HB 265 Florida House · 2026 Regular Session

Prohibition of Pyramid Promotional Schemes

Summary

Prohibition of Pyramid Promotional Schemes; Prohibits person from establishing, promoting, operating, or participating in pyramid promotional scheme; provides penalties; provides for restitution; provides that specified provisions & penalties are in addition to civil, administrative, or criminal actions provided by law

Bill status died 1 of 4 stages cleared

Introduction

Oct 2025

Committee Review

Floor Vote

Governor

Introduced Oct 27, 2025 Last action Mar 13, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

H 265 Filed → H 265 c1 · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was streamlined by removing the short title 'Direct Sales Consumer Protection Act' and deleting the requirement for the Department of Legal Affairs to issue a complaint and cease and desist order. The definition of a pyramid scheme was expanded to include a $100 investment threshold and clarified what constitutes consideration versus legitimate sales activities. The new statute section was reorganized to consolidate definitions and penalties into a single section rather than spreading them across multiple sections.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on prohibiting pyramid promotional schemes, but the enforcement mechanism was simplified by removing the administrative complaint requirement.

ENFORCEMENT

Deleted the requirement for the Department of Legal Affairs to issue and serve a complaint and cease and desist order in certain instances.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of a pyramid sales scheme to specify a $100 investment threshold and clarify that consideration includes money or purchases but excludes goods/services at cost for resale and time/effort spent in sales activities.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the requirement for the department to apply for an injunction and the procedures for cease and desist orders.

TECHNICAL

Consolidated the statute by merging multiple sections into one and removing the short title 'Direct Sales Consumer Protection Act'.

Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Jan 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

Now in Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Committee

Referred to Judiciary Committee

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Committee

Referred to Justice Budget Subcommittee

lower

Jan 21, 2026

Committee

Referred to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Reported out of Criminal Justice Subcommittee

lower

Jan 20, 2026

Lower · Passed

Favorable with CS by Criminal Justice Subcommittee

lower

Jan 15, 2026

Lower · Passed

PCS added to Criminal Justice Subcommittee agenda

lower

Nov 4, 2025

Lower · Passed

Now in Criminal Justice Subcommittee

lower

Nov 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to Judiciary Committee

lower

Nov 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to Justice Budget Subcommittee

lower

Nov 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee

lower

Nov 4, 2025

Committee

Referred to Criminal Justice Subcommittee

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors