Florida 2025 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1409 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2
3	3	HB 1409 2025
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5	5
6	6
7	7	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
8	8	hb1409-00
9	9	Page 1 of 113
10	10	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
11	11
12	12
13	13
14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to elections; amending s. 20.10, F.S.; 2
16	16	requiring that the Secretary of State be elected 3
17	17	rather than appointed and serve a specified term; 4
18	18	specifying when such election must occur; amending s. 5
19	19	20.32, F.S.; requiring the Florida Commission on 6
20	20	Offender Review to develop and maintain a database for 7
21	21	a specified purpose; specifying database requirements; 8
22	22	requiring specified entities to provide specified 9
23	23	information to the commission on a monthly basis; 10
24	24	requiring the Department of Management Servic es, 11
25	25	acting through the Florida Digital Service, to provide 12
26	26	technical assistance to the commission in developing 13
27	27	and maintaining the database; authorizing the 14
28	28	Department of Management Services to adopt rules; 15
29	29	requiring the commission to make the database pu blicly 16
30	30	available on a website by a specified date; requiring 17
31	31	the commission to update the database monthly; 18
32	32	requiring the commission to publish certain 19
33	33	instructions on the website; requiring the commission 20
34	34	to submit a certain comprehensive plan to the Gove rnor 21
35	35	and the Legislature by a specified date; specifying 22
36	36	requirements for the comprehensive plan; providing 23
37	37	that certain persons who register to vote are 24
38	38	prohibited from being charged with certain crimes as a 25
39	39
40	40	HB 1409 2025
41	41
42	42
43	43
44	44	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
45	45	hb1409-00
46	46	Page 2 of 113
47	47	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
48	48
49	49
50	50
51	51	result of such registration or voting; requirin g the 26
52	52	commission to adopt rules; amending s. 97.021, F.S.; 27
53	53	defining terms; providing construction; repealing s. 28
54	54	97.022, F.S., relating to the Office of Election 29
55	55	Crimes and Security; repealing s. 97.0291, F.S., 30
56	56	relating to prohibiting the use of private fun ds for 31
57	57	election-related expenses; creating s. 97.0556, F.S.; 32
58	58	authorizing a person who meets certain requirements to 33
59	59	register to vote at an early voting site or at his or 34
60	60	her polling place and to cast a ballot immediately 35
61	61	thereafter; amending s. 97.057, F.S .; authorizing the 36
62	62	Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to 37
63	63	preregister certain individuals to vote; providing 38
64	64	that driver license or identification card 39
65	65	applications, driver license or identification card 40
66	66	renewal applications, and applications f or changes of 41
67	67	address for existing driver licenses or identification 42
68	68	cards submitted to the department serve as voter 43
69	69	registration applications; providing that an applicant 44
70	70	is deemed to have consented to the use of his or her 45
71	71	signature for voter registrati on purposes unless a 46
72	72	declination is made; requiring that specified 47
73	73	applications include a voter registration component, 48
74	74	subject to approval by the Department of State; 49
75	75	providing requirements for the voter registration 50
76	76
77	77	HB 1409 2025
78	78
79	79
80	80
81	81	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
82	82	hb1409-00
83	83	Page 3 of 113
84	84	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
85	85
86	86
87	87
88	88	component; requiring the Department of Highway Safety 51
89	89	and Motor Vehicles to transmit voter registration 52
90	90	information electronically to the Department of State 53
91	91	within a specified timeframe; requiring the Department 54
92	92	of State to provide such information to supervisors of 55
93	93	elections; deleting provis ions prohibiting persons 56
94	94	providing voter registration services for a driver 57
95	95	license office from making changes to an applicant's 58
96	96	party affiliation without the applicant's consent and 59
97	97	separate signature; deleting obsolete language; making 60
98	98	technical changes; amending s. 97.0575, F.S.; revising 61
99	99	the information a third -party voter registration 62
100	100	organization is required to provide to the Division of 63
101	101	Elections of the Department of State; deleting a 64
102	102	provision that provides for the expiration of such 65
103	103	organization's registration at the conclusion of the 66
104	104	general election cycle for which the organization is 67
105	105	registered; deleting provisions requiring such 68
106	106	organizations to provide a specified receipt to 69
107	107	applicants; revising the timeframe within which such 70
108	108	organizations must deliver completed applications to 71
109	109	the division or a supervisor of elections; revising 72
110	110	certain penalties; revising the aggregate limit of 73
111	111	such penalties; deleting provisions providing criminal 74
112	112	penalties for the unlawful copying of voter 75
113	113
114	114	HB 1409 2025
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116	116
117	117
118	118	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
119	119	hb1409-00
120	120	Page 4 of 113
121	121	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
122	122
123	123
124	124
125	125	registration applications or retaining of a voter's 76
126	126	personal information; deleting provisions providing 77
127	127	criminal and administrative penalties; deleting 78
128	128	provisions requiring the division to adopt certain 79
129	129	rules; deleting provisions that prohibit providing 80
130	130	applicants a pre-filled voter registration application 81
131	131	and a specified fine for such action; deleting 82
132	132	provisions providing for retroactive application; 83
133	133	creating part III of ch. 97, F.S., entitled "Florida 84
134	134	Voting Rights Act"; creating s. 97.21, F.S.; 85
135	135	prohibiting local governme nts, state agencies, and 86
136	136	state officials from implementing, imposing, or 87
137	137	enforcing election policies, practices, or actions 88
138	138	that result in, will result in, or are intended to 89
139	139	result in specified disparities or impairments; 90
140	140	providing that it is not a violat ion if such entities 91
141	141	demonstrate by a specified evidentiary standard 92
142	142	certain conditions; providing that it is always a 93
143	143	violation if specified circumstances exist; 94
144	144	prohibiting local governments from employing methods 95
145	145	of election that have the effect, will l ikely have the 96
146	146	effect, or are motivated in part by the intent of 97
147	147	diluting the vote of protected class members; 98
148	148	providing the requirements to establish a violation; 99
149	149	providing the relevant factors to evaluate the 100
150	150
151	151	HB 1409 2025
152	152
153	153
154	154
155	155	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
156	156	hb1409-00
157	157	Page 5 of 113
158	158	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
159	159
160	160
161	161
162	162	totality of circumstances related to voter su ppression 101
163	163	and vote dilution; providing construction; providing 102
164	164	that such factors are most probative under a specified 103
165	165	condition; providing the circumstances used to 104
166	166	determine whether elections in the local government 105
167	167	exhibit racially polarized voting; prov iding 106
168	168	construction; providing the circumstances that are 107
169	169	never relevant to violations of specified provisions; 108
170	170	providing that a state interest in preventing voter 109
171	171	fraud or bolstering voter confidence in the integrity 110
172	172	of elections is relevant under specifie d 111
173	173	circumstances; providing that evidence concerning the 112
174	174	intent of electors, elected officials, and public 113
175	175	officials is not required for such violations; 114
176	176	providing that voting habits of protected class 115
177	177	members may be relevant to certain violations; 116
178	178	requiring a prospective plaintiff, before filing a 117
179	179	certain action against a local government, to send a 118
180	180	notification letter, by specified means, to the local 119
181	181	government; prohibiting a party from filing an action 120
182	182	under specified circumstances; authorizing a local 121
183	183	government to adopt a specified resolution within a 122
184	184	specified timeframe; providing that if the proposed 123
185	185	remedy in such resolution is barred by state or local 124
186	186	law, or a legislatively body lacks the authority or 125
187	187
188	188	HB 1409 2025
189	189
190	190
191	191
192	192	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
193	193	hb1409-00
194	194	Page 6 of 113
195	195	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
196	196
197	197
198	198
199	199	the local government is a covered jurisdiction, the 126
200	200	proposed remedy may be approved by the Florida Voting 127
201	201	Rights Act Commission if certain conditions are met; 128
202	202	authorizing a party that sent a notification letter to 129
203	203	seek reimbursement from the local government under 130
204	204	specified circumstances; authorizing a party to bring 131
205	205	a cause of action for a specified violation under 132
206	206	specified circumstances; requiring local governments 133
207	207	to take certain action; requiring the commission to 134
208	208	post notification letters and resolutions on its 135
209	209	website; authorizing the commission to adopt certain 136
210	210	rules; prohibiting local governments from asserting 137
211	211	specified defenses; authorizing specified entities to 138
212	212	file certain enforcement actions; prohibiting certain 139
213	213	entities from being compelled to disclose the identity 140
214	214	of a member; providing c onstruction; creating s. 141
215	215	97.22, F.S.; creating the Florida Voting Rights Act 142
216	216	Commission within the Department of State; providing 143
217	217	that such commission is a separate budget entity and 144
218	218	must submit a budget in accordance with specified 145
219	219	provisions; providing d uties and responsibilities of 146
220	220	the commission; providing for the composition of the 147
221	221	commission; providing that such commissioners serve 148
222	222	staggered terms; requiring that commissioners be 149
223	223	compensated at a specified hourly rate; requiring the 150
224	224
225	225	HB 1409 2025
226	226
227	227
228	228
229	229	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
230	230	hb1409-00
231	231	Page 7 of 113
232	232	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
233	233
234	234
235	235
236	236	formation of a nominating committee; providing for the 151
237	237	appointment and removal of nominating committee 152
238	238	members; requiring the nominating committee to select 153
239	239	a chair; requiring that commissioners be selected 154
240	240	using a specified process; requiring that 155
241	241	commissioners initially b e selected by lot and 156
242	242	randomly assigned term lengths for purposes of 157
243	243	achieving staggered terms; authorizing the commission 158
244	244	to take specified actions in any action or 159
245	245	investigation to enforce specified provisions; 160
246	246	authorizing the commission to hire staff an d make 161
247	247	expenditures for a specified purpose; authorizing the 162
248	248	commission to adopt rules; creating s. 97.23, F.S.; 163
249	249	requiring the commission to enter into agreements with 164
250	250	one or more postsecondary educational institutions to 165
251	251	create the Florida Voting and Elec tions Database and 166
252	252	Institute for a specified purpose; requiring the 167
253	253	parties to the agreement to enter into a memorandum of 168
254	254	understanding that includes the process for selecting 169
255	255	a director; authorizing the database and institute to 170
256	256	perform specified actions ; requiring the database and 171
257	257	institute to make election and voting data records for 172
258	258	a specified timeframe available to the public at no 173
259	259	cost and to maintain such records in an electronic 174
260	260	format; requiring the database and institute to use 175
261	261
262	262	HB 1409 2025
263	263
264	264
265	265
266	266	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
267	267	hb1409-00
268	268	Page 8 of 113
269	269	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
270	270
271	271
272	272
273	273	certain methodologies when preparing estimates; 176
274	274	specifying the data and records that must be 177
275	275	maintained; requiring state agencies and local 178
276	276	governments to provide any information requested by 179
277	277	the director of the database and institute; requiring 180
278	278	local governments to transm it specified information to 181
279	279	the database and institute within a certain timeframe; 182
280	280	requiring specified entities to provide data, 183
281	281	statistics, and other information annually to the 184
282	282	database and institute; authorizing specified entities 185
283	283	to file enforcement ac tions; prohibiting certain 186
284	284	entities from being compelled to disclose the identity 187
285	285	of a member for a certain purpose; providing 188
286	286	construction; providing that enforcement actions may 189
287	287	be filed in accordance with the Florida Rules of Civil 190
288	288	Procedure or in a spe cified venue; requiring the 191
289	289	database and institute to publish a certain report; 192
290	290	requiring the database and institute to provide 193
291	291	nonpartisan technical assistance to specified 194
292	292	entities; providing that a rebuttable presumption 195
293	293	exists that data, estimates, or other information from 196
294	294	the database and institute is valid; creating s. 197
295	295	97.24, F.S.; defining terms; requiring the Florida 198
296	296	Voting Rights Act Commission to designate languages 199
297	297	other than English for which language assistance must 200
298	298
299	299	HB 1409 2025
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301	301
302	302
303	303	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
304	304	hb1409-00
305	305	Page 9 of 113
306	306	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
307	307
308	308
309	309
310	310	be provided by a local gove rnment, if certain 201
311	311	conditions exist; providing the circumstances under 202
312	312	which the commission must designate languages other 203
313	313	than English for voting and elections; requiring the 204
314	314	commission to publish specified information annually 205
315	315	on its website and distribu te such information to 206
316	316	local governments; requiring local governments to 207
317	317	provide language assistance for specified purposes if 208
318	318	the commission makes a certain determination; 209
319	319	specifying the materials that must be provided in such 210
320	320	language; requiring that cer tain information be given 211
321	321	orally to voters; requiring that translated materials 212
322	322	convey a specified intent and meaning; prohibiting 213
323	323	local governments from relying on automatic 214
324	324	translation services; requiring that live translation 215
325	325	be used if available; requi ring the commission to 216
326	326	establish a specified review process; providing 217
327	327	requirements for such review process; authorizing 218
328	328	specified entities to file enforcement actions; 219
329	329	prohibiting certain entities from being compelled to 220
330	330	disclose the identity of a member for a certain 221
331	331	purpose; providing construction; requiring that 222
332	332	enforcement actions be filed in accordance with the 223
333	333	Florida Rules of Civil Procedure or in a specified 224
334	334	venue; creating s. 97.25, F.S.; providing that the 225
335	335
336	336	HB 1409 2025
337	337
338	338
339	339
340	340	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
341	341	hb1409-00
342	342	Page 10 of 113
343	343	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
344	344
345	345
346	346
347	347	enactment or implementation of a covered policy by a 226
348	348	covered jurisdiction is subject to preclearance by the 227
349	349	commission; specifying actions by a local government 228
350	350	which are covered policies; requiring that if a 229
351	351	covered jurisdiction does not make changes to its 230
352	352	method of election, such method is de emed a covered 231
353	353	policy that must be submitted to the commission; 232
354	354	specifying which local governments are covered 233
355	355	jurisdictions; requiring the commission to determine 234
356	356	and publish annually a list of local governments that 235
357	357	are covered jurisdictions on its websi te; requiring a 236
358	358	covered jurisdiction, if seeking preclearance, to 237
359	359	submit the covered policy to the commission in 238
360	360	writing; requiring the commission to review the 239
361	361	covered policy and grant or deny preclearance; 240
362	362	providing that the covered jurisdiction bears th e 241
363	363	burden of proof in the preclearance process; providing 242
364	364	that the commission may deny preclearance only if it 243
365	365	makes a certain determination; providing that if 244
366	366	preclearance is denied, the covered policy may not be 245
367	367	enacted or implemented; requiring the commi ssion to 246
368	368	provide a written explanation for a denial; 247
369	369	authorizing a covered jurisdiction to immediately 248
370	370	enact or implement a covered policy granted 249
371	371	preclearance; providing that such determination is not 250
372	372
373	373	HB 1409 2025
374	374
375	375
376	376
377	377	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
378	378	hb1409-00
379	379	Page 11 of 113
380	380	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
381	381
382	382
383	383
384	384	admissible and may not be considered by a court in a 251
385	385	subsequent action challenging the covered policy; 252
386	386	providing that a covered policy is deemed precleared 253
387	387	and may be implemented or enacted by the covered 254
388	388	jurisdiction if the commission fails to approve or 255
389	389	deny the covered policy within specified timeframes; 256
390	390	requiring the commission to grant or deny preclearance 257
391	391	within specified timeframes; authorizing the 258
392	392	commission to invoke a specified number of extensions 259
393	393	of a specified timeframe to determine preclearance; 260
394	394	providing that any denial of preclearance may be 261
395	395	appealed only by the covered jurisdiction in a 262
396	396	specified venue; authorizing specified entities to 263
397	397	enjoin the enactment or implementation of specified 264
398	398	policies and seek sanctions against covered 265
399	399	jurisdictions in specified circumstances; authorizing 266
400	400	specified entities to file enforcement actions; 267
401	401	prohibiting certain entities from being compelled to 268
402	402	disclose the identity of a member for a certain 269
403	403	purpose; providing construction; specifying that 270
404	404	enforcement actions must be filed in accordance with 271
405	405	the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure or in a specified 272
406	406	venue; requiring the commission to adopt rules; 273
407	407	creating s. 97.26, F.S.; prohibiting a person from 274
408	408	engaging in acts of intimidation, deception, or 275
409	409
410	410	HB 1409 2025
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412	412
413	413
414	414	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
415	415	hb1409-00
416	416	Page 12 of 113
417	417	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
418	418
419	419
420	420
421	421	obstruction or any other tactic that has the effect, 276
422	422	or will reasonably have the effect, of interfering 277
423	423	with another person's right to vote; specifying acts 278
424	424	that are deemed a violation; providing a rebuttable 279
425	425	presumption; authorizing specified entities to file a 280
426	426	civil action to enforce specified provisions; 281
427	427	prohibiting certain entities from being compelled to 282
428	428	disclose the identity of a member for a certain 283
429	429	purpose; providing construction; requiring that courts 284
430	430	order specified remedies; creating s. 97.27, F.S.; 285
431	431	providing construction; providing applicability; 286
432	432	creating s. 97.28, F.S.; requiring a court to order 287
433	433	specified appropriate remedies for violations of the 288
434	434	act; requiring the court to consider remedies proposed 289
435	435	by specified parties; prohibiting the court from 290
436	436	giving deference to a remedy proposed by the state or 291
437	437	local government; providing that the court is 292
438	438	empowered to require local governments to implement 293
439	439	certain remedies under specified conditions; requiring 294
440	440	the courts to grant a temporary injunction or other 295
441	441	preliminary relief requested under specified 296
442	442	conditions; requiring the court to award attorney fees 297
443	443	and litigation costs in actions to enforce specified 298
444	444	provisions; amending s. 98.045, F.S.; conforming a 299
445	445	cross-reference; amending s. 98.255, F.S.; revising 300
446	446
447	447	HB 1409 2025
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449	449
450	450
451	451	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
452	452	hb1409-00
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454	454	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
455	455
456	456
457	457
458	458	the standards the Department of State is required to 301
459	459	prescribe by rule for nonpartisan voter education; 302
460	460	requiring that supervisors provide public -facing voter 303
461	461	information in plain language to be understood by 304
462	462	certain persons; creating s. 100.51, F.S.; 305
463	463	establishing General Election Day as a paid holiday; 306
464	464	providing that a voter may absent himself or herself 307
465	465	from service or employment at a specific time on 308
466	466	General Election Day and may not be penalized or have 309
467	467	salary or wages deducted for such absence; creating s. 310
468	468	101.016, F.S.; requiring the Division of Elections to 311
469	469	maintain a strategic elections equipment reserve of 312
470	470	voting systems and other equipment for specified 313
471	471	purposes; requiring that such reserve include 314
472	472	specified equipment; authorizing the division to 315
473	473	contract with specified entities rather than 316
474	474	physically maintain such reserve; repealing s. 317
475	475	101.019, F.S., relating to the prohibition of ranked -318
476	476	choice voting; amending s. 101.048, F.S.; providing 319
477	477	that a voter may cast a provisional ballot at any 320
478	478	precinct in the county in which the voter claims to be 321
479	479	registered; making technical changes; amending s. 322
480	480	101.62, F.S.; providing that a request for a vote -by-323
481	481	mail ballot is valid until the voter cancels the 324
482	482	request; revising the timeframe during which the 325
483	483
484	484	HB 1409 2025
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486	486
487	487
488	488	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
489	489	hb1409-00
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491	491	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
492	492
493	493
494	494
495	495	supervisor must mail vote -by-mail ballots before 326
496	496	election day; deleting requirements for a person 327
497	497	designated by a voter to pick up the voter's vote -by-328
498	498	mail ballot; providing for extension of deadlines 329
499	499	under certain conditions; amending s. 101.64, F.S.; 330
500	500	requiring supervisors of elections to enclose a 331
501	501	postage prepaid mailing en velope with each vote -by-332
502	502	mail ballot; providing that vote -by-mail ballot voter 333
503	503	certificates may be signed with the last four digits 334
504	504	of the voter's social security number; making 335
505	505	technical changes; amending s. 101.65, F.S.; revising 336
506	506	the instructions that mu st be provided with a vote -by-337
507	507	mail ballot; amending s. 101.68, F.S.; requiring 338
508	508	supervisors of elections to compare the signature or 339
509	509	last four digits of the social security number on a 340
510	510	voter's certificate with the signature or last four 341
511	511	digits of the social security number in the 342
512	512	registration books or precinct register when 343
513	513	canvassing a vote-by-mail ballot; requiring a 344
514	514	canvassing board to compare the signature or last four 345
515	515	digits of the social security number on a voter's 346
516	516	certificate or vote-by-mail ballot cure affidavit with 347
517	517	the signature or last four digits of the social 348
518	518	security number in the registration books or precinct 349
519	519	register when canvassing a vote -by-mail ballot; 350
520	520
521	521	HB 1409 2025
522	522
523	523
524	524
525	525	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
526	526	hb1409-00
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528	528	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
529	529
530	530
531	531
532	532	deleting the authorization for certain persons to file 351
533	533	a protest against the canvass of a ballot; amending s. 352
534	534	101.69, F.S.; deleting provisions providing that 353
535	535	specified secure ballot intake stations be used only 354
536	536	during specified timeframes and be monitored by an 355
537	537	employee of the supervisor's office; requiring that 356
538	538	secure ballot intake station s be monitored by the 357
539	539	supervisor's office during specified timeframes 358
540	540	instead of continuously monitored in person by an 359
541	541	employee; deleting a provision authorizing a certain 360
542	542	civil penalty; making technical changes; amending s. 361
543	543	104.42, F.S.; conforming a pro vision to changes made 362
544	544	by the act; providing an effective date. 363
545	545	364
546	546	WHEREAS, Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore were the first 365
547	547	true civil rights activists of the modern civil rights era in 366
548	548	this state, and 367
549	549	WHEREAS, the Moores, and the organizations they hel ped 368
550	550	found and lead, were instrumental in registering more than 369
551	551	100,000 black voters in this state, and 370
552	552	WHEREAS, the Moores paid the ultimate price for the 371
553	553	freedoms they fought to secure for their community when members 372
554	554	of the Ku Klux Klan bombed their hom e in Mims on Christmas Day 373
555	555	in 1951, and 374
556	556	WHEREAS, at the time of their death, Florida had the most 375
557	557
558	558	HB 1409 2025
