SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/HB 6531

Relief/Estate of M.N./Broward County Sheriff's Office
Send via email
SPONSOR
Judiciary Committee; LaMarca
FILED BY
Chip LaMarca — District 100, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
upon becoming a law
DIED IN
Rules

Filed under Local Government.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Relief/Estate of M.N./Broward County Sheriff's Office; Provides for an appropriation to compensate estate for injuries sustained by M.N. & her subsequent death as result of negligence of Broward County Sheriff's Office; provides limitation on compensation & payment of attorney fees. CLAIM: $2,588,259

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Directs payment of $2,588,258.50 into a trust for M.N.'s sibling.

The Broward County Sheriff's Office, or Broward County itself, must appropriate $2,588,258.50 and pay it into a trust for the exclusive benefit of D.N., identified as M.N.'s sole surviving sibling, as compensation for M.N.'s injuries and damages.

The act first declares the facts recited in its preamble to be true, legislatively closing off dispute over the underlying events before ordering payment.

The payment is defined as the sole compensation for all present and future claims arising from the same incident, so no further claim can be brought over these injuries later.

Attorney fees connected to the claim are capped at 25 percent of the total amount awarded, though the cap does not mention lobbying fees.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Lets the county or the sheriff's office fund the payment majors. 2

AIAuthorizes the Broward County Sheriff's Office to pay from its own unencumbered funds, or alternatively lets Broward County itself pay from funds that would otherwise go to the sheriff's office.

“or Broward County is authorized to appropriate from funds that would otherwise be payable for expenses incurred by the Broward County Sheriff's Office” bill text, line 168 →
§ 2 Directs the payment into a trust for M.N.'s sibling majors. 2

AISends the $2,588,258.50 warrant to a trust created for the exclusive benefit of D.N., identified as M.N.'s sole surviving sibling, rather than paying the estate directly.

“payable to a trust for the exclusive benefit of D.N., M.N.'s sole surviving sibling, as compensation for injuries and damages sustained” bill text, line 171 →
§ 3 Makes the payment sole compensation for the claim majors. 3

AIBars any further claim against the Broward County Sheriff's Office over the same injuries to the Estate of M.N., whether that claim would arise now or later.

“intended to provide the sole compensation for all present and future claims arising out of the factual situation described in this act” bill text, line 176 →
§ 4 Caps attorney fees at 25 percent of the award moderates. 3

AILimits the attorney fees that may be paid in connection with this claim to no more than 25 percent of the $2,588,258.50 awarded, leaving the remainder for the trust.

“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 179 →
§ 5 Declares the preamble's facts legally true moderates. 1

AILegislatively establishes the account recited in the act's preamble as fact, removing it from further dispute before the payment is ordered.

“The facts stated in the preamble to this act are found and declared to be true” bill text, line 164 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Rules
3/5/2026
Received
3/5/2026
Referred to Rules
3/5/2026
In Messages
3/5/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 103, NAYS 0
3/5/2026
Read 3rd time
3/5/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/5/2026
Amendment 888481 adopted
3/5/2026
Amendment 814919 adopted
3/5/2026
Read 2nd time
3/2/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/5/2026)
2/25/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/25/2026
Temporarily postponed, on 2nd Reading
2/19/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
2/4/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/4/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2/4/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/3/2026
CS Filed
2/3/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/3/2026
Reported out of Judiciary Committee
2/3/2026
Favorable with CS by Judiciary Committee
1/30/2026
Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
1/29/2026
Now in Judiciary Committee
1/29/2026
Reported out of Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/29/2026
Favorable by Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/27/2026
Added to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee agenda
1/15/2026
Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/15/2026
Referred to Judiciary Committee
1/15/2026
Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/8/2026
Filed
25 EARLIER →
STAFF ANALYSES