SESSION WATCH
Became law SENATE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-180

No. SB 7040

Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund/Executive Office of the Governor
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SPONSOR
Appropriations
EFFECTIVE
6/29/2026
PROVIDED SUMMARY

Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund/Executive Office of the Governor; Re-creating the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund within the Executive Office of the Governor; specifying that moneys are appropriated to the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund by the Legislature or pursuant to a specified provision; requiring that federal reimbursements of state emergency expenditures be deposited in a separate account within the fund; prohibiting moneys in the fund from being used to purchase aircraft, boats, or motor vehicles, etc.

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Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Recreates the emergency fund with new spending limits and quarterly reporting.

The bill re-creates the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund, which expired in February 2026, and sets a new termination date of July 1, 2028.

It prohibits using fund money to buy aircraft, boats, or vehicles, though short-term leases for emergency response remain allowed.

Federal reimbursements must go into a separate account and can only pay off prior invoices, not be spent on new costs.

The Division of Emergency Management must submit quarterly reports to legislative leaders detailing cash balances, federal reimbursements, and asset inventories.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Re-creation of the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund majors. 252.3711(1)

AIRe-establishes the fund within the Executive Office of the Governor after its constitutional termination on February 17, 2026.

“The Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund within the Executive Office of the Governor, which terminated pursuant to s. 19(f), Article III of the State Constitution on February 1” bill text, line 2 →
§ 2 Restriction on Purchasing Vehicles and Vessels majors. 252.3711(2)(d)

AIProhibits using fund moneys to buy aircraft, boats, or motor vehicles, but explicitly allows short-term leases for emergency response.

“Moneys in the fund may not be used to purchase aircraft, boats, or motor vehicles; however, nothing in this paragraph shall prohibit the short-term lease” bill text, line 63 →
§ 3 Separate Account for Federal Reimbursements majors. 252.3711(2)(c)

AIRequires federal reimbursements to be deposited in a separate account and restricts their use to paying only prior outstanding invoices.

“Federal reimbursements of state emergency expenditures shall be deposited in a separate account within the fund. Expenditures from this separate account may only be made for inv” bill text, line 57 →
§ 4 Quarterly Reporting Requirement moderates. 252.3711(4)

AIMandates the Division of Emergency Management to submit quarterly reports to legislative leadership detailing cash balances, federal reimbursements, and asset inventories.

“Beginning July 15, 2026, and on or before the 15th day of the month following each quarter, the Division of Emergency Management shall submit a report to the President of the” bill text, line 73 →
§ 5 New Termination Date and Review Process moderates. 252.3711(3)

AISets a fixed termination date of July 1, 2028, and directs the fund's review under a specific statutory section.

“The Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund shall, unless terminated sooner, be terminated July 1, 2028. Before its scheduled termination, the fund shall be reviewed as provi” bill text, line 68 →
TIMELINE
6/30/2026
Chapter No. 2026-180
6/29/2026
Approved by Governor
6/23/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/17/2026
Ordered engrossed, then enrolled
3/13/2026
Passed as amended; YEAS 80, NAYS 20
3/13/2026
Amendment 877368 Concur
3/13/2026
Added to Senate Message List
3/13/2026
In Messages
3/13/2026
Passed as amended; YEAS 29 NAYS 7 -SJ 915
3/13/2026
Concurred in House amendment(s) as amended (520451) -SJ 915
3/13/2026
Amendment(s) to House amendment(s) adopted (877368) -SJ 915
3/9/2026
In returning messages
3/9/2026
Passed as amended; YEAS 82, NAYS 25
3/9/2026
Read 3rd time
3/9/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/9/2026
Amendment 520451 adopted
3/9/2026
Amendment 347925 Failed
3/9/2026
Read 2nd time
3/5/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
3/5/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/9/2026)
3/5/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/11/2026
In Messages
2/11/2026
Immediately certified -SJ 299
2/11/2026
Passed; YEAS 29 NAYS 10 -SJ 294
2/11/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 294
2/11/2026
Amendment(s) failed (722464) -SJ 293
2/11/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 293
2/10/2026
Introduced
2/9/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/11/26
2/6/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/6/2026
Filed
2/5/2026
Submitted as Committee Bill and Reported Favorably by...
2/2/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 02/05/26, 9:00 am, 110...
2/2/2026
Submitted for consideration by Appropriations
28 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 252.3711
+38 / −0
s. 252.3711
+359 / −24
STAFF ANALYSES