559	559
560	560
561	561
562	562	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
563	563	hb1409-00
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565	565	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
566	566
567	567
568	568
569	569	registered black voters, outpacing any other state in the South, 376
570	570	and 377
571	571	WHEREAS, the purpose of this act is to encourage maximum 378
572	572	participation of all eligible voters in this state's electoral 379
573	573	process, and 380
574	574	WHEREAS, electoral systems that deny race, color, or 381
575	575	language minority groups an equal opportunity to elect 382
576	576	candidates of their choice and influence the outcome of an 383
577	577	election are inconsistent with the right t o equal treatment 384
578	578	before the law as provided in Articles I and II of the State 385
579	579	Constitution as well as protections found in the 14th and 15th 386
580	580	Amendments to the United States Constitution, and 387
581	581	WHEREAS, this act expands voting rights granted under the 388
582	582	federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 and reaffirms the well -389
583	583	established principle of "one person, one vote," and 390
584	584	WHEREAS, following decisions by the United States Supreme 391
585	585	Court in Shelby County v. Holder and Brnovich v. Democratic 392
586	586	National Committee, the landmark Voting Rights Act of 1965 has 393
587	587	been severely diminished in its ability to protect the freedom 394
588	588	and opportunity of black and brown voters to participate fully 395
589	589	in the political process of our democratic republic, and 396
590	590	WHEREAS, this act builds on the historica l work of the 397
591	591	named and nameless Floridians who fought for their right to the 398
592	592	elective franchise, NOW, THEREFORE, 399
593	593	400
594	594
595	595	HB 1409 2025
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597	597
598	598
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600	600	hb1409-00
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602	602	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
603	603
604	604
605	605
606	606	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 401
607	607	402
608	608	Section 1. Subsection (1) of section 20.10, Florida 403
609	609	Statutes, is amended to read: 404
610	610	20.10 Department of State. —There is created a Department 405
611	611	of State. 406
612	612	(1) The head of the Department of State is the Secretary 407
613	613	of State. The Secretary of State shall be elected at the 408
614	614	statewide general election at which the Governor, Lieutenant 409
615	615	Governor, and Cabinet officers are elected as provided in s. 5, 410
616	616	Art. IV of the State Constitution, and shall serve a term of 4 411
617	617	years beginning on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in 412
618	618	January of the year following such election appointed by the 413
619	619	Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate, and shall serve 414
620	620	at the pleasure of the Governor . The Secretary of State shall 415
621	621	perform the functions conferred by the State Constitution upon 416
622	622	the custodian of state records. 417
623	623	Section 2. Subsection (4) is added to section 20.32, 418
624	624	Florida Statutes, to read: 419
625	625	20.32 Florida Commission on Offender Review. — 420
626	626	(4)(a) For the purpose of assisting a person who has been 421
627	627	disqualified from voting based on a felony conviction, other 422
628	628	than a conviction for murder or a felony s exual offense, in 423
629	629	determining whether he or she has met the requirements under s. 424
630	630	98.0751 to have his or her voting rights restored pursuant to s. 425
631	631
632	632	HB 1409 2025
633	633
634	634
635	635
636	636	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
637	637	hb1409-00
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639	639	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
640	640
641	641
642	642
643	643	4, Art. VI of the State Constitution, the commission shall 426
644	644	develop and maintain a database that contains for each such 427
645	645	person all of the following information: 428
646	646	1. His or her name and any other personal identifying 429
647	647	information. 430
648	648	2. The remaining length of any term of supervision, 431
649	649	including, but not limited to, probation, community control, or 432
650	650	parole, ordered by a court as part of his or her sentence. 433
651	651	3. The remaining amount of any restitution he or she owes 434
652	652	to a victim as ordered by a court as part of his or her 435
653	653	sentence. 436
654	654	4. The remaining amount due of any fines or fees that were 437
655	655	initially ordered by a court as part of his or her sentence or 438
656	656	as a condition of any form of supervision, including, but not 439
657	657	limited to, probation, community control, or parole. 440
658	658	5. The completion status of any other term ordered by a 441
659	659	court as a part of his or her sentence. 442
660	660	6. Any other information needed to determine whether he or 443
661	661	she has met the requirements for restoration of voting rights 444
662	662	under s. 98.0751. 445
663	663	(b) The Department of State, the Department of 446
664	664	Corrections, the clerks of the circuit court, the county 447
665	665	comptrollers, and the Board of Executive Clemency shall provide 448
666	666	to the commission on a monthly basis any information required 449
667	667	under paragraph (a). 450
668	668
669	669	HB 1409 2025
670	670
671	671
672	672
673	673	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
674	674	hb1409-00
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676	676	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
677	677
678	678
679	679
680	680	(c) The Department of Management Services, acting through 451
681	681	the Florida Digital Service, shall provide any technical 452
682	682	assistance necessary for the commission to develop and maintain 453
683	683	the database. The Department of Management Services may adopt 454
684	684	rules governing the provision of such assistance. 455
685	685	(d) By July 1, 2027, the commission shall make the 456
686	686	database available on a public websi te. The commission must 457
687	687	update the database monthly with the information received from 458
688	688	each governmental entity under paragraph (b). The commission 459
689	689	shall publish on the website clear instructions that a person 460
690	690	who has been disqualified from voting based on a felony 461
691	691	conviction, other than for murder or a felony sexual offense, 462
692	692	may follow to have his or her voting rights restored and to 463
693	693	register to vote. 464
694	694	(e) By July 1, 2025, the commission shall provide a 465
695	695	comprehensive plan to the Governor, the President of the Senate, 466
696	696	and the Speaker of the House of Representatives which includes 467
697	697	all of the following: 468
698	698	1. The governmental entities from which and the methods by 469
699	699	which the commission shall collect, centralize, analyze, and 470
700	700	secure the information required to b e included in the database. 471
701	701	2. A description of any infrastructure and services, 472
702	702	including, but not limited to, software, hardware, and 473
703	703	information technology services, which may be necessary to 474
704	704	create and maintain the database. 475
705	705
706	706	HB 1409 2025
707	707
708	708
709	709
710	710	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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713	713	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
714	714
715	715
716	716
717	717	3. The anticipated numb er of additional employees 476
718	718	necessary for: 477
719	719	a. The commission to develop and maintain the database. 478
720	720	b. A governmental entity to provide the information 479
721	721	required under paragraph (b). 480
722	722	c. The Florida Digital Service to provide the assistance 481
723	723	required under paragraph (c). 482
724	724	4. The anticipated initial cost to develop the database; 483
725	725	the annual cost to maintain the database; and the annual 484
726	726	appropriation required to fund the anticipated costs incurred by 485
727	727	the commission, each governmental entity, and the Florida 486
728	728	Digital Service. 487
729	729	5. Any legal authority necessary for the commission to 488
730	730	develop and maintain the database. 489
731	731	6. Draft legislation to implement the comprehensive plan. 490
732	732	(f) Notwithstanding any other law, a person who registers 491
733	733	to vote or who votes in rea sonable reliance on information 492
734	734	contained in the database indicating that his or her voting 493
735	735	rights have been restored pursuant to s. 4, Art. VI of the State 494
736	736	Constitution has an affirmative right to register and to vote 495
737	737	and may not be charged with a violati on of any criminal law of 496
738	738	this state related to fraudulently voting or registering to 497
739	739	vote. 498
740	740	(g) The commission shall adopt rules to implement this 499
741	741	subsection. 500
742	742
743	743	HB 1409 2025
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745	745
746	746
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750	750	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
751	751
752	752
753	753
754	754	Section 3. Section 97.021, Florida Statutes, is amended to 501
755	755	read: 502
756	756	97.021 Definitions. —For the purposes of this code, except 503
757	757	where the context clearly indicates otherwise, the term: 504
758	758	(1) "Absent elector" means any registered and qualified 505
759	759	voter who casts a vote -by-mail ballot. 506
760	760	(2) "Absent uniformed services voter" means: 507
761	761	(a) A member of a uniformed service on active duty who, by 508
762	762	reason of such active duty, is absent from the place of 509
763	763	residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote; 510
764	764	(b) A member of the merchant marine who, by reason of 511
765	765	service in the merchant marine, is absent fr om the place of 512
766	766	residence where the member is otherwise qualified to vote; or 513
767	767	(c) A spouse or dependent of a member referred to in 514
768	768	paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) who, by reason of the active duty 515
769	769	or service of the member, is absent from the place of resi dence 516
770	770	where the spouse or dependent is otherwise qualified to vote. 517
771	771	(3) "Address of legal residence" means the legal 518
772	772	residential address of the elector and includes all information 519
773	773	necessary to differentiate one residence from another, 520
774	774	including, but not limited to, a distinguishing apartment, 521
775	775	suite, lot, room, or dormitory room number or other identifier. 522
776	776	(4) "Alternative formats" has the meaning ascribed in the 523
777	777	Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Pub. L. No. 101 -336, 42 524
778	778	U.S.C. ss. 12101 et seq., including specifically the technical 525
779	779
780	780	HB 1409 2025
781	781
782	782
783	783
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785	785	hb1409-00
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787	787	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
788	788
789	789
790	790
791	791	assistance manuals promulgated thereunder, as amended. 526
792	792	(5) "Automatic tabulating equipment" means an apparatus 527
793	793	that automatically examines, counts, and records votes. 528
794	794	(6) "Ballot" or "official ballot" when used in r eference 529
795	795	to: 530
796	796	(a) "Electronic or electromechanical devices" means a 531
797	797	ballot that is voted by the process of electronically 532
798	798	designating, including by touchscreen, or marking with a marking 533
799	799	device for tabulation by automatic tabulating equipment or data 534
800	800	processing equipment. 535
801	801	(b) "Marksense ballots" means that printed sheet of paper, 536
802	802	used in conjunction with an electronic or electromechanical vote 537
803	803	tabulation voting system, containing the names of candidates, or 538
804	804	a statement of proposed constitutional amendmen ts or other 539
805	805	questions or propositions submitted to the electorate at any 540
806	806	election, on which sheet of paper an elector casts his or her 541
807	807	vote. 542
808	808	(7) "Candidate" means any person to whom any one or more 543
809	809	of the following applies: 544
810	810	(a) Any person who seeks to qualify for nomination or 545
811	811	election by means of the petitioning process. 546
812	812	(b) Any person who seeks to qualify for election as a 547
813	813	write-in candidate. 548
814	814	(c) Any person who receives contributions or makes 549
815	815	expenditures, or gives his or her consent for any other person 550
816	816
817	817	HB 1409 2025
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819	819
820	820
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822	822	hb1409-00
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824	824	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
825	825
826	826
827	827
828	828	to receive contributions or make expenditures, with a view to 551
829	829	bringing about his or her nomination or election to, or 552
830	830	retention in, public office. 553
831	831	(d) Any person who appoints a treasurer and designates a 554
832	832	primary depository. 555
833	833	(e) Any person who f iles qualification papers and 556
834	834	subscribes to a candidate's oath as required by law. 557
835	835	558
836	836	However, this definition does not include any candidate for a 559
837	837	political party executive committee. 560
838	838	(8) "Database and institute" means the Florida Voting and 561
839	839	Elections Database and Institute. 562
840	840	(9) "Department" means the Department of State. 563
841	841	(10)(9) "Division" means the Division of Elections of the 564
842	842	Department of State. 565
843	843	(11)(10) "Early voting" means casting a ballot prior to 566
844	844	election day at a location designated by the supervisor of 567
845	845	elections and depositing the voted ballot in the tabulation 568
846	846	system. 569
847	847	(12)(11) "Early voting area" means the area designated by 570
848	848	the supervisor of el ections at an early voting site at which 571
849	849	early voting activities occur, including, but not limited to, 572
850	850	lines of voters waiting to be processed, the area where voters 573
851	851	check in and are processed, and the area where voters cast their 574
852	852	ballots. 575
853	853
854	854	HB 1409 2025
855	855
856	856
857	857
858	858	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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861	861	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
862	862
863	863
864	864
865	865	(13)(12) "Early voting site" means those locations 576
866	866	specified in s. 101.657 and the building in which early voting 577
867	867	occurs. 578
868	868	(14)(13) "Election" means any primary election, special 579
869	869	primary election, special election, general election, or 580
870	870	presidential preference primary e lection. 581
871	871	(15)(14) "Election board" means the clerk and inspectors 582
872	872	appointed to conduct an election. 583
873	873	(16)(15) "Election costs" shall include, but not be 584
874	874	limited to, expenditures for all paper supplies such as 585
875	875	envelopes, instructions to voters, affidavit s, reports, ballot 586
876	876	cards, ballot booklets for vote -by-mail voters, postage, notices 587
877	877	to voters; advertisements for registration book closings, 588
878	878	testing of voting equipment, sample ballots, and polling places; 589
879	879	forms used to qualify candidates; polling site re ntal and 590
880	880	equipment delivery and pickup; data processing time and 591
881	881	supplies; election records retention; and labor costs, including 592
882	882	those costs uniquely associated with vote -by-mail ballot 593
883	883	preparation, poll workers, and election night canvass. 594
884	884	(17) "Election policy or practice" includes any 595
885	885	qualification to be an elector, prerequisite to voting, or 596
886	886	method of election, as well as any law, statute, ordinance, 597
887	887	resolution, charter code or provision, regulation, rule, policy, 598
888	888	practice, procedure, standard, or ac tion, with respect to voting 599
889	889	or the administration or schedule of elections. 600
890	890
891	891	HB 1409 2025
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893	893
894	894
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898	898	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
899	899
900	900
901	901
902	902	(18)(16) "Elector" is synonymous with the word "voter" or 601
903	903	"qualified elector or voter," except where the word is used to 602
904	904	describe presidential electors. 603
905	905	(19) "Federal Voting R ights Act" means the federal Voting 604
906	906	Rights Act of 1965, 52 U.S.C. s. 10301 et seq., as amended. 605
907	907	(20) "FLVRA Commission" means the Florida Voting Rights 606
908	908	Act Commission. 607
909	909	(21)(17) "General election" means an election held on the 608
910	910	first Tuesday after the first Monday in November in the even -609
911	911	numbered years, for the purpose of filling national, state, 610
912	912	county, and district offices and for voting on constitutional 611
913	913	amendments not otherwi se provided for by law. 612
914	914	(22) "Government enforcement action" means any denial of 613
915	915	administrative or judicial preclearance by the state or the 614
916	916	Federal Government; pending litigation filed by a state or 615
917	917	federal entity; or final judgment or adjudication, con sent 616
918	918	decree, or other similar formal action. 617
919	919	(23) "Legislative body" means a commission, council, 618
920	920	school board, or other similar body, by whatever name known, of 619
921	921	local government. 620
922	922	(24)(18) "Lists of registered electors" means names and 621
923	923	associated information of registered electors maintained by the 622
924	924	department in the statewide voter registration system or 623
925	925	generated or derived from the statewide voter registration 624
926	926	system. Lists may be produced in printed or electronic format. 625
927	927
928	928	HB 1409 2025
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930	930
931	931
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935	935	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
936	936
937	937
938	938
939	939	(25) "Local government" mea ns any county, municipality, 626
940	940	school district, special district, supervisor of elections or 627
941	941	other governmental entity that administers elections, or any 628
942	942	other political subdivision in this state in which elections are 629
943	943	conducted. 630
944	944	(26)(19) "Member of the Merchant Marine" means an 631
945	945	individual, other than a member of a uniformed service or an 632
946	946	individual employed, enrolled, or maintained on the Great Lakes 633
947	947	for the inland waterways, who is: 634
948	948	(a) Employed as an officer or crew member of a vessel 635
949	949	documented under the laws of the United States, a vessel owned 636
950	950	by the United States, or a vessel of foreign -flag registry under 637
951	951	charter to or control of the United States; or 638
952	952	(b) Enrolled with the United States for employment or 639
953	953	training for employment, or maintained by the United States for 640
954	954	emergency relief service, as an officer or crew member of such 641
955	955	vessel. 642
956	956	(27) "Method of election" means the method by which 643
957	957	candidates are elected to a governmental body of a local 644
958	958	government, and includes any at -large, district-based, share-645
959	959	based, or other method of election, as well as any districting 646
960	960	or redistricting plan used to elect candidates to the 647
961	961	governmental body. Methods of election include: 648
962	962	(a) "At-large method of election" which means a method of 649
963	963	election in which cand idates are voted on by all voters in the 650
964	964
965	965	HB 1409 2025
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967	967
968	968
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972	972	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
973	973
974	974
975	975
976	976	local government's jurisdiction, voters are allowed or required 651
977	977	to cast as many votes as there are seats to fill, and voters may 652
978	978	not cast more than one vote for a given candidate. 653
979	979	(b) "District-based method of election" which means a 654
980	980	method of election in which the local government is divided into 655
981	981	districts, each district is represented by a single 656
982	982	representative, and a candidate is voted on only by voters 657
983	983	residing in his or her district. 658
984	984	(c) "Other method of ele ction" which means a method of 659
985	985	election other than an at -large, district-based, or share-based 660
986	986	method of election, or any combination of methods of election. 661
987	987	(d) "Share-based method of election" means a method of 662
988	988	election in which more than one candidate is to be elected and 663
989	989	different groups of voters may each elect their preferred 664
990	990	candidates to the seats to fill based on their relative share of 665
991	991	the votes cast. Share -based methods of election include, but are 666
992	992	not limited to, the single transferable vote, cumulative voting, 667
993	993	limited voting, and party -list or state-list systems. 668
994	994	(28)(20) "Minor political party" is any group as specified 669
995	995	in s. 103.095 which on January 1 preceding a primary election 670
996	996	does not have registered as members 5 percent of the total 671
997	997	registered electors of the state. 672
998	998	(29)(21) "Newspaper of general circulation" means a 673
999	999	newspaper printed in the language most commonly spoken in the 674
1000	1000	area within which it circulates and which is readily available 675
1001	1001
1002	1002	HB 1409 2025
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1004	1004
1005	1005
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1009	1009	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1010	1010
1011	1011
1012	1012
1013	1013	for purchase by all inhabitants in the area of circulation, but 676
1014	1014	does not include a newspaper intended primarily for members of a 677
1015	1015	particular professional or occupational group, a newspaper the 678
1016	1016	primary function of which is to carry legal notices, or a 679
1017	1017	newspaper that is given away primarily to distribu te 680
1018	1018	advertising. 681
1019	1019	(30)(22) "Nominal value" means having a retail value of 682
1020	1020	$10 or less. 683
1021	1021	(31)(23) "Nonpartisan office" means an office for which a 684
1022	1022	candidate is prohibited from campaigning or qualifying for 685
1023	1023	election or retention in office based on party aff iliation. 686
1024	1024	(32)(24) "Office that serves persons with disabilities" 687
1025	1025	means any state office that takes applications either in person 688
1026	1026	or over the telephone from persons with disabilities for any 689
1027	1027	program, service, or benefit primarily related to their 690
1028	1028	disabilities. 691
1029	1029	(33) "Organization" means a person other than an 692
1030	1030	individual. 693
1031	1031	(34)(25) "Overseas voter" means: 694
1032	1032	(a) An absent uniformed services voter who, by reason of 695
1033	1033	active duty or service, is absent from the United States on the 696
1034	1034	date of the election involve d; 697
1035	1035	(b) A person who resides outside the United States and is 698
1036	1036	qualified to vote in the last place in which the person was 699
1037	1037	domiciled before leaving the United States; or 700
1038	1038
1039	1039	HB 1409 2025
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1041	1041
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1046	1046	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1047	1047
1048	1048
1049	1049
1050	1050	(c) A person who resides outside the United States and, 701
1051	1051	but for such residence, woul d be qualified to vote in the last 702
1052	1052	place in which the person was domiciled before leaving the 703
1053	1053	United States. 704
1054	1054	(35)(26) "Overvote" means that the elector marks or 705
1055	1055	designates more names than there are persons to be elected to an 706
1056	1056	office or designates more th an one answer to a ballot question, 707
1057	1057	and the tabulator records no vote for the office or question. 708
1058	1058	(36)(27) "Persons with disabilities" means individuals who 709
1059	1059	have a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits 710
1060	1060	one or more major life activities. 711
1061	1061	(37)(28) "Petition circulator" means an entity or 712
1062	1062	individual who collects signatures for compensation for the 713
1063	1063	purpose of qualifying a proposed constitutional amendment for 714
1064	1064	ballot placement. 715
1065	1065	(38)(29) "Polling place" is the building which contains 716
1066	1066	the polling room where ballots are cast. 717
1067	1067	(39)(30) "Polling room" means the actual room in which 718
1068	1068	ballots are cast on election day and during early voting. 719
1069	1069	(40)(31) "Primary election" means an election held 720
1070	1070	preceding the general election for the purpose of nominating a 721
1071	1071	party nominee to be voted for in the general election to fill a 722
1072	1072	national, state, county, or district office. 723
1073	1073	(41) "Protected class" means a class o f citizens who are 724
1074	1074	members of a race, color, or language minority group, as 725
1075	1075
1076	1076	HB 1409 2025
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1078	1078
1079	1079
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1083	1083	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1084	1084
1085	1085
1086	1086
1087	1087	referenced in the federal Voting Rights Act. 726
1088	1088	(42)(32) "Provisional ballot" means a conditional ballot, 727
1089	1089	the validity of which is determined by the canvassing board. 728
1090	1090	(43)(33) "Public assistance" means assistance provided 729
1091	1091	through the food assistance program under the federal 730
1092	1092	Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; the Medicaid program; 731
1093	1093	the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and 732
1094	1094	Children; and the Temporary Cash Assistance Program. 733
1095	1095	(44)(34) "Public office" means any federal, state, county, 734
1096	1096	municipal, school, or other district office or position which is 735
1097	1097	filled by vote of the electors. 736
1098	1098	(45)(35) "Qualifying educational institution" means any 737
1099	1099	public or private educational institution receiving state 738
1100	1100	financial assistance which has, as its primary mission, the 739
