Rural Electric Cooperatives Fee Prohibition
Summary
The Florida Senate passed S0288, a bill prohibiting retail electric cooperatives from adopting, enacting, or enforcing certain fees. The legislation was signed by the Governor on April 1, 2026, following overwhelming legislative approval (39-0 Senate, 106-1 House). The bill applies to rural electric cooperatives that sell electricity at retail and creates new restrictions on their fee structures.
What changed
Florida Senate Bill S0288 prohibits rural electric cooperatives that sell electricity at retail from adopting, enacting, or enforcing fees meeting specified criteria. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Ana Rodriguez (R), passed the Senate 39-0 and the House 106-1 before being signed into law on April 1, 2026.
Affected rural electric cooperatives should review their existing fee structures to ensure compliance with the new prohibition. Legal counsel should assess whether any currently imposed fees fall under the prohibited categories. Cooperatives should update their policies and tariff schedules to align with the new restrictions, with immediate effect following gubernatorial approval.
What to do next
- Review current fee structures for compliance with the new prohibition
- Consult legal counsel to assess whether existing fees fall under prohibited categories
- Update cooperative policies and tariff schedules to align with the new restrictions
Source document (simplified)
ChangeBridge / Florida / S0288 Signed by Governor S0288 S Signed by Governor 2026-04-01
Rural Electric Cooperatives
Prohibiting a cooperative that sells electricity at retail from adopting, enacting, or enforcing a fee meeting specified criteria, etc.
Bill Details
State Florida
Session 2026 Regular Session
Chamber Senate
Official Source www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/288
LegiScan View on LegiScan
Sponsors
Ana Rodriguez (Sen - R)
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 39 NAYS 0 2026-03-12 S Concurred in 1 amendment(s) (815655) 2026-03-11 S In returning messages 2026-03-11 H Passed as amended; YEAS 106, NAYS 1 2026-03-11 H Read 3rd time 2026-03-11 H Added to Third Reading Calendar 2026-03-11 H Amendment 815655 adopted 2026-03-11 H Read 2nd time 2026-03-10 H Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/11/2026) 2026-03-10 H Added to Second Reading Calendar 2026-03-10 H Temporarily postponed, on 2nd Reading 2026-03-09 H 1st Reading (Original Filed Version) 2026-03-09 H Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/10/2026) 2026-03-09 H Bill referred to House Calendar 2026-01-29 H In Messages 2026-01-29 S Immediately certified 2026-01-29 S Passed; YEAS 35 NAYS 0 2026-01-29 S Read 3rd time 2026-01-29 S Read 2nd time 2026-01-27 S Placed on Special Order Calendar, 01/29/26 2026-01-27 S Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading 2026-01-27 S Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 22 NAYS 0 2026-01-22 S On Committee agenda-- Rules, 01/27/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building 2026-01-20 S Now in Rules 2026-01-20 S Favorable by Community Affairs; YEAS 8 NAYS 0 2026-01-15 S On Committee agenda-- Community Affairs, 01/20/26, 1:00 pm, 37 Senate Building 2026-01-13 S Introduced 2025-12-10 S Now in Community Affairs 2025-12-09 S Favorable by Regulated Industries; YEAS 9 NAYS 0 2025-12-01 S On Committee agenda-- Regulated Industries, 12/09/25, 1:00 pm, 412 Knott Building 2025-11-17 S Referred to Regulated Industries; Community Affairs; Rules 2025-10-24 S Filed
Votes
2025-12-09 Senate Regulated Industries Yea: 9 Nay: 0 2026-01-20 Senate Community Affairs Yea: 8 Nay: 0 2026-01-27 Senate Rules Yea: 22 Nay: 0 2026-01-29 Senate: Third Reading RCS#4 Yea: 35 Nay: 0 2026-03-11 House: Third Reading RCS#813 Yea: 106 Nay: 1 2026-03-12 Senate: Third Reading RCS#19 Yea: 39 Nay: 0
Committee Referrals
2025-12-10 S Community Affairs 2026-01-20 S Rules
Amendments
2026-03-10 House Floor Amendment #815655
Bill Text Versions
2025-10-24 Introduced 2026-03-13 Engrossed 2026-03-13 Enrolled Legislative data powered by LegiScan (CC BY 4.0)
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