Ethics for Public Officers and Employees

State Bills: Florida

Published April 1st, 2026

Detected April 2nd, 2026

Summary

Florida Senate Bill S0572 was signed into law on April 1, 2026, amending state ethics law for public officers and employees. The bill revises the definition of 'relative' to include foster parents and foster children, and permits boards and commissions to appoint or advance elected officials who are related to leadership positions on the same governing body. The legislation passed unanimously in both chambers (38-0 Senate, 113-0 House) during the 2026 Regular Session.

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What changed

Florida Senate Bill S0572, signed into law on April 1, 2026, modifies ethics provisions governing public officers and employees. The legislation expands the statutory definition of 'relative' to explicitly encompass foster parents and foster children, and creates a carve-out permitting boards, councils, commissions, and collegial bodies to appoint, employ, promote, or advance elected public officials who are related to leadership positions on the same governing body. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers.

Florida government agencies and public employers should review and update their ethics policies and nepotism provisions to incorporate the revised definition of 'relative' and reflect the new appointment permissions established by S0572.

What to do next

Update ethics policies to incorporate the expanded definition of 'relative' to include foster parents and foster children
Review nepotism and appointment provisions for boards and commissions under the new permissions

Source document (simplified)

ChangeBridge / Florida / S0572 Signed by Governor S0572 S Signed by Governor 2026-04-01

Ethics for Public Officers and Employees

Revising the definition of the term "relative" to include foster parents and foster children; providing that specified provisions do not prohibit a board, council, commission, or collegial body from appointing, employing, promoting, or advancing elected public officials who are related to a leadership position on the same board, council, commission, or collegial body, etc.

Bill Details

State Florida

Session 2026 Regular Session

Chamber Senate

Official Source www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/572

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Action History

2026-04-01 Approved by Governor 2026-03-31 Signed by Officers and presented to Governor 2026-03-12 S Ordered engrossed, then enrolled 2026-03-12 S CS passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 2026-03-12 S Concurred in 1 amendment(s) (187567) 2026-03-10 S In returning messages 2026-03-10 H CS passed as amended; YEAS 113, NAYS 0 2026-03-10 H Read 3rd time 2026-03-10 H Added to Third Reading Calendar 2026-03-10 H Amendment 620573 superseded by substitute 2026-03-10 H Amendment 187567 adopted 2026-03-10 H Read 2nd time 2026-03-09 H 1st Reading (Engrossed 1) 2026-03-09 H Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/10/2026) 2026-03-09 H Bill referred to House Calendar 2026-02-11 H In Messages 2026-02-11 S Immediately certified 2026-02-11 S CS passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 2026-02-11 S Read 3rd time 2026-02-11 S Amendment(s) adopted (807008) 2026-02-11 S Read 2nd time 2026-02-09 S Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/11/26 2026-02-03 S Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading 2026-02-03 S Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 23 NAYS 0 2026-01-29 S On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/03/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building 2026-01-29 S CS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability read 1st time 2026-01-28 S Now in Rules 2026-01-27 S Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute) 2026-01-26 S CS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability; YEAS 9 NAYS 0 2026-01-21 S On Committee agenda-- Governmental Oversight and Accountability, 01/26/26, 3:30 pm, 110 Senate Building 2026-01-14 S Now in Governmental Oversight and Accountability 2026-01-13 S Introduced 2026-01-13 S Favorable by Ethics and Elections; YEAS 8 NAYS 0 2026-01-08 S On Committee agenda-- Ethics and Elections, 01/13/26, 4:00 pm, 37 Senate Building 2025-12-09 S Referred to Ethics and Elections; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Rules 2025-11-18 S Filed

Votes

2026-01-13 Senate Ethics and Elections Yea: 8 Nay: 0 2026-01-26 Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Yea: 9 Nay: 0 2026-02-03 Senate Rules Yea: 23 Nay: 0 2026-02-11 Senate: Third Reading RCS#17 Yea: 38 Nay: 0 2026-03-10 House: Third Reading RCS#776 Yea: 113 Nay: 0 2026-03-12 Senate: Third Reading RCS#3 Yea: 38 Nay: 0

Committee Referrals

2026-01-14 S Governmental Oversight and Accountability 2026-01-28 S Rules

Amendments

2026-01-23 Senate Committee Amendment #913752 2026-02-11 Senate Floor Amendment #807008

Bill Text Versions

2025-11-18 Introduced 2026-01-27 Comm Sub 2026-02-11 Engrossed 2026-03-12 Engrossed 2026-03-12 Enrolled Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)