1101	1101	provision of education or training to students who are at least 740
1102	1102	18 years of age, provided such institution has more than 200 741
1103	1103	students enrolled in classe s with the institution and provided 742
1104	1104	that the recognized student government organization has 743
1105	1105	requested this designation in writing and has filed the request 744
1106	1106	with the office of the supervisor of elections in the county in 745
1107	1107	which the institution is located. 746
1108	1108	(46) "Racially polarized voting" means voting in which the 747
1109	1109	candidate or electoral choice preferred by protected class 748
1110	1110	members diverges from the candidate or electoral choice 749
1111	1111	preferred by voters who are not protected class members. 750
1112	1112
1113	1113	HB 1409 2025
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1120	1120	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1121	1121
1122	1122
1123	1123
1124	1124	(47)(36) "Special election" is a special election called 751
1125	1125	for the purpose of voting on a party nominee to fill a vacancy 752
1126	1126	in the national, state, county, or district office. 753
1127	1127	(48)(37) "Special primary election" is a special 754
1128	1128	nomination election designated by the Governor, called f or the 755
1129	1129	purpose of nominating a party nominee to be voted on in a 756
1130	1130	general or special election. 757
1131	1131	(49)(38) "Supervisor" means the supervisor of elections. 758
1132	1132	(50)(39) "Tactile input device" means a device that 759
1133	1133	provides information to a voting system by means of a voter 760
1134	1134	touching the device, such as a keyboard, and that complies with 761
1135	1135	the requirements of s. 101.56062(1)(k) and (l). 762
1136	1136	(51)(40) "Third-party registration organization" means any 763
1137	1137	person, entity, or organization soliciting or collecting voter 764
1138	1138	registration applications. A third -party voter registration 765
1139	1139	organization does not include: 766
1140	1140	(a) A person who seeks only to register to vote or collect 767
1141	1141	voter registration applications from that person's spouse, 768
1142	1142	child, or parent; or 769
1143	1143	(b) A person engaged in registe ring to vote or collecting 770
1144	1144	voter registration applications as an employee or agent of the 771
1145	1145	division, supervisor of elections, Department of Highway Safety 772
1146	1146	and Motor Vehicles, or a voter registration agency. 773
1147	1147	(52)(41) "Undervote" means that the elector does not 774
1148	1148	properly designate any choice for an office or ballot question, 775
1149	1149
1150	1150	HB 1409 2025
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1152	1152
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1157	1157	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1158	1158
1159	1159
1160	1160
1161	1161	and the tabulator records no vote for the office or question. 776
1162	1162	(53)(42) "Uniformed services" means the Army, Navy, Air 777
1163	1163	Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard, the 778
1164	1164	commissioned corps of the Public Health Service, and the 779
1165	1165	commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 780
1166	1166	Administration. 781
1167	1167	(54) "Vote" or "voting" includes any action necessary to 782
1168	1168	cast a ballot and make such ballot effective in any election or 783
1169	1169	primary election, which actions include, but are not limited to, 784
1170	1170	registering to vote, requesting a vote -by-mail ballot, and any 785
1171	1171	other action required by law as a prerequisite to casting a 786
1172	1172	ballot and having such ballot counted, canvassed, or certified 787
1173	1173	properly and included in the appropriate totals of votes cast 788
1174	1174	with respect to candidates for election or nomination and to 789
1175	1175	referendum questions. 790
1176	1176	(55)(43) "Voter interface device" means any device that 791
1177	1177	communicates voting instructions and ballot information to a 792
1178	1178	voter and allows the voter to select and vote for candidates and 793
1179	1179	issues. A voter interface device may not be used to tabulate 794
1180	1180	votes. Any vote tabulation must be based upon a subsequent scan 795
1181	1181	of the marked marksense ballot or the voter -verifiable paper 796
1182	1182	output after the voter interface device process has been 797
1183	1183	completed. 798
1184	1184	(56)(44) "Voter registration agency" means any office that 799
1185	1185	provides public assistance, any office that serves persons with 800
1186	1186
1187	1187	HB 1409 2025
1188	1188
1189	1189
1190	1190
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1194	1194	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1195	1195
1196	1196
1197	1197
1198	1198	disabilities, any center for independent living, or any public 801
1199	1199	library. 802
1200	1200	(57)(45) "Voter registration official" means any 803
1201	1201	supervisor of elections or individual authorized by the 804
1202	1202	Secretary of State to accept voter registration applications and 805
1203	1203	execute updates to the statewide voter registration system. 806
1204	1204	(58)(46) "Voting booth" or "booth" means that booth or 807
1205	1205	enclosure wherein an elector casts his or her ballot for 808
1206	1206	tabulation by an electronic or electromechanical device. 809
1207	1207	(59)(47) "Voting system" means a method of casting and 810
1208	1208	processing votes that functions wholly or partly by use of 811
1209	1209	electromechanical or electronic apparatus or by use of marksense 812
1210	1210	ballots and includes, but is not limited to, the procedures for 813
1211	1211	casting and processing votes and the programs, operating 814
1212	1212	manuals, supplies, printouts, and other software necessary for 815
1213	1213	the system's operation. 816
1214	1214	817
1215	1215	Terms used in this code which are not defined in this section 818
1216	1216	but are used in the federal Voting Rights Act and interpreted in 819
1217	1217	relevant case law, including, but not limited to, "political 820
1218	1218	process" and "prerequisite to voting," must be co nstrued in a 821
1219	1219	manner consistent with such usage and interpretation. 822
1220	1220	Section 4. Section 97.022, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 823
1221	1221	Section 5. Section 97.0291, Florida Statutes, is repealed. 824
1222	1222	Section 6. Section 97.0556, Florida Statutes, is created 825
1223	1223
1224	1224	HB 1409 2025
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1226	1226
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1231	1231	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1232	1232
1233	1233
1234	1234
1235	1235	to read: 826
1236	1236	97.0556 Same-day voter registration. —A person who meets 827
1237	1237	the qualifications specified in s. 97.041 to register to vote 828
1238	1238	and who provides the information required under s. 97.052 for 829
1239	1239	the uniform statewide voter registration application may 830
1240	1240	register at an early voting site or at his or her polling place 831
1241	1241	and immediately thereafter cast a ballot. 832
1242	1242	Section 7. Section 97.057, Florida Statutes, is amended to 833
1243	1243	read: 834
1244	1244	97.057 Voter registration by the Department of Highway 835
1245	1245	Safety and Motor Vehicles. — 836
1246	1246	(1)(a) Each of the following serves as an application The 837
1247	1247	Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall provide 838
1248	1248	the opportunity to preregister to vote, register to vote, or to 839
1249	1249	update a voter registration record when submitted to the 840
1250	1250	Department of Highwa y Safety and Motor Vehicles to each 841
1251	1251	individual who comes to an office of that department to : 842
1252	1252	1.(a) An application for or renewal of Apply for or renew 843
1253	1253	a driver license; 844
1254	1254	2.(b) An application for or renewal of Apply for or renew 845
1255	1255	an identification card pursuant to chapter 322; or 846
1256	1256	3.(c) An application for a change of an address on an 847
1257	1257	existing driver license or identification card. 848
1258	1258	(b) Unless the applicant declines to register or 849
1259	1259	preregister to vote, he or she is deemed to have consented to 850
1260	1260
1261	1261	HB 1409 2025
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1263	1263
1264	1264
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1268	1268	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1269	1269
1270	1270
1271	1271
1272	1272	the use of the signature from his or her driver license or 851
1273	1273	identification card application for voter registration purposes. 852
1274	1274	(2) An application for a driver license or an 853
1275	1275	identification card must include a voter registration component. 854
1276	1276	The voter registration component must be approved by the 855
1277	1277	Department of State and must include all of the following: 856
1278	1278	(a) The minimum amount of information necessary to prevent 857
1279	1279	duplicate voter registrations and to preserve the ability of the 858
1280	1280	department and super visors of elections to assess the 859
1281	1281	eligibility of the applicant and administer voter registration 860
1282	1282	and other provisions of this code. 861
1283	1283	(b) A statement setting forth voter eligibility 862
1284	1284	requirements. 863
1285	1285	(c) An explanation that the applicant is consenting to the 864
1286	1286	use of his or her signature from the applicant's driver license 865
1287	1287	or identification card application for voter registration 866
1288	1288	purposes. By consenting to the use of his or her signature, the 867
1289	1289	applicant is deemed to have subscribed to the oaths required by 868
1290	1290	s. 3, Art. VI of the State Constitution and s. 97.051 and to 869
1291	1291	have sworn and affirmed that the voter registration information 870
1292	1292	contained in the application is true under penalty for false 871
1293	1293	swearing pursuant to s. 104.011. 872
1294	1294	(d) An option that allows the applicant to choose or 873
1295	1295	update a party affiliation. An applicant who is initially 874
1296	1296	registering to vote and does not exercise such option must be 875
1297	1297
1298	1298	HB 1409 2025
1299	1299
1300	1300
1301	1301
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1305	1305	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1306	1306
1307	1307
1308	1308
1309	1309	sent a notice by the supervisor of elections in accordance with 876
1310	1310	s. 97.053(5)(b). 877
1311	1311	(e) An option that allows the applicant to decline to 878
1312	1312	register to vote or preregister to vote. The Department of 879
1313	1313	Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall note any such 880
1314	1314	declination in its records and forward the declination to the 881
1315	1315	Department of State. A declination may be used only for voter 882
1316	1316	registration purposes and is confidential and exempt from public 883
1317	1317	records requirements as provided in s. 97.0585. 884
1318	1318	(3) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 885
1319	1319	shall: 886
1320	1320	(a) Develop a voter registration component for 887
1321	1321	applications which meets the requi rements set forth in 888
1322	1322	subsection (2). 889
1323	1323	(b) Electronically transmit the voter registration 890
1324	1324	component of an applicant's driver license or identification 891
1325	1325	card application to the Department of State within 24 hours 892
1326	1326	after receipt. Upon receipt of the voter regi stration component, 893
1327	1327	the Department of State shall provide the information to the 894
1328	1328	supervisor of the county in which the applicant is registering 895
1329	1329	or preregistering to vote or updating his or her voter 896
1330	1330	registration record. 897
1331	1331	(2) The Department of Highway Safe ty and Motor Vehicles 898
1332	1332	shall: 899
1333	1333	(a) Notify each individual, orally or in writing, that: 900
1334	1334
1335	1335	HB 1409 2025
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1337	1337
1338	1338
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1342	1342	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1343	1343
1344	1344
1345	1345
1346	1346	1. Information gathered for the completion of a driver 901
1347	1347	license or identification card application, renewal, or change 902
1348	1348	of address can be automatically transferred to a voter 903
1349	1349	registration application; 904
1350	1350	2. If additional information and a signature are provided, 905
1351	1351	the voter registration application will be completed and sent to 906
1352	1352	the proper election authority; 907
1353	1353	3. Information provided can also be used to update a voter 908
1354	1354	registration record, except that party affiliation will not be 909
1355	1355	changed unless the individual designates a change in party 910
1356	1356	affiliation and separately consents to such change in writing; 911
1357	1357	4. All declinations will remain confidential and may be 912
1358	1358	used only for voter registration purposes; and 913
1359	1359	5. The particular driver license office in which the 914
1360	1360	person applies to register to vote or updates a voter 915
1361	1361	registration record will remain confidential and may be used 916
1362	1362	only for voter registration purposes. 917
1363	1363	(b) Require a driver license examiner to inquire orally 918
1364	1364	or, if the applicant is hearing impaired, inquire in writing 919
1365	1365	whether the applicant wishes to register to vote or update a 920
1366	1366	voter registration record during the completion of a driver 921
1367	1367	license or identification card appli cation, renewal, or change 922
1368	1368	of address. 923
1369	1369	1. If the applicant chooses to register to vote or to 924
1370	1370	update a voter registration record: 925
1371	1371
1372	1372	HB 1409 2025
1373	1373
1374	1374
1375	1375
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1379	1379	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1380	1380
1381	1381
1382	1382
1383	1383	a. All applicable information received by the Department 926
1384	1384	of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles in the course of filling 927
1385	1385	out the forms necessary under subsection (1) must be transferred 928
1386	1386	to a voter registration application. 929
1387	1387	b. The additional necessary information must be obtained 930
1388	1388	by the driver license examiner and must not duplicate any 931
1389	1389	information already obtained while comple ting the forms required 932
1390	1390	under subsection (1). 933
1391	1391	c. A voter registration application with all of the 934
1392	1392	applicant's voter registration information required to establish 935
1393	1393	the applicant's eligibility pursuant to s. 97.041 must be 936
1394	1394	presented to the applicant to rev iew and verify the voter 937
1395	1395	registration information received and provide an electronic 938
1396	1396	signature affirming the accuracy of the information provided. 939
1397	1397	d. The voter registration application may not be used to 940
1398	1398	change the party affiliation of the applicant unle ss the 941
1399	1399	applicant designates a change in party affiliation and provides 942
1400	1400	a separate signature consenting to the party affiliation change. 943
1401	1401	e. After verifying the voter registration information and 944
1402	1402	providing his or her electronic signature, the applicant mus t be 945
1403	1403	provided with a printed receipt that includes such information 946
1404	1404	and documents any change in party affiliation. 947
1405	1405	2. If the applicant declines to register to vote, update 948
1406	1406	the applicant's voter registration record, or change the 949
1407	1407	applicant's address by either orally declining or by failing to 950
1408	1408
1409	1409	HB 1409 2025
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1411	1411
1412	1412
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1416	1416	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1417	1417
1418	1418
1419	1419
1420	1420	sign the voter registration application, the Department of 951
1421	1421	Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles must note such declination on 952
1422	1422	its records and shall forward the declination to the statewide 953
1423	1423	voter registration system. 954
1424	1424	(3) For the purpose of this section, the Department of 955
1425	1425	Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, with the approval of the 956
1426	1426	Department of State, shall prescribe: 957
1427	1427	(a) A voter registration application that is the same in 958
1428	1428	content, format, and size as the uniform statewide voter 959
1429	1429	registration application prescribed under s. 97.052; and 960
1430	1430	(b) A form that will inform applicants under s ubsection 961
1431	1431	(1) of the information contained in paragraph (2)(a). 962
1432	1432	(4) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 963
1433	1433	must electronically transmit completed voter registration 964
1434	1434	applications within 24 hours after receipt to the statewide 965
1435	1435	voter registration system. Completed paper voter registration 966
1436	1436	applications received by the Department of Highway Safety and 967
1437	1437	Motor Vehicles shall be forwarded within 5 days after receipt to 968
1438	1438	the supervisor of the county where the office that processed or 969
1439	1439	received that application is located. 970
1440	1440	(5) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 971
1441	1441	must send, with each driver license renewal extension 972
1442	1442	application authorized pursuant to s. 322.18(8), a uniform 973
1443	1443	statewide voter registration application, the voter registration 974
1444	1444	application prescribed under paragraph (3)(a), or a voter 975
1445	1445
1446	1446	HB 1409 2025
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1448	1448
1449	1449
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1453	1453	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1454	1454
1455	1455
1456	1456
1457	1457	registration application developed especially for the purposes 976
1458	1458	of this subsection by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor 977
1459	1459	Vehicles, with the approval of the Department of State, which 978
1460	1460	must meet the requirements of s. 97.052. 979
1461	1461	(4)(6) A person providing voter registration services for 980
1462	1462	a driver license office may not: 981
1463	1463	(a) Make any change to an applicant's party affiliation 982
1464	1464	unless the applicant provides a separate signature consenting to 983
1465	1465	the party affiliation change or discuss or Seek to influence an 984
1466	1466	applicant's political preference or party registration; 985
1467	1467	(b) Display any political preference or party allegiance; 986
1468	1468	(c) Make any statement to an applicant or take any action 987
1469	1469	the purpose or effect of which is to discourage the applicant 988
1470	1470	from registering to vote; or 989
1471	1471	(d) Disclose any applicant's voter registration 990
1472	1472	information except as needed for the administration of voter 991
1473	1473	registration. 992
1474	1474	(5)(7) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 993
1475	1475	shall collect data determined necessary by the Department of 994
1476	1476	State for program evaluation and reporting to the Election 995
1477	1477	Assistance Commission pursuant to federal law. 996
1478	1478	(6)(8) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 997
1479	1479	shall must ensure that all voter registration services provided 998
1480	1480	by driver license offices are in compliance with the federal 999
1481	1481	Voting Rights Act of 1965. 1000
1482	1482
1483	1483	HB 1409 2025
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1485	1485
1486	1486
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1490	1490	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1491	1491
1492	1492
1493	1493
1494	1494	(7)(9) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 1001
1495	1495	shall retain complete records of voter registration i nformation 1002
1496	1496	received, processed, and submitted to the Department of State 1003
1497	1497	statewide voter registration system by the Department of Highway 1004
1498	1498	Safety and Motor Vehicles. The retention of such These records 1005
1499	1499	is shall be for the explicit purpose of supporting audi t and 1006
1500	1500	accounting controls established to ensure accurate and complete 1007
1501	1501	electronic transmission of records between the Department of 1008
1502	1502	State statewide voter registration system and the Department of 1009
1503	1503	Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. 1010
1504	1504	(8)(10) The Department of State shall provide the 1011
1505	1505	Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles with an 1012
1506	1506	electronic database of street addresses valid for use as the 1013
1507	1507	address of legal residence as required in s. 97.053(5). The 1014
1508	1508	Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles shall compare 1015
1509	1509	the address provided by the applicant against the database of 1016
1510	1510	valid street addresses. If the address provided by the applicant 1017
1511	1511	does not match a valid street address in the database, the 1018
1512	1512	applicant will be asked to verify the address provided. The 1019
1513	1513	Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles may shall not 1020
1514	1514	reject any application for voter registration for which a valid 1021
1515	1515	match cannot be made. 1022
1516	1516	(9)(11) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor 1023
1517	1517	Vehicles shall enter into an agreement with the Departme nt of 1024
1518	1518	State to match information in the statewide voter registration 1025
1519	1519
1520	1520	HB 1409 2025
1521	1521
1522	1522
1523	1523
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1527	1527	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1528	1528
1529	1529
1530	1530
1531	1531	system with information in the database of the Department of 1026
1532	1532	Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to the extent required to 1027
1533	1533	verify the accuracy of the driver license number, Florida 1028
1534	1534	identification number, or last four digits of the social 1029
1535	1535	security number provided on applications for voter registration 1030
1536	1536	as required in s. 97.053. 1031
1537	1537	(10)(12) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor 1032
1538	1538	Vehicles shall enter into an agreement with the Commissioner of 1033
1539	1539	Social Security as required by the Help America Vote Act of 2002 1034
1540	1540	to verify the last four digits of the social security number 1035
1541	1541	provided in applications for voter registration as required in 1036
1542	1542	s. 97.053. 1037
1543	1543	(11)(13) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor 1038
1544	1544	Vehicles shall must assist the Department of State in regularly 1039
1545	1545	identifying changes in residence address on the driver license 1040
1546	1546	or identification card of a voter. The Department of State shall 1041
1547	1547	must report each such change to the appropriate supervisor of 1042
1548	1548	elections who must change the voter's registration records in 1043
1549	1549	accordance with s. 98.065(4). 1044
1550	1550	(14) The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 1045
1551	1551	shall ensure that information technology processes and updates 1046
1552	1552	do not alter an applicant's party affiliation without the 1047
1553	1553	written consent of the applicant. 1048
1554	1554	Section 8. Section 97.0575, Florida Statutes, is amended 1049
1555	1555	to read: 1050
1556	1556
1557	1557	HB 1409 2025
1558	1558
1559	1559
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1563	1563	Page 43 of 113
1564	1564	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1565	1565
1566	1566
1567	1567
1568	1568	97.0575 Third-party voter registration organizations. — 1051
1569	1569	(1) Before engaging in any voter registration activities, 1052
1570	1570	a third-party voter registration organization must register and 1053
1571	1571	provide to the division, in an electronic format, the following 1054
1572	1572	information: 1055
1573	1573	(a) The names of the officers of the organization and the 1056
1574	1574	name and permanent address of the organization. 1057
1575	1575	(b) The name and address of the organization's registered 1058
1576	1576	agent in the state. 1059
1577	1577	(c) The names, permanent addresses, and temporary 1060
1578	1578	addresses, if any, of each registration agent registering 1061
1579	1579	persons to vote in this state on behalf of the organization. 1062
1580	1580	This paragraph does not apply to p ersons who only solicit 1063
1581	1581	applications and do not collect or handle voter registration 1064
1582	1582	applications. 1065
1583	1583	(d) Beginning November 6, 2024, the specific general 1066
1584	1584	election cycle for which the third -party voter registration 1067
1585	1585	organization is registering persons to vot e. 1068
1586	1586	(e) An affirmation that each person collecting or handling 1069
1587	1587	voter registration applications on behalf of the third -party 1070
1588	1588	voter registration organization has not been convicted of a 1071
1589	1589	felony violation of the Election Code, a felony violation of an 1072
1590	1590	offense specified in s. 825.103, a felony offense specified in 1073
1591	1591	s. 98.0751(2)(b) or (c), or a felony offense specified in 1074
1592	1592	chapter 817, chapter 831, or chapter 837. A third -party voter 1075
1593	1593
1594	1594	HB 1409 2025
1595	1595
1596	1596
1597	1597
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1601	1601	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1602	1602
1603	1603
1604	1604
1605	1605	registration organization is liable for a fine in the amount of 1076
1606	1606	$50,000 for each such person who has been convicted of a felony 1077
1607	1607	violation of the Election Code, a felony violation of an offense 1078
1608	1608	specified in s. 825.103, a felony offense specified in s. 1079
1609	1609	98.0751(2)(b) or (c), or a felony offense specified in chapter 1080
1610	1610	817, chapter 831, or c hapter 837 who is collecting or handling 1081
1611	1611	voter registration applications on behalf of the third -party 1082
1612	1612	voter registration organization. 1083
1613	1613	(f) An affirmation that each person collecting or handling 1084
1614	1614	voter registration applications on behalf of the third -party 1085
1615	1615	voter registration organization is a citizen of the United 1086
1616	1616	States of America. A third -party voter registration organization 1087
1617	1617	is liable for a fine in the amount of $50,000 for each such 1088
1618	1618	person who is not a citizen and is collecting or handling voter 1089
