STORAGE NAME: h0293d.HHS
DATE: 4/7/2025
1
FLORIDA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
BILL ANALYSIS
This bill analysis was prepared by nonpartisan committee staff and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.
BILL #: CS/HB 293
TITLE: Office of Faith and Community
SPONSOR(S): Bankson
COMPANION BILL: CS/SB 820 (Yarborough)
LINKED BILLS: None
RELATED BILLS: None
Committee References
Government Operations
18 Y, 0 N, As CS
Health & Human Services
24 Y, 0 N
State Affairs
SUMMARY
Effect of the Bill:
The bill creates the Office of Faith and Community within the Executive Office of the Governor. The purpose of the
office is to connect with Florida’s faith and community networks and provide administrative support to the Florida
Faith-based and Community-based Advisory Council.
Fiscal or Economic Impact:
The bill may have an indeterminate fiscal impact on state government.
JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
ANALYSIS
EFFECT OF THE BILL:
The bill creates the Office of Faith and Community (Office) within the Executive Office of the Governor to serve the
most vulnerable persons in Florida by connecting with Florida’s faith and community networks and providing
administrative support to the Florida Faith-based and Community-based Advisory Council. (Section 1 and 2)
The bill provides that the Office will be led by a liaison, appointed by the Governor, that serves as a senior advisor
to the Governor and connects with state agencies. The liaison is authorized to appoint a director. (Section 1)
The bill provides that the Office must:
Advocate for faith-based and community-based organizations seeking access to, direction from, or support
from state agencies.
Establish and operate the Florida Faith and Community Phone, a dedicated phone line for faith-based and
community-based leaders in this state to connect with the Executive Office of the Governor.
Establish meaningful lines of communication to connect with and provide resources to faith-based and
community-based organizations in this state.
Develop and provide resources for enhanced connection between civil service systems, state agencies, and
faith-based and community-based organizations in this state. Specifically, the office must use technology to
connect state and local faith-based, community-based, and nonprofit-based organizations to address the
identified needs of a community.
Identify bureaucratic or regulatory burdens within state government that unnecessarily restrict, impede, or
otherwise burden faith-based and community-based organizations from their involvement with,
collaboration with, or service to the most vulnerable persons in Florida.
Provide administrative support to the Florida Faith-based and Community-based Advisory Council.
(Section 1)
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2025. (Section 3)
JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
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FISCAL OR ECONOMIC IMPACT:
STATE GOVERNMENT:
The bill may have an indeterminate fiscal impact on state government as it creates an additional office. The Office
may require additional funding to support its duties.
RELEVANT INFORMATION
SUBJECT OVERVIEW:
Florida Faith-based and Community-based Advisory Council
In 2006, the Legislature created the Florida Faith-based and Community-based Advisory Council (council)
1 and
administratively housed it in the Executive Office of the Governor.
2 The council is composed of 25 members that
include representatives from various faiths, faith-based organizations, community-based organizations,
foundations, corporations, and municipalities.
3 The council’s purpose is to advise the Governor and the Legislature
on policies, priorities, and objectives for the state’s comprehensive effort to enlist, equip, enable, empower, and
expand the work of faith-based, volunteer, and other community organizations to the full extent permitted by law.
4
The council also submits an annual report that recommends, among other things:
Best practices for ensuring that state policy decisions consider the capacity of faith-based and other
community-based initiatives to assist in the achievement of state priorities.
Best practices relating to the delivery of services by faith-based and other community-based
organizations.
5
Faith and Community Initiative
Created in 2019, the Governor’s Faith and Community Initiative supports faith and community organizations of
Florida. The initiative is led by a liaison and is tasked with the following:
Hosting statewide faith calls, events, and special programming with the Governor, First Lady, and others to
better connect faith and community networks with state leaders.
Operating the Florida Faith and Community Red Phone, which is a direct line specifically created for Florida
faith and community leaders to connect with the Executive Office of the Governor.
Utilizing the CarePortal, a technology platform that allows faith institutions, non-profits, businesses, and
individuals to see real time, verified, and vetted needs in his or her community.
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1
An “advisory council” is “an advisory body created by specific statutory enactment and appointed to function on a continuing
basis for the study of problems arising in a specified functional or program area of state government and to provide
recommendations and policy alternatives.” S. 20.03(7), F.S.
2
Ch. 2006-9, L.O.F.
3
S. 14.31(3)(b), F.S.
4
S. 14.31(2), F.S.
5
S. 14.31(5), F.S.
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Faith and Community Initiative, Who we are (last visited Mar. 19, 2025). JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
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BILL HISTORY
COMMITTEE REFERENCE ACTION DATE
STAFF
DIRECTOR/
POLICY CHIEF
ANALYSIS
PREPARED BY
Government Operations
Subcommittee
18 Y, 0 N, As CS 3/25/2025 Toliver Walker
THE CHANGES ADOPTED BY THE
COMMITTEE:
Instead of specifically referencing the CarePortal, the bill requires the Office of
Faith and Community to use technology to connect state and local faith-based,
community-based, and nonprofit-based organizations to address identified
community needs.
Health & Human Services
Committee
24 Y, 0 N 4/7/2025 Calamas Clenord
State Affairs Committee
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THIS BILL ANALYSIS HAS BEEN UPDATED TO INCORPORATE ALL OF THE CHANGES DESCRIBED ABOVE.
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