Judges

Reduced the number of circuit judges in the Second, Fourth, Fifth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Nineteenth judicial circuits.

Reduced the number of county court judges in Bay, Clay, Hernando, Lake, Manatee, Marion, Miami-Dade, Nassau, Osceola, Palm Beach, Polk, and Sumter counties.

Reduced the number of judges on the Sixth District Court of Appeal from 11 to 9.

Added a provision to reduce the Second District Court of Appeal from 15 to 13 judges when vacancies occur, effective July 1, 2025.

The act's effective date is set for July 1, 2025.

New subsection added to Section 3 requiring the Chief Justice to notify the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker when a vacancy on the Second District Court of Appeal triggers a judgeship reduction instead of a new appointment.

New Section 4 added declaring that the act fulfills an important state interest, which was not present in the original version.

Section 3 was expanded to include a new subsection (7) establishing a conditional reduction mechanism for the Second District Court of Appeal, reducing judges from 15 to 13 upon vacancy occurrences.

Effective date remains July 1, 2025, but now includes conditional reduction provisions for the Second District Court of Appeal that activate upon vacancy occurrences.

Section 1 now amends additional subsections of s. 26.031 (including Second, Fourth, Seventh, Eighth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, and Nineteenth circuits) compared to the original version which only listed Fifth and Twentieth circuits.

Section 2 now amends additional subsections of s. 34.022 (including Bay, Lake, Manatee, Osceola, and Polk counties) compared to the original version which listed fewer counties.