a contract with a vendor to negotiate, for

1507 these agencies, prices for prescribed drugs and biological

1508 products excluded from the program established under s.

1509 381.02035, Florida Statutes, and ineligible under 21 U.S.C. s.

1510 384, including, but not limited to, insulin and epinephrine. The

1511 contract may allow the vendor to directly purchase these

1512 products for participating agencies when feasible and

1513 advantageous. The contracted vendor must be compensated on a

1514 contingency basis, paid from a portion of the savings achieved

1515 by its price negotiation or purchase of the prescription drugs

1516 and products. This section expires July 1, 2027.

1517 Section 36. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1518 238 through 245 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,

1519 notwithstanding ss. 408.040(2) and 408.808(3), Florida Statutes:

1520 (1)(a) An inactive license or a partially inactive license

1521 with an expiration date on or after June 1, 2024, may be issued

1522 or renewed to a skilled nursing provider subject to the

1523 certificate-of-need provisions in part I of chapter 408, Florida

1524 Statutes, if the provider currently holds an active or inactive

1525 license, does not have a provisional license, and will be

1526 temporarily unable to provide services due to impacts from a

1527 natural disaster or state of emergency; or will be deactivating

1528 or has deactivated beds to improve and modernize the licensees

1529 physical plant, but is reasonably expected to resume services

1530 within 48 months.

1531 (b) Such issuance or renewal may be made for a period of 12

1532 months and may be further renewed for up to 36 additional months

1533 upon demonstration by the licensee of the provider’s progress

1534 toward reopening. During each 12-month renewal cycle, the

1535 applicant shall attest that good-faith progress towards

1536 commencement of the project is ongoing or that the project is

1537 delayed by litigation or by governmental action or inaction with

1538 respect to regulations or permitting that precludes commencement

1539 of the project.

1540 (2)(a) The certificate-of-need validity period for a

1541 project shall be extended by the agency if the certificateholder

1542 demonstrates to the satisfaction of the agency that good-faith

1543 progress toward the commencement of the project is ongoing or

1544 that the project is delayed by litigation or by government

1545 action or inaction with respect to regulations or permitting

1546 that precludes commencement of the project.

1547 (b) Such extension may be made for a period of 12 months

1548 and may be renewed for up to 36 additional months upon

1549 demonstration by the certificateholder of the progress towards

1550 opening. During each 12-month validity period renewal cycle, the

1551 certificateholder shall attest that good-faith progress towards

1552 commencement of the project is ongoing or that the project is

1553 being delayed by litigation or by governmental action or

1554 inaction.

1555 (3) This section expires July 1, 2027.

1556 Section 37. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1557 272, 277, 278, 283, 288, and 289 of the 2026-2027 General

1558 Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292,

1559 Florida Statutes, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities may

1560 submit budget amendments, subject to the notice, review, and

1561 objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to

1562 transfer funding from the Salaries and Benefits appropriation

1563 categories to categories used for contractual services in order

1564 to support additional staff augmentation resources needed at the

1565 Developmental Disability Centers. This section expires July 1,

1566 2027.

1567 Section 38. In order to implement section 66 of the 2026

1568 2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181

1569 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the Agency for Persons with

1570 Disabilities may submit budget amendments, subject to the

1571 notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida

1572 Statutes, to request the appropriation of funds from the Lump

1573 Sum-Home and Community-Based Services Waiver category to address

1574 any deficits or funding shortfalls. This section expires July 1,

1575 2027.

1576 Section 39. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1577 231 and 254 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

1578 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the

1579 Agency for Health Care Administration and the Agency for Persons

1580 with Disabilities may submit budget amendments, subject to the

1581 notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida

1582 Statutes, at least 3 days before the effective date of the

1583 action, to increase budget authority to support the

1584 implementation of the home and community-based services Medicaid

1585 waiver program of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. This

1586 section expires July 1, 2027.

1587 Section 40. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

1588 594 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

1589 notwithstanding chapter 216, Florida Statutes, the Department of

1590 Veterans’ Affairs may submit a budget amendment, subject to

1591 Legislative Budget Commission approval, requesting the authority

1592 to establish positions in excess of the number authorized by the

1593 Legislature, increase appropriations from the Operations and

1594 Maintenance Trust Fund, or provide a necessary salary rate

1595 sufficient to provide for essential staff for veterans’ nursing

1596 homes, if the department projects that additional direct care

1597 staff are needed to meet its established staffing ratio. This

1598 section expires July 1, 2027.

1599 Section 41. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

1600 223 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (1)

1601 of section 409.915, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

1602 409.915 County contributions to Medicaid.—Although the

1603 state is responsible for the full portion of the state share of

1604 the matching funds required for the Medicaid program, the state

1605 shall charge the counties an annual contribution in order to

1606 acquire a certain portion of these funds.

1607 (1)(a) As used in this section, the term “state Medicaid

1608 expenditures” means those expenditures used as matching funds

1609 for the federal Medicaid program.

1610 (b) The term does not include funds specially assessed by

1611 any local governmental entity and used as the nonfederal share

1612 for the hospital directed payment program after July 1, 2021.

1613 This paragraph expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

1614 Section 42. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1615 594 through 622A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,

1616 and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes,

1617 the Department of Veterans’ Affairs is authorized to:

1618 (1) Expend funds pursuant to a Memorandum of Agreement

1619 between the department and the Collier County Board of County

1620 Commissioners, as well as funds appropriated in chapter 2023

1621 239, Laws of Florida, for the planning and construction of a new

1622 State Veterans’ Nursing Home and Adult Day Health Center in

1623 Collier County.

1624 (2) Apply for a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

1625 Construction Grant for the Collier County State Veterans’

1626 Nursing Home.

1627 (3) Submit budget amendments subject to the notice, review,

1628 and objection procedures in s. 216.177, Florida Statutes,

1629 subject to federal approval, requesting additional spending

1630 authority to support the development and construction of a new

1631 State Veterans’ Nursing Home and Adult Day Health Care Center in

1632 Collier County.

1634 This section expires July 1, 2027.

1635 Section 43. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1636 404 and 406 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

1637 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the

1638 Department of Elderly Affairs may submit a budget amendment,

1639 subject to the notice, review, and objection procedures of s.

1640 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the

1641 United States Department of Agriculture’s Adult Care Food

1642 Program or the Older Americans Act if additional federal

1643 revenues will be expended in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This

1644 section expires July 1, 2027.

1645 Section 44. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1646 626 through 718 and 729 through 782 of the 2026-2027 General

1647 Appropriations Act, subsection (4) of section 216.262, Florida

1648 Statutes, is amended to read:

1649 216.262 Authorized positions.—

1650 (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter relating

1651 to increasing the number of authorized positions, and for the

1652 2026-2027 ~~2025-2026~~ fiscal year only, if the actual inmate

1653 population of the Department of Corrections exceeds the inmate

1654 population projections of the December 23 ~~February 21~~ , 2025,

1655 Criminal Justice Estimating Conference by 1 percent for 2

1656 consecutive months or 2 percent for any month, the Executive

1657 Office of the Governor, with the approval of the Legislative

1658 Budget Commission, shall immediately notify the Criminal Justice

1659 Estimating Conference, which shall convene as soon as possible

1660 to revise the estimates. The Department of Corrections may then

1661 submit a budget amendment requesting the establishment of

1662 positions in excess of the number authorized by the Legislature

1663 and additional appropriations from unallocated general revenue

1664 sufficient to provide for essential staff, fixed capital

1665 improvements, and other resources to provide classification,

1666 security, food services, health services, and other variable

1667 expenses within the institutions to accommodate the estimated

1668 increase in the inmate population. All actions taken pursuant to

1669 this subsection are subject to review and approval by the

1670 Legislative Budget Commission. This subsection expires July 1,

1671 2027 ~~2026~~ .

1672 Section 45. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1673 3340 through 3409 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,

1674 subsection (2) of section 215.18, Florida Statutes, is amended

1675 to read:

1676 215.18 Transfers between funds; limitation.—

1677 (2) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may receive one

1678 or more trust fund loans to ensure that the state court system

1679 has funds sufficient to meet its appropriations in the 2026-2027

1680 ~~2025-2026~~ General Appropriations Act. If the Chief Justice

1681 accesses the loan, he or she must notify the Governor and the

1682 chairs of the legislative appropriations committees in writing.

1683 The loan must come from other funds in the State Treasury which

1684 are for the time being or otherwise in excess of the amounts

1685 necessary to meet the just requirements of such last-mentioned

1686 funds. The Governor shall order the transfer of funds within 5

1687 days after the written notification from the Chief Justice. If

1688 the Governor does not order the transfer, the Chief Financial

1689 Officer shall transfer the requested funds. The loan of funds

1690 from which any money is temporarily transferred must be repaid

1691 by the end of the 2026-2027 ~~2025-2026~~ fiscal year. This

1692 subsection expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

1693 Section 46. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1694 1183 through 1194 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:

1695 (1) The Department of Juvenile Justice shall review county

1696 juvenile detention payments to ensure that counties fulfill

1697 their financial responsibilities required in s. 985.6865,

1698 Florida Statutes. If the Department of Juvenile Justice

1699 determines that a county has not met its obligations, the

1700 department shall direct the Department of Revenue to deduct the

1701 amount owed to the Department of Juvenile Justice from the funds

1702 provided to the county under s. 218.23, Florida Statutes. The

1703 Department of Revenue shall transfer the funds withheld to the

1704 Shared County/State Juvenile Detention Trust Fund.

1705 (2) As an assurance to holders of bonds issued by counties

1706 before July 1, 2026, for which distributions made pursuant to s.

1707 218.23, Florida Statutes, are pledged, or bonds issued to refund

1708 such bonds which mature no later than the bonds they refunded

1709 and which result in a reduction of debt service payable in each

1710 fiscal year, the amount available for distribution to a county

1711 shall remain as provided by law and continue to be subject to

1712 any lien or claim on behalf of the bondholders. The Department

1713 of Revenue must ensure, based on information provided by an

1714 affected county, that any reduction in amounts distributed

1715 pursuant to subsection (1) does not reduce the amount of

1716 distribution to a county below the amount necessary for the

1717 timely payment of principal and interest when due on the bonds

1718 and the amount necessary to comply with any covenant under the

1719 bond resolution or other documents relating to the issuance of

1720 the bonds. If a reduction to a county’s monthly distribution

1721 must be decreased in order to comply with this section, the

1722 Department of Revenue must notify the Department of Juvenile

1723 Justice of the amount of the decrease, and the Department of

1724 Juvenile Justice must send a bill for payment of such amount to

1725 the affected county.

1726 (3) This section expires July 1, 2027.

1727 Section 47. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1728 793 through 817A, 978 through 1125, and 1146 through 1182 of the

1729 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding the

1730 expiration date in section 52 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of

1731 Florida, subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection (2),

1732 paragraph (a) of subsection (3), and subsections (5), (6), and

1733 (7) of section 27.40, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:

1734 27.40 Court-appointed counsel; circuit registries; minimum

1735 requirements; appointment by court.—

1736 (1) Counsel shall be appointed to represent any individual

1737 in a criminal or civil proceeding entitled to court-appointed

1738 counsel under the Federal or State Constitution or as authorized

1739 by general law. The court shall appoint a public defender to

1740 represent indigent persons as authorized in s. 27.51. The office

1741 of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel shall be

1742 appointed to represent persons in those cases in which provision

1743 is made for court-appointed counsel, but only after the public

1744 defender has certified to the court in writing that the public

1745 defender is unable to provide representation due to a conflict

1746 of interest or is not authorized to provide representation. The

1747 public defender shall report, in the aggregate, the specific

1748 basis of all conflicts of interest certified to the court. On a

1749 quarterly basis, the public defender shall submit this

1750 information to the Justice Administrative Commission.

1751 (2)(a) Private counsel shall be appointed to represent

1752 persons in those cases in which provision is made for court

1753 appointed counsel but only after the office of criminal conflict

1754 and civil regional counsel has been appointed and has certified

1755 to the court in writing that the criminal conflict and civil

1756 regional counsel is unable to provide representation due to a

1757 conflict of interest. The criminal conflict and civil regional

1758 counsel shall report, in the aggregate, the specific basis of

1759 all conflicts of interest certified to the court. On a quarterly

1760 basis, the criminal conflict and civil regional counsel shall

1761 submit this information to the Justice Administrative

1762 Commission.

1763 (3) In using a registry:

1764 (a) The chief judge of the circuit shall compile a list of

1765 attorneys in private practice, by county and by category of

1766 cases, and provide the list to the clerk of court in each

1767 county. The chief judge of the circuit may restrict the number

1768 of attorneys on the general registry list. To be included on a

1769 registry, an attorney must certify that he or she:

1770 1. Meets any minimum requirements established by the chief

1771 judge and by general law for court appointment;

1772 2. Is available to represent indigent defendants in cases

1773 requiring court appointment of private counsel; and

1774 3. Is willing to abide by the terms of the contract for

1775 services, s. 27.5304, and this section.

1777 To be included on a registry, an attorney must enter into a

1778 contract for services with the Justice Administrative

1779 Commission. Failure to comply with the terms of the contract for

1780 services may result in termination of the contract and removal

1781 from the registry. Each attorney on the registry is responsible

1782 for notifying the clerk of the court and the Justice

1783 Administrative Commission of any change in his or her status.

1784 Failure to comply with this requirement is cause for termination

1785 of the contract for services and removal from the registry until

1786 the requirement is fulfilled.

1787 (5) The Justice Administrative Commission shall approve

1788 uniform contract forms for use in procuring the services of

1789 private court-appointed counsel and uniform procedures and forms

1790 for use by a court-appointed attorney in support of billing for

1791 attorney’s fees, costs, and related expenses to demonstrate the

1792 attorney’s completion of specified duties. Such uniform

1793 contracts and forms for use in billing must be consistent with

1794 s. 27.5304, s. 216.311, and the General Appropriations Act and

1795 must contain the following statement: “The State of Florida’s

1796 performance and obligation to pay under this contract is

1797 contingent upon an annual appropriation by the Legislature.”

1798 (6) After court appointment, the attorney must immediately

1799 file a notice of appearance with the court indicating acceptance

1800 of the appointment to represent the defendant and of the terms

1801 of the uniform contract as specified in subsection (5).

1802 (7)(a) A private attorney appointed by the court from the

1803 registry to represent a client is entitled to payment as

1804 provided in s. 27.5304 so long as the requirements of subsection

1805 (1) and paragraph (2)(a) are met. An attorney appointed by the

1806 court who is not on the registry list may be compensated under

1807 s. 27.5304 only if the court finds in the order of appointment

1808 that there were no registry attorneys available for

1809 representation for that case and only if the requirements of

1810 subsection (1) and paragraph (2)(a) are met.

1811 (b)1. The flat fee established in s. 27.5304 and the

1812 General Appropriations Act shall be presumed by the court to be

1813 sufficient compensation. The attorney shall maintain appropriate

1814 documentation, including contemporaneous and detailed hourly

1815 accounting of time spent representing the client. If the

1816 attorney fails to maintain such contemporaneous and detailed

1817 hourly records, the attorney waives the right to seek

1818 compensation in excess of the flat fee established in s. 27.5304

1819 and the General Appropriations Act. These records and documents

1820 are subject to review by the Justice Administrative Commission

1821 and audit by the Auditor General, subject to the attorney-client

1822 privilege and work-product privilege. The attorney shall

1823 maintain the records and documents in a manner that enables the

1824 attorney to redact any information subject to a privilege in

1825 order to facilitate the commission’s review of the records and

1826 documents and not to impede such review. The attorney may redact

1827 information from the records and documents only to the extent

1828 necessary to comply with the privilege. The Justice

1829 Administrative Commission shall review such records and shall

1830 contemporaneously document such review before authorizing

1831 payment to an attorney. Objections by or on behalf of the

1832 Justice Administrative Commission to records or documents or to

1833 claims for payment by the attorney shall be presumed correct by

1834 the court unless the court determines, in writing, that

1835 competent and substantial evidence exists to justify overcoming

1836 the presumption.

1837 2. If an attorney fails, refuses, or declines to permit the

1838 commission or the Auditor General to review documentation for a

1839 case as provided in this paragraph, the attorney waives the

1840 right to seek, and the commission may not pay, compensation in

1841 excess of the flat fee established in s. 27.5304 and the General

1842 Appropriations Act for that case.

1843 3. A finding by the commission that an attorney has waived

1844 the right to seek compensation in excess of the flat fee

1845 established in s. 27.5304 and the General Appropriations Act, as

1846 provided in this paragraph, shall be presumed to be correct,

1847 unless the court determines, in writing, that competent and

1848 substantial evidence exists to justify overcoming the

1849 presumption.

1850 Section 48. The text of s. 27.40(1), (2)(a), (3)(a), (5),

1851 (6), and (7), Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter

1852 2019-116, Laws of Florida, by this act expires July 1, 2027, and

1853 the text of those subsections and paragraphs, as applicable,

1854 shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2019, except that

1855 any amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall

1856 be preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such

1857 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which

1858 expire pursuant to this section.

1859 Section 49. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

1860 793 through 817A, 978 through 1125, and 1146 through 1182 of the

1861 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding the

1862 expiration date in section 54 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of

1863 Florida, subsection (13) of section 27.5304, Florida Statutes,

1864 is amended, and subsections (1), (3), (6), (7), and (11) and

1865 paragraphs (a) through (e) of subsection (12) of that section

1866 are reenacted, to read:

1867 27.5304 Private court-appointed counsel; compensation;

1868 notice.—

1869 (1) Private court-appointed counsel appointed in the manner

1870 prescribed in s. 27.40(1) and (2)(a) shall be compensated by the

1871 Justice Administrative Commission only as provided in this

1872 section and the General Appropriations Act. The flat fees

1873 prescribed in this section are limitations on compensation. The

1874 specific flat fee amounts for compensation shall be established

1875 annually in the General Appropriations Act. The attorney also

1876 shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses in

1877 accordance with s. 29.007. If the attorney is representing a

1878 defendant charged with more than one offense in the same case,

1879 the attorney shall be compensated at the rate provided for the

1880 most serious offense for which he or she represented the

1881 defendant. This section does not allow stacking of the fee

1882 limits established by this section.

1883 (3) The court retains primary authority and responsibility

1884 for determining the reasonableness of all billings for attorney

1885 fees, costs, and related expenses, subject to statutory

1886 limitations and the requirements of s. 27.40(7). Private court

1887 appointed counsel is entitled to compensation upon final

1888 disposition of a case.

1889 (6) For compensation for representation pursuant to a court

1890 appointment in a proceeding under chapter 39:

1891 (a) At the trial level, compensation for representation for

1892 dependency proceedings shall not exceed $1,450 for the first

1893 year following the date of appointment and shall not exceed $700

1894 each year thereafter. Compensation shall be paid based upon

1895 representation of a parent irrespective of the number of case

1896 numbers that may be assigned or the number of children involved,

1897 including any children born during the pendency of the

1898 proceeding. Any appeal, except for an appeal from an

1899 adjudication of dependency, shall be completed by the trial

1900 attorney and is considered compensated by the flat fee for

1901 dependency proceedings.

1902 1. Counsel may bill the flat fee not exceeding $1,450

1903 following disposition or upon dismissal of the petition.

1904 2. Counsel may bill the annual flat fee not exceeding $700

1905 following the first judicial review in the second year following

1906 the date of appointment and each year thereafter as long as the

1907 case remains under protective supervision.

1908 3. If the court grants a motion to reactivate protective

1909 supervision, the attorney shall receive the annual flat fee not

1910 exceeding $700 following the first judicial review and up to an

1911 additional $700 each year thereafter.

1912 4. If, during the course of dependency proceedings, a

1913 proceeding to terminate parental rights is initiated,

1914 compensation shall be as set forth in paragraph (b). If counsel

1915 handling the dependency proceeding is not authorized to handle

1916 proceedings to terminate parental rights, the counsel must

1917 withdraw and new counsel must be appointed.

1918 (b) At the trial level, compensation for representation in

1919 termination of parental rights proceedings shall not exceed

1920 $1,800 for the first year following the date of appointment and

1921 shall not exceed $700 each year thereafter. Compensation shall

1922 be paid based upon representation of a parent irrespective of

1923 the number of case numbers that may be assigned or the number of

1924 children involved, including any children born during the

1925 pendency of the proceeding. Any appeal, except for an appeal

1926 from an order granting or denying termination of parental

1927 rights, shall be completed by trial counsel and is considered

1928 compensated by the flat fee for termination of parental rights

1929 proceedings. If the individual has dependency proceedings

1930 ongoing as to other children, those proceedings are considered

1931 part of the termination of parental rights proceedings as long

1932 as that termination of parental rights proceeding is ongoing.

1933 1. Counsel may bill the flat fee not exceeding $1,800 30

1934 days after rendition of the final order. Each request for

1935 payment submitted to the Justice Administrative Commission must

1936 include the trial counsel’s certification that:

1937 a. Counsel discussed grounds for appeal with the parent or

1938 that counsel attempted and was unable to contact the parent; and

1939 b. No appeal will be filed or that a notice of appeal and a

1940 motion for appointment of appellate counsel, containing the

1941 signature of the parent, have been filed.

1942 2. Counsel may bill the annual flat fee not exceeding $700

1943 following the first judicial review in the second year after the

1944 date of appointment and each year thereafter as long as the

1945 termination of parental rights proceedings are still ongoing.

1946 (c) For appeals from an adjudication of dependency,

1947 compensation may not exceed $1,800.

1948 1. Counsel may bill a flat fee not exceeding $1,200 upon

1949 filing the initial brief or the granting of a motion to

1950 withdraw.

1951 2. If a brief is filed, counsel may bill an additional flat

1952 fee not exceeding $600 upon rendition of the mandate.

1953 (d) For an appeal from an adjudication of termination of

1954 parental rights, compensation may not exceed $3,500.

1955 1. Counsel may bill a flat fee not exceeding $1,750 upon

1956 filing the initial brief or the granting of a motion to

1957 withdraw.

1958 2. If a brief is filed, counsel may bill an additional flat

1959 fee not exceeding $1,750 upon rendition of the mandate.

1960 (7) Counsel eligible to receive compensation from the state

1961 for representation pursuant to court appointment made in

1962 accordance with the requirements of s. 27.40(1) and (2)(a) in a

1963 proceeding under chapter 384, chapter 390, chapter 392, chapter

1964 393, chapter 394, chapter 397, chapter 415, chapter 743, chapter

1965 744, or chapter 984 shall receive compensation not to exceed the

1966 limits prescribed in the General Appropriations Act. Any such

1967 compensation must be determined as provided in s. 27.40(7).

1968 (11) It is the intent of the Legislature that the flat fees

1969 prescribed under this section and the General Appropriations Act

1970 comprise the full and complete compensation for private court

1971 appointed counsel. It is further the intent of the Legislature

1972 that the fees in this section are prescribed for the purpose of

1973 providing counsel with notice of the limit on the amount of

1974 compensation for representation in particular proceedings and

1975 the sole procedure and requirements for obtaining payment for

1976 the same.

1977 (a) If court-appointed counsel moves to withdraw prior to

1978 the full performance of his or her duties through the completion

1979 of the case, the court shall presume that the attorney is not

1980 entitled to the payment of the full flat fee established under

1981 this section and the General Appropriations Act.

1982 (b) If court-appointed counsel is allowed to withdraw from

1983 representation prior to the full performance of his or her

1984 duties through the completion of the case and the court appoints

1985 a subsequent attorney, the total compensation for the initial

1986 and any and all subsequent attorneys may not exceed the flat fee

1987 established under this section and the General Appropriations

1988 Act, except as provided in subsection (12).

1990 This subsection constitutes notice to any subsequently appointed

1991 attorney that he or she will not be compensated the full flat

1992 fee.

1993 (12) The Legislature recognizes that on rare occasions an

1994 attorney may receive a case that requires extraordinary and

1995 unusual effort.

1996 (a) If counsel seeks compensation that exceeds the limits

1997 prescribed by law, he or she must file a motion with the chief

1998 judge for an order approving payment of attorney fees in excess

1999 of these limits.

2000 1. Before filing the motion, the counsel shall deliver a

2001 copy of the intended billing, together with supporting

2002 affidavits and all other necessary documentation, to the Justice

2003 Administrative Commission.

2004 2. The Justice Administrative Commission shall review the

2005 billings, affidavit, and documentation for completeness and

2006 compliance with contractual and statutory requirements and shall

2007 contemporaneously document such review before authorizing

2008 payment to an attorney. If the Justice Administrative Commission

2009 objects to any portion of the proposed billing, the objection

2010 and supporting reasons must be communicated in writing to the

2011 private court-appointed counsel. The counsel may thereafter file

2012 his or her motion, which must specify whether the commission

2013 objects to any portion of the billing or the sufficiency of

2014 documentation, and shall attach the commission’s letter stating

2015 its objection.

2016 (b) Following receipt of the motion to exceed the fee

2017 limits, the chief judge or a single designee shall hold an

2018 evidentiary hearing. The chief judge may select only one judge

2019 per circuit to hear and determine motions pursuant to this

2020 subsection, except multicounty circuits and the eleventh circuit

2021 may have up to two designees.

2022 1. At the hearing, the attorney seeking compensation must

2023 prove by competent and substantial evidence that the case

2024 required extraordinary and unusual efforts. The chief judge or

2025 single designee shall consider criteria such as the number of

2026 witnesses, the complexity of the factual and legal issues, and

2027 the length of trial. The fact that a trial was conducted in a

2028 case does not, by itself, constitute competent substantial

2029 evidence of an extraordinary and unusual effort. In a criminal

2030 case, relief under this section may not be granted if the number

2031 of work hours does not exceed 75 or the number of the state’s

2032 witnesses deposed does not exceed 20.

2033 2. Objections by or on behalf of the Justice Administrative

2034 Commission to records or documents or to claims for payment by

2035 the attorney shall be presumed correct by the court unless the

2036 court determines, in writing, that competent and substantial

2037 evidence exists to justify overcoming the presumption. The chief

2038 judge or single designee shall enter a written order detailing

2039 his or her findings and identifying the extraordinary nature of

2040 the time and efforts of the attorney in the case which warrant

2041 exceeding the flat fee established by this section and the

2042 General Appropriations Act.

2043 (c) A copy of the motion and attachments shall be served on

2044 the Justice Administrative Commission at least 20 business days

2045 before the date of a hearing. The Justice Administrative

2046 Commission has standing to appear before the court, and may

2047 appear in person or telephonically, including at the hearing

2048 under paragraph (b), to contest any motion for an order

2049 approving payment of attorney fees, costs, or related expenses

2050 and may participate in a hearing on the motion by use of

2051 telephonic or other communication equipment. The Justice

2052 Administrative Commission may contract with other public or

2053 private entities or individuals to appear before the court for

2054 the purpose of contesting any motion for an order approving

2055 payment of attorney fees, costs, or related expenses. The fact

2056 that the Justice Administrative Commission has not objected to

2057 any portion of the billing or to the sufficiency of the

2058 documentation is not binding on the court.

2059 (d) If the chief judge or a single designee finds that

2060 counsel has proved by competent and substantial evidence that

2061 the case required extraordinary and unusual efforts, the chief

2062 judge or single designee shall order the compensation to be paid

2063 to the attorney at a percentage above the flat fee rate,

2064 depending on the extent of the unusual and extraordinary effort

2065 required. The percentage must be only the rate necessary to

2066 ensure that the fees paid are not confiscatory under common law.

2067 The percentage may not exceed 200 percent of the established

2068 flat fee, absent a specific finding that 200 percent of the flat

2069 fee in the case would be confiscatory. If the chief judge or

2070 single designee determines that 200 percent of the flat fee

2071 would be confiscatory, he or she shall order the amount of

2072 compensation using an hourly rate not to exceed $75 per hour for

2073 a noncapital case and $100 per hour for a capital case. However,

2074 the compensation calculated by using the hourly rate shall be

2075 only that amount necessary to ensure that the total fees paid

2076 are not confiscatory, subject to the requirements of s.

2077 27.40(7).

2078 (e) Any order granting relief under this subsection must be

2079 attached to the final request for a payment submitted to the

2080 Justice Administrative Commission and must satisfy the

2081 requirements of subparagraph (b)2.

2082 (13) Notwithstanding the limitation set forth in subsection

2083 (5) and for the 2026-2027 ~~2025-2026~~ fiscal year only, the

2084 compensation for representation in a criminal proceeding may not

2085 exceed the following:

2086 (a) For misdemeanors and juveniles represented at the trial

2087 level: $2,000.

2088 (b) For noncapital, nonlife felonies represented at the

2089 trial level: $15,000.

2090 (c) For life felonies represented at the trial level:

2091 $15,000.

2092 (d) For capital cases represented at the trial level:

2093 $25,000. For purposes of this paragraph, a “capital case” is any

2094 offense for which the potential sentence is death and the state

2095 has not waived seeking the death penalty.

2096 (e) For representation on appeal: $9,000.

2097 (f) This subsection expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

2098 Section 50. The text of s. 27.5304(1), (3), (7), (11), and

2099 (12)(a)-(e), Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter

2100 2019-116, Laws of Florida, and the text of s. 27.5304(6),

2101 Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter 2023-240, Laws

2102 of Florida, by this act, expire July 1, 2027, and the text of

2103 those subsections and paragraphs, as applicable, shall revert to

2104 that in existence on June 30, 2019, except that any amendments

2105 to such text enacted other than by this act shall be preserved

2106 and continue to operate to the extent that such amendments are

2107 not dependent upon the portions of text which expire pursuant to

2108 this section.

2109 Section 51. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

2110 1348 through 1353 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,

2111 subsection (3) of section 908.1033, Florida Statutes, is amended

2112 to read:

2113 908.1033 Local Law Enforcement Immigration Grant Program.—

2114 (3)(a) A local law enforcement agency may apply to the

2115 State Board of Immigration Enforcement to provide bonus payments

2116 for the agency’s local law enforcement officers who participate

2117 in United States Department of Homeland Security at-large task

2118 force operations. The local law enforcement agency may apply for

2119 a bonus of up to $1,000 for each local law enforcement officer

2120 employed within that agency. The local law enforcement agency

2121 must certify to the board that the local law enforcement officer

2122 participated in one or more operations and provide any

2123 information required by the board. Eligible participation does

2124 not include operations occurring solely at state correctional

2125 facilities or county detention facilities.

2126 (b) The bonus payment shall be adjusted to include 7.65

2127 percent for the officers’ share of Federal Insurance

2128 Contribution Act tax on the bonus.

2129 (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), and for the 2026-2027

2130 ~~2025-2026~~ fiscal year, a local law enforcement agency may apply

2131 to the State Board of Immigration Enforcement to provide bonus

2132 payments for the agency’s certified correctional officers under

2133 s. 943.10(2), who are a warrant service officer under s. 287(g)

2134 of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. s. 1357 or an

2135 immigration officer under the jail enforcement model under s.

2136 287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. s. 1357.

2137 The local law enforcement agency may apply for a bonus of up to

2138 $1,000 for each certified correctional officer employed with

2139 that county detention facility. The local law enforcement agency

2140 must certify to the board that the certified correctional

2141 officer acted in such capacity as a warrant service officer or

2142 an immigration officer under the jail enforcement model for at

2143 least 6 months preceding the application and provide any

2144 information required by the board. Eligible participation does

2145 not include operations occurring solely at state correctional

2146 facilities. This paragraph expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

2147 Section 52. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

2148 1336A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (g)

2149 is added to subsection (7) of section 934.50, Florida Statutes,

2150 to read:

2151 934.50 Searches and seizure using a drone.—

2152 (7) SECURITY STANDARDS FOR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY DRONE USE.—

2153 (g) Subject to appropriation, the Drone as First Responder

2154 Grant Program is created within the Department of Law

2155 Enforcement.

2156 1. The grant program shall provide funds to law enforcement

2157 agencies, fire service providers, ambulance crews, or other

2158 first responders that apply for funding to acquire new drones

2159 that comply with this section. To be eligible, the applicant

2160 must provide the department with any information the department

2161 deems necessary. A law enforcement agency, fire service,

2162 ambulance service, or other first responder agency may apply

2163 directly to the department or a local governmental entity may

2164 submit an application on behalf of one or more of its agencies

2165 to purchase one or more new drones.

