Florida Senate - 2026 SENATOR AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for SB 620
Ì864144%Î864144
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
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Floor: 1/AD/2R .
03/04/2026 07:03 PM .
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Senators Pizzo and Gaetz moved the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section
6 99.021, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
7 99.021 Form of candidate oath.—
8 (1)
9 (d)1. In addition, each candidate, whether a party
10 candidate, a candidate with no party affiliation, or a write-in
11 candidate, shall, at the time of subscribing to the oath or
12 affirmation, state in writing whether he or she owes any
13 outstanding fines, fees, or penalties that cumulatively exceed
14 $250 for any violations of s. 8, Art. II of the State
15 Constitution; the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and
16 Employees under part III of chapter 112; any local ethics
17 ordinance governing standards of conduct and disclosure
18 requirements; or chapter 106. If the candidate owes any
19 outstanding fines, fees, or penalties exceeding the threshold
20 amount specified in this paragraph, he or she must also specify
21 the amount owed and each entity that levied such fine, fee, or
22 penalty. For purposes of this paragraph, any such fines, fees,
23 or penalties that have been paid in full at the time of
24 subscribing to the oath or affirmation are not deemed to be
25 outstanding.
26 2. In addition, each candidate seeking federal office,
27 whether a party candidate, a candidate with no party
28 affiliation, or a write-in candidate, shall, at the time of
29 subscribing to the oath or affirmation, state in writing whether
30 he or she intends to trade stocks if elected.
31 Section 2. Section 99.0211, Florida Statutes, is created to
32 read:
33 99.0211 Challenging candidacy.—
34 (1) A candidate must ensure that he or she will satisfy all
35 statutory and constitutional requirements for the office for
36 which he or she is seeking nomination or election.
37 (2) A candidate or a political party with a candidate in
38 the same race, or an affiliated party committee as authorized by
39 s. 103.092, may challenge a candidate’s compliance with
40 subsection (1) by filing an action for declaratory and
41 injunctive relief in the circuit court for the county in which
42 the filing officer is headquartered.
43 (3) A person may not be qualified as a candidate for
44 nomination or election, and his or her name may not appear on
45 the ballot, if, in an order that has become final, the court
46 determines that the candidate will not, at the time of
47 qualification, election, or assumption of office, as applicable,
48 satisfy all statutory and constitutional requirements for the
49 office for which he or she is seeking nomination or election.
50 (4) A candidate, a political party, or an affiliated party
51 committee bringing an action for declaratory and injunctive
52 relief under subsection (2) is entitled to an expedited final
53 hearing, and any appeal of a final hearing must receive
54 expedited consideration by the appellate court. Upon a final
55 order of the circuit court which contains the determination
56 under subsection (3), the supervisor of elections in each county
57 affected by such candidacy shall remove the name of the
58 candidate from the ballot, or if the ballots have already been
59 printed, include a notice with each vote-by-mail ballot, and
60 post a notice at each early voting location and polling
61 precinct, stating that a vote for such candidate will not be
62 counted.
63 Section 3. Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section
64 99.061, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
65 99.061 Method of qualifying for nomination or election to
66 federal, state, county, or district office.—
67 (7)(a) In order for a candidate to be qualified, the
68 following items must be received by the filing officer by the
69 end of the qualifying period:
70 1. A properly executed check drawn upon the candidate’s
71 campaign account payable to the person or entity as prescribed
72 by the filing officer in an amount not less than the fee
73 required by s. 99.092, unless the candidate obtained the
74 required number of signatures on petitions pursuant to s.
75 99.095. The filing fee for a special district candidate is not
76 required to be drawn upon the candidate’s campaign account. If a
77 candidate’s check is returned by the bank for any reason, the
78 filing officer shall immediately notify the candidate and the
79 candidate shall have until the end of qualifying to pay the fee
80 with a cashier’s check purchased from funds of the campaign
81 account. Failure to pay the fee as provided in this subparagraph
82 shall disqualify the candidate.
83 2. The candidate’s oath required by s. 99.021, which must
84 contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the
85 ballot; the office sought, including the district or group
86 number if applicable; and the signature of the candidate, which
87 must be verified under oath or affirmation pursuant to s.
