S 2502

       Florida Senate - 2026  SB 2502-E
       By Senator Hooper
       21-00004-26E  20262502E__
    1  A bill to be entitled
    2  An act implementing the 2026-2027 General
    3  Appropriations Act; providing legislative intent;
    4  incorporating by reference certain calculations;
    5  amending s. 1001.451, F.S.; revising the services
    6  required to be provided by regional consortium service
    7  organizations under certain circumstances; revising
    8  the allocation that certain regional consortium
    9  service organizations are eligible to receive from the
   10  General Appropriations Act; requiring regional
   11  consortium service organizations to submit certain
   12  annual reports to the Department of Education;
   13  requiring certain unexpended funds to be carried
   14  forward; requiring each regional consortium service
   15  organization to provide quarterly financial reports to
   16  member districts; requiring member districts to
   17  designate fiscal agent districts for certain purposes;
   18  providing for compensation of fiscal agent districts;
   19  providing for certain personnel recommendations,
   20  policies, salary schedules, and job descriptions;
   21  authorizing the purchase or lease of property and
   22  facilities; providing for the distribution of certain
   23  revenues upon dissolution of a regional consortium
   24  service organization; revising authorized means of
   25  revenue generation; requiring the establishment of a
   26  fund balance for certain purposes; providing for the
   27  future expiration and reversion of specified statutory
   28  text; creating s. 1001.4511, F.S.; creating the
   29  Regional Consortia Service Organization Supplemental
   30  Services Program; authorizing the use of program funds
   31  for specified purposes; requiring each regional
   32  consortium service organization to annually report
   33  certain information to the Legislature; authorizing
   34  certain funds to be carried forward; creating s.
   35  1009.635, F.S.; establishing the Rural Incentive for
   36  Professional Educators (RIPE) Program within the
   37  Department of Education for a specified purpose;
   38  providing eligibility requirements for the program;
   39  providing for student loan repayment assistance, up to
   40  a specified amount; requiring the department to verify
   41  certain participant information before disbursement of
   42  an award; specifying that the program is administered
   43  by the Office of Student Financial Assistance within
   44  the department; requiring the State Board of Education
   45  to adopt rules by a specified date; authorizing
   46  certain state university boards of trustees to accept
   47  a health care provider’s procurement methods and
   48  construction contracts under certain circumstances;
   49  authorizing the Florida Agricultural and Mechanical
   50  University board of trustees to expend available
   51  reserves or carry forward certain balances for a
   52  specified purpose; authorizing the Agency for Health
   53  Care Administration to submit a budget amendment to
   54  realign Medicaid funding for specified purposes,
   55  subject to certain limitations; authorizing the Agency
   56  for Health Care Administration to submit a budget
   57  amendment to realign funding within the Florida
   58  Kidcare program appropriation categories or to
   59  increase budget authority for certain purposes;
   60  specifying the time period within which such budget
   61  amendment must be submitted; amending s. 381.986,
   62  F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year the exemption of
   63  certain rules pertaining to the medical use of
   64  marijuana from certain rulemaking requirements;
   65  authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration
   66  to submit a budget amendment requesting additional
   67  spending authority to implement specified programs and
   68  payments; requiring institutions participating in a
   69  specified workforce expansion and education program to
   70  provide quarterly reports to the agency; authorizing
   71  the Agency for Health Care Administration to submit a
   72  budget amendment for a specified purpose; authorizing
   73  the Agency for Health Care Administration to submit a
   74  budget amendment requesting additional spending
   75  authority to implement the Low Income Pool component
   76  of the Florida Managed Medical Assistance
   77  Demonstration up to a certain amount; requiring that
   78  the amendment include a signed attestation and
   79  acknowledgment for entities relating to the Low Income
   80  Pool; authorizing the Agency for Health Care
   81  Administration to submit a budget amendment requesting
   82  additional spending authority to implement certain
   83  payments and specified programs; authorizing the
   84  Agency for Health Care Administration to submit a
   85  budget amendment requesting additional spending
   86  authority to implement a certified expenditure program
   87  for emergency medical transportation services;
   88  authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration
   89  to submit a budget amendment requesting additional
   90  spending authority to implement the Disproportionate
   91  Share Hospital Program; requiring such amendment to
   92  include specified information; authorizing the Agency
   93  for Health Care Administration to submit a budget
   94  amendment requesting additional spending authority to
   95  implement fee-for-service inpatient and outpatient
   96  supplemental payments for specialty hospitals;
   97  authorizing the Agency for Health Care Administration
   98  to submit budget amendments to increase budget
   99  authority to support the Florida School-Based Services
  100  program; requiring the Agency for Health Care
  101  Administration to create the Applied Behavior Analysis
  102  (ABA) Task Force for a certain purpose; requiring the
  103  task force to evaluate certain information and develop
  104  recommendations; providing for membership of the task
  105  force; requiring the Agency for Health Care
  106  Administration to provide staff support; authorizing
  107  staff from specified agencies to provide additional
  108  expertise; providing for meetings of the task force;
  109  providing that members of the task force serve without
  110  compensation but are entitled to reimbursement of
  111  travel expenses; requiring the task force to provide a
  112  report to the Governor and the Legislature by a
  113  specified date; authorizing the Department of Children
  114  and Families to submit a budget amendment to realign
  115  funding within specified areas of the department based
  116  on implementation of the Guardianship Assistance
  117  Program; authorizing the Department of Children and
  118  Families, the Department of Health, and the Agency for
  119  Health Care Administration to submit budget amendments
  120  to increase budget authority to support certain
  121  refugee programs; requiring the Department of Children
  122  and Families to submit quarterly reports to the
  123  Executive Office of the Governor and the Legislature;
  124  authorizing the Department of Children and Families to
  125  submit budget amendments to increase budget authority
  126  to support specified federal grant programs;
  127  reenacting s. 393.066(2), F.S., relating to community
  128  services and treatment; providing for the future
  129  expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;
  130  amending s. 394.9082, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal
  131  year the authority of a managing entity to carry
  132  forward certain unexpended funds; specifying that
  133  nonqualified funds carried forward are not included in
  134  a cumulative cap on the percentage that may be carried
  135  forward; amending s. 409.9913, F.S.; requiring that
  136  core services funding be allocated as provided in the
  137  General Appropriations Act; requiring the Department
  138  of Children and Families to continue to collect
  139  certain data from community-based care lead agencies
  140  and to use a certain Tiered Funding Model; requiring
  141  community-based care lead agencies to submit certain
  142  data to the department; requiring the department to
  143  conduct certain ongoing performance monitoring;
  144  requiring the department to provide monthly status
  145  reports to the Governor and the Legislature; requiring
  146  the department to submit a final report to the
  147  Governor and the Legislature by a specified date;
  148  amending s. 409.990, F.S.; requiring that certain
  149  funds held by a community-based care lead agency and
  150  carried forward be returned to the Department of
  151  Children and Families; requiring the department to
  152  hold such funds in a separate account and report
  153  certain information to specified entities; providing
  154  for the reversion of such funds to the General Revenue
  155  Fund; authorizing the Department of Health to submit a
  156  budget amendment to increase budget authority for the
  157  Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and
  158  Children (WIC) and the Child Care Food Program if a
  159  certain condition is met; authorizing the Department
  160  of Health to submit a budget amendment to increase
  161  budget authority for the HIV/AIDS Prevention and
  162  Treatment Program if a certain condition is met;
  163  authorizing the Department of Health to submit a
  164  budget amendment to increase budget authority for the
  165  department if additional federal revenues specific to
  166  COVID-19 relief funds become available; requiring the
  167  Agency for Health Care Administration to replace the
  168  Florida Medicaid Management Information System (FMMIS)
  169  and fiscal agent operations with a specified new
  170  system; specifying items that may not be included in
  171  the new system; providing directives to the Agency for
  172  Health Care Administration related to the new Florida
  173  Health Care Connection (FX) system; requiring the
  174  Agency for Health Care Administration to meet certain
  175  requirements in replacing FMMIS and the current
  176  Medicaid fiscal agent; requiring the Agency for Health
  177  Care Administration to implement a specified program
  178  governance structure that includes an executive
  179  steering committee composed of specified members;
  180  providing the duties of the executive steering
  181  committee; requiring the establishment of specified
  182  working groups; providing the composition of such
  183  groups; providing requirements for such groups;
  184  requiring the Agency for Health Care Administration to
  185  contract for a certain assessment of the agency’s
  186  Medicaid Management Information System (MMIS);
  187  providing requirements for the assessment; requiring
  188  submission of the assessment to specified entities by
  189  a certain date; requiring the agency to develop a new
  190  time-phased implementation roadmap for the MMIS
  191  replacement based on the assessment; requiring the
  192  agency to submit the roadmap to specified entities by
  193  a certain date; requiring the Agency for Health Care
  194  Administration, in consultation with the Department of
  195  Health, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the
  196  Department of Children and Families, and the
  197  Department of Corrections, to competitively procure a
  198  contract with a vendor to negotiate prices for certain
  199  prescribed drugs and biological products; providing
  200  specifications for such contract; authorizing the
  201  issuance or renewal of certain inactive or partially
  202  inactive licenses to skilled nursing providers and
  203  requiring the extension of certificate-of-need
  204  validity periods under certain circumstances;
  205  providing for subsequent renewal periods of such
  206  inactive licenses and validity periods under certain
  207  circumstances; authorizing the Agency for Persons with
  208  Disabilities to submit budget amendments to transfer
  209  funding from the Salaries and Benefits appropriation
  210  categories for a specified purpose; authorizing the
  211  Agency for Persons with Disabilities to submit budget
  212  amendments to request funds from the Lump Sum-Home and
  213  Community-Based Waiver category for a specified
  214  purpose; authorizing the Agency for Health Care
  215  Administration and the Agency for Persons with
  216  Disabilities to submit budget amendments within a
  217  specified timeframe for a specified purpose;
  218  authorizing the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to
  219  submit a budget amendment, subject to Legislative
  220  Budget Commission approval, requesting certain
  221  authority for certain purposes relating to veterans’
  222  nursing homes; amending s. 409.915, F.S.; extending
  223  for 1 year the expiration of an exception for certain
  224  funds used for the hospital directed payment program;
  225  authorizing the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to
  226  expend certain funds and submit budget amendments,
  227  subject to certain approval, for the planning and
  228  construction of a new State Veterans’ Nursing Home and
  229  Adult Day Health Center in a specified county;
  230  authorizing the department to apply for a specified
  231  federal grant for the Collier County State Veterans’
  232  Nursing Home; authorizing the Department of Elderly
  233  Affairs to submit a budget amendment requesting
  234  certain authority for an Adult Care Food Program or
  235  the Older Americans Act under certain circumstances;
  236  amending s. 216.262, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year
  237  the authority of the Department of Corrections to
  238  submit a budget amendment for additional positions and
  239  appropriations under certain circumstances; amending
  240  s. 215.18, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year the
  241  authority and related repayment requirements for
  242  temporary trust fund loans to the state court system
  243  which are sufficient to meet the system’s
  244  appropriation; requiring the Department of Juvenile
  245  Justice to review county juvenile detention payments
  246  to determine whether a county has met specified
  247  financial responsibilities; requiring that amounts
  248  owed by a certain county for such financial
  249  responsibilities be deducted from certain county
  250  funds; requiring the Department of Revenue to transfer
  251  withheld funds to a specified trust fund; requiring
  252  the Department of Revenue to ensure that such
  253  reductions in amounts distributed do not reduce
  254  distributions below amounts necessary for certain
  255  payments due on bonds and to comply with bond
  256  covenants; requiring the Department of Revenue to
  257  notify the Department of Juvenile Justice if bond
  258  payment requirements mandate a reduction in deductions
  259  for amounts owed by a county; requiring the Department
  260  of Juvenile Justice to take certain actions;
  261  reenacting s. 27.40(1), (2)(a), (3)(a), (5), (6), and
  262  (7), F.S., relating to court-appointed counsel;
  263  providing for the future expiration and reversion of
  264  specified statutory text; reenacting and amending s.
  265  27.5304, F.S., relating to the extension for 1 fiscal
  266  year of limitations on compensation for representation
  267  in criminal proceedings; providing for the future
  268  expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;
  269  amending s. 908.1033, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal
  270  year provisions authorizing local law enforcement
  271  agencies to apply to the State Board of Immigration
  272  Enforcement to provide bonus payments for certain
  273  certified correctional officers; amending s. 934.50,
  274  F.S.; creating the Drone as First Responder Grant
  275  Program within the Department of Law Enforcement;
  276  providing the purpose of the program; providing
  277  eligibility requirements; requiring the department to
  278  develop an application process and allocate funds on a
  279  first-come, first-served basis; requiring that grants
  280  be matched by local funds in a specified percentage;
  281  authorizing the department to waive the matching funds
  282  requirement for certain agencies; defining the term
  283  “first responder agency”; authorizing the department
  284  to adopt rules; authorizing emergency rulemaking;
  285  requiring the Department of Management Services, with
  286  the cooperation of certain agencies, to use tenant
  287  broker services to renegotiate or reprocure certain
  288  private lease agreements for office or storage space;
  289  requiring the Department of Management Services to
  290  provide a report to the Governor and the Legislature
  291  by a specified date; prohibiting an agency from
  292  transferring funds from a data processing category to
  293  another category other than another data processing
  294  category; authorizing the Executive Office of the
  295  Governor to transfer funds appropriated in certain
  296  categories between departments for purposes of
  297  aligning amounts paid for risk management insurance
  298  and for human resources services purchased per
  299  statewide contract; authorizing the Department of
  300  Management Services to use certain facility
  301  disposition funds from the Architects Incidental Trust
  302  Fund to pay for certain relocation expenses;
  303  authorizing the Department of Management Services to
  304  submit budget amendments for an increase in
  305  appropriation under certain circumstances; requiring
  306  that such amendments include specified information;
  307  requiring the Department of Financial Services to
  308  replace specified components of the Florida Accounting
  309  Information Resource Subsystem (FLAIR) and the Cash
  310  Management Subsystem (CMS) with a specified integrated
  311  enterprise system; prohibiting the Department of
  312  Financial Services from including certain components
  313  in the replacement of FLAIR and CMS; providing
  314  requirements for the Department of Financial Services
  315  related to replacing FLAIR and CMS; providing for the
  316  composition of an executive steering committee to
  317  oversee FLAIR and CMS replacement; providing
  318  requirements for the executive steering committee
  319  chair; providing duties and responsibilities of the
  320  executive steering committee; reenacting s.
  321  282.709(3), F.S., relating to the state agency law
  322  enforcement radio system and interoperability network;
  323  providing for future expiration and reversion of
  324  specified statutory text; authorizing state agencies
  325  and other eligible users of the Statewide Law
  326  Enforcement Radio System to use the Department of
  327  Management Services contract to purchase equipment and
  328  services; requiring that a specified transaction fee
  329  percentage for use of the online procurement system be
  330  collected for a specified fiscal year; amending s.
  331  24.105, F.S.; specifying requirements for the adoption
  332  of rules of the Department of the Lottery, excluding
  333  certain rules for 1 fiscal year regarding the
  334  commission for lottery ticket sales; limiting
  335  additional retailer compensation in a specified
  336  manner; providing for the future expiration and
  337  reversion of specified statutory text; amending s.
  338  627.351, F.S.; extending for 1 year the specified
  339  authority of Citizens Property Insurance Corporation;
  340  amending s. 215.5586, F.S.; extending for 1 year the
  341  homeowner eligibility criteria for a hurricane
  342  mitigation grant from the My Safe Florida Home
  343  Program; providing that certain funds appropriated to
  344  the Department of Financial Services may be carried
  345  forward through a specified fiscal year; authorizing
  346  the Executive Office of the Governor to transfer funds
  347  between departments to align the budget authority
  348  granted based on the estimated costs for data
  349  processing services for a specified fiscal year;
  350  limiting the auxiliary assessments that may be charged
  351  to state agencies related to contract management
  352  services provided to the Northwest Regional Data
  353  Center; reenacting and amending s. 284.51, F.S.,
  354  relating to the electroencephalogram combined
  355  transcranial magnetic stimulation treatment (eTMS)
  356  pilot program; extending for 1 year the expiration of
  357  the program; requiring the Department of Financial
  358  Services to continue its existing contract for the
  359  establishment of the eTMS pilot program for veterans
  360  and first responders; amending s. 717.123, F.S.;
  361  authorizing the Department of Financial Services to
  362  retain specified funds, not to exceed a certain
  363  amount; requiring that the funds be held in a separate
  364  account; requiring the department to make prompt
  365  payment of certain claims from the separate account;
  366  amending s. 215.18, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year
  367  certain authority to transfer funds from certain trust
  368  funds in the State Treasury to other trust funds in
  369  certain circumstances; requiring the Department of
  370  Environmental Protection to transfer designated
  371  proportions of the revenues deposited in the Land
  372  Acquisition Trust Fund within the department to land
  373  acquisition trust funds in the Department of
  374  Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of
  375  State, and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
  376  Commission according to specified parameters and
  377  calculations; defining the term “department”;
  378  requiring the Department of Environmental Protection
  379  to make transfers to land acquisition trust funds
  380  monthly; specifying the method of determining transfer
  381  amounts; authorizing the Department of Environmental
  382  Protection to advance funds from its land acquisition
  383  trust fund to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
  384  Commission’s land acquisition trust fund for specified
  385  purposes; amending s. 259.105, F.S.; requiring that
  386  proceeds from a specified trust fund be distributed as
  387  provided in the General Appropriations Act for a
  388  specified fiscal year; amending s. 376.91, F.S.;
  389  extending for 1 year the date by which the Department
  390  of Environmental Protection shall adopt statewide
  391  cleanup target levels for PFAS under certain
  392  circumstances; providing for future expiration and
  393  reversion of specified statutory text; reenacting s.
  394  376.3071(15)(g), F.S., relating to the Inland
  395  Protection Trust Fund; providing for the future
  396  expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;
  397  requiring the Department of Citrus to enter into
  398  agreements for specified purposes by a certain date;
  399  requiring the Department of Citrus to file certain
  400  information with the department’s Inspector General;
  401  reenacting s. 380.5105, F.S., relating to the Stan
  402  Mayfield Working Waterfronts; providing for the future
  403  expiration and reversion of specified statutory text;
  404  authorizing the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
  405  Commission to use specified funds to provide grants
  406  for a specified purpose; amending s. 403.890, F.S.;
  407  authorizing the use of revenues deposited into or
  408  appropriated to the Water Protection and
  409  Sustainability Program Trust Fund as provided in the
  410  General Appropriations Act; amending s. 375.041, F.S.;
  411  extending for 1 fiscal year the requirement that funds
  412  for the Land Acquisition Trust Fund be appropriated in
  413  a specified manner; authorizing the Department of
  414  Agriculture and Consumer Services to lease an existing
  415  facility and administer a specified program;
  416  authorizing the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
  417  Services to submit budget amendments to increase
  418  budget authority for the National School Lunch
  419  Program; amending s. 288.80125, F.S.; extending for 1
  420  fiscal year a requirement that the use of funds in the
  421  Triumph Gulf Coast Trust Fund be related to Hurricane
  422  Michael recovery; amending s. 339.135, F.S.; extending
  423  for 1 year the authority for the chair and vice chair
  424  of the Legislative Budget Commission to approve
  425  certain work program amendments under specified
  426  circumstances; authorizing the Department of
  427  Transportation to request a specified amount of budget
  428  authority to the extent necessary to advance or defer
  429  certain projects in the Work Program and align
  430  resources for a specified purpose; amending s.
  431  288.0655, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year a
  432  requirement that certain appropriated funds relating
  433  to the Rural Infrastructure Fund be distributed in a
  434  specified manner; creating s. 288.013, F.S.; providing
  435  legislative findings; creating the Office of Rural
  436  Prosperity within the Department of Commerce;
  437  requiring the Governor to appoint a director, subject
  438  to Senate confirmation; providing that the director
  439  reports to and serves at the pleasure of the secretary
  440  of the department; providing duties of the office;
  441  requiring the office to establish and staff a certain
  442  number of regional rural community liaison centers for
  443  a specified purpose; providing the powers and duties
  444  of the liaison centers; requiring coordination between
  445  certain entities; requiring the liaison centers to
  446  engage with the Rural Economic Development Initiative
  447  (REDI); requiring at least one staff member of a
  448  liaison center to attend the monthly REDI meetings in
  449  person or by means of electronic communication;
  450  requiring the director of the office to submit a
  451  report to the Administration Commission within the
  452  Executive Office of the Governor; specifying
  453  requirements for the report; requiring that the report
  454  also be submitted to the Legislature by a specified
  455  date and published on the office’s website; requiring
  456  the director of the office to attend the next
  457  Administration Commission meeting to present detailed
  458  information from the annual report; amending s.
  459  288.001, F.S.; requiring the Florida Small Business
  460  Development Center Network to use certain funds
  461  appropriated for a specified purpose; authorizing the
  462  network to dedicate funds to facilitate certain
  463  events; creating s. 288.014, F.S.; providing
  464  legislative findings; requiring the Office of Rural
  465  Prosperity to administer the Renaissance Grants
  466  Program to provide block grants to eligible
  467  communities; requiring the Office of Economic and
  468  Demographic Research to certify to the Office of Rural
  469  Prosperity certain information by a specified date;
  470  defining the term “growth-impeded”; requiring the
  471  Office of Economic and Demographic Research to certify
  472  annually that a county remains growth-impeded until
  473  certain conditions are met; providing that a county is
  474  eligible to participate in the program for 1
  475  additional year under certain circumstances; requiring
  476  participating counties to enter into an agreement with
  477  the Office of Rural Prosperity to receive a block
  478  grant; giving such counties certain authority;
  479  prohibiting the Office of Rural Prosperity from
  480  determining how such counties implement the block
  481  grant; requiring regional rural community liaison
  482  center staff to provide certain assistance; requiring
  483  participating counties to report certain information
  484  to the Office of Rural Prosperity; providing that a
  485  participating county receives a specified amount from
  486  funds appropriated to the program, or an equal share
  487  of the funds appropriated under certain circumstances;
  488  requiring participating counties to limit certain
  489  expenses; authorizing participating counties to
  490  supplement the block grant with other funding sources;
  491  requiring participating counties to hire and retain a
  492  renaissance coordinator; providing the
  493  responsibilities of the renaissance coordinator;
  494  requiring the regional rural community liaison center
  495  staff to provide assistance and training to the
  496  renaissance coordinator, upon request; requiring
  497  participating counties to design a certain plan;
  498  specifying requirements for such plan; requiring
  499  participating counties to develop intergovernmental
  500  agreements with certain entities to implement the
  501  plan; requiring the Auditor General to conduct an
  502  operational audit of each county’s grant activities;
  503  requiring the Office of Economic and Demographic
  504  Research to submit a certain report to the
  505  Legislature; specifying requirements for the report;
  506  providing that funds appropriated from the program are
  507  not subject to reversion; creating s. 288.0175, F.S.;
  508  creating the Public Infrastructure Smart Technology
  509  Grant Program within the Office of Rural Prosperity;
  510  defining terms; requiring the office to contract with
  511  one or more smart technology lead organizations to
  512  administer the grant program for a specified purpose;
  513  providing the criteria for such contracts; requiring
  514  that a summary of projects funded by the grant program
  515  be included in the office’s annual report; amending s.
  516  288.065, F.S.; establishing the Rural Community
  517  Development Revolving Loan Fund within the Office of
  518  Rural Prosperity, rather than the Department of
  519  Commerce; defining the term “unit of local
  520  government”; requiring the office to include in its
  521  annual report certain information about the Rural
  522  Community Development Revolving Loan Fund; providing
  523  for future expiration and reversion of specified
  524  statutory text; authorizing the Division of Emergency
  525  Management to submit budget amendments to increase
  526  budget authority for certain expenditures under
  527  certain circumstances; amending s. 282.201, F.S.;
  528  extending for 1 year the Division of Emergency
  529  Management’s exemption from the use of the state data
  530  center; amending s. 443.1113, F.S.; providing that
  531  certain improvements to the Reemployment Assistance
  532  Claims and Benefits Information System are subject to
  533  appropriation; revising the date a certain report from
  534  the Department of Commerce is required to be
  535  submitted; revising the report requirements; providing
  536  for the future expiration and reversion of specified
  537  statutory text; reenacting and amending s. 445.08,
  538  F.S., relating to the Florida Law Enforcement
  539  Recruitment Bonus Payment Program; extending the
  540  program for 1 year; authorizing the Department of
  541  Commerce to submit budget amendments to increase
  542  budget authority to support specified federal grant
  543  programs; requiring the Department of Management
  544  Services to assess an administrative health insurance
  545  assessment on each state agency; providing the rate of
  546  such assessment; defining the term “state agency”;
  547  requiring the Department of Management Services to
  548  take certain actions in case of delinquencies;
  549  requiring the Chief Financial Officer to transfer
  550  funds under specified circumstances; requiring state
  551  agencies to provide a list of positions that qualify
  552  for a certain exception by a specified date and to
  553  update the list monthly thereafter; requiring state
  554  agencies to include the administrative health
  555  insurance assessment in their indirect cost plan
  556  beginning for a specified fiscal year and annually
  557  thereafter; requiring agencies to notify the
  558  Department of Management Services, the Executive
  559  Office of the Governor, and the Legislature regarding
  560  the approval of their updated indirect cost plans;
  561  authorizing the Executive Office of the Governor to
  562  transfer budget authority between agencies in
  563  specified circumstances; providing that the annual
  564  salaries of the members of the Legislature be
  565  maintained at a specified level for a specified fiscal
  566  year; reenacting s. 215.32(2)(b), F.S., relating to
  567  the authorization for transferring unappropriated cash
  568  balances from selected trust funds to the Budget
  569  Stabilization Fund and General Revenue Fund; providing
  570  for the future expiration and reversion of specified
  571  statutory text; specifying the type of travel which
  572  may be used with state employee travel funds for a
  573  specified fiscal year; providing exceptions; providing
  574  applicability; providing a monetary cap on lodging
  575  costs for state employee travel to certain meetings
  576  organized or sponsored by a state agency or the
  577  judicial branch; authorizing employees to expend their
  578  own funds for lodging expenses that exceed the
  579  monetary caps; providing construction; amending s.
