SB 766 Florida Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Registration of Agents and Organizations Associated with Foreign Countries of Concern

Summary

Registration of Agents and Organizations Associated with Foreign Countries of Concern; Requiring agents of foreign countries of concern and foreign-supported political organizations to register with the Division of Elections within a specified timeframe; requiring the registration of an agent of a foreign country of concern be signed under oath; requiring the division to create registration forms; providing requirements for such forms; requiring periodic updates by agents and organizations, etc.

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Mar 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Mar 4, 2025 Last action Jun 16, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 2 comparisons

What changed between versions

S 766 c1 → S 766 c2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill revision significantly changes how foreign-supported political organizations are defined and registered. The new version expands the definition to include organizations owned by foreign entities rather than just those receiving money from them, and adds specific requirements for organizations to report their officers and directors. It also introduces new penalty tiers for violations, including higher fines and potential registration bans for willful violations involving hostile foreign countries.

Scope change

The bill now applies to foreign-owned organizations (20% beneficial ownership) rather than just those receiving foreign funding, and adds a new section on penalties for violations.

DEFINITION

Definition of 'foreign-supported political organization' changed from receiving money from foreign countries to being at least 20% beneficially owned by foreign countries or their entities.

REQUIREMENT

New registration form requirements for organizations now include names/titles of all officers or directors and their addresses.

Organization registration form requirements changed from reporting payments to reporting all officers/directors and payments made during the previous calendar year.

ENFORCEMENT

New Section 4 adds penalty structure with fines up to $500 per violation, $2,000 for willful violations, and up to $10,000 plus registration bans for willful violations involving hostile foreign countries.

TIMELINE

Added Section 2 establishing July 1, 2025 as the effective date for the act.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 14, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Apr 10, 2025

Upper · Passed

CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development; YEAS 13 NAYS 0

upper

Apr 7, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development, 04/10/25, 8:30 am, 110 Senate Building

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Now in Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development

upper

Apr 2, 2025

Upper · Passed

Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)

upper

Mar 26, 2025

Upper · Passed

On Committee agenda-- Ethics and Elections, 03/31/25, 1:30 pm, 37 Senate Building

upper

Mar 4, 2025

Introduced

upper

Feb 28, 2025

Committee

Referred to Ethics and Elections; Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development; Rules

upper

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors