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Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-185

No. CS/CS/HB 6509

Relief/Estate of Mark LaGatta/Department of Transportation
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SPONSOR
Budget Committee; Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee; Grow
FILED BY
J.J. Grow — District 23, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
6/8/2026

Filed under Transportation.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Relief/Estate of Mark LaGatta/Department of Transportation; Provides appropriation to compensate estate for injuries & damages sustained by Mr. LaGatta as result of negligence of DOT; provides limitation on compensation & payment of attorney fees. CLAIM WITH APPROPRIATION: $1,200,000

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Pays estate $1.2 million and caps attorney fees at 25%.

The Department of Transportation must pay the estate of Mark LaGatta $1.2 million from the State Transportation Trust Fund. This payment compensates for injuries and damages sustained by Mr. LaGatta.

The payment is the sole compensation for all present and future claims arising from the incident. No further money can be claimed for these specific injuries.

Attorney fees for this claim are capped at 25 percent of the total award. The Chief Financial Officer is directed to issue the warrant.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Appropriation of $1.2 Million majors. New Section 2 of CS/CS/HB 6509

AICreates a mandatory payment of $1.2 million from the State Transportation Trust Fund to the estate of Mark LaGatta.

“The sum of $1.2 million is appropriated from the State Transportation Trust Fund to the Department of Transportation for the relief of the Estate of Mark LaGatta for injuries and” bill text, line 65 →
§ 2 Mandatory Warrant Issuance majors. New Section 3 of CS/CS/HB 6509

AIRequires the Chief Financial Officer to issue a warrant for $1.2 million to the estate from the Department of Transportation's funds in the State Treasury.

“The Chief Financial Officer is directed to draw a warrant in favor of the Estate of Mark LaGatta in the amount of $1.2 million upon funds of the Department of Transportation in the” bill text, line 69 →
§ 3 Sole Compensation and Release majors. New Section 4 of CS/CS/HB 6509

AIEstablishes that the combined payments under this act and the prior judgment constitute the sole compensation for all present and future claims arising from the incident.

“The amount paid by the Department of Transportation pursuant to s. 768.28, Florida Statutes, and the amount awarded under this act are intended to provide the sole compensation for” bill text, line 74 →
§ 4 Attorney Fee Cap moderates. New Section 4 of CS/CS/HB 6509

AILimits attorney fees related to the claim to a maximum of 25 percent of the total amount awarded under the act.

“The total amount paid for attorney fees relating to this claim may not exceed 25 percent of the total amount awarded under this act.” bill text, line 79 →
TIMELINE
7/1/2026
Chapter No. 2026-185
6/8/2026
Approved by Governor
5/27/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/5/2026
Ordered enrolled
3/5/2026
In Messages
3/5/2026
CS passed; YEAS 35 NAYS 0 -SJ 583
3/5/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 583
3/5/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 583
3/5/2026
Substituted for SB 26 -SJ 583
3/5/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/5/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 583
3/3/2026
Received
3/3/2026
Referred to Rules
3/3/2026
In Messages
3/3/2026
CS passed; YEAS 108, NAYS 0
3/3/2026
Read 3rd time
3/3/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/3/2026
Read 2nd time
2/26/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/3/2026)
2/24/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/24/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
2/24/2026
Reported out of Judiciary Committee
2/24/2026
Favorable by Judiciary Committee
2/20/2026
Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
2/18/2026
Now in Judiciary Committee
2/18/2026
Referred to Judiciary Committee
2/17/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
2/17/2026
CS Filed
2/17/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/17/2026
Reported out of Budget Committee
2/16/2026
Favorable with CS by Budget Committee
2/12/2026
Added to Budget Committee agenda
2/12/2026
Now in Budget Committee
2/12/2026
Referred to Judiciary Committee
2/12/2026
Referred to Budget Committee
2/11/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2/11/2026
CS Filed
2/11/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/11/2026
Reported out of Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
2/11/2026
Favorable with CS by Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
2/9/2026
Added to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
10/28/2025
Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
10/28/2025
Referred to Judiciary Committee
10/28/2025
Referred to Budget Committee
10/28/2025
Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
10/21/2025
Filed
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