SESSION WATCH
Died SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. SB 874

Professional Licensure Reciprocity for the Practice of Surveying and Mapping
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SPONSOR
Gaetz
FILED BY
Don Gaetz — District 1, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Appropriations Committee on Agriculture

Filed under Occupational.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Professional Licensure Reciprocity for the Practice of Surveying and Mapping; Revising the requirements for applicants eligible to be qualified for licensure by endorsement by the Board of Professional Surveyors and Mappers to include applicants from outside of the state who meet certain requirements; authorizing the board to require and independently evaluate certain documents and information, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Lets experienced out-of-state surveyors qualify for a Florida license.

A surveyor licensed in another state can now qualify for a Florida license by endorsement without meeting Florida's stricter substantial-equivalence test, as long as they are in good standing and have at least 5 years of qualifying, responsible-charge experience.

The older reciprocity path still exists too: an out-of-state license can qualify if that state's licensing criteria matched Florida's own criteria at the time the license was issued.

To confirm an applicant is really in good standing, the licensing board can demand documents or verification from the other state and independently check disciplinary, regulatory, or competency records on its own.

Every applicant, no matter which path they use, must still pass the Florida law and rules portion of the licensing exam before getting a Florida license.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 New experience-based path to a Florida survey license by endorsement majors. 472.015(5)(a)

AIAn applicant holding a valid, good-standing survey license from another state can now qualify for a Florida license by endorsement with at least 5 years of qualifying, responsible-charge experience, without having to show the other state's licensing criteria matched Florida's.

“has a specific experience record of at least 5 years as a registered surveyor and mapper” bill text, line 39 →
§ 2 Board gains explicit authority to verify and investigate good standing moderates. 472.015(5)(c)

AIThe board may demand documentation, verification, or certification from the issuing state and may independently evaluate disciplinary, regulatory, or competency records from that authority or other reliable sources, when checking whether a new-pathway applicant is truly in good standing.

“the board may require documentation, verification, or certification from the issuing authority, and may independently evaluate disciplinary, regulatory, or competency records” bill text, line 48 →
§ 3 Board authorized to adopt implementing rules technicals. 472.015(5)(c)

AIThe board may adopt rules to carry out this new endorsement pathway, consistent with the separate statute governing the board's general rulemaking power.

“The board may adopt rules to implement this section in a manner consistent with s. 472.008” bill text, line 52 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and...
1/14/2026
Now in Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and...
1/13/2026
Introduced
1/13/2026
Favorable by Commerce and Tourism; YEAS 10 NAYS 0
1/8/2026
On Committee agenda-- Commerce and Tourism, 01/13/26, 4:00 pm, 110...
12/16/2025
Referred to Commerce and Tourism; Appropriations Committee on...
12/11/2025
Filed
1 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 472.015
+142 / −1
STAFF ANALYSES