  580  216.181, F.S.; extending for 1 fiscal year the
  581  authority of the Legislative Budget Commission to
  582  approve budget amendments for certain fixed capital
  583  outlay projects; amending s. 216.292, F.S.; extending
  584  for 1 fiscal year the requirements for certain
  585  transfers; authorizing state agencies to purchase
  586  vehicles from nonstate term contract vendors without
  587  prior approval from the Department of Management
  588  Services under certain circumstances; amending s.
  589  11.52, F.S.; extending for 1 year certain state agency
  590  reporting requirements regarding implementation of
  591  legislation; amending s. 216.013, F.S.; extending for
  592  1 fiscal year an exception from certain planning
  593  requirements; amending s. 216.023, F.S.; extending for
  594  1 year a requirement that certain entities include a
  595  specified inventory in their legislative budget
  596  requests; requiring that a specified percentage of
  597  funds appropriated for information technology projects
  598  be held in reserve and that general revenue funds not
  599  held in reserve be released; authorizing the Agency
  600  for Health Care Administration, Department of Children
  601  and Families, Department of Corrections, Department of
  602  Financial Services, Florida Gaming Control Commission,
  603  Department of Health, and Department of Revenue to
  604  submit a budget amendment to request release of funds;
  605  limiting the amount that may be requested; providing
  606  that release is contingent upon certain submissions;
  607  requiring entities receiving such funds to submit
  608  monthly project status reports to certain entities;
  609  providing requirements for such status reports;
  610  providing conditions under which the veto of certain
  611  appropriations or proviso language in the General
  612  Appropriations Act voids language that implements such
  613  appropriation; providing for the continued operation
  614  of certain provisions notwithstanding a future repeal
  615  or expiration provided by the act; providing for
  616  construction of the act in pari materia with laws
  617  enacted during the 2026 Regular Session of the
  618  Legislature; providing for severability; providing for
  619  contingent retroactivity; providing effective dates.
  620
  621  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
  622
  623  Section 1. It is the intent of the Legislature that the
  624  implementing and administering provisions of this act apply to
  625  the General Appropriations Act for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
  626  Section 2. In order to implement Specific Appropriations 5,
  627  6, 88, and 89 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the
  628  calculations of the Florida Education Finance Program for the
  629  2026-2027 fiscal year included in the document titled “Public
  630  School Funding: The Florida Education Finance Program (FEFP)
  631  Fiscal Year 2026-2027,” dated May 7, 2026, and filed with the
  632  Secretary of the Senate, are incorporated by reference for the
  633  purpose of displaying the calculations used by the Legislature,
  634  consistent with the requirements of state law, in making
  635  appropriations for the Florida Education Finance Program. This
  636  section expires July 1, 2027.
  637  Section 3. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 80
  638  of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the school
  639  readiness reimbursement rates for the 2026-2027 fiscal year
  640  included in the document titled “School Readiness Program
  641  Reimbursement Rates Fiscal Year 2026-2027,” dated May 7, 2026,
  642  and filed with the Secretary of the Senate, are incorporated by
  643  reference, consistent with the requirements of state law, in
  644  making appropriations for the school readiness program
  645  allocation. This section expires July 1, 2027.
  646  Section 4. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 102
  647  of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsections (1),
  648  (2), and (5) of section 1001.451, Florida Statutes, are amended
  649  to read:
  650  1001.451 Regional consortium service organizations.—In
  651  order to provide a full range of programs to larger numbers of
  652  students, minimize duplication of services, and encourage the
  653  development of new programs and services:
  654  (1) School districts with 20,000 or fewer unweighted full
  655  time equivalent students, developmental research (laboratory)
  656  schools established pursuant to s. 1002.32, and the Florida
  657  School for the Deaf and the Blind may enter into cooperative
  658  agreements to form a regional consortium service organization.
  659  Each regional consortium service organization shall provide any[,]
  660  [at a minimum, three] of the following services determined
  661  necessary and appropriate by the board of directors:
  662  (a) Exceptional student education;
  663  (b) Safe schools support [teacher education centers;]
  664  [environmental education];
  665  (c)State and federal grant procurement and coordination;
  666  (d) Data services [processing]; [health]
  667  (e) Insurance services;
  668  (f) Risk management [insurance];
  669  (g) Professional learning;
  670  (h) College, career, and workforce development;
  671  (i) Business and operational services [staff development];
  672  (j) Purchasing; or
  673  (k) Planning and accountability.
  674  (2)(a) Each regional consortium service organization
  675  composed [that consists] of four or more school districts is
  676  eligible to receive, through the Department of Education,
  677  subject to the funds provided in the General Appropriations Act,
  678  an allocation [incentive grant] of $150,000 [$50,000] per school
  679  district and eligible member to be used for the delivery of
  680  services within [the] participating school districts. The
  681  determination of services and use of such funds must [shall] be
  682  established by the board of directors of the regional consortium
  683  service organization. The funds must [shall] be distributed to
  684  each regional consortium service organization no later than 30
  685  days following the release of the funds to the department. Each
  686  regional consortium service organization shall submit an annual
  687  report to the department regarding the use of funds for
  688  consortia services. Unexpended amounts in any fund in a
  689  consortium’s current year operating budget must be carried
  690  forward and included as the balance forward for that fund in the
  691  approved operating budget for the following year. Each regional
  692  consortium service organization shall provide quarterly
  693  financial reports to member districts.
  694  (b) Member districts shall designate a district to serve as
  695  a fiscal agent for contractual and reporting purposes. Such
  696  fiscal agent district is entitled to reasonable compensation for
  697  accounting and other services performed. The regional consortium
  698  service organization shall retain all funds received from grants
  699  or contracted services to cover indirect or administrative costs
  700  associated with the provision of such services. The regional
  701  consortium service organization board of directors shall
  702  determine the products and services to be provided by the
  703  consortium; however, in all contractual matters, the school
  704  board of the fiscal agent district shall act on proposed actions
  705  of the regional consortium service organization.
  706  (c) The regional consortium service organization board of
  707  directors shall recommend establishment of positions and
  708  individuals for appointment to the fiscal agent district.
  709  Personnel must be employed under the personnel policies of the
  710  fiscal agent district and are deemed to be public employees of
  711  the fiscal agent district. The regional consortium service
  712  organization board of directors may recommend a salary schedule
  713  and job descriptions specific to its personnel.
  714  (d) The regional consortium service organization may
  715  purchase or lease property and facilities essential for its
  716  operations and is responsible for their maintenance and
  717  associated overhead costs.
  718  (e)If a regional consortium service organization is
  719  dissolved, any revenue from the sale of assets must be
  720  distributed among the member districts as determined by the
  721  board of directors [Application for incentive grants shall be]
  722  [made to the Commissioner of Education by July 30 of each year]
  723  [for distribution to qualifying regional consortium service]
  724  [organizations by January 1 of the fiscal year].
  725  (5) The board of directors of a regional consortium service
  726  organization may use various means to generate revenue in
  727  support of its activities, including, but not limited to,
  728  contracting for services to nonmember districts. The board of
  729  directors may acquire, enjoy, use, and dispose of patents,
  730  copyrights, and trademarks and any licenses and associated [other]
  731  rights or interests [thereunder or therein]. Ownership of all such
  732  patents, copyrights, trademarks, licenses, and associated rights
  733  or interests [thereunder or therein shall] vest in the state, with
  734  the board of directors having full right of use and full right
  735  to retain associated [the] revenues [derived therefrom]. Any funds
  736  realized from contracted services, patents, copyrights,
  737  trademarks, or licenses are [shall be] considered internal funds
  738  as provided in s. 1011.07. A fund balance must be established
  739  for maintaining or expanding services, facilities maintenance,
  740  terminal pay, and other liabilities [Such funds shall be used to]
  741  [support the organization’s marketing and research and]
  742  [development activities in order to improve and increase services]
  743  [to its member districts].
  744  Section 5. The amendments to s. 1001.451, Florida Statutes,
  745  made by this act expire July 1, 2027, and the text of that
  746  section shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2026,
  747  except that any amendments to such text enacted other than by
  748  this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
  749  extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
  750  of text which expire pursuant to this section.
  751  Section 6. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 102
  752  of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section 1001.4511,
  753  Florida Statutes, is created to read:
  754  1001.4511 Regional Consortia Service Organization
  755  Supplemental Services Program.—
  756  (1) There is created the Regional Consortia Service
  757  Organization Supplemental Services Program to increase the
  758  ability of regional consortium service organizations under s.
  759  1001.451 to provide programs and services to consortia members
  760  through cooperative agreements. Program funds may be used to
  761  supplement member needs related to transportation; district
  762  finance personnel services; property insurance, including
  763  property insurance obtained from any source; cybersecurity
  764  support; school safety; college, career, and workforce
  765  development; academic support; and behavior support within
  766  exceptional student education services.
  767  (2) Each regional consortium service organization shall
  768  annually report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker
  769  of the House of Representatives the distribution of funds,
  770  including members awarded and services provided.
  771  (3) Notwithstanding s. 216.301 and pursuant to s. 216.351,
  772  funds allocated for this purpose which are not disbursed by June
  773  30 of the fiscal year in which the funds are allocated may be
  774  carried forward for up to 5 years after the effective date of
  775  the original appropriation.
  776  (4) This section expires July 1, 2027.
  777  Section 7. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 64A
  778  of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section 1009.635,
  779  Florida Statutes, is created to read:
  780  1009.635 Rural Incentive for Professional Educators
  781  Program.—
  782  (1) ESTABLISHMENT.—The Rural Incentive for Professional
  783  Educators (RIPE) Program is established within the Department of
  784  Education to support the recruitment and retention of qualified
  785  instructional personnel in rural communities. The program shall
  786  provide financial assistance for the repayment of student loans
  787  for eligible participants who establish permanent residency and
  788  employment in rural areas of opportunity.
  789  (2) ELIGIBILITY.—An individual is eligible to participate
  790  in the RIPE Program if he or she does all of the following:
  791  (a)Establishes permanent residency on or after July 1,
  792  2026, in a rural area of opportunity as designated pursuant to
  793  s. 288.0656. The address on an individual’s state-issued
  794  identification card or driver license is evidence of residence.
  795  (b)Secures full-time employment as a teacher or
  796  administrator in a private school as defined in s. 1002.01, or
  797  as instructional or administrative personnel as those terms are
  798  defined in s. 1012.01(2) and (3), respectively, in the public
  799  school district located within the same rural area of
  800  opportunity as he or she resides.
  801  (c)Holds an associate degree, bachelor’s degree,
  802  postgraduate degree, or certificate from an accredited
  803  institution earned before establishing residency.
  804  (d)Has an active student loan balance incurred for the
  805  completion of the qualifying degree or certificate.
  806  (3) LOAN REPAYMENT.—Eligible participants may receive up to
  807  $15,000 in total student loan repayment assistance over 5 years,
  808  disbursed in annual payments not to exceed $3,000 per year.
  809  Payments must be made directly to the lender servicing the
  810  participant’s student loan.
  811  (4) AWARD DISTRIBUTION.—Before disbursement of an award,
  812  the department shall verify that the participant:
  813  (a) Has maintained continuous employment with the school
  814  district in an instructional or administrative position;
  815  (b) Has received a rating of effective or highly effective
  816  pursuant to s. 1012.34; and
  817  (c) Has not been placed on probation, had his or her
  818  certificate suspended or revoked, or been placed on the
  819  disqualification list, pursuant to s. 1012.796.
  820  (5)ADMINISTRATION.—The program shall be administered by
  821  the Office of Student Financial Assistance within the Department
  822  of Education, which shall:
  823  (a)Develop application procedures requiring documentation,
  824  including proof of residency, verification of employment,
  825  official academic transcripts, and details of outstanding
  826  student loans; and
  827  (b)Monitor compliance with program requirements.
  828  (6) RULEMAKING.—The State Board of Education shall adopt
  829  rules no later than January 31, 2027, to administer this
  830  section.
  831  (7) EXPIRATION.—This section expires July 1, 2027.
  832  Section 8. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 17
  833  of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, a state university
  834  board of trustees that is beginning an approved capital outlay
  835  project with a health care provider may accept the health care
  836  provider’s procurement methods and construction contracts
  837  entered thereunder and may reimburse the health care provider
  838  for its expenses using the proceeds from a bond issuance
  839  approved by the Board of Governors. This section expires July 1,
  840  2027.
  841  Section 9. In order to implement Specific Appropriation 152
  842  of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding
  843  ss. 1011.45 and 1012.975, Florida Statutes, the Florida
  844  Agricultural and Mechanical University board of trustees may
  845  expend available reserves or carryforward balances from
  846  previous years’ operational and programmatic appropriations, or
  847  other available reserves or balances from funds not appropriated
  848  from the General Revenue Fund, from state trust funds, or from
  849  tuition and fees, for the remuneration of the president of the
  850  Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. This section
  851  expires July 1, 2027.
  852  Section 10. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
  853  209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
  854  notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
  855  Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
  856  amendment, subject to the notice, review, and objection
  857  procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to realign funding
  858  within the Medicaid program appropriation categories to address
  859  projected surpluses and deficits within the program and to
  860  maximize the use of state trust funds. A single budget amendment
  861  shall be submitted in the last quarter of the 2026-2027 fiscal
  862  year only. This section expires July 1, 2027.
  863  Section 11. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
  864  190 through 195 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
  865  notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
  866  Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
  867  amendment, subject to the notice, review, and objection
  868  procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to realign funding
  869  within the Florida Kidcare program appropriation categories, or
  870  to increase budget authority in the Children’s Medical Services
  871  network category, to address projected surpluses and deficits
  872  within the program or to maximize the use of state trust funds.
  873  A single budget amendment must be submitted in the last quarter
  874  of the 2026-2027 fiscal year only. This section expires July 1,
  875  2027.
  876  Section 12. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
  877  490 through 499 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
  878  subsection (17) of section 381.986, Florida Statutes, is amended
  879  to read:
  880  381.986 Medical use of marijuana.—
  881  (17) Rules adopted pursuant to this section before July 1,
  882  2027 [2026], are not subject to ss. 120.54(3)(b) and 120.541. This
  883  subsection expires July 1, 2027 [2026].
  884  Section 13. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
  885  217, 219, and 223 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
  886  the Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
  887  amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
  888  additional spending authority to implement the federally
  889  approved directed payment program for hospitals statewide
  890  providing inpatient and outpatient services to Medicaid managed
  891  care enrollees, the Indirect Medical Education (IME) Program,
  892  and a nursing workforce expansion and education program for
  893  certain institutions participating in a graduate medical
  894  education or nursing education program. For institutions
  895  participating in the nursing workforce expansion and education
  896  program, the budget amendment must identify the educational
  897  institutions partnering with the teaching hospital. Institutions
  898  participating in the nursing workforce expansion and education
  899  program shall provide quarterly reports to the agency detailing
  900  the number of nurses participating in the program. This section
  901  expires July 1, 2027.
  902  Section 14. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
  903  217, 219, and 223 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
  904  the Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
  905  amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
  906  additional spending authority to implement the federally
  907  approved Directed Payment Program and fee-for-service
  908  supplemental payments for cancer hospitals that meet the
  909  criteria in 42 U.S.C. s. 1395ww(d)(1)(B)(v). This section
  910  expires July 1, 2027.
  911  Section 15. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
  912  209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the
  913  Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
  914  amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
  915  additional spending authority to implement the Low Income Pool
  916  component of the Florida Managed Medical Assistance
  917  Demonstration up to the total computable funds authorized by the
  918  federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The budget
  919  amendment must include the final terms and conditions of the Low
  920  Income Pool, a proposed distribution model by entity, and a
  921  listing of entities contributing intergovernmental transfers to
  922  support the state match required. In addition, for each entity
  923  included in the distribution model, a signed attestation must be
  924  provided which includes the charity care cost upon which the Low
  925  Income Pool payment is based and an acknowledgment that should
  926  the distribution result in an overpayment based on the Low
  927  Income Pool cost limit audit, the entity is responsible for
  928  returning that overpayment to the agency for return to the
  929  federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This section
  930  expires July 1, 2027.
  931  Section 16. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
  932  222 and 223 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the
  933  Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
  934  amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
  935  additional spending authority to implement fee-for-service
  936  supplemental payments and a directed payment program for
  937  physicians and subordinate licensed health care practitioners
  938  employed by or under contract with a Florida medical or dental
  939  school, or a public hospital. This section expires July 1, 2027.
  940  Section 17. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
  941  220, 223, and 235 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
  942  the Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
  943  amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
  944  additional spending authority to implement a certified
  945  expenditure program for emergency medical transportation
  946  services. This section expires July 1, 2027.
  947  Section 18. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
  948  209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
  949  notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
  950  Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
  951  amendment, subject to the notice, review, and objection
  952  procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, requesting
  953  additional spending authority to implement the Disproportionate
  954  Share Hospital Program. The budget amendment must include a
  955  proposed distribution model by entity and a listing of entities
  956  contributing intergovernmental transfers and certified public
  957  expenditures to support the state match required. This section
  958  expires July 1, 2027.
  959  Section 19. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
  960  209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the
  961  Agency for Health Care Administration may submit a budget
  962  amendment pursuant to chapter 216, Florida Statutes, requesting
  963  additional spending authority to implement fee-for-service
  964  inpatient and outpatient supplemental payments for specialty
  965  hospitals as defined in s. 395.002(28), Florida Statutes,
  966  providing comprehensive acute care services to children with
  967  Medicaid inpatient utilization equal to or greater than 50
  968  percent and located in a county with greater than 250,000
  969  Medicaid enrollees in 2023. This section expires July 1, 2027.
  970  Section 20. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
  971  201 and 228 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
  972  notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
  973  Agency for Health Care Administration may submit budget
  974  amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection
  975  procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget
  976  authority to support the Florida School-Based Services program.
  977  This section expires July 1, 2027.
  978  Section 21. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
  979  209 through 237 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:
  980  (1) the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Task Force, a task
  981  force as defined in s. 20.03(5), Florida Statutes,is created
  982  within the Agency for Health Care Administration to evaluate the
  983  delivery of applied behavior analysis services in a manner that
  984  promotes high-quality, family-centered care while ensuring long
  985  term financial sustainability of the Medicaid program and cost
  986  predictability without disrupting access for current enrollees
  987  and families.
  988  (2)The task force shall evaluate:
  989  (a)Clinical care models that lead to best practices for
  990  the provision of therapy at the appropriate ages;
  991  (b) Appropriate transitions for enrollees receiving ABA
  992  services across developmental, educational, and community
  993  settings;
  994  (c) Quality metrics for ABA therapy services;
  995  (d) Limits and utilization controls related to the length
  996  of time ABA services may be authorized;
  997  (e)Potential caps on the number of months an enrollee may
  998  receive ABA services; and
  999  (f) Ways to enhance Medicaid provider enrollment and
 1000  billing standards for ABA services to promote program integrity
 1001  and fiscal accountability.
 1002  (3)The task force shall develop recommendations for
 1003  revising the state’s service delivery model to improve care
 1004  experience and service continuity for enrollees and families
 1005  receiving ABA services,while safeguarding long-term program
 1006  sustainability.
 1007  (4) The task force shall consist of 10 members as provided
 1008  in this subsection.
 1009  (a)The Secretary of Health Care Administration, or his or
 1010  her designee, shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member of
 1011  the task force and shall serve as the chair.
 1012  (b) The remainder of the task force membership shall be
 1013  composed as follows:
 1014  1. Two members appointed by the Governor, three members
 1015  appointed by the President of the Senate, and three members
 1016  appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, based
 1017  upon the criteria of this subparagraph. The appointing officers
 1018  must make their appointments prioritizing members who have the
 1019  following experience or expertise:
 1020  a. Persons with academic credentials or scientific
 1021  expertise relating to autism and applied behavior analysis;
 1022  b. Representatives of the applied behavior analysis
 1023  provider community;
 1024  c. Representatives of Medicaid managed care plans with
 1025  managerial experience and expertise relating to autism and
 1026  applied behavior analysis; or
 1027  d. Physicians licensed under chapter 458, Florida Statutes,
 1028  or chapter 459, Florida Statutes, with expertise relating to
 1029  autism and applied behavior analysis.
 1030  2. One family member of a Medicaid managed care plan
 1031  enrollee who receives applied behavior analysis services,
 1032  appointed by the Governor.
 1033  (c) The Secretary of Health Care Administration shall
 1034  coordinate with the appointing officers to ensure the task
 1035  force’s membership adequately represents the criteria provided
 1036  under paragraph (b).
 1037  (d) Any vacancy occurring on the task force must be filled
 1038  in the same manner as the original appointment.
 1039  (5)The Agency for Health Care Administration must provide
 1040  staff support for the work of the task force, and staff from the
 1041  Department of Health, the Department of Children and Families,
 1042  the Department of Education, and the Agency for Persons with
 1043  Disabilities may provide additional expertise.
 1044  (6)Meetings of the task force may be held through
 1045  teleconference or other electronic means. The task force shall
 1046  convene for its initial meeting by August 15, 2026, and
 1047  thereafter, upon the call of the chair. Notices for any task
 1048  force meetings must be published in advance on the Agency for
 1049  Health Care Administration’s website.
 1050  (7)Members of the task force shall serve without
 1051  compensation but shall be reimbursed for travel expenses as
 1052  provided in s. 112.061, Florida Statutes.
 1053  (8)The task force shall report its findings and
 1054  recommendations to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
 1055  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by December 31,
 1056  2026. The report must include advantages and disadvantages of
 1057  each recommendation.
 1058  (9) This section expires July 1, 2027.
 1059  Section 22. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1060  339, 339B, 368 through 369 of the 2026-2027 General
 1061  Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292,
 1062  Florida Statutes, the Department of Children and Families may
 1063  submit a budget amendment, subject to the notice, review, and
 1064  objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to realign
 1065  funding within the department based on the implementation of the
 1066  Guardianship Assistance Program, between the specific
 1067  appropriations for guardianship assistance payments, foster care
 1068  Level 1 room and board payments, relative caregiver payments,
 1069  and nonrelative caregiver payments. This section expires July 1,
 1070  2027.
 1071  Section 23. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1072  209 through 212, 217, 219, 220, 222 through 224, 363, 372, 475,
 1073  479, 480, 486, 501, 502, 508, and 512 of the 2026-2027 General
 1074  Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292,
 1075  Florida Statutes, the Department of Children and Families, the
 1076  Department of Health, and the Agency for Health Care
 1077  Administration may submit budget amendments, subject to the
 1078  notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida
 1079  Statutes, to increase budget authority to support refugee
 1080  programs administered by the federal Office of Refugee
 1081  Resettlement due to the ongoing instability of federal
 1082  immigration policy and the resulting inability of the state to
 1083  reasonably predict, with certainty, the budgetary needs of this
 1084  state with respect to the number of refugees relocated to the
 1085  state as part of those federal programs. The Department of
 1086  Children and Families shall submit quarterly reports to the
 1087  Executive Office of the Governor, the President of the Senate,
 1088  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives on the number of
 1089  refugees entering the state, the nations of origin of such
 1090  refugees, and current expenditure projections. This section
 1091  expires July 1, 2027.
 1092  Section 24. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1093  295 through 390A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
 1094  and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes,
 1095  the Department of Children and Families may submit budget
 1096  amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection
 1097  procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget
 1098  authority to support the following federal grant programs: the
 1099  Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Grant Program, the Pandemic
 1100  Electronic Benefit Transfer, the American Rescue Plan Grant, the
 1101  State Opioid Response Grant, the Substance Use Prevention and
 1102  Treatment Block Grant, the Chafee Grant for Independent Living
 1103  Services, the Education and Traditional Voucher Grant, Title IV
 1104  B Subparts 1 and 2 Grants, the Elder Justice Act, the STOP
 1105  Violence Against Women Grant, the Rapid Unsheltered Survivor
 1106  Housing Grant, and the Mental Health Block Grant. This section
 1107  expires July 1, 2027.
 1108  Section 25. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 1109  267 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
 1110  notwithstanding the expiration date in section 32 of chapter
 1111  2025-199, Laws of Florida, subsection (2) of section 393.066,
 1112  Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
 1113  393.066 Community services and treatment.—
 1114  (2) Necessary services shall be purchased, rather than
 1115  provided directly by the agency, when the purchase of services
 1116  is more cost-efficient than providing them directly. All
 1117  purchased services must be approved by the agency. As a
 1118  condition of payment and before billing, persons or entities
 1119  under contract with the agency to provide services shall use
 1120  agency data management systems to document service provision to
 1121  clients or shall maintain such information in its own data
 1122  management system and electronically transmit it to the agency
 1123  data management system in an industry standard electronic format
 1124  designated by the agency. The agency may not require training on
 1125  the use of agency data management systems by persons or entities
 1126  that choose to maintain data in their own data management
 1127  system, provided that they electronically transmit required
 1128  information in a format and frequency designated by the agency.
