THE BILL ITSELF
SB 414
Use of Campaign Funds for Campaign-related Child Care Expenses
Florida Senate - 2026 SB 414 By Senator Bracy Davis 15-00596-26 2026414__
1
A bill to be entitled
2
An act relating to use of campaign funds for campaign
3
related child care expenses; amending s. 106.1405,
4
F.S.; defining the terms “campaign-related child care
5
expenses” and “eligible child care provider”;
6
authorizing a candidate to use funds on deposit in his
7
or her campaign account to pay for campaign-related
8
child care expenses under specified conditions;
9
requiring a candidate to maintain specified records
10
for a specified timeframe and provide such records to
11
the Division of Elections upon request; requiring a
12
candidate to disclose the use of campaign funds for
13
campaign-related child care expenses in his or her
14
regular campaign finance reports; providing an
15
effective date.
17
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
19
Section 1. Section 106.1405, Florida Statutes, is amended
20
to read:
21
106.1405 Use of campaign funds.—
22
(1) As used in this section, the term:
23
(a) “Campaign-related child care expenses” means the costs
24
associated with the care of a candidate’s dependent child due to
25
campaign activities, such as participating in campaign events,
26
canvassing, participating in debates, and meeting with
27
constituents or donors.
28
(b) “Eligible child care provider” means any individual or
29
licensed organization that provides child care services,
30
including center-based, family-based, and in-home care, for
31
compensation; is legally operating under state law; and complies
32
with all applicable state and local requirements for the
33
provision of child care services.
34
(2) A candidate or the spouse of a candidate may not use
35
funds on deposit in a campaign account of such candidate to
36
defray normal living expenses for the candidate or the
37
candidate’s family, other than expenses actually incurred for
38
transportation, meals, and lodging by the candidate or a family
39
member during travel in the course of the campaign.
40
(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), a candidate may use
41
funds on deposit in his or her campaign account to pay for
42
campaign-related child care expenses if the expense would not
43
exist were it not for the candidate’s campaign and if the
44
following conditions are met:
45
(a) Campaign funds may not be used for child care expenses
46
unrelated to campaign activities, such as personal errands or
47
routine child care.
48
(b) The candidate maintains and provides to the division,
49
upon request, clear records of all campaign-related child care
50
expenses reimbursed by campaign funds, including dates, times,
51
and descriptions of campaign events in which the candidate
52
engaged.
53
1. Receipts or invoices from the eligible child care
54
provider, along with proof of payment, must be maintained for
55
auditing purposes for at least 3 years after the campaign ends.
56
2. A candidate shall disclose the use of campaign funds for
57
campaign-related child care expenses in his or her regular
58
campaign finance reports, specifying the amounts and dates of
59
such expenses.
60
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.