1619	1619	registration applications on behalf of the third -party voter 1090
1620	1620	registration organization. 1091
1621	1621	(2) Beginning November 6, 2024, the registration of a 1092
1622	1622	third-party voter registration organization automatically 1093
1623	1623	expires at the conclusion of the specific general election cy cle 1094
1624	1624	for which the third-party voter registration organization is 1095
1625	1625	registered. 1096
1626	1626	(3) The division or the supervisor of elections shall make 1097
1627	1627	voter registration forms available to third -party voter 1098
1628	1628	registration organizations. All such forms must contain 1099
1629	1629	information identifying the organization to which the forms are 1100
1630	1630
1631	1631	HB 1409 2025
1632	1632
1633	1633
1634	1634
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1638	1638	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1639	1639
1640	1640
1641	1641
1642	1642	provided. The division shall maintain a database of all third -1101
1643	1643	party voter registration organizations and the voter 1102
1644	1644	registration forms assigned to the third -party voter 1103
1645	1645	registration organization. Each supervisor of elections shall 1104
1646	1646	provide to the division information on voter regi stration forms 1105
1647	1647	assigned to and received from third -party voter registration 1106
1648	1648	organizations. The information must be provided in a format and 1107
1649	1649	at times as required by the division by rule. The division shall 1108
1650	1650	update information on third -party voter registratio ns daily and 1109
1651	1651	make the information publicly available. 1110
1652	1652	(4) A third-party voter registration organization that 1111
1653	1653	collects voter registration applications shall provide a receipt 1112
1654	1654	to an applicant upon accepting possession of his or her 1113
1655	1655	application. The divisio n shall adopt by rule a uniform format 1114
1656	1656	for the receipt by October 1, 2023. The format must include, but 1115
1657	1657	need not be limited to, the name of the applicant, the date the 1116
1658	1658	application is received, the name of the third -party voter 1117
1659	1659	registration organization, th e name of the registration agent, 1118
1660	1660	the applicant's political party affiliation, and the county in 1119
1661	1661	which the applicant resides. 1120
1662	1662	(3)(a)(5)(a) A third-party voter registration organization 1121
1663	1663	that collects voter registration applications serves as a 1122
1664	1664	fiduciary to the applicant and shall ensure that any voter 1123
1665	1665	registration application entrusted to the organization, 1124
1666	1666	irrespective of party affiliation, race, ethnicity, or gender, 1125
1667	1667
1668	1668	HB 1409 2025
1669	1669
1670	1670
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1675	1675	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1676	1676
1677	1677
1678	1678
1679	1679	is promptly delivered to the division or the supervisor of 1126
1680	1680	elections in the county in whi ch the applicant resides within 14 1127
1681	1681	10 days after the application is completed by the applicant, but 1128
1682	1682	not after registration closes for the next ensuing election. If 1129
1683	1683	a voter registration application collected by any third -party 1130
1684	1684	voter registration organizatio n is not promptly delivered to the 1131
1685	1685	division or supervisor of elections in the county in which the 1132
1686	1686	applicant resides, the third-party voter registration 1133
1687	1687	organization is liable for the following fines: 1134
1688	1688	1. A fine in the amount of $50 per each day late, up t o 1135
1689	1689	$2,500, for each application received by the division or the 1136
1690	1690	supervisor of elections in the county in which the applicant 1137
1691	1691	resides more than 10 days after the applicant delivered the 1138
1692	1692	completed voter registration application to the third -party 1139
1693	1693	voter registration organization or any person, entity, or agent 1140
1694	1694	acting on its behalf. A fine in the amount of $250 $2,500 for 1141
1695	1695	each application received if the third -party voter registration 1142
1696	1696	organization or person, entity, or agency acting on its behalf 1143
1697	1697	acted willfully. 1144
1698	1698	2. A fine in the amount of $100 per each day late, up to 1145
1699	1699	$5,000, for each application collected by a thir d-party voter 1146
1700	1700	registration organization or any person, entity, or agent acting 1147
1701	1701	on its behalf, before book closing for any given election for 1148
1702	1702	federal or state office and received by the division or the 1149
1703	1703	supervisor of elections in the county in which the appl icant 1150
1704	1704
1705	1705	HB 1409 2025
1706	1706
1707	1707
1708	1708
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1712	1712	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1713	1713
1714	1714
1715	1715
1716	1716	resides after the book -closing deadline for such election. A 1151
1717	1717	fine in the amount of $500 $5,000 for each application received 1152
1718	1718	if the third-party voter registration organization or any 1153
1719	1719	person, entity, or agency acting on its behalf acted willfully. 1154
1720	1720	3. A fine in the amount of $500 for each application 1155
1721	1721	collected by a third -party voter registration organization or 1156
1722	1722	any person, entity, or agent acting on its behalf, which is not 1157
1723	1723	submitted to the division or supervisor of elections in the 1158
1724	1724	county in which the applicant resides. A fine in the amount of 1159
1725	1725	$1,000 $5,000 for any application not submitted if the third -1160
1726	1726	party voter registration organization or person, entity, or 1161
1727	1727	agency acting on its behalf acted willfully. 1162
1728	1728	1163
1729	1729	The aggregate fine which may be assessed pur suant to this 1164
1730	1730	paragraph against a third -party voter registration organization, 1165
1731	1731	including affiliate organizations, for violations committed in a 1166
1732	1732	calendar year is $1,000 $250,000. 1167
1733	1733	(b) A showing by the third -party voter registration 1168
1734	1734	organization that the fa ilure to deliver the voter registration 1169
1735	1735	application within the required timeframe is based upon force 1170
1736	1736	majeure or impossibility of performance shall be an affirmative 1171
1737	1737	defense to a violation of this subsection. The secretary may 1172
1738	1738	waive the fines described in this subsection upon a showing that 1173
1739	1739	the failure to deliver the voter registration application 1174
1740	1740	promptly is based upon force majeure or impossibility of 1175
1741	1741
1742	1742	HB 1409 2025
1743	1743
1744	1744
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1749	1749	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1750	1750
1751	1751
1752	1752
1753	1753	performance. 1176
1754	1754	(6) If a person collecting voter registration applications 1177
1755	1755	on behalf of a third -party voter registration organization 1178
1756	1756	alters the voter registration application of any other person, 1179
1757	1757	without the other person's knowledge and consent, in violation 1180
1758	1758	of s. 104.012(4) and is subsequently convicted of such offense, 1181
1759	1759	the applicable third -party voter registration organization is 1182
1760	1760	liable for a fine in the amount of $5,000 for each application 1183
1761	1761	altered. 1184
1762	1762	(7) If a person collecting voter registration applications 1185
1763	1763	on behalf of a third -party voter registration organization 1186
1764	1764	copies a voter's application or retains a voter's personal 1187
1765	1765	information, such as the voter's Florida driver license number, 1188
1766	1766	Florida identification card number, social security number, or 1189
1767	1767	signature, for any reason other than to provide such application 1190
1768	1768	or information to the third -party voter registration 1191
1769	1769	organization in compliance with this section, the person commits 1192
1770	1770	a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 1193
1771	1771	775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 1194
1772	1772	(4)(8) If the Secretary of State reasonably believes that 1195
1773	1773	a person has committed a vio lation of this section, the 1196
1774	1774	secretary may refer the matter to the Attorney General for 1197
1775	1775	enforcement. The Attorney General may institute a civil action 1198
1776	1776	for a violation of this section or to prevent a violation of 1199
1777	1777	this section. An action for relief may includ e a permanent or 1200
1778	1778
1779	1779	HB 1409 2025
1780	1780
1781	1781
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1786	1786	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1787	1787
1788	1788
1789	1789
1790	1790	temporary injunction, a restraining order, or any other 1201
1791	1791	appropriate order. 1202
1792	1792	(9) The division shall adopt by rule a form to elicit 1203
1793	1793	specific information concerning the facts and circumstances from 1204
1794	1794	a person who claims to have been registered to vote by a third-1205
1795	1795	party voter registration organization but who does not appear as 1206
1796	1796	an active voter on the voter registration rolls. The division 1207
1797	1797	shall also adopt rules to ensure the integrity of the 1208
1798	1798	registration process, including controls to ensure that all 1209
1799	1799	completed forms are promptly delivered to the division or a 1210
1800	1800	supervisor in the county in which the applicant resides. 1211
1801	1801	(5)(10) The date on which an applicant signs a voter 1212
1802	1802	registration application is presumed to be the date on which the 1213
1803	1803	third-party voter registration organization received or 1214
1804	1804	collected the voter registration application. 1215
1805	1805	(11) A third-party voter registration organization may not 1216
1806	1806	mail or otherwise provide a voter registration application upon 1217
1807	1807	which any information about an applicant ha s been filled in 1218
1808	1808	before it is provided to the applicant. A third -party voter 1219
1809	1809	registration organization that violates this section is liable 1220
1810	1810	for a fine in the amount of $50 for each such application. 1221
1811	1811	(12) The requirements of this section are retroactive f or 1222
1812	1812	any third-party voter registration organization registered with 1223
1813	1813	the department as of July 1, 2023, and must be complied with 1224
1814	1814	within 90 days after the department provides notice to the 1225
1815	1815
1816	1816	HB 1409 2025
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1823	1823	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1824	1824
1825	1825
1826	1826
1827	1827	third-party voter registration organization of the requirements 1226
1828	1828	contained in this section. Failure of the third -party voter 1227
1829	1829	registration organization to comply with the requirements within 1228
1830	1830	90 days after receipt of the notice shall automatically result 1229
1831	1831	in the cancellation of the third -party voter registration 1230
1832	1832	organization's registration. 1231
1833	1833	Section 9. Part III of chapter 97, Florida Statutes, 1232
1834	1834	consisting of sections 97.21 -97.28, Florida Statutes, is created 1233
1835	1835	and entitled "Florida Voting Rights Act." 1234
1836	1836	Section 10. Section 97.21, Florida Statutes, is created to 1235
1837	1837	read: 1236
1838	1838	97.21 Prohibitions on voter suppression and vote 1237
1839	1839	dilution.— 1238
1840	1840	(1) PROHIBITING VOTER SUPPRESSION. — 1239
1841	1841	(a) A local government, state agency, or state official 1240
1842	1842	may not implement, impose, or enforce any election policy or 1241
1843	1843	practice, or take any other action or fail to take any action, 1242
1844	1844	which results in, will result in, or is intended to result in 1243
1845	1845	any of the following: 1244
1846	1846	1. A material disparity in voter participation, access to 1245
1847	1847	voting opportunities, or the opportunity or ability to 1246
1848	1848	participate in the political process bet ween protected class 1247
1849	1849	members and other members of the electorate. 1248
1850	1850	2. Based on the totality of the circumstances, an 1249
1851	1851	impairment of the equal opportunity or ability of protected 1250
1852	1852
1853	1853	HB 1409 2025
1854	1854
1855	1855
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1860	1860	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1861	1861
1862	1862
1863	1863
1864	1864	class members to participate in any stage of the political 1251
1865	1865	process. 1252
1866	1866	(b) It is not a violation of paragraph (a) if a local 1253
1867	1867	government, state agency, or state official demonstrates by 1254
1868	1868	clear and convincing evidence that: 1255
1869	1869	1. The election policy or practice is necessary to 1256
1870	1870	significantly further an important and particularized 1257
1871	1871	governmental interest; and 1258
1872	1872	2. There is no alternative election policy or practice 1259
1873	1873	that results in a smaller disparity between protected class 1260
1874	1874	members and other members of the electorate. 1261
1875	1875	(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (b), a violation always 1262
1876	1876	exists under paragraph (a) if: 1263
1877	1877	1. The local government, state agency, or state official 1264
1878	1878	takes action intended to result in a material disparity; or 1265
1879	1879	2. The material disparity results from: 1266
1880	1880	a. The closure, relocation, or consolidation of, or 1267
1881	1881	failure to provide, one or more polling places, early voting 1268
1882	1882	sites, or secure ballot intake stations; or the reassignment of 1269
1883	1883	voters to precincts or polling places or of precincts to polling 1270
1884	1884	places; 1271
1885	1885	b. The local government's selection of or change to the 1272
1886	1886	time or date of an election ; 1273
1887	1887	c. The local government conducting elections on dates that 1274
1888	1888	do not align with federal or state elections; 1275
1889	1889
1890	1890	HB 1409 2025
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1892	1892
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1897	1897	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1898	1898
1899	1899
1900	1900
1901	1901	d. The date the local government selects for a special 1276
1902	1902	election, and there exists an alternate date in a reasonable 1277
1903	1903	timeframe in which the dispar ity would be materially less 1278
1904	1904	significant; or 1279
1905	1905	e. The failure to schedule a special election in a 1280
1906	1906	reasonable timeframe, allowing a vacancy in an office where 1281
1907	1907	protected class members are generally able to elect candidates 1282
1908	1908	of their choice. 1283
1909	1909	(2) PROHIBITING VOTE DILUTION.— 1284
1910	1910	(a) A local government may not employ an at -large method 1285
1911	1911	of election, a district -based method of election, a share -based 1286
1912	1912	method of election, or other method of election for any office 1287
1913	1913	which has the effect, will likely have the effect, or is 1288
1914	1914	motivated in part by the intent of diluting the vote of 1289
1915	1915	protected class members. 1290
1916	1916	(b) To establish a violation under paragraph (a), it must 1291
1917	1917	be established that: 1292
1918	1918	1.a. Elections in the local government exhibit racially 1293
1919	1919	polarized voting resulting in an impairment of the equal 1294
1920	1920	opportunity or ability of protected class members to nominate or 1295
1921	1921	elect candidates of their choice; or 1296
1922	1922	b. Based on the totality of the circumstances, the equal 1297
1923	1923	opportunity or ability of protected class members to nominate or 1298
1924	1924	elect candidates of their choice is impaired; and 1299
1925	1925	2. Another method of election or changes to the existing 1300
1926	1926
1927	1927	HB 1409 2025
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1929	1929
1930	1930
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1934	1934	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1935	1935
1936	1936
1937	1937
1938	1938	method of election which could be constitutionally adopted or 1301
1939	1939	ordered under s. 97.28 would likely mitigate the impairment. For 1302
1940	1940	the purpose of satisfying such requirement, it is not necessary 1303
1941	1941	for the total number or share of protected class members to 1304
1942	1942	exceed any numerical threshold in any district or in the local 1305
1943	1943	government as a whole. 1306
1944	1944	(3) GUIDELINES AND RELEVANT CIRCUMSTANCES FOR EVALUATING 1307
1945	1945	VOTER SUPPRESSION AND VOTE DILUTION. — 1308
1946	1946	(a)1. To evaluate the totality of circumstances under 1309
1947	1947	subparagraph (1)(a)2. or sub -subparagraph (2)(b)1.b., the 1310
1948	1948	following factors may be relevant: 1311
1949	1949	a. The history of discrimination; 1312
1950	1950	b. The extent to which the protected class m embers have 1313
1951	1951	been elected to office; 1314
1952	1952	c. The use of any election policy or practice that may 1315
1953	1953	enhance the dilutive effective of a method of election in the 1316
1954	1954	local government. 1317
1955	1955	d. The extent to which protected class members or 1318
1956	1956	candidates experienced any hist ory of unequal access to 1319
1957	1957	election-administration or campaign finance processes that 1320
1958	1958	determine which candidates will receive access to the ballot or 1321
1959	1959	receive financial or other support in a given election for an 1322
1960	1960	office of the local government; 1323
1961	1961	e. The extent to which protected class members have 1324
1962	1962	historically made expenditures as defined in s. 106.011 at lower 1325
1963	1963
1964	1964	HB 1409 2025
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1966	1966
1967	1967
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1971	1971	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1972	1972
1973	1973
1974	1974
1975	1975	rates than other voters; 1326
1976	1976	f. The extent to which protected class members vote at 1327
1977	1977	lower rates than other voters; 1328
1978	1978	g. The extent to which protected cla ss members are 1329
1979	1979	disadvantaged or otherwise bear the effects of public or private 1330
1980	1980	discrimination in areas that may hinder their ability to 1331
1981	1981	participate effectively in any stage of the political process, 1332
1982	1982	such as education, employment, health, criminal justice, 1333
1983	1983	housing, transportation, land use, or environmental protection; 1334
1984	1984	h. The use of overt or subtle racial appeals in political 1335
1985	1985	campaigns by governmental officials or in connection with the 1336
1986	1986	adoption or maintenance of the election policy or practice; 1337
1987	1987	i. The extent to which candidates face hostility or 1338
1988	1988	barriers while campaigning due to their membership in a 1339
1989	1989	protected class; 1340
1990	1990	j The lack of responsiveness by elected officials to the 1341
1991	1991	particular needs of protected class members or a community of 1342
1992	1992	protected class members; 1343
1993	1993	k. Whether the election policy or practice was designed to 1344
1994	1994	advance, and does materially advance, a valid and substantial 1345
1995	1995	state interest; and 1346
1996	1996	l. Other factors deemed relevant. 1347
1997	1997	2. A set number or combination of the factors in 1348
1998	1998	subparagraph 1. are not required to determine that a violation 1349
1999	1999	occurred. 1350
2000	2000
2001	2001	HB 1409 2025
2002	2002
2003	2003
2004	2004
2005	2005	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2006	2006	hb1409-00
2007	2007	Page 55 of 113
2008	2008	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2009	2009
2010	2010
2011	2011
2012	2012	3. Evidence of these factors is most probative if it 1351
2013	2013	relates to the local government in which the alleged violation 1352
2014	2014	occurred, but still holds probative value if it relates to the 1353
2015	2015	geographic region in which the local government is located or to 1354
2016	2016	this state. 1355
2017	2017	(b) To determine whether elections in the local government 1356
2018	2018	exhibit racially polarized voting under sub -subparagraph 1357
2019	2019	(2)(b)1.a.: 1358
2020	2020	1. Racially polarized voting must be assessed based on 1359
2021	2021	relevant election results, which may include, but are not 1360
2022	2022	limited to, elections for offices of the local government; 1361
2023	2023	elections held in the local government for other offices, such 1362
2024	2024	as state or federal offices; ballot measures; and other 1363
2025	2025	electoral choices that bear on t he rights and privileges of the 1364
2026	2026	protected class. 1365
2027	2027	a. A set number or combination of elections may not be 1366
2028	2028	required to establish the existence of racially polarized 1367
2029	2029	voting. 1368
2030	2030	b. Evidence of nonpolarized voting in election for offices 1369
2031	2031	outside the local government may not preclude a finding of 1370
2032	2032	racially polarized voting based on elections for offices of the 1371
2033	2033	local government. 1372
2034	2034	c. Nonstatistical or nonquantitative evidence may not 1373
2035	2035	preclude a finding of racially polarized voting based on 1374
2036	2036	statistical or quant itative evidence. 1375
2037	2037
2038	2038	HB 1409 2025
2039	2039
2040	2040
2041	2041
2042	2042	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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2045	2045	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2046	2046
2047	2047
2048	2048
2049	2049	d. Low turnout or registration rates among protected class 1376
2050	2050	members may not preclude a finding of racially polarized voting. 1377
2051	2051	2. Racially polarized voting may be assessed based only on 1378
2052	2052	the combined electoral preferences of members of a protected 1379
2053	2053	class or classes. There is no requirement that the electoral 1380
2054	2054	preferences of each protected class or any subgroup within a 1381
2055	2055	protected class be separately polarized from those of other 1382
2056	2056	voters. 1383
2057	2057	3. The causes of or reasons for racially polarized vot ing, 1384
2058	2058	including partisan explanations or discriminatory intent, are 1385
2059	2059	not relevant. 1386
2060	2060	(c)1. If evaluating whether a violation of subsection (1) 1387
2061	2061	or subsection (2) is present, the following circumstances are 1388
2062	2062	never relevant to such a violation: 1389
2063	2063	a. The total number or share of protected class members on 1390
2064	2064	whom the election policy or practice does not impose a material 1391
2065	2065	burden. 1392
2066	2066	b. The degree to which the election policy or practice has 1393
2067	2067	a long pedigree or was in widespread use at some earlier date. 1394
2068	2068	c. The use of an identical or similar election policy or 1395
2069	2069	practice in other jurisdictions. 1396
2070	2070	d. The availability of forms of voting unimpacted by the 1397
2071	2071	election policy or practice. 1398
2072	2072	2. A state interest in preventing voter fraud or 1399
2073	2073	bolstering voter confidence in the integr ity of elections is not 1400
2074	2074
2075	2075	HB 1409 2025
2076	2076
2077	2077
2078	2078
2079	2079	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2080	2080	hb1409-00
2081	2081	Page 57 of 113
2082	2082	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2083	2083
2084	2084
2085	2085
2086	2086	relevant to an evaluation of whether a violation of subsection 1401
2087	2087	(1) or subsection (2) occurred unless there is substantial 1402
2088	2088	evidence of a number of instances that criminal activity by 1403
2089	2089	individual electors has occurred in the local gove rnment and the 1404
2090	2090	connection between the election policy or practice and a state 1405
2091	2091	interest in preventing voter fraud or bolstering voter 1406
2092	2092	confidence in the integrity of elections is supported by 1407
2093	2093	substantial evidence. 1408
2094	2094	3. Evidence concerning the intent of elect ors, elected 1409
2095	2095	officials, or public officials to discriminate against protected 1410
2096	2096	class members is never required under subsections (1) and (2). 1411
2097	2097	4. Whether protected class members typically elect 1412
2098	2098	candidates of their choice to the governmental body of a local 1413
2099	2099	government in approximate proportion to their total number or 1414
2100	2100	share of the population may be relevant under subsection (2). 1415
2101	2101	(4) Before filing an action against a local government 1416
2102	2102	pursuant to this section, a prospective plaintiff must send, by 1417
2103	2103	certified mail, return receipt requested, a notification letter 1418
2104	2104	to the local government asserting that the local government may 1419
2105	2105	be in violation of the provisions of this act. Such letter must 1420
2106	2106	be referred to as an "FLVRA notification letter." 1421
2107	2107	(a) Except as noted in paragraph (e), a party may not file 1422
2108	2108	an action against a local government pursuant to this section 1423
2109	2109	earlier than 50 days after sending an FLVRA notification letter 1424
2110	2110	to the local government. 1425
2111	2111
2112	2112	HB 1409 2025
2113	2113
2114	2114
2115	2115
2116	2116	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2117	2117	hb1409-00
2118	2118	Page 58 of 113
2119	2119	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2120	2120
2121	2121
2122	2122
2123	2123	(b) Before receiving an FLVRA notification letter, or not 1426
2124	2124	later than 50 days after any FLVRA notification letter is sent 1427
2125	2125	to a local government, a local government may adopt a resolution 1428
2126	2126	that must be referred to as the "FLVRA Resolution" and that does 1429
2127	2127	all of the following: 1430
2128	2128	1. Identifies a potential violation of this sec tion by the 1431
2129	2129	local government. 1432
2130	2130	2. Identifies a specific remedy to the potential 1433
2131	2131	violation. 1434
2132	2132	3. Affirms the local government's intent to enact and 1435
2133	2133	implement a remedy for a potential violation. 1436
2134	2134	4. Sets forth specific measures the local government will 1437
2135	2135	take to enact and implement the remedy. 1438
2136	2136	5. Provides a schedule for the enactment and 1439
2137	2137	implementation of the remedy. 1440
2138	2138	(c) Except as noted in paragraph (e), a party that has 1441
2139	2139	sent an FLVRA notification letter may not file an action 1442
2140	2140	pursuant to this section ea rlier than 90 days after the adoption 1443
2141	2141	of an FLVRA Resolution. 1444
2142	2142	(d) If the remedy identified in an FLVRA Resolution is 1445