 1129  Contracted persons and entities shall meet the minimum hardware
 1130  and software technical requirements established by the agency
 1131  for the use of such systems. Such persons or entities shall also
 1132  meet any requirements established by the agency for training and
 1133  professional development of staff providing direct services to
 1134  clients.
 1135  Section 26. The text of s. 393.066(2), Florida Statutes, as
 1136  carried forward from chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida, by this
 1137  act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that subsection shall
 1138  revert to that in existence on June 30, 2025, except that any
 1139  amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall be
 1140  preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
 1141  amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
 1142  expire pursuant to this section.
 1143  Section 27. Effective upon this act becoming a law, and in
 1144  order to implement Specific Appropriation 382 of the 2026-2027
 1145  General Appropriations Act, paragraph (c) of subsection (9) of
 1146  section 394.9082, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1147  394.9082 Behavioral health managing entities.—
 1148  (9) FUNDING FOR MANAGING ENTITIES.—
 1149  (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), for the 2026-2027 [2025]
 1150  [2026] fiscal year, a managing entity may carry forward documented
 1151  unexpended funds appropriated from the State Opioid Settlement
 1152  Trust Fund from 1 fiscal year to the next. Nonqualified funds
 1153  carried forward pursuant to this paragraph are not included in
 1154  the 8 percent cumulative cap that may be carried forward. This
 1155  paragraph expires July 1, 2027 [2026].
 1156  Section 28. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1157  324A, 339, 339B, and 384A of the 2026-2027 General
 1158  Appropriations Act, subsection (10) is added to section
 1159  409.9913, Florida Statutes, to read:
 1160  409.9913 Funding methodology to allocate funding to lead
 1161  agencies.—
 1162  (10) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, core
 1163  services funding shall be allocated as provided in the General
 1164  Appropriations Act. The department shall use the Tiered Funding
 1165  Model developed and submitted to the Legislature pursuant to
 1166  section 34 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida, as the baseline
 1167  framework for any updates, refinements, or enhancements to the
 1168  modeland shall continue to collect detailed cost, expenditure,
 1169  and census data from community-based care lead agencies.
 1170  (a) Each lead agency shall submit any cost, expenditure,
 1171  and census data requested by the department to support the
 1172  continued development and refinement of the Tiered Funding
 1173  Model. Lead agencies shall complete and validate a standardized
 1174  expenditure report template in the form and manner prescribed by
 1175  the department.
 1176  (b) The department shall conduct ongoing performance
 1177  monitoring by comparing trends in individual metrics against
 1178  broader indicators of system health and shall analyze emerging
 1179  market trends that may impact organizational financial
 1180  stability. The department’s analysis and reporting shall include
 1181  a comprehensive explanation of the methodology used to establish
 1182  residential group home rates, a description of the current rate
 1183  setting processes employed by each community-based care lead
 1184  agency, and recommendations to enhance the fiscal sustainability
 1185  and transparency of those processes.
 1186  (c) Beginning in July 2026 and continuing through November
 1187  2026, the department shall provide monthly status reports to the
 1188  Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
 1189  House of Representatives detailing activities and progress
 1190  related to the development of the funding methodology, including
 1191  preliminary recommendations for adjustments for the subsequent
 1192  fiscal year.
 1193  (d) By December 1, 2026, the department shall submit a
 1194  final report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
 1195  the Speaker of the House of Representatives that includes
 1196  recommendations for adjustments to the funding methodology for
 1197  the next fiscal year. The recommendations shall continue the
 1198  Tiered Funding Model approach while proposing enhancements
 1199  intended to strengthen operational and financial outcomes.
 1200  (e) This subsection expires July 1, 2027.
 1201  Section 29. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1202  324A, 339, 339B, and 384A and section 74 of the 2026-2027
 1203  General Appropriations Act, subsection (9) is added to section
 1204  409.990, Florida Statutes, to read:
 1205  409.990 Funding for lead agencies.—A contract established
 1206  between the department and a lead agency must be funded by a
 1207  grant of general revenue, other applicable state funds, or
 1208  applicable federal funding sources.
 1209  (9) Notwithstanding subsection (5), all funds held by a
 1210  lead agency carried forward pursuant to subsection (5) as of
 1211  July 1, 2026, must be returned to the department. The department
 1212  must hold such funds in a separate account and, by August 1,
 1213  2026, report to the chair of the Senate Committee on
 1214  Appropriations, the chair of the House of Representatives Budget
 1215  Committee, and the Executive Office of the Governor’s Office of
 1216  Policy and Budget the amount of funds returned by each lead
 1217  agency. As of September 30, 2026, all funds returned pursuant to
 1218  this subsection shall revert to the General Revenue Fund. This
 1219  subsection expires July 1, 2027.
 1220  Section 30. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1221  465 and 467 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
 1222  notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
 1223  Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject to
 1224  the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,
 1225  Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the
 1226  Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children
 1227  (WIC) and the Child Care Food Program if additional federal
 1228  revenues will be expended in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This
 1229  section expires July 1, 2027.
 1230  Section 31. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1231  476 and 526of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
 1232  notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
 1233  Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject to
 1234  the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,
 1235  Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the HIV/AIDS
 1236  Prevention and Treatment Program if additional federal revenues
 1237  specific to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment become available
 1238  in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This section expires July 1, 2027.
 1239  Section 32. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1240  432 through 593 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
 1241  notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
 1242  Department of Health may submit a budget amendment, subject to
 1243  the notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177,
 1244  Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the
 1245  department if additional federal revenues specific to COVID-19
 1246  relief funds become available in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This
 1247  section expires July 1, 2027.
 1248  Section 33. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 1249  203 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:
 1250  (1) The Agency for Health Care Administration shall replace
 1251  the current Florida Medicaid Management Information System
 1252  (FMMIS) and fiscal agent operations with a system that is
 1253  modular, interoperable, and scalable for the Florida Medicaid
 1254  program and that complies with all applicable federal and state
 1255  laws and requirements. The agency may not include in the program
 1256  to replace the current FMMIS and fiscal agent contract:
 1257  (a) Functionality that duplicates any of the information
 1258  systems of the other health and human services state agencies;
 1259  (b) Procurement for agency requirements external to
 1260  Medicaid programs with the intent to leverage the Medicaid
 1261  technology infrastructure for other purposes without legislative
 1262  appropriation or legislative authorization to procure these
 1263  requirements. The new system, the Florida Health Care Connection
 1264  (FX) system, must provide better integration with subsystems
 1265  supporting Florida’s Medicaid program; uniformity, consistency,
 1266  and improved access to data; and compatibility with the Centers
 1267  for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Medicaid Information
 1268  Technology Architecture (MITA) as the system matures and expands
 1269  its functionality; or
 1270  (c) Any contract executed after July 1, 2022, not including
 1271  staff augmentation services purchased off the Department of
 1272  Management Services Information Technology staff augmentation
 1273  state term contract which are not deliverables based fixed price
 1274  contracts.
 1275  (2) For purposes of replacing FMMIS and the current
 1276  Medicaid fiscal agent, the Agency for Health Care Administration
 1277  shall:
 1278  (a) Prioritize procurements for the replacement of the
 1279  current functions of FMMIS and the responsibilities of the
 1280  current Medicaid fiscal agent, to minimize the need to extend
 1281  all or portions of the current fiscal agent contract.
 1282  (b) Comply with and not exceed the Centers for Medicare and
 1283  Medicaid Services funding authorizations for the FX system.
 1284  (c)Develop and mature an enterprise architecture framework
 1285  to align the requirements of the FX project phases and
 1286  overarching program objectives, including completing and
 1287  maintaining key components such as the Business Capability Model
 1288  and Business Value Model.
 1289  (d) Apply value-based measures to support informed
 1290  decisionmaking around release readiness and go-live criteria.
 1291  These measures must be tracked and reported quarterly to the
 1292  executive steering committee established in paragraph (k) post
 1293  implementation to support performance monitoring and continuous
 1294  improvement.
 1295  (e)Through documented FX architecture governance
 1296  practices, ensure that the Medicaid business needs and the
 1297  business architecture are the primary drivers of information and
 1298  technical architecture design decisions. All such decisions must
 1299  be documented with traceable rationale to promote transparency
 1300  and accountability across the program. The business,
 1301  information, and technical architectures must align with the
 1302  MITA framework where applicable. In areas where MITA guidance is
 1303  not available, alignment will be maintained through adherence to
 1304  The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF).
 1305  (f)Ensure compliance and uniformity with the published
 1306  MITA framework and guidelines. The agency shall:
 1307  1. Implement an Enterprise Architecture (EA) management
 1308  tool that supports an integrated approach to FX program
 1309  architecture. The EA tool must serve as a centralized repository
 1310  for the FX Business Process Inventory and support the integrated
 1311  management and oversight of the FX business, technical, and
 1312  information architectures.
 1313  2. Establish governance structures and define user roles
 1314  within the EA tool for the business, technical, and information
 1315  architecture components.
 1316  (g) Ensure that all business requirements and technical
 1317  specifications have been provided to all affected state agencies
 1318  for their review and input and approved by the executive
 1319  steering committee.
 1320  (h) Consult with the Executive Office of the Governor’s
 1321  working group for interagency information technology integration
 1322  for the development of competitive solicitations that provide
 1323  for data interoperability and shared information technology
 1324  services across the state’s health and human services agencies.
 1325  (i) Implement a data governance structure for the program
 1326  to coordinate data sharing and interoperability across state
 1327  health care entities.
 1328  (j) Establish a continuing oversight team for each contract
 1329  pursuant to s. 287.057(26), Florida Statutes. The teams must
 1330  provide quarterly reports to the executive steering committee,
 1331  summarizing the status of the contract, the pace of
 1332  deliverables, the quality of deliverables, contractor
 1333  responsiveness, and contractor performance.
 1334  (k) Implement a program governance structure that includes
 1335  an executive steering committee composed of:
 1336  1. The Secretary of Health Care Administration, or the
 1337  executive sponsor of the program.
 1338  2. A representative of the Division of Health Care Finance
 1339  and Data of the Agency for Health Care Administration, appointed
 1340  by the Secretary of Health Care Administration.
 1341  3. Two representatives from the Division of Medicaid
 1342  Policy, Quality, and Operations of the Agency for Health Care
 1343  Administration, appointed by the Secretary of Health Care
 1344  Administration.
 1345  4. A representative of the Division of Health Care Policy
 1346  and Oversight of the Agency for Health Care Administration,
 1347  appointed by the Secretary of Health Care Administration.
 1348  5. A representative of the Florida Center for Health
 1349  Information and Transparency of the Agency for Health Care
 1350  Administration, appointed by the Secretary of Health Care
 1351  Administration.
 1352  6. The Chief Information Officer of the Agency for Health
 1353  Care Administration, or his or her designee.
 1354  (3)(a) The Secretary of Health Care Administration or the
 1355  executive sponsor of the program shall serve as chair of the
 1356  executive steering committee, and the committee shall take
 1357  action by a vote of at least 5 affirmative votes with the chair
 1358  voting on the prevailing side. A quorum of the executive
 1359  steering committee consists of at least 5 members.
 1360  (b)1. The chair shall establish a program finance and
 1361  contracting working group composed of:
 1362  a. The FX program director.
 1363  b. A representative from the agency’s Office of the General
 1364  Counsel.
 1365  c. A representative from the agency’s Division of
 1366  Administration.
 1367  d. Representatives from each continuing oversight team.
 1368  e. The FX program strategic roadmap manager.
 1369  f. The FX program project managers.
 1370  g. The FX program risk manager.
 1371  h. Any other personnel deemed necessary by the chair.
 1372  2. The working group shall meet at least monthly to review
 1373  the program status and all contract and program operations,
 1374  policies, risks, and issues related to the budget, spending
 1375  plans and contractual obligations, and shall develop
 1376  recommendations to the executive steering committee for
 1377  improvement. The working group shall review all change requests
 1378  that impact the program’s scope, schedule, or budget related to
 1379  contract management and vendor payments and submit those
 1380  recommended for adoption to the executive steering committee.
 1381  The chair shall request input from the working group on agenda
 1382  items for each scheduled meeting. The program shall make
 1383  available program staff to the group, as needed, for the group
 1384  to fulfill its duties.
 1385  (c)1. The chair shall establish a state agency stakeholder
 1386  working group composed of:
 1387  a. The executive sponsor of the FX program.
 1388  b. A representative of the Department of Children and
 1389  Families, appointed by the Secretary of Children and Families.
 1390  c. A representative of the Department of Health, appointed
 1391  by the State Surgeon General.
 1392  d. A representative of the Agency for Persons with
 1393  Disabilities, appointed by the director of the Agency for
 1394  Persons with Disabilities.
 1395  e. A representative from the Florida Healthy Kids
 1396  Corporation.
 1397  f. A representative from the Department of Elderly Affairs,
 1398  appointed by the Secretary of Elderly Affairs.
 1399  g. The state chief information officer, or his or her
 1400  designee.
 1401  h. A representative of the Department of Financial Services
 1402  who has experience with the state’s financial processes,
 1403  including development of the PALM system, appointed by the Chief
 1404  Financial Officer.
 1405  2. The working group shall meet at least quarterly to
 1406  review the program status and all program operations, policies,
 1407  risks, and issues that may impact the operations external to the
 1408  Agency for Health Care Administration FX program, and shall
 1409  develop recommendations to the executive steering committee for
 1410  improvement. The chair shall request input from the working
 1411  group on agenda items for each scheduled meeting. The program
 1412  shall make available program staff to the group to provide
 1413  system demonstrations and any program documentation, as needed,
 1414  for the group to fulfill its duties.
 1415  (4) The executive steering committee has the overall
 1416  responsibility for ensuring that the program to replace FMMIS
 1417  and the Medicaid fiscal agent meets its primary business
 1418  objectives and shall:
 1419  (a) Identify and recommend to the Executive Office of the
 1420  Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
 1421  House of Representatives any statutory changes needed to
 1422  implement the modular replacement to standardize, to the fullest
 1423  extent possible, the state’s health care data and business
 1424  processes.
 1425  (b) Review and approve any changes to the program’s scope,
 1426  schedule, and budget.
 1427  (c) Review and approve any changes to the program’s
 1428  strategic roadmap.
 1429  (d) Review and approve change requests that impact the
 1430  program’s scope, schedule, or budget recommended for adoption by
 1431  the program finance and contracting working group.
 1432  (e) Review recommendations provided by the program working
 1433  groups.
 1434  (f) Review vendor scorecards, reports, and notifications
 1435  produced by the continuing oversight teams.
 1436  (g) Ensure that adequate resources are provided throughout
 1437  all phases of the program.
 1438  (h) Approve all major program deliverables.
 1439  (i) Review and verify that all procurement and contractual
 1440  documents associated with the replacement of the current FMMIS
 1441  and Medicaid fiscal agent align with the scope, schedule, and
 1442  anticipated budget for the program.
 1443  (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
 1444  Section 34. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 1445  203 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the Agency for
 1446  Health Care Administration shall contract for a comprehensive,
 1447  independent technical architecture and feasibility assessment of
 1448  the agency’s Medicaid management information system (MMIS),
 1449  including components completed under the FX project.
 1450  (1) The assessment must evaluate the agency’s current
 1451  technical architecture and technology standards related to its
 1452  MMIS replacement activities and assess alignment with all
 1453  applicable federal and state laws and requirements, including,
 1454  but not limited to, the federal Centers for Medicare and
 1455  Medicaid Services (CMS) Interoperability and Patient Access Rule
 1456  (CMS-9115), the Medicaid Information Technology Architecture
 1457  (MITA) frameworks and guidelines, and recognized industry and
 1458  governmental best practices, including CMS modularity guidance
 1459  and National Institute of Standards and Technology cybersecurity
 1460  standards.
 1461  (2) The assessment must, at a minimum:
 1462  (a) Identify and document current deficiencies in the
 1463  technical architecture, system design, and standards that may
 1464  affect long-term sustainability, including issues related to
 1465  maintainability, scalability, security, interoperability,
 1466  technical debt, vendor dependency, and compliance with evolving
 1467  federal and state requirements.
 1468  (b) Develop a future-state technical architecture that is
 1469  driven by and aligned with the business architecture, Medicaid
 1470  program needs, and CMS modularity and interoperability
 1471  principles, including identification of core components,
 1472  interfaces, data flows, and applicable standards.
 1473  (c) Evaluate the feasibility of transitioning from the
 1474  current-state architecture to the future-state architecture,
 1475  including phased or modular implementation options, associated
 1476  risks, estimated costs, implementation timelines, operational
 1477  impacts, and implications for federal funding eligibility.
 1478  (d) Prioritize replacement of the functionality provided
 1479  under the current fiscal agent contract and recommend a
 1480  sustainable path forward, including identification of any
 1481  prerequisite governance, policy, or remediation actions required
 1482  prior to implementation.
 1483  (e) Assess the agency’s readiness to implement and operate
 1484  the recommended solution, including evaluation of governance
 1485  structures, staffing capacity, and resource sufficiency.
 1486  (3) The completed assessment must be submitted
 1487  simultaneously to the Agency for Health Care Administration, the
 1488  chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, the chair of
 1489  the House of Representatives Budget Committee, and the Executive
 1490  Office of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget by January
 1491  8, 2027.
 1492  (4) Based on the results of the assessment, the Agency for
 1493  Health Care Administration shall develop a new time-phased
 1494  implementation roadmap with measurable success criteria for the
 1495  MMIS replacement that aligns investments with the agency’s
 1496  Medicaid program goals and business strategy. The agency must
 1497  submit the roadmap to chair of the Senate Committee on
 1498  Appropriations, the chair of the House of Representatives Budget
 1499  Committee, and the Executive Office of the Governor’s Office of
 1500  Policy and Budget by February 2, 2027.
 1501  (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
 1502  Section 35. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1503  223, 224, 279, 290, 349, 503, 526, and 751of the 2026-2027
 1504  General Appropriations Act, the Agency for Health Care
 1505  Administration, in consultation with the Department of Health,
 1506  the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the Department of
 1507  Children and Families, and the Department of Corrections, shall
 1508  competitively procure a contract with a vendor to negotiate, for
 1509  these agencies, prices for prescribed drugs and biological
 1510  products excluded from the program established under s.
 1511  381.02035, Florida Statutes, and ineligible under 21 U.S.C. s.
 1512  384, including, but not limited to, insulin and epinephrine. The
 1513  contract may allow the vendor to directly purchase these
 1514  products for participating agencies when feasible and
 1515  advantageous. The contracted vendor must be compensated on a
 1516  contingency basis, paid from a portion of the savings achieved
 1517  by its price negotiation or purchase of the prescription drugs
 1518  and products. This section expires July 1, 2027.
 1519  Section 36. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1520  238 through 245 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
 1521  notwithstanding ss. 408.040(2) and 408.808(3), Florida Statutes:
 1522  (1)(a) An inactive license or a partially inactive license
 1523  with an expiration date on or after June 1, 2024, may be issued
 1524  or renewed to a skilled nursing provider subject to the
 1525  certificate-of-need provisions in part I of chapter 408, Florida
 1526  Statutes, if the provider currently holds an active or inactive
 1527  license, does not have a provisional license, and will be
 1528  temporarily unable to provide services due to impacts from a
 1529  natural disaster or state of emergency; or will be deactivating
 1530  or has deactivated beds to improve and modernize the licensees
 1531  physical plant, but is reasonably expected to resume services
 1532  within 48 months.
 1533  (b) Such issuance or renewal may be made for a period of 12
 1534  months and may be further renewed for up to 36 additional months
 1535  upon demonstration by the licensee of the provider’s progress
 1536  toward reopening. During each 12-month renewal cycle, the
 1537  applicant shall attest that good-faith progress towards
 1538  commencement of the project is ongoing or that the project is
 1539  delayed by litigation or by governmental action or inactionwith
 1540  respect to regulations or permitting that precludes commencement
 1541  of the project.
 1542  (2)(a) The certificate-of-need validity period for a
 1543  project shall be extended by the agency if the certificateholder
 1544  demonstrates to the satisfaction of the agency that good-faith
 1545  progress toward the commencement of the project is ongoing or
 1546  that the project is delayed by litigation or by government
 1547  action or inaction with respect to regulations or permitting
 1548  that precludes commencement of the project.
 1549  (b) Such extension may be made for a period of 12 months
 1550  and may be renewed for up to 36 additional months upon
 1551  demonstration by the certificateholder of the progress towards
 1552  opening. During each 12-month validity period renewal cycle, the
 1553  certificateholder shall attest that good-faith progress towards
 1554  commencement of the project is ongoing or that the project is
 1555  being delayed by litigation or by governmental action or
 1556  inaction.
 1557  (3) This section expires July 1, 2027.
 1558  Section 37. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1559  272, 277, 278, 283, 288, and 289 of the 2026-2027 General
 1560  Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292,
 1561  Florida Statutes, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities may
 1562  submit budget amendments, subject to the notice, review, and
 1563  objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to
 1564  transfer funding from the Salaries and Benefits appropriation
 1565  categories to categories used for contractual services in order
 1566  to support additional staff augmentation resources needed at the
 1567  Developmental Disability Centers. This section expires July 1,
 1568  2027.
 1569  Section 38. In order to implement section 66 of the 2026
 1570  2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181
 1571  and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the Agency for Persons with
 1572  Disabilities may submit budget amendments, subject to the
 1573  notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida
 1574  Statutes, to request the appropriation of funds from the Lump
 1575  Sum-Home and Community-Based Services Waiver category to address
 1576  any deficits or funding shortfalls. This section expires July 1,
 1577  2027.
 1578  Section 39. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1579  231 and 254 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
 1580  notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
 1581  Agency for Health Care Administration and the Agency for Persons
 1582  with Disabilities may submit budget amendments, subject to the
 1583  notice, review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida
 1584  Statutes, at least 3 days before the effective date of the
 1585  action, to increase budget authority to support the
 1586  implementation of the home and community-based services Medicaid
 1587  waiver program of the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. This
 1588  section expires July 1, 2027.
 1589  Section 40. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 1590  594 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
 1591  notwithstanding chapter 216, Florida Statutes, the Department of
 1592  Veterans’ Affairs may submit a budget amendment, subject to
 1593  Legislative Budget Commission approval, requesting the authority
 1594  to establish positions in excess of the number authorized by the
 1595  Legislature, increase appropriations from the Operations and
 1596  Maintenance Trust Fund, or provide a necessary salary rate
 1597  sufficient to provide for essential staff for veterans’ nursing
 1598  homes, if the department projects that additional direct care
 1599  staff are needed to meet its established staffing ratio. This
 1600  section expires July 1, 2027.
 1601  Section 41. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 1602  223 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (1)
 1603  of section 409.915, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1604  409.915 County contributions to Medicaid.—Although the
 1605  state is responsible for the full portion of the state share of
 1606  the matching funds required for the Medicaid program, the state
 1607  shall charge the counties an annual contribution in order to
 1608  acquire a certain portion of these funds.
 1609  (1)(a) As used in this section, the term “state Medicaid
 1610  expenditures” means those expenditures used as matching funds
 1611  for the federal Medicaid program.
 1612  (b) The term does not include funds specially assessed by
 1613  any local governmental entity and used as the nonfederal share
 1614  for the hospital directed payment program after July 1, 2021.
 1615  This paragraph expires July 1, 2027 [2026].
 1616  Section 42. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1617  594 through 622A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
 1618  and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes,
 1619  the Department of Veterans’ Affairs is authorized to:
 1620  (1) Expend funds pursuant to a Memorandum of Agreement
 1621  between the department and the Collier County Board of County
 1622  Commissioners, as well as funds appropriated in chapter 2023
 1623  239, Laws of Florida, for the planning and construction of a new
 1624  State Veterans’ Nursing Home and Adult Day Health Center in
 1625  Collier County.
 1626  (2) Apply for a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
 1627  Construction Grant for the Collier County State Veterans’
 1628  Nursing Home.
 1629  (3) Submit budget amendments subject to the notice, review,
 1630  and objection procedures in s. 216.177, Florida Statutes,
 1631  subject to federal approval, requesting additional spending
 1632  authority to support the development and construction of a new
 1633  State Veterans’ Nursing Home and Adult Day Health Care Center in
 1634  Collier County.
 1635
 1636  This section expires July 1, 2027.
 1637  Section 43. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1638  404 and 406 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
 1639  notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
 1640  Department of Elderly Affairs may submit a budget amendment,
 1641  subject to the notice, review, and objection procedures of s.
 1642  216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget authority for the
 1643  United States Department of Agriculture’s Adult Care Food
 1644  Program or the Older Americans Act if additional federal
 1645  revenues will be expended in the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This
 1646  section expires July 1, 2027.
 1647  Section 44. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1648  626 through 718 and 729 through 782 of the 2026-2027 General
 1649  Appropriations Act, subsection (4) of section 216.262, Florida
 1650  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1651  216.262 Authorized positions.—
 1652  (4) Notwithstanding the provisions of this chapter relating
 1653  to increasing the number of authorized positions, and for the
 1654  2026-2027 [2025-2026] fiscal year only, if the actual inmate
 1655  population of the Department of Corrections exceeds the inmate
 1656  population projections of the December 23 [February 21], 2025,
 1657  Criminal Justice Estimating Conference by 1 percent for 2
 1658  consecutive months or 2 percent for any month, the Executive
 1659  Office of the Governor, with the approval of the Legislative
 1660  Budget Commission, shall immediately notify the Criminal Justice
 1661  Estimating Conference, which shall convene as soon as possible
 1662  to revise the estimates. The Department of Corrections may then
 1663  submit a budget amendment requesting the establishment of
 1664  positions in excess of the number authorized by the Legislature
 1665  and additional appropriations from unallocated general revenue
 1666  sufficient to provide for essential staff, fixed capital
 1667  improvements, and other resources to provide classification,
 1668  security, food services, health services, and other variable
 1669  expenses within the institutions to accommodate the estimated
 1670  increase in the inmate population. All actions taken pursuant to
 1671  this subsection are subject to review and approval by the
 1672  Legislative Budget Commission. This subsection expires July 1,
 1673  2027 [2026].
