HB 399 Florida House · 2025 Regular Session

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

210
Passed · 4 other
Total votes 25
Apr 8, 2025
D Democratic7
5 Yea 2
71% Yea
R Republican18
16 Yea 2
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