The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Appropriations
BILL: SB 2504
INTRODUCER: Appropriations Committee
SUBJECT: State Employees/Collective Bargaining
DATE: April 3, 2025
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
Urban Sadberry AP Submitted as Comm. Bill/FAV
I. Summary:
SB 2504 directs the resolution of the collective bargaining issues at impasse for the 2025-2026
fiscal year regarding state employees. These issues will be resolved based on the spending
decisions included in the General Appropriations Act for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.
II. Present Situation:
Chapter 447, F.S., specifies the process for collective bargaining for public employees. The
bargaining agent and the negotiator for the state must bargain collectively in the determination of
the wages, hours, terms, and conditions of employment of the employees within the bargaining
unit.
1
Any collective bargaining agreement reached must be reduced to writing, signed by the
Governor for the state and the bargaining agent for the union, and submitted to the members of
the bargaining unit for ratification.
2
Upon execution of the collective bargaining agreement, the Governor must request the
Legislature to appropriate amounts sufficient to fund the provisions of the agreement.
3
If the
Legislature appropriates funds that are not sufficient to fund the agreement, the agreement must
be administered based on the amounts actually appropriated.
Typically, at the state level, a full agreement is not reached. In that instance, and pursuant to
s. 216.163(6), F.S., an impasse is declared on all unresolved issues when the Governor’s budget
recommendations are released to the Legislature. By the first day of the legislative regular
session, each party is required to notify the presiding officers of the Legislature of the unresolved
issues. A joint select committee of members of the Florida House of Representatives and the
Senate is appointed to review the positions of the parties relating to the unresolved issues. No
1
Section 447.309(1), F.S.
2
Id.
3
Section 447.309(2)(a), F.S.
REVISED: BILL: SB 2504 Page 2
later than the 14
th
day of the regular session, the committee is required to hold a public meeting
and take public testimony regarding the issues at impasse.
4
During the session, the Legislature
may take action to address the issues. Any actions taken by the Legislature are binding upon the
parties.
5
Following the resolution of the impasse issues, the parties are required to reduce to writing an
agreement that includes those issues agreed to by the parties, as well as those issues resolved by
the Legislature. The agreement must be signed by the chief executive officer and the bargaining
agent and then presented to the members of the bargaining unit for ratification.
If the members ratify the agreement, all the provisions of the agreement take effect. If the
members do not ratify the agreement, the issues resolved by the Legislature take effect for the
first fiscal year that was the subject of the negotiations.
The five certified bargaining units for state employees and the respective bargaining agents
include:
• Police Benevolent Association.
o Law Enforcement Unit.
o Florida Highway Patrol Unit.
o Security Services Unit.
• Florida State Lodge Fraternal Order of Police, Inc.
o Special Agent Unit.
• Florida State Fire Service Association.
o Fire Service Unit.
6
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
Section 1 provides that all collective bargaining issues at impasse for the 2025-2026 fiscal year
regarding state employees will be resolved pursuant to the spending decisions contained in the
General Appropriations Act for the 2025-2026 fiscal year.
Section 2 provides an effective date of July 1, 2025.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
4
Section 447.403(5)(a), F.S.
5
Section 447.403(5)(b), F.S.
6
Florida Department of Management Services, Overview of State Personnel System Collective Bargaining Units (on file with
the Committee on Appropriations). BILL: SB 2504 Page 3
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
None.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill creates an undesignated section of Florida law.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.