 1674  Section 45. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1675  3340 through 3409 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
 1676  subsection (2) of section 215.18, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1677  to read:
 1678  215.18 Transfers between funds; limitation.—
 1679  (2) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court may receive one
 1680  or more trust fund loans to ensure that the state court system
 1681  has funds sufficient to meet its appropriations in the 2026-2027
 1682  [2025-2026] General Appropriations Act. If the Chief Justice
 1683  accesses the loan, he or she must notify the Governor and the
 1684  chairs of the legislative appropriations committees in writing.
 1685  The loan must come from other funds in the State Treasury which
 1686  are for the time being or otherwise in excess of the amounts
 1687  necessary to meet the just requirements of such last-mentioned
 1688  funds. The Governor shall order the transfer of funds within 5
 1689  days after the written notification from the Chief Justice. If
 1690  the Governor does not order the transfer, the Chief Financial
 1691  Officer shall transfer the requested funds. The loan of funds
 1692  from which any money is temporarily transferred must be repaid
 1693  by the end of the 2026-2027 [2025-2026] fiscal year. This
 1694  subsection expires July 1, 2027 [2026].
 1695  Section 46. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1696  1183 through 1194 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:
 1697  (1) The Department of Juvenile Justice shall review county
 1698  juvenile detention payments to ensure that counties fulfill
 1699  their financial responsibilities required in s. 985.6865,
 1700  Florida Statutes. If the Department of Juvenile Justice
 1701  determines that a county has not met its obligations, the
 1702  department shall direct the Department of Revenue to deduct the
 1703  amount owed to the Department of Juvenile Justice from the funds
 1704  provided to the county under s. 218.23, Florida Statutes. The
 1705  Department of Revenue shall transfer the funds withheld to the
 1706  Shared County/State Juvenile Detention Trust Fund.
 1707  (2) As an assurance to holders of bonds issued by counties
 1708  before July 1, 2026, for which distributions made pursuant to s.
 1709  218.23, Florida Statutes, are pledged, or bonds issued to refund
 1710  such bonds which mature no later than the bonds they refunded
 1711  and which result in a reduction of debt service payable in each
 1712  fiscal year, the amount available for distribution to a county
 1713  shall remain as provided by law and continue to be subject to
 1714  any lien or claim on behalf of the bondholders. The Department
 1715  of Revenue must ensure, based on information provided by an
 1716  affected county, that any reduction in amounts distributed
 1717  pursuant to subsection (1) does not reduce the amount of
 1718  distribution to a county below the amount necessary for the
 1719  timely payment of principal and interest when due on the bonds
 1720  and the amount necessary to comply with any covenant under the
 1721  bond resolution or other documents relating to the issuance of
 1722  the bonds. If a reduction to a county’s monthly distribution
 1723  must be decreased in order to comply with this section, the
 1724  Department of Revenue must notify the Department of Juvenile
 1725  Justice of the amount of the decrease, and the Department of
 1726  Juvenile Justice must send a bill for payment of such amount to
 1727  the affected county.
 1728  (3) This section expires July 1, 2027.
 1729  Section 47. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1730  793 through 817A, 978 through 1125, and 1146 through 1182 of the
 1731  2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding the
 1732  expiration date in section 52 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of
 1733  Florida, subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection (2),
 1734  paragraph (a) of subsection (3), and subsections (5), (6), and
 1735  (7) of section 27.40, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read:
 1736  27.40 Court-appointed counsel; circuit registries; minimum
 1737  requirements; appointment by court.—
 1738  (1) Counsel shall be appointed to represent any individual
 1739  in a criminal or civil proceeding entitled to court-appointed
 1740  counsel under the Federal or State Constitution or as authorized
 1741  by general law. The court shall appoint a public defender to
 1742  represent indigent persons as authorized in s. 27.51. The office
 1743  of criminal conflict and civil regional counsel shall be
 1744  appointed to represent persons in those cases in which provision
 1745  is made for court-appointed counsel, but only after the public
 1746  defender has certified to the court in writing that the public
 1747  defender is unable to provide representation due to a conflict
 1748  of interest or is not authorized to provide representation. The
 1749  public defender shall report, in the aggregate, the specific
 1750  basis of all conflicts of interest certified to the court. On a
 1751  quarterly basis, the public defender shall submit this
 1752  information to the Justice Administrative Commission.
 1753  (2)(a) Private counsel shall be appointed to represent
 1754  persons in those cases in which provision is made for court
 1755  appointed counsel but only after the office of criminal conflict
 1756  and civil regional counsel has been appointed and has certified
 1757  to the court in writing that the criminal conflict and civil
 1758  regional counsel is unable to provide representation due to a
 1759  conflict of interest. The criminal conflict and civil regional
 1760  counsel shall report, in the aggregate, the specific basis of
 1761  all conflicts of interest certified to the court. On a quarterly
 1762  basis, the criminal conflict and civil regional counsel shall
 1763  submit this information to the Justice Administrative
 1764  Commission.
 1765  (3) In using a registry:
 1766  (a) The chief judge of the circuit shall compile a list of
 1767  attorneys in private practice, by county and by category of
 1768  cases, and provide the list to the clerk of court in each
 1769  county. The chief judge of the circuit may restrict the number
 1770  of attorneys on the general registry list. To be included on a
 1771  registry, an attorney must certify that he or she:
 1772  1. Meets any minimum requirements established by the chief
 1773  judge and by general law for court appointment;
 1774  2. Is available to represent indigent defendants in cases
 1775  requiring court appointment of private counsel; and
 1776  3. Is willing to abide by the terms of the contract for
 1777  services, s. 27.5304, and this section.
 1778
 1779  To be included on a registry, an attorney must enter into a
 1780  contract for services with the Justice Administrative
 1781  Commission. Failure to comply with the terms of the contract for
 1782  services may result in termination of the contract and removal
 1783  from the registry. Each attorney on the registry is responsible
 1784  for notifying the clerk of the court and the Justice
 1785  Administrative Commission of any change in his or her status.
 1786  Failure to comply with this requirement is cause for termination
 1787  of the contract for services and removal from the registry until
 1788  the requirement is fulfilled.
 1789  (5) The Justice Administrative Commission shall approve
 1790  uniform contract forms for use in procuring the services of
 1791  private court-appointed counsel and uniform procedures and forms
 1792  for use by a court-appointed attorney in support of billing for
 1793  attorney’s fees, costs, and related expenses to demonstrate the
 1794  attorney’s completion of specified duties. Such uniform
 1795  contracts and forms for use in billing must be consistent with
 1796  s. 27.5304, s. 216.311, and the General Appropriations Act and
 1797  must contain the following statement: “The State of Florida’s
 1798  performance and obligation to pay under this contract is
 1799  contingent upon an annual appropriation by the Legislature.”
 1800  (6) After court appointment, the attorney must immediately
 1801  file a notice of appearance with the court indicating acceptance
 1802  of the appointment to represent the defendant and of the terms
 1803  of the uniform contract as specified in subsection (5).
 1804  (7)(a) A private attorney appointed by the court from the
 1805  registry to represent a client is entitled to payment as
 1806  provided in s. 27.5304 so long as the requirements of subsection
 1807  (1) and paragraph (2)(a) are met. An attorney appointed by the
 1808  court who is not on the registry list may be compensated under
 1809  s. 27.5304 only if the court finds in the order of appointment
 1810  that there were no registry attorneys available for
 1811  representation for that case and only if the requirements of
 1812  subsection (1) and paragraph (2)(a) are met.
 1813  (b)1. The flat fee established in s. 27.5304 and the
 1814  General Appropriations Act shall be presumed by the court to be
 1815  sufficient compensation. The attorney shall maintain appropriate
 1816  documentation, including contemporaneous and detailed hourly
 1817  accounting of time spent representing the client. If the
 1818  attorney fails to maintain such contemporaneous and detailed
 1819  hourly records, the attorney waives the right to seek
 1820  compensation in excess of the flat fee established in s. 27.5304
 1821  and the General Appropriations Act. These records and documents
 1822  are subject to review by the Justice Administrative Commission
 1823  and audit by the Auditor General, subject to the attorney-client
 1824  privilege and work-product privilege. The attorney shall
 1825  maintain the records and documents in a manner that enables the
 1826  attorney to redact any information subject to a privilege in
 1827  order to facilitate the commission’s review of the records and
 1828  documents and not to impede such review. The attorney may redact
 1829  information from the records and documents only to the extent
 1830  necessary to comply with the privilege. The Justice
 1831  Administrative Commission shall review such records and shall
 1832  contemporaneously document such review before authorizing
 1833  payment to an attorney. Objections by or on behalf of the
 1834  Justice Administrative Commission to records or documents or to
 1835  claims for payment by the attorney shall be presumed correct by
 1836  the court unless the court determines, in writing, that
 1837  competent and substantial evidence exists to justify overcoming
 1838  the presumption.
 1839  2. If an attorney fails, refuses, or declines to permit the
 1840  commission or the Auditor General to review documentation for a
 1841  case as provided in this paragraph, the attorney waives the
 1842  right to seek, and the commission may not pay, compensation in
 1843  excess of the flat fee established in s. 27.5304 and the General
 1844  Appropriations Act for that case.
 1845  3. A finding by the commission that an attorney has waived
 1846  the right to seek compensation in excess of the flat fee
 1847  established in s. 27.5304 and the General Appropriations Act, as
 1848  provided in this paragraph, shall be presumed to be correct,
 1849  unless the court determines, in writing, that competent and
 1850  substantial evidence exists to justify overcoming the
 1851  presumption.
 1852  Section 48. The text of s. 27.40(1), (2)(a), (3)(a), (5),
 1853  (6), and (7), Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter
 1854  2019-116, Laws of Florida, by this act expires July 1, 2027, and
 1855  the text of those subsections and paragraphs, as applicable,
 1856  shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2019, except that
 1857  any amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall
 1858  be preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
 1859  amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
 1860  expire pursuant to this section.
 1861  Section 49. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 1862  793 through 817A, 978 through 1125, and 1146 through 1182 of the
 1863  2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding the
 1864  expiration date in section 54 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of
 1865  Florida, subsection (13) of section 27.5304, Florida Statutes,
 1866  is amended, and subsections (1), (3), (6), (7), and (11) and
 1867  paragraphs (a) through (e) of subsection (12) of that section
 1868  are reenacted, to read:
 1869  27.5304 Private court-appointed counsel; compensation;
 1870  notice.—
 1871  (1) Private court-appointed counsel appointed in the manner
 1872  prescribed in s. 27.40(1) and (2)(a) shall be compensated by the
 1873  Justice Administrative Commission only as provided in this
 1874  section and the General Appropriations Act. The flat fees
 1875  prescribed in this section are limitations on compensation. The
 1876  specific flat fee amounts for compensation shall be established
 1877  annually in the General Appropriations Act. The attorney also
 1878  shall be reimbursed for reasonable and necessary expenses in
 1879  accordance with s. 29.007. If the attorney is representing a
 1880  defendant charged with more than one offense in the same case,
 1881  the attorney shall be compensated at the rate provided for the
 1882  most serious offense for which he or she represented the
 1883  defendant. This section does not allow stacking of the fee
 1884  limits established by this section.
 1885  (3) The court retains primary authority and responsibility
 1886  for determining the reasonableness of all billings for attorney
 1887  fees, costs, and related expenses, subject to statutory
 1888  limitations and the requirements of s. 27.40(7). Private court
 1889  appointed counsel is entitled to compensation upon final
 1890  disposition of a case.
 1891  (6) For compensation for representation pursuant to a court
 1892  appointment in a proceeding under chapter 39:
 1893  (a) At the trial level, compensation for representation for
 1894  dependency proceedings shall not exceed $1,450 for the first
 1895  year following the date of appointment and shall not exceed $700
 1896  each year thereafter. Compensation shall be paid based upon
 1897  representation of a parent irrespective of the number of case
 1898  numbers that may be assigned or the number of children involved,
 1899  including any children born during the pendency of the
 1900  proceeding. Any appeal, except for an appeal from an
 1901  adjudication of dependency, shall be completed by the trial
 1902  attorney and is considered compensated by the flat fee for
 1903  dependency proceedings.
 1904  1. Counsel may bill the flat fee not exceeding $1,450
 1905  following disposition or upon dismissal of the petition.
 1906  2. Counsel may bill the annual flat fee not exceeding $700
 1907  following the first judicial review in the second year following
 1908  the date of appointment and each year thereafter as long as the
 1909  case remains under protective supervision.
 1910  3. If the court grants a motion to reactivate protective
 1911  supervision, the attorney shall receive the annual flat fee not
 1912  exceeding $700 following the first judicial review and up to an
 1913  additional $700 each year thereafter.
 1914  4. If, during the course of dependency proceedings, a
 1915  proceeding to terminate parental rights is initiated,
 1916  compensation shall be as set forth in paragraph (b). If counsel
 1917  handling the dependency proceeding is not authorized to handle
 1918  proceedings to terminate parental rights, the counsel must
 1919  withdraw and new counsel must be appointed.
 1920  (b) At the trial level, compensation for representation in
 1921  termination of parental rights proceedings shall not exceed
 1922  $1,800 for the first year following the date of appointment and
 1923  shall not exceed $700 each year thereafter. Compensation shall
 1924  be paid based upon representation of a parent irrespective of
 1925  the number of case numbers that may be assigned or the number of
 1926  children involved, including any children born during the
 1927  pendency of the proceeding. Any appeal, except for an appeal
 1928  from an order granting or denying termination of parental
 1929  rights, shall be completed by trial counsel and is considered
 1930  compensated by the flat fee for termination of parental rights
 1931  proceedings. If the individual has dependency proceedings
 1932  ongoing as to other children, those proceedings are considered
 1933  part of the termination of parental rights proceedings as long
 1934  as that termination of parental rights proceeding is ongoing.
 1935  1. Counsel may bill the flat fee not exceeding $1,800 30
 1936  days after rendition of the final order. Each request for
 1937  payment submitted to the Justice Administrative Commission must
 1938  include the trial counsel’s certification that:
 1939  a. Counsel discussed grounds for appeal with the parent or
 1940  that counsel attempted and was unable to contact the parent; and
 1941  b. No appeal will be filed or that a notice of appeal and a
 1942  motion for appointment of appellate counsel, containing the
 1943  signature of the parent, have been filed.
 1944  2. Counsel may bill the annual flat fee not exceeding $700
 1945  following the first judicial review in the second year after the
 1946  date of appointment and each year thereafter as long as the
 1947  termination of parental rights proceedings are still ongoing.
 1948  (c) For appeals from an adjudication of dependency,
 1949  compensation may not exceed $1,800.
 1950  1. Counsel may bill a flat fee not exceeding $1,200 upon
 1951  filing the initial brief or the granting of a motion to
 1952  withdraw.
 1953  2. If a brief is filed, counsel may bill an additional flat
 1954  fee not exceeding $600 upon rendition of the mandate.
 1955  (d) For an appeal from an adjudication of termination of
 1956  parental rights, compensation may not exceed $3,500.
 1957  1. Counsel may bill a flat fee not exceeding $1,750 upon
 1958  filing the initial brief or the granting of a motion to
 1959  withdraw.
 1960  2. If a brief is filed, counsel may bill an additional flat
 1961  fee not exceeding $1,750 upon rendition of the mandate.
 1962  (7) Counsel eligible to receive compensation from the state
 1963  for representation pursuant to court appointment made in
 1964  accordance with the requirements of s. 27.40(1) and (2)(a) in a
 1965  proceeding under chapter 384, chapter 390, chapter 392, chapter
 1966  393, chapter 394, chapter 397, chapter 415, chapter 743, chapter
 1967  744, or chapter 984 shall receive compensation not to exceed the
 1968  limits prescribed in the General Appropriations Act. Any such
 1969  compensation must be determined as provided in s. 27.40(7).
 1970  (11) It is the intent of the Legislature that the flat fees
 1971  prescribed under this section and the General Appropriations Act
 1972  comprise the full and complete compensation for private court
 1973  appointed counsel. It is further the intent of the Legislature
 1974  that the fees in this section are prescribed for the purpose of
 1975  providing counsel with notice of the limit on the amount of
 1976  compensation for representation in particular proceedings and
 1977  the sole procedure and requirements for obtaining payment for
 1978  the same.
 1979  (a) If court-appointed counsel moves to withdraw prior to
 1980  the full performance of his or her duties through the completion
 1981  of the case, the court shall presume that the attorney is not
 1982  entitled to the payment of the full flat fee established under
 1983  this section and the General Appropriations Act.
 1984  (b) If court-appointed counsel is allowed to withdraw from
 1985  representation prior to the full performance of his or her
 1986  duties through the completion of the case and the court appoints
 1987  a subsequent attorney, the total compensation for the initial
 1988  and any and all subsequent attorneys may not exceed the flat fee
 1989  established under this section and the General Appropriations
 1990  Act, except as provided in subsection (12).
 1991
 1992  This subsection constitutes notice to any subsequently appointed
 1993  attorney that he or she will not be compensated the full flat
 1994  fee.
 1995  (12) The Legislature recognizes that on rare occasions an
 1996  attorney may receive a case that requires extraordinary and
 1997  unusual effort.
 1998  (a) If counsel seeks compensation that exceeds the limits
 1999  prescribed by law, he or she must file a motion with the chief
 2000  judge for an order approving payment of attorney fees in excess
 2001  of these limits.
 2002  1. Before filing the motion, the counsel shall deliver a
 2003  copy of the intended billing, together with supporting
 2004  affidavits and all other necessary documentation, to the Justice
 2005  Administrative Commission.
 2006  2. The Justice Administrative Commission shall review the
 2007  billings, affidavit, and documentation for completeness and
 2008  compliance with contractual and statutory requirements and shall
 2009  contemporaneously document such review before authorizing
 2010  payment to an attorney. If the Justice Administrative Commission
 2011  objects to any portion of the proposed billing, the objection
 2012  and supporting reasons must be communicated in writing to the
 2013  private court-appointed counsel. The counsel may thereafter file
 2014  his or her motion, which must specify whether the commission
 2015  objects to any portion of the billing or the sufficiency of
 2016  documentation, and shall attach the commission’s letter stating
 2017  its objection.
 2018  (b) Following receipt of the motion to exceed the fee
 2019  limits, the chief judge or a single designee shall hold an
 2020  evidentiary hearing. The chief judge may select only one judge
 2021  per circuit to hear and determine motions pursuant to this
 2022  subsection, except multicounty circuits and the eleventh circuit
 2023  may have up to two designees.
 2024  1. At the hearing, the attorney seeking compensation must
 2025  prove by competent and substantial evidence that the case
 2026  required extraordinary and unusual efforts. The chief judge or
 2027  single designee shall consider criteria such as the number of
 2028  witnesses, the complexity of the factual and legal issues, and
 2029  the length of trial. The fact that a trial was conducted in a
 2030  case does not, by itself, constitute competent substantial
 2031  evidence of an extraordinary and unusual effort. In a criminal
 2032  case, relief under this section may not be granted if the number
 2033  of work hours does not exceed 75 or the number of the state’s
 2034  witnesses deposed does not exceed 20.
 2035  2. Objections by or on behalf of the Justice Administrative
 2036  Commission to records or documents or to claims for payment by
 2037  the attorney shall be presumed correct by the court unless the
 2038  court determines, in writing, that competent and substantial
 2039  evidence exists to justify overcoming the presumption. The chief
 2040  judge or single designee shall enter a written order detailing
 2041  his or her findings and identifying the extraordinary nature of
 2042  the time and efforts of the attorney in the case which warrant
 2043  exceeding the flat fee established by this section and the
 2044  General Appropriations Act.
 2045  (c) A copy of the motion and attachments shall be served on
 2046  the Justice Administrative Commission at least 20 business days
 2047  before the date of a hearing. The Justice Administrative
 2048  Commission has standing to appear before the court, and may
 2049  appear in person or telephonically, including at the hearing
 2050  under paragraph (b), to contest any motion for an order
 2051  approving payment of attorney fees, costs, or related expenses
 2052  and may participate in a hearing on the motion by use of
 2053  telephonic or other communication equipment. The Justice
 2054  Administrative Commission may contract with other public or
 2055  private entities or individuals to appear before the court for
 2056  the purpose of contesting any motion for an order approving
 2057  payment of attorney fees, costs, or related expenses. The fact
 2058  that the Justice Administrative Commission has not objected to
 2059  any portion of the billing or to the sufficiency of the
 2060  documentation is not binding on the court.
 2061  (d) If the chief judge or a single designee finds that
 2062  counsel has proved by competent and substantial evidence that
 2063  the case required extraordinary and unusual efforts, the chief
 2064  judge or single designee shall order the compensation to be paid
 2065  to the attorney at a percentage above the flat fee rate,
 2066  depending on the extent of the unusual and extraordinary effort
 2067  required. The percentage must be only the rate necessary to
 2068  ensure that the fees paid are not confiscatory under common law.
 2069  The percentage may not exceed 200 percent of the established
 2070  flat fee, absent a specific finding that 200 percent of the flat
 2071  fee in the case would be confiscatory. If the chief judge or
 2072  single designee determines that 200 percent of the flat fee
 2073  would be confiscatory, he or she shall order the amount of
 2074  compensation using an hourly rate not to exceed $75 per hour for
 2075  a noncapital case and $100 per hour for a capital case. However,
 2076  the compensation calculated by using the hourly rate shall be
 2077  only that amount necessary to ensure that the total fees paid
 2078  are not confiscatory, subject to the requirements of s.
 2079  27.40(7).
 2080  (e) Any order granting relief under this subsection must be
 2081  attached to the final request for a payment submitted to the
 2082  Justice Administrative Commission and must satisfy the
 2083  requirements of subparagraph (b)2.
 2084  (13) Notwithstanding the limitation set forth in subsection
 2085  (5) and for the 2026-2027 [2025-2026] fiscal year only, the
 2086  compensation for representation in a criminal proceeding may not
 2087  exceed the following:
 2088  (a) For misdemeanors and juveniles represented at the trial
 2089  level: $2,000.
 2090  (b) For noncapital, nonlife felonies represented at the
 2091  trial level: $15,000.
 2092  (c) For life felonies represented at the trial level:
 2093  $15,000.
 2094  (d) For capital cases represented at the trial level:
 2095  $25,000. For purposes of this paragraph, a “capital case” is any
 2096  offense for which the potential sentence is death and the state
 2097  has not waived seeking the death penalty.
 2098  (e) For representation on appeal: $9,000.
 2099  (f) This subsection expires July 1, 2027 [2026].
 2100  Section 50. The text of s. 27.5304(1), (3), (7), (11), and
 2101  (12)(a)-(e), Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter
 2102  2019-116, Laws of Florida, and the text of s. 27.5304(6),
 2103  Florida Statutes, as carried forward from chapter 2023-240, Laws
 2104  of Florida, by this act, expire July 1, 2027, and the text of
 2105  those subsections and paragraphs, as applicable, shall revert to
 2106  that in existence on June 30, 2019, except that any amendments
 2107  to such text enacted other than by this act shall be preserved
 2108  and continue to operate to the extent that such amendments are
 2109  not dependent upon the portions of text which expire pursuant to
 2110  this section.
 2111  Section 51. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 2112  1348 through 1353 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
 2113  subsection (3) of section 908.1033, Florida Statutes, is amended
 2114  to read:
 2115  908.1033 Local Law Enforcement Immigration Grant Program.—
 2116  (3)(a) A local law enforcement agency may apply to the
 2117  State Board of Immigration Enforcement to provide bonus payments
 2118  for the agency’s local law enforcement officers who participate
 2119  in United States Department of Homeland Security at-large task
 2120  force operations. The local law enforcement agency may apply for
 2121  a bonus of up to $1,000 for each local law enforcement officer
 2122  employed within that agency. The local law enforcement agency
 2123  must certify to the board that the local law enforcement officer
 2124  participated in one or more operations and provide any
 2125  information required by the board. Eligible participation does
 2126  not include operations occurring solely at state correctional
 2127  facilities or county detention facilities.
 2128  (b) The bonus payment shall be adjusted to include 7.65
 2129  percent for the officers’ share of Federal Insurance
 2130  Contribution Act tax on the bonus.
 2131  (c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), and for the 2026-2027
 2132  [2025-2026] fiscal year, a local law enforcement agency may apply
 2133  to the State Board of Immigration Enforcement to provide bonus
 2134  payments for the agency’s certified correctional officers under
 2135  s. 943.10(2), who are a warrant service officer under s. 287(g)
 2136  of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. s. 1357 or an
 2137  immigration officer under the jail enforcement model under s.
 2138  287(g) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. s. 1357.
 2139  The local law enforcement agency may apply for a bonus of up to
 2140  $1,000 for each certified correctional officer employed with
 2141  that county detention facility. The local law enforcement agency
 2142  must certify to the board that the certified correctional
 2143  officer acted in such capacity as a warrant service officer or
 2144  an immigration officer under the jail enforcement model for at
 2145  least 6 months preceding the application and provide any
 2146  information required by the board. Eligible participation does
 2147  not include operations occurring solely at state correctional
 2148  facilities. This paragraph expires July 1, 2027 [2026].
