STORAGE NAME: h1055c.HEB
DATE: 4/9/2025
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 #: HB 1055
TITLE: Florida State University College of Law Election
Law Center
SPONSOR(S): Albert
COMPANION BILL: SB 892 (Simon)
LINKED BILLS: None
RELATED BILLS: None
Committee References
Government Operations
16 Y, 0 N
Higher Education Budget
14 Y, 0 N
State Affairs
SUMMARY
Effect of the Bill:
The bill establishes the Florida State University (FSU) Election Law Center within the FSU College of Law and
specifies the requirements for the center.
Fiscal or Economic Impact:
The bill will have an indeterminate fiscal impact on state government.
JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
ANALYSIS
EFFECT OF THE BILL:
Florida State University Election Law Center
The bill establishes the Florida State University Election Law Center (Election Law Center) within the Florida State
University College of Law. The bill seeks to codify the center’s establishment, purpose, and authorized activities.
(Section 1)
Election Law
The bill defines election law to mean any issues relating to:
Voting rights.
Election administration.
Election emergencies.
Election integrity.
Voter registration and voter registration databases.
Cyber or other technical issues relating to elections.
Federal, state, and local legal provisions governing the electoral process.
Election contests for any federal, state, or local office.
Matters relating to the Electoral College or the casting, counting, or validity of electoral votes.
Federal and state campaign finance law.
Election audits.
Apportionment and redistricting.
Doctrines relating to justiciability, civil procedure, and remedies in election-related cases. (Section 1)
Additionally, the bill extends the definition of election law to historical, empirical, and comparative studies of the
specified topics, as well as philosophical and theoretical discussions on democracy, democratic theory, and
republicanism. (Section 1)
JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
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Goals
The bill establishes that the goals of the Election Law Center are to:
Conduct and promote rigorous, objective, nonpartisan, and evidence-based research on significant
constitutional, statutory, and regulatory issues related to election law.
Plan and host events to facilitate learning about the electoral process and election law, providing
opportunities for students, scholars, legislators, judges, election administrators, attorneys, and members of
the public.
Develop and sponsor publicly accessible materials and resources that educate the public on elections and
election law.
Assist students by providing learning opportunities, practical experience, and career pathways in election
law.
Enhance the reputation of the FSU College of Law as a nationally recognized source for cutting-edge legal
scholarship and technical expertise.
Serve as a nonpartisan resource to address election law inquiries from federal, state, and local election
officials, the Legislature, and legislative staff.
Bolster understanding of the electoral process and promote public confidence in Florida’s electoral system.
Develop objective, evidence-based analysis, best practices, and potential reforms to election statutes,
regulations, and policies to:
o Enable electoral systems to effectively manage natural disasters and other emergencies that could
disrupt elections.
o Promote public confidence in the electoral process.
o Ensure that all qualified United States citizens in Florida have a reasonable, adequate, and safe
opportunity to exercise their right to vote.
o Minimize the risks of mistakes, fraud, violations, accidents, or other irregularities that could impact
elections. (Section 1)
Authorized Activities
The bill authorizes the Election Law Center to undertake a range of activities to fulfill its mission of advancing
election law research, education, and policy development. The bill authorizes the center to:
Hire necessary faculty and staff to support the center’s operations and develop and teach courses related to
election law.
Hold events such as workshops, symposia, roundtables, interviews, public discussions, lectures, and
conferences.
Conduct, facilitate, and sponsor research on election law and publish or make publicly available articles,
reports, analyses, databases, or websites relating to election law issues.
Provide training and continuing education for members of the federal and state judiciaries and judicial
organizations, attorneys, Department of State (DOS) personnel, supervisors of elections (supervisors) and
their employees, and other election administrators.
Provide formal and informal assistance to the Legislature and governmental entities or officials at the
federal, state, and county levels on matters related to elections and election law. This assistance may
include research, reports, public comments, testimony, or briefs.
Award scholarships and research assistantships to outstanding students interested in election law and
sponsor fellowships to fund qualified students to work with the center or at local, state, or federal offices
and nonpartisan entities engaged in election law matters.
Partner with other centers, programs, institutes, and associations as appropriate to promote the center’s
goals. (Section 1)
Data Sharing and Confidentiality
The bill authorizes the DOS, supervisors, the State Library, and the State Archives to cooperate with the Election
Law Center by sharing electronic copies of information or data in their possession, custody, or control upon
request of the center’s faculty director.
The bill requires the Election Law Center and its employees to be subject to, and to store such information or data
consistent with, confidentiality and security requirements that are comparable to those that apply to the DOS,
supervisors, and their employees. (Section 1) JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
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Funding
The bill provides that the center will be funded through appropriations as provided in the General Appropriations
Act, charitable donations and grants, and other university funds. (Section 1)
Leadership and Governance
The bill requires the dean of the FSU College of Law to appoint a faculty director to lead the center who is a tenured
member of the faculty of the law school. The bill requires the faculty director to hire an executive director to
conduct the Election Law Center’s day-to-day operations.
The bill requires the faculty director, in consultation with the executive director, to:
Establish programs that promote the Election Law Center’s goals.
Develop the budget and disburse the funds appropriated, donated, or provided to the center.
Hire employees for the center.
Oversee the center’s research, education, and training programs, events, and work product. (Section 1)
Academic Freedom and Intellectual Diversity Protections
The bill requires the center’s research, work, activities, filings, speakers, events, and operations be subject to
academic freedom protections. The bill prohibits the Election Law Center or any of its full-time faculty or staff from
being compelled to conduct, consult on, or otherwise assist any research or initiatives by any outside federal, state,
or local official or agency or private person or entity. The bill further requires the center to promote intellectual
freedom and viewpoint diversity, which is the exposure of students, faculty, and staff to, and the encouragement of
their exploration of, a variety of ideological and political perspectives. (Section 1)
Effective Date
The bill has an effective date of July 1, 2025. (Section 2)
FISCAL OR ECONOMIC IMPACT:
STATE GOVERNMENT:
The FSU Election Law Center may incur costs to implement the bill’s requirements. Funding for the center may be
specifically provided in the General Appropriations Act, and the center may accept charitable donations, grants,
and other university funds.
RELEVANT INFORMATION
SUBJECT OVERVIEW:
Election Law
Election law covers a wide array of topics, including political spending, voting rights, ballot propositions,
redistricting, gerrymandering, and campaign finance. Useful secondary materials include legal resources as well as
interdisciplinary sources in the areas of political science, history, and public policy.
1 Federal statutes, such as the
Voting Rights Act of 1965 and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, regulate key aspects of election law,
while state laws dictate voter eligibility, ballot access, and election procedures.
2
At the state level, current law addresses voter registration, election administration, campaign finance, and recount
procedures.
3 The Florida Division of Elections, under the Department of State (DOS), provides guidance and
oversight for elections, while county supervisors of elections administer elections locally.
4 Legal challenges related
1
University of California, Irvine School of Law, Election Law Research Guide (last visited Apr. 4, 2025).
2
52 U.S.C. § 10301–10508 (Voting Rights Act of 1965); 52 U.S.C. § 20501–20511 (National Voter Registration Act of 1993).
3
See Ch. 97–106, F.S.
4
DOS, Division of Elections, About Us (last visited Apr. 4, 2025). JUMP TO SUMMARY ANALYSIS RELEVANT INFORMATION BILL HISTORY
4
to election law arise in state and federal courts, particularly concerning issues of voter access, redistricting, and
campaign finance regulations.
Florida State University College of Law
Florida State University (FSU) College of Law, located in Tallahassee, Florida, is a nationally recognized public law
school. The college offers a range of legal education programs, including specialized courses in constitutional law,
administrative law, and public policy. The college leverages its proximity to the Florida Capitol to provide students
with access to state government institutions and legal practitioners.
5
Florida State University Election Law Center
The FSU Election Law Center (Election Law Center), housed within the FSU College of Law, provides nonpartisan
research, training, and policy analysis on election law.
6 The center collaborates with election officials, legislators,
and scholars to improve election administration, voting rights, and election integrity.
7 It also offers student
scholarships, externships, and research fellowships to support careers in election law.
8
The center is led by a faculty director and an executive director, who oversee its academic, research, and outreach
initiatives.
9 The center hosts conferences, lectures, and training sessions, including the Election Law Conference
and the Distinguished Lecture in Election Law.
10
Funding
In general, FSU receives state funds from the Florida Legislature for its operational support and special projects.
The FSU Election law program was appropriated $1 million in the 2023-2024 fiscal year General Appropriation Act
through a special project request.
11 Currently, for fiscal year 2025-2026, there is an appropriation request for the
FSU Election Law Center in the amount of $1.9 million in nonrecurring funds for the purpose of supporting the
program’s administrative and operational costs.
12
The FSU law school also accepts charitable gifts and grants for funding its programs.
13
Intellectual Freedom and Viewpoint Diversity
Intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity is the exposure of students, faculty, and staff to, and the
encouragement of their exploration of, a variety of ideological and political perspectives.
14 State universities are
prohibited from shielding students, faculty, or staff from ideas or opinions they may find uncomfortable,
unwelcome, disagreeable, or offensive.
15
The Board of Governors of the State University System is required to conduct an annual assessment of intellectual
freedom and viewpoint diversity at each state university, using an objective, nonpartisan, and statistically valid
survey. This survey measures the extent to which competing ideas and perspectives are presented and whether
members of the university community feel free to express their beliefs and viewpoints.
16
5
FSU, College of Law (last visited Mar. 17, 2025).
6
FSU College of Law, Election Law Center (last visited Apr. 4, 2025).
7
Id.
8
Id.
9
FSU College of Law, Election Law Center Welcomes Executive Director (last visited Apr. 4, 2025).
10
FSU College of Law, 2024 Distinguished Lecture in Election Law (last visited Apr. 4, 2025).
11
Ch. 2023-239, L.O.F. See also Florida State University News, State budget provides critical support as Florida State University
looks to advance strategic goals (last visited Apr. 4, 2025).
12
Florida House of Representatives, Appropriation Project Request: FSU College of Law - Election Law Center (Apr. 4, 2025).
13
FSU College of Law, Ways to Give (last visited Apr. 4, 2025).
14
S. 1001.706(13)(a)1, F.S.
15
S. 1001.706(13)(a)2, F.S.
16
S. 1001.706(13)(b), F.S. 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
16 Y, 0 N 3/25/2025 Toliver Walker
Higher Education Budget
Subcommittee
14 Y, 0 N 4/8/2025 Fontaine Stenson
State Affairs Committee