2166 2. The department shall expeditiously develop an

2167 application process. Funds shall be allocated on a first-come,

2168 first-served basis, determined by the date the department

2169 receives the application.

2170 3. Grants must be matched by at least 50 percent local

2171 funds, but the department may waive this requirement for

2172 agencies solely serving within a fiscally constrained county as

2173 described in s. 218.67(1), Florida Statutes. Each grant is

2174 limited to a total of $250,000 per agency and a maximum $50,000

2175 per drone.

2176 4. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term “first

2177 responder agency“ has the same meaning as in s. 365.179(1)(a).

2178 5. The department may adopt rules to implement this

2179 paragraph. The department is authorized, and all conditions are

2180 deemed met, to adopt emergency rules under s. 120.54(4) for the

2181 purpose of implementing this paragraph. Notwithstanding any

2182 other law, emergency rules adopted under this section are

2183 effective for 12 months after adoption and may be renewed during

2184 the pendency of procedures to adopt permanent rules addressing

2185 the subject of the emergency rules.

2187 This paragraph expires July 1, 2027.

2188 Section 53. In order to implement appropriations used to

2189 pay existing lease contracts for private lease space in excess

2190 of 2,000 square feet in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations

2191 Act, the Department of Management Services, with the cooperation

2192 of the agencies having the existing lease contracts for office

2193 or storage space, shall use tenant broker services to

2194 renegotiate or reprocure all private lease agreements for office

2195 or storage space which are expiring between July 1, 2027, and

2196 June 30, 2029, in order to reduce costs in future years. The

2197 department shall incorporate this initiative into its 2026

2198 master leasing report required under s. 255.249(7), Florida

2199 Statutes, and may use tenant broker services to explore the

2200 possibilities of colocating office or storage space, to review

2201 the space needs of each agency, and to review the length and

2202 terms of potential renewals or renegotiations. The department

2203 shall provide a report to the Executive Office of the Governor,

2204 the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

2205 Representatives by November 1, 2026, which lists each lease

2206 contract for private office or storage space, the status of

2207 renegotiations, and the savings achieved. This section expires

2208 July 1, 2027.

2209 Section 54. In order to implement appropriations authorized

2210 in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for data center

2211 services, and notwithstanding s. 216.292(2)(a), Florida

2212 Statutes, an agency may not transfer funds from a data

2213 processing category to a category other than another data

2214 processing category or a cloud computing category for

2215 information technology resources hosted outside an agency. This

2216 section expires July 1, 2027.

2217 Section 55. In order to implement the appropriation of

2218 funds in the appropriation category “Special Categories-Risk

2219 Management Insurance” in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations

2220 Act, and pursuant to the notice, review, and objection

2221 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the Executive Office

2222 of the Governor may transfer funds appropriated in that category

2223 between departments in order to align the budget authority

2224 granted with the premiums paid by each department for risk

2225 management insurance. This section expires July 1, 2027.

2226 Section 56. In order to implement the appropriation of

2227 funds in the appropriation category “Special Categories-Transfer

2228 to Department of Management Services-Human Resources Services

2229 Purchased per Statewide Contract” in the 2026-2027 General

2230 Appropriations Act, and pursuant to the notice, review, and

2231 objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the

2232 Executive Office of the Governor may transfer funds appropriated

2233 in that category between departments in order to align the

2234 budget authority granted with the assessments that must be paid

2235 by each agency to the Department of Management Services for

2236 human resource management services. This section expires July 1,

2237 2027.

2238 Section 57. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

2239 2935 in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act in the Building

2240 Relocation appropriation category from the Architects Incidental

2241 Trust Fund of the Department of Management Services, and in

2242 accordance with s. 215.196, Florida Statutes:

2243 (1) Upon the final disposition of a state-owned building,

2244 the Department of Management Services may use up to 5 percent of

2245 facility disposition funds from the Architects Incidental Trust

2246 Fund to defer, offset, or otherwise pay for all or a portion of

2247 relocation expenses, including furniture, fixtures, and

2248 equipment for state agencies impacted by the disposition of the

2249 department’s managed facilities in the Florida Facilities Pool.

2250 The extent of the financial assistance provided to impacted

2251 state agencies shall be determined by the department.

2252 (2) The Department of Management Services may submit budget

2253 amendments for an increase in appropriation if necessary for the

2254 implementation of this section pursuant to chapter 216, Florida

2255 Statutes. Budget amendments for an increase in appropriation

2256 shall include a detailed plan providing all estimated costs and

2257 relocation proposals.

2258 (3) This section expires July 1, 2027.

2259 Section 58. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

2260 2513 through 2516 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:

2261 (1) The Department of Financial Services shall replace the

2262 four main components of the Florida Accounting Information

2263 Resource Subsystem (FLAIR), which include central FLAIR,

2264 departmental FLAIR, payroll, and information warehouse, and

2265 shall replace the cash management and accounting management

2266 components of the Cash Management Subsystem (CMS) with an

2267 integrated enterprise system that allows the state to organize,

2268 define, and standardize its financial management business

2269 processes and that complies with ss. 215.90-215.96, Florida

2270 Statutes. The department may not include in the replacement of

2271 FLAIR and CMS:

2272 (a) Functionality that duplicates any of the other

2273 information subsystems of the Florida Financial Management

2274 Information System; or

2275 (b) Agency business processes related to any of the

2276 functions included in the Personnel Information System, the

2277 Purchasing Subsystem, or the Legislative Appropriations

2278 System/Planning and Budgeting Subsystem.

2279 (2) For purposes of replacing FLAIR and CMS, the Department

2280 of Financial Services shall:

2281 (a) Take into consideration the cost and implementation

2282 data identified for Option 3 as recommended in the March 31,

2283 2014, Florida Department of Financial Services FLAIR Study,

2284 version 031.

2285 (b) Ensure that all business requirements and technical

2286 specifications have been provided to all state agencies for

2287 their review and input and approved by the executive steering

2288 committee established in paragraph (c), including any updates to

2289 these documents.

2290 (c) Implement a project governance structure that includes

2291 an executive steering committee composed of:

2292 1. The Chief Financial Officer or the executive sponsor of

2293 the project.

2294 2. A representative of the Division of Treasury of the

2295 Department of Financial Services, appointed by the Chief

2296 Financial Officer.

2297 3. The Chief Information Officers of the Department of

2298 Financial Services and the Department of Environmental

2299 Protection.

2300 4. Two employees from the Division of Accounting and

2301 Auditing of the Department of Financial Services, appointed by

2302 the Chief Financial Officer. Each employee must have experience

2303 relating to at least one of the four main components that

2304 compose FLAIR.

2305 5. Two employees from the Executive Office of the Governor,

2306 appointed by the Governor. One employee must have experience

2307 relating to the Legislative Appropriations System/Planning and

2308 Budgeting Subsystem.

2309 6. One employee from the Department of Revenue, appointed

2310 by the executive director, who has experience using or

2311 maintaining the department’s finance and accounting systems.

2312 7. Two employees from the Department of Management

2313 Services, appointed by the Secretary of Management Services. One

2314 employee must have experience relating to the department’s

2315 personnel information subsystem and one employee must have

2316 experience relating to the department’s purchasing subsystem.

2317 8. A state agency administrative services director,

2318 appointed by the Governor.

2319 9. The executive sponsor of the Florida Health Care

2320 Connection (FX) System or his or her designee, appointed by the

2321 Secretary of Health Care Administration.

2322 10. The state chief information officer, or his or her

2323 designee, as a nonvoting member. The state chief information

2324 officer, or his or her designee, shall provide monthly status

2325 reports to the executive steering committee pursuant to the

2326 oversight responsibilities in s. 282.0051, Florida Statutes.

2327 11. One employee from the Department of Business and

2328 Professional Regulation who has experience in finance and

2329 accounting and FLAIR, appointed by the Secretary of Business and

2330 Professional Regulation.

2331 12. One employee from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation

2332 Commission who has experience using or maintaining the

2333 commission’s finance and accounting systems, appointed by the

2334 chair of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

2335 13. The budget director of the Department of Education, or

2336 his or her designee.

2337 (3)(a) The Chief Financial Officer or the executive sponsor

2338 of the project shall serve as chair of the executive steering

2339 committee, and the committee shall take action by a vote of at

2340 least eight affirmative votes with the Chief Financial Officer

2341 or the executive sponsor of the project voting on the prevailing

2342 side. A quorum of the executive steering committee consists of

2343 at least 10 members.

2344 (b) No later than 14 days before a meeting of the executive

2345 steering committee, the chair shall request input from committee

2346 members on agenda items for the next scheduled meeting.

2347 (c) The chair shall establish a working group composed of

2348 FLAIR users, state agency technical staff who maintain

2349 applications that integrate with FLAIR, and no less than four

2350 state agency finance and accounting or budget directors. The

2351 working group shall meet at least monthly to review PALM

2352 functionality, assess project impacts to state financial

2353 business processes and agency staff, and develop recommendations

2354 to the executive steering committee for improvements. The chair

2355 shall request input from the working group on agenda items for

2356 each scheduled meeting. The Florida PALM project team shall

2357 dedicate a staff member to the group and provide system

2358 demonstrations and any project documentation, as needed, for the

2359 group to fulfill its duties.

2360 (d) The chair shall request all agency project sponsors to

2361 provide bimonthly status reports to the executive steering

2362 committee. The form and format of the bimonthly status reports

2363 shall be developed by the Florida PALM project and provided to

2364 the executive steering committee meeting for approval. Such

2365 agency status reports shall provide information to the executive

2366 steering committee on the activities and ongoing work within the

2367 agency to prepare its systems and impacted employees for the

2368 deployment of the Florida PALM System. The first bimonthly

2369 status report is due September 1, 2026, and bimonthly

2370 thereafter.

2371 (4) The executive steering committee has the overall

2372 responsibility for ensuring that the project to replace FLAIR

2373 and CMS meets its primary business objectives and shall:

2374 (a) Identify and recommend to the Executive Office of the

2375 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the

2376 House of Representatives any statutory changes needed to

2377 implement the replacement subsystem that will standardize, to

2378 the fullest extent possible, the state’s financial management

2379 business processes.

2380 (b) Review and approve any changes to the project’s scope,

2381 schedule, and budget which do not conflict with the requirements

2382 of subsection (1).

2383 (c) Ensure that adequate resources are provided throughout

2384 all phases of the project.

2385 (d) Approve all major project deliverables and any cost

2386 changes to each deliverable over $250,000.

2387 (e) Approve contract amendments and changes to all

2388 contract-related documents associated with the replacement of

2389 FLAIR and CMS.

2390 (f) Review, and approve as warranted, the format of the

2391 bimonthly agency status reports to include objective and

2392 quantifiable information on each agency’s progress in planning

2393 for the Florida PALM Major Implementation, covering the agency’s

2394 people, processes, technology, and data transformation

2395 activities.

2396 (g) Ensure compliance with ss. 216.181(16), 216.311,

2397 216.313, 282.318(4)(h), and 287.058, Florida Statutes.

2398 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.

2399 Section 59. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

2400 3040 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

2401 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 65 of chapter

2402 2025-199, Laws of Florida, subsection (3) of section 282.709,

2403 Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:

2404 282.709 State agency law enforcement radio system and

2405 interoperability network.—

2406 (3) In recognition of the critical nature of the statewide

2407 law enforcement radio communications system, the Legislature

2408 finds that there is an immediate danger to the public health,

2409 safety, and welfare, and that it is in the best interest of the

2410 state to continue partnering with the system’s current operator.

2411 The Legislature finds that continuity of coverage is critical to

2412 supporting law enforcement, first responders, and other public

2413 safety users. The potential for a loss in coverage or a lack of

2414 interoperability between users requires emergency action and is

2415 a serious concern for officers’ safety and their ability to

2416 communicate and respond to various disasters and events.

2417 (a) The department, pursuant to s. 287.057(11), shall enter

2418 into a 15-year contract with the entity that was operating the

2419 statewide radio communications system on January 1, 2021. The

2420 contract must include:

2421 1. The purchase of radios;

2422 2. The upgrade to the Project 25 communications standard;

2423 3. Increased system capacity and enhanced coverage for

2424 system users;

2425 4. Operations, maintenance, and support at a fixed annual

2426 rate;

2427 5. The conveyance of communications towers to the

2428 department; and

2429 6. The assignment of communications tower leases to the

2430 department.

2431 (b) The State Agency Law Enforcement Radio System Trust

2432 Fund is established in the department and funded from surcharges

2433 collected under ss. 318.18, 320.0802, and 328.72. Upon

2434 appropriation, moneys in the trust fund may be used by the

2435 department to acquire the equipment, software, and engineering,

2436 administrative, and maintenance services it needs to construct,

2437 operate, and maintain the statewide radio system. Moneys in the

2438 trust fund from surcharges shall be used to help fund the costs

2439 of the system. Upon completion of the system, moneys in the

2440 trust fund may also be used by the department for payment of the

2441 recurring maintenance costs of the system.

2442 Section 60. The text of s. 282.709(3), Florida Statutes, as

2443 carried forward from chapter 2021-37, Laws of Florida, by this

2444 act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that subsection shall

2445 revert to that in existence on June 1, 2021, except that any

2446 amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall be

2447 preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such

2448 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which

2449 expire pursuant to this section.

2450 Section 61. In order to implement appropriations relating

2451 to the purchase of equipment and services related to the

2452 Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) as authorized in

2453 the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding s.

2454 287.057, Florida Statutes, state agencies and other eligible

2455 users of the SLERS network may use the Department of Management

2456 Services SLERS contract for purchase of equipment and services.

2457 This section expires July 1, 2027.

2458 Section 62. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

2459 2954 through 2965 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,

2460 and notwithstanding rule 60A-1.031, Florida Administrative Code,

2461 the transaction fee as identified in s. 287.057(24)(c), Florida

2462 Statutes, shall be collected for use of the online procurement

2463 system and is 0.7 percent for the 2026-2027 fiscal year only.

2464 This section expires July 1, 2027.

2465 Section 63. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

2466 2866 through 2892 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,

2467 and upon the expiration and reversion of the amendments made by

2468 section 69 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida, paragraph (i)

2469 of subsection (9) of section 24.105, Florida Statutes, is

2470 amended to read:

2471 24.105 Powers and duties of department.—The department

2472 shall:

2473 (9) Adopt rules governing the establishment and operation

2474 of the state lottery, including:

2475 (i) The manner and amount of compensation of retailers,

2476 except for the 2026-2027 fiscal year only, effective July 1,

2477 2026, the commission for lottery ticket sales shall be 6 percent

2478 of the purchase price of each ticket sold or issued as a prize

2479 by a retailer. Any additional retailer compensation is limited

2480 to the Florida Lottery Retailer Bonus Commission program

2481 appropriated in Specific Appropriation 2892 of the 2026-2027

2482 General Appropriations Act .

2483 Section 64. The amendment to s. 24.105(9)(i), Florida

2484 Statutes, made by this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of

2485 that paragraph shall revert to that in existence on June 30,

2486 2022, except that any amendments to such text enacted other than

2487 by this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the

2488 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions

2489 of text which expire pursuant to this section.