 2149  Section 52. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 2150  1336A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (g)
 2151  is added to subsection (7) of section 934.50, Florida Statutes,
 2152  to read:
 2153  934.50 Searches and seizure using a drone.—
 2154  (7) SECURITY STANDARDS FOR GOVERNMENTAL AGENCY DRONE USE.—
 2155  (g) Subject to appropriation, the Drone as First Responder
 2156  Grant Program is created within the Department of Law
 2157  Enforcement.
 2158  1. The grant program shall provide funds to law enforcement
 2159  agencies, fire service providers, ambulance crews, or other
 2160  first responders that apply for funding to acquire new drones
 2161  that comply with this section. To be eligible, the applicant
 2162  must provide the department with any information the department
 2163  deems necessary. A law enforcement agency, fire service,
 2164  ambulance service, or other first responder agency may apply
 2165  directly to the department or a local governmental entity may
 2166  submit an application on behalf of one or more of its agencies
 2167  to purchase one or more new drones.
 2168  2. The department shall expeditiously develop an
 2169  application process.Funds shall be allocated on a first-come,
 2170  first-served basis, determined by the date the department
 2171  receives the application.
 2172  3. Grants must be matched by at least 50 percent local
 2173  funds, but the department may waive this requirement for
 2174  agencies solely serving within a fiscally constrained county as
 2175  described in s. 218.67(1), Florida Statutes. Each grant is
 2176  limited to a total of $250,000 per agency and a maximum $50,000
 2177  per drone.
 2178  4. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term“first
 2179  responder agency“ has the same meaning as in s. 365.179(1)(a).
 2180  5. The department may adopt rules to implement this
 2181  paragraph. The department is authorized, and all conditions are
 2182  deemed met, to adopt emergency rules under s. 120.54(4) for the
 2183  purpose of implementing this paragraph. Notwithstanding any
 2184  other law, emergency rules adopted under this section are
 2185  effective for 12 months after adoption and may be renewed during
 2186  the pendency of procedures to adopt permanent rules addressing
 2187  the subject of the emergency rules.
 2188
 2189  This paragraph expires July 1, 2027.
 2190  Section 53. In order to implement appropriations used to
 2191  pay existing lease contracts for private lease space in excess
 2192  of 2,000 square feet in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations
 2193  Act, the Department of Management Services, with the cooperation
 2194  of the agencies having the existing lease contracts for office
 2195  or storage space, shall use tenant broker services to
 2196  renegotiate or reprocure all private lease agreements for office
 2197  or storage space which are expiring between July 1, 2027, and
 2198  June 30, 2029, in order to reduce costs in future years. The
 2199  department shall incorporate this initiative into its 2026
 2200  master leasing report required under s. 255.249(7), Florida
 2201  Statutes, and may use tenant broker services to explore the
 2202  possibilities of colocating office or storage space, to review
 2203  the space needs of each agency, and to review the length and
 2204  terms of potential renewals or renegotiations. The department
 2205  shall provide a report to the Executive Office of the Governor,
 2206  the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
 2207  Representatives by November 1, 2026, which lists each lease
 2208  contract for private office or storage space, the status of
 2209  renegotiations, and the savings achieved. This section expires
 2210  July 1, 2027.
 2211  Section 54. In order to implement appropriations authorized
 2212  in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for data center
 2213  services, and notwithstanding s. 216.292(2)(a), Florida
 2214  Statutes, an agency may not transfer funds from a data
 2215  processing category to a category other than another data
 2216  processing category or a cloud computing category for
 2217  information technology resources hosted outside an agency. This
 2218  section expires July 1, 2027.
 2219  Section 55. In order to implement the appropriation of
 2220  funds in the appropriation category “Special Categories-Risk
 2221  Management Insurance” in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations
 2222  Act, and pursuant to the notice, review, and objection
 2223  procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the Executive Office
 2224  of the Governor may transfer funds appropriated in that category
 2225  between departments in order to align the budget authority
 2226  granted with the premiums paid by each department for risk
 2227  management insurance. This section expires July 1, 2027.
 2228  Section 56. In order to implement the appropriation of
 2229  funds in the appropriation category “Special Categories-Transfer
 2230  to Department of Management Services-Human Resources Services
 2231  Purchased per Statewide Contract” in the 2026-2027 General
 2232  Appropriations Act, and pursuant to the notice, review, and
 2233  objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the
 2234  Executive Office of the Governor may transfer funds appropriated
 2235  in that category between departments in order to align the
 2236  budget authority granted with the assessments that must be paid
 2237  by each agency to the Department of Management Services for
 2238  human resource management services. This section expires July 1,
 2239  2027.
 2240  Section 57. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 2241  2935 in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act in the Building
 2242  Relocation appropriation category from the Architects Incidental
 2243  Trust Fund of the Department of Management Services, and in
 2244  accordance with s. 215.196, Florida Statutes:
 2245  (1) Upon the final disposition of a state-owned building,
 2246  the Department of Management Services may use up to 5 percent of
 2247  facility disposition funds from the Architects Incidental Trust
 2248  Fund to defer, offset, or otherwise pay for all or a portion of
 2249  relocation expenses, including furniture, fixtures, and
 2250  equipment for state agencies impacted by the disposition of the
 2251  department’s managed facilities in the Florida Facilities Pool.
 2252  The extent of the financial assistance provided to impacted
 2253  state agencies shall be determined by the department.
 2254  (2) The Department of Management Services may submit budget
 2255  amendments for an increase in appropriation if necessary for the
 2256  implementation of this section pursuant to chapter 216, Florida
 2257  Statutes. Budget amendments for an increase in appropriation
 2258  shall include a detailed plan providing all estimated costs and
 2259  relocation proposals.
 2260  (3) This section expires July 1, 2027.
 2261  Section 58. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 2262  2513 through 2516 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:
 2263  (1) The Department of Financial Services shall replace the
 2264  four main components of the Florida Accounting Information
 2265  Resource Subsystem (FLAIR), which include central FLAIR,
 2266  departmental FLAIR, payroll, and information warehouse, and
 2267  shall replace the cash management and accounting management
 2268  components of the Cash Management Subsystem (CMS) with an
 2269  integrated enterprise system that allows the state to organize,
 2270  define, and standardize its financial management business
 2271  processes and that complies with ss. 215.90-215.96, Florida
 2272  Statutes. The department may not include in the replacement of
 2273  FLAIR and CMS:
 2274  (a) Functionality that duplicates any of the other
 2275  information subsystems of the Florida Financial Management
 2276  Information System; or
 2277  (b) Agency business processes related to any of the
 2278  functions included in the Personnel Information System, the
 2279  Purchasing Subsystem, or the Legislative Appropriations
 2280  System/Planning and Budgeting Subsystem.
 2281  (2) For purposes of replacing FLAIR and CMS, the Department
 2282  of Financial Services shall:
 2283  (a) Take into consideration the cost and implementation
 2284  data identified for Option 3 as recommended in the March 31,
 2285  2014, Florida Department of Financial Services FLAIR Study,
 2286  version 031.
 2287  (b) Ensure that all business requirements and technical
 2288  specifications have been provided to all state agencies for
 2289  their review and input and approved by the executive steering
 2290  committee established in paragraph (c), including any updates to
 2291  these documents.
 2292  (c) Implement a project governance structure that includes
 2293  an executive steering committee composed of:
 2294  1. The Chief Financial Officer or the executive sponsor of
 2295  the project.
 2296  2. A representative of the Division of Treasury of the
 2297  Department of Financial Services, appointed by the Chief
 2298  Financial Officer.
 2299  3. The Chief Information Officers of the Department of
 2300  Financial Services and the Department of Environmental
 2301  Protection.
 2302  4. Two employees from the Division of Accounting and
 2303  Auditing of the Department of Financial Services, appointed by
 2304  the Chief Financial Officer. Each employee must have experience
 2305  relating to at least one of the four main components that
 2306  compose FLAIR.
 2307  5. Two employees from the Executive Office of the Governor,
 2308  appointed by the Governor. One employee must have experience
 2309  relating to the Legislative Appropriations System/Planning and
 2310  Budgeting Subsystem.
 2311  6. One employee from the Department of Revenue, appointed
 2312  by the executive director, who has experience using or
 2313  maintaining the department’s finance and accounting systems.
 2314  7. Two employees from the Department of Management
 2315  Services, appointed by the Secretary of Management Services. One
 2316  employee must have experience relating to the department’s
 2317  personnel information subsystem and one employee must have
 2318  experience relating to the department’s purchasing subsystem.
 2319  8. A state agency administrative services director,
 2320  appointed by the Governor.
 2321  9. The executive sponsor of the Florida Health Care
 2322  Connection (FX) System or his or her designee, appointed by the
 2323  Secretary of Health Care Administration.
 2324  10. The state chief information officer, or his or her
 2325  designee, as a nonvoting member. The state chief information
 2326  officer, or his or her designee, shall provide monthly status
 2327  reports to the executive steering committee pursuant to the
 2328  oversight responsibilities in s. 282.0051, Florida Statutes.
 2329  11. One employee from the Department of Business and
 2330  Professional Regulation who has experience in finance and
 2331  accounting and FLAIR, appointed by the Secretary of Business and
 2332  Professional Regulation.
 2333  12. One employee from the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
 2334  Commission who has experience using or maintaining the
 2335  commission’s finance and accounting systems, appointed by the
 2336  chair of the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
 2337  13. The budget director of the Department of Education, or
 2338  his or her designee.
 2339  (3)(a) The Chief Financial Officer or the executive sponsor
 2340  of the project shall serve as chair of the executive steering
 2341  committee, and the committee shall take action by a vote of at
 2342  least eight affirmative votes with the Chief Financial Officer
 2343  or the executive sponsor of the project voting on the prevailing
 2344  side. A quorum of the executive steering committee consists of
 2345  at least 10 members.
 2346  (b) No later than 14 days before a meeting of the executive
 2347  steering committee, the chair shall request input from committee
 2348  members on agenda items for the next scheduled meeting.
 2349  (c) The chair shall establish a working group composed of
 2350  FLAIR users, state agency technical staff who maintain
 2351  applications that integrate with FLAIR, and no less than four
 2352  state agency finance and accounting or budget directors. The
 2353  working group shall meet at least monthly to review PALM
 2354  functionality, assess project impacts to state financial
 2355  business processes and agency staff, and develop recommendations
 2356  to the executive steering committee for improvements. The chair
 2357  shall request input from the working group on agenda items for
 2358  each scheduled meeting. The Florida PALM project team shall
 2359  dedicate a staff member to the group and provide system
 2360  demonstrations and any project documentation, as needed, for the
 2361  group to fulfill its duties.
 2362  (d) The chair shall request all agency project sponsors to
 2363  provide bimonthly status reports to the executive steering
 2364  committee. The form and format of the bimonthly status reports
 2365  shall be developed by the Florida PALM project and provided to
 2366  the executive steering committee meeting for approval. Such
 2367  agency status reports shall provide information to the executive
 2368  steering committee on the activities and ongoing work within the
 2369  agency to prepare its systems and impacted employees for the
 2370  deployment of the Florida PALM System. The first bimonthly
 2371  status report is due September 1, 2026, and bimonthly
 2372  thereafter.
 2373  (4) The executive steering committee has the overall
 2374  responsibility for ensuring that the project to replace FLAIR
 2375  and CMS meets its primary business objectives and shall:
 2376  (a) Identify and recommend to the Executive Office of the
 2377  Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the
 2378  House of Representatives any statutory changes needed to
 2379  implement the replacement subsystem that will standardize, to
 2380  the fullest extent possible, the state’s financial management
 2381  business processes.
 2382  (b) Review and approve any changes to the project’s scope,
 2383  schedule, and budget which do not conflict with the requirements
 2384  of subsection (1).
 2385  (c) Ensure that adequate resources are provided throughout
 2386  all phases of the project.
 2387  (d) Approve all major project deliverables and any cost
 2388  changes to each deliverable over $250,000.
 2389  (e) Approve contract amendments and changes to all
 2390  contract-related documents associated with the replacement of
 2391  FLAIR and CMS.
 2392  (f) Review, and approve as warranted, the format of the
 2393  bimonthly agency status reports to include objective and
 2394  quantifiable information on each agency’s progress in planning
 2395  for the Florida PALM Major Implementation, covering the agency’s
 2396  people, processes, technology, and data transformation
 2397  activities.
 2398  (g) Ensure compliance with ss. 216.181(16), 216.311,
 2399  216.313, 282.318(4)(h), and 287.058, Florida Statutes.
 2400  (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
 2401  Section 59. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 2402  3040 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
 2403  notwithstanding the expiration date in section 65 of chapter
 2404  2025-199, Laws of Florida, subsection (3) of section 282.709,
 2405  Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
 2406  282.709 State agency law enforcement radio system and
 2407  interoperability network.—
 2408  (3) In recognition of the critical nature of the statewide
 2409  law enforcement radio communications system, the Legislature
 2410  finds that there is an immediate danger to the public health,
 2411  safety, and welfare, and that it is in the best interest of the
 2412  state to continue partnering with the system’s current operator.
 2413  The Legislature finds that continuity of coverage is critical to
 2414  supporting law enforcement, first responders, and other public
 2415  safety users. The potential for a loss in coverage or a lack of
 2416  interoperability between users requires emergency action and is
 2417  a serious concern for officers’ safety and their ability to
 2418  communicate and respond to various disasters and events.
 2419  (a) The department, pursuant to s. 287.057(11), shall enter
 2420  into a 15-year contract with the entity that was operating the
 2421  statewide radio communications system on January 1, 2021. The
 2422  contract must include:
 2423  1. The purchase of radios;
 2424  2. The upgrade to the Project 25 communications standard;
 2425  3. Increased system capacity and enhanced coverage for
 2426  system users;
 2427  4. Operations, maintenance, and support at a fixed annual
 2428  rate;
 2429  5. The conveyance of communications towers to the
 2430  department; and
 2431  6. The assignment of communications tower leases to the
 2432  department.
 2433  (b) The State Agency Law Enforcement Radio System Trust
 2434  Fund is established in the department and funded from surcharges
 2435  collected under ss. 318.18, 320.0802, and 328.72. Upon
 2436  appropriation, moneys in the trust fund may be used by the
 2437  department to acquire the equipment, software, and engineering,
 2438  administrative, and maintenance services it needs to construct,
 2439  operate, and maintain the statewide radio system. Moneys in the
 2440  trust fund from surcharges shall be used to help fund the costs
 2441  of the system. Upon completion of the system, moneys in the
 2442  trust fund may also be used by the department for payment of the
 2443  recurring maintenance costs of the system.
 2444  Section 60. The text of s. 282.709(3), Florida Statutes, as
 2445  carried forward from chapter 2021-37, Laws of Florida, by this
 2446  act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that subsection shall
 2447  revert to that in existence on June 1, 2021, except that any
 2448  amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall be
 2449  preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
 2450  amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
 2451  expire pursuant to this section.
 2452  Section 61. In order to implement appropriations relating
 2453  to the purchase of equipment and services related to the
 2454  Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System (SLERS) as authorized in
 2455  the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding s.
 2456  287.057, Florida Statutes, state agencies and other eligible
 2457  users of the SLERS network may use the Department of Management
 2458  Services SLERS contract for purchase of equipment and services.
 2459  This section expires July 1, 2027.
 2460  Section 62. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 2461  2954 through 2965 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
 2462  and notwithstanding rule 60A-1.031, Florida Administrative Code,
 2463  the transaction fee as identified in s. 287.057(24)(c), Florida
 2464  Statutes, shall be collected for use of the online procurement
 2465  system and is 0.7 percent for the 2026-2027 fiscal year only.
 2466  This section expires July 1, 2027.
 2467  Section 63. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 2468  2866 through 2892 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
 2469  and upon the expiration and reversion of the amendments made by
 2470  section 69 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida, paragraph (i)
 2471  of subsection (9) of section 24.105, Florida Statutes, is
 2472  amended to read:
 2473  24.105 Powers and duties of department.—The department
 2474  shall:
 2475  (9) Adopt rules governing the establishment and operation
 2476  of the state lottery, including:
 2477  (i) The manner and amount of compensation of retailers,
 2478  except for the 2026-2027 fiscal year only, effective July 1,
 2479  2026, the commission for lottery ticket sales shall be 6 percent
 2480  of the purchase price of each ticket sold or issued as a prize
 2481  by a retailer. Any additional retailer compensation is limited
 2482  to the Florida Lottery Retailer Bonus Commission program
 2483  appropriated in Specific Appropriation 2892 of the 2026-2027
 2484  General Appropriations Act.
 2485  Section 64. The amendment to s. 24.105(9)(i), Florida
 2486  Statutes, made by this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of
 2487  that paragraph shall revert to that in existence on June 30,
 2488  2022, except that any amendments to such text enacted other than
 2489  by this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
 2490  extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
 2491  of text which expire pursuant to this section.
 2492  Section 65. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 2493  3084 through 3092 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
 2494  paragraph (ll) of subsection (6) of section 627.351, Florida
 2495  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2496  627.351 Insurance risk apportionment plans.—
 2497  (6) CITIZENS PROPERTY INSURANCE CORPORATION.—
 2498  (ll)1. In addition to any other method of alternative
 2499  dispute resolution authorized by state law, the corporation may
 2500  adopt policy forms that provide for the resolution of disputes
 2501  regarding its claim determinations, including disputes regarding
 2502  coverage for, or the scope and value of, a claim, in a
 2503  proceeding before the Division of Administrative Hearings. Any
 2504  such policies are not subject to s. 627.70154. All proceedings
 2505  in the Division of Administrative Hearings pursuant to such
 2506  policies are subject to ss. 57.105 and 768.79 as if filed in the
 2507  courts of this state and are not considered chapter 120
 2508  administrative proceedings. Rule 1.442, Florida Rules of Civil
 2509  Procedure, applies to any offer served pursuant to s. 768.79,
 2510  except that, notwithstanding any provision in Rule 1.442,
 2511  Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, to the contrary, an offer
 2512  shall not be served earlier than 10 days after filing the
 2513  request for hearing with the Division of Administrative Hearings
 2514  and shall not be served later than 10 days before the date set
 2515  for the final hearing. The administrative law judge in such
 2516  proceedings shall award attorney fees and other relief pursuant
 2517  to ss. 57.105 and 768.79. The corporation may not seek, and the
 2518  office may not approve, a maximum hourly rate for attorney fees.
 2519  2. The corporation may contract with the division to
 2520  conduct proceedings to resolve disputes regarding its claim
 2521  determinations as may be provided for in the applicable policies
 2522  of insurance. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 [202][6].
 2523  Section 66. In order to implement section 125 of the 2026
 2524  2027 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (a) of subsection (2)
 2525  of section 215.5586, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2526  215.5586 My Safe Florida Home Program.—There is established
 2527  within the Department of Financial Services the My Safe Florida
 2528  Home Program. The department shall provide fiscal
 2529  accountability, contract management, and strategic leadership
 2530  for the program, consistent with this section. This section does
 2531  not create an entitlement for property owners or obligate the
 2532  state in any way to fund the inspection or retrofitting of
 2533  residential property in this state. Implementation of this
 2534  program is subject to annual legislative appropriations. It is
 2535  the intent of the Legislature that, subject to the availability
 2536  of funds, the My Safe Florida Home Program provide licensed
 2537  inspectors to perform hurricane mitigation inspections of
 2538  eligible homes and grants to fund hurricane mitigation projects
 2539  on those homes. The department shall implement the program in
 2540  such a manner that the total amount of funding requested by
 2541  accepted applications, whether for inspections, grants, or other
 2542  services or assistance, does not exceed the total amount of
 2543  available funds. If, after applications are processed and
 2544  approved, funds remain available, the department may accept
 2545  applications up to the available amount. The program shall
 2546  develop and implement a comprehensive and coordinated approach
 2547  for hurricane damage mitigation pursuant to the requirements
 2548  provided in this section.
 2549  (2) HURRICANE MITIGATION GRANTS.—Financial grants shall be
 2550  used by homeowners to make improvements recommended by an
 2551  inspection which increase resistance to hurricane damage.
 2552  (a) A homeowner is eligible for a hurricane mitigation
 2553  grant if all of the following criteria are met:
 2554  1. The home must be eligible for an inspection under
 2555  subsection (1).
 2556  2. The home must be a dwelling with an insured value of
 2557  $700,000 or less. Homeowners who are low-income persons, as
 2558  defined in s. 420.0004(11), are exempt from this requirement.
 2559  3. The home must undergo an acceptable hurricane mitigation
 2560  inspection as provided in subsection (1).
 2561  4. The building permit application for initial construction
 2562  of the home must have been made before January 1, 2008.
 2563  5. The homeowner must agree to make his or her home
 2564  available for inspection once a mitigation project is completed.
 2565  6. The homeowner must agree to provide to the department
 2566  information received from the homeowner’s insurer identifying
 2567  the discounts realized by the homeowner because of the
 2568  mitigation improvements funded through the program.
 2569  7.a. The homeowner must be a low-income person or moderate
 2570  income person as defined in s. 420.0004.
 2571  b. The hurricane mitigation inspection must have occurred
 2572  within the previous 24 months from the date of application.
 2573  c. Notwithstanding subparagraph 2., homeowners who are low
 2574  income persons, as defined in s. 420.0004(11), are not exempt
 2575  from the requirement that the home must be a dwelling with an
 2576  insured value of $700,000 or less.
 2577  d. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 [2026].
 2578  Section 67. Effective upon this act becoming a law, in
 2579  order to implement Specific Appropriation 2544Aof the 2026-2027
 2580  General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding s. 216.301,
 2581  Florida Statutes, the funds appropriated to the Department of
 2582  Financial Services in Specific Appropriation 2245A and section
 2583  74 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Actwill not revert
 2584  and may be carried forward through the 2026-2027 fiscal year.
 2585  This section expires July 1, 2027.
 2586  Section 68. In order to implement the appropriation of
 2587  funds in the appropriation category “Northwest Regional Data
 2588  Center” in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
 2589  pursuant to the notice, review, and objection procedures of s.
 2590  216.177, Florida Statutes, the Executive Office of the Governor
 2591  may transfer funds appropriated in that category between
 2592  departments in order to align the budget authority granted based
 2593  on the estimated costs for data processing services for the
 2594  2026-2027 fiscal year. This section expires July 1, 2027.
 2595  Section 69. In order to implement appropriations authorized
 2596  in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for state data
 2597  center services, auxiliary assessments charged to state agencies
 2598  related to contract management services provided to Northwest
 2599  Regional Data Center may not exceed 3 percent. This section
 2600  expires July 1, 2027.
 2601  Section 70. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 2602  2563A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section
 2603  284.51, Florida Statutes, is reenacted and amended to read:
 2604  284.51 Electroencephalogram combined transcranial magnetic
 2605  stimulation treatment pilot program.—
 2606  (1) As used in this section, the term:
 2607  (a) “Division” means the Division of Risk Management of the
 2608  Department of Financial Services.
 2609  (b) “Electroencephalogram combined Transcranial Magnetic
 2610  Stimulation” or “eTMS” means treatment in which transcranial
 2611  magnetic stimulation frequency pulses are tuned to the patient’s
 2612  physiology and biometric data.
 2613  (c) “First responder” means a law enforcement officer, a
 2614  part-time law enforcement officer, or an auxiliary law
 2615  enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10; a firefighter as
 2616  defined in s. 633.102; a 911 public safety telecommunicator as
 2617  defined in s. 401.465; or an emergency medical technician or
 2618  paramedic as defined in s. 401.23 employed by state or local
 2619  government. The term also includes a volunteer or retired law
 2620  enforcement officer, firefighter, or emergency medical
 2621  technician or paramedic engaged, or previously engaged, by the
 2622  state or a local government.
 2623  (d) “Veteran” means:
 2624  1. A veteran as defined in 38 U.S.C. s. 101(2);
 2625  2. A person who served in a reserve component as defined in
 2626  38 U.S.C. s. 101(27); or
 2627  3. A person who served in the National Guard of any state.
 2628  (2) The division shall select a provider to establish a
 2629  statewide pilot program to make eTMS available for veterans,
 2630  first responders, and immediate family members of veterans and
 2631  first responders with:
 2632  (a) Substance use disorders.
 2633  (b) Mental illness.
 2634  (c) Sleep disorders.
 2635  (d) Traumatic brain injuries.
 2636  (e) Sexual trauma.
 2637  (f) Posttraumatic stress disorder and accompanying
 2638  comorbidities.
 2639  (g) Concussions.
 2640  (h) Other brain trauma.
 2641  (i) Quality of life issues affecting human performance,
 2642  including issues related to or resulting from problems with
 2643  cognition and problems maintaining attention, concentration, or
 2644  focus.
 2645  (3) The provider must display a history of serving veteran
 2646  and first responder populations at a statewide level. The
 2647  provider shall establish a network for in-person and offsite
 2648  care with the goal of providing statewide access. Consideration
 2649  shall be provided to locations with a large population of first
 2650  responders and veterans. In addition to traditional eTMS
 2651  devices, the provider may utilize nonmedical Portable Magnetic
 2652  Stimulation devices to improve access to underserved populations
 2653  in remote areas or to be used to serve as a pre-post treatment
 2654  or a stand-alone device. The provider shall be required to
 2655  establish and operate a clinical practice and to evaluate
 2656  outcomes of such clinical practice.
