Ethics
Summary
Ethics; Prohibits candidates, elected public officers, appointed public officers, & public employees from knowingly misrepresenting their Armed Forces of United States service records, awards, or qualifications or wearing any uniform, medal, or insignia that they are not authorized to wear; provides civil penalties; provides that certain penalties are delinquent if they aren't paid to Commission on Ethics within specified timeframe; requires Attorney General to attempt to determine whether individual owing certain penalties is current public officer or public employee; requires Attorney General to notify CFO or governing body of county, municipality, school district, or special district of total amount of any such penalty owed by current public officer or public employee; requires CFO or governing body to begin withholding portions of any salary-related payment that would otherwise be paid to officer or employee; requires that withheld payments be remitted to commission until penalty is satisfied; authorizes CFO or governing body to retain portion of each retained payment for administrative costs; authorizes Attorney General to refer certain unpaid fines to collection agency; authorizes collection agency to use any lawful collection method; authorizes Attorney General to collect unpaid fine within specified period after issuance of civil penalty or restitution penalty.
Bill status
in committee
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Governor
Introduced Feb 5, 2025
Last action Apr 29, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison
What changed between versions
H 399 Filed
→
H 399 c1
·
3 edits
MINOR
The bill was amended to clarify that unpaid ethics penalties are considered delinquent if not paid within a specified timeframe, and to authorize the Chief Financial Officer or governing body to retain a portion of each retained payment for administrative costs. These changes strengthen enforcement mechanisms by ensuring penalties are tracked as delinquent and allowing for administrative fee collection from withheld payments.
ENFORCEMENT
Added language specifying that certain penalties are delinquent if not paid to the Commission on Ethics within a specified timeframe, clarifying when penalties become overdue.
FISCAL
Added authority for the Chief Financial Officer or governing body to retain a portion of each retained payment specifically for administrative costs, ensuring funds can cover enforcement expenses.
TECHNICAL
Minor formatting and spacing changes throughout the document, including updated bill identifiers from HB 399 to CS/HB 399 and adjusted line breaks in the summary section.
Floor votes · House Apr 8, 2025
How they voted
21–0
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 25
Apr 8, 2025
D
Democratic7
71% Yea
R
Republican18
88% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
26
Key actions
13
Committee
17
Apr 8, 2025
House · Passed
House Vote: pass (21-0-4)
house
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of State Affairs Committee
lower
Apr 8, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable by State Affairs Committee
lower
Apr 4, 2025
Lower · Passed
Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Now in State Affairs Committee
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Judiciary Committee
lower
Apr 2, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable by Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 31, 2025
Lower · Passed
Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Lower · Passed
Now in Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs Committee
lower
Mar 24, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary Committee
lower
Mar 21, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported out of Rules & Ethics Committee
lower
Mar 20, 2025
Lower · Passed
Favorable with CS by Rules & Ethics Committee
lower
Mar 18, 2025
Lower · Passed
Added to Rules & Ethics Committee agenda
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Lower · Passed
Now in Rules & Ethics Committee
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
Referred to State Affairs Committee
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary Committee
lower
Feb 12, 2025
Committee
Referred to Rules & Ethics Committee
lower
1 primary · 4 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Patt Maney
RRepublican
Co
Dotie Joseph
DDemocratic
Co
Lauren Melo
RRepublican
Co
Mike Caruso
RRepublican
Co
Yvette Benarroch
RRepublican
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