THE BILL ITSELF
HB 535
Candidate Qualifying
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A bill to be entitled
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An act relating to candidate qualifying; amending ss.
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99.061 and 105.031, F.S.; requiring certain candidates
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to provide the filing officer a statement disclosing
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dual citizenship for nomination and election to
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federal, state, county, multicounty, district, or
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judicial office or to a district school board;
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reenacting s. 99.012(1)(b), F.S., relating to
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definition of the term "qualifying," to incorporate
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the amendments made to ss. 99.061 and 105.031, F.S.,
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in references thereto; providing an effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section
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99.061, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
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99.061 Method of qualifying for nomination or election to
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federal, state, county, or district office.—
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(7)(a) In order for a candidate to be qualified, the
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following items must be received by the filing officer by the
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end of the qualifying period:
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1. A properly executed check drawn upon the candidate's
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campaign account payable to the person or entity as prescribed
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by the filing officer in an amount not less than the fee
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required by s. 99.092, unless the candidate obtained the
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required number of signatures on petitions pursuant to s.
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99.095. The filing fee for a special district candidate is not
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required to be drawn upon the candidate's campaign account. If a
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candidate's check is returned by the bank for any reason, the
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filing officer shall immediately notify the candidate and the
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candidate shall have until the end of qualifying to pay the fee
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with a cashier's check purchased from funds of the campaign
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account. Failure to pay the fee as provided in this subparagraph
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shall disqualify the candidate.
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2. The candidate's oath required by s. 99.021, which must
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contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the
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ballot; the office sought, including the district or group
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number if applicable; and the signature of the candidate, which
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must be verified under oath or affirmation pursuant to s.
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92.525(1)(a).
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3. If the office sought is partisan, the written statement
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of political party affiliation required by s. 99.021(1)(b); or
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if the candidate is running without party affiliation for a
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partisan office, the written statement required by s.
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99.021(1)(c).
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4. The completed form for the appointment of campaign
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treasurer and designation of campaign depository, as required by
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s. 106.021.
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5. The full and public disclosure or statement of
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financial interests required by subsection (5). A public officer
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who has filed the full and public disclosure or statement of
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financial interests with the Commission on Ethics before
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qualifying for office may file a copy of that disclosure or a
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verification or receipt of electronic filing as provided in
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subsection (5) at the time of qualifying.
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6. If the candidate is a citizen of another country in
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addition to being a citizen of the United States, a statement
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disclosing any other country the candidate is also a citizen of.
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Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section
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105.031, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
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105.031 Qualification; filing fee; candidate's oath; items
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required to be filed.—
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(5) ITEMS REQUIRED TO BE FILED.—
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(a) In order for a candidate for judicial office or the
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office of school board member to be qualified, the following
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items must be received by the filing officer by the end of the
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qualifying period:
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1. Except for candidates for retention to judicial office,
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a properly executed check drawn upon the candidate's campaign
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account in an amount not less than the fee required by
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subsection (3) or, in lieu thereof, the copy of the notice of
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obtaining ballot position pursuant to s. 105.035. If a
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candidate's check is returned by the bank for any reason, the
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filing officer shall immediately notify the candidate and the
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candidate shall, the end of qualifying notwithstanding, have 48
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hours from the time such notification is received, excluding
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Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, to pay the fee with a
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cashier's check purchased from funds of the campaign account.
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Failure to pay the fee as provided in this subparagraph shall
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disqualify the candidate.
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2. The candidate's oath required by subsection (4), which
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must contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the
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ballot; the office sought, including the district or group
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number if applicable; and the signature of the candidate, duly
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acknowledged.
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3. The loyalty oath required by s. 876.05, signed by the
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candidate and duly acknowledged.
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4. The completed form for the appointment of campaign
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treasurer and designation of campaign depository, as required by
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s. 106.021. In addition, each candidate for judicial office,
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including an incumbent judge, shall file a statement with the
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qualifying officer, within 10 days after filing the appointment
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of campaign treasurer and designation of campaign depository,
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stating that the candidate has read and understands the
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requirements of the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct. Such
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statement shall be in substantially the following form:
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Statement of Candidate for Judicial Office
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I, ...(name of candidate)..., a judicial candidate, have
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received, read, and understand the requirements of the Florida
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Code of Judicial Conduct.
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...(Signature of candidate)...
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...(Date)...
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5. The full and public disclosure of financial interests
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required by s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution or the
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statement of financial interests required by s. 112.3145,
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whichever is applicable. A public officer who has filed the full
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and public disclosure or statement of financial interests with
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the Commission on Ethics or the supervisor of elections prior to
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qualifying for office may file a copy of that disclosure at the
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time of qualifying.
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6. If the candidate is a citizen of another country in
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addition to being a citizen of the United States, a statement
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disclosing any other country the candidate is also a citizen of.
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Section 3. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments
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made by this act to sections 99.061 and 105.031, Florida
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Statutes, in references thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (1)
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of section 99.012, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
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99.012 Restrictions on individuals qualifying for public
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office.—
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(1) As used in this section:
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(b) "Qualify" means to fulfill the requirements set forth
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in s. 99.061(7)(a) or s. 105.031(5)(a).
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Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.