 2657  (4) The pilot program shall include:
 2658  (a) The establishment of a peer-to-peer support network by
 2659  the provider made available to all individuals receiving
 2660  treatment under the program.
 2661  (b) The requirement that each individual who receives
 2662  treatment under the program also must receive neurophysiological
 2663  monitoring, monitoring for symptoms of substance use and other
 2664  mental health disorders, and access to counseling and wellness
 2665  programming. Each individual who receives treatment must also
 2666  participate in the peer-to-peer support network established by
 2667  the provider.
 2668  (c) The establishment of protocols which include the use of
 2669  adopted stimulation frequency and intensity modulation based on
 2670  EEGs done on days 0, 10, and 20 and motor threshold testing, as
 2671  well as clinical symptoms, signs, and biometrics.
 2672  (d) The requirement that protocols and outcomes of any
 2673  treatment provided by the clinical practice shall be collected
 2674  and reported by the provider quarterly to the division, the
 2675  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
 2676  Representatives. Such report shall include the biodata metrics
 2677  and all expenditures and accounting of the use of funds received
 2678  from the department.
 2679  (e) The requirement that protocols and outcomes of any
 2680  treatment provided by the clinical practice shall be collected
 2681  and reported to the University of South Florida and may be
 2682  provided by the provider to any relevant Food and Drug
 2683  Administration studies or trials.
 2684  (5) The division may adopt rules to implement this section.
 2685  (6) This section expires July 1, 2027 [202][6].
 2686  Section 71. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 2687  2563Aof the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the
 2688  Department of Financial Services shall continue its existing
 2689  contract for the establishment of the Electroencephalogram
 2690  Combined Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment pilot
 2691  program for veterans and first responders. The department’s
 2692  existing contract, and all funds paid by the department pursuant
 2693  to that contract, do not constitute state financial assistance
 2694  as provided in s. 215.97, Florida Statutes. This section expires
 2695  July 1, 2027.
 2696  Section 72. Effective upon this act becoming a law, and in
 2697  order to implement Specific Appropriations 2505 through 2512 of
 2698  the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (3) is
 2699  added to section 717.123, Florida Statutes, to read:
 2700  717.123 Deposit of funds.—
 2701  (3) Notwithstanding subsection (1), and for the 2025-2026
 2702  and 2026-2027 fiscal years, the department shall retain, from
 2703  the funds received under this chapter, an amount not to exceed
 2704  the amount estimated to be received as atypical receipts for the
 2705  2024-2025 and 2025-2026 fiscal years by the Revenue Estimating
 2706  Conference resulting from the implementation of chapter 2024
 2707  140, Laws of Florida. This amount must be held in a separate
 2708  account and is in addition to the $15 million the department is
 2709  authorized to retain pursuant to subsection (1). From the
 2710  separate account the department shall make prompt payment of
 2711  claims relating to the atypical receipts allowed by the
 2712  department. This subsection expires July 1, 2027.
 2713  Section 73. In order to implement specific appropriations
 2714  from the land acquisition trust funds within the Department of
 2715  Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department of
 2716  Environmental Protection, the Department of State, and the Fish
 2717  and Wildlife Conservation Commission, which are contained in the
 2718  2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (3) of section
 2719  215.18, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2720  215.18 Transfers between funds; limitation.—
 2721  (3) Notwithstanding subsection (1) and only with respect to
 2722  a land acquisition trust fund in the Department of Agriculture
 2723  and Consumer Services, the Department of Environmental
 2724  Protection, the Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife
 2725  Conservation Commission, whenever there is a deficiency in a
 2726  land acquisition trust fund which would render that trust fund
 2727  temporarily insufficient to meet its just requirements,
 2728  including the timely payment of appropriations from that trust
 2729  fund, and other trust funds in the State Treasury have moneys
 2730  that are for the time being or otherwise in excess of the
 2731  amounts necessary to meet the just requirements, including
 2732  appropriated obligations, of those other trust funds, the
 2733  Governor may order a temporary transfer of moneys from one or
 2734  more of the other trust funds to a land acquisition trust fund
 2735  in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the
 2736  Department of Environmental Protection, the Department of State,
 2737  or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Any action
 2738  proposed pursuant to this subsection is subject to the notice,
 2739  review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, and the Governor
 2740  shall provide notice of such action at least 7 days before the
 2741  effective date of the transfer of trust funds, except that
 2742  during July 2026 [2025], notice of such action shall be provided
 2743  at least 3 days before the effective date of a transfer unless
 2744  such 3-day notice is waived by the chair and vice chair of the
 2745  Legislative Budget Commission. Any transfer of trust funds to a
 2746  land acquisition trust fund in the Department of Agriculture and
 2747  Consumer Services, the Department of Environmental Protection,
 2748  the Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
 2749  Commission must be repaid to the trust funds from which the
 2750  moneys were loaned by the end of the 2026-2027 [2025-2026] fiscal
 2751  year. The Legislature has determined that the repayment of the
 2752  other trust fund moneys temporarily loaned to a land acquisition
 2753  trust fund in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
 2754  Services, the Department of Environmental Protection, the
 2755  Department of State, or the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
 2756  Commission pursuant to this subsection is an allowable use of
 2757  the moneys in a land acquisition trust fund because the moneys
 2758  from other trust funds temporarily loaned to a land acquisition
 2759  trust fund shall be expended solely and exclusively in
 2760  accordance with s. 28, Art. X of the State Constitution. This
 2761  subsection expires July 1, 2027 [2026].
 2762  Section 74. (1) In order to implement specific
 2763  appropriations from the land acquisition trust funds within the
 2764  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the Department
 2765  of Environmental Protection, the Department of State, and the
 2766  Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission which are contained in
 2767  the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, the Department of
 2768  Environmental Protection shall transfer revenues from the Land
 2769  Acquisition Trust Fund within the department to the land
 2770  acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and
 2771  Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
 2772  Wildlife Conservation Commission as provided in this section. As
 2773  used in this section, the term “department” means the Department
 2774  of Environmental Protection.
 2775  (2) After subtracting any required debt service payments,
 2776  the proportionate share of revenues to be transferred to each
 2777  land acquisition trust fund shall be calculated by dividing the
 2778  appropriations from each of the land acquisition trust funds for
 2779  the fiscal year by the total appropriations from the Land
 2780  Acquisition Trust Fund within the department and the land
 2781  acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and
 2782  Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
 2783  Wildlife Conservation Commission for the fiscal year. The
 2784  department shall transfer the proportionate share of the
 2785  revenues in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the
 2786  department on a monthly basis to the appropriate land
 2787  acquisition trust funds within the Department of Agriculture and
 2788  Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
 2789  Wildlife Conservation Commission and shall retain its
 2790  proportionate share of the revenues in the Land Acquisition
 2791  Trust Fund within the department. Total distributions to a land
 2792  acquisition trust fund within the Department of Agriculture and
 2793  Consumer Services, the Department of State, and the Fish and
 2794  Wildlife Conservation Commission may not exceed the total
 2795  appropriations from such trust fund for the fiscal year.
 2796  (3) In addition, the department shall transfer from the
 2797  Land Acquisition Trust Fund to land acquisition trust funds
 2798  within the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the
 2799  Department of State, and the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
 2800  Commission amounts equal to the difference between the amounts
 2801  appropriated in chapter 2025-198, Laws of Florida, to the
 2802  department’s Land Acquisition Trust Fund and the other land
 2803  acquisition trust funds, and the amounts actually transferred
 2804  between those trust funds during the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
 2805  (4) The department may advance funds from the beginning
 2806  unobligated fund balance in the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to
 2807  the Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the Fish and Wildlife
 2808  Conservation Commission needed for cash flow purposes based on a
 2809  detailed expenditure plan. The department shall prorate amounts
 2810  transferred quarterly to the Fish and Wildlife Conservation
 2811  Commission to recoup the amount of funds advanced by June 30,
 2812  2027.
 2813  (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
 2814  Section 75. In order to implement specific appropriations
 2815  from the Florida Forever Trust Fund within the Department of
 2816  Environmental Protection, which are contained in the 2026-2027
 2817  General Appropriations Act, paragraph (m) of subsection (3) of
 2818  section 259.105, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2819  259.105 The Florida Forever Act.—
 2820  (3) Less the costs of issuing and the costs of funding
 2821  reserve accounts and other costs associated with bonds, the
 2822  proceeds of cash payments or bonds issued pursuant to this
 2823  section shall be deposited into the Florida Forever Trust Fund
 2824  created by s. 259.1051. The proceeds shall be distributed by the
 2825  Department of Environmental Protection in the following manner:
 2826  (m) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a)-(j) and for the 2026
 2827  2027 [2025-2026] fiscal year, the proceeds shall be distributed as
 2828  provided in the General Appropriations Act. This paragraph
 2829  expires July 1, 2027 [2026].
 2830  Section 76. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 2831  1776 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
 2832  notwithstanding the expiration date in section 85 of chapter
 2833  2025-199, Laws of Florida, paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of
 2834  section 376.91, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2835  376.91 Statewide cleanup of perfluoroalkyl and
 2836  polyfluoroalkyl substances.—
 2837  (2) STATEWIDE CLEANUP TARGET LEVELS.—
 2838  (a) If the United States Environmental Protection Agency
 2839  has not finalized its standards for PFAS in drinking water,
 2840  groundwater, and soil by January 1, 2027 [202][6], the department
 2841  shall adopt by rule statewide cleanup target levels for PFAS in
 2842  drinking water, groundwater, and soil using criteria set forth
 2843  in s. 376.30701, with priority given to PFOA and PFOS. The rules
 2844  for statewide cleanup target levels may not take effect until
 2845  ratified by the Legislature.
 2846  Section 77. The amendment to s. 376.91(2)(a), Florida
 2847  Statutes, made by this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of
 2848  that paragraph shall revert to that in existence on June 30,
 2849  2025, except that any amendments to such text enacted other than
 2850  by this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
 2851  extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
 2852  of text which expire pursuant to this section.
 2853  Section 78. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 2854  1831A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
 2855  notwithstanding the expiration date in section 89 of chapter
 2856  2025-199, Laws of Florida, paragraph (g) of subsection (15) of
 2857  section 376.3071, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
 2858  376.3071 Inland Protection Trust Fund; creation; purposes;
 2859  funding.—
 2860  (15) ETHANOL OR BIODIESEL DAMAGE; PREVENTIVE MEASURES.—The
 2861  department shall pay, pursuant to this subsection, up to $10
 2862  million each fiscal year from the fund for the costs of labor
 2863  and equipment to repair or replace petroleum storage systems
 2864  that may have been damaged due to the storage of fuels blended
 2865  with ethanol or biodiesel, or for preventive measures to reduce
 2866  the potential for such damage.
 2867  (g) Payments may not be made for the following:
 2868  1. Proposal costs or costs related to preparation of the
 2869  application and required documentation;
 2870  2. Certified public accountant costs;
 2871  3. Except as provided in paragraph (j), any costs in excess
 2872  of the amount approved by the department under paragraph (b) or
 2873  which are not in substantial compliance with the purchase order;
 2874  4. Costs associated with storage tanks, piping, or
 2875  ancillary equipment that has previously been repaired or
 2876  replaced for which costs have been paid under this section;
 2877  5. Facilities that are not in compliance with department
 2878  storage tank rules, until the noncompliance issues have been
 2879  resolved; or
 2880  6. Costs associated with damage to petroleum storage
 2881  systems caused in whole or in part by causes other than the
 2882  storage of fuels blended with ethanol or biodiesel.
 2883  Section 79. The text of s. 376.3071(15)(g), Florida
 2884  Statutes, as carried forward from chapter 2020-114, Laws of
 2885  Florida, by this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that
 2886  paragraph shall revert to that in existence on July 1, 2020, but
 2887  not including any amendments made by this act or chapter 2020
 2888  114, Laws of Florida, and any amendments to such text enacted
 2889  other than by this act shall be preserved and continue to
 2890  operate to the extent that such amendments are not dependent
 2891  upon the portion of text which expires pursuant to this section.
 2892  Section 80. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 2893  2320 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
 2894  notwithstanding chapter 287, Florida Statutes, the Department of
 2895  Citrus shall enter into agreements for the purpose of increasing
 2896  production of trees that show tolerance or resistance to citrus
 2897  greening and to commercialize technologies that produce
 2898  tolerance or resistance to citrus greening in trees. The
 2899  department shall enter into these agreements no later than
 2900  January 1, 2027, and shall file with the department’s Inspector
 2901  General a certification of conditions and circumstances
 2902  justifying each agreement entered into without competitive
 2903  solicitation. This section expires July 1, 2027.
 2904  Section 81. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 2905  1715 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
 2906  notwithstanding the expiration date in section 92 of chapter
 2907  2025-199, Laws of Florida, section 380.5105, Florida Statutes,
 2908  as amended by chapters 2024-228 and 2025-199, Laws of Florida,
 2909  is reenacted to read:
 2910  380.5105 The Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts; Florida
 2911  Forever program.—
 2912  (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it
 2913  is the intent of the Legislature that the trust shall administer
 2914  the working waterfronts land acquisition program as set forth in
 2915  this section.
 2916  (a) The trust and the Department of Agriculture and
 2917  Consumer Services shall jointly develop rules specifically
 2918  establishing an application process and a process for the
 2919  evaluation, scoring and ranking of working waterfront projects.
 2920  The proposed rules jointly developed pursuant to this paragraph
 2921  shall be promulgated by the trust. Such rules shall establish a
 2922  system of weighted criteria to give increased priority to
 2923  projects:
 2924  1. Within a municipality with a population less than
 2925  30,000;
 2926  2. Within a municipality or area under intense growth and
 2927  development pressures, as evidenced by a number of factors,
 2928  including a determination that the municipality’s growth rate
 2929  exceeds the average growth rate for the state;
 2930  3. Within the boundary of a community redevelopment agency
 2931  established pursuant to s. 163.356;
 2932  4. Adjacent to state-owned submerged lands designated as an
 2933  aquatic preserve identified in s. 258.39; or
 2934  5. That provide a demonstrable benefit to the local
 2935  economy.
 2936  (b) For projects that will require more than the grant
 2937  amount awarded for completion, the applicant must identify in
 2938  their project application funding sources that will provide the
 2939  difference between the grant award and the estimated project
 2940  completion cost. Such rules may be incorporated into those
 2941  developed pursuant to s. 380.507(11).
 2942  (c) The trust shall develop a ranking list based on
 2943  criteria identified in paragraph (a) for proposed fee simple and
 2944  less-than-fee simple acquisition projects developed pursuant to
 2945  this section. The trust shall, by the first Board of Trustees of
 2946  the Internal Improvement Trust Fund meeting in February, present
 2947  the ranking list pursuant to this section to the board of
 2948  trustees for final approval of projects for funding. The board
 2949  of trustees may remove projects from the ranking list but may
 2950  not add projects.
 2951  (d) Grant awards, acquisition approvals, and terms of less
 2952  than-fee acquisitions shall be approved by the trust. Waterfront
 2953  communities that receive grant awards must submit annual
 2954  progress reports to the trust identifying project activities
 2955  which are complete, and the progress achieved in meeting the
 2956  goals outlined in the project application. The trust must
 2957  implement a process to monitor and evaluate the performance of
 2958  grant recipients in completing projects that are funded through
 2959  the working waterfronts program.
 2960  (2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, it
 2961  is the intent of the Legislature that the Department of
 2962  Environmental Protection shall administer the working
 2963  waterfronts capital outlay grant program as set forth in this
 2964  section to support the commercial fishing and marine aquaculture
 2965  industries, including the infrastructure for receiving or
 2966  unloading seafood for the purpose of supporting the seafood
 2967  economy.
 2968  (a) The working waterfronts capital outlay grant program is
 2969  created to provide funding to assist commercial saltwater
 2970  products or commercial saltwater wholesale dealer or retailer
 2971  license holders and seafood houses in maintaining their
 2972  operations.
 2973  (b) Eligible costs and expenditures include fixed capital
 2974  outlay and operating capital outlay, including, but not limited
 2975  to, the repair and maintenance or replacement of equipment, the
 2976  repair and maintenance or replacement of water-adjacent
 2977  facilities or infrastructure, and the construction or renovation
 2978  of shoreside facilities.
 2979  (c) The applicant must demonstrate a benefit to the local
 2980  economy.
 2981  (d) Grant recipients must submit annual progress reports to
 2982  the department identifying project activities that are complete
 2983  and the progress achieved in meeting the goals outlined in the
 2984  project application.
 2985  (e) The department shall implement a process to monitor and
 2986  evaluate the performance of grant recipients in completing
 2987  projects funded through the program.
 2988  Section 82. The text of s. 380.5105, Florida Statutes, as
 2989  carried forward from chapters 2024-228 and 2025-199, Laws of
 2990  Florida, by this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that
 2991  section shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2024,
 2992  except that any amendments to such text enacted other than by
 2993  this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
 2994  extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
 2995  of text which expire pursuant to this section.
 2996  Section 83. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 2997  1951 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act and
 2998  notwithstanding s. 823.11(4)(c), Florida Statutes, the Fish and
 2999  Wildlife Conservation Commission may use funds appropriated for
 3000  the derelict vessel removal program for grants to local
 3001  governments or to remove, store, destroy, and dispose of, or to
 3002  pay private contractors to remove, store, destroy, and dispose
 3003  of, derelict vessels or vessels declared a public nuisance
 3004  pursuant to s. 327.73(1)(aa), Florida Statutes. This section
 3005  expires July 1, 2027.
 3006  Section 84. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 3007  1744A of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection
 3008  (4) is added to section 403.890, Florida Statutes, to read:
 3009  403.890 Water Protection and Sustainability Program.—
 3010  (4) Notwithstanding subsections (1) and (2), revenues
 3011  deposited into or appropriated to the Water Protection and
 3012  Sustainability Program Trust Fund may be used as provided in the
 3013  General Appropriations Act. This subsection expires July 1,
 3014  2027.
 3015  Section 85. In order to implement appropriations from the
 3016  Land Acquisition Trust Fund within the Department of
 3017  Environmental Protection in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations
 3018  Act, paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section 375.041, Florida
 3019  Statutes, is amended to read:
 3020  375.041 Land Acquisition Trust Fund.—
 3021  (3) Funds distributed into the Land Acquisition Trust Fund
 3022  pursuant to s. 201.15 shall be applied:
 3023  (b) Of the funds remaining after the payments required
 3024  under paragraph (a), but before funds may be appropriated,
 3025  pledged, or dedicated for other uses:
 3026  1. A minimum of the lesser of 25 percent or $200 million
 3027  shall be appropriated annually for Everglades projects that
 3028  implement the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan as set
 3029  forth in s. 373.470, including the Central Everglades Planning
 3030  Project subject to congressional authorization; the Long-Term
 3031  Plan as defined in s. 373.4592(2); and the Northern Everglades
 3032  and Estuaries Protection Program as set forth in s. 373.4595.
 3033  From these funds, $32 million shall be distributed each fiscal
 3034  year through the 2023-2024 fiscal year to the South Florida
 3035  Water Management District for the Long-Term Plan as defined in
 3036  s. 373.4592(2). After deducting the $32 million distributed
 3037  under this subparagraph, from the funds remaining, a minimum of
 3038  the lesser of 76.5 percent or $100 million shall be appropriated
 3039  each fiscal year through the 2025-2026 fiscal year for the
 3040  planning, design, engineering, and construction of the
 3041  Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan as set forth in s.
 3042  373.470, including the Central Everglades Planning Project, the
 3043  Everglades Agricultural Area Storage Reservoir Project, the Lake
 3044  Okeechobee Watershed Project, the C-43 West Basin Storage
 3045  Reservoir Project, the Indian River Lagoon-South Project, the
 3046  Western Everglades Restoration Project, and the Picayune Strand
 3047  Restoration Project. The Department of Environmental Protection
 3048  and the South Florida Water Management District shall give
 3049  preference to those Everglades restoration projects that reduce
 3050  harmful discharges of water from Lake Okeechobee to the St.
 3051  Lucie or Caloosahatchee estuaries in a timely manner. For the
 3052  purpose of performing the calculation provided in this
 3053  subparagraph, the amount of debt service paid pursuant to
 3054  paragraph (a) for bonds issued after July 1, 2016, for the
 3055  purposes set forth under this paragraph shall be added to the
 3056  amount remaining after the payments required under paragraph
 3057  (a). The amount of the distribution calculated shall then be
 3058  reduced by an amount equal to the debt service paid pursuant to
 3059  paragraph (a) on bonds issued after July 1, 2016, for the
 3060  purposes set forth under this subparagraph.
 3061  2. A minimum of the lesser of 7.6 percent or $50 million
 3062  shall be appropriated annually for spring restoration,
 3063  protection, and management projects. For the purpose of
 3064  performing the calculation provided in this subparagraph, the
 3065  amount of debt service paid pursuant to paragraph (a) for bonds
 3066  issued after July 1, 2016, for the purposes set forth under this
 3067  paragraph shall be added to the amount remaining after the
 3068  payments required under paragraph (a). The amount of the
 3069  distribution calculated shall then be reduced by an amount equal
 3070  to the debt service paid pursuant to paragraph (a) on bonds
 3071  issued after July 1, 2016, for the purposes set forth under this
 3072  subparagraph.
 3073  3. The sum of $5 million shall be appropriated annually
 3074  each fiscal year through the 2025-2026 fiscal year to the St.
 3075  Johns River Water Management District for projects dedicated to
 3076  the restoration of Lake Apopka. This distribution shall be
 3077  reduced by an amount equal to the debt service paid pursuant to
 3078  paragraph (a) on bonds issued after July 1, 2016, for the
 3079  purposes set forth in this subparagraph.
 3080  4. The sum of $64 million is appropriated and shall be
 3081  transferred to the Everglades Trust Fund for the 2018-2019
 3082  fiscal year, and each fiscal year thereafter, for the EAA
 3083  reservoir project pursuant to s. 373.4598. Any funds remaining
 3084  in any fiscal year shall be made available only for Phase II of
 3085  the C-51 reservoir project or projects identified in
 3086  subparagraph 1. and must be used in accordance with laws
 3087  relating to such projects. Any funds made available for such
 3088  purposes in a fiscal year are in addition to the amount
 3089  appropriated under subparagraph 1. This distribution shall be
 3090  reduced by an amount equal to the debt service paid pursuant to
 3091  paragraph (a) on bonds issued after July 1, 2017, for the
 3092  purposes set forth in this subparagraph.
 3093  5. The sum of $50 million shall be appropriated annually to
 3094  the South Florida Water Management District for the Lake
 3095  Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project in accordance with s.
 3096  373.4599. This distribution must be reduced by an amount equal
 3097  to the debt service paid pursuant to paragraph (a) on bonds
 3098  issued after July 1, 2021, for the purposes set forth in this
 3099  subparagraph.
 3100  6. The sum of $100 million shall be appropriated annually
 3101  to the Department of Environmental Protection for the
 3102  acquisition of land pursuant to s. 259.105.
 3103  7. Notwithstanding subparagraph 6. [subparagraphs 3. and 6.],
 3104  for the 2026-2027 [2025-2026] fiscal year, funds shall be
 3105  appropriated as provided in the General Appropriations Act. This
 3106  subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 [2026].
 3107  Section 86. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 3108  1650 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
 3109  notwithstanding chapter 255, Florida Statutes, the Department of
 3110  Agriculture and Consumer Services may lease an existing facility
 3111  that meets the requirements of s. 581.1843(6), Florida Statutes,
 3112  and may administer a program to expedite the expansion of the
 3113  propagation of Citrus sinensis or Citrus sinensis-like budwood
 3114  trees and seedlings that show tolerance or resistance to citrus
 3115  greening, and to commercialize technologies that produce
 3116  tolerance or resistance to citrus greening in trees. This
 3117  section expires July 1, 2027.
 3118  Section 87. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 3119  1660 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
 3120  notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the
 3121  Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services may submit
 3122  budget amendments, subject to the notice, review, and objection
 3123  procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to increase budget
 3124  authority to support the National School Lunch Program. This
 3125  section expires July 1, 2027.
 3126  Section 88. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 3127  2331 through 2338 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
 3128  subsection (3) of section 288.80125, Florida Statutes, is
 3129  amended to read:
 3130  288.80125 Triumph Gulf Coast Trust Fund.—
 3131  (3) For the 2026-2027 [2025-2026] fiscal year, funds shall be
 3132  used for the Rebuild Florida Revolving Loan Fund program to
 3133  provide assistance to businesses impacted by Hurricane Michael
 3134  as provided in the General Appropriations Act. This subsection
 3135  expires July 1, 2027 [2026].
 3136  Section 89. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 3137  2055 through 2068, 2069D through 2069E, 2080 through 2090, 2092
 3138  through 2100, and 2138 through 2151 of the 2026-2027 General
 3139  Appropriations Act, paragraph (h) of subsection (7) of section
 3140  339.135, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 3141  339.135 Work program; legislative budget request;
 3142  definitions; preparation, adoption, execution, and amendment.—
 3143  (7) AMENDMENT OF THE ADOPTED WORK PROGRAM.—
 3144  (h)1. Any work program amendment that also adds a new
 3145  project, or phase thereof, to the adopted work program in excess
 3146  of $3 million is subject to approval by the Legislative Budget
 3147  Commission. Any work program amendment submitted under this
 3148  paragraph must include, as supplemental information, a list of
 3149  projects, or phases thereof, in the current 5-year adopted work
 3150  program which are eligible for the funds within the
 3151  appropriation category being used for the proposed amendment.
 3152  The department shall provide a narrative with the rationale for
 3153  not advancing an existing project, or phase thereof, in lieu of
 3154  the proposed amendment.
