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Part ofethics
HB 603FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026Laid on Table, refer to CS/SB 572

Proposed Changes to Ethics Rules for Public Employees

Original title: Ethics for Public Employees

December 2, 2025

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Where This Stands

Currently Laid on Table, refer to CS/SB 572. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Introduced.

Procedural history

19 actions
  1. Feb 24, 2026House
    Added to Second Reading Calendar
  2. Feb 24, 2026House
    Bill released to House Calendar
  3. Feb 24, 2026House
    Reported out of State Affairs Committee
  4. Feb 24, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable by State Affairs Committee
  5. Feb 20, 2026House
    Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
  6. Feb 19, 2026House
    Now in State Affairs Committee
Show 13 earlier actions
  1. Feb 19, 2026House
    Reported out of Rules & Ethics Committee
  2. Feb 19, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable by Rules & Ethics Committee
  3. Feb 17, 2026House
    Added to Rules & Ethics Committee agenda
  4. Jan 21, 2026House
    Now in Rules & Ethics Committee
  5. Jan 21, 2026House
    Reported out of Government Operations Subcommittee
  6. Jan 21, 2026HouseCommittee
    Favorable by Government Operations Subcommittee
  7. Jan 16, 2026House
    Added to Government Operations Subcommittee agenda
  8. Jan 13, 2026HouseIntroduced
    1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
  9. Dec 12, 2025House
    Now in Government Operations Subcommittee
  10. Dec 12, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to State Affairs Committee
  11. Dec 12, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to Rules & Ethics Committee
  12. Dec 12, 2025HouseCommittee
    Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee
  13. Dec 2, 2025HouseIntroduced
    Filed

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

By updating the definition of 'relative,' this bill changes which individuals are subject to ethics and gift-solicitation restrictions for public officials, including school board members who are prohibited from accepting gifts over $50 from vendors.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Public employees

The definition of 'relative' is expanded, which affects ethics compliance and conflict-of-interest disclosures.

District school board members

The scope of individuals covered by gift-solicitation and acceptance restrictions is expanded to include foster family members.

What changed

Last recorded activity December 2, 2025.

What's next

Introduced.

Summary

This bill expands the legal definition of 'relative' for public employees to include foster parents and foster children. This change directly impacts ethics and gift-giving restrictions for district school board members.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does this bill change the definition of a relative?
It adds legally recognized foster parents and foster children to the existing list of relatives for public employees.
Are school board members allowed to accept gifts?
They may accept gifts, but they are prohibited from soliciting or accepting any gift worth more than $50 from vendors or entities doing business with their school district.

Why It Matters

By updating the definition of 'relative,' this bill changes which individuals are subject to ethics and gift-solicitation restrictions for public officials, including school board members who are prohibited from accepting gifts over $50 from vendors.

News Coverage

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Voting Record

Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Expansion of Ethics Definitions

The legislature is moving to align the definition of 'relative' in ethics statutes with modern family structures by including foster relationships.

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance40
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy10
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment5
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz10
    Current news / social attention level

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