SESSION WATCH
Became law SENATE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-22

No. CS/SB 572

Ethics for Public Officers and Employees
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SPONSOR
Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Harrell
FILED BY
Gayle Harrell — District 31, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
4/1/2026

Filed under Local Government.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Ethics for Public Officers and Employees; Revising the definition of the term “relative” to include foster parents and foster children; providing that specified provisions do not prohibit a board, council, commission, or collegial body from appointing, employing, promoting, or advancing elected public officials who are related to a leadership position on the same board, council, commission, or collegial body, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED

This bill has been analysed, but the summary did not pass verification and was withheld. The provisions below did.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Expands the legal definition of "relative" to include foster parents and foster children. majors. 112.312(21)

AIBroadens the scope of the conflict-of-interest law, meaning that hiring or promoting a foster parent or foster child now triggers the same restrictions as hiring a biological relative.

“an individual who, while the public officer or employee was a minor, was his or her legally recognized foster parent in the jurisdiction where the relationship occurred or an” bill text, line 58 →
§ 2 Allows boards to appoint or promote relatives to leadership positions. majors. 112.3135(2)(c)

AIRemoves a specific ban on nepotism, permitting a board to place a relative in a leadership role if that relative is also an elected official on the same board.

“This subsection does not prohibit the board, council, commission, or collegial body on which an elected public official serves from appointing, employing, promoting, or advancing a” bill text, line 75 →
§ 3 Removes the "same legal residence" requirement for the definition of relative. moderates. 112.312(21)

AINarrows the definition of relative by deleting the clause that included any person living in the same household, regardless of relationship.

“person who is engaged to be married to the public officer or employee or who otherwise holds himself or herself out as or is generally known as the person whom the public officer” bill text, line 64 →
TIMELINE
4/2/2026
Chapter No. 2026-22
4/1/2026
Approved by Governor
3/31/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/12/2026
Ordered engrossed, then enrolled
3/12/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 829
3/12/2026
Concurred in 1 amendment(s) (187567) -SJ 829
3/10/2026
In returning messages
3/10/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 113, NAYS 0
3/10/2026
Read 3rd time
3/10/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/10/2026
Amendment 620573 superseded by substitute
3/10/2026
Amendment 187567 adopted
3/10/2026
Read 2nd time
3/9/2026
1st Reading (Engrossed 1)
3/9/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/10/2026)
3/9/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/11/2026
In Messages
2/11/2026
Immediately certified -SJ 299
2/11/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 299
2/11/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 299
2/11/2026
Amendment(s) adopted (807008) -SJ 295
2/11/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 295
2/9/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/11/26
2/3/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/3/2026
Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 23 NAYS 0
1/29/2026
On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/03/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
1/29/2026
CS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability read 1st time
1/28/2026
Now in Rules
1/27/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
1/26/2026
CS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability; YEAS 9 NAYS 0
1/21/2026
On Committee agenda-- Governmental Oversight and Accountability,...
1/14/2026
Now in Governmental Oversight and Accountability
1/13/2026
Introduced
1/13/2026
Favorable by Ethics and Elections; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
1/8/2026
On Committee agenda-- Ethics and Elections, 01/13/26, 4:00 pm, 37...
12/9/2025
Referred to Ethics and Elections; Governmental Oversight and...
11/18/2025
Filed
31 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 112.312
+59 / −2
s. 112.3135
+49 / −0
s. 112.312
+0 / −0
s. 112.312
+0 / −0
s. 112.312
+0 / −0
s. 112.312
+0 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES
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