SESSION WATCH
Vetoed by the Governor HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/HB 461

Volunteering at Polling Locations
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SPONSOR
State Affairs Committee; Michael; Valdés
FILED BY
Kiyan Michael — District 16, Republican [search donations]
Susan Valdés — District 64, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026

Filed under Elections.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Volunteering at Polling Locations; Provides that specified high school students who volunteer to assist poll workers are not subject to provisions prohibiting certain agencies and state & local officials from soliciting, accepting, or otherwise using private funds or certain personal services for election-related expenses.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Lets high schoolers earn service hours by helping poll workers.

Florida already bars election officials from accepting free labor or private money to help run elections, to keep election administration free of outside funding. A new exception opens a narrow gap in that ban.

A high school student who is registered or preregistered to vote can now volunteer to help poll workers specifically to earn community service hours, whether for a graduation requirement or a scholarship program's service requirement.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Student poll-worker volunteering exempted from funding ban moderates. 97.0291

AIThe existing ban on election officials accepting free personal services or private donations for election administration does not apply to a registered or preregistered high school student who volunteers to help poll workers to earn community service hours.

“High school students in this state who are registered or preregistered to vote from volunteering to assist poll workers” bill text, line 29 →
TIMELINE
6/25/2026
Vetoed by Governor
6/15/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
2/26/2026
Ordered enrolled
2/26/2026
In Messages
2/26/2026
Immediately certified -SJ 463
2/26/2026
CS passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 456
2/26/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 456
2/26/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 456
2/26/2026
Substituted for CS/SB 564 -SJ 456
2/26/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/26/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 456
2/18/2026
Received
2/18/2026
Referred to Rules
2/17/2026
In Messages
2/17/2026
CS passed; YEAS 108, NAYS 0
2/17/2026
Read 3rd time
2/17/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
2/17/2026
Read 2nd time
2/10/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/17/2026)
1/28/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
1/28/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
1/27/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
1/27/2026
CS Filed
1/27/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/27/2026
Reported out of State Affairs Committee
1/27/2026
Favorable with CS by State Affairs Committee
1/23/2026
Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
1/21/2026
Now in State Affairs Committee
1/21/2026
Reported out of Student Academic Success Subcommittee
1/21/2026
Favorable by Student Academic Success Subcommittee
1/16/2026
Added to Student Academic Success Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/13/2026
Now in Student Academic Success Subcommittee
1/13/2026
Reported out of Government Operations Subcommittee
1/13/2026
Favorable by Government Operations Subcommittee
1/9/2026
Added to Government Operations Subcommittee agenda
11/24/2025
Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
11/24/2025
Referred to State Affairs Committee
11/24/2025
Referred to Student Academic Success Subcommittee
11/24/2025
Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee
11/18/2025
Filed
35 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 97.0291
+57 / −1
STAFF ANALYSES