88 92.525(1)(a).
89 3. If the office sought is partisan, the written statement
90 of political party affiliation required by s. 99.021(1)(b); or
91 if the candidate is running without party affiliation for a
92 partisan office, the written statement required by s.
93 99.021(1)(c).
94 4. If the office sought is federal, the written statement
95 required by s. 99.021(1)(d)2.
96 5.4. The completed form for the appointment of campaign
97 treasurer and designation of campaign depository, as required by
98 s. 106.021.
99 6.5. The full and public disclosure or statement of
100 financial interests required by subsection (5). A public officer
101 who has filed the full and public disclosure or statement of
102 financial interests with the Commission on Ethics before
103 qualifying for office may file a copy of that disclosure or a
104 verification or receipt of electronic filing as provided in
105 subsection (5) at the time of qualifying.
106 7. An oath or affirmation in writing that states whether
107 the candidate is a citizen of another country in addition to
108 being a citizen of the United States, and, if so, discloses any
109 other country of which the candidate is also a citizen.
110 8. For a candidate seeking federal office, whether a party
111 candidate, a candidate with no party affiliation, or a write-in
112 candidate, an oath or affirmation in writing that states whether
113 the candidate previously held a federal office, and, if so,
114 discloses whether the candidate traded stocks while in such
115 office.
116 Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section
117 105.031, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
118 105.031 Qualification; filing fee; candidate’s oath; items
119 required to be filed.—
120 (5) ITEMS REQUIRED TO BE FILED.—
121 (a) In order for a candidate for judicial office or the
122 office of school board member to be qualified, the following
123 items must be received by the filing officer by the end of the
124 qualifying period:
125 1. Except for candidates for retention to judicial office,
126 a properly executed check drawn upon the candidate’s campaign
127 account in an amount not less than the fee required by
128 subsection (3) or, in lieu thereof, the copy of the notice of
129 obtaining ballot position pursuant to s. 105.035. If a
130 candidate’s check is returned by the bank for any reason, the
131 filing officer shall immediately notify the candidate and the
132 candidate shall, the end of qualifying notwithstanding, have 48
133 hours from the time such notification is received, excluding
134 Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, to pay the fee with a
135 cashier’s check purchased from funds of the campaign account.
136 Failure to pay the fee as provided in this subparagraph shall
137 disqualify the candidate.
138 2. The candidate’s oath required by subsection (4), which
139 must contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the
140 ballot; the office sought, including the district or group
141 number if applicable; and the signature of the candidate, duly
142 acknowledged.
143 3. The loyalty oath required by s. 876.05, signed by the
144 candidate and duly acknowledged.
145 4. The completed form for the appointment of campaign
146 treasurer and designation of campaign depository, as required by
147 s. 106.021. In addition, each candidate for judicial office,
148 including an incumbent judge, shall file a statement with the
149 qualifying officer, within 10 days after filing the appointment
150 of campaign treasurer and designation of campaign depository,
151 stating that the candidate has read and understands the
152 requirements of the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct. Such
153 statement shall be in substantially the following form:
154
155 Statement of Candidate for Judicial Office
156
157 I, ...(name of candidate)..., a judicial candidate, have
158 received, read, and understand the requirements of the Florida
159 Code of Judicial Conduct.
160 ...(Signature of candidate)...
161 ...(Date)...
162
163 5. The full and public disclosure of financial interests
164 required by s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution or the
165 statement of financial interests required by s. 112.3145,
166 whichever is applicable. A public officer who has filed the full
167 and public disclosure or statement of financial interests with
168 the Commission on Ethics or the supervisor of elections prior to
169 qualifying for office may file a copy of that disclosure at the
170 time of qualifying.
171 6. An oath or affirmation in writing that states whether
172 the candidate is a citizen of another country in addition to
173 being a citizen of the United States, and, if so, discloses any
174 other country of which the candidate is also a citizen.