2490 Section 65. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

2491 3084 through 3092 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,

2492 paragraph (ll) of subsection (6) of section 627.351, Florida

2493 Statutes, is amended to read:

2494 627.351 Insurance risk apportionment plans.—

2495 (6) CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE CORPORATION.—

2496 (ll)1. In addition to any other method of alternative

2497 dispute resolution authorized by state law, the corporation may

2498 adopt policy forms that provide for the resolution of disputes

2499 regarding its claim determinations, including disputes regarding

2500 coverage for, or the scope and value of, a claim, in a

2501 proceeding before the Division of Administrative Hearings. Any

2502 such policies are not subject to s. 627.70154. All proceedings

2503 in the Division of Administrative Hearings pursuant to such

2504 policies are subject to ss. 57.105 and 768.79 as if filed in the

2505 courts of this state and are not considered chapter 120

2506 administrative proceedings. Rule 1.442, Florida Rules of Civil

2507 Procedure, applies to any offer served pursuant to s. 768.79,

2508 except that, notwithstanding any provision in Rule 1.442,

2509 Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, to the contrary, an offer

2510 shall not be served earlier than 10 days after filing the

2511 request for hearing with the Division of Administrative Hearings

2512 and shall not be served later than 10 days before the date set

2513 for the final hearing. The administrative law judge in such

2514 proceedings shall award attorney fees and other relief pursuant

2515 to ss. 57.105 and 768.79. The corporation may not seek, and the

2516 office may not approve, a maximum hourly rate for attorney fees.

2517 2. The corporation may contract with the division to

2518 conduct proceedings to resolve disputes regarding its claim

2519 determinations as may be provided for in the applicable policies

2520 of insurance. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

2521 Section 66. In order to implement section 125 of the 2026

2522 2027 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (a) of subsection (2)

2523 of section 215.5586, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

2524 215.5586 My Safe Florida Home Program.—There is established

2525 within the Department of Financial Services the My Safe Florida

2526 Home Program. The department shall provide fiscal

2527 accountability, contract management, and strategic leadership

2528 for the program, consistent with this section. This section does

2529 not create an entitlement for property owners or obligate the

2530 state in any way to fund the inspection or retrofitting of

2531 residential property in this state. Implementation of this

2532 program is subject to annual legislative appropriations. It is

2533 the intent of the Legislature that, subject to the availability

2534 of funds, the My Safe Florida Home Program provide licensed

2535 inspectors to perform hurricane mitigation inspections of

2536 eligible homes and grants to fund hurricane mitigation projects

2537 on those homes. The department shall implement the program in

2538 such a manner that the total amount of funding requested by

2539 accepted applications, whether for inspections, grants, or other

2540 services or assistance, does not exceed the total amount of

2541 available funds. If, after applications are processed and

2542 approved, funds remain available, the department may accept

2543 applications up to the available amount. The program shall

2544 develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated approach

2545 for hurricane damage mitigation pursuant to the requirements

2546 provided in this section.

2547 (2) HURRICANE MITIGATION GRANTS.—Financial grants shall be

2548 used by homeowners to make improvements recommended by an

2549 inspection which increase resistance to hurricane damage.

2550 (a) A homeowner is eligible for a hurricane mitigation

2551 grant if all of the following criteria are met:

2552 1. The home must be eligible for an inspection under

2553 subsection (1).

2554 2. The home must be a dwelling with an insured value of

2555 $700,000 or less. Homeowners who are low-income persons, as

2556 defined in s. 420.0004(11), are exempt from this requirement.

2557 3. The home must undergo an acceptable hurricane mitigation

2558 inspection as provided in subsection (1).

2559 4. The building permit application for initial construction

2560 of the home must have been made before January 1, 2008.

2561 5. The homeowner must agree to make his or her home

2562 available for inspection once a mitigation project is completed.

2563 6. The homeowner must agree to provide to the department

2564 information received from the homeowner’s insurer identifying

2565 the discounts realized by the homeowner because of the

2566 mitigation improvements funded through the program.

2567 7.a. The homeowner must be a low-income person or moderate

2568 income person as defined in s. 420.0004.

2569 b. The hurricane mitigation inspection must have occurred

2570 within the previous 24 months from the date of application.

2571 c. Notwithstanding subparagraph 2., homeowners who are low

2572 income persons, as defined in s. 420.0004(11), are not exempt

2573 from the requirement that the home must be a dwelling with an

2574 insured value of $700,000 or less.

2575 d. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

2576 Section 67. Effective upon this act becoming a law, in

2577 order to implement Specific Appropriation 2544A of the 2026-2027

2578 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding s. 216.301,

2579 Florida Statutes, the funds appropriated to the Department of

2580 Financial Services in Specific Appropriation 2245A and section

2581 74 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act will not revert

2582 and may be carried forward through the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

2583 This section expires July 1, 2027.

2584 Section 68. In order to implement the appropriation of

2585 funds in the appropriation category “Northwest Regional Data

2586 Center” in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

2587 pursuant to the notice, review, and objection procedures of s.

2588 216.177, Florida Statutes, the Executive Office of the Governor

2589 may transfer funds appropriated in that category between

2590 departments in order to align the budget authority granted based

2591 on the estimated costs for data processing services for the

2592 2026-2027 fiscal year. This section expires July 1, 2027.

2593 Section 69. In order to implement appropriations authorized

2594 in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for state data

2595 center services, auxiliary assessments charged to state agencies

2596 related to contract management services provided to Northwest

2597 Regional Data Center may not exceed 3 percent. This section

2598 expires July 1, 2027.

2599 Section 70. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

2600 2563A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section

2601 284.51, Florida Statutes, is reenacted and amended to read:

2602 284.51 Electroencephalogram combined transcranial magnetic

2603 stimulation treatment pilot program.—

2604 (1) As used in this section, the term:

2605 (a) “Division” means the Division of Risk Management of the

2606 Department of Financial Services.

2607 (b) “Electroencephalogram combined Transcranial Magnetic

2608 Stimulation” or “eTMS” means treatment in which transcranial

2609 magnetic stimulation frequency pulses are tuned to the patient’s

2610 physiology and biometric data.

2611 (c) “First responder” means a law enforcement officer, a

2612 part-time law enforcement officer, or an auxiliary law

2613 enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10; a firefighter as

2614 defined in s. 633.102; a 911 public safety telecommunicator as

2615 defined in s. 401.465; or an emergency medical technician or

2616 paramedic as defined in s. 401.23 employed by state or local

2617 government. The term also includes a volunteer or retired law

2618 enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical

2619 technician or paramedic engaged, or previously engaged, by the

2620 state or a local government.

2621 (d) “Veteran” means:

2622 1. A veteran as defined in 38 U.S.C. s. 101(2);

2623 2. A person who served in a reserve component as defined in

2624 38 U.S.C. s. 101(27); or

2625 3. A person who served in the National Guard of any state.

2626 (2) The division shall select a provider to establish a

2627 statewide pilot program to make eTMS available for veterans,

2628 first responders, and immediate family members of veterans and

2629 first responders with:

2630 (a) Substance use disorders.

2631 (b) Mental illness.

2632 (c) Sleep disorders.

2633 (d) Traumatic brain injuries.

2634 (e) Sexual trauma.

2635 (f) Posttraumatic stress disorder and accompanying

2636 comorbidities.

2637 (g) Concussions.

2638 (h) Other brain trauma.

2639 (i) Quality of life issues affecting human performance,

2640 including issues related to or resulting from problems with

2641 cognition and problems maintaining attention, concentration, or

2642 focus.

2643 (3) The provider must display a history of serving veteran

2644 and first responder populations at a statewide level. The

2645 provider shall establish a network for in-person and offsite

2646 care with the goal of providing statewide access. Consideration

2647 shall be provided to locations with a large population of first

2648 responders and veterans. In addition to traditional eTMS

2649 devices, the provider may utilize nonmedical Portable Magnetic

2650 Stimulation devices to improve access to underserved populations

2651 in remote areas or to be used to serve as a pre-post treatment

2652 or a stand-alone device. The provider shall be required to

2653 establish and operate a clinical practice and to evaluate

2654 outcomes of such clinical practice.

2655 (4) The pilot program shall include:

2656 (a) The establishment of a peer-to-peer support network by

2657 the provider made available to all individuals receiving

2658 treatment under the program.

2659 (b) The requirement that each individual who receives

2660 treatment under the program also must receive neurophysiological

2661 monitoring, monitoring for symptoms of substance use and other

2662 mental health disorders, and access to counseling and wellness

2663 programming. Each individual who receives treatment must also

2664 participate in the peer-to-peer support network established by

2665 the provider.

2666 (c) The establishment of protocols which include the use of

2667 adopted stimulation frequency and intensity modulation based on

2668 EEGs done on days 0, 10, and 20 and motor threshold testing, as

2669 well as clinical symptoms, signs, and biometrics.

2670 (d) The requirement that protocols and outcomes of any

2671 treatment provided by the clinical practice shall be collected

2672 and reported by the provider quarterly to the division, the

2673 President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of

2674 Representatives. Such report shall include the biodata metrics

2675 and all expenditures and accounting of the use of funds received

2676 from the department.

2677 (e) The requirement that protocols and outcomes of any

2678 treatment provided by the clinical practice shall be collected

2679 and reported to the University of South Florida and may be

2680 provided by the provider to any relevant Food and Drug

2681 Administration studies or trials.

2682 (5) The division may adopt rules to implement this section.

2683 (6) This section expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

2684 Section 71. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

2685 2563A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the

2686 Department of Financial Services shall continue its existing

2687 contract for the establishment of the Electroencephalogram

2688 Combined Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment pilot

2689 program for veterans and first responders. The department’s

2690 existing contract, and all funds paid by the department pursuant

2691 to that contract, do not constitute state financial assistance

2692 as provided in s. 215.97, Florida Statutes. This section expires

2693 July 1, 2027.

2694 Section 72. Effective upon this act becoming a law, and in

2695 order to implement Specific Appropriations 2505 through 2512 of

2696 the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (3) is

2697 added to section 717.123, Florida Statutes, to read:

2698 717.123 Deposit of funds.—

2699 (3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), and for the 2025-2026

2700 and 2026-2027 fiscal years, the department shall retain, from

2701 the funds received under this chapter, an amount not to exceed

2702 the amount estimated to be received as atypical receipts for the

2703 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 fiscal years by the Revenue Estimating

2704 Conference resulting from the implementation of chapter 2024

2705 140, Laws of Florida. This amount must be held in a separate

2706 account and is in addition to the $15 million the department is

2707 authorized to retain pursuant to subsection (1). From the

2708 separate account the department shall make prompt payment of

2709 claims relating to the atypical receipts allowed by the

2710 department. This subsection expires July 1, 2027.

2711 Section 73. In order to implement specific appropriations

2712 from the land acquisition trust funds within the Department of

2713 Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of

2714 Environmental Protection, the Department of State, and the Fish

2715 and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which are contained in the

2716 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (3) of section

2717 215.18, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

2718 215.18 Transfers between funds; limitation.—

2719 (3) Notwithstanding subsection (1) and only with respect to

2720 a land acquisition trust fund in the Department of Agriculture

2721 and Consumer Services, the Department of Environmental

2722 Protection, the Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife

2723 Conservation Commission, whenever there is a deficiency in a

2724 land acquisition trust fund which would render that trust fund

2725 temporarily insufficient to meet its just requirements,

2726 including the timely payment of appropriations from that trust

2727 fund, and other trust funds in the State Treasury have moneys

2728 that are for the time being or otherwise in excess of the

2729 amounts necessary to meet the just requirements, including

2730 appropriated obligations, of those other trust funds, the

2731 Governor may order a temporary transfer of moneys from one or

2732 more of the other trust funds to a land acquisition trust fund

2733 in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the

2734 Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of State,

2735 or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Any action

2736 proposed pursuant to this subsection is subject to the notice,

2737 review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, and the Governor

2738 shall provide notice of such action at least 7 days before the

2739 effective date of the transfer of trust funds, except that

2740 during July 2026 ~~2025~~ , notice of such action shall be provided

2741 at least 3 days before the effective date of a transfer unless

2742 such 3-day notice is waived by the chair and vice chair of the

2743 Legislative Budget Commission. Any transfer of trust funds to a

2744 land acquisition trust fund in the Department of Agriculture and

2745 Consumer Services, the Department of Environmental Protection,

2746 the Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation

2747 Commission must be repaid to the trust funds from which the

2748 moneys were loaned by the end of the 2026-2027 ~~2025-2026~~ fiscal

2749 year. The Legislature has determined that the repayment of the

2750 other trust fund moneys temporarily loaned to a land acquisition

2751 trust fund in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer

2752 Services, the Department of Environmental Protection, the

2753 Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation

2754 Commission pursuant to this subsection is an allowable use of

2755 the moneys in a land acquisition trust fund because the moneys

2756 from other trust funds temporarily loaned to a land acquisition

2757 trust fund shall be expended solely and exclusively in

2758 accordance with s. 28, Art. X of the State Constitution. This

2759 subsection expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

2760 Section 74. (1) In order to implement specific

2761 appropriations from the land acquisition trust funds within the

2762 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department

2763 of Environmental Protection, the Department of State, and the

2764 Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission which are contained in

2765 the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the Department of

2766 Environmental Protection shall transfer revenues from the Land

2767 Acquisition Trust Fund within the department to the land

2768 acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and

2769 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and

2770 Wildlife Conservation Commission as provided in this section. As

2771 used in this section, the term “department” means the Department

2772 of Environmental Protection.

2773 (2) After subtracting any required debt service payments,

2774 the proportionate share of revenues to be transferred to each

2775 land acquisition trust fund shall be calculated by dividing the

2776 appropriations from each of the land acquisition trust funds for

2777 the fiscal year by the total appropriations from the Land

2778 Acquisition Trust Fund within the department and the land

2779 acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and

2780 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and

2781 Wildlife Conservation Commission for the fiscal year. The

2782 department shall transfer the proportionate share of the

2783 revenues in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the

2784 department on a monthly basis to the appropriate land

2785 acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and

2786 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and

2787 Wildlife Conservation Commission and shall retain its

2788 proportionate share of the revenues in the Land Acquisition

2789 Trust Fund within the department. Total distributions to a land

2790 acquisition trust fund within the Department of Agriculture and

2791 Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and

2792 Wildlife Conservation Commission may not exceed the total

2793 appropriations from such trust fund for the fiscal year.

2794 (3) In addition, the department shall transfer from the

2795 Land Acquisition Trust Fund to land acquisition trust funds

2796 within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the

2797 Department of State, and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation

2798 Commission amounts equal to the difference between the amounts

2799 appropriated in chapter 2025-198, Laws of Florida, to the

2800 department’s Land Acquisition Trust Fund and the other land

2801 acquisition trust funds, and the amounts actually transferred

2802 between those trust funds during the 2025-2026 fiscal year.

2803 (4) The department may advance funds from the beginning

2804 unobligated fund balance in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to

2805 the Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the Fish and Wildlife

2806 Conservation Commission needed for cash flow purposes based on a

2807 detailed expenditure plan. The department shall prorate amounts

2808 transferred quarterly to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation

2809 Commission to recoup the amount of funds advanced by June 30,

2810 2027.

2811 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.

2812 Section 75. In order to implement specific appropriations

2813 from the Florida Forever Trust Fund within the Department of

2814 Environmental Protection, which are contained in the 2026-2027

2815 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (m) of subsection (3) of

2816 section 259.105, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

2817 259.105 The Florida Forever Act.—

2818 (3) Less the costs of issuing and the costs of funding

2819 reserve accounts and other costs associated with bonds, the

2820 proceeds of cash payments or bonds issued pursuant to this

2821 section shall be deposited into the Florida Forever Trust Fund

2822 created by s. 259.1051. The proceeds shall be distributed by the

2823 Department of Environmental Protection in the following manner:

2824 (m) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a)-(j) and for the 2026

2825 2027 ~~2025-2026~~ fiscal year, the proceeds shall be distributed as

2826 provided in the General Appropriations Act. This paragraph

2827 expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

2828 Section 76. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

2829 1776 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

2830 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 85 of chapter

2831 2025-199, Laws of Florida, paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of

2832 section 376.91, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

2833 376.91 Statewide cleanup of perfluoroalkyl and

2834 polyfluoroalkyl substances.—

2835 (2) STATEWIDE CLEANUP TARGET LEVELS.—

2836 (a) If the United States Environmental Protection Agency

2837 has not finalized its standards for PFAS in drinking water,

2838 groundwater, and soil by January 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ , the department

2839 shall adopt by rule statewide cleanup target levels for PFAS in

2840 drinking water, groundwater, and soil using criteria set forth

2841 in s. 376.30701, with priority given to PFOA and PFOS. The rules

2842 for statewide cleanup target levels may not take effect until

2843 ratified by the Legislature.

