SB 892 Florida Senate · 2025 Regular Session

Florida State University Election Law Center

Summary
Florida State University Election Law Center; Creating the center within the Florida State University College of Law; defining the term “election law”; authorizing the center to provide assistance to the Legislature and other governmental entities; providing mechanisms for the funding of the center, etc.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Apr 2025
Senate Passage
Apr 2025
House Passage
Apr 2025
Signed into Law
Jul 2025
Introduced Mar 4, 2025 Signed Jul 2, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

S 892 Filed S 892 er · 5 edits
MODERATE
This bill creates the Florida State University Election Law Center and establishes its structure, goals, and funding mechanisms. The enrolled version adds specific provisions for academic freedom protections, clarifies how the center receives funding, and details the appointment process for directors. These changes ensure the center operates with independence while maintaining accountability to the university and state.
Scope change
The bill's scope remains focused on creating a nonpartisan research center at FSU College of Law, but the enrolled version adds specific operational requirements and protections that were not in the original draft.
REQUIREMENT

Added academic freedom protections requiring the center to seek intellectual freedom and viewpoint diversity, and prohibiting compulsion to assist outside officials.

Added requirements for the dean to appoint a tenured faculty director who must hire an executive director to handle day-to-day operations.

Modified the cooperation provision to require that shared information be stored consistent with confidentiality and security requirements comparable to those of the Department of State.

FISCAL

Added specific funding mechanisms including appropriations from the General Appropriations Act, charitable donations, grants, and other university funds.

TIMELINE

Added an effective date of July 1, 2025 for the act to take effect.

Floor votes · Senate Apr 24, 2025 · House Apr 30, 2025

How they voted

370
Passed · 1 other
Total votes 38
Apr 24, 2025
D Democratic10
10 Yea
100% Yea
I Independent1
1 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican27
26 Yea 1
96% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
29
Key actions
10
Committee
9
Jul 2, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by Governor
legislature
Apr 30, 2025
Lower · Passed
Passed; YEAS 112, NAYS 0
lower
Apr 29, 2025
Committee
Bill referred to House Calendar
lower
Apr 24, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0
upper
Apr 22, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable by- Fiscal Policy; YEAS 18 NAYS 0
upper
Apr 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
On Committee agenda-- Fiscal Policy, 04/22/25, 11:00 am, 412 Knott Building
upper
Apr 15, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Higher Education; YEAS 7 NAYS 0
upper
Apr 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Higher Education, 04/15/25, 12:30 pm, 110 Senate Building
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Now in Appropriations Committee on Higher Education
upper
Mar 17, 2025
Upper · Passed
Favorable by Education Postsecondary; YEAS 7 NAYS 0
upper
Mar 12, 2025
Upper · Passed
On Committee agenda-- Education Postsecondary, 03/17/25, 1:30 pm, 301 Senate Building
upper
Mar 4, 2025
Introduced
Introduced
upper
Feb 28, 2025
Committee
Referred to Education Postsecondary; Appropriations Committee on Higher Education; Fiscal Policy
upper
1 primary · 0 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Corey Simon
Corey Simon
RRepublican
FL
3