175 Section 5. Subsection (3) is added to section 106.023,
176 Florida Statutes, to read:
177 106.023 Statement of candidate.—
178 (3) At the time of filing the statement of candidacy, a
179 candidate must also provide an oath or affirmation in writing
180 that states that he or she meets, or will meet at the time of
181 election for the office sought or at the time of assuming the
182 office, as applicable, all statutory and constitutional
183 qualifications for the office sought.
184 Section 6. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments
185 made by this act to sections 99.061 and 105.031, Florida
186 Statutes, in references thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (1)
187 of section 99.012, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read:
188 99.012 Restrictions on individuals qualifying for public
189 office.—
190 (1) As used in this section:
191 (b) “Qualify” means to fulfill the requirements set forth
192 in s. 99.061(7)(a) or s. 105.031(5)(a).
193 Section 7. Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary,
194 for the 2026 General Election:
195 (1) Any candidate for representative to Congress seeking
196 ballot position by the petition process described in s. 99.095,
197 Florida Statutes, must obtain at least the number of signatures
198 equal to one-third of 1 percent of the ideal population for each
199 congressional district, as calculated by dividing the statewide
200 population in the most recent decennial census by the number of
201 representatives apportioned to the state after the most recent
202 decennial census. Signatures may be obtained from any registered
203 voter in Florida regardless of party affiliation or district
204 boundaries. Petitions must state that the candidate is seeking
205 the office of representative to Congress, but a district number
206 is not required.
207 (2) Each person seeking to qualify for nomination or
208 election as a representative to Congress must file his or her
209 qualification papers, and pay the qualifying fee, which shall
210 consist of the filing fee and election assessment, and party
211 assessment, if any has been levied, to the Department of State,
212 or qualify by the petition process described in s. 99.095,
213 Florida Statutes, with the Department of State, at any time
214 after noon of the 1st day for qualifying, which shall be the
215 71st day before the primary election, but not later than noon of
216 the 67th day before the date of the primary election.
217 (3) Except as otherwise provided in this section, all
218 requirements and procedures relating to qualifying and to the
219 candidate petition process must conform to the requirements and
220 procedures in law.
221 Section 8. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.
222
223 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
224 And the title is amended as follows:
225 Delete everything before the enacting clause
226 and insert:
227 A bill to be entitled
228 An act relating to candidate qualifying; amending s.
229 99.021, F.S.; requiring a candidate for federal office
230 to state in writing whether he or she intends to trade
231 stock while serving in federal office; creating s.
232 99.0211, F.S.; requiring candidates to ensure they
233 satisfy statutory and constitutional requirements for
234 office; authorizing certain candidates, political
235 parties, and affiliated party committees to challenge
236 compliance with such requirements in a specified
237 manner; providing that a person may not qualify as a
238 candidate and appear on the ballot if the court makes
239 a certain determination; providing that candidates,
240 political parties, and affiliated party committees are
241 entitled to expedited proceedings; requiring
242 supervisors of elections to remove the names of
243 certain candidates from the ballot and provide a
244 certain notice to voters; amending s. 99.061, F.S.;
245 revising the list of items a candidate must submit to
246 the filing officer to be a qualified candidate to
247 include a certain written statement and a specified
248 oath or affirmation; amending s. 105.031, F.S.;
249 requiring certain candidates to provide to the filing
250 officer a statement disclosing dual citizenship for
251 nomination and election to a judicial office or to a
252 district school board; amending s. 106.023, F.S.;
253 requiring a candidate to provide a certain oath or
254 affirmation in writing at the time of filing his or
255 her statement of candidacy; reenacting s.
256 99.012(1)(b), F.S., relating to definition of the term
257 “qualifying,” to incorporate the amendments made to
258 ss. 99.061 and 105.031, F.S., in references thereto;
259 requiring candidates for representative to Congress
260 seeking ballot position by petition to obtain a
261 specified percentage of signatures to qualify for such
262 office; authorizing the obtaining of signatures from
263 any registered voters in this state; specifying
264 petition requirements; requiring candidates to file
265 qualification paperwork with and pay a qualifying fee
266 to the Department of State within a specified
267 timeframe; specifying that requirements and procedures
268 relating to qualifying for office must conform to
269 specified provisions; providing an effective date.