Florida Senate - 2026 SENATOR AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS/CS/CS/HB 905, 1st Eng.
Ì930088<Î930088
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
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Floor: 1/AD/2R . Floor: C
03/12/2026 04:39 PM . 03/13/2026 10:27 AM
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Senator Grall moved the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. This act may be cited as the “Foreign
6 Interference Restriction and Enforcement Act.”
7 Section 2. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 112.313,
8 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
9 112.313 Standards of conduct for public officers, employees
10 of agencies, and local government attorneys.—
11 (1) DEFINITIONS DEFINITION.—As used in this section, unless
12 the context otherwise requires, the term:
13 (a) “Designated foreign terrorist organization” has the
14 same meaning as in s. 775.32.
15 (b) “Foreign country of concern” has the same meaning as in
16 s. 286.101(1).
17 (c) “Public officer” includes any person elected or
18 appointed to hold office in any agency, including any person
19 serving on an advisory body.
20 (2) SOLICITATION OR ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS.—
21 (a) A No public officer, an employee of an agency, a local
22 government attorney, or a candidate for nomination or election
23 may not shall solicit or accept anything of value to the
24 recipient, including a gift, loan, reward, promise of future
25 employment, favor, or service, based upon any understanding that
26 the vote, official action, or judgment of the public officer,
27 employee, local government attorney, or candidate would be
28 influenced thereby.
29 (b) A public officer, an employee of an agency, a local
30 government attorney, or a candidate for nomination or election
31 found to have violated this subsection by soliciting or
32 accepting anything of value from a person or an entity
33 representing or acting on behalf of a designated foreign
34 terrorist organization or foreign country of concern or any of
35 its subdivisions must, in addition to any criminal or civil
36 penalty involved, repay double the value of any pecuniary
37 benefit received as a result of the violation committed.
38 Section 3. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section
39 112.3142, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
40 112.3142 Ethics training for specified constitutional
41 officers, elected municipal officers, commissioners of community
42 redevelopment agencies, and elected local officers of
43 independent special districts.—
44 (2)
45 (e) The commission shall adopt rules establishing minimum
46 course content for the portion of an ethics training class which
47 addresses s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution and the Code
48 of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees. By November 1,
49 2026, the commission shall adopt revised rules to supplement the
50 minimum course content, including all of the following:
51 1. Known efforts by foreign countries of concern to target
52 and influence subnational governments, including, but not
53 limited to, the Chinese Communist Party’s United Front strategy.
54 2. How to identify, recognize, and report suspected foreign
55 influence campaigns.
56 3. Enhanced penalties for violations relating to gifts from
57 foreign countries of concern as defined in s. 286.101(1) or
58 designated foreign terrorist organizations as defined in s.
59 775.32(1) under s. 112.313(2)(b).
60 Section 4. Section 205.0532, Florida Statutes, is amended
61 to read:
62 205.0532 Revocation or refusal to renew; doing business
63 with Cuba.—
64 (1) Any appropriate tax