2143	2143	barred by state or local law, or a legislative body of a local 1446
2144	2144	government lacks authority under state or local law to enact or 1447
2145	2145	implement a remedy identified in an FLVRA Resolution within 90 1448
2146	2146	days after the adoption of such resolution, or if the local 1449
2147	2147	government is a covered jurisdiction under s. 97.25, the local 1450
2148	2148
2149	2149	HB 1409 2025
2150	2150
2151	2151
2152	2152
2153	2153	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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2156	2156	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2157	2157
2158	2158
2159	2159
2160	2160	government may nonetheless enact and implement the remedy 1451
2161	2161	identified in such res olution upon approval of the FLVRA 1452
2162	2162	Commission, which may provide approval only if it finds that the 1453
2163	2163	local government may be in violation of this act, the proposed 1454
2164	2164	remedy would address a potential violation, and implementation 1455
2165	2165	of the proposed remedy is feas ible. The approval of a remedy by 1456
2166	2166	the FLVRA Commission does not bar an action to challenge the 1457
2167	2167	remedy. 1458
2168	2168	(e) If, pursuant to this subsection, a local government 1459
2169	2169	enacts or implements a remedy or the FLVRA Commission approves a 1460
2170	2170	proposed remedy, a party that sent an FLVRA notification letter 1461
2171	2171	may submit a claim for reimbursement from the local government 1462
2172	2172	for the costs associated with producing and sending such 1463
2173	2173	notification letter. The party must submit the claim in writing 1464
2174	2174	and substantiate the claim with financ ial documentation, 1465
2175	2175	including a detailed invoice for any demography services or 1466
2176	2176	analysis of voting patterns in the local government. If a party 1467
2177	2177	and local government fail to agree to a reimbursement amount, 1468
2178	2178	either the party or local government may file an ac tion for a 1469
2179	2179	declaratory judgment for a clarification of rights. 1470
2180	2180	(f) Notwithstanding this subsection, a party may bring a 1471
2181	2181	cause of action for a violation of this section under any of the 1472
2182	2182	following circumstances: 1473
2183	2183	1. The action is commenced within 1 year a fter the 1474
2184	2184	adoption of a challenged method of election, ordinance, 1475
2185	2185
2186	2186	HB 1409 2025
2187	2187
2188	2188
2189	2189
2190	2190	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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2193	2193	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2194	2194
2195	2195
2196	2196
2197	2197	resolution, rule, policy, standard, regulation, procedure, or 1476
2198	2198	law. 1477
2199	2199	2. The prospect of obtaining relief under this section 1478
2200	2200	would be futile. 1479
2201	2201	3. Another party has already submitted a notification 1480
2202	2202	letter under this subsection alleging a substantially similar 1481
2203	2203	violation and that party is eligible to bring a cause of action 1482
2204	2204	under this subsection. 1483
2205	2205	4. Following the party's submission of an FLVRA 1484
2206	2206	notification letter, the local government has adopted an FLVRA 1485
2207	2207	Resolution that identifies a remedy that would not cure the 1486
2208	2208	violation identified in the notification letter. 1487
2209	2209	5. The party is seeking preliminary relief with respect to 1488
2210	2210	an upcoming election in accordance with s. 97.28. 1489
2211	2211	(g) Any local government that receives an FLVRA 1490
2212	2212	notification letter or adopts an FLVRA Resolution must provide a 1491
2213	2213	copy to the FLVRA Commission within 1 day after receipt or 1492
2214	2214	adoption. The FLVRA Commission shall promptly post all FLVRA 1493
2215	2215	notification letters and FLVRA Resol utions on its website. The 1494
2216	2216	FLVRA Commission may adopt rules identifying other materials and 1495
2217	2217	information that must be provided to the FLVRA Commission by 1496
2218	2218	local governments, as well as procedures for transmittal of 1497
2219	2219	materials and information from local govern ments to the FLVRA 1498
2220	2220	Commission. 1499
2221	2221	(5) A local government may not assert the doctrine of 1500
2222	2222
2223	2223	HB 1409 2025
2224	2224
2225	2225
2226	2226
2227	2227	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2228	2228	hb1409-00
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2230	2230	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2231	2231
2232	2232
2233	2233
2234	2234	laches as a defense to claims brought under this section. A 1501
2235	2235	local government may not assert that plaintiffs have failed to 1502
2236	2236	comply with any notice, exhaustion, or other p rocedural 1503
2237	2237	requirements under state law, other than the requirements in 1504
2238	2238	this section, as a defense to claims brought under this section. 1505
2239	2239	(6) An individual or entity aggrieved by a violation of 1506
2240	2240	this section, the Attorney General, or the FLVRA Commission ma y 1507
2241	2241	file an action alleging a violation of this section to enforce 1508
2242	2242	compliance with this section. An entity aggrieved by a violation 1509
2243	2243	of this section includes, but is not limited to, any entity 1510
2244	2244	whose membership includes individuals aggrieved by a violation 1511
2245	2245	of this section or whose mission would be frustrated by a 1512
2246	2246	violation of this section, including, but not limited to, an 1513
2247	2247	entity that would expend or divest resources to fulfill its 1514
2248	2248	mission as a result of such violation or must expend greater 1515
2249	2249	resources or efforts to advocate before an elected body that is 1516
2250	2250	less responsible to the entity or its members due to the alleged 1517
2251	2251	violation. An entity may not be compelled to disclose the 1518
2252	2252	identity of any specific member to pursue a claim on behalf of 1519
2253	2253	its members. This subsect ion shall be liberally construed to 1520
2254	2254	confer standing as broadly as the State Constitution allows. 1521
2255	2255	Such a claim may be filed pursuant to the Florida Rules of Civil 1522
2256	2256	Procedure or in the Second Judicial Circuit of Florida. Members 1523
2257	2257	of two or more protected class es that are politically cohesive 1524
2258	2258	in a local government may jointly file an action. In an action 1525
2259	2259
2260	2260	HB 1409 2025
2261	2261
2262	2262
2263	2263
2264	2264	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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2266	2266	Page 62 of 113
2267	2267	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2268	2268
2269	2269
2270	2270
2271	2271	involving a districting plan, any individual who resides in the 1526
2272	2272	defendant jurisdiction and is a member of the affected class or 1527
2273	2273	classes, whether he or she resid es in any particular district, 1528
2274	2274	may challenge the districting plan as a whole. 1529
2275	2275	Section 11. Section 97.22, Florida Statutes, is created to 1530
2276	2276	read: 1531
2277	2277	97.22 Florida Voting Rights Act Commission. — 1532
2278	2278	(1) There is created the Florida Voting Rights Act (FLVRA) 1533
2279	2279	Commission within the Department of State. The FLVRA Commission 1534
2280	2280	is a separate budget entity, as provided in the General 1535
2281	2281	Appropriations Act, and shall prepare and submit a budget 1536
2282	2282	request in accordance with chapter 216. The FLVRA Commission is 1537
2283	2283	responsible for administering the Florida Voting Rights Act. The 1538
2284	2284	FLVRA Commission must have its own staff, including management, 1539
2285	2285	research, and enforcement personnel, and is not subject to 1540
2286	2286	control, supervision, or direction by the Department of State. 1541
2287	2287	(2)(a) The FLVRA Commission shall be composed of five 1542
2288	2288	commissioners, each of whom shall serve a staggered 5 -year term. 1543
2289	2289	Commissioners must be compensated for their actual time spent on 1544
2290	2290	the FLVRA Commission's business at an hourly rate equivalent to 1545
2291	2291	the rate of an assistant a ttorney general. 1546
2292	2292	1. A nominating committee shall identify qualified 1547
2293	2293	candidates to serve as commissioners. The nominating committee 1548
2294	2294	shall be composed of nominating organizations that are selected 1549
2295	2295	as follows: 1550
2296	2296
2297	2297	HB 1409 2025
2298	2298
2299	2299
2300	2300
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2304	2304	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2305	2305
2306	2306
2307	2307
2308	2308	a. Organizations may apply to the Secretary o f State to be 1551
2309	2309	certified as organizational nominators for 5 -year terms, after 1552
2310	2310	which the organizations may be recertified. The Secretary of 1553
2311	2311	State must certify any organization that applies to be an 1554
2312	2312	organizational nominator if it meets all of the following 1555
2313	2313	qualifications: 1556
2314	2314	(I) Has demonstrated commitment to the purposes of this 1557
2315	2315	act and securing the voting rights of protected class members, 1558
2316	2316	such as referencing such class members in the organization's 1559
2317	2317	mission statement, involvement in numerous voting rights cas es 1560
2318	2318	brought in this state on behalf of members of protected classes, 1561
2319	2319	or advocacy in support of this act. 1562
2320	2320	(II) Is registered as a nonprofit corporation with the 1563
2321	2321	Secretary of State. 1564
2322	2322	(III) Has been in continuous operation as a nonprofit 1565
2323	2323	organization under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or 1566
2324	2324	as a nonprofit corporation registered with the Secretary of 1567
2325	2325	State for at least 20 years. 1568
2326	2326	b. If the Secretary of State fails to timely certify an 1569
2327	2327	organization that satisfies the qualifications specified in sub -1570
2328	2328	subparagraph a. following the organization's application as an 1571
2329	2329	organizational nominator, the organization may file an action 1572
2330	2330	against the Secretary of State for a declaratory judgment 1573
2331	2331	certifying the organization as an organizational nominator. 1574
2332	2332	2. An organizational nominator may be removed for cause by 1575
2333	2333
2334	2334	HB 1409 2025
2335	2335
2336	2336
2337	2337
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2341	2341	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2342	2342
2343	2343
2344	2344
2345	2345	a majority vote of all fellow nominators. 1576
2346	2346	3. If there are fewer than 16 organizational nominators 1577
2347	2347	certified by the Secretary of State, the nominating committee 1578
2348	2348	must be composed of all such organizational no minators. If there 1579
2349	2349	are 16 or more organizational nominators certified by the 1580
2350	2350	Secretary of State, the nominating committee must be composed of 1581
2351	2351	15 organizational nominators randomly selected from all the 1582
2352	2352	nominators by lot on an annual basis. 1583
2353	2353	4. The nominating committee shall select its own chair to 1584
2354	2354	preside over meetings and votes. 1585
2355	2355	(b) Commissioners shall be selected as follows: 1586
2356	2356	1. The nominating committee shall solicit applications to 1587
2357	2357	serve on the FLVRA Commission from across this state. A 1588
2358	2358	commissioner must satisfy all of the following criteria: 1589
2359	2359	a. Is a resident of this state. 1590
2360	2360	b. Is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar with at 1591
2361	2361	least 5 years of legal experience. 1592
2362	2362	c. Has experience representing or advocating on behalf of 1593
2363	2363	members of protected c lasses. 1594
2364	2364	d. Has not served in elected office within the preceding 5 1595
2365	2365	years. 1596
2366	2366	e. Is not currently serving in any governmental office or 1597
2367	2367	holding any political party office. 1598
2368	2368	2. The nominating committee shall maintain a qualified 1599
2369	2369	candidate pool composed of 30 candidates to serve on the FLVRA 1600
2370	2370
2371	2371	HB 1409 2025
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2373	2373
2374	2374
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2378	2378	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2379	2379
2380	2380
2381	2381
2382	2382	Commission. Individuals may be added to the qualified applicant 1601
2383	2383	pool only upon a vote of three -fifths of the nominating 1602
2384	2384	committee. 1603
2385	2385	3. All members of the FLVRA Commission must be randomly 1604
2386	2386	selected from the qualified can didate pool. Upon the initial 1605
2387	2387	formation of the FLVRA Commission, five commissioners must be 1606
2388	2388	selected by lot from the qualified candidate pool and randomly 1607
2389	2389	assigned to term lengths of 5 years, 4 years, 3 years, 2 years, 1608
2390	2390	and 1 year. At least 60 days in advan ce of the conclusion of 1609
2391	2391	each commissioner's term, a new commissioner must be randomly 1610
2392	2392	selected by lot from the qualified candidate pool to serve a 5 -1611
2393	2393	year term upon the conclusion of the commissioner's term. If a 1612
2394	2394	vacancy occurs, a new commissioner must be r andomly selected by 1613
2395	2395	lot from the qualified candidate pool within 30 days after the 1614
2396	2396	vacancy occurring to complete the vacated term. 1615
2397	2397	(3) In any action or investigation to enforce this 1616
2398	2398	section, the FLVRA Commission may subpoena witnesses; administer 1617
2399	2399	oaths; examine individuals under oath; determine material facts; 1618
2400	2400	and compel the production of records, books, papers, contracts, 1619
2401	2401	and other documents in accordance with the Florida Rules of 1620
2402	2402	Civil Procedure. 1621
2403	2403	(4) The FLVRA Commission may hire any staff and make an y 1622
2404	2404	expenditure necessary to fulfill its responsibilities. 1623
2405	2405	(5) The FLVRA Commission may adopt rules to administer and 1624
2406	2406	enforce this part. 1625
2407	2407
2408	2408	HB 1409 2025
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2410	2410
2411	2411
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2415	2415	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2416	2416
2417	2417
2418	2418
2419	2419	Section 12. Section 97.23, Florida Statutes, is created to 1626
2420	2420	read: 1627
2421	2421	97.23 Statewide database and institute. — 1628
2422	2422	(1) The FLVRA Commission shall enter into an agreement 1629
2423	2423	with one or more postsecondary educational institutions in this 1630
2424	2424	state to create the Florida Voting and Elections Database and 1631
2425	2425	Institute, to maintain and administer a central repository of 1632
2426	2426	elections and voting data available to the public from all local 1633
2427	2427	governments in this state, and to foster, pursue, and sponsor 1634
2428	2428	research on existing laws and best practices in voting and 1635
2429	2429	elections. The parties to that agreement shall enter into a 1636
2430	2430	memorandum of understanding that includes the process for 1637
2431	2431	selecting the director of the database and institute. 1638
2432	2432	(2) The database and institute shall provide a center for 1639
2433	2433	research, training, and information on voting systems and 1640
2434	2434	election administration. The database and institute m ay do any 1641
2435	2435	of the following: 1642
2436	2436	(a) Conduct noncredit classes and classes for credit. 1643
2437	2437	(b) Organize interdisciplinary groups of scholars to 1644
2438	2438	research voting and elections in this state. 1645
2439	2439	(c) Conduct seminars involving voting and elections. 1646
2440	2440	(d) Establish a nonpartisan centralized database in order 1647
2441	2441	to collect, archive, and make publicly available, at no cost, 1648
2442	2442	accessible data pertaining to elections, voter registration, and 1649
2443	2443	ballot access in this state. 1650
2444	2444
2445	2445	HB 1409 2025
2446	2446
2447	2447
2448	2448
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2452	2452	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2453	2453
2454	2454
2455	2455
2456	2456	(e) Assist in the dissemination of election data to the 1651
2457	2457	public. 1652
2458	2458	(f) Publish books and periodicals on voting and elections 1653
2459	2459	in this state. 1654
2460	2460	(g) Provide nonpartisan technical assistance to local 1655
2461	2461	governments, scholars, and the general public seeking to use the 1656
2462	2462	resources of the database and institute. 1657
2463	2463	(3) The database and institute shall make available, and 1658
2464	2464	maintain in an electronic format, all relevant election and 1659
2465	2465	voting data and records for at least the previous 12 -year 1660
2466	2466	period. The data, information, and estimates maintained by the 1661
2467	2467	database and institute mus t be posted online and made available 1662
2468	2468	to the public at no cost. Maps, polling places, and vote -by-mail 1663
2469	2469	ballot secure intake stations must be made available in a 1664
2470	2470	geospatial file format. The database and institute shall prepare 1665
2471	2471	any estimates made under this section by applying the most 1666
2472	2472	advanced and validated peer -reviewed methodologies available. 1667
2473	2473	Data and records that must be maintained include, but are not 1668
2474	2474	limited to, all of the following: 1669
2475	2475	(a) Estimates of the total population, voting age 1670
2476	2476	population, and citizen voting age population by racial, color, 1671
2477	2477	or language minority group and disability status, broken down by 1672
2478	2478	precinct level on a year -by-year basis, for every local 1673
2479	2479	government in this state, based on data from the United States 1674
2480	2480	Census Bureau or the Amer ican Community Survey or data of 1675
2481	2481
2482	2482	HB 1409 2025
2483	2483
2484	2484
2485	2485
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2489	2489	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2490	2490
2491	2491
2492	2492
2493	2493	comparable quality collected by a public office. 1676
2494	2494	(b) Election results at the precinct level for every 1677
2495	2495	federal, state, and local election held in every local 1678
2496	2496	government in this state. 1679
2497	2497	(c) Contemporaneous voter registration lists, voter 1680
2498	2498	history files, polling places, and vote -by-mail secure ballot 1681
2499	2499	intake stations for every election in every local government in 1682
2500	2500	this state. 1683
2501	2501	(d) Contemporaneous maps or other documentation of the 1684
2502	2502	configuration of precincts. 1685
2503	2503	(e) Lists of polling places, including, but not limited 1686
2504	2504	to, lists of precincts assigned to each polling place, if 1687
2505	2505	applicable. 1688
2506	2506	(f) Adopted district or redistricting plans for every 1689
2507	2507	election in every local government in this state. 1690
2508	2508	(g) A current record, updat ed monthly, of persons eligible 1691
2509	2509	to register to vote who have a prior criminal conviction and 1692
2510	2510	whose eligibility has been restored in compliance with s. 1693
2511	2511	98.0751. 1694
2512	2512	(h) Any other data that the director of the database and 1695
2513	2513	institute considers necessary to main tain in furtherance of the 1696
2514	2514	purposes of the database and institute. 1697
2515	2515	(4) All state agencies and local governments shall timely 1698
2516	2516	provide the director of the database and institute with any 1699
2517	2517	information requested by the director. No later than 90 days 1700
2518	2518
2519	2519	HB 1409 2025
2520	2520
2521	2521
2522	2522
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2526	2526	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2527	2527
2528	2528
2529	2529
2530	2530	after an election, each local government shall transmit to the 1701
2531	2531	database and institute copies of all of the following: 1702
2532	2532	(a) Election results at the precinct level. 1703
2533	2533	(b) Contemporaneous voter registration lists. 1704
2534	2534	(c) Voter history files. 1705
2535	2535	(d) Maps, descriptions, and shapefiles for election 1706
2536	2536	districts. 1707
2537	2537	(e) Lists of polling places, shapefiles, or descriptions 1708
2538	2538	of the precincts assigned to each polling place. 1709
2539	2539	(f) Any other data as requested by the database and 1710
2540	2540	institute. 1711
2541	2541	(5) Any state entity identified by the di rector of the 1712
2542	2542	database and institute as possessing data, statistics, or other 1713
2543	2543	information required by the database and institute to carry out 1714
2544	2544	its duties and responsibilities shall provide such data, 1715
2545	2545	statistics, or information annually to the database and 1716
2546	2546	institute at the request of the director. 1717
2547	2547	(6) If a state agency or local government fails to provide 1718
2548	2548	any information to the database and institute as required by 1719
2549	2549	this section, the director of the database and institute, the 1720
2550	2550	Attorney General, or the FLVRA Commission may file an action to 1721
2551	2551	enforce compliance with this section. An entity aggrieved by a 1722
2552	2552	violation of this section includes, but is not limited to, any 1723
2553	2553	entity whose membership includes individuals aggrieved by this 1724
2554	2554	section or whose mission would be frustrated by a violation of 1725
2555	2555
2556	2556	HB 1409 2025
2557	2557
2558	2558
2559	2559
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2561	2561	hb1409-00
2562	2562	Page 70 of 113
2563	2563	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2564	2564
2565	2565
2566	2566
2567	2567	this section, including, but not limited to, an entity that 1726
2568	2568	would expend or divest resources to fulfill its mission as a 1727
2569	2569	result of such violation or must expend greater resources or 1728
2570	2570	efforts to advocate before an elected body that is less 1729
2571	2571	responsive to the entity or its members due to the alleged 1730
2572	2572	violation. An entity may not be compelled to disclose the 1731
2573	2573	identity of any specific member to pursue a claim on behalf of 1732
2574	2574	its members. This section must be liberally construed to confer 1733
2575	2575	standing as broadly as the State Constituti on allows. Such claim 1734
2576	2576	may be filed pursuant to the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure or 1735
2577	2577	in the Second Judicial Circuit. 1736
2578	2578	(7) No later than 90 days after the end of each state 1737
2579	2579	fiscal year, the database and institute shall publish a report 1738
2580	2580	on the priorities and finances of the database and institute. 1739
2581	2581	(8) The database and institute shall provide nonpartisan 1740
2582	2582	technical assistance to local governments, researchers, and 1741
2583	2583	members of the public seeking to use the resources of the 1742
2584	2584	database. 1743
2585	2585	(9) There is a rebuttab le presumption that the data, 1744
2586	2586	estimates, or other information maintained by the database and 1745
2587	2587	institute is valid. 1746
2588	2588	Section 13. Section 97.24, Florida Statutes, is created to 1747
2589	2589	read: 1748
2590	2590	97.24 Language access. — 1749
2591	2591	(1) As used in this section, the term: 1750
2592	2592
2593	2593	HB 1409 2025
2594	2594
2595	2595
2596	2596
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2598	2598	hb1409-00
2599	2599	Page 71 of 113
2600	2600	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2601	2601
2602	2602
2603	2603
2604	2604	(a) "Limited English proficient individual" means an 1751
2605	2605	individual who does not speak English as his or her primary 1752
2606	2606	language and who speaks, reads, or understands the English 1753
2607	2607	language other than "very well" in accordance with United States 1754
2608	2608	Census Bureau data or da ta of comparable quality collected by a 1755
2609	2609	governmental entity. 1756
2610	2610	(b) "Native American" includes any person recognized by 1757
2611	2611	the United States Census Bureau or the state as "American 1758
2612	2612	Indian." 1759
2613	2613	(2) The FLVRA Commission must designate one or more 1760
2614	2614	languages, other than English, for which assistance in voting 1761
2615	2615	and elections must be provided in a local government if the 1762
2616	2616	FLVRA Commission finds that a significant and substantial need 1763
2617	2617	exists for such assistance. 1764
2618	2618	(3) Based on the best available data, which may include 1765
2619	2619	information from the United States Census Bureau's American 1766
2620	2620	Community Survey or data of comparable quality collected by a 1767
2621	2621	governmental entity, the FLVRA Commission must find that a 1768
2622	2622	significant and substantial need exists if: 1769
2623	2623	(a) More than 2 percent, but n o fewer than 200 citizens of 1770
2624	2624	voting age, of a local government speak a language other than 1771
2625	2625	English and are limited English proficient individuals. 1772
2626	2626	(b) More than 4,000 citizens of voting age of a local 1773
2627	2627	government speak a language other than English and ar e limited 1774
2628	2628	English proficient individuals. 1775
2629	2629
2630	2630	HB 1409 2025
2631	2631
2632	2632
2633	2633
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2636	2636	Page 72 of 113
2637	2637	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2638	2638
2639	2639
2640	2640
2641	2641	(4) In the case of a local government that contains any 1776
2642	2642	part of a Native American reservation, if more than 2 percent of 1777
2643	2643	the Native American citizens of voting age within the Native 1778
2644	2644	American reservation are profi cient in a language other than 1779
2645	2645	English and are limited English proficient individuals, the 1780
2646	2646	local government must provide materials in such language. 1781
2647	2647	(5)(a) On an annual basis, the FLVRA Commission shall 1782
2648	2648	publish on its website a list of all of the followi ng: 1783
2649	2649	1. Each local government in which assistance in voting and 1784
2650	2650	elections in a language other than English must be provided. 1785
2651	2651	2. Each language in which such assistance must be provided 1786
2652	2652	in each local government. 1787
2653	2653	(b) The FLVRA Commission's determinations under this 1788
2654	2654	section are effective upon publication, and the FLVRA Commission 1789
2655	2655	must distribute this information to each affected local 1790
2656	2656	government. 1791
2657	2657	(6) Each local government described in paragraph (5)(a) 1792
2658	2658	must provide assistance in voting and elections, incl uding 1793
2659	2659	related materials, in any language designated by the FLVRA 1794