 3155  2. If the department submits an amendment to the
 3156  Legislative Budget Commission and the commission does not meet
 3157  or consider the amendment within 30 days after its submittal,
 3158  the chair and vice chair of the commission may authorize the
 3159  amendment to be approved pursuant to s. 216.177. This
 3160  subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 [2026].
 3161  Section 90. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 3162  2055 through 2068, 2069D, 2069E, 2080 through 2082, 2092 through
 3163  2100 and 2138 through 2151 of the 2026-2027 General
 3164  Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding s. 339.135(7)(b),
 3165  Florida Statutes, the Department of Transportation is authorized
 3166  torequest up to $100 million of budget authority to the extent
 3167  necessary to advance or defer projects programmed in the Work
 3168  Program and realign resources to safeguard district allocations
 3169  and ensure projects programmed in the Work Program are balanced
 3170  to the finance plan.The department may submit budget amendments
 3171  to realign budget authority consistent with this section and
 3172  pursuant to s. 339.135(7), Florida Statutes. This section
 3173  expires July 1, 2027.
 3174  Section 91. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 3175  2396 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (6)
 3176  of section 288.0655, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 3177  288.0655 Rural Infrastructure Fund.—
 3178  (6) For the 2026-2027 [2025-2026] fiscal year, the funds
 3179  appropriated for the grant program for Florida Panhandle
 3180  counties shall be distributed pursuant to and for the purposes
 3181  described in the proviso language associated with Specific
 3182  Appropriation 2396 [2113] of the 2026-2027 [2025-2026] General
 3183  Appropriations Act. This subsection expires July 1, 2027 [2026].
 3184  Section 92. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 3185  2396A through 2396J of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
 3186  section 288.013, Florida Statutes, is created to read:
 3187  288.013 Office of Rural Prosperity.—
 3188  (1)The Legislature finds that the unique characteristics
 3189  of the rural communities in this state are integral to making
 3190  Florida an attractive place to visit, work, and live. The
 3191  Legislature further finds that fostering a prosperous rural
 3192  economy and vibrant rural communities serves the best interests
 3193  of this state. Rural prosperity supports this state’s
 3194  infrastructure, housing, agricultural, and food-processing needs
 3195  and advances the overall health of Florida’s economy. It is
 3196  essential that rural areas be able to grow and thrive, whether
 3197  independently or through regional partnerships. To better serve
 3198  rural communities, and in recognition of the unique challenges
 3199  and opportunities they face, the Office of Rural Prosperity is
 3200  established to ensure that state efforts to support rural
 3201  Florida are coordinated, focused, and effective.
 3202  (2)Notwithstanding s. 20.60, the Office of Rural
 3203  Prosperity is created within the Department of Commerce to
 3204  support rural communities by helping rural stakeholders navigate
 3205  available programs and resources and by representing rural
 3206  interests across state government.
 3207  (3)The Governor shall appoint a director to lead the
 3208  office, subject to confirmation by the Senate. The director
 3209  shall report to the secretary of the department and shall serve
 3210  at the pleasure of the secretary.
 3211  (4)The office shall do all of the following:
 3212  (a)Serve as the state’s point of contact for rural local
 3213  governments.
 3214  (b)Provide administrative support to the Rural Economic
 3215  Development Initiative (REDI) pursuant to s. 288.0656.
 3216  (c) Provide training and technical assistance to rural
 3217  local governments on a broad range of community and economic
 3218  development activities. The training and technical assistance
 3219  may be offered using communications technology or in person. In
 3220  addition, the office shall post a recorded training and
 3221  technical assistance video to the office’s websitewhich covers
 3222  all of the required topics. The training and technical
 3223  assistance must include, at a minimum, the following topics:
 3224  1. How to access state and federal resources, including
 3225  training on the online rural resource directory required under
 3226  paragraph (d).
 3227  2.Best practices for comprehensive planning, economic
 3228  development, and land development in rural communities.
 3229  3.Strategies to address staffing shortages and strengthen
 3230  management functions in rural local governments.
 3231  4.Requirements of, and updates on recent changes to, the
 3232  Community Planning Act under s. 163.3161.
 3233  5.Updates on other recent state and federal laws affecting
 3234  rural local governments.
 3235  (d)Create and maintain an online rural resource directory
 3236  to serve as an interactive tool for users to navigate state and
 3237  federal resources, tools, and services available to rural local
 3238  governments. The office shall ensure the directory is regularly
 3239  updated and, to the greatest extent possible, includescurrent
 3240  information on programs, resources, and services that address
 3241  the needs of rural communities in all areas of governance. Each
 3242  state agency shall routinely provide information and updates to
 3243  the office to support maintenance of the directory. The
 3244  directory must allow users to search by indicators, such as
 3245  agency name, resource type, or topic, and include a notification
 3246  featurethat alerts users when new or updated resources are
 3247  available. To the greatest extent possible, the directory must
 3248  identify any financial match requirements associated with listed
 3249  programs.
 3250  (5)(a)By October 1, 2026, the office shall establish and
 3251  provide staff for seven regional rural community liaison centers
 3252  across this state to provide specialized in-person state support
 3253  to rural local governments located in rural areas of opportunity
 3254  as defined in s. 288.0656. The department shall, by rule, divide
 3255  the state into seven regions and assign a liaison center to each
 3256  region. Each liaison center shall serve the local governments
 3257  within its geographic area and shall be staffed with at least
 3258  two full-time department employees. At a minimum, each liaison
 3259  center has the following powers and duties:
 3260  1.Assist local governments in planning and achieving goals
 3261  related to local or regional growth, economic development, and
 3262  rural prosperity.
 3263  2.Facilitate access to state and federal resources,
 3264  including grants, loans, and other available assistance.
 3265  3.Advise local governments on available program waivers,
 3266  including financial match waivers or reductions for projects
 3267  using state or federal funds through REDI under s. 288.0656.
 3268  4.Coordinate technical assistance needs with the
 3269  department and other state or federal agencies.
 3270  5.Promote model ordinances, policies, and strategies
 3271  related to economic development.
 3272  6.Assist local governments with regulatory and reporting
 3273  compliance requirements.
 3274  (b)To the greatest extent possible, each regional rural
 3275  community liaison center shall coordinate with local and
 3276  regional governmental entities, regional economic development
 3277  organizations as defined in s. 288.018, and other appropriate
 3278  entities to establish a network that fosters community-driven
 3279  solutions promoting viable and sustainable rural communities.
 3280  (c)Each regional rural community liaison center shall
 3281  regularly engage with REDI established in s. 288.0656, and at
 3282  least one staff member from each liaison center shall attend the
 3283  monthly REDI meeting, either in person or by means of electronic
 3284  communication.
 3285  (6)By December 1, 2026, the director of the office shall
 3286  submit to the Administration Commission within the Executive
 3287  Office of the Governor a written report describing the office’s
 3288  operations and accomplishments for the preceding year. In
 3289  consultation with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer
 3290  Services, the office shall also include in the report
 3291  recommendations for policies, programs, and funding initiatives
 3292  to further support the needs of rural communities in this state.
 3293  The office shall also submit the report to the President of the
 3294  Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by
 3295  December 1 of each year and publish it on the office’s website.
 3296  At the next scheduled meeting of the Administration Commission
 3297  following submission of the report, the director shall, in
 3298  person,present detailed information from the report required
 3299  under this subsection.
 3300  (7) This section expires July 1, 2027.
 3301  Section 93. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 3302  2396E of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, paragraph (f)
 3303  is added to subsection (7) of section 288.001, Florida Statutes,
 3304  to read:
 3305  288.001 The Florida Small Business Development Center
 3306  Network.—
 3307  (7) ADDITIONAL STATE FUNDS; USES; PAY-PER-PERFORMANCE
 3308  INCENTIVES; STATEWIDE SERVICE; SERVICE ENHANCEMENTS; BEST
 3309  PRACTICES; ELIGIBILITY.—
 3310  (f) Notwithstanding paragraphs (a), (b), and (c), the
 3311  network shall use funds directly appropriated for the specific
 3312  purpose of expanding service in rural communities as defined in
 3313  s. 288.0656, in addition to any funds allocated by the network
 3314  from other sources. The network shall use the funds to develop
 3315  an activity plan focused on network consultants and resources in
 3316  rural communities. In collaboration with regional economic
 3317  development organizations as defined in s. 288.018, the plan
 3318  must provide for either full- or part-time consultants to be
 3319  available for at least 20 hours per week in rural areas or to be
 3320  permanently stationed in rural areas. This may include
 3321  establishing a circuit in specific rural locations to ensure the
 3322  consultants’ availability on a regular basis. By using the funds
 3323  to create a regular presence in rural areas, the network will
 3324  strengthen community collaboration, raise awareness of available
 3325  resources to provide opportunities for new business development
 3326  or existing business growth, and make professional experience,
 3327  education, and business information available in these essential
 3328  communities. The network may dedicate funds to facilitate local
 3329  or regional events that focus on small business topics, provide
 3330  consulting services, and leverage partner organizations, such as
 3331  the regional economic development organizations, local workforce
 3332  development boards as described in s. 445.007, and Florida
 3333  College System institutions. This paragraph expires July 1,
 3334  2027.
 3335  Section 94. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 3336  2396F of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section
 3337  288.014, Florida Statutes, is created to read:
 3338  288.014 Renaissance Grants Program.—
 3339  (1) The Legislature finds that it has historically provided
 3340  programs to assist rural communities with economic development
 3341  and to enhance their ability to attract businesses and that, by
 3342  providing that extra component of economic viability, rural
 3343  communities are able to attract new businesses and grow existing
 3344  ones. However, the Legislature further finds that a subset of
 3345  rural communities has decreased in population over the past
 3346  decade, contributing to a decline in local business activity and
 3347  economic development. The Legislature therefore determines that
 3348  state assistance must evolve to support these communities in
 3349  achievingthe foundation necessary for economic viability. The
 3350  intent of the Renaissance Grants Program is to reverse economic
 3351  deterioration in such rural communities by retaining and
 3352  attracting residents by giving them a reason to stay, which will
 3353  stimulate natural economic growth, business opportunities, and
 3354  improved quality of life.
 3355  (2) The Office of Rural Prosperity within the department
 3356  shall administer the Renaissance Grants Program to provide block
 3357  grants to eligible counties. By August 1, 2026, the Office of
 3358  Economic and Demographic Research shall certify to the Office of
 3359  Rural Prosperity which counties are growth-impeded. For the
 3360  purposes of this section, the term “growth-impeded” means a
 3361  county that, as of the most recent population estimate, has
 3362  experienced a declining population over the previous 10 years.
 3363  After the initial certification, the Office of Economic and
 3364  Demographic Research shall annually certify whether the county
 3365  remains growth-impeded, until the office certifies the county
 3366  has had 3 consecutive years of population growth. Upon such
 3367  certification of population growth, the county remains eligible
 3368  for the program for 1 additional year to prepare for the end of
 3369  block grant funding.
 3370  (3)(a) Each participating county shall enter into an
 3371  agreement with the Office of Rural Prosperity to receive block
 3372  grant funds. Counties have broad authority to design their
 3373  specific plan to achieve population growth consistent with this
 3374  section. The Office of Rural Prosperity may not determine the
 3375  manner in which a county implements its plan. However, regional
 3376  rural community liaison center staff shall provide assistance in
 3377  developing the county’s plan, upon the county’s request.
 3378  (b) Each participating county shall submit a report to the
 3379  Office of Rural Prosperity detailing program activities,
 3380  intergovernmental agreements, and other information as required
 3381  by the office.
 3382  (c) Each participating county shall receive $1 million from
 3383  the funds appropriated to the program, or an equal share of the
 3384  funds appropriated if insufficient to provide that amount.
 3385  Counties shall make all attempts to limit expenses for
 3386  administrative costs, consistent with the need for prudent
 3387  management and accountability in the use of public funds.
 3388  Counties may supplement the block grant with other funding
 3389  sources, including local, state, or federal grants, and may seek
 3390  public or private contributions or in-kind support to advance
 3391  program activities.
 3392  (4)(a) Each participating county shall hire and retain a
 3393  renaissance coordinator, who may be funded from block grant
 3394  proceeds. The renaissance coordinator is responsible for:
 3395  1. Ensuring that block grant funds are used as provided in
 3396  this section;
 3397  2. Coordinating with other local governments, school
 3398  boards, Florida College System institutions, and other partners;
 3399  and
 3400  3. Reporting as necessary to the state, including
 3401  information necessary pursuant to subsection (7).
 3402  (b) The Office of Rural Prosperity regional rural community
 3403  liaison center staff shall, upon request, provide assistance and
 3404  training to the renaissance coordinator to support successful
 3405  implementation of the block grant.
 3406  (5) Each participating county shall design a plan for
 3407  targeted community investments designed to achieve population
 3408  growth and increase economic vitality. The plan must include the
 3409  following key features for use of the state support:
 3410  (a) Technology centers located within schools or on school
 3411  premises, administered by the local school board, providing
 3412  extended hours and access for students.
 3413  (b) Facilities that colocate adult day care with child care
 3414  facilities. The site-sharing facilities must be managed to also
 3415  encourage interaction between generations and increase the
 3416  health and well-being of younger and older participants, reduce
 3417  social isolation, and create cost and time efficiencies for
 3418  working families. The regional rural community liaison center
 3419  staff of the Office of Rural Prosperity shall, upon request,
 3420  assist the county with bringing recommendations to the Rural
 3421  Economic Development Initiative or the appropriate state agency
 3422  to streamline all required state permits, licenses, regulations,
 3423  or other requirements.
 3424  (c) Technology labs operated in partnership with the
 3425  nearest Florida College System institution or a career center
 3426  under s. 1001.44. Repurposed vacant industrial sites or existing
 3427  office space must be given priority in the selection of lab
 3428  locations. Each local technology lab must be staffed and open
 3429  for extended hours with the capacity to provide:
 3430  1. Access to trainers and equipment necessary for earning
 3431  certificates or online degrees in technology;
 3432  2. Hands-on assistance in securing remote work
 3433  opportunities; and
 3434  3. Studio space equipped for remote technology-based work
 3435  available for graduates and other qualifying residents.
 3436  Participating counties may determine which residents receive
 3437  priority access. Collaboration with community partners,
 3438  including the local workforce development board as described in
 3439  s. 445.007, to provide training opportunities, in-kind support
 3440  such as transportation to and from the lab, financing of
 3441  equipment for in-home use, or basic maintenance of such
 3442  equipment is required.
 3443  (6) In addition to hiring a renaissance coordinator, each
 3444  participating county shall develop intergovernmental agreements
 3445  for shared responsibilities with its municipalities, school
 3446  board, and Florida College System institution or career center
 3447  and enter into necessary contracts with providers and community
 3448  partners in order to implement the plan.
 3449  (7)(a) Beginning in 2027, the Auditor General shall conduct
 3450  an operational audit as defined in s. 11.45 of each county’s
 3451  grant activities.
 3452  (b) ByJuly 1, 2027, the Office of Economic and Demographic
 3453  Research shall submit a report to the President of the Senate
 3454  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives summarizing
 3455  renaissance block grant recipients by county. The report must
 3456  provide key economic indicators that measure progress in
 3457  reversing long-term trends in the county. The Office of Rural
 3458  Prosperity shall, upon request, provide any data necessary to
 3459  complete the report.
 3460  (8) Notwithstanding s. 216.301, funds appropriated for the
 3461  purposes of this section are not subject to reversion.
 3462  (9) This section expires July 1, 2027.
 3463  Section 95. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 3464  2396G of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section
 3465  288.0175, Florida Statutes, is created to read:
 3466  288.0175 Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant
 3467  Program.—
 3468  (1)The Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant
 3469  Program is established within the Office of Rural Prosperity
 3470  within the department to fund and support public infrastructure
 3471  smart technology projects in communities located in rural areas
 3472  of opportunity, subject to legislative appropriation.
 3473  (2)As used in this section, the term:
 3474  (a)“Public infrastructure smart technology” means systems
 3475  or applications that use connectivity, data analytics, or
 3476  automation to improve public infrastructure by increasing
 3477  efficiency, enhancing public services, and promoting sustainable
 3478  development.
 3479  (b)“Rural area of opportunity” has the same meaning as in
 3480  s. 288.0656.
 3481  (c) “Smart region” means a geographic area that uses
 3482  technology and innovative ideas to improve the quality of life
 3483  for its citizens by addressing regional challenges through
 3484  collaboration among government, businesses, and communities.
 3485  (d)“Smart technology lead organization” means a not-for
 3486  profit corporation organized under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal
 3487  Revenue Code which has been in existence for at least 3 years
 3488  and specializes in smart region planning.
 3489  (3)(a)By October 1, 2026, the Office of Rural Prosperity
 3490  shall contract with one or more smart technology lead
 3491  organizations to administer the grant program for the purpose of
 3492  deploying public infrastructure smart technology in rural
 3493  communities. Under such contracts, the smart technology lead
 3494  organization shall award grants to counties and municipalities
 3495  located within a rural area of opportunity for eligible public
 3496  infrastructure smart technology projects.
 3497  (b)Each contract must specify deliverables, reporting
 3498  requirements, timeframes, and any other term the office deems
 3499  necessary. At a minimum, the contract must require the smart
 3500  technology lead organization to:
 3501  1.Collaborate with counties and municipalities in rural
 3502  areas of opportunity to identify cost-effective smart technology
 3503  solutions for improving public services and infrastructure.
 3504  2.Provide technical assistance to counties and
 3505  municipalities located in rural areas of opportunity in
 3506  developing public infrastructure smart technology project plans.
 3507  3.Facilitate connections between rural communities and
 3508  other entities, including companies and regional partners to
 3509  maximize the impact of funded projects.
 3510  (4)The Office of Rural Prosperity shall include a summary
 3511  of projects funded under this section in its report required by
 3512  s. 288.013(6).
 3513  (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
 3514  Section 96. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 3515  2396J of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section
 3516  288.065, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 3517  288.065 Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund.—
 3518  (1) The Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund
 3519  Program is established within the Office of Rural Prosperity
 3520  [department] to facilitate the use of existing federal, state, and
 3521  local financial resources by providing local governments with
 3522  financial assistance to further promote the economic viability
 3523  of rural communities. These funds may be used to finance
 3524  initiatives directed toward maintaining or developing the
 3525  economic base of rural communities, especially initiatives
 3526  addressing employment opportunities for residents of these
 3527  communities.
 3528  (2)(a) The program shall provide for long-term loans, loan
 3529  guarantees, and loan loss reserves to units of local
 3530  governments, or economic development organizations substantially
 3531  underwritten by a unit of local government.[,]
 3532  (b) For purposes of this section, the term “unit of local
 3533  government” means any of the following:
 3534  1. A county [within counties] with a population [populations]
 3535  of 75,000 or less. [fewer, or within any]
 3536  2. A county with a population of 125,000 or less [fewer]
 3537  which is contiguous to a county with a population of 75,000 or
 3538  less. [fewer]
 3539  3. A municipality within a county described in subparagraph
 3540  1. or subparagraph 2.
 3541  4. A county or municipality within a rural area of
 3542  opportunity designated under s. 288.0656.
 3543
 3544  For purposes of this paragraph, population is determined in
 3545  accordance with the most recent official estimates pursuant to
 3546  s. 186.901 and must include those residing in incorporated and
 3547  unincorporated areas of a county[, based on the most recent]
 3548  [official population estimate as determined under s. 186.901,]
 3549  [including those residing in incorporated areas and those]
 3550  [residing in unincorporated areas of the county, or to units of]
 3551  [local government, or economic development organizations]
 3552  [substantially underwritten by a unit of local government, within]
 3553  [a rural area of opportunity].
 3554  (c)[(b)] Requests for loans must [shall] be made by application
 3555  to the office [department]. Loans must [shall] be made pursuant to
 3556  agreements specifying the terms and conditions agreed to between
 3557  the applicant and the office [department]. The loans are [shall be]
 3558  the legal obligations of the applicant.
 3559  (d)[(c)] All repayments of principal and interest must [shall]
 3560  be returned to the loan fund and made available for loans to
 3561  other applicants. However, in a rural area of opportunity
 3562  designated under s. 288.0656 [by the Governor], and upon approval
 3563  by the office [department], repayments of principal and interest
 3564  may be retained by the applicant if such repayments are
 3565  dedicated and matched to fund regionally based economic
 3566  development organizations representing the rural area of
 3567  opportunity.
 3568  (3) The office [department] shall manage the fund,
 3569  establishing loan practices that must include, but are not
 3570  limited to, procedures for establishing loan interest rates,
 3571  uses of funding, application procedures, and application review
 3572  procedures. The office has [department shall have] final approval
 3573  authority for any loan under this section.
 3574  (4) Notwithstanding [the provisions of] s. 216.301, funds
 3575  appropriated for this loan fund may [purpose shall] not be subject
 3576  to reversion.
 3577  (5) The office shall include in its report required under
 3578  s. 288.013 detailed information about the fund, including loans
 3579  made during the previous fiscal year, loans active, loans
 3580  terminated or repaid, and the amount of funds not obligated as
 3581  of 14 days before the date the report is due.
 3582  Section 97. The amendments to s. 288.065, Florida Statutes,
 3583  made by this act expire July 1, 2027, and the text of that
 3584  section shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2026,
 3585  except that any amendments to such text enacted other than by
 3586  this act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the
 3587  extent that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions
 3588  of text which expire pursuant to this section.
 3589  Section 98. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 3590  2759 through 2764 and sections 157 and 158of the 2026-2027
 3591  General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding ss. 216.181 and
 3592  216.292, Florida Statutes, the Division of Emergency Management
 3593  may submit budget amendments, subject to the notice, review, and
 3594  objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, to
 3595  increase budget authority for projected expenditures due to
 3596  reimbursements from federally declared disasters if additional
 3597  federal revenues specific to such programs become available in
 3598  the 2026-2027 fiscal year. This section expires July 1, 2027.
 3599  Section 99. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 3600  2750 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (2)
 3601  of section 282.201, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 3602  282.201 State data center.—The state data center is
 3603  established within the department. The provision of data center
 3604  services must comply with applicable state and federal laws,
 3605  regulations, and policies, including all applicable security,
 3606  privacy, and auditing requirements. The department shall appoint
 3607  a director of the state data center who has experience in
 3608  leading data center facilities and has expertise in cloud
 3609  computing management.
 3610  (2) USE OF THE STATE DATA CENTER.—
 3611  (a) The following are exempt from the use of the state data
 3612  center: the Department of Law Enforcement, the Department of the
 3613  Lottery’s Gaming System, Systems Design and Development in the
 3614  Office of Policy and Budget, the regional traffic management
 3615  centers as described in s. 335.14(2) and the Office of Toll
 3616  Operations of the Department of Transportation, the State Board
 3617  of Administration, state attorneys, public defenders, criminal
 3618  conflict and civil regional counsel, capital collateral regional
 3619  counsel, and the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
 3620  (b) The Division of Emergency Management is exempt from the
 3621  use of the state data center. This paragraph expires July 1,
 3622  2027 [2026].
 3623  Section 100. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 3624  2367 of the 2025-2026 General Appropriations Act, and upon the
 3625  expiration and reversion of the amendments to s. 443.1113,
 3626  Florida Statutes, pursuant to section 105 of chapter 2025-199,
 3627  Laws of Florida, subsections (4) and (5) of section 443.1113,
 3628  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 3629  443.1113 Reemployment Assistance Claims and Benefits
 3630  Information System.—
 3631  (4)(a) The Department of Commerce shall perform an annual
 3632  review of the system and identify enhancements or modernization
 3633  efforts that improve the delivery of services to claimants and
 3634  employers and reporting to state and federal entities. These
 3635  improvements are subject to appropriation, and must include, but
 3636  need not be limited to:
 3637  1. Infrastructure upgrades through cloud services.
 3638  2. Software improvements.
 3639  3. Enhanced data analytics and reporting.
 3640  4. Increased cybersecurity pursuant to s. 282.318.
 3641  (b) The department shall seek input on recommended
 3642  enhancements from, at a minimum, the following entities:
 3643  1. The Florida Digital Service within the Department of
 3644  Management Services.
 3645  2. The General Tax Administration Program Office within the
 3646  Department of Revenue.
 3647  3. The Division of Accounting and Auditing within the
 3648  Department of Financial Services.
 3649  (5) By September 1, 2026 [October 1, 2023], and each year
 3650  thereafter, the Department of Commerce shall submit a
 3651  Reemployment Assistance Claims and Benefits Information System
 3652  report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
 3653  Speaker of the House of Representatives. The report must, at a
 3654  minimum, include:
 3655  (a) A summary of clearly defined deliverables and
 3656  measurable outcomes of maintenance, enhancement, and
 3657  modernization efforts over the last fiscal year.
 3658  (b) A plan for the next 2 fiscal years [3-year outlook] of
 3659  recommended enhancements or modernization efforts that includes
 3660  projected nonrecurring project costs, clear deliverables, and
 3661  timeframes for completion of each enhancement or modernization
 3662  effort in priority order, and the projected recurring operations
 3663  and maintenance costs after the completion of each enhancement
 3664  or modernization effort.
 3665  Section 101. The amendments to s. 443.1113(4) and (5),
 3666  Florida Statutes, made by this act expire July 1, 2027, and the
 3667  text of those subsections shall revert to that in existence on
 3668  June 30, 2025, except that any amendments to such text enacted
 3669  other than by this act shall be preserved and continue to
 3670  operate to the extent that such amendments are not dependent
 3671  upon the portions of text which expire pursuant to this section.
