Florida Bill Book

Police could get a warrant to look at your phone data or fly a drone over your property.

Citizens could lose privacy as officers may examine devices and use drones without being there, while the state gains more power to investigate crimes.

Government Power

• Accountability (hurts) — expands police powers without added oversight. authorizes broader search warrants and remote appearances
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — reduces privacy rights for individuals. permits device data review and drone searches
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — costs likely fall on taxpayers. no funding source is specified
• Process Transparency (hurts) — remote appearances may limit public scrutiny. judges can allow officers to appear remotely
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no new funding provisions. bill does not allocate money

• Official text (FL H0359)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/359
• LegiScan — H0359https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/H0359/2026

If you are out on bail for a violent crime, breaking any court rule could land you in jail and add a new criminal charge.

The bill lets officers arrest people on bail without a warrant and shields them from being sued. It also adds a new crime for breaking bail rules, so many will stay in jail longer. Citizens could lose the right to be free while they wait for their day in court.

Government Power

• Accountability (hurts) — Officer immunity reduces accountability. Officers cannot be sued for arrests under the new rule
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Adds new crime and detention for bail violators. Creates extra criminal charge and may keep accused locked up longer
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Defendants face longer detention. Custody until first appearance shifts cost to the accused
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No new transparency measures. Standard court process remains unchanged
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding changes. Bill does not allocate new money

• Official text (FL S0760)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/760
• LegiScan — S0760https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/S0760/2026

The bill would change how bail bonds work, let agents charge more fees, and let courts keep dangerous people in jail before trial.

Everyday folks could find it harder to get out of jail before trial, and they may have to pay extra fees, while bail agents get clearer rules.

Bail bond agents

• Accountability (hurts) — fees increase, less oversight. agents can charge new fees, reducing transparency
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — more pre‑trial detention. courts can hold dangerous defendants longer
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — fees shift cost to defendants. extra fees on bail bond users
• Process Transparency (neutral) — some changes add paperwork. requires sheriff data entry
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — no new money. no budget changes

• Official text (FL H1017)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1017
• LegiScan — H1017https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/H1017/2026

The bill would make voters prove citizenship with more paperwork and let officials block registrations they think are invalid.

Every Floridian could face delays or denial to vote if their citizenship proof is questioned, so the bill could shrink the electorate and make it harder for new voters to register.

Government Power

• Accountability (helps) — Adds verification steps for officials. Supervisors must check citizenship data
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Makes it harder to register to vote. More paperwork and possible denial
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Voters must provide extra documents. Extra effort and possible travel
• Process Transparency (hurts) — State agencies decide eligibility. Limited public oversight
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No new funding mentioned. Neutral

• Official text (FL S1334)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1334
• LegiScan — S1334https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/S1334/2026

This bill would let insurance companies avoid paying for accidents at large family child care homes, making it harder for families to get help.

If this bill passes, families using large family child care homes could struggle to get support when accidents happen. It's important to speak up now to protect children's safety.

Big Business

• Accountability (hurts) — Less accountability for child care homes.. The bill removes requirements for child care homes to provide safety information.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Weaker protections for families.. Families may not receive help from insurance after incidents at child care homes.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Costs shifted to families.. Families could face higher costs if insurance won't cover claims.

• Official text (FL S1690)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1690
• LegiScan — S1690https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/S1690/2026

This bill would make it easier to keep people in jail for breaking pretrial rules, which could affect their rights.

Citizens should be concerned about losing their rights if they are accused of breaking pretrial rules. This bill could make it harder for them to get out of jail.

Government Power

• Accountability (hurts) — Increased penalties may lead to harsher treatment.. The bill adds penalties for violations, which may not be fair.
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — Could limit rights of individuals on pretrial release.. People may have fewer rights if accused of breaking pretrial conditions.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Increased detention costs for taxpayers.. Holding more people in jail could cost taxpayers more money.

• Official text (FL H0397)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/397
• LegiScan — H0397https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/H0397/2026

The bill would change how Florida counts hurricane losses and sets insurer premiums, which could shift costs for insurance companies and possibly affect policy prices for residents.