2844 Section 77. The amendment to s. 376.91(2)(a), Florida

2845 Statutes, made by this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of

2846 that paragraph shall revert to that in existence on June 30,

2847 2025, except that any amendments to such text enacted other than

2848 by this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the

2849 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions

2850 of text which expire pursuant to this section.

2851 Section 78. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

2852 1831A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

2853 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 89 of chapter

2854 2025-199, Laws of Florida, paragraph (g) of subsection (15) of

2855 section 376.3071, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:

2856 376.3071 Inland Protection Trust Fund; creation; purposes;

2857 funding.—

2858 (15) ETHANOL OR BIODIESEL DAMAGE; PREVENTIVE MEASURES.—The

2859 department shall pay, pursuant to this subsection, up to $10

2860 million each fiscal year from the fund for the costs of labor

2861 and equipment to repair or replace petroleum storage systems

2862 that may have been damaged due to the storage of fuels blended

2863 with ethanol or biodiesel, or for preventive measures to reduce

2864 the potential for such damage.

2865 (g) Payments may not be made for the following:

2866 1. Proposal costs or costs related to preparation of the

2867 application and required documentation;

2868 2. Certified public accountant costs;

2869 3. Except as provided in paragraph (j), any costs in excess

2870 of the amount approved by the department under paragraph (b) or

2871 which are not in substantial compliance with the purchase order;

2872 4. Costs associated with storage tanks, piping, or

2873 ancillary equipment that has previously been repaired or

2874 replaced for which costs have been paid under this section;

2875 5. Facilities that are not in compliance with department

2876 storage tank rules, until the noncompliance issues have been

2877 resolved; or

2878 6. Costs associated with damage to petroleum storage

2879 systems caused in whole or in part by causes other than the

2880 storage of fuels blended with ethanol or biodiesel.

2881 Section 79. The text of s. 376.3071(15)(g), Florida

2882 Statutes, as carried forward from chapter 2020-114, Laws of

2883 Florida, by this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that

2884 paragraph shall revert to that in existence on July 1, 2020, but

2885 not including any amendments made by this act or chapter 2020

2886 114, Laws of Florida, and any amendments to such text enacted

2887 other than by this act shall be preserved and continue to

2888 operate to the extent that such amendments are not dependent

2889 upon the portion of text which expires pursuant to this section.

2890 Section 80. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

2891 2320 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

2892 notwithstanding chapter 287, Florida Statutes, the Department of

2893 Citrus shall enter into agreements for the purpose of increasing

2894 production of trees that show tolerance or resistance to citrus

2895 greening and to commercialize technologies that produce

2896 tolerance or resistance to citrus greening in trees. The

2897 department shall enter into these agreements no later than

2898 January 1, 2027, and shall file with the department’s Inspector

2899 General a certification of conditions and circumstances

2900 justifying each agreement entered into without competitive

2901 solicitation. This section expires July 1, 2027.

2902 Section 81. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

2903 1715 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

2904 notwithstanding the expiration date in section 92 of chapter

2905 2025-199, Laws of Florida, section 380.5105, Florida Statutes,

2906 as amended by chapters 2024-228 and 2025-199, Laws of Florida,

2907 is reenacted to read:

2908 380.5105 The Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts; Florida

2909 Forever program.—

2910 (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it

2911 is the intent of the Legislature that the trust shall administer

2912 the working waterfronts land acquisition program as set forth in

2913 this section.

2914 (a) The trust and the Department of Agriculture and

2915 Consumer Services shall jointly develop rules specifically

2916 establishing an application process and a process for the

2917 evaluation, scoring and ranking of working waterfront projects.

2918 The proposed rules jointly developed pursuant to this paragraph

2919 shall be promulgated by the trust. Such rules shall establish a

2920 system of weighted criteria to give increased priority to

2921 projects:

2922 1. Within a municipality with a population less than

2923 30,000;

2924 2. Within a municipality or area under intense growth and

2925 development pressures, as evidenced by a number of factors,

2926 including a determination that the municipality’s growth rate

2927 exceeds the average growth rate for the state;

2928 3. Within the boundary of a community redevelopment agency

2929 established pursuant to s. 163.356;

2930 4. Adjacent to state-owned submerged lands designated as an

2931 aquatic preserve identified in s. 258.39; or

2932 5. That provide a demonstrable benefit to the local

2933 economy.

2934 (b) For projects that will require more than the grant

2935 amount awarded for completion, the applicant must identify in

2936 their project application funding sources that will provide the

2937 difference between the grant award and the estimated project

2938 completion cost. Such rules may be incorporated into those

2939 developed pursuant to s. 380.507(11).

2940 (c) The trust shall develop a ranking list based on

2941 criteria identified in paragraph (a) for proposed fee simple and

2942 less-than-fee simple acquisition projects developed pursuant to

2943 this section. The trust shall, by the first Board of Trustees of

2944 the Internal Improvement Trust Fund meeting in February, present

2945 the ranking list pursuant to this section to the board of

2946 trustees for final approval of projects for funding. The board

2947 of trustees may remove projects from the ranking list but may

2948 not add projects.

2949 (d) Grant awards, acquisition approvals, and terms of less

2950 than-fee acquisitions shall be approved by the trust. Waterfront

2951 communities that receive grant awards must submit annual

2952 progress reports to the trust identifying project activities

2953 which are complete, and the progress achieved in meeting the

2954 goals outlined in the project application. The trust must

2955 implement a process to monitor and evaluate the performance of

2956 grant recipients in completing projects that are funded through

2957 the working waterfronts program.

2958 (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it

2959 is the intent of the Legislature that the Department of

2960 Environmental Protection shall administer the working

2961 waterfronts capital outlay grant program as set forth in this

2962 section to support the commercial fishing and marine aquaculture

2963 industries, including the infrastructure for receiving or

2964 unloading seafood for the purpose of supporting the seafood

2965 economy.

2966 (a) The working waterfronts capital outlay grant program is

2967 created to provide funding to assist commercial saltwater

2968 products or commercial saltwater wholesale dealer or retailer

2969 license holders and seafood houses in maintaining their

2970 operations.

2971 (b) Eligible costs and expenditures include fixed capital

2972 outlay and operating capital outlay, including, but not limited

2973 to, the repair and maintenance or replacement of equipment, the

2974 repair and maintenance or replacement of water-adjacent

2975 facilities or infrastructure, and the construction or renovation

2976 of shoreside facilities.

2977 (c) The applicant must demonstrate a benefit to the local

2978 economy.

2979 (d) Grant recipients must submit annual progress reports to

2980 the department identifying project activities that are complete

2981 and the progress achieved in meeting the goals outlined in the

2982 project application.

2983 (e) The department shall implement a process to monitor and

2984 evaluate the performance of grant recipients in completing

2985 projects funded through the program.

2986 Section 82. The text of s. 380.5105, Florida Statutes, as

2987 carried forward from chapters 2024-228 and 2025-199, Laws of

2988 Florida, by this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that

2989 section shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2024,

2990 except that any amendments to such text enacted other than by

2991 this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the

2992 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions

2993 of text which expire pursuant to this section.

2994 Section 83. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

2995 1951 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act and

2996 notwithstanding s. 823.11(4)(c), Florida Statutes, the Fish and

2997 Wildlife Conservation Commission may use funds appropriated for

2998 the derelict vessel removal program for grants to local

2999 governments or to remove, store, destroy, and dispose of, or to

3000 pay private contractors to remove, store, destroy, and dispose

3001 of, derelict vessels or vessels declared a public nuisance

3002 pursuant to s. 327.73(1)(aa), Florida Statutes. This section

3003 expires July 1, 2027.

3004 Section 84. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

3005 1744A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection

3006 (4) is added to section 403.890, Florida Statutes, to read:

3007 403.890 Water Protection and Sustainability Program.—

3008 (4) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), revenues

3009 deposited into or appropriated to the Water Protection and

3010 Sustainability Program Trust Fund may be used as provided in the

3011 General Appropriations Act. This subsection expires July 1,

3012 2027.

3013 Section 85. In order to implement appropriations from the

3014 Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the Department of

3015 Environmental Protection in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations

3016 Act, paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section 375.041, Florida

3017 Statutes, is amended to read:

3018 375.041 Land Acquisition Trust Fund.—

3019 (3) Funds distributed into the Land Acquisition Trust Fund

3020 pursuant to s. 201.15 shall be applied:

3021 (b) Of the funds remaining after the payments required

3022 under paragraph (a), but before funds may be appropriated,

3023 pledged, or dedicated for other uses:

3024 1. A minimum of the lesser of 25 percent or $200 million

3025 shall be appropriated annually for Everglades projects that

3026 implement the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan as set

3027 forth in s. 373.470, including the Central Everglades Planning

3028 Project subject to congressional authorization; the Long-Term

3029 Plan as defined in s. 373.4592(2); and the Northern Everglades

3030 and Estuaries Protection Program as set forth in s. 373.4595.

3031 From these funds, $32 million shall be distributed each fiscal

3032 year through the 2023-2024 fiscal year to the South Florida

3033 Water Management District for the Long-Term Plan as defined in

3034 s. 373.4592(2). After deducting the $32 million distributed

3035 under this subparagraph, from the funds remaining, a minimum of

3036 the lesser of 76.5 percent or $100 million shall be appropriated

3037 each fiscal year through the 2025-2026 fiscal year for the

3038 planning, design, engineering, and construction of the

3039 Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan as set forth in s.

3040 373.470, including the Central Everglades Planning Project, the

3041 Everglades Agricultural Area Storage Reservoir Project, the Lake

3042 Okeechobee Watershed Project, the C-43 West Basin Storage

3043 Reservoir Project, the Indian River Lagoon-South Project, the

3044 Western Everglades Restoration Project, and the Picayune Strand

3045 Restoration Project. The Department of Environmental Protection

3046 and the South Florida Water Management District shall give

3047 preference to those Everglades restoration projects that reduce

3048 harmful discharges of water from Lake Okeechobee to the St.

3049 Lucie or Caloosahatchee estuaries in a timely manner. For the

3050 purpose of performing the calculation provided in this

3051 subparagraph, the amount of debt service paid pursuant to

3052 paragraph (a) for bonds issued after July 1, 2016, for the

3053 purposes set forth under this paragraph shall be added to the

3054 amount remaining after the payments required under paragraph

3055 (a). The amount of the distribution calculated shall then be

3056 reduced by an amount equal to the debt service paid pursuant to

3057 paragraph (a) on bonds issued after July 1, 2016, for the

3058 purposes set forth under this subparagraph.

3059 2. A minimum of the lesser of 7.6 percent or $50 million

3060 shall be appropriated annually for spring restoration,

3061 protection, and management projects. For the purpose of

3062 performing the calculation provided in this subparagraph, the

3063 amount of debt service paid pursuant to paragraph (a) for bonds

3064 issued after July 1, 2016, for the purposes set forth under this

3065 paragraph shall be added to the amount remaining after the

3066 payments required under paragraph (a). The amount of the

3067 distribution calculated shall then be reduced by an amount equal

3068 to the debt service paid pursuant to paragraph (a) on bonds

3069 issued after July 1, 2016, for the purposes set forth under this

3070 subparagraph.

3071 3. The sum of $5 million shall be appropriated annually

3072 each fiscal year through the 2025-2026 fiscal year to the St.

3073 Johns River Water Management District for projects dedicated to

3074 the restoration of Lake Apopka. This distribution shall be

3075 reduced by an amount equal to the debt service paid pursuant to

3076 paragraph (a) on bonds issued after July 1, 2016, for the

3077 purposes set forth in this subparagraph.

3078 4. The sum of $64 million is appropriated and shall be

3079 transferred to the Everglades Trust Fund for the 2018-2019

3080 fiscal year, and each fiscal year thereafter, for the EAA

3081 reservoir project pursuant to s. 373.4598. Any funds remaining

3082 in any fiscal year shall be made available only for Phase II of

3083 the C-51 reservoir project or projects identified in

3084 subparagraph 1. and must be used in accordance with laws

3085 relating to such projects. Any funds made available for such

3086 purposes in a fiscal year are in addition to the amount

3087 appropriated under subparagraph 1. This distribution shall be

3088 reduced by an amount equal to the debt service paid pursuant to

3089 paragraph (a) on bonds issued after July 1, 2017, for the

3090 purposes set forth in this subparagraph.

3091 5. The sum of $50 million shall be appropriated annually to

3092 the South Florida Water Management District for the Lake

3093 Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project in accordance with s.

3094 373.4599. This distribution must be reduced by an amount equal

3095 to the debt service paid pursuant to paragraph (a) on bonds

3096 issued after July 1, 2021, for the purposes set forth in this

3097 subparagraph.

3098 6. The sum of $100 million shall be appropriated annually

3099 to the Department of Environmental Protection for the

3100 acquisition of land pursuant to s. 259.105.

3101 7. Notwithstanding subparagraph 6. ~~subparagraphs 3. and 6.~~ ,

3102 for the 2026-2027 ~~2025-2026~~ fiscal year, funds shall be

3103 appropriated as provided in the General Appropriations Act. This

3104 subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

3105 Section 86. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

3106 1650 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

3107 notwithstanding chapter 255, Florida Statutes, the Department of

3108 Agriculture and Consumer Services may lease an existing facility

3109 that meets the requirements of s. 581.1843(6), Florida Statutes,

3110 and may administer a program to expedite the expansion of the

3111 propagation of Citrus sinensis or Citrus sinensis-like budwood

3112 trees and seedlings that show tolerance or resistance to citrus

3113 greening, and to commercialize technologies that produce

3114 tolerance or resistance to citrus greening in trees. This

3115 section expires July 1, 2027.

3116 Section 87. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

3117 1660 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

3118 notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the

3119 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may submit

3120 budget amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection

3121 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget

3122 authority to support the National School Lunch Program. This

3123 section expires July 1, 2027.

3124 Section 88. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

3125 2331 through 2338 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,

3126 subsection (3) of section 288.80125, Florida Statutes, is

3127 amended to read:

3128 288.80125 Triumph Gulf Coast Trust Fund.—

3129 (3) For the 2026-2027 ~~2025-2026~~ fiscal year, funds shall be

3130 used for the Rebuild Florida Revolving Loan Fund program to

3131 provide assistance to businesses impacted by Hurricane Michael

3132 as provided in the General Appropriations Act. This subsection

3133 expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

3134 Section 89. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

3135 2055 through 2068, 2069D through 2069E, 2080 through 2090, 2092

3136 through 2100, and 2138 through 2151 of the 2026-2027 General

3137 Appropriations Act, paragraph (h) of subsection (7) of section

3138 339.135, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

3139 339.135 Work program; legislative budget request;

3140 definitions; preparation, adoption, execution, and amendment.—

3141 (7) AMENDMENT OF THE ADOPTED WORK PROGRAM.—

3142 (h)1. Any work program amendment that also adds a new

3143 project, or phase thereof, to the adopted work program in excess

3144 of $3 million is subject to approval by the Legislative Budget

3145 Commission. Any work program amendment submitted under this

3146 paragraph must include, as supplemental information, a list of

3147 projects, or phases thereof, in the current 5-year adopted work

3148 program which are eligible for the funds within the

3149 appropriation category being used for the proposed amendment.

3150 The department shall provide a narrative with the rationale for

3151 not advancing an existing project, or phase thereof, in lieu of

3152 the proposed amendment.