2660	2660	Commission under paragraph (5)(a) to voters in a local 1795
2661	2661	government who are limited English proficient individuals. 1796
2662	2662	(7) Whenever the FLVRA Commission determines that, 1797
2663	2663	pursuant to this section , language assistance must be provided 1798
2664	2664	by a local government, the local government must provide 1799
2665	2665	competent assistance in each designated language and provide 1800
2666	2666
2667	2667	HB 1409 2025
2668	2668
2669	2669
2670	2670
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2673	2673	Page 73 of 113
2674	2674	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2675	2675
2676	2676
2677	2677
2678	2678	related materials in English and in each designated language, 1801
2679	2679	including voter registration or votin g notices, forms, 1802
2680	2680	instructions, assistance, ballots, or other materials or 1803
2681	2681	information relating to the electoral process. However, in the 1804
2682	2682	case of a language that is oral or unwritten, including 1805
2683	2683	historically unwritten languages, as may be the case for some 1806
2684	2684	Native Americans, a local government may provide only oral 1807
2685	2685	instructions, assistance, or other information on the electoral 1808
2686	2686	process in such language. All materials provided in a designated 1809
2687	2687	language must be of an equal quality to the corresponding 1810
2688	2688	English materials. All provided translations must convey the 1811
2689	2689	intent and essential meaning of the original text or 1812
2690	2690	communication and may not rely solely on automatic translation 1813
2691	2691	services. If available, language assistance must include live 1814
2692	2692	translation. 1815
2693	2693	(8) The FLVRA Commission shall establish a review process 1816
2694	2694	under which the FLVRA Commission determines, upon receipt of a 1817
2695	2695	request submitted under this subsection, whether a significant 1818
2696	2696	and substantial need exists in a local government for a language 1819
2697	2697	to be designated for language access and assistance in voting 1820
2698	2698	and elections if such need has not been found under subsection 1821
2699	2699	(3) or subsection (4). Such process, at a minimum, must include 1822
2700	2700	an opportunity for any voter or entity to submit a request for 1823
2701	2701	the commission to consi der designating a language in a local 1824
2702	2702	government; an opportunity for public comment; and a procedure 1825
2703	2703
2704	2704	HB 1409 2025
2705	2705
2706	2706
2707	2707
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2709	2709	hb1409-00
2710	2710	Page 74 of 113
2711	2711	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2712	2712
2713	2713
2714	2714
2715	2715	for determining that a local government must provide language 1826
2716	2716	assistance. 1827
2717	2717	(9) Any individual or entity aggrieved by a violation of 1828
2718	2718	this section, the Atto rney General, or the FLVRA Commission may 1829
2719	2719	file an action alleging a violation of this section. An entity 1830
2720	2720	aggrieved by a violation of this section includes, but is not 1831
2721	2721	limited to, any entity whose membership includes individuals 1832
2722	2722	aggrieved by this section or whose mission would be frustrated 1833
2723	2723	by a violation of this section, including, but not limited to, 1834
2724	2724	an entity that would expend or divest resources to fulfill its 1835
2725	2725	mission as a result of such violation or must expend greater 1836
2726	2726	resources or efforts to advocate b efore an elected body that is 1837
2727	2727	less responsive to the entity or its members due to the alleged 1838
2728	2728	violation. An entity may not be compelled to disclose the 1839
2729	2729	identity of any specific member to pursue a claim on behalf of 1840
2730	2730	its members. This section must be liberal ly construed to confer 1841
2731	2731	standing as broadly as the State Constitution allows. Such a 1842
2732	2732	claim may be filed pursuant to the Florida Rules of Civil 1843
2733	2733	Procedure or in the Second Judicial Circuit. 1844
2734	2734	Section 14. Section 97.25, Florida Statutes, is created to 1845
2735	2735	read: 1846
2736	2736	97.25 Preclearance. — 1847
2737	2737	(1) The enactment or implementation of a covered policy by 1848
2738	2738	a covered jurisdiction is subject to preclearance by the FLVRA 1849
2739	2739	Commission. 1850
2740	2740
2741	2741	HB 1409 2025
2742	2742
2743	2743
2744	2744
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2748	2748	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2749	2749
2750	2750
2751	2751
2752	2752	(2) For purposes of this section, a covered policy 1851
2753	2753	includes any new or modified: 1852
2754	2754	(a) Election policy or practice. 1853
2755	2755	(b) Method of election, including districting or 1854
2756	2756	redistricting. 1855
2757	2757	(c) Form of government. 1856
2758	2758	(d) Annexation, incorporation, dissolution, consolidation, 1857
2759	2759	or division of a local government. 1858
2760	2760	(e) Removal of individuals from registry lists or 1859
2761	2761	enrollment lists and other activities concerning any such list. 1860
2762	2762	(f) Hours of any early voting site, or location or number 1861
2763	2763	of early voting sites, polling places, or secure ballot intake 1862
2764	2764	stations. 1863
2765	2765	(g) Assignment of voting precincts to polling pl aces or 1864
2766	2766	secure ballot intake station locations. 1865
2767	2767	(h) Assistance offered to protected class members. 1866
2768	2768	(i) Any additional subject matter the FLVRA Commission may 1867
2769	2769	identify for inclusion in this subsection, pursuant to FLVRA 1868
2770	2770	Commission rule, if the FLVRA Com mission determines that any 1869
2771	2771	election policy or practice may have the effect of diminishing 1870
2772	2772	the right to vote of any protected class member or have the 1871
2773	2773	effect of violating this act. 1872
2774	2774	(3) Following each decennial census, if a covered 1873
2775	2775	jurisdiction does not m ake changes to its method of election, 1874
2776	2776	including, but not limited to, maintaining an at -large method of 1875
2777	2777
2778	2778	HB 1409 2025
2779	2779
2780	2780
2781	2781
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2785	2785	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2786	2786
2787	2787
2788	2788
2789	2789	election or not making revisions to a district -based method of 1876
2790	2790	election, the method of election must be deemed a covered policy 1877
2791	2791	and must be submitted to the FLVRA Commission pursuant to this 1878
2792	2792	section. 1879
2793	2793	(4) A covered jurisdiction includes any of the following: 1880
2794	2794	(a) A local government that, within the preceding 25 1881
2795	2795	years, has been subject to a court order, government enforcement 1882
2796	2796	action, court-approved consent decree, or other settlement in 1883
2797	2797	which the local government conceded liability, based upon a 1884
2798	2798	violation of this act, the federal Voting Rights Act, the 15th 1885
2799	2799	Amendment to the United States Constitution, a voting -related 1886
2800	2800	violation of the 14th Amendment to th e United States 1887
2801	2801	Constitution, or any violation of any other state or federal 1888
2802	2802	election law, concerning discrimination against members of a 1889
2803	2803	protected class. 1890
2804	2804	(b) A local government that, within the preceding 25 1891
2805	2805	years, has been subject to any court order, go vernment 1892
2806	2806	enforcement action, court -approved consent decree, or any other 1893
2807	2807	settlement in which the local government conceded liability, 1894
2808	2808	based upon a violation of any state or federal civil rights law 1895
2809	2809	or the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution, 1896
2810	2810	concerning discrimination against members of a protected class. 1897
2811	2811	(c) A local government that, during the preceding 3 years, 1898
2812	2812	has failed to comply with its obligation to provide data or 1899
2813	2813	information to the database pursuant to s. 97.23. 1900
2814	2814
2815	2815	HB 1409 2025
2816	2816
2817	2817
2818	2818
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2822	2822	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2823	2823
2824	2824
2825	2825
2826	2826	(d) A local governme nt that, during the preceding 25 1901
2827	2827	years, was found to have enacted or implemented a covered policy 1902
2828	2828	without obtaining preclearance for that policy pursuant to this 1903
2829	2829	section. 1904
2830	2830	(e) A local government that contains at least 1,000 1905
2831	2831	eligible voters of any protecte d class, or in which members of 1906
2832	2832	any protected class constitute at least 10 percent of the 1907
2833	2833	eligible voter population of the local government, and in which, 1908
2834	2834	in any year in the preceding 10 years, the percentage of voters 1909
2835	2835	of any protected class in a local gov ernment which participated 1910
2836	2836	in any general election for any local government office was at 1911
2837	2837	least 10 percentage points lower than the percentage of all 1912
2838	2838	voters in the local government who participated in such 1913
2839	2839	election. 1914
2840	2840	(f) A local government that contains a t least 1,000 1915
2841	2841	eligible voters of any protected class, or in which members of 1916
2842	2842	any protected class constitute at least 10 percent of the 1917
2843	2843	eligible voter population of the local government, and in which, 1918
2844	2844	in any year in the preceding 10 years, the percentage of 1919
2845	2845	eligible voters of that protected class who were registered to 1920
2846	2846	vote was at least 10 percentage points lower than the percentage 1921
2847	2847	of all eligible voters in the local government who registered to 1922
2848	2848	vote. 1923
2849	2849	(g) A local government that contains at least 1,000 1924
2850	2850	eligible voters of any protected class, or in which members of 1925
2851	2851
2852	2852	HB 1409 2025
2853	2853
2854	2854
2855	2855
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2859	2859	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2860	2860
2861	2861
2862	2862
2863	2863	any protected class constitute at least 10 percent of the 1926
2864	2864	eligible voter population of the local government, and in which, 1927
2865	2865	in any year in the preceding 10 years, based on data made 1928
2866	2866	available by the United States Census, the dissimilarity index 1929
2867	2867	of such protected class, calculated using census tracts, was in 1930
2868	2868	excess of 50 percent with respect to the race, color, or 1931
2869	2869	language minority group that comprises a plurality within the 1932
2870	2870	local government. 1933
2871	2871	(h) A local government that contains at least 1,000 1934
2872	2872	eligible voters of any protected class, or in which members of 1935
2873	2873	any protected class constitute at least 10 percent of the 1936
2874	2874	eligible voter population of the local government, and in which, 1937
2875	2875	in any year in the pre ceding 10 years, the poverty rate among 1938
2876	2876	the population of such protected class exceeded the poverty rate 1939
2877	2877	among the population of the local government as a whole by at 1940
2878	2878	least 10 percentage points. 1941
2879	2879	(i) A county that contains at least 1,000 eligible voters 1942
2880	2880	of any protected class, or in which members of any protected 1943
2881	2881	class constitute at least 10 percent of the eligible voter 1944
2882	2882	population of the county, and in which, in any year in the 1945
2883	2883	preceding 10 years, the arrest rate among members of such 1946
2884	2884	protected class exce eded the arrest rate among the population of 1947
2885	2885	the county as a whole by at least 10 percentage points. 1948
2886	2886	(j) Any school district that contains at least 1,000 1949
2887	2887	eligible voters of any protected class, or in which members of 1950
2888	2888
2889	2889	HB 1409 2025
2890	2890
2891	2891
2892	2892
2893	2893	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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2896	2896	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2897	2897
2898	2898
2899	2899
2900	2900	any protected class constitute at lea st 10 percent of the 1951
2901	2901	eligible voter population of the school district, and in which, 1952
2902	2902	in any year in the preceding 10 years, the graduation rate of 1953
2903	2903	such protected class was lower than the graduation rate of the 1954
2904	2904	entire district student population by at least 10 percentage 1955
2905	2905	points. 1956
2906	2906	(5) The FLVRA Commission shall determine on an annual 1957
2907	2907	basis which local governments are covered jurisdictions and 1958
2908	2908	publish a list of such jurisdictions on its website. 1959
2909	2909	(6) If a covered jurisdiction seeks preclearance from the 1960
2910	2910	FLVRA Commission for the adoption or implementation of any 1961
2911	2911	covered policy, the covered jurisdiction must submit the covered 1962
2912	2912	policy to the FLVRA Commission in writing and may obtain 1963
2913	2913	preclearance in accordance with this section. 1964
2914	2914	(a) The FLVRA Commission shall review the covered policy 1965
2915	2915	submitted for preclearance, including any comments submitted by 1966
2916	2916	members of the public, and make a determination to grant or deny 1967
2917	2917	preclearance. The covered jurisdiction bears the burden of proof 1968
2918	2918	in any preclearance determinations. 1969
2919	2919	(b)1. The FLVRA Commission may deny preclearance to a 1970
2920	2920	submitted covered policy only if it determines that: 1971
2921	2921	a. The covered policy is more likely than not to diminish 1972
2922	2922	the opportunity or ability of protected class members to 1973
2923	2923	participate in the political p rocess and elect candidates of 1974
2924	2924	their choice or otherwise influence the outcome of elections; or 1975
2925	2925
2926	2926	HB 1409 2025
2927	2927
2928	2928
2929	2929
2930	2930	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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2933	2933	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2934	2934
2935	2935
2936	2936
2937	2937	b. The covered policy is more likely than not to violate 1976
2938	2938	this act. 1977
2939	2939	2. If the FLVRA Commission denies preclearance, the 1978
2940	2940	applicable covered jurisdiction may n ot enact or implement the 1979
2941	2941	covered policy. The FLVRA Commission shall provide a written 1980
2942	2942	explanation for a denial. 1981
2943	2943	(c) If the FLVRA Commission grants preclearance to a 1982
2944	2944	covered policy, the covered jurisdiction may immediately enact 1983
2945	2945	or implement the covered policy. A determination by the FLVRA 1984
2946	2946	Commission to grant preclearance is not admissible in, and may 1985
2947	2947	not be considered by, a court in any subsequent action 1986
2948	2948	challenging the covered policy. If the FLVRA Commission fails to 1987
2949	2949	deny or grant preclearance to a subm itted covered policy within 1988
2950	2950	the time periods set forth in paragraph (d), the covered policy 1989
2951	2951	is deemed to be precleared, and the covered jurisdiction may 1990
2952	2952	enact or implement the covered policy. 1991
2953	2953	(d) If a covered policy concerns the method of election 1992
2954	2954	for a legislative body, districting or redistricting, the number 1993
2955	2955	of seats on the legislative body, or annexation, incorporation, 1994
2956	2956	dissolution, consolidation, or division of a local government, 1995
2957	2957	the FLVRA Commission must review the covered policy, including 1996
2958	2958	any comments submitted by members of the public, and make a 1997
2959	2959	determination to deny or grant preclearance within 60 days after 1998
2960	2960	the submission of the covered policy. The FLVRA Commission may 1999
2961	2961	invoke up to two extensions of 90 days each to make such a 2000
2962	2962
2963	2963	HB 1409 2025
2964	2964
2965	2965
2966	2966
2967	2967	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2968	2968	hb1409-00
2969	2969	Page 81 of 113
2970	2970	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2971	2971
2972	2972
2973	2973
2974	2974	determination. For all other covered policies, the FLVRA 2001
2975	2975	Commission shall review the covered policy, including any public 2002
2976	2976	comment, and make a determination to deny or grant preclearance 2003
2977	2977	within 30 days after the submission of the covered policy. The 2004
2978	2978	FLVRA Commission may in voke an extension of 60 days to make such 2005
2979	2979	a determination. 2006
2980	2980	(e) Any denial of preclearance under this section may be 2007
2981	2981	appealed only by the covered jurisdiction and must be filed in 2008
2982	2982	the Second Judicial Circuit. Other parties may not file an 2009
2983	2983	action to appeal a denial of preclearance or intervene in any 2010
2984	2984	such action brought by the covered jurisdiction. 2011
2985	2985	(7) If any covered jurisdiction enacts or implements any 2012
2986	2986	covered policy without obtaining preclearance for such covered 2013
2987	2987	policy in accordance with this section, any individual or entity 2014
2988	2988	aggrieved by such a violation, the director of the database and 2015
2989	2989	institute, the Attorney General, or the FLVRA Commission may 2016
2990	2990	file an action to enjoin enactment or implementation and seek 2017
2991	2991	sanctions against the covered jurisdiction for violations of 2018
2992	2992	this section. An entity aggrieved by a violation of this section 2019
2993	2993	includes, but is not limited to, any entity whose membership 2020
2994	2994	includes individuals aggrieved by this section or whose mission 2021
2995	2995	would be frustrated by a violation of this secti on, including, 2022
2996	2996	but not limited to, an entity that would expend or divest 2023
2997	2997	resources to fulfill its mission as a result of such violation 2024
2998	2998	or must expend greater resources or efforts to advocate before 2025
2999	2999
3000	3000	HB 1409 2025
3001	3001
3002	3002
3003	3003
3004	3004	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3005	3005	hb1409-00
3006	3006	Page 82 of 113
3007	3007	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3008	3008
3009	3009
3010	3010
3011	3011	an elected body that is less responsive to the entity or its 2026
3012	3012	members due to the alleged violation. An entity may not be 2027
3013	3013	compelled to disclose the identity of any specific member to 2028
3014	3014	pursue a claim on behalf of its members. This section must be 2029
3015	3015	liberally construed to confer standing as broadly as the State 2030
3016	3016	Constitution allows. Such a claim may be filed pursuant to the 2031
3017	3017	Florida Rules of Civil Procedure or in the Second Judicial 2032
3018	3018	Circuit. A claim under this subsection does not preclude, bar, 2033
3019	3019	or limit in any way any other claims that may be brought 2034
3020	3020	regarding the covered policy, including claims brought under 2035
3021	3021	other sections of this act. 2036
3022	3022	(8) If the FLVRA Commission approves preclearance for a 2037
3023	3023	covered policy in violation of this section, identifies or fails 2038
3024	3024	to identify a list of local governments that are covered 2039
3025	3025	jurisdictions in violation of this section, or otherwise fails 2040
3026	3026	to properly implement this section, any individual or entity 2041
3027	3027	aggrieved by such a violation may file an action seeking 2042
3028	3028	appropriate relief, including, but not limited to, injunctive 2043
3029	3029	relief on the FLVRA Commission or any other party, as the court 2044
3030	3030	deems necessary to enforce this section. An entity aggrieved by 2045
3031	3031	a violation of this section includes, but is not limited to, any 2046
3032	3032	entity whose membership includes individuals aggrieved by this 2047
3033	3033	section or whose mission would be frustrated by a violation of 2048
3034	3034	this section, including, bu t not limited to, an entity that 2049
3035	3035	would expend or divest resources to fulfill its mission as a 2050
3036	3036
3037	3037	HB 1409 2025
3038	3038
3039	3039
3040	3040
3041	3041	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3042	3042	hb1409-00
3043	3043	Page 83 of 113
3044	3044	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3045	3045
3046	3046
3047	3047
3048	3048	result of such violation or must expend greater resources or 2051
3049	3049	efforts to advocate before an elected body that is less 2052
3050	3050	responsive to the entity or its members due t o the alleged 2053
3051	3051	violation. An entity may not be compelled to disclose the 2054
3052	3052	identity of any specific member to pursue a claim on behalf of 2055
3053	3053	its members. This section must be liberally construed to confer 2056
3054	3054	standing as broadly as the State Constitution allows. Suc h a 2057
3055	3055	claim may be filed pursuant to the Florida Rules of Civil 2058
3056	3056	Procedure or in the Second Judicial Circuit. A claim under this 2059
3057	3057	subsection does not preclude, bar, or limit any other claims 2060
3058	3058	that may be brought regarding any covered policy, including 2061
3059	3059	claims brought under other sections of this act. 2062
3060	3060	(9) The FLVRA Commission shall adopt rules to implement 2063
3061	3061	this section, including rules concerning the content of and 2064
3062	3062	procedure for preclearance submission, procedures for public 2065
3063	3063	comment and transparency regarding pr eclearance determinations, 2066
3064	3064	and procedures for expedited and emergency preclearance 2067
3065	3065	determinations which deviate from the timelines provided in 2068
3066	3066	paragraph (6)(d), provided that such preclearance determinations 2069
3067	3067	are preliminary. 2070
3068	3068	Section 15. Section 97.26, Florida Statutes, is created to 2071
3069	3069	read: 2072
3070	3070	97.26 Voter intimidation, deception, and obstruction. — 2073
3071	3071	(1) A person may not, whether acting under color of law or 2074
3072	3072	otherwise, engage in acts of intimidation, deception, or 2075
3073	3073
3074	3074	HB 1409 2025
3075	3075
3076	3076
3077	3077
3078	3078	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3079	3079	hb1409-00
3080	3080	Page 84 of 113
3081	3081	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3082	3082
3083	3083
3084	3084
3085	3085	obstruction, or any other tactic that has t he effect of or may 2076
3086	3086	reasonably have the effect of interfering with another person's 2077
3087	3087	right to vote. 2078
3088	3088	(2) A violation of subsection (1) includes any of the 2079
3089	3089	following: 2080
3090	3090	(a) The use of force or threats to use force, or the use 2081
3091	3091	of any other conduct to practic e intimidation, which causes or 2082
3092	3092	will reasonably have the effect of causing interference with an 2083
3093	3093	individual's right to vote. 2084
3094	3094	(b) Knowingly using a deceptive or fraudulent device, 2085
3095	3095	contrivance, or communication that causes or will reasonably 2086
3096	3096	have the effect of causing interference with an individual's 2087
3097	3097	right to vote. 2088
3098	3098	(c) The obstruction of, impediment to, or interference 2089
3099	3099	with access to any early voting site, polling place, secure 2090
3100	3100	ballot intake station, or office of the supervisor of elections 2091
3101	3101	in a manner that causes or will reasonably have the effect of 2092
3102	3102	causing interference with an individual's right to vote or 2093
3103	3103	causing any delay in voting or the voting process. 2094
3104	3104	(3)(a) In any action to enforce this section, there is a 2095
3105	3105	rebuttable presumption that a person ha s violated this section 2096
3106	3106	if he or she openly carries or brandishes a firearm, an 2097
3107	3107	imitation firearm, a toy gun, a machete, an axe, a sword, or any 2098
3108	3108	weapon as defined in s. 790.001 while: 2099
3109	3109	1. Interacting with or observing any person voting or 2100
3110	3110
3111	3111	HB 1409 2025
3112	3112
3113	3113
3114	3114
3115	3115	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3116	3116	hb1409-00
3117	3117	Page 85 of 113
3118	3118	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3119	3119
3120	3120
3121	3121
3122	3122	attempting to vote; 2101
3123	3123	2. Urging or aiding any person to vote or attempt to vote, 2102
3124	3124	whether as part of official election administration activities 2103
3125	3125	or unofficial activities; or 2104
3126	3126	3. Exercising any power or duty in administering 2105
3127	3127	elections, including, but not limited to, vote c ounting, 2106
3128	3128	canvassing, or certifying returns. 2107
3129	3129	(b) Law enforcement officers acting within the scope of 2108
3130	3130	their official duties are not subject to the presumption under 2109
3131	3131	paragraph (a), but a court may nonetheless consider a law 2110
3132	3132	enforcement officer's possession of a firearm in determining 2111
3133	3133	whether the officer violated this section. 2112
3134	3134	(4) Any individual or entity aggrieved by a violation of 2113
3135	3135	this section, the Attorney General, or the FLVRA Commission may 2114
3136	3136	file a civil action alleging a violation of this section. An 2115
3137	3137	entity aggrieved by a violation of this section includes, but is 2116
3138	3138	not limited to, any entity whose membership includes individuals 2117
3139	3139	aggrieved by this section or whose mission would be frustrated 2118
3140	3140	by a violation of this section, including, but not limited to, 2119
3141	3141	an entity that would expend or divest resources to fulfill its 2120
3142	3142	mission as a result of such violation or must expend greater 2121
3143	3143	resources or efforts to advocate before an elected body that is 2122
3144	3144	less responsive to the entity or its members due to the alleged 2123
3145	3145	violation. An entity may not be compelled to disclose the 2124
3146	3146	identity of any specific member to pursue a claim on behalf of 2125
3147	3147
3148	3148	HB 1409 2025
3149	3149
3150	3150
3151	3151
3152	3152	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3153	3153	hb1409-00
3154	3154	Page 86 of 113
3155	3155	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3156	3156
3157	3157
3158	3158
3159	3159	its members. This section must be liberally construed to confer 2126
3160	3160	standing as broadly as the State Constitution allows. Such a 2127
3161	3161	claim may be filed pursuant to the Florida Rules of Civil 2128
3162	3162	Procedure or in the Second Ju dicial Circuit. 2129
3163	3163	(5) In addition to any remedies that may be imposed under 2130
3164	3164	s. 97.28, if the court finds a violation of this section, the 2131
3165	3165	court must order appropriate remedies that are tailored to 2132
3166	3166	addressing the violation, including, but not limited to, 2133
