HB 1449 2025
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hb1449-00
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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
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to agency contracting with media 2
reliability and bias monitors; creating s. 287.139, 3
F.S.; defining the term "media reliability and bias 4
monitor"; prohibiting agencies from entering into 5
contracts with media reliability and bias monitors or 6
providing support to media reliability and bias 7
monitors; prohibiting agencies from accepting bids on, 8
proposals for, or replies to, a contract for 9
contractual services for advertising and marketing 10
services unless a certain requirement is met; 11
requiring a specified certification from contractors 12
before an agency may extend, renew, or otherwise 13
modify an existing contract for advertising and 14
marketing services; providing applicability; providing 15
an effective date. 16
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 18
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Section 1. Section 287.139, Florida Statutes, is created 20
to read: 21
287.139 Contracting with media reliability and bias 22
monitors.— 23
(1) As used in this section, the term "media reliability 24
and bias monitor" means any contractor whose primary or 25
HB 1449 2025
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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
principal function is to: 26
(a) Rate or rank news and information sources for the 27
factual accuracy of their content, whether published on line, in 28
print, by audio, or digitally, or by broadcasting via radio, 29
television, cable, streaming service, or any other way news is 30
delivered to the public; or 31
(b) Provide ratings or an opinion on news sources 32
regarding misinformation, bias, adherence t o journalistic 33
standards, or ethics, including, but not limited to, 34
organizations that engage in fact checking. 35
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The term does not include any contractor that rates media 37
outlets for audience size, viewership, and demographic 38
information; or that monitors media outlets for the purposes of 39
compiling press or video clippings or aggregating news sources 40
for the purposes of public relations and public awareness. 41
(2) An agency may not: 42
(a) Enter into a contract or other agreement with a media 43
reliability and bias monitor or with a contractor that provides 44
advertising or marketing services using a media reliability and 45
bias monitor; or 46
(b) Provide support in any form, other than 47
nondiscretionary actions otherwise required by law, to a media 48
reliability and bias monitor. 49
(3)(a) An agency may not accept a bid on, a proposal for, 50
HB 1449 2025
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hb1449-00
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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
or a reply to, a contract for contractual services for 51
advertising or marketing services unless the contractor 52
certifies that it is in compliance with this section. 53
(b) An agency, before extending, renewing, or otherwise 54
modifying a contract for contractual services for advertising or 55
marketing services in effect on July 1, 2025, shall obtain from 56
the contractor a certification that the contractor does not and 57
will not use the servic es of a media reliability and bias 58
monitor for the duration of the contract. 59
(4) This section does not apply to: 60
(a) A contractor that provides services which aggregate 61
news articles and information relevant to an agency; or 62
(b) A contractor that provides analytical information on 63
the performance of advertisements placed by an agency. 64
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 65