H 361

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  HB 361  2026
1A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to use of campaign funds for campaign-
3related child care expenses; amending s. 106.1405,
4F.S.; defining the terms "campaign-related child care
5expenses" and "eligible child care provider";
6authorizing a candidate to use funds on deposit in his
7or her campaign account to pay for campaign-related
8child care expenses under specified conditions;
9requiring a candidate to maintain specified records
10for a specified timeframe and provide such records to
11the Division of Elections upon request; requiring a
12candidate to disclose the use of campaign funds for
13campaign-related child care expenses in his or her
14regular campaign finance reports; providing an
15effective date.
16
17Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19Section 1.        Section 106.1405, Florida Statutes, is amended
20to read:
21106.1405  Use of campaign funds.—
22(1)     As used in this section, the term:
23(a)     "Campaign-related child care expenses" means the costs
24associated with the care of a candidate's dependent child due to
25campaign activities, such as participating in campaign events,
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26    canvassing, participating in debates, and meeting with
27    constituents or donors.
28(b)     "Eligible child care provider" means any individual or
29    licensed organization that provides child care services,
30    including center-based, family-based, and in-home care, for
31    compensation, is legally operating under state law, and complies
32    with all applicable state and local requirements for the
33    provision of child care services.
34(2)     A candidate or the spouse of a candidate may not use
35    funds on deposit in a campaign account of such candidate to
36    defray normal living expenses for the candidate or the
37    candidate's family, other than expenses actually incurred for
38    transportation, meals, and lodging by the candidate or a family
39    member during travel in the course of the campaign.
40(3)     Notwithstanding subsection (2), a candidate may use
41    funds on deposit in his or her campaign account to pay for
42    campaign-related child care expenses if the expense would not
43    exist were it not for the candidate's campaign and if the
44    following conditions are met:
45(a)     Campaign funds may not be used for child care expenses
46    unrelated to campaign activities, such as personal errands or
47    routine child care.
48(b)     The candidate maintains and provides to the division,
49    upon request, clear records of all campaign-related child care
50    expenses reimbursed by campaign funds, including dates, times,
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51    and descriptions of campaign events in which the candidate
52    engaged.
531.      Receipts or invoices from the eligible child care
54    provider, along with proof of payment, must be maintained for
55    auditing purposes for at least 3 years after the campaign ends.
562.      A candidate shall disclose the use of campaign funds
57    for campaign-related child care expenses in his or her regular
58    campaign finance reports, specifying the amounts and dates of
59    such expenses.
60Section 2.        This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
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