3153 2. If the department submits an amendment to the

3154 Legislative Budget Commission and the commission does not meet

3155 or consider the amendment within 30 days after its submittal,

3156 the chair and vice chair of the commission may authorize the

3157 amendment to be approved pursuant to s. 216.177. This

3158 subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

3159 Section 90. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

3160 2055 through 2068, 2069D, 2069E, 2080 through 2082, 2092 through

3161 2100 and 2138 through 2151 of the 2026-2027 General

3162 Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding s. 339.135(7)(b),

3163 Florida Statutes, the Department of Transportation is authorized

3164 to request up to $100 million of budget authority to the extent

3165 necessary to advance or defer projects programmed in the Work

3166 Program and realign resources to safeguard district allocations

3167 and ensure projects programmed in the Work Program are balanced

3168 to the finance plan. The department may submit budget amendments

3169 to realign budget authority consistent with this section and

3170 pursuant to s. 339.135(7), Florida Statutes. This section

3171 expires July 1, 2027.

3172 Section 91. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

3173 2396 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (6)

3174 of section 288.0655, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

3175 288.0655 Rural Infrastructure Fund.—

3176 (6) For the 2026-2027 ~~2025-2026~~ fiscal year, the funds

3177 appropriated for the grant program for Florida Panhandle

3178 counties shall be distributed pursuant to and for the purposes

3179 described in the proviso language associated with Specific

3180 Appropriation 2396 ~~2113~~ of the 2026-2027 ~~2025-2026~~ General

3181 Appropriations Act. This subsection expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

3182 Section 92. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

3183 2396A through 2396J of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,

3184 section 288.013, Florida Statutes, is created to read:

3185 288.013 Office of Rural Prosperity.—

3186 (1) The Legislature finds that the unique characteristics

3187 of the rural communities in this state are integral to making

3188 Florida an attractive place to visit, work, and live. The

3189 Legislature further finds that fostering a prosperous rural

3190 economy and vibrant rural communities serves the best interests

3191 of this state. Rural prosperity supports this state’s

3192 infrastructure, housing, agricultural, and food-processing needs

3193 and advances the overall health of Florida’s economy. It is

3194 essential that rural areas be able to grow and thrive, whether

3195 independently or through regional partnerships. To better serve

3196 rural communities, and in recognition of the unique challenges

3197 and opportunities they face, the Office of Rural Prosperity is

3198 established to ensure that state efforts to support rural

3199 Florida are coordinated, focused, and effective.

3200 (2) Notwithstanding s. 20.60, the Office of Rural

3201 Prosperity is created within the Department of Commerce to

3202 support rural communities by helping rural stakeholders navigate

3203 available programs and resources and by representing rural

3204 interests across state government.

3205 (3) The Governor shall appoint a director to lead the

3206 office, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The director

3207 shall report to the secretary of the department and shall serve

3208 at the pleasure of the secretary.

3209 (4) The office shall do all of the following:

3210 (a) Serve as the state’s point of contact for rural local

3211 governments.

3212 (b) Provide administrative support to the Rural Economic

3213 Development Initiative (REDI) pursuant to s. 288.0656.

3214 (c) Provide training and technical assistance to rural

3215 local governments on a broad range of community and economic

3216 development activities. The training and technical assistance

3217 may be offered using communications technology or in person. In

3218 addition, the office shall post a recorded training and

3219 technical assistance video to the office’s website which covers

3220 all of the required topics. The training and technical

3221 assistance must include, at a minimum, the following topics:

3222 1. How to access state and federal resources, including

3223 training on the online rural resource directory required under

3224 paragraph (d).

3225 2. Best practices for comprehensive planning, economic

3226 development, and land development in rural communities.

3227 3. Strategies to address staffing shortages and strengthen

3228 management functions in rural local governments.

3229 4. Requirements of, and updates on recent changes to, the

3230 Community Planning Act under s. 163.3161.

3231 5. Updates on other recent state and federal laws affecting

3232 rural local governments.

3233 (d) Create and maintain an online rural resource directory

3234 to serve as an interactive tool for users to navigate state and

3235 federal resources, tools, and services available to rural local

3236 governments. The office shall ensure the directory is regularly

3237 updated and, to the greatest extent possible, includes current

3238 information on programs, resources, and services that address

3239 the needs of rural communities in all areas of governance. Each

3240 state agency shall routinely provide information and updates to

3241 the office to support maintenance of the directory. The

3242 directory must allow users to search by indicators, such as

3243 agency name, resource type, or topic, and include a notification

3244 feature that alerts users when new or updated resources are

3245 available. To the greatest extent possible, the directory must

3246 identify any financial match requirements associated with listed

3247 programs.

3248 (5)(a) By October 1, 2026, the office shall establish and

3249 provide staff for seven regional rural community liaison centers

3250 across this state to provide specialized in-person state support

3251 to rural local governments located in rural areas of opportunity

3252 as defined in s. 288.0656. The department shall, by rule, divide

3253 the state into seven regions and assign a liaison center to each

3254 region. Each liaison center shall serve the local governments

3255 within its geographic area and shall be staffed with at least

3256 two full-time department employees. At a minimum, each liaison

3257 center has the following powers and duties:

3258 1. Assist local governments in planning and achieving goals

3259 related to local or regional growth, economic development, and

3260 rural prosperity.

3261 2. Facilitate access to state and federal resources,

3262 including grants, loans, and other available assistance.

3263 3. Advise local governments on available program waivers,

3264 including financial match waivers or reductions for projects

3265 using state or federal funds through REDI under s. 288.0656.

3266 4. Coordinate technical assistance needs with the

3267 department and other state or federal agencies.

3268 5. Promote model ordinances, policies, and strategies

3269 related to economic development.

3270 6. Assist local governments with regulatory and reporting

3271 compliance requirements.

3272 (b) To the greatest extent possible, each regional rural

3273 community liaison center shall coordinate with local and

3274 regional governmental entities, regional economic development

3275 organizations as defined in s. 288.018, and other appropriate

3276 entities to establish a network that fosters community-driven

3277 solutions promoting viable and sustainable rural communities.

3278 (c) Each regional rural community liaison center shall

3279 regularly engage with REDI established in s. 288.0656, and at

3280 least one staff member from each liaison center shall attend the

3281 monthly REDI meeting, either in person or by means of electronic

3282 communication.

3283 (6) By December 1, 2026, the director of the office shall

3284 submit to the Administration Commission within the Executive

3285 Office of the Governor a written report describing the office’s

3286 operations and accomplishments for the preceding year. In

3287 consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer

3288 Services, the office shall also include in the report

3289 recommendations for policies, programs, and funding initiatives

3290 to further support the needs of rural communities in this state.

3291 The office shall also submit the report to the President of the

3292 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by

3293 December 1 of each year and publish it on the office’s website.

3294 At the next scheduled meeting of the Administration Commission

3295 following submission of the report, the director shall, in

3296 person, present detailed information from the report required

3297 under this subsection.

3298 (7) This section expires July 1, 2027.

3299 Section 93. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

3300 2396E of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (f)

3301 is added to subsection (7) of section 288.001, Florida Statutes,

3302 to read:

3303 288.001 The Florida Small Business Development Center

3304 Network.—

3305 (7) ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDS; USES; PAY-PER-PERFORMANCE

3306 INCENTIVES; STATEWIDE SERVICE; SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS; BEST

3307 PRACTICES; ELIGIBILITY.—

3308 (f) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), the

3309 network shall use funds directly appropriated for the specific

3310 purpose of expanding service in rural communities as defined in

3311 s. 288.0656, in addition to any funds allocated by the network

3312 from other sources. The network shall use the funds to develop

3313 an activity plan focused on network consultants and resources in

3314 rural communities. In collaboration with regional economic

3315 development organizations as defined in s. 288.018, the plan

3316 must provide for either full- or part-time consultants to be

3317 available for at least 20 hours per week in rural areas or to be

3318 permanently stationed in rural areas. This may include

3319 establishing a circuit in specific rural locations to ensure the

3320 consultants’ availability on a regular basis. By using the funds

3321 to create a regular presence in rural areas, the network will

3322 strengthen community collaboration, raise awareness of available

3323 resources to provide opportunities for new business development

3324 or existing business growth, and make professional experience,

3325 education, and business information available in these essential

3326 communities. The network may dedicate funds to facilitate local

3327 or regional events that focus on small business topics, provide

3328 consulting services, and leverage partner organizations, such as

3329 the regional economic development organizations, local workforce

3330 development boards as described in s. 445.007, and Florida

3331 College System institutions. This paragraph expires July 1,

3332 2027.

3333 Section 94. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

3334 2396F of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section

3335 288.014, Florida Statutes, is created to read:

3336 288.014 Renaissance Grants Program.—

3337 (1) The Legislature finds that it has historically provided

3338 programs to assist rural communities with economic development

3339 and to enhance their ability to attract businesses and that, by

3340 providing that extra component of economic viability, rural

3341 communities are able to attract new businesses and grow existing

3342 ones. However, the Legislature further finds that a subset of

3343 rural communities has decreased in population over the past

3344 decade, contributing to a decline in local business activity and

3345 economic development. The Legislature therefore determines that

3346 state assistance must evolve to support these communities in

3347 achieving the foundation necessary for economic viability. The

3348 intent of the Renaissance Grants Program is to reverse economic

3349 deterioration in such rural communities by retaining and

3350 attracting residents by giving them a reason to stay, which will

3351 stimulate natural economic growth, business opportunities, and

3352 improved quality of life.

3353 (2) The Office of Rural Prosperity within the department

3354 shall administer the Renaissance Grants Program to provide block

3355 grants to eligible counties. By August 1, 2026, the Office of

3356 Economic and Demographic Research shall certify to the Office of

3357 Rural Prosperity which counties are growth-impeded. For the

3358 purposes of this section, the term “growth-impeded” means a

3359 county that, as of the most recent population estimate, has

3360 experienced a declining population over the previous 10 years.

3361 After the initial certification, the Office of Economic and

3362 Demographic Research shall annually certify whether the county

3363 remains growth-impeded, until the office certifies the county

3364 has had 3 consecutive years of population growth. Upon such

3365 certification of population growth, the county remains eligible

3366 for the program for 1 additional year to prepare for the end of

3367 block grant funding.

3368 (3)(a) Each participating county shall enter into an

3369 agreement with the Office of Rural Prosperity to receive block

3370 grant funds. Counties have broad authority to design their

3371 specific plan to achieve population growth consistent with this

3372 section. The Office of Rural Prosperity may not determine the

3373 manner in which a county implements its plan. However, regional

3374 rural community liaison center staff shall provide assistance in

3375 developing the county’s plan, upon the county’s request.

3376 (b) Each participating county shall submit a report to the

3377 Office of Rural Prosperity detailing program activities,

3378 intergovernmental agreements, and other information as required

3379 by the office.

3380 (c) Each participating county shall receive $1 million from

3381 the funds appropriated to the program, or an equal share of the

3382 funds appropriated if insufficient to provide that amount.

3383 Counties shall make all attempts to limit expenses for

3384 administrative costs, consistent with the need for prudent

3385 management and accountability in the use of public funds.

3386 Counties may supplement the block grant with other funding

3387 sources, including local, state, or federal grants, and may seek

3388 public or private contributions or in-kind support to advance

3389 program activities.

3390 (4)(a) Each participating county shall hire and retain a

3391 renaissance coordinator, who may be funded from block grant

3392 proceeds. The renaissance coordinator is responsible for:

3393 1. Ensuring that block grant funds are used as provided in

3394 this section;

3395 2. Coordinating with other local governments, school

3396 boards, Florida College System institutions, and other partners;

3397 and

3398 3. Reporting as necessary to the state, including

3399 information necessary pursuant to subsection (7).

3400 (b) The Office of Rural Prosperity regional rural community

3401 liaison center staff shall, upon request, provide assistance and

3402 training to the renaissance coordinator to support successful

3403 implementation of the block grant.

3404 (5) Each participating county shall design a plan for

3405 targeted community investments designed to achieve population

3406 growth and increase economic vitality. The plan must include the

3407 following key features for use of the state support:

3408 (a) Technology centers located within schools or on school

3409 premises, administered by the local school board, providing

3410 extended hours and access for students.

3411 (b) Facilities that colocate adult day care with child care

3412 facilities. The site-sharing facilities must be managed to also

3413 encourage interaction between generations and increase the

3414 health and well-being of younger and older participants, reduce

3415 social isolation, and create cost and time efficiencies for

3416 working families. The regional rural community liaison center

3417 staff of the Office of Rural Prosperity shall, upon request,

3418 assist the county with bringing recommendations to the Rural

3419 Economic Development Initiative or the appropriate state agency

3420 to streamline all required state permits, licenses, regulations,

3421 or other requirements.

3422 (c) Technology labs operated in partnership with the

3423 nearest Florida College System institution or a career center

3424 under s. 1001.44. Repurposed vacant industrial sites or existing

3425 office space must be given priority in the selection of lab

3426 locations. Each local technology lab must be staffed and open

3427 for extended hours with the capacity to provide:

3428 1. Access to trainers and equipment necessary for earning

3429 certificates or online degrees in technology;

3430 2. Hands-on assistance in securing remote work

3431 opportunities; and

3432 3. Studio space equipped for remote technology-based work

3433 available for graduates and other qualifying residents.

3434 Participating counties may determine which residents receive

3435 priority access. Collaboration with community partners,

3436 including the local workforce development board as described in

3437 s. 445.007, to provide training opportunities, in-kind support

3438 such as transportation to and from the lab, financing of

3439 equipment for in-home use, or basic maintenance of such

3440 equipment is required.

3441 (6) In addition to hiring a renaissance coordinator, each

3442 participating county shall develop intergovernmental agreements

3443 for shared responsibilities with its municipalities, school

3444 board, and Florida College System institution or career center

3445 and enter into necessary contracts with providers and community

3446 partners in order to implement the plan.

3447 (7)(a) Beginning in 2027, the Auditor General shall conduct

3448 an operational audit as defined in s. 11.45 of each county’s

3449 grant activities.

3450 (b) By July 1, 2027, the Office of Economic and Demographic

3451 Research shall submit a report to the President of the Senate

3452 and the Speaker of the House of Representatives summarizing

3453 renaissance block grant recipients by county. The report must

3454 provide key economic indicators that measure progress in

3455 reversing long-term trends in the county. The Office of Rural

3456 Prosperity shall, upon request, provide any data necessary to

3457 complete the report.

3458 (8) Notwithstanding s. 216.301, funds appropriated for the

3459 purposes of this section are not subject to reversion.

3460 (9) This section expires July 1, 2027.

3461 Section 95. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

3462 2396G of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section

3463 288.0175, Florida Statutes, is created to read:

3464 288.0175 Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant

3465 Program.—

3466 (1) The Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant

3467 Program is established within the Office of Rural Prosperity

3468 within the department to fund and support public infrastructure

3469 smart technology projects in communities located in rural areas

3470 of opportunity, subject to legislative appropriation.

3471 (2) As used in this section, the term:

3472 (a) “Public infrastructure smart technology” means systems

3473 or applications that use connectivity, data analytics, or

3474 automation to improve public infrastructure by increasing

3475 efficiency, enhancing public services, and promoting sustainable

3476 development.

3477 (b) “Rural area of opportunity” has the same meaning as in

3478 s. 288.0656.

3479 (c) “Smart region” means a geographic area that uses

3480 technology and innovative ideas to improve the quality of life

3481 for its citizens by addressing regional challenges through

3482 collaboration among government, businesses, and communities.

3483 (d) “Smart technology lead organization” means a not-for

3484 profit corporation organized under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal

3485 Revenue Code which has been in existence for at least 3 years

3486 and specializes in smart region planning.

3487 (3)(a) By October 1, 2026, the Office of Rural Prosperity

3488 shall contract with one or more smart technology lead

3489 organizations to administer the grant program for the purpose of

3490 deploying public infrastructure smart technology in rural

3491 communities. Under such contracts, the smart technology lead

3492 organization shall award grants to counties and municipalities

3493 located within a rural area of opportunity for eligible public

3494 infrastructure smart technology projects.