The bill could lower the money insurers get back after a hurricane, which might make them raise rates for homeowners. Watching it now lets citizens speak up before it changes their insurance costs.

Insurers

• Accountability (hurts) — Reduces oversight of insurer reimbursements. Authorizes formula without mandatory transparency
• Rights & Protections (hurts) — No new consumer safeguards. Focuses on insurer definitions, not homeowner rights
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Cost impact unclear. Changes may shift costs between insurers and fund
• Process Transparency (hurts) — Removes obsolete language without clear public input. Less detail on how formulas are set
• Funding Tilt (hurts) — Potentially reduces payouts to insurers. Revises reimbursement amounts in favor of the fund

• Official text (FL H1053)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1053
• LegiScan — H1053https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/H1053/2026

A new special district in Hillsborough County could levy taxes and issue bonds to fund local projects, shifting some costs to residents.

Residents may gain more say over local development, but they could also see higher property taxes or assessments to pay for the district’s projects, so they should watch the bill.

Real Estate

• Accountability (neutral) — new elected board. Board elected by residents
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — no change to personal rights. No new consumer protections
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — taxes and assessments. Residents may pay for projects
• Process Transparency (neutral) — public notices required. Notice to purchasers
• Funding Tilt (helps) — bonds and taxes. Enables financing

• Official text (FL H4061)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/4061
• LegiScan — H4061https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/H4061/2026

This bill would change how much counties can charge for certain taxes and fees, which could affect your wallet.

If this bill passes, it could help some people save money on taxes. But it also might make it harder for counties to get money for important services. It's important to pay attention now.

• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Changes could impact local funding.. Counties may lose revenue from special assessments.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Taxpayer protections are added.. Taxpayers are protected from certain penalties.

• Official text (FL S7046)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/7046
• LegiScan — S7046https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/S7046/2026

Drivers would need a new license and fuel tax sticker on their trucks, and they would have to file tax reports online.

The bill adds paperwork and fees for motor carriers, which could raise costs for shipping and make truck drivers pay more, so everyday shoppers may see higher prices.

Government Power

• Accountability (helps) — penalties for counterfeit. adds criminal penalties for fake fuel tax decals, increasing enforcement
• Rights & Protections (neutral) — no change to suing rights. does not limit individuals' ability to sue
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — carriers must pay for licenses and decals. new licensing and electronic filing fees shift costs to motor carriers
• Process Transparency (helps) — electronic filing and email notifications. requires online submissions and email alerts, making processes more open
• Funding Tilt (helps) — state collects more fuel tax efficiently. improved tax collection may increase state revenue

• Official text (FL H0937)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/937
• LegiScan — H0937https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/H0937/2026

This bill would let Florida homeowners with insurance pay much less in property taxes, saving them money and protecting first responders.

This bill would give Florida homeowners a big break on their property taxes if they have property insurance. It would add an extra $200,000 to the tax-free part of their home's value, but only for taxes that don't go to schools. This means people could save a lot of money, especially with high insurance costs. The bill also makes sure local governments can't cut money for police and fire departments. While this helps homeowners, it would mean local governments would collect less money overall, which could affect other services. However, the bill makes sure first responders are safe. Even though this bill died, similar ideas often come back. It's important to watch out for bills like this that could save you money or change how local services are funded.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Protects first responder funding. The bill would stop local governments from reducing total funding for first responders, ensuring these vital services are maintained.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Homeowners get tax relief. Homeowners with property insurance would receive a significant property tax exemption, potentially saving them money.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — Tax burden eased for insured homeowners. The bill would shift some of the property tax burden away from insured homeowners, though local governments would see reduced non-school tax revenue.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Favors homeowners. The proposed tax exemption directly benefits homeowners who maintain property insurance.

Pushing for it: Florida homeowners with property insurance
Bearing the cost: Local governments (non-school budgets)

• Official text (FL H0209)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/209
• LegiScan — H0209https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/H0209/2026

This bill would make it a crime to illegally take over someone's home, helping property owners protect their houses from squatters.