3167	3167	providing for additional time for individuals to vote in an 2134
3168	3168	election, a primary, or a referendum and awarding nominal 2135
3169	3169	damages for any violation and compensatory or punitive damages 2136
3170	3170	for any willful violation. 2137
3171	3171	Section 16. Section 97.27, Florida Statutes, i s created to 2138
3172	3172	read: 2139
3173	3173	97.27 Democracy canon. — 2140
3174	3174	(1) Any provision of this code and any regulation, 2141
3175	3175	charter, home rule ordinance, or other enactment of the state or 2142
3176	3176	any local government relating to the right to vote must be 2143
3177	3177	liberally construed in favor of th e rights enumerated in 2144
3178	3178	paragraphs (a)-(e), as follows: 2145
3179	3179	(a) Protecting the right to cast a ballot and make the 2146
3180	3180	ballot valid. 2147
3181	3181	(b) Ensuring eligible individuals seeking voter 2148
3182	3182	registration are not impaired in being registered. 2149
3183	3183	(c) Ensuring voters are not impaired in voting, including, 2150
3184	3184
3185	3185	HB 1409 2025
3186	3186
3187	3187
3188	3188
3189	3189	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3190	3190	hb1409-00
3191	3191	Page 87 of 113
3192	3192	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3193	3193
3194	3194
3195	3195
3196	3196	but not limited to, having their votes counted. 2151
3197	3197	(d) Making the fundamental right to vote more accessible 2152
3198	3198	to eligible voters. 2153
3199	3199	(e) Ensuring equitable access for protected class members 2154
3200	3200	to opportunities to be registered to vote and to vote. 2155
3201	3201	(2) It is the policy of the state that courts should 2156
3202	3202	exercise their discretion on any issue, including, but not 2157
3203	3203	limited to, questions of discovery, procedure, admissibility of 2158
3204	3204	evidence, or remedies, in favor of the rights enumerated in 2159
3205	3205	paragraphs (1)(a)-(e) to the extent allowable by law. 2160
3206	3206	Furthermore, it is the policy of the state to promote the free 2161
3207	3207	flow of documents and information concerning the intent of 2162
3208	3208	public officials in actions concerning the right to vote. 2163
3209	3209	Accordingly, in any ac tion under this act, the federal Voting 2164
3210	3210	Rights Act, or a voting -related claim under the State 2165
3211	3211	Constitution or the United States Constitution, sovereign, 2166
3212	3212	governmental, executive, legislative, or deliberative immunities 2167
3213	3213	and privileges, including any evidenti ary privileges, may not be 2168
3214	3214	asserted. However, this section does not apply to any attorney -2169
3215	3215	client or attorney work -product privileges. 2170
3216	3216	Section 17. Section 97.28, Florida Statutes, is created to 2171
3217	3217	read: 2172
3218	3218	97.28 Remedies.— 2173
3219	3219	(1) If a court finds a violation of this act, the court 2174
3220	3220	must order appropriate remedies that are tailored to address 2175
3221	3221
3222	3222	HB 1409 2025
3223	3223
3224	3224
3225	3225
3226	3226	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3227	3227	hb1409-00
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3229	3229	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3230	3230
3231	3231
3232	3232
3233	3233	such violation and to ensure protected class members have 2176
3234	3234	equitable opportunities to fully participate in the political 2177
3235	3235	process and that the remedies can be implemented in a manner 2178
3236	3236	that will not unduly disrupt the administration of an ongoing or 2179
3237	3237	imminent election. Appropriate remedies include, but need not be 2180
3238	3238	limited to, any of the following: 2181
3239	3239	(a) Another method of election or changes to the existing 2182
3240	3240	method of election. 2183
3241	3241	(b) Elimination of staggered elections so that all members 2184
3242	3242	of the legislative body are elected at the same time. 2185
3243	3243	(c) Reasonably increasing the size of the legislative 2186
3244	3244	body. 2187
3245	3245	(d) Additional voting days or hours. 2188
3246	3246	(e) Additional polling places and early voting sites. 2189
3247	3247	(f) Additional opportunities to return ballots. 2190
3248	3248	(g) Holding special elections. 2191
3249	3249	(h) Expanded opportunities for voter registration. 2192
3250	3250	(i) Additional voter education. 2193
3251	3251	(j) The restoration or addition of individuals to registry 2194
3252	3252	lists. 2195
3253	3253	(k) Retaining jurisdiction for such a period of time as 2196
3254	3254	the court deems appropriate. 2197
3255	3255	(2) The court shall consider remedies proposed by any 2198
3256	3256	party to the action or by interested nonparties. The court may 2199
3257	3257	not give deference or priority to a proposed remedy b ecause it 2200
3258	3258
3259	3259	HB 1409 2025
3260	3260
3261	3261
3262	3262
3263	3263	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3264	3264	hb1409-00
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3266	3266	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3267	3267
3268	3268
3269	3269
3270	3270	is proposed by the state or local government. 2201
3271	3271	(3) If necessary to remedy a violation of this act, the 2202
3272	3272	court is empowered to require a local government to implement 2203
3273	3273	remedies that are inconsistent with any other law and any 2204
3274	3274	special act, charter o r home rule ordinance, or other enactment 2205
3275	3275	of the state or local government. 2206
3276	3276	(4) Notwithstanding the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure 2207
3277	3277	or any other law, the court must grant a temporary injunction 2208
3278	3278	and any other preliminary relief requested under this secti on 2209
3279	3279	with respect to an upcoming election if the court determines 2210
3280	3280	that the party is more likely than not to succeed on the merits 2211
3281	3281	and that it is possible to implement an appropriate temporary 2212
3282	3282	remedy that would resolve the violation alleged under this 2213
3283	3283	section before the next general election. 2214
3284	3284	(5) In any action to enforce this act, the court shall 2215
3285	3285	award reasonable attorney fees and litigation costs, including, 2216
3286	3286	but not limited to, expert witness fees and expenses, to the 2217
3287	3287	party that filed an action, other than a state or local 2218
3288	3288	government, and that prevailed in such action. The party that 2219
3289	3289	filed the action is deemed to have prevailed when, as a result 2220
3290	3290	of litigation, the party against whom the action was filed has 2221
3291	3291	yielded some or all of the relief sought in the act ion. In the 2222
3292	3292	case of a party against whom an action was filed and who 2223
3293	3293	prevailed, the court may not award the party any costs unless 2224
3294	3294	the court finds the action to be frivolous, unreasonable, or 2225
3295	3295
3296	3296	HB 1409 2025
3297	3297
3298	3298
3299	3299
3300	3300	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3301	3301	hb1409-00
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3303	3303	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3304	3304
3305	3305
3306	3306
3307	3307	without foundation. 2226
3308	3308	Section 18. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section 2227
3309	3309	98.045, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 2228
3310	3310	98.045 Administration of voter registration. — 2229
3311	3311	(4) STATEWIDE ELECTRONIC DATABASE OF VALID RESIDENTIAL 2230
3312	3312	STREET ADDRESSES.— 2231
3313	3313	(b) The department shall make the statewide database of 2232
3314	3314	valid street addresses available to the Department of Highway 2233
3315	3315	Safety and Motor Vehicles as provided in s. 97.057(8) s. 2234
3316	3316	97.057(10). The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles 2235
3317	3317	shall use the database for purposes of validating the legal 2236
3318	3318	residential addresses prov ided in voter registration 2237
3319	3319	applications received by the Department of Highway Safety and 2238
3320	3320	Motor Vehicles. 2239
3321	3321	Section 19. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 98.255, 2240
3322	3322	Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 2241
3323	3323	98.255 Voter education programs. — 2242
3324	3324	(1) The Department of State shall adopt rules prescribing 2243
3325	3325	minimum standards for nonpartisan voter education. The standards 2244
3326	3326	shall, at a minimum, address: 2245
3327	3327	(a) Voter registration; 2246
3328	3328	(b) Balloting procedures, by mail and polling place; 2247
3329	3329	(c) Voter rights and responsibiliti es; 2248
3330	3330	(d) Distribution of sample ballots; and 2249
3331	3331	(e) Public service announcements ; and 2250
3332	3332
3333	3333	HB 1409 2025
3334	3334
3335	3335
3336	3336
3337	3337	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3338	3338	hb1409-00
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3340	3340	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3341	3341
3342	3342
3343	3343
3344	3344	(f) Plain writing standards consistent with official 2251
3345	3345	federal guidelines for the Plain Writing Act of 2010 and United 2252
3346	3346	States Election Assistance Commission best practice s for 2253
3347	3347	designing effective voter education materials . 2254
3348	3348	(2) Each county supervisor shall implement the minimum 2255
3349	3349	voter education standards, and shall conduct additional 2256
3350	3350	nonpartisan education efforts as necessary to ensure that voters 2257
3351	3351	have a working knowledge of the voting process. This includes 2258
3352	3352	providing, as far as possible, public -facing voter information 2259
3353	3353	in plain language reasonably calculated to be understood by 2260
3354	3354	persons with an 8th grade reading level or lower. 2261
3355	3355	Section 20. Section 100.51, Florida Statut es, is created 2262
3356	3356	to read: 2263
3357	3357	100.51 General Election Day paid holiday. —In order to 2264
3358	3358	encourage civic participation, enable more individuals to serve 2265
3359	3359	as poll workers, and provide additional time for the resolution 2266
3360	3360	of any issue that arises while a voter is casting his or her 2267
3361	3361	ballot, General Election Day shall be a paid holiday. A voter is 2268
3362	3362	entitled to absent himself or herself from any service or 2269
3363	3363	employment in which he or she is engaged or employed during the 2270
3364	3364	time the polls are open on General Election Day. A voter who 2271
3365	3365	absents himself or herself under this section may not be 2272
3366	3366	penalized in any way, and a deduction may not be made from his 2273
3367	3367	or her usual salary or wages, on account of his or her absence. 2274
3368	3368	Section 21. Section 101.016, Florida Statutes, is created 2275
3369	3369
3370	3370	HB 1409 2025
3371	3371
3372	3372
3373	3373
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3377	3377	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3378	3378
3379	3379
3380	3380
3381	3381	to read: 2276
3382	3382	101.016 Strategic elections equipment reserve. —The 2277
3383	3383	Division of Elections shall maintain a strategic elections 2278
3384	3384	equipment reserve of voting systems that may be deployed in the 2279
3385	3385	event of an emergency as defined in s. 101.732 or upon the 2280
3386	3386	occurrence of equipment capacity issues due to unexpected voter 2281
3387	3387	turnout. The reserve must include tabulation equipment and any 2282
3388	3388	other necessary equipment, including, but not limited to, 2283
3389	3389	printers, which are in use by each supervisor of elections. In 2284
3390	3390	lieu of maintaining a physical reserve of such equipment, the 2285
3391	3391	division may contract with a vendor of voting equipment to 2286
3392	3392	provide such equipment on an as -needed basis. 2287
3393	3393	Section 22. Section 101.019, Florida Statutes, is 2288
3394	3394	repealed. 2289
3395	3395	Section 23. Subsections (1) and (2) of s ection 101.048, 2290
3396	3396	Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 2291
3397	3397	101.048 Provisional ballots. — 2292
3398	3398	(1) At all elections, a voter claiming to be properly 2293
3399	3399	registered in this the state and eligible to vote at the 2294
3400	3400	precinct in the election but whose eligibility cannot be 2295
3401	3401	determined, a person whom an election official asserts is not 2296
3402	3402	eligible, including, but not limited to, a person to whom notice 2297
3403	3403	has been sent pursuant to s. 98.075(7), but for whom a final 2298
3404	3404	determination of eligibility has not been made, and other 2299
3405	3405	persons specified in the code shall be entitled to vote a 2300
3406	3406
3407	3407	HB 1409 2025
3408	3408
3409	3409
3410	3410
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3414	3414	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3415	3415
3416	3416
3417	3417
3418	3418	provisional ballot at any precinct in the county in which the 2301
3419	3419	voter claims to be registered . Once voted, the provisional 2302
3420	3420	ballot must be placed in a secrecy envelope and thereafter 2303
3421	3421	sealed in a provisional bal lot envelope. The provisional ballot 2304
3422	3422	must be deposited in a ballot box. All provisional ballots must 2305
3423	3423	remain sealed in their envelopes for return to the supervisor of 2306
3424	3424	elections. The department shall prescribe the form of the 2307
3425	3425	provisional ballot envelope. A p erson casting a provisional 2308
3426	3426	ballot has the right to present written evidence supporting his 2309
3427	3427	or her eligibility to vote to the supervisor of elections by not 2310
3428	3428	later than 5 p.m. on the second day following the election. 2311
3429	3429	(2)(a) The county canvassing board sh all examine each 2312
3430	3430	Provisional Ballot Voter's Certificate and Affirmation to 2313
3431	3431	determine if the person voting that ballot was entitled to vote 2314
3432	3432	in the county in which at the precinct where the person cast a 2315
3433	3433	vote in the election and that the person had not alrea dy cast a 2316
3434	3434	ballot in the election. In determining whether a person casting 2317
3435	3435	a provisional ballot is entitled to vote, the county canvassing 2318
3436	3436	board shall review the information provided in the Voter's 2319
3437	3437	Certificate and Affirmation, written evidence provided by t he 2320
3438	3438	person pursuant to subsection (1), information provided in any 2321
3439	3439	cure affidavit and accompanying supporting documentation 2322
3440	3440	pursuant to subsection (6), any other evidence presented by the 2323
3441	3441	supervisor, and, in the case of a challenge, any evidence 2324
3442	3442	presented by the challenger. A ballot of a person casting a 2325
3443	3443
3444	3444	HB 1409 2025
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3446	3446
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3451	3451	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3452	3452
3453	3453
3454	3454
3455	3455	provisional ballot must shall be canvassed pursuant to paragraph 2326
3456	3456	(b) unless the canvassing board determines by a preponderance of 2327
3457	3457	the evidence that the person was not entitled to vote. 2328
3458	3458	(b) If it is determi ned that the person was registered and 2329
3459	3459	entitled to vote in the county in which at the precinct where 2330
3460	3460	the person cast a vote in the election, the canvassing board 2331
3461	3461	must compare the signature on the Provisional Ballot Voter's 2332
3462	3462	Certificate and Affirmation or th e provisional ballot cure 2333
3463	3463	affidavit with the signature on the voter's registration or 2334
3464	3464	precinct register. A provisional ballot may be counted only if: 2335
3465	3465	1. The signature on the voter's certificate or the cure 2336
3466	3466	affidavit matches the elector's signature in the registration 2337
3467	3467	books or the precinct register; however, in the case of a cure 2338
3468	3468	affidavit, the supporting identification listed in subsection 2339
3469	3469	(6) must also confirm the identity of the elector; or 2340
3470	3470	2. The cure affidavit contains a signature that does not 2341
3471	3471	match the elector's signature in the registration books or the 2342
3472	3472	precinct register, but the elector has submitted a current and 2343
3473	3473	valid Tier 1 form of identification confirming his or her 2344
3474	3474	identity pursuant to subsection (6). 2345
3475	3475	2346
3476	3476	For purposes of this paragraph, any ca nvassing board finding 2347
3477	3477	that signatures do not match must be by majority vote and beyond 2348
3478	3478	a reasonable doubt. 2349
3479	3479	(c) Any provisional ballot not counted must remain in the 2350
3480	3480
3481	3481	HB 1409 2025
3482	3482
3483	3483
3484	3484
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3488	3488	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3489	3489
3490	3490
3491	3491
3492	3492	envelope containing the Provisional Ballot Voter's Certificate 2351
3493	3493	and Affirmation, and the envelope must shall be marked "Rejected 2352
3494	3494	as Illegal." 2353
3495	3495	(d) If a provisional ballot is validated following the 2354
3496	3496	submission of a cure affidavit, the supervisor must make a copy 2355
3497	3497	of the affidavit, affix it to a voter registration application, 2356
3498	3498	and immediately process it as a valid request for a signature 2357
3499	3499	update pursuant to s. 98.077. 2358
3500	3500	Section 24. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and paragraphs 2359
3501	3501	(c) and (d) of subsection (3) of section 101.62, Florida 2360
3502	3502	Statutes, are amended, and subsection (7) is added to that 2361
3503	3503	section, to read: 2362
3504	3504	101.62 Request for vote -by-mail ballots.— 2363
3505	3505	(1) REQUEST.— 2364
3506	3506	(a) The supervisor shall accept a request for a vote -by-2365
3507	3507	mail ballot only from a voter or, if directly instructed by the 2366
3508	3508	voter, a member of the voter's immediate family or the vote r's 2367
3509	3509	legal guardian. A request may be made in person, in writing, by 2368
3510	3510	telephone, or through the supervisor's website. The department 2369
3511	3511	shall prescribe by rule by October 1, 2023, a uniform statewide 2370
3512	3512	application to make a written request for a vote -by-mail ballot 2371
3513	3513	which includes fields for all information required in this 2372
3514	3514	subsection. One request is deemed sufficient to receive a vote -2373
3515	3515	by-mail ballot for all elections until the voter or the voter's 2374
3516	3516	designee notifies the supervisor that the voter cancels such 2375
3517	3517
3518	3518	HB 1409 2025
3519	3519
3520	3520
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3525	3525	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3526	3526
3527	3527
3528	3528
3529	3529	request through the end of the calendar year of the next 2376
3530	3530	regularly scheduled general election , unless the voter or the 2377
3531	3531	voter's designee indicates at the time the request is made the 2378
3532	3532	elections within such period for which the voter desires to 2379
3533	3533	receive a vote-by-mail ballot. The supervisor must cancel a 2380
3534	3534	request for a vote-by-mail ballot when any first -class mail or 2381
3535	3535	nonforwardable mail sent by the supervisor to the voter is 2382
3536	3536	returned as undeliverable. If the voter requests a vote -by-mail 2383
3537	3537	ballot thereafter, the voter m ust provide or confirm his or her 2384
3538	3538	current residential address. 2385
3539	3539	(3) DELIVERY OF VOTE -BY-MAIL BALLOTS.— 2386
3540	3540	(c) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (a) or 2387
3541	3541	paragraph (b), the supervisor shall mail vote -by-mail ballots 2388
3542	3542	within 2 business days after receiv ing a request for such a 2389
3543	3543	ballot, but no later than the 11th 10th day before election day. 2390
3544	3544	The deadline to submit a request for a ballot to be mailed is 5 2391
3545	3545	p.m. local time on the 12th day before an upcoming election. 2392
3546	3546	(d) Upon a request for a vote -by-mail ballot, the 2393
3547	3547	supervisor shall provide a vote -by-mail ballot to each voter by 2394
3548	3548	whom a request for that ballot has been made, by one of the 2395
3549	3549	following means: 2396
3550	3550	1. By nonforwardable, return -if-undeliverable mail to the 2397
3551	3551	voter's current mailing address on file with the supervisor or 2398
3552	3552	any other address the voter specifies in the request. The 2399
3553	3553	envelopes must be prominently marked "Do Not Forward." 2400
3554	3554
3555	3555	HB 1409 2025
3556	3556
3557	3557
3558	3558
3559	3559	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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3562	3562	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3563	3563
3564	3564
3565	3565
3566	3566	2. By forwardable mail, e -mail, or facsimile machine 2401
3567	3567	transmission to absent uniformed services voters and overseas 2402
3568	3568	voters. The absent uniformed services voter or overseas voter 2403
3569	3569	may designate in the vote -by-mail ballot request the preferred 2404
3570	3570	method of transmission. If the voter does not designate the 2405
3571	3571	method of transmission, the vote -by-mail ballot must be mailed. 2406
3572	3572	3. By personal delivery to the voter after vote -by-mail 2407
3573	3573	ballots have been mailed and up to 7 p.m. on election day upon 2408
3574	3574	presentation of the identification required in s. 101.043. 2409
3575	3575	4. By delivery to the voter's designee after vote -by-mail 2410
3576	3576	ballots have been mailed and u p to 7 p.m. on election day. Any 2411
3577	3577	voter may designate in writing a person to pick up the ballot 2412
3578	3578	for the voter; however, the person designated may not pick up 2413
3579	3579	more than two vote-by-mail ballots per election, other than the 2414
3580	3580	designee's own ballot, except that additional ballots may be 2415
3581	3581	picked up for members of the designee's immediate family . The 2416
3582	3582	designee shall provide to the supervisor the written 2417
3583	3583	authorization by the voter and a picture identification of the 2418
3584	3584	designee and must complete an affidavit. The designe e shall 2419
3585	3585	state in the affidavit that the designee is authorized by the 2420
3586	3586	voter to pick up that ballot and shall indicate if the voter is 2421
3587	3587	a member of the designee's immediate family and, if so, the 2422
3588	3588	relationship. The department shall prescribe the form of the 2423
3589	3589	affidavit. If the supervisor is satisfied that the designee is 2424
3590	3590	authorized to pick up the ballot and that the signature of the 2425
3591	3591
3592	3592	HB 1409 2025
3593	3593
3594	3594
3595	3595
3596	3596	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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3598	3598	Page 98 of 113
3599	3599	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3600	3600
3601	3601
3602	3602
3603	3603	voter on the written authorization matches the signature of the 2426
3604	3604	voter on file, the supervisor must give the ballot to that 2427
3605	3605	designee for delivery to the voter. 2428
3606	3606	5. Except as provided in s. 101.655, the supervisor may 2429
3607	3607	not deliver a vote-by-mail ballot to a voter or a voter's 2430
3608	3608	designee pursuant to subparagraph 3. or subparagraph 4., 2431
3609	3609	respectively, during the mandatory early voting period and up to 2432
3610	3610	7 p.m. on election day, unless there is an emergency, to the 2433
3611	3611	extent that the voter will be unable to go to a designated early 2434
3612	3612	voting site in his or her county or to his or her assigned 2435
3613	3613	polling place on election day. If a vote -by-mail ballot is 2436
3614	3614	delivered, the voter or his or her designee must execute an 2437
3615	3615	affidavit affirming to the facts which allow for delivery of the 2438
3616	3616	vote-by-mail ballot. The department shall adopt a rule providing 2439
3617	3617	for the form of the affidavit. 2440
3618	3618	(7) DEADLINE EXTENSION. —If a deadline under this section 2441
3619	3619	falls on a day when the office of the supervisor is scheduled to 2442
3620	3620	be closed, the deadline must be extended until the next business 2443
3621	3621	day. 2444
3622	3622	Section 25. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and 2445
3623	3623	subsections (2) and (4) of section 101.64, Flor ida Statutes, are 2446
3624	3624	amended to read: 2447
3625	3625	101.64 Delivery of vote -by-mail ballots; envelopes; form. — 2448
3626	3626	(1)(a) The supervisor shall enclose with each vote -by-mail 2449
3627	3627	ballot two envelopes: a secrecy envelope, into which the absent 2450
3628	3628
3629	3629	HB 1409 2025
3630	3630
3631	3631
3632	3632
3633	3633	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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3636	3636	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3637	3637
3638	3638
3639	3639
3640	3640	voter must elector shall enclose his or her marked ballot; and a 2451
3641	3641	postage prepaid mailing envelope, into which the absent voter 2452
3642	3642	must elector shall then place the secrecy envelope, which must 2453
3643	3643	shall be addressed to the supervisor and also bear on the back 2454
3644	3644	side a certificate in subst antially the following form: 2455
3645	3645	Note: Please Read Instructions Carefully Before 2456
3646	3646	Marking Ballot and Completing Voter's Certificate. 2457
3647	3647	VOTER'S CERTIFICATE 2458
3648	3648	I, ...., do solemnly swear or affirm that I am a qualified 2459
3649	3649	and registered voter of .... County, Florida, an d that I have 2460
3650	3650	not and will not vote more than one ballot in this election. I 2461
3651	3651	understand that if I commit or attempt to commit any fraud in 2462
3652	3652	connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more 2463
3653	3653	than once in an election, I can be convicted of a felo ny of the 2464
3654	3654	third degree and fined up to $5,000 and/or imprisoned for up to 2465
3655	3655	5 years. I also understand that failure to sign this certificate 2466
3656	3656	will invalidate my ballot. 2467
3657	3657	...(Date)... 2468
3658	3658	...(Voter's Signature or Last Four Digits of Social Security 2469
3659	3659	Number)... 2470
3660	3660	...(E-Mail Address)... ...(Home Telephone Number)... 2471
3661	3661	...(Mobile Telephone Number)... 2472
3662	3662	(2) The certificate must shall be arranged on the back of 2473
3663	3663	the mailing envelope so that the line for the signature or last 2474
3664	3664	four digits of the social security number of the voter absent 2475
3665	3665
3666	3666	HB 1409 2025
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3669	3669
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3673	3673	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3674	3674
3675	3675
3676	3676