3495 (b) Each contract must specify deliverables, reporting

3496 requirements, timeframes, and any other term the office deems

3497 necessary. At a minimum, the contract must require the smart

3498 technology lead organization to:

3499 1. Collaborate with counties and municipalities in rural

3500 areas of opportunity to identify cost-effective smart technology

3501 solutions for improving public services and infrastructure.

3502 2. Provide technical assistance to counties and

3503 municipalities located in rural areas of opportunity in

3504 developing public infrastructure smart technology project plans.

3505 3. Facilitate connections between rural communities and

3506 other entities, including companies and regional partners to

3507 maximize the impact of funded projects.

3508 (4) The Office of Rural Prosperity shall include a summary

3509 of projects funded under this section in its report required by

3510 s. 288.013(6).

3511 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.

3512 Section 96. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

3513 2396J of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section

3514 288.065, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

3515 288.065 Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund.—

3516 (1) The Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund

3517 Program is established within the Office of Rural Prosperity

3518 ~~department~~ to facilitate the use of existing federal, state, and

3519 local financial resources by providing local governments with

3520 financial assistance to further promote the economic viability

3521 of rural communities. These funds may be used to finance

3522 initiatives directed toward maintaining or developing the

3523 economic base of rural communities, especially initiatives

3524 addressing employment opportunities for residents of these

3525 communities.

3526 (2)(a) The program shall provide for long-term loans, loan

3527 guarantees, and loan loss reserves to units of local

3528 governments, or economic development organizations substantially

3529 underwritten by a unit of local government . ,

3530 (b) For purposes of this section, the term “unit of local

3531 government” means any of the following:

3532 1. A county ~~within counties~~ with a population ~~populations~~

3533 of 75,000 or less. ~~fewer, or within any~~

3534 2. A county with a population of 125,000 or less ~~fewer~~

3535 which is contiguous to a county with a population of 75,000 or

3536 less. ~~fewer~~

3537 3. A municipality within a county described in subparagraph

3538 1. or subparagraph 2.

3539 4. A county or municipality within a rural area of

3540 opportunity designated under s. 288.0656.

3542 For purposes of this paragraph, population is determined in

3543 accordance with the most recent official estimates pursuant to

3544 s. 186.901 and must include those residing in incorporated and

3545 unincorporated areas of a county ~~, based on the most recent~~

3546 ~~official population estimate as determined under s. 186.901,~~

3547 ~~including those residing in incorporated areas and those~~

3548 ~~residing in unincorporated areas of the county, or to units of~~

3549 ~~local government, or economic development organizations~~

3550 ~~substantially underwritten by a unit of local government, within~~

3551 ~~a rural area of opportunity~~ .

3552 (c) ~~(b)~~ Requests for loans must ~~shall~~ be made by application

3553 to the office ~~department~~ . Loans must ~~shall~~ be made pursuant to

3554 agreements specifying the terms and conditions agreed to between

3555 the applicant and the office ~~department~~ . The loans are ~~shall be~~

3556 the legal obligations of the applicant.

3557 (d) ~~(c)~~ All repayments of principal and interest must ~~shall~~

3558 be returned to the loan fund and made available for loans to

3559 other applicants. However, in a rural area of opportunity

3560 designated under s. 288.0656 ~~by the Governor~~ , and upon approval

3561 by the office ~~department~~ , repayments of principal and interest

3562 may be retained by the applicant if such repayments are

3563 dedicated and matched to fund regionally based economic

3564 development organizations representing the rural area of

3565 opportunity.

3566 (3) The office ~~department~~ shall manage the fund,

3567 establishing loan practices that must include, but are not

3568 limited to, procedures for establishing loan interest rates,

3569 uses of funding, application procedures, and application review

3570 procedures. The office has ~~department shall have~~ final approval

3571 authority for any loan under this section.

3572 (4) Notwithstanding ~~the provisions of~~ s. 216.301, funds

3573 appropriated for this loan fund may ~~purpose shall~~ not be subject

3574 to reversion.

3575 (5) The office shall include in its report required under

3576 s. 288.013 detailed information about the fund, including loans

3577 made during the previous fiscal year, loans active, loans

3578 terminated or repaid, and the amount of funds not obligated as

3579 of 14 days before the date the report is due.

3580 Section 97. The amendments to s. 288.065, Florida Statutes,

3581 made by this act expire July 1, 2027, and the text of that

3582 section shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2026,

3583 except that any amendments to such text enacted other than by

3584 this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the

3585 extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions

3586 of text which expire pursuant to this section.

3587 Section 98. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

3588 2759 through 2764 and sections 157 and 158 of the 2026-2027

3589 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and

3590 216.292, Florida Statutes, the Division of Emergency Management

3591 may submit budget amendments, subject to the notice, review, and

3592 objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to

3593 increase budget authority for projected expenditures due to

3594 reimbursements from federally declared disasters if additional

3595 federal revenues specific to such programs become available in

3596 the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This section expires July 1, 2027.

3597 Section 99. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

3598 2750 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (2)

3599 of section 282.201, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

3600 282.201 State data center.—The state data center is

3601 established within the department. The provision of data center

3602 services must comply with applicable state and federal laws,

3603 regulations, and policies, including all applicable security,

3604 privacy, and auditing requirements. The department shall appoint

3605 a director of the state data center who has experience in

3606 leading data center facilities and has expertise in cloud

3607 computing management.

3608 (2) USE OF THE STATE DATA CENTER.—

3609 (a) The following are exempt from the use of the state data

3610 center: the Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of the

3611 Lottery’s Gaming System, Systems Design and Development in the

3612 Office of Policy and Budget, the regional traffic management

3613 centers as described in s. 335.14(2) and the Office of Toll

3614 Operations of the Department of Transportation, the State Board

3615 of Administration, state attorneys, public defenders, criminal

3616 conflict and civil regional counsel, capital collateral regional

3617 counsel, and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.

3618 (b) The Division of Emergency Management is exempt from the

3619 use of the state data center. This paragraph expires July 1,

3620 2027 ~~2026~~ .

3621 Section 100. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

3622 2367 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and upon the

3623 expiration and reversion of the amendments to s. 443.1113,

3624 Florida Statutes, pursuant to section 105 of chapter 2025-199,

3625 Laws of Florida, subsections (4) and (5) of section 443.1113,

3626 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

3627 443.1113 Reemployment Assistance Claims and Benefits

3628 Information System.—

3629 (4)(a) The Department of Commerce shall perform an annual

3630 review of the system and identify enhancements or modernization

3631 efforts that improve the delivery of services to claimants and

3632 employers and reporting to state and federal entities. These

3633 improvements are subject to appropriation, and must include, but

3634 need not be limited to:

3635 1. Infrastructure upgrades through cloud services.

3636 2. Software improvements.

3637 3. Enhanced data analytics and reporting.

3638 4. Increased cybersecurity pursuant to s. 282.318.

3639 (b) The department shall seek input on recommended

3640 enhancements from, at a minimum, the following entities:

3641 1. The Florida Digital Service within the Department of

3642 Management Services.

3643 2. The General Tax Administration Program Office within the

3644 Department of Revenue.

3645 3. The Division of Accounting and Auditing within the

3646 Department of Financial Services.

3647 (5) By September 1, 2026 ~~October 1, 2023~~ , and each year

3648 thereafter, the Department of Commerce shall submit a

3649 Reemployment Assistance Claims and Benefits Information System

3650 report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the

3651 Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report must, at a

3652 minimum, include:

3653 (a) A summary of clearly defined deliverables and

3654 measurable outcomes of maintenance, enhancement, and

3655 modernization efforts over the last fiscal year.

3656 (b) A plan for the next 2 fiscal years ~~3-year outlook~~ of

3657 recommended enhancements or modernization efforts that includes

3658 projected nonrecurring project costs , clear deliverables, and

3659 timeframes for completion of each enhancement or modernization

3660 effort in priority order, and the projected recurring operations

3661 and maintenance costs after the completion of each enhancement

3662 or modernization effort.

3663 Section 101. The amendments to s. 443.1113(4) and (5),

3664 Florida Statutes, made by this act expire July 1, 2027, and the

3665 text of those subsections shall revert to that in existence on

3666 June 30, 2025, except that any amendments to such text enacted

3667 other than by this act shall be preserved and continue to

3668 operate to the extent that such amendments are not dependent

3669 upon the portions of text which expire pursuant to this section.

3670 Section 102. In order to implement Specific Appropriation

3671 2359 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (9)

3672 of section 445.08, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsections

3673 (2) and (4) of that section are reenacted, to read:

3674 445.08 Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment

3675 Program.—

3676 (2)(a) There is created within the department the Florida

3677 Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program to aid in the

3678 recruitment of law enforcement officers within the state. The

3679 purpose of the program is to administer one-time bonus payments

3680 of up to $5,000 to each newly employed officer within the state.

3681 (b) Bonus payments provided to eligible newly employed

3682 officers are contingent upon legislative appropriations and

3683 shall be prorated subject to the amount appropriated for the

3684 program.

3685 (4) The department shall develop an annual plan for the

3686 administration of the program and distribution of bonus

3687 payments. Applicable employing agencies shall assist the

3688 department with the collection of any data necessary to

3689 determine bonus payment amounts and to distribute the bonus

3690 payments, and shall otherwise provide the department with any

3691 information or assistance needed to fulfill the requirements of

3692 this section. At a minimum, the plan must include:

3693 (a) The method for determining the estimated number of

3694 newly employed officers to gain or be appointed to full-time

3695 employment during the applicable fiscal year.

3696 (b) The minimum eligibility requirements a newly employed

3697 officer must meet to receive and retain a bonus payment, which

3698 must include:

3699 1. Obtaining certification for employment or appointment as

3700 a law enforcement officer pursuant to s. 943.1395.

3701 2. Gaining full-time employment with a Florida criminal

3702 justice agency.

3703 3. Maintaining full-time employment as a law enforcement

3704 officer with a Florida criminal justice agency for at least 2

3705 years from the date on which the officer obtained certification.

3706 The required 2-year employment period may be satisfied by

3707 maintaining full-time employment at one or more employing

3708 agencies, but such period must not contain any break in service

3709 longer than 180 calendar days.

3710 (c) The standards by which the department will determine

3711 under what circumstances a break in service is acceptable. A law

3712 enforcement officer must provide documentation to the department

3713 justifying a break in service. For purposes of this section, the

3714 term “break in service” means a period of time during which the

3715 person is employed with a Florida criminal justice agency but is

3716 not employed as a full-time law enforcement officer or a period

3717 of time during which the person is in between employment as a

3718 full-time law enforcement officer for no longer than 15 days.

3719 The time period for any break in service does not count toward

3720 satisfying the 2-year full-time employment requirement of this

3721 section.

3722 (d) The method that will be used to determine the bonus

3723 payment amount to be distributed to each newly employed officer.

3724 (e) The method that will be used to distribute bonus

3725 payments to applicable employing agencies for distribution to

3726 eligible officers. Such method should prioritize distributing

3727 bonus payments to eligible officers in the most efficient and

3728 quickest manner possible.

3729 (f) The estimated cost to the department associated with

3730 developing and administering the program and distributing bonus

3731 payment funds.

3732 (g) The method by which an officer must reimburse the state

3733 if he or she received a bonus payment under the program, but

3734 failed to maintain continuous employment for the required 2-year

3735 period. Reimbursement shall not be required if an officer is

3736 discharged by his or her employing agency for a reason other

3737 than misconduct as designated on the affidavit of separation

3738 completed by the employing agency and maintained by the

3739 commission.

3741 The department may establish other criteria deemed necessary to

3742 determine bonus payment eligibility and distribution.

3743 (9) This section expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

3744 Section 103. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

3745 2384 through 2386 and sections 146, 147, 148, 152, and 155 of

3746 the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding

3747 ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the Department of

3748 Commerce may submit budget amendments, subject to the notice,

3749 review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida

3750 Statutes, to increase budget authority to support the following

3751 federal grant programs: the Broadband Equity, Access, and

3752 Deployment Program (BEAD), Capital Projects Fund Program,

3753 Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Program

3754 (CDBG-DR), Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Home Energy

3755 Assistance Programs – Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

3756 (LIHEAP), and Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund, Pub. L.

3757 No. 117-2. This section expires July 1, 2027.

3758 Section 104. (1) In order to implement section 8 of the

3759 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, beginning July 1, 2026,

3760 and on the first day of each month thereafter, the Department of

3761 Management Services shall assess an administrative health

3762 insurance assessment on each state agency equal to the

3763 employer’s cost of individual employee health care coverage for

3764 each vacant position within such agency eligible for coverage

3765 through the Division of State Group Insurance. As used in this

3766 section, the term “state agency” means an agency within the

3767 State Personnel System, the Department of the Lottery, the

3768 Justice Administrative Commission and all entities

3769 administratively housed in the Justice Administrative

3770 Commission, and the state courts system.

3771 (2) Each state agency shall remit the assessed

3772 administrative health insurance assessment under subsection (1)

3773 to the State Employees Health Insurance Trust Fund, for the

3774 State Group Insurance Program, as provided in ss. 110.123 and

3775 110.1239, Florida Statutes, from currently allocated moneys for

3776 salaries and benefits within 30 days after receipt of the

3777 assessment from the Department of Management Services. Should

3778 any state agency become more than 60 days delinquent in payment

3779 of this obligation, the Department of Management Services shall

3780 certify to the Chief Financial Officer the amount due and the

3781 Chief Financial Officer shall transfer the amount due to the

3782 Department of Management Services.

3783 (3) The administrative health insurance assessment shall

3784 apply to all vacant positions funded with state funds whether

3785 fully or partially funded with state funds. Vacant positions

3786 partially funded with state funds shall pay a percentage of the

3787 assessment imposed in subsection (1) equal to the percentage

3788 share of state funds provided for such vacant positions. No

3789 assessment shall apply to vacant positions fully funded with

3790 federal funds. Each state agency shall provide the Department of

3791 Management Services with a complete list of position numbers

3792 that are funded, or partially funded, with federal funding, and

3793 include the percentage of federal funding for each position no

3794 later than July 31, 2026, and shall update the list on the last

3795 day of each month thereafter. For federally funded vacant

3796 positions, or partially funded vacant positions, each state

3797 agency shall immediately take steps to include the

3798 administrative health insurance assessment in its indirect cost

3799 plan for the 2027-2028 fiscal year and each fiscal year

3800 thereafter. A state agency shall notify the Department of

3801 Management Services, the Executive Office of the Governor, the

3802 chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and the chair

3803 of the House of Representatives Budget Committee upon approval

3804 of the updated indirect cost plan. If the state agency is not

3805 able to obtain approval from its federal awarding agency, the

3806 state agency must notify the Department of Management Services,

3807 the Executive Office of the Governor, and the appropriation and

3808 budget chairs no later than January 15, 2027.

3809 (4) Pursuant to the notice, review, and objection

3810 procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the Executive Office

3811 of the Governor may transfer budget authority appropriated in

3812 the Salaries and Benefits appropriation category between

3813 agencies in order to align the appropriations granted with the

3814 assessments that must be paid by each agency to the Department

3815 of Management Services for the administrative health insurance

3816 assessment.

3817 (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.

3818 Section 105. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

3819 2852 and 2855 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and

3820 notwithstanding s. 11.13(1), Florida Statutes, the authorized

3821 salaries for members of the Legislature for the 2026-2027 fiscal

3822 year shall be set at the same level in effect on July 1, 2010.

3823 This section expires July 1, 2027.

3824 Section 106. In order to implement the transfer of funds

3825 from the General Revenue Fund from trust funds for the 2026-2027

3826 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding the expiration

3827 date in section 111 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida,

3828 paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 215.32, Florida

3829 Statutes, is reenacted to read:

3830 215.32 State funds; segregation.—

3831 (2) The source and use of each of these funds shall be as

3832 follows:

3833 (b)1. The trust funds shall consist of moneys received by

3834 the state which under law or under trust agreement are

3835 segregated for a purpose authorized by law. The state agency or

3836 branch of state government receiving or collecting such moneys

3837 is responsible for their proper expenditure as provided by law.