This bill would create a new crime for people who try to take over someone else's home without permission. If it becomes law, it would give homeowners and landlords more power to remove people who illegally enter and stay in their property. This could help protect people's homes and make it easier to deal with squatters. It is important to know about this bill now because it has passed both parts of the state government and is waiting for the Governor to sign it.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Holds people accountable for illegally occupying homes.. The bill creates a new crime for fraudulent entry of residential dwelling units, which would hold individuals accountable for illegally taking possession of a home.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects property owners' rights.. By creating a criminal penalty for illegal entry and possession, the bill aims to protect the rights of property owners against unauthorized occupation.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No clear cost shift identified.. The official text does not specify any direct cost shifts onto ordinary people or consumers.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No information on transparency.. The provided text does not offer details regarding the transparency of the legislative process for this bill.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding details provided.. The official text does not mention any specific funding or financial allocations related to this bill.

Pushing for it: Property owners and landlords, by protecting their assets.
Bearing the cost: Individuals who illegally enter and take possession of residential dwellings.

• Official text (FL H1293)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1293
• LegiScan — H1293https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/H1293/2026

This bill would keep your personal health information about uterine fibroids private, so it cannot be seen by the public if shared for research.

This bill would make sure that if you share your personal health details for a state research database about uterine fibroids, that information would stay private. It means your name and other identifying details would not be part of public records. This is good because it helps protect your privacy, especially with sensitive medical information, and encourages more people to share their data for important health research. Some might argue that all government records should be open to the public for transparency. However, lawmakers believe this specific type of medical data needs to be kept secret to follow federal privacy rules and to make sure the research database can actually work. If this bill passes, your medical privacy would be better protected when helping with this research.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Protects individual privacy.. Exempts personal medical data from public records, which helps individuals but reduces public access to specific government data.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Strengthens patient privacy.. Makes personal identifying medical information confidential, protecting individuals' privacy rights when contributing to health research.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — No direct cost shift.. The bill does not clearly shift financial costs onto or away from ordinary people.
• Process Transparency (hurts) — Reduces public records access.. Makes specific health records confidential, reducing public access to certain government information, though for a stated privacy purpose.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No funding impact.. The bill does not directly involve funding changes that tilt towards or away from ordinary people.

Pushing for it: People contributing data to the database
Bearing the cost: Public records advocates

• Official text (FL S0864)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/864
• LegiScan — S0864https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/S0864/2026

This bill would help people leaving jail get jobs driving big trucks by paying for their training and giving money back to bosses who hire them.

This bill would make it easier for people who have been in jail to find jobs, especially as truck drivers. It would help them learn skills and get certified. Bosses who hire these people could get money back for some insurance costs, which might make them more likely to hire former inmates. This could help people get back on their feet and stay out of trouble. Some might worry about the cost to the state or if it is fair to give special help to certain employers. But supporters say it helps everyone by giving people a second chance and filling important jobs.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Encourages employer participation in rehabilitation.. Employers would need to apply for reimbursement and provide employee details, fostering a structured program.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Provides pathways to employment for a vulnerable group.. By offering job training and reducing employer costs, the bill would help former inmates secure stable employment, a key step in reintegration.
• Who Bears the Cost (helps) — State funds would support employer incentives.. The Department of Financial Services would reimburse employers for workers' compensation and auto liability premiums, subject to appropriation, shifting some cost from employers to the state.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Standard legislative process.. The bill outlines application requirements for employers, but does not change general transparency.
• Funding Tilt (helps) — Funds would support job training and employer incentives.. The bill would allow DOT funds for broader workforce development and create a reimbursement program for employers hiring former inmates.

Pushing for it: Employers who hire former inmates (Up to $5,000 per employee, up to $20,000 per employer)
Bearing the cost: Florida taxpayers

• Official text (FL S1300)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1300
• LegiScan — S1300https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/S1300/2026

This bill would let people use more health care providers, even if they are not part of their insurance plan.

If this bill passes, people could get better health care options. They would not be forced to use only certain doctors or agencies. Now is the time to support this bill.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Increased access to health care providers. The bill allows people to choose from nonparticipating and out-of-network providers.
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Equal reimbursement rates. The bill requires out-of-network providers to be paid the same as in-network ones.

