SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 476

Registration and Protection of Trademarks
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SPONSOR
Martin
FILED BY
Jonathan Martin — District 33, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
CS/CS/HB 679 — SB 476 was set aside and its companion carried the policy
PROVIDED SUMMARY

Registration and Protection of Trademarks; Referring to this act as the "Technical Trademark Amendments Act of 2026"; requiring the Department of State to annually adopt the United States Patent and Trademark Office’s system of classification of goods and services that is in effect by a specified date; requiring the department, by a certain date, to establish and maintain a secure online registration system for a specific purpose; requiring that every paper application, rather than every application, be accompanied by a specified number of specimens or facsimiles showing the mark as actually used, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Requires an online trademark registration system by July 2027.

By July 1, 2027, the Department of State must build a secure online system letting trademark applicants file, renew, pay fees, and submit specimens and drawings electronically, rather than only on paper.

Once that system exists, an electronic application needs only one electronic specimen of the mark in use. A paper application still needs three physical specimens or facsimiles, unchanged from current law.

Florida no longer spells out all 45 federal trademark classes in its own statute. The Department of State must instead adopt whatever classification system the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office uses each year, by July 1.

Signed applications must now be verified using the method set out in a separate Florida statute governing sworn statements, a specific procedural requirement that did not exist before.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Requires a secure online trademark-filing system by July 2027 majors. 495.029

AIThe Department of State must build and maintain a secure online system letting applicants file new applications, renewals, specimens, drawings of the mark, and fee payments electronically, and complete the required verification online.

“the department shall establish and maintain a secure online registration system to safeguard an applicant's information and ensure data integrity” bill text, line 212 →
§ 2 Electronic filers need only one specimen, not three moderates. 495.031

AIA paper trademark application still needs three physical specimens or facsimiles of the mark as used, but an electronic application filed through the new online system needs only a single electronic copy of a specimen.

“Every electronic application filed pursuant to s. 495.029 must be accompanied by an electronic copy of a specimen showing the mark as actually used.” bill text, line 236 →
§ 3 Adopts the federal trademark classification system automatically moderates. 495.111

AIInstead of Florida statute listing all 45 trademark classes for goods and services, the Department of State must adopt the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's current classification system every year by July 1, and publish it on the registration form.

“adopt the United States Patent and Trademark Office's system of classification of goods and services in effect on June 1 of that year” bill text, line 5 →
§ 4 Application verification must follow a specific statutory method technicals. 495.031

AISigned and verified trademark applications must now be verified in accordance with a separate Florida statute governing sworn statements, a specific procedural cross-reference that did not previously apply to trademark filings.

“Verification must be made in accordance with s. 92.525.” bill text, line 232 →
TIMELINE
1/6/2026
Withdrawn prior to introduction, companion bill(s) passed, see...
12/18/2025
Filed
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 495.111
+14 / −0
s. 495.111
+51 / −1196
s. 495.029
+102 / −0
s. 495.031
+36 / −2