3838 Upon the request of the state agency or branch of state

3839 government responsible for the administration of the trust fund,

3840 the Chief Financial Officer may establish accounts within the

3841 trust fund at a level considered necessary for proper

3842 accountability. Once an account is established, the Chief

3843 Financial Officer may authorize payment from that account only

3844 upon determining that there is sufficient cash and releases at

3845 the level of the account.

3846 2. In addition to other trust funds created by law, to the

3847 extent possible, each agency shall use the following trust funds

3848 as described in this subparagraph for day-to-day operations:

3849 a. Operations or operating trust fund, for use as a

3850 depository for funds to be used for program operations funded by

3851 program revenues, with the exception of administrative

3852 activities when the operations or operating trust fund is a

3853 proprietary fund.

3854 b. Operations and maintenance trust fund, for use as a

3855 depository for client services funded by third-party payors.

3856 c. Administrative trust fund, for use as a depository for

3857 funds to be used for management activities that are departmental

3858 in nature and funded by indirect cost earnings and assessments

3859 against trust funds. Proprietary funds are excluded from the

3860 requirement of using an administrative trust fund.

3861 d. Grants and donations trust fund, for use as a depository

3862 for funds to be used for allowable grant or donor agreement

3863 activities funded by restricted contractual revenue from private

3864 and public nonfederal sources.

3865 e. Agency working capital trust fund, for use as a

3866 depository for funds to be used pursuant to s. 216.272.

3867 f. Clearing funds trust fund, for use as a depository for

3868 funds to account for collections pending distribution to lawful

3869 recipients.

3870 g. Federal grant trust fund, for use as a depository for

3871 funds to be used for allowable grant activities funded by

3872 restricted program revenues from federal sources.

3874 To the extent possible, each agency must adjust its internal

3875 accounting to use existing trust funds consistent with the

3876 requirements of this subparagraph. If an agency does not have

3877 trust funds listed in this subparagraph and cannot make such

3878 adjustment, the agency must recommend the creation of the

3879 necessary trust funds to the Legislature no later than the next

3880 scheduled review of the agency’s trust funds pursuant to s.

3881 215.3206.

3882 3. All such moneys are hereby appropriated to be expended

3883 in accordance with the law or trust agreement under which they

3884 were received, subject always to the provisions of chapter 216

3885 relating to the appropriation of funds and to the applicable

3886 laws relating to the deposit or expenditure of moneys in the

3887 State Treasury.

3888 4.a. Notwithstanding any provision of law restricting the

3889 use of trust funds to specific purposes, unappropriated cash

3890 balances from selected trust funds may be authorized by the

3891 Legislature for transfer to the Budget Stabilization Fund and

3892 General Revenue Fund in the General Appropriations Act.

3893 b. This subparagraph does not apply to trust funds required

3894 by federal programs or mandates; trust funds established for

3895 bond covenants, indentures, or resolutions whose revenues are

3896 legally pledged by the state or public body to meet debt service

3897 or other financial requirements of any debt obligations of the

3898 state or any public body; the Division of Licensing Trust Fund

3899 in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; the

3900 State Transportation Trust Fund; the trust fund containing the

3901 net annual proceeds from the Florida Education Lotteries; the

3902 Florida Retirement System Trust Fund; trust funds under the

3903 management of the State Board of Education or the Board of

3904 Governors of the State University System, where such trust funds

3905 are for auxiliary enterprises, self-insurance, and contracts,

3906 grants, and donations, as those terms are defined by general

3907 law; trust funds that serve as clearing funds or accounts for

3908 the Chief Financial Officer or state agencies; trust funds that

3909 account for assets held by the state in a trustee capacity as an

3910 agent or fiduciary for individuals, private organizations, or

3911 other governmental units; and other trust funds authorized by

3912 the State Constitution.

3913 Section 107. The text of s. 215.32(2)(b), Florida Statutes,

3914 as carried forward from chapter 2011-47, Laws of Florida, by

3915 this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that paragraph

3916 shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2011, except that

3917 any amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall

3918 be preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such

3919 amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which

3920 expire pursuant to this section.

3921 Section 108. In order to implement appropriations in the

3922 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for state employee travel,

3923 the funds appropriated to each state agency which may be used

3924 for travel by state employees are limited during the 2026-2027

3925 fiscal year to travel for activities that are critical to each

3926 state agency’s mission. Funds may not be used for travel by

3927 state employees to foreign countries, other states, conferences,

3928 staff training activities, or other administrative functions

3929 unless the agency head has approved, in writing, that such

3930 activities are critical to the agency’s mission. The agency head

3931 shall consider using teleconferencing and other forms of

3932 electronic communication to meet the needs of the proposed

3933 activity before approving mission-critical travel. This section

3934 does not apply to travel for law enforcement purposes, military

3935 purposes, emergency management activities, or public health

3936 activities. This section expires July 1, 2027.

3937 Section 109. In order to implement appropriations in the

3938 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for state employee travel

3939 and notwithstanding s. 112.061, Florida Statutes, costs for

3940 lodging associated with a meeting, conference, or convention

3941 organized or sponsored in whole or in part by a state agency or

3942 the judicial branch may not exceed $225 per day. An employee may

3943 expend his or her own funds for any lodging expenses in excess

3944 of $225 per day. For purposes of this section, a meeting does

3945 not include travel activities for conducting an audit,

3946 examination, inspection, or investigation or travel activities

3947 related to a litigation or emergency response. This section

3948 expires July 1, 2027.

3949 Section 110. In order to implement the appropriations and

3950 reappropriations authorized in the 2026-2027 General

3951 Appropriations Act, paragraph (d) of subsection (11) of section

3952 216.181, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

3953 216.181 Approved budgets for operations and fixed capital

3954 outlay.—

3955 (11)

3956 (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) and paragraph (2)(b), and

3957 for the 2026-2027 ~~2025-2026~~ fiscal year only, the Legislative

3958 Budget Commission may approve budget amendments for new fixed

3959 capital outlay projects or increase the amounts appropriated to

3960 state agencies for fixed capital outlay projects. This paragraph

3961 expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

3963 The provisions of this subsection are subject to the notice and

3964 objection procedures set forth in s. 216.177.

3965 Section 111. In order to implement the salaries and

3966 benefits, expenses, other personal services, contracted

3967 services, special categories, and operating capital outlay

3968 categories of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,

3969 paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 216.292, Florida

3970 Statutes, is amended to read:

3971 216.292 Appropriations nontransferable; exceptions.—

3972 (2) The following transfers are authorized to be made by

3973 the head of each department or the Chief Justice of the Supreme

3974 Court whenever it is deemed necessary by reason of changed

3975 conditions:

3976 (a) The transfer of appropriations funded from identical

3977 funding sources, except appropriations for fixed capital outlay,

3978 and the transfer of amounts included within the total original

3979 approved budget and plans of releases of appropriations as

3980 furnished pursuant to ss. 216.181 and 216.192, as follows:

3981 1. Between categories of appropriations within a budget

3982 entity, if no category of appropriation is increased or

3983 decreased by more than 5 percent of the original approved budget

3984 or $250,000, whichever is greater, by all action taken under

3985 this subsection.

3986 2. Between budget entities within identical categories of

3987 appropriations, if no category of appropriation is increased or

3988 decreased by more than 5 percent of the original approved budget

3989 or $250,000, whichever is greater, by all action taken under

3990 this subsection.

3991 3. Any agency exceeding salary rate established pursuant to

3992 s. 216.181(8) on June 30th of any fiscal year shall not be

3993 authorized to make transfers pursuant to subparagraphs 1. and 2.

3994 in the subsequent fiscal year.

3995 4. Notice of proposed transfers under subparagraphs 1. and

3996 2. shall be provided to the Executive Office of the Governor and

3997 the chairs of the legislative appropriations committees at least

3998 3 days prior to agency implementation in order to provide an

3999 opportunity for review. The review shall be limited to ensuring

4000 that the transfer is in compliance with the requirements of this

4001 paragraph.

4002 5. For the 2026-2027 ~~2025-2026~~ fiscal year, the review

4003 shall ensure that transfers proposed pursuant to this paragraph

4004 comply with this chapter, maximize the use of available and

4005 appropriate trust funds, and are not contrary to legislative

4006 policy and intent. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

4007 Section 112. In order to implement appropriations in the

4008 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for the acquisitions of

4009 motor vehicles, and notwithstanding chapter 287, Florida

4010 Statutes, relating to the purchase of motor vehicles from a

4011 state term contract, state agencies may purchase vehicles from

4012 nonstate term contract vendors without prior approval from the

4013 Department of Management Services, provided the cost of the

4014 motor vehicle is equal to or less than the cost of a similar

4015 class of vehicle found on a state term contract and provided the

4016 funds for the purchase have been specifically appropriated. This

4017 section expires July 1, 2027.

4018 Section 113. In order to implement appropriations for state

4019 agencies in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section

4020 11.52, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

4021 11.52 Implementation of enacted legislation.—Each state

4022 agency shall provide the Legislature and the Executive Office of

4023 the Governor with information about the status of implementation

4024 of recently enacted legislation. The implementation status must

4025 be provided 90 days following the effective date of the

4026 legislation and updated each August 1 thereafter until all

4027 provisions of the legislation have been fully implemented. The

4028 implementation status report must include, at a minimum, for

4029 each enacted legislation, the actions or steps taken to

4030 implement the legislation and planned actions or steps for

4031 implementation, such as any rules proposed for implementation,

4032 any procurements required, any contract executed to assist the

4033 agency in the implementation, any contracts executed to

4034 implement or administer the legislation, programs started,

4035 offices established, or other organization administrative

4036 changes made including personnel changes, or federal waivers

4037 requested; any expenditures made directly related to the

4038 implementation; and any impediments or delays in implementation,

4039 including, but not limited to, challenges of administrative

4040 rules. No later than 14 days prior to the next regular

4041 legislative session, the state agency shall provide an update of

4042 any changes to the implementation status, notify the Legislature

4043 of any protests of rulemaking or other communications regarding

4044 the implementation of the legislation and the status of any

4045 litigation related to the legislation, and identify any policy

4046 issues that need to be resolved by the Legislature to ensure

4047 timely and effective implementation of the legislation. This

4048 section expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

4049 Section 114. In order to implement appropriations for state

4050 agencies and the judicial branch in the 2026-2027 General

4051 Appropriations Act, subsection (7) of section 216.013, Florida

4052 Statutes, is amended to read:

4053 216.013 Long-range program plan.—State agencies and the

4054 judicial branch shall develop long-range program plans to

4055 achieve state goals using an interagency planning process that

4056 includes the development of integrated agency program service

4057 outcomes. The plans shall be policy based, priority driven,

4058 accountable, and developed through careful examination and

4059 justification of all agency and judicial branch programs.

4060 (7) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, each

4061 state executive agency and the judicial branch are not required

4062 to develop or post a long-range program plan by September 30,

4063 2026 ~~2025~~ , for the 2027-2028 ~~2026-2027~~ fiscal year, except in

4064 circumstances outlined in any updated written instructions

4065 prepared by the Executive Office of the Governor in consultation

4066 with the chairs of the legislative appropriations committees.

4067 This subsection expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

4068 Section 115. In order to implement appropriations for state

4069 agencies and the judicial branch in the 2026-2027 General

4070 Appropriations Act, subsection (7) of section 216.023, Florida

4071 Statutes, is amended to read:

4072 216.023 Legislative budget requests to be furnished to

4073 Legislature by agencies.—

4074 (7) As part of the legislative budget request, each state

4075 agency and the judicial branch shall include an inventory of all

4076 ongoing technology-related projects that have a cumulative

4077 estimated or realized cost of more than $1 million. The

4078 inventory must, at a minimum, contain all of the following

4079 information:

4080 (a) The name of the technology system.

4081 (b) A brief description of the purpose and function of the

4082 system.

4083 (c) A brief description of the goals of the project.

4084 (d) The initiation date of the project.

4085 (e) The key performance indicators for the project.

4086 (f) Any other metrics for the project evaluating the health

4087 and status of the project.

4088 (g) The original and current baseline estimated end dates

4089 of the project.

4090 (h) The original and current estimated costs of the

4091 project.

4092 (i) Total funds appropriated or allocated to the project

4093 and the current realized cost for the project by fiscal year.

4095 For purposes of this subsection, an ongoing technology-related

4096 project is one which has been funded or has had or is expected

4097 to have expenditures in more than one fiscal year. An ongoing

4098 technology-related project does not include the continuance of

4099 existing hardware and software maintenance agreements, the

4100 renewal of existing software licensing agreements, or the

4101 replacement of desktop units with new technology that is

4102 substantially similar to the technology being replaced. This

4103 subsection expires July 1, 2027 ~~2026~~ .

4104 Section 116. In order to implement Specific Appropriations

4105 203, 583, 642, 1455A, 2514, and 3235, and sections 72 and 94 of

4106 the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:

4107 (1) Of the funds appropriated for information technology

4108 projects, 75 percent shall be held in reserve. All general

4109 revenue funds not held in reserve shall be fully released. The

4110 Agency for Health Care Administration, Department of Children

4111 and Families, Department of Corrections, Department of Financial

4112 Services, Florida Gaming Control Commission, Department of

4113 Health, and Department of Revenue are authorized to submit a

4114 budget amendment to request release of funds pursuant to chapter

4115 216, Florida Statutes. The amount requested to be released in

4116 each budget amendment may not exceed the agency’s projected

4117 quarterly expenditures, reduced by any unexpended funds from

4118 prior releases. Release is contingent upon submission of the

4119 following:

4120 (a) An updated and comprehensive operational work plan;

4121 (b) A detailed monthly spend plan with expenditures broken

4122 down by deliverable which identifies all planned and actual

4123 project work and costs specified in the current project

4124 schedule; and

4125 (c) A copy of the project status report from the most

4126 recently completed month at the time of submission which

4127 provides justification for any variance from the most recently

4128 submitted project schedule and spend plan.

4129 (2) The agencies receiving funds pursuant to this section

4130 must submit monthly project status reports to the Executive

4131 Office of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget, the chair

4132 of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the chair of the House

4133 Budget Committee, and any other designated project oversight

4134 entity no later than 30 days after the close of the previous

4135 month. Each status report must include copies of any new or

4136 updated relevant task order, contract, or purchase order. The

4137 status report must also describe progress made to date for each

4138 project milestone and deliverable, planned and actual completion

4139 dates, planned and actual costs incurred, and any current

4140 project issues or risks.

4141 (3) This section expires July 1, 2027.

4142 Section 117. Any section of this act which implements a

4143 specific appropriation or specifically identified proviso

4144 language in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act is void if

4145 the specific appropriation or specifically identified proviso

4146 language is vetoed. Any section of this act which implements

4147 more than one specific appropriation or more than one portion of

4148 specifically identified proviso language in the 2026-2027

4149 General Appropriations Act is void if all the specific

4150 appropriations or portions of specifically identified proviso

4151 language are vetoed.

4152 Section 118. If any other act passed during the 2026

4153 Regular Session of the Legislature contains a provision that is

4154 substantively the same as a provision in this act, but that

4155 removes or is otherwise not subject to the future repeal applied

4156 to such provision by this act, the Legislature intends that the

4157 provision in the other act takes precedence and continues to

4158 operate, notwithstanding the future repeal provided by this act.

4159 Section 119. If any provision of this act or its

4160 application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the

4161 invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of

4162 the act which can be given effect without the invalid provision

4163 or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are

4164 severable.

4165 Section 120. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this

4166 act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon

4167 this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1,

4168 2026, or, if this act fails to become a law until after that

4169 date, it shall take effect upon becoming a law and shall operate

4170 retroactively to July 1, 2026.