PROVIDED SUMMARY
Security for Statewide Constitutional Office Candidates; Requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to provide certain candidates with a protective security detail for a specified time period, etc.
Full bill text →
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATED
Requires police protection for major-party nominees from primary to inauguration.
As soon as the state certifies primary results, the Department of Law Enforcement must assign a protective security detail to every major-party nominee for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or a Cabinet office. Nominees of minor parties are not covered.
That protection continues through the general election campaign, ending only when a nominee concedes or when the general election results are certified, whichever comes first. A winning nominee keeps a security detail all the way until taking office.
KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1
Security detail begins immediately after primary certification
majors. 99.122
AIAs soon as the Elections Canvassing Commission certifies primary results, the Department of Law Enforcement must provide a protective security detail to every major-party nominee for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and any Cabinet office.
“the Department of Law Enforcement must provide a protective security detail to all nominees of a political party”
bill text, line 17 →
§ 2
Protection lasts until concession or the winner takes office
majors. 99.122
AIProtection continues from primary certification until a nominee concedes the general election or the general election is certified, whichever happens first. If the nominee wins, the security detail continues until that officer-elect is sworn into office.
“must continue to provide a protective security detail to the officers-elect until the officers-elect assume office”
bill text, line 32 →
§ 3
Minor-party nominees are excluded from coverage
moderates. 99.122
AIThe mandatory protective detail applies only to major-party nominees; nominees of a minor political party, as defined elsewhere in election law, do not receive this state-provided security detail.
“other than the nominees of a minor political party as defined in s. 97.021(20)”
bill text, line 19 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died on Calendar
3/6/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/6/2026
Original reference(s) removed: Fiscal Policy
3/3/2026
CS by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice read 1st time
2/27/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
2/25/2026
CS by Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice; YEAS 5 NAYS 2
2/20/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Criminal and...
1/14/2026
Now in Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice
1/13/2026
Favorable by Ethics and Elections; YEAS 6 NAYS 2
1/8/2026
On Committee agenda-- Ethics and Elections, 01/13/26, 4:00 pm, 37...
12/1/2025
Referred to Ethics and Elections; Appropriations Committee on...
7 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
STAFF ANALYSES