No. CS/CS/CS/HB 905
Filed under Local Government.
Foreign Influence; Defines the terms "designated foreign terrorist organization" and "foreign country of concern"; provides penalties for specified persons who solicit or accept anything of value from persons or entities representing a designated foreign terrorist organization or a foreign country of concern; requiring the Commission on Ethics to adopt certain rules by a specified date; authorizes any appropriate tax collector to revoke or refuse to renew business tax receipts of specified individuals, businesses, or entities; prohibits certain activities encouraging affiliations with foreign countries of concern; requires the Department of Commerce to publish and update certain information on its website; deleting the Florida-China Institute from the list of linkage institutes; authorizes the Governor to suspend certain laws or rules relating to Cuba for a specified period under certain circumstances, etc.
Plain English Summary
AI-GENERATEDPublic officials face double repayment and new criminal penalties for accepting anything of value from designated foreign entities.
State agencies must terminate all existing agreements with foreign countries of concern, including sister city pacts, effective July 1, 2026.
Businesses doing business with Cuba in violation of federal law may have their local business tax receipts revoked.
Gestational surrogacy and preplanned adoption contracts are void if any party is a citizen or resident of a foreign country of concern.
AICreates a new felony offense for soliciting or accepting anything of value from a designated foreign terrorist organization or foreign country of concern, with a mandatory double repayment penalty.
AIProhibits state agencies, political subdivisions, and public schools from entering into any agreement with or accepting grants from a foreign country of concern or its subdivisions, and terminates all existing such agreements as of July 1, 2026.
AIAllows the reclassification of any misdemeanor or felony to a higher degree of offense if committed for the purpose of benefiting a foreign government or designated foreign terrorist organization, with a mandatory 15-year minimum prison sentence for the highest tiers.
AIProhibits preplanned adoption agreements and gestational surrogacy contracts if any party is a citizen or resident of a foreign country of concern, rendering such contracts void and unenforceable.
AIDeletes the Florida-China Institute from the list of state linkage institutes and prohibits any linkage institute from entering into agreements or participating in activities with a foreign country of concern.
AIAuthorizes the Governor to suspend statutes or rules restricting interactions with Cuba if the federal government changes Cuba's diplomatic status, with a sunset date of October 2, 2028.
AIAuthorizes tax collectors to revoke or refuse to renew business tax receipts for any individual, business, or entity doing business with Cuba in violation of federal law, and makes false sworn affidavits a third-degree felony.