• Official text (FL S0046)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/46
• LegiScan — S0046https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/S0046/2026

This bill would let you report broken farm equipment and get it fixed for free.

If this bill passes, it will help farmers get their equipment repaired or replaced without paying extra. Now is the time to support it.

Everyday People

• Rights & Protections (helps) — Supports consumer rights to report issues.. Consumers can report problems and get free repairs.
• Accountability (helps) — Holds manufacturers accountable for defects.. Manufacturers must fix or replace defective equipment.

• Official text (FL H0637)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/637
• LegiScan — H0637https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/H0637/2026

If you rent a vacation home with a pool, the owner must install a safety device or risk losing their license and paying a fine.

The bill protects families by forcing pool safety gear, but it adds costs for owners who may raise rental prices; now is the time to support safety before the vote.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Adds enforcement for safety. License suspension and fines for non‑compliance
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Protects guests from pool accidents. Requires safety feature
• Who Bears the Cost (neutral) — Owners pay for safety devices. Installation cost falls on licensee
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Dept can set rules. Rulemaking authority
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No new funding. No appropriations listed

• Official text (FL S0608)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/608
• LegiScan — S0608https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/S0608/2026

This bill would make it easier to build affordable homes in Florida and let people sue the state if they face housing discrimination.

This bill would help people find affordable places to live by making it easier to build new homes. It would tell cities and counties they must allow affordable housing in more areas, like where businesses or factories are, and on government land. It would also stop them from making building rules, like how tall a building can be, too strict for these new affordable homes. A very important part of this bill is that it would let people sue the state government if they are treated unfairly when trying to get housing because of discrimination. This means the state would have to answer for its actions in court. Some people might worry about how these new buildings could change their neighborhoods or that local governments would lose some control over building rules.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — State can be sued for discrimination. The bill would waive the state's sovereign immunity for certain lawsuits based on housing discrimination, making the state more accountable.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Stronger protection against housing discrimination. The bill would revise prohibitions on discriminatory practices to include affordable housing, strengthening protections for people seeking such housing.
• Who Bears the Cost (hurts) — Potential costs for local governments. Local governments would be required to allow certain developments and could face lawsuits for discrimination, potentially increasing their legal and administrative costs.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — Not directly addressed. The bill does not directly address changes to government process transparency.
• Funding Tilt (neutral) — No specific funding changes mentioned. The bill does not specify new funding mechanisms or significant shifts in existing funding.

Pushing for it: People needing affordable housing, those facing discrimination
Bearing the cost: Florida state and local governments

• Official text (FL S1548)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1548
• LegiScan — S1548https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/S1548/2026

This bill would make special courts that help people with mental health or drug problems share more details about their work, so we know if they are working.

This bill would make courts that help people with mental health or drug issues share more information about what they do. This could help the state see if these programs are working well and if they need changes. It is important for people to know how these courts are helping those in need.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — More data could lead to better oversight. The bill requires more specific data to be included in problem-solving court reports.
• Process Transparency (helps) — More frequent and detailed reporting. The bill revises the frequency with which mental health and treatment-based drug court program reports must be reported to the Office of State Courts Administrator.

Pushing for it: People who use problem-solving courts, if programs improve
Bearing the cost: State courts, for increased reporting burden

• Official text (FL H0831)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/831
• LegiScan — H0831https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/H0831/2026

This bill would help doctors learn more about moms' mental health, which is important for families.

If this bill passes, doctors will be better prepared to help moms who might be struggling. This could lead to healthier families and happier moms.

Everyday People

• Accountability (helps) — Improves training for healthcare providers. The bill requires ongoing education for doctors.
• Rights & Protections (helps) — Supports mental health awareness. The bill helps ensure moms receive better care.
• Process Transparency (neutral) — No major transparency issues. The bill outlines clear requirements for training.

• Official text (FL H0873)https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/873
• LegiScan — H0873https://legiscan.com/FL/bill/H0873/2026