 3672  Section 102. In order to implement Specific Appropriation
 3673  2359 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, subsection (9)
 3674  of section 445.08, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsections
 3675  (2) and (4) of that section are reenacted, to read:
 3676  445.08 Florida Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment
 3677  Program.—
 3678  (2)(a) There is created within the department the Florida
 3679  Law Enforcement Recruitment Bonus Payment Program to aid in the
 3680  recruitment of law enforcement officers within the state. The
 3681  purpose of the program is to administer one-time bonus payments
 3682  of up to $5,000 to each newly employed officer within the state.
 3683  (b) Bonus payments provided to eligible newly employed
 3684  officers are contingent upon legislative appropriations and
 3685  shall be prorated subject to the amount appropriated for the
 3686  program.
 3687  (4) The department shall develop an annual plan for the
 3688  administration of the program and distribution of bonus
 3689  payments. Applicable employing agencies shall assist the
 3690  department with the collection of any data necessary to
 3691  determine bonus payment amounts and to distribute the bonus
 3692  payments, and shall otherwise provide the department with any
 3693  information or assistance needed to fulfill the requirements of
 3694  this section. At a minimum, the plan must include:
 3695  (a) The method for determining the estimated number of
 3696  newly employed officers to gain or be appointed to full-time
 3697  employment during the applicable fiscal year.
 3698  (b) The minimum eligibility requirements a newly employed
 3699  officer must meet to receive and retain a bonus payment, which
 3700  must include:
 3701  1. Obtaining certification for employment or appointment as
 3702  a law enforcement officer pursuant to s. 943.1395.
 3703  2. Gaining full-time employment with a Florida criminal
 3704  justice agency.
 3705  3. Maintaining full-time employment as a law enforcement
 3706  officer with a Florida criminal justice agency for at least 2
 3707  years from the date on which the officer obtained certification.
 3708  The required 2-year employment period may be satisfied by
 3709  maintaining full-time employment at one or more employing
 3710  agencies, but such period must not contain any break in service
 3711  longer than 180 calendar days.
 3712  (c) The standards by which the department will determine
 3713  under what circumstances a break in service is acceptable. A law
 3714  enforcement officer must provide documentation to the department
 3715  justifying a break in service. For purposes of this section, the
 3716  term “break in service” means a period of time during which the
 3717  person is employed with a Florida criminal justice agency but is
 3718  not employed as a full-time law enforcement officer or a period
 3719  of time during which the person is in between employment as a
 3720  full-time law enforcement officer for no longer than 15 days.
 3721  The time period for any break in service does not count toward
 3722  satisfying the 2-year full-time employment requirement of this
 3723  section.
 3724  (d) The method that will be used to determine the bonus
 3725  payment amount to be distributed to each newly employed officer.
 3726  (e) The method that will be used to distribute bonus
 3727  payments to applicable employing agencies for distribution to
 3728  eligible officers. Such method should prioritize distributing
 3729  bonus payments to eligible officers in the most efficient and
 3730  quickest manner possible.
 3731  (f) The estimated cost to the department associated with
 3732  developing and administering the program and distributing bonus
 3733  payment funds.
 3734  (g) The method by which an officer must reimburse the state
 3735  if he or she received a bonus payment under the program, but
 3736  failed to maintain continuous employment for the required 2-year
 3737  period. Reimbursement shall not be required if an officer is
 3738  discharged by his or her employing agency for a reason other
 3739  than misconduct as designated on the affidavit of separation
 3740  completed by the employing agency and maintained by the
 3741  commission.
 3742
 3743  The department may establish other criteria deemed necessary to
 3744  determine bonus payment eligibility and distribution.
 3745  (9) This section expires July 1, 2027 [202][6].
 3746  Section 103. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 3747  2384 through 2386 and sections 146, 147, 148, 152, and 155of
 3748  the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding
 3749  ss. 216.181 and 216.292, Florida Statutes, the Department of
 3750  Commerce may submit budget amendments, subject to the notice,
 3751  review, and objection procedures of s. 216.177, Florida
 3752  Statutes, to increase budget authority to support the following
 3753  federal grant programs: the Broadband Equity, Access, and
 3754  Deployment Program (BEAD), Capital Projects Fund Program,
 3755  Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery Program
 3756  (CDBG-DR), Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Home Energy
 3757  Assistance Programs – Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
 3758  (LIHEAP), and Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund, Pub. L.
 3759  No. 117-2. This section expires July 1, 2027.
 3760  Section 104. (1) In order to implement section 8 of the
 3761  2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, beginning July 1, 2026,
 3762  and on the first day of each month thereafter, the Department of
 3763  Management Services shall assess an administrative health
 3764  insurance assessment on each state agency equal to the
 3765  employer’s cost of individual employee health care coverage for
 3766  each vacant position within such agency eligible for coverage
 3767  through the Division of State Group Insurance. As used in this
 3768  section, the term “state agency” means an agency within the
 3769  State Personnel System, the Department of the Lottery, the
 3770  Justice Administrative Commission and all entities
 3771  administratively housed in the Justice Administrative
 3772  Commission, and the state courts system.
 3773  (2) Each state agency shall remit the assessed
 3774  administrative health insurance assessment under subsection (1)
 3775  to the State Employees Health Insurance Trust Fund, for the
 3776  State Group Insurance Program, as provided in ss. 110.123 and
 3777  110.1239, Florida Statutes, from currently allocated moneys for
 3778  salaries and benefits within 30 days after receipt of the
 3779  assessment from the Department of Management Services. Should
 3780  any state agency become more than 60 days delinquent in payment
 3781  of this obligation, the Department of Management Services shall
 3782  certify to the Chief Financial Officer the amount due and the
 3783  Chief Financial Officer shall transfer the amount due to the
 3784  Department of Management Services.
 3785  (3) The administrative health insurance assessment shall
 3786  apply to all vacant positions funded with state funds whether
 3787  fully or partially funded with state funds. Vacant positions
 3788  partially funded with state funds shall pay a percentage of the
 3789  assessment imposed in subsection (1) equal to the percentage
 3790  share of state funds provided for such vacant positions. No
 3791  assessment shall apply to vacant positions fully funded with
 3792  federal funds. Each state agency shall provide the Department of
 3793  Management Services with a complete list of position numbers
 3794  that are funded, or partially funded, with federal funding, and
 3795  include the percentage of federal funding for each position no
 3796  later than July 31, 2026, and shall update the list on the last
 3797  day of each month thereafter. For federally funded vacant
 3798  positions, or partially funded vacant positions, each state
 3799  agency shall immediately take steps to include the
 3800  administrative health insurance assessment in its indirect cost
 3801  plan for the 2027-2028 fiscal year and each fiscal year
 3802  thereafter. A state agency shall notify the Department of
 3803  Management Services, the Executive Office of the Governor, the
 3804  chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and the chair
 3805  of the House of Representatives Budget Committee upon approval
 3806  of the updated indirect cost plan. If the state agency is not
 3807  able to obtain approval from its federal awarding agency, the
 3808  state agency must notify the Department of Management Services,
 3809  the Executive Office of the Governor, and the appropriation and
 3810  budget chairs no later than January 15, 2027.
 3811  (4) Pursuant to the notice, review, and objection
 3812  procedures of s. 216.177, Florida Statutes, the Executive Office
 3813  of the Governor may transfer budget authority appropriated in
 3814  the Salaries and Benefits appropriation category between
 3815  agencies in order to align the appropriations granted with the
 3816  assessments that must be paid by each agency to the Department
 3817  of Management Services for the administrative health insurance
 3818  assessment.
 3819  (5) This section expires July 1, 2027.
 3820  Section 105. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 3821  2852 and 2855 of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, and
 3822  notwithstanding s. 11.13(1), Florida Statutes, the authorized
 3823  salaries for members of the Legislature for the 2026-2027 fiscal
 3824  year shall be set at the same level in effect on July 1, 2010.
 3825  This section expires July 1, 2027.
 3826  Section 106. In order to implement the transfer of funds
 3827  from the General Revenue Fund from trust funds for the 2026-2027
 3828  General Appropriations Act, and notwithstanding the expiration
 3829  date in section 111 of chapter 2025-199, Laws of Florida,
 3830  paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 215.32, Florida
 3831  Statutes, is reenacted to read:
 3832  215.32 State funds; segregation.—
 3833  (2) The source and use of each of these funds shall be as
 3834  follows:
 3835  (b)1. The trust funds shall consist of moneys received by
 3836  the state which under law or under trust agreement are
 3837  segregated for a purpose authorized by law. The state agency or
 3838  branch of state government receiving or collecting such moneys
 3839  is responsible for their proper expenditure as provided by law.
 3840  Upon the request of the state agency or branch of state
 3841  government responsible for the administration of the trust fund,
 3842  the Chief Financial Officer may establish accounts within the
 3843  trust fund at a level considered necessary for proper
 3844  accountability. Once an account is established, the Chief
 3845  Financial Officer may authorize payment from that account only
 3846  upon determining that there is sufficient cash and releases at
 3847  the level of the account.
 3848  2. In addition to other trust funds created by law, to the
 3849  extent possible, each agency shall use the following trust funds
 3850  as described in this subparagraph for day-to-day operations:
 3851  a. Operations or operating trust fund, for use as a
 3852  depository for funds to be used for program operations funded by
 3853  program revenues, with the exception of administrative
 3854  activities when the operations or operating trust fund is a
 3855  proprietary fund.
 3856  b. Operations and maintenance trust fund, for use as a
 3857  depository for client services funded by third-party payors.
 3858  c. Administrative trust fund, for use as a depository for
 3859  funds to be used for management activities that are departmental
 3860  in nature and funded by indirect cost earnings and assessments
 3861  against trust funds. Proprietary funds are excluded from the
 3862  requirement of using an administrative trust fund.
 3863  d. Grants and donations trust fund, for use as a depository
 3864  for funds to be used for allowable grant or donor agreement
 3865  activities funded by restricted contractual revenue from private
 3866  and public nonfederal sources.
 3867  e. Agency working capital trust fund, for use as a
 3868  depository for funds to be used pursuant to s. 216.272.
 3869  f. Clearing funds trust fund, for use as a depository for
 3870  funds to account for collections pending distribution to lawful
 3871  recipients.
 3872  g. Federal grant trust fund, for use as a depository for
 3873  funds to be used for allowable grant activities funded by
 3874  restricted program revenues from federal sources.
 3875
 3876  To the extent possible, each agency must adjust its internal
 3877  accounting to use existing trust funds consistent with the
 3878  requirements of this subparagraph. If an agency does not have
 3879  trust funds listed in this subparagraph and cannot make such
 3880  adjustment, the agency must recommend the creation of the
 3881  necessary trust funds to the Legislature no later than the next
 3882  scheduled review of the agency’s trust funds pursuant to s.
 3883  215.3206.
 3884  3. All such moneys are hereby appropriated to be expended
 3885  in accordance with the law or trust agreement under which they
 3886  were received, subject always to the provisions of chapter 216
 3887  relating to the appropriation of funds and to the applicable
 3888  laws relating to the deposit or expenditure of moneys in the
 3889  State Treasury.
 3890  4.a. Notwithstanding any provision of law restricting the
 3891  use of trust funds to specific purposes, unappropriated cash
 3892  balances from selected trust funds may be authorized by the
 3893  Legislature for transfer to the Budget Stabilization Fund and
 3894  General Revenue Fund in the General Appropriations Act.
 3895  b. This subparagraph does not apply to trust funds required
 3896  by federal programs or mandates; trust funds established for
 3897  bond covenants, indentures, or resolutions whose revenues are
 3898  legally pledged by the state or public body to meet debt service
 3899  or other financial requirements of any debt obligations of the
 3900  state or any public body; the Division of Licensing Trust Fund
 3901  in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; the
 3902  State Transportation Trust Fund; the trust fund containing the
 3903  net annual proceeds from the Florida Education Lotteries; the
 3904  Florida Retirement System Trust Fund; trust funds under the
 3905  management of the State Board of Education or the Board of
 3906  Governors of the State University System, where such trust funds
 3907  are for auxiliary enterprises, self-insurance, and contracts,
 3908  grants, and donations, as those terms are defined by general
 3909  law; trust funds that serve as clearing funds or accounts for
 3910  the Chief Financial Officer or state agencies; trust funds that
 3911  account for assets held by the state in a trustee capacity as an
 3912  agent or fiduciary for individuals, private organizations, or
 3913  other governmental units; and other trust funds authorized by
 3914  the State Constitution.
 3915  Section 107. The text of s. 215.32(2)(b), Florida Statutes,
 3916  as carried forward from chapter 2011-47, Laws of Florida, by
 3917  this act expires July 1, 2027, and the text of that paragraph
 3918  shall revert to that in existence on June 30, 2011, except that
 3919  any amendments to such text enacted other than by this act shall
 3920  be preserved and continue to operate to the extent that such
 3921  amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text which
 3922  expire pursuant to this section.
 3923  Section 108. In order to implement appropriations in the
 3924  2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for state employee travel,
 3925  the funds appropriated to each state agency which may be used
 3926  for travel by state employees are limited during the 2026-2027
 3927  fiscal year to travel for activities that are critical to each
 3928  state agency’s mission. Funds may not be used for travel by
 3929  state employees to foreign countries, other states, conferences,
 3930  staff training activities, or other administrative functions
 3931  unless the agency head has approved, in writing, that such
 3932  activities are critical to the agency’s mission. The agency head
 3933  shall consider using teleconferencing and other forms of
 3934  electronic communication to meet the needs of the proposed
 3935  activity before approving mission-critical travel. This section
 3936  does not apply to travel for law enforcement purposes, military
 3937  purposes, emergency management activities, or public health
 3938  activities. This section expires July 1, 2027.
 3939  Section 109. In order to implement appropriations in the
 3940  2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for state employee travel
 3941  and notwithstanding s. 112.061, Florida Statutes, costs for
 3942  lodging associated with a meeting, conference, or convention
 3943  organized or sponsored in whole or in part by a state agency or
 3944  the judicial branch may not exceed $225 per day. An employee may
 3945  expend his or her own funds for any lodging expenses in excess
 3946  of $225 per day. For purposes of this section, a meeting does
 3947  not include travel activities for conducting an audit,
 3948  examination, inspection, or investigation or travel activities
 3949  related to a litigation or emergency response. This section
 3950  expires July 1, 2027.
 3951  Section 110. In order to implement the appropriations and
 3952  reappropriations authorized in the 2026-2027 General
 3953  Appropriations Act, paragraph (d) of subsection (11) of section
 3954  216.181, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 3955  216.181 Approved budgets for operations and fixed capital
 3956  outlay.—
 3957  (11)
 3958  (d) Notwithstanding paragraph (b) and paragraph (2)(b), and
 3959  for the 2026-2027 [202][5][-202][6] fiscal year only, the Legislative
 3960  Budget Commission may approve budget amendments for new fixed
 3961  capital outlay projects or increase the amounts appropriated to
 3962  state agencies for fixed capital outlay projects. This paragraph
 3963  expires July 1, 2027 [202][6].
 3964
 3965  The provisions of this subsection are subject to the notice and
 3966  objection procedures set forth in s. 216.177.
 3967  Section 111. In order to implement the salaries and
 3968  benefits, expenses, other personal services, contracted
 3969  services, special categories, and operating capital outlay
 3970  categories of the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act,
 3971  paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 216.292, Florida
 3972  Statutes, is amended to read:
 3973  216.292 Appropriations nontransferable; exceptions.—
 3974  (2) The following transfers are authorized to be made by
 3975  the head of each department or the Chief Justice of the Supreme
 3976  Court whenever it is deemed necessary by reason of changed
 3977  conditions:
 3978  (a) The transfer of appropriations funded from identical
 3979  funding sources, except appropriations for fixed capital outlay,
 3980  and the transfer of amounts included within the total original
 3981  approved budget and plans of releases of appropriations as
 3982  furnished pursuant to ss. 216.181 and 216.192, as follows:
 3983  1. Between categories of appropriations within a budget
 3984  entity, if no category of appropriation is increased or
 3985  decreased by more than 5 percent of the original approved budget
 3986  or $250,000, whichever is greater, by all action taken under
 3987  this subsection.
 3988  2. Between budget entities within identical categories of
 3989  appropriations, if no category of appropriation is increased or
 3990  decreased by more than 5 percent of the original approved budget
 3991  or $250,000, whichever is greater, by all action taken under
 3992  this subsection.
 3993  3. Any agency exceeding salary rate established pursuant to
 3994  s. 216.181(8) on June 30th of any fiscal year shall not be
 3995  authorized to make transfers pursuant to subparagraphs 1. and 2.
 3996  in the subsequent fiscal year.
 3997  4. Notice of proposed transfers under subparagraphs 1. and
 3998  2. shall be provided to the Executive Office of the Governor and
 3999  the chairs of the legislative appropriations committees at least
 4000  3 days prior to agency implementation in order to provide an
 4001  opportunity for review. The review shall be limited to ensuring
 4002  that the transfer is in compliance with the requirements of this
 4003  paragraph.
 4004  5. For the 2026-2027 [202][5][-202][6] fiscal year, the review
 4005  shall ensure that transfers proposed pursuant to this paragraph
 4006  comply with this chapter, maximize the use of available and
 4007  appropriate trust funds, and are not contrary to legislative
 4008  policy and intent. This subparagraph expires July 1, 2027 [202][6].
 4009  Section 112. In order to implement appropriations in the
 4010  2026-2027 General Appropriations Act for the acquisitions of
 4011  motor vehicles, and notwithstanding chapter 287, Florida
 4012  Statutes, relating to the purchase of motor vehicles from a
 4013  state term contract, state agencies may purchase vehicles from
 4014  nonstate term contract vendors without prior approval from the
 4015  Department of Management Services, provided the cost of the
 4016  motor vehicle is equal to or less than the cost of a similar
 4017  class of vehicle found on a state term contract and provided the
 4018  funds for the purchase have been specifically appropriated. This
 4019  section expires July 1, 2027.
 4020  Section 113. In order to implement appropriations for state
 4021  agencies in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act, section
 4022  11.52, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 4023  11.52 Implementation of enacted legislation.—Each state
 4024  agency shall provide the Legislature and the Executive Office of
 4025  the Governor with information about the status of implementation
 4026  of recently enacted legislation. The implementation status must
 4027  be provided 90 days following the effective date of the
 4028  legislation and updated each August 1 thereafter until all
 4029  provisions of the legislation have been fully implemented. The
 4030  implementation status report must include, at a minimum, for
 4031  each enacted legislation, the actions or steps taken to
 4032  implement the legislation and planned actions or steps for
 4033  implementation, such as any rules proposed for implementation,
 4034  any procurements required, any contract executed to assist the
 4035  agency in the implementation, any contracts executed to
 4036  implement or administer the legislation, programs started,
 4037  offices established, or other organization administrative
 4038  changes made including personnel changes, or federal waivers
 4039  requested; any expenditures made directly related to the
 4040  implementation; and any impediments or delays in implementation,
 4041  including, but not limited to, challenges of administrative
 4042  rules. No later than 14 days prior to the next regular
 4043  legislative session, the state agency shall provide an update of
 4044  any changes to the implementation status, notify the Legislature
 4045  of any protests of rulemaking or other communications regarding
 4046  the implementation of the legislation and the status of any
 4047  litigation related to the legislation, and identify any policy
 4048  issues that need to be resolved by the Legislature to ensure
 4049  timely and effective implementation of the legislation. This
 4050  section expires July 1, 2027 [202][6].
 4051  Section 114. In order to implement appropriations for state
 4052  agencies and the judicial branch in the 2026-2027 General
 4053  Appropriations Act, subsection (7) of section 216.013, Florida
 4054  Statutes, is amended to read:
 4055  216.013 Long-range program plan.—State agencies and the
 4056  judicial branch shall develop long-range program plans to
 4057  achieve state goals using an interagency planning process that
 4058  includes the development of integrated agency program service
 4059  outcomes. The plans shall be policy based, priority driven,
 4060  accountable, and developed through careful examination and
 4061  justification of all agency and judicial branch programs.
 4062  (7) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, each
 4063  state executive agency and the judicial branch are not required
 4064  to develop or post a long-range program plan by September 30,
 4065  2026 [2025], for the 2027-2028 [2026-2027] fiscal year, except in
 4066  circumstances outlined in any updated written instructions
 4067  prepared by the Executive Office of the Governor in consultation
 4068  with the chairs of the legislative appropriations committees.
 4069  This subsection expires July 1, 2027 [2026].
 4070  Section 115. In order to implement appropriations for state
 4071  agencies and the judicial branch in the 2026-2027 General
 4072  Appropriations Act, subsection (7) of section 216.023, Florida
 4073  Statutes, is amended to read:
 4074  216.023 Legislative budget requests to be furnished to
 4075  Legislature by agencies.—
 4076  (7) As part of the legislative budget request, each state
 4077  agency and the judicial branch shall include an inventory of all
 4078  ongoing technology-related projects that have a cumulative
 4079  estimated or realized cost of more than $1 million. The
 4080  inventory must, at a minimum, contain all of the following
 4081  information:
 4082  (a) The name of the technology system.
 4083  (b) A brief description of the purpose and function of the
 4084  system.
 4085  (c) A brief description of the goals of the project.
 4086  (d) The initiation date of the project.
 4087  (e) The key performance indicators for the project.
 4088  (f) Any other metrics for the project evaluating the health
 4089  and status of the project.
 4090  (g) The original and current baseline estimated end dates
 4091  of the project.
 4092  (h) The original and current estimated costs of the
 4093  project.
 4094  (i) Total funds appropriated or allocated to the project
 4095  and the current realized cost for the project by fiscal year.
 4096
 4097  For purposes of this subsection, an ongoing technology-related
 4098  project is one which has been funded or has had or is expected
 4099  to have expenditures in more than one fiscal year. An ongoing
 4100  technology-related project does not include the continuance of
 4101  existing hardware and software maintenance agreements, the
 4102  renewal of existing software licensing agreements, or the
 4103  replacement of desktop units with new technology that is
 4104  substantially similar to the technology being replaced. This
 4105  subsection expires July 1, 2027 [2026].
 4106  Section 116. In order to implement Specific Appropriations
 4107  203, 583, 642, 1455A, 2514, and 3235, and sections 72 and 94of
 4108  the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act:
 4109  (1) Of the funds appropriated for information technology
 4110  projects, 75 percent shall be held in reserve. All general
 4111  revenue funds not held in reserve shall be fully released. The
 4112  Agency for Health Care Administration, Department of Children
 4113  and Families, Department of Corrections, Department of Financial
 4114  Services, Florida Gaming Control Commission, Department of
 4115  Health, and Department of Revenue are authorized to submit a
 4116  budget amendment to request release of funds pursuant to chapter
 4117  216, Florida Statutes. The amount requested to be released in
 4118  each budget amendment may not exceed the agency’s projected
 4119  quarterly expenditures, reduced by any unexpended funds from
 4120  prior releases. Release is contingent upon submission of the
 4121  following:
 4122  (a) An updated and comprehensive operational work plan;
 4123  (b) A detailed monthly spend plan with expenditures broken
 4124  down by deliverable which identifies all planned and actual
 4125  project work and costs specified in the current project
 4126  schedule; and
 4127  (c) A copy of the project status report from the most
 4128  recently completed month at the time of submission which
 4129  provides justification for any variance from the most recently
 4130  submitted project schedule and spend plan.
 4131  (2) The agencies receiving funds pursuant to this section
 4132  must submit monthly project status reports to the Executive
 4133  Office of the Governor’s Office of Policy and Budget, the chair
 4134  of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the chair of the House
 4135  Budget Committee, and any other designated project oversight
 4136  entity no later than 30 days after the close of the previous
 4137  month. Each status report must include copies of any new or
 4138  updated relevant task order, contract, or purchase order. The
 4139  status report must also describe progress made to date for each
 4140  project milestone and deliverable, planned and actual completion
 4141  dates, planned and actual costs incurred, and any current
 4142  project issues or risks.
 4143  (3) This section expires July 1, 2027.
 4144  Section 117. Any section of this act which implements a
 4145  specific appropriation or specifically identified proviso
 4146  language in the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act is void if
 4147  the specific appropriation or specifically identified proviso
 4148  language is vetoed. Any section of this act which implements
 4149  more than one specific appropriation or more than one portion of
 4150  specifically identified proviso language in the 2026-2027
 4151  General Appropriations Act is void if all the specific
 4152  appropriations or portions of specifically identified proviso
 4153  language are vetoed.
 4154  Section 118. If any other act passed during the 2026
 4155  Special Session E of the Legislature contains a provision that
 4156  is substantively the same as a provision in this act, but that
 4157  removes or is otherwise not subject to the future repeal applied
 4158  to such provision by this act, the Legislature intends that the
 4159  provision in the other act takes precedence and continues to
 4160  operate, notwithstanding the future repeal provided by this act.
 4161  Section 119. If any law amended by this act was also
 4162  amended by a law enacted during the 2026 Regular Session of the
 4163  Legislature, such laws shall be construed as if they had been
 4164  enacted during the same session of the Legislature and full
 4165  effect shall be given to each if possible.
 4166  Section 120. If any provision of this act or its
 4167  application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the
 4168  invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of
 4169  the act which can be given effect without the invalid provision
 4170  or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are
 4171  severable.
 4172  Section 121. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
 4173  act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon
 4174  this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1,
 4175  2026, or, if this act fails to become a law until after that
 4176  date, it shall take effect upon becoming a law and shall operate
 4177  retroactively to July 1, 2026.