365-Day Party Affiliation Requirement for Candidacy
Summary
Florida House Bill H0091 was signed into law by Governor on April 1, 2026, establishing a 365-day continuous party affiliation requirement for candidates seeking to qualify for office. The law prohibits individuals from qualifying as candidates if they have not been registered members of a political party (or registered without party affiliation) for 365 consecutive days before qualifying. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers.
What changed
Florida enacted H0091, which mandates that persons seeking to qualify as candidates must be registered members of a political party (or have no party affiliation) for 365 consecutive days immediately preceding the qualifying period. The law also prohibits candidates from having legally changed their name through petition during this 365-day period. Compliance is mandatory, and political parties or qualified candidates may challenge compliance by filing suit in circuit court.
Political organizations and individuals planning to run for office in Florida must ensure party registration occurs at least one year before the qualifying period begins. Candidates should verify their registration status and avoid name changes during the 365-day window. Parties and candidates may file challenges in circuit court if compliance disputes arise. The law takes effect upon signature by the Governor.
What to do next
- Verify party registration status is continuous for at least 365 days before qualifying period
- Avoid filing name-change petitions during the 365-day window before qualifying
- Political organizations should update candidate qualification procedures to include registration verification
Penalties
A person may not be qualified as a candidate for nomination or election and may not appear on the ballot if they fail to meet the 365-day affiliation requirement
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Florida / H0091 Signed by Governor H0091 H Signed by Governor 2026-04-01
Candidate Qualification
Specifying that a person seeking to qualify for office as a candidate must be a registered member of a political party, or registered without any party affiliation, for 365 consecutive days preceding the beginning of qualifying for an election; specifying that such person may not have legally changed his or her name through a specified petition during such 365-day period; providing that compliance with specified requirements is mandatory; providing construction; authorizing qualified candidates or certain political parties to challenge compliance with specified provisions by filing suit in a specified circuit court; prohibiting a person from being qualified as a candidate for nomination or election and appearing on the ballot under specified circumstances.
Bill Details
State Florida
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber House
Official Source www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/91
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Sponsors
Government Operations Subcommittee Allison Tant (Rep - D) Daryl Campbell (Rep - D)
Action History
2026-04-01 Approved by Governor 2026-03-31 Signed by Officers and presented to Governor 2026-02-26 H Ordered enrolled 2026-02-26 H In Messages 2026-02-26 S Immediately certified 2026-02-26 S CS passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 2026-02-26 S Read 3rd time 2026-02-26 S Read 2nd time 2026-02-26 S Substituted for CS/SB 62 2026-02-26 S Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading 2026-02-26 S Withdrawn from Rules 2026-02-25 S Received 2026-02-25 S Referred to Rules 2026-02-25 S In Messages 2026-02-25 H CS passed as amended; YEAS 113, NAYS 0 2026-02-25 H Read 3rd time 2026-02-25 H Added to Third Reading Calendar 2026-02-25 H Amendment 384943 superseded by substitute 2026-02-25 H Amendment 383023 adopted 2026-02-25 H Read 2nd time 2026-02-19 H Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026) 2026-02-10 H Added to Second Reading Calendar 2026-02-10 H Bill released to House Calendar 2026-02-10 H Reported out of State Affairs Committee 2026-02-10 H Favorable by State Affairs Committee 2026-02-06 H Added to State Affairs Committee agenda 2026-01-13 H 1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1) 2026-01-13 H 1st Reading (Original Filed Version) 2025-12-12 H Now in State Affairs Committee 2025-12-12 H Referred to State Affairs Committee 2025-12-11 H CS Filed 2025-12-11 H Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a) 2025-12-10 H Reported out of Government Operations Subcommittee 2025-12-10 H Favorable with CS by Government Operations Subcommittee 2025-12-03 H Added to Government Operations Subcommittee agenda 2025-10-14 H Now in Government Operations Subcommittee 2025-10-14 H Referred to State Affairs Committee 2025-10-14 H Referred to Government Operations Subcommittee 2025-10-06 H Filed
Votes
2025-12-10 House Government Operations Subcommittee Yea: 14 Nay: 0 2026-02-10 House State Affairs Committee Yea: 26 Nay: 0 2026-02-25 House: Third Reading RCS#603 Yea: 113 Nay: 0 2026-02-26 Senate: Third Reading RCS#17 Yea: 37 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2025-10-14 H Government Operations Subcommittee 2025-12-12 H State Affairs
Amendments
2025-12-08 House Committee Amendment #556667 2026-02-20 House Floor Amendment #384943 2026-02-20 House Floor Substitue Amendment #383023 to Amendment (384943)
Bill Text Versions
2025-10-06 Introduced 2025-12-11 Comm Sub 2026-02-25 Engrossed 2026-02-26 Enrolled Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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