3677	3677	elector is across the seal of the envelope; however, a no 2476
3678	3678	statement may not shall appear on the envelope which indicates 2477
3679	3679	that a signature or the last four digits of the social security 2478
3680	3680	number of the voter must cross the seal of the envelope. The 2479
3681	3681	voter must absent elector shall execute the certificate on the 2480
3682	3682	envelope. 2481
3683	3683	(4) The supervisor shall mark, code, indicate on, or 2482
3684	3684	otherwise track the precinct of the voter absent elector for 2483
3685	3685	each vote-by-mail ballot. 2484
3686	3686	Section 26. Section 101.65, Florida Statutes, is amended 2485
3687	3687	to read: 2486
3688	3688	101.65 Instructions to absent electors. —The supervisor 2487
3689	3689	shall enclose with each vote -by-mail ballot separate printed 2488
3690	3690	instructions in substantially the following form; howe ver, where 2489
3691	3691	the instructions appear in capitalized text, the text of the 2490
3692	3692	printed instructions must be in bold font: 2491
3693	3693	2492
3694	3694	READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY 2493
3695	3695	BEFORE MARKING BALLOT. 2494
3696	3696	2495
3697	3697	1. VERY IMPORTANT. In order to ensure that your vote -by-2496
3698	3698	mail ballot will be coun ted, it should be completed and returned 2497
3699	3699	as soon as possible so that it can reach the supervisor of 2498
3700	3700	elections of the county in which your precinct is located no 2499
3701	3701	later than 7 p.m. on the day of the election. However, if you 2500
3702	3702
3703	3703	HB 1409 2025
3704	3704
3705	3705
3706	3706
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3710	3710	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3711	3711
3712	3712
3713	3713
3714	3714	are an overseas voter casting a b allot in a presidential 2501
3715	3715	preference primary or general election, your vote -by-mail ballot 2502
3716	3716	must be postmarked or dated no later than the date of the 2503
3717	3717	election and received by the supervisor of elections of the 2504
3718	3718	county in which you are registered to vote no lat er than 10 days 2505
3719	3719	after the date of the election. Note that the later you return 2506
3720	3720	your ballot, the less time you will have to cure any signature 2507
3721	3721	deficiencies, which may cause your ballot not to be counted is 2508
3722	3722	authorized until 5 p.m. on the 2nd day after the el ection. 2509
3723	3723	2. Mark your ballot in secret as instructed on the ballot. 2510
3724	3724	You must mark your own ballot unless you are unable to do so 2511
3725	3725	because of blindness, disability, or inability to read or write. 2512
3726	3726	3. Mark only the number of candidates or issue choices for 2513
3727	3727	a race as indicated on the ballot. If you are allowed to "Vote 2514
3728	3728	for One" candidate and you vote for more than one candidate, 2515
3729	3729	your vote in that race will not be counted. 2516
3730	3730	4. Place your marked ballot in the enclosed secrecy 2517
3731	3731	envelope. 2518
3732	3732	5. Insert the secrecy envelope into the enclosed mailing 2519
3733	3733	envelope which is addressed to the supervisor. 2520
3734	3734	6. Seal the mailing envelope and completely fill out the 2521
3735	3735	Voter's Certificate on the back of the mailing envelope. 2522
3736	3736	7. VERY IMPORTANT. In order for your vote -by-mail ballot 2523
3737	3737	to be counted, you must sign your name or print the last four 2524
3738	3738	digits of your social security number on the line above (Voter's 2525
3739	3739
3740	3740	HB 1409 2025
3741	3741
3742	3742
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3747	3747	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3748	3748
3749	3749
3750	3750
3751	3751	Signature or Last Four Digits of Social Security Number ). A 2526
3752	3752	vote-by-mail ballot will be considered illegal and not be 2527
3753	3753	counted if the signature or the last four digits of the social 2528
3754	3754	security number on the voter's certificate do does not match the 2529
3755	3755	signature or social security number on record. The signature on 2530
3756	3756	file at the time the supervisor of elections in the county in 2531
3757	3757	which your precinct is located receives your vote -by-mail ballot 2532
3758	3758	is the signature that will be used to verify your signature on 2533
3759	3759	the voter's certificate. If you need to update your signature 2534
3760	3760	for this election, send your signature update on a voter 2535
3761	3761	registration applicat ion to your supervisor of elections so that 2536
3762	3762	it is received before your vote -by-mail ballot is received . 2537
3763	3763	8. VERY IMPORTANT. If you are an overseas voter, you must 2538
3764	3764	include the date you signed the Voter's Certificate or printed 2539
3765	3765	the last four digits of your social security number on the line 2540
3766	3766	above (Date) or your ballot may not be counted. 2541
3767	3767	9. Mail, deliver, or have delivered the completed mailing 2542
3768	3768	envelope. Be sure there is sufficient postage if mailed. THE 2543
3769	3769	COMPLETED MAILING ENVELOPE CAN BE DELIVERED TO THE O FFICE OF THE 2544
3770	3770	SUPERVISOR OF ELECTIONS OF THE COUNTY IN WHICH YOUR PRECINCT IS 2545
3771	3771	LOCATED OR DROPPED OFF AT AN AUTHORIZED SECURE BALLOT INTAKE 2546
3772	3772	STATION, AVAILABLE AT EACH EARLY VOTING LOCATION. 2547
3773	3773	10. FELONY NOTICE. It is a felony under Florida law to 2548
3774	3774	accept any gift, payment, or gratuity in exchange for your vote 2549
3775	3775	for a candidate. It is also a felony under Florida law to vote 2550
3776	3776
3777	3777	HB 1409 2025
3778	3778
3779	3779
3780	3780
3781	3781	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3782	3782	hb1409-00
3783	3783	Page 103 of 113
3784	3784	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3785	3785
3786	3786
3787	3787
3788	3788	in an election using a false identity or false address, or under 2551
3789	3789	any other circumstances making your ballot false or fraudulent. 2552
3790	3790	Section 27. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1), 2553
3791	3791	paragraph (c) of subsection (2), and paragraphs (a), (c), and 2554
3792	3792	(d) of subsection (4) of section 101.68, Florida Statutes, are 2555
3793	3793	amended to read: 2556
3794	3794	101.68 Canvassing of vote -by-mail ballot.— 2557
3795	3795	(1)(a) The supervisor of the county where the absent 2558
3796	3796	elector resides shall receive the voted ballot, at which time 2559
3797	3797	the supervisor shall compare the signature or the last four 2560
3798	3798	digits of the social security number of the elector on the 2561
3799	3799	voter's certificate w ith the signature or the last four digits 2562
3800	3800	of the social security number of the elector in the registration 2563
3801	3801	books or the precinct register to determine whether the elector 2564
3802	3802	is duly registered in the county and must record on the 2565
3803	3803	elector's registration record that the elector has voted. During 2566
3804	3804	the signature comparison process, the supervisor may not use any 2567
3805	3805	knowledge of the political affiliation of the elector whose 2568
3806	3806	signature is subject to verification. 2569
3807	3807	(b) An elector who dies after casting a vote -by-mail 2570
3808	3808	ballot but on or before election day must shall remain listed in 2571
3809	3809	the registration books until the results have been certified for 2572
3810	3810	the election in which the ballot was cast. The supervisor shall 2573
3811	3811	safely keep the ballot unopened in his or her office until the 2574
3812	3812	county canvassing board canvasses the vote pursuant to 2575
3813	3813
3814	3814	HB 1409 2025
3815	3815
3816	3816
3817	3817
3818	3818	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3819	3819	hb1409-00
3820	3820	Page 104 of 113
3821	3821	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3822	3822
3823	3823
3824	3824
3825	3825	subsection (2). 2576
3826	3826	(2) 2577
3827	3827	(c)1. The canvassing board must, if the supervisor has not 2578
3828	3828	already done so, compare the signature or the last four digits 2579
3829	3829	of the social security number of the elector on the voter 's 2580
3830	3830	certificate or on the vote -by-mail ballot cure affidavit as 2581
3831	3831	provided in subsection (4) with the signature or last four 2582
3832	3832	digits of the social security number of the elector in the 2583
3833	3833	registration books or the precinct register to see that the 2584
3834	3834	elector is duly registered in the county and to determine the 2585
3835	3835	legality of that vote -by-mail ballot. A vote-by-mail ballot may 2586
3836	3836	only be counted if: 2587
3837	3837	a. The signature or last four digits of the social 2588
3838	3838	security number on the voter's certificate or the cure affidavit 2589
3839	3839	match matches the elector's signature or last four digits of the 2590
3840	3840	social security number in the registration books or precinct 2591
3841	3841	register; however, in the case of a cure affidavit, the 2592
3842	3842	supporting identification listed in subsection (4) must also 2593
3843	3843	confirm the identity of the elector; or 2594
3844	3844	b. The cure affidavit contains a signature or the last 2595
3845	3845	four digits of a social security number which do that does not 2596
3846	3846	match the elector's signature or last four digits of the social 2597
3847	3847	security number in the registration books or precinc t register, 2598
3848	3848	but the elector has submitted a current and valid Tier 1 2599
3849	3849	identification pursuant to subsection (4) which confirms the 2600
3850	3850
3851	3851	HB 1409 2025
3852	3852
3853	3853
3854	3854
3855	3855	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3856	3856	hb1409-00
3857	3857	Page 105 of 113
3858	3858	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3859	3859
3860	3860
3861	3861
3862	3862	identity of the elector. 2601
3863	3863	2602
3864	3864	For purposes of this subparagraph, any canvassing board finding 2603
3865	3865	that an elector's signatures or last four digits of the 2604
3866	3866	elector's social security number do not match must be by 2605
3867	3867	majority vote and beyond a reasonable doubt. 2606
3868	3868	2. The ballot of an elector who casts a vote -by-mail 2607
3869	3869	ballot shall be counted even if the elector dies on or before 2608
3870	3870	election day, as long as, before the death of the voter, the 2609
3871	3871	ballot was postmarked by the United States Postal Service, date -2610
3872	3872	stamped with a verifiable tracking number by a common carrier, 2611
3873	3873	or already in the possession of the supervisor. 2612
3874	3874	3. A vote-by-mail ballot is not con sidered illegal if the 2613
3875	3875	signature or last four digits of the social security number of 2614
3876	3876	the elector do does not cross the seal of the mailing envelope. 2615
3877	3877	4. If any elector or candidate present believes that a 2616
3878	3878	vote-by-mail ballot is illegal due to a defect ap parent on the 2617
3879	3879	voter's certificate or the cure affidavit, he or she may, at any 2618
3880	3880	time before the ballot is removed from the envelope, file with 2619
3881	3881	the canvassing board a protest against the canvass of that 2620
3882	3882	ballot, specifying the precinct, the voter's certificat e or the 2621
3883	3883	cure affidavit, and the reason he or she believes the ballot to 2622
3884	3884	be illegal. A challenge based upon a defect in the voter's 2623
3885	3885	certificate or cure affidavit may not be accepted after the 2624
3886	3886	ballot has been removed from the mailing envelope. 2625
3887	3887
3888	3888	HB 1409 2025
3889	3889
3890	3890
3891	3891
3892	3892	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3893	3893	hb1409-00
3894	3894	Page 106 of 113
3895	3895	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3896	3896
3897	3897
3898	3898
3899	3899	5. If the canvassing board determines that a ballot is 2626
3900	3900	illegal, a member of the board must, without opening the 2627
3901	3901	envelope, mark across the face of the envelope: "rejected as 2628
3902	3902	illegal." The cure affidavit, if applicable, the envelope, and 2629
3903	3903	the ballot therein must shall be preserved in the manner that 2630
3904	3904	official ballots are preserved. 2631
3905	3905	(4)(a) As soon as practicable, the supervisor shall, on 2632
3906	3906	behalf of the county canvassing board, attempt to notify an 2633
3907	3907	elector who has returned a vote -by-mail ballot that does not 2634
3908	3908	include the elector's signature or last four digits of the 2635
3909	3909	elector's social security number or contains a signature or the 2636
3910	3910	last four digits of a social security number that do does not 2637
3911	3911	match the elector's signature or last four digits of the 2638
3912	3912	elector's social security number in the registration books or 2639
3913	3913	precinct register by: 2640
3914	3914	1. Notifying the elector of the signature or last four 2641
3915	3915	digits of the social security number deficiency by e-mail and 2642
3916	3916	directing the elector to the cure affidavit and instructions on 2643
3917	3917	the supervisor's website; 2644
3918	3918	2. Notifying the elector of the signature or last four 2645
3919	3919	digits of the social security number deficiency by text message 2646
3920	3920	and directing the elector to the cure affidavit and instructions 2647
3921	3921	on the supervisor's website; or 2648
3922	3922	3. Notifying the elector of the signature or last four 2649
3923	3923	digits of the social security number deficiency by telephone and 2650
3924	3924
3925	3925	HB 1409 2025
3926	3926
3927	3927
3928	3928
3929	3929	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3930	3930	hb1409-00
3931	3931	Page 107 of 113
3932	3932	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3933	3933
3934	3934
3935	3935
3936	3936	directing the elector to the cure affidavit and instructions on 2651
3937	3937	the supervisor's website. 2652
3938	3938	2653
3939	3939	In addition to the notification required under subparagraph 1., 2654
3940	3940	subparagraph 2., or subparagraph 3., the supervisor must notify 2655
3941	3941	the elector of the signature or last four digits of the social 2656
3942	3942	security number deficiency by first-class mail and direct the 2657
3943	3943	elector to the cure affidavit and instructions on the 2658
3944	3944	supervisor's website. Beginning the day before the election, the 2659
3945	3945	supervisor is not required to provide notice of the signature 2660
3946	3946	deficiency by first-class mail, but shall continue to provide 2661
3947	3947	notice as required under subparagraph 1., subparagraph 2., or 2662
3948	3948	subparagraph 3. 2663
3949	3949	(c) The elector must complete a cure affidavit in 2664
3950	3950	substantially the following form: 2665
3951	3951	2666
3952	3952	VOTE-BY-MAIL BALLOT CURE AFFIDAVIT 2667
3953	3953	2668
3954	3954	I, ...., am a qualified voter in this election and 2669
3955	3955	registered voter of .... County, Florida. I do solemnly swear or 2670
3956	3956	affirm that I requested and returned the vote -by-mail ballot and 2671
3957	3957	that I have not and will not vote more than one ballot in this 2672
3958	3958	election. I understand that if I commit or attempt any fraud in 2673
3959	3959	connection with voting, vote a fraudulent ballot, or vote more 2674
3960	3960	than once in an election, I may be convicted of a felony of the 2675
3961	3961
3962	3962	HB 1409 2025
3963	3963
3964	3964
3965	3965
3966	3966	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
3967	3967	hb1409-00
3968	3968	Page 108 of 113
3969	3969	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
3970	3970
3971	3971
3972	3972
3973	3973	third degree and fined up to $5,000 and imprisoned for up to 5 2676
3974	3974	years. I understand that my failure to sign this affidavit means 2677
3975	3975	that my vote-by-mail ballot will be invalidated. 2678
3976	3976	2679
3977	3977	...(Voter's Signature or Last Four Digits of Social Security 2680
3978	3978	Number)... 2681
3979	3979	...(Address)... 2682
3980	3980	2683
3981	3981	(d) Instructions must accompany the cure affidavit in 2684
3982	3982	substantially the following form: 2685
3983	3983	2686
3984	3984	READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE COMPLETING THE 2687
3985	3985	AFFIDAVIT. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS MAY CAUSE YOUR 2688
3986	3986	BALLOT NOT TO COUNT. 2689
3987	3987	2690
3988	3988	1. In order to ensure that your vote -by-mail ballot will 2691
3989	3989	be counted, your affidavit should be completed and returned as 2692
3990	3990	soon as possible so that it can reach the supervisor of 2693
3991	3991	elections of the county in which your precinct is l ocated no 2694
3992	3992	later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd day after the election. 2695
3993	3993	2. You must sign your name or print the last four digits 2696
3994	3994	of your social security number on the line above (Voter's 2697
3995	3995	Signature or Last Four Digits of Social Security Number ). 2698
3996	3996	3. You must make a copy of one of the following forms of 2699
3997	3997	identification: 2700
3998	3998
3999	3999	HB 1409 2025
4000	4000
4001	4001
4002	4002
4003	4003	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
4004	4004	hb1409-00
4005	4005	Page 109 of 113
4006	4006	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
4007	4007
4008	4008
4009	4009
4010	4010	a. Tier 1 identification. —Current and valid identification 2701
4011	4011	that includes your name and photograph: Florida driver license; 2702
4012	4012	Florida identification card issued by the Department of Highway 2703
4013	4013	Safety and Motor Vehicles; United States passport; debit or 2704
4014	4014	credit card; military identification; student identification; 2705
4015	4015	retirement center identification; neighborhood association 2706
4016	4016	identification; public assistance identification; veteran health 2707
4017	4017	identification card issued by the United States Department of 2708
4018	4018	Veterans Affairs; a Florida license to carry a concealed weapon 2709
4019	4019	or firearm; or an employee identification card issued by any 2710
4020	4020	branch, department, agency, or entity of the Federal Government, 2711
4021	4021	the state, a county, or a municipality; or 2712
4022	4022	b. Tier 2 identification. —ONLY IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A TIER 1 2713
4023	4023	FORM OF IDENTIFICATION, identification that shows your name and 2714
4024	4024	current residence address: current utility bill, bank statement, 2715
4025	4025	government check, paycheck, or government docum ent (excluding 2716
4026	4026	voter information card). 2717
4027	4027	4. Place the envelope bearing the affidavit into a mailing 2718
4028	4028	envelope addressed to the supervisor. Insert a copy of your 2719
4029	4029	identification in the mailing envelope. Mail (if time permits), 2720
4030	4030	deliver, or have delivered the completed affidavit along with 2721
4031	4031	the copy of your identification to your county supervisor of 2722
4032	4032	elections. Be sure there is sufficient postage if mailed and 2723
4033	4033	that the supervisor's address is correct. Remember, your 2724
4034	4034	information MUST reach your county supervisor of elections no 2725
4035	4035
4036	4036	HB 1409 2025
4037	4037
4038	4038
4039	4039
4040	4040	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
4041	4041	hb1409-00
4042	4042	Page 110 of 113
4043	4043	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
4044	4044
4045	4045
4046	4046
4047	4047	later than 5 p.m. on the 2nd day after the election, or your 2726
4048	4048	ballot will not count. 2727
4049	4049	5. Alternatively, you may fax or e -mail your completed 2728
4050	4050	affidavit and a copy of your identification to the supervisor of 2729
4051	4051	elections. If e-mailing, please provide these documents as 2730
4052	4052	attachments. 2731
4053	4053	Section 28. Section 101.69, Florida Statutes, is amended 2732
4054	4054	to read: 2733
4055	4055	101.69 Voting in person; return of vote -by-mail ballot.— 2734
4056	4056	(1) The provisions of this code may shall not be construed 2735
4057	4057	to prohibit any voter elector from voting in person at the 2736
4058	4058	voter's elector's precinct on the day of an election or at an 2737
4059	4059	early voting site, notwithstanding that the voter elector has 2738
4060	4060	requested a vote-by-mail ballot for that election. A voter An 2739
4061	4061	elector who has returned a voted vote -by-mail ballot to the 2740
4062	4062	supervisor, however, is deemed to have cast his or her ballot 2741
4063	4063	and is not entitled to vote another ballot or to have a 2742
4064	4064	provisional ballot counted by the county canvassing board. A 2743
4065	4065	voter An elector who has received a vote -by-mail ballot and has 2744
4066	4066	not returned the voted ballot to the supervisor, but desires to 2745
4067	4067	vote in person, shall return the ballot, whether voted or not, 2746
4068	4068	to the election board in the voter's elector's precinct or to an 2747
4069	4069	early voting site. The returned ballot must shall be marked 2748
4070	4070	"canceled" by the board and placed with other canceled ballots. 2749
4071	4071	However, if the voter elector does not return the ballot and the 2750
4072	4072
4073	4073	HB 1409 2025
4074	4074
4075	4075
4076	4076
4077	4077	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
4078	4078	hb1409-00
4079	4079	Page 111 of 113
4080	4080	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
4081	4081
4082	4082
4083	4083
4084	4084	election official: 2751
4085	4085	(a) Confirms that the supervisor has received the voter's 2752
4086	4086	elector's vote-by-mail ballot, the voter may elector shall not 2753
4087	4087	be allowed to vote in person. If the voter elector maintains 2754
4088	4088	that he or she has not returned the vote -by-mail ballot or 2755
4089	4089	remains eligible to vote, the voter must elector shall be 2756
4090	4090	provided a provisional ballot as provided in s. 101.048. 2757
4091	4091	(b) Confirms that the supervisor has not received the 2758
4092	4092	voter's elector's vote-by-mail ballot, the voter must elector 2759
4093	4093	shall be allowed to vote in person as provided in this code. The 2760
4094	4094	voter's elector's vote-by-mail ballot, if subsequently received, 2761
4095	4095	may shall not be counted and must shall remain in the mailing 2762
4096	4096	envelope, and the envelope must shall be marked "Rejected as 2763
4097	4097	Illegal." 2764
4098	4098	(c) Cannot determine whether the supervisor has received 2765
4099	4099	the voter's elector's vote-by-mail ballot, the voter elector may 2766
4100	4100	vote a provisional ballot as provided in s. 101.048. 2767
4101	4101	(2)(a) The supervisor shall allow a voter an elector who 2768
4102	4102	has received a vote-by-mail ballot to physically return a voted 2769
4103	4103	vote-by-mail ballot to the supervisor by placing the return mail 2770
4104	4104	envelope containing his or her marked ballot in a secure ballot 2771
4105	4105	intake station. Secure ballot intake stations must shall be 2772
4106	4106	placed at the main office of the supervisor, at each permanent 2773
4107	4107	branch office of the supervisor which meets the criteria set 2774
4108	4108	forth in s. 101.657(1)(a) for b ranch offices used for early 2775
4109	4109
4110	4110	HB 1409 2025
4111	4111
4112	4112
4113	4113
4114	4114	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
4115	4115	hb1409-00
4116	4116	Page 112 of 113
4117	4117	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
4118	4118
4119	4119
4120	4120
4121	4121	voting and which is open for at least the minimum number of 2776
4122	4122	hours prescribed by s. 98.015(4), and at each early voting site. 2777
4123	4123	Secure ballot intake stations may also be placed at any other 2778
4124	4124	site that would otherwise qualify as an early voting site under 2779
4125	4125	s. 101.657(1). Secure ballot intake stations must be 2780
4126	4126	geographically located so as to provide all voters in the county 2781
4127	4127	with an equal opportunity to cast a ballot, insofar as is 2782
4128	4128	practicable. Except for secure ballot intake stations at an 2783
4129	4129	office of the supervisor, a secure ballot intake station may 2784
4130	4130	only be used during the county's early voting hours of operation 2785
4131	4131	and must be monitored in person by an employee of the 2786
4132	4132	supervisor's office. A secure ballot intake station at an office 2787
4133	4133	of the supervisor must be continuously monitored in person by an 2788
4134	4134	employee of the supervisor's office when the secure ballot 2789
4135	4135	intake station is accessible for deposit of ballots. 2790
4136	4136	(b) A supervisor shall designate each secure ballot intake 2791
4137	4137	station location at least 30 days before an election. The 2792
4138	4138	supervisor shall provide the address of each secure ballot 2793
4139	4139	intake station location to the division at least 30 days before 2794
4140	4140	an election. After a secure ballot intake station location has 2795
4141	4141	been designated, it may not be moved or changed except as 2796
4142	4142	approved by the division to correct a violation of this 2797
4143	4143	subsection. 2798
4144	4144	(c)1. On each day of early voting, all secure ballot 2799
4145	4145	intake stations must be emptied at the end of early voting hours 2800
4146	4146
4147	4147	HB 1409 2025
4148	4148
4149	4149
4150	4150
4151	4151	CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
4152	4152	hb1409-00
4153	4153	Page 113 of 113
4154	4154	F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
4155	4155
4156	4156
4157	4157
4158	4158	and all ballots retrieved from the secure ballo t intake stations 2801
4159	4159	must be returned to the supervisor's office. 2802
4160	4160	2. For secure ballot intake stations located at an office 2803
4161	4161	of the supervisor, all ballots must be retrieved before the 2804
4162	4162	secure ballot intake station is no longer monitored by an 2805
4163	4163	employee of the supervisor. 2806
4164	4164	3. Employees of the supervisor must comply with procedures 2807
4165	4165	for the chain of custody of ballots as required by s. 2808
4166	4166	101.015(4). 2809
4167	4167	(3) If any secure ballot intake station is left accessible 2810
4168	4168	for ballot receipt other than as authorized by this sec tion, the 2811
4169	4169	supervisor is subject to a civil penalty of $25,000. The 2812
4170	4170	division is authorized to enforce this provision. 2813
4171	4171	Section 29. Subsection (1) of section 104.42, Florida 2814
4172	4172	Statutes, is amended to read: 2815
4173	4173	104.42 Fraudulent registration and illegal voting ; 2816
4174	4174	investigation.— 2817
4175	4175	(1) The supervisor of elections is authorized to 2818
4176	4176	investigate fraudulent registrations and illegal voting and to 2819
4177	4177	report his or her findings to the local state attorney and the 2820
4178	4178	Office of Election Crimes and Security . 2821
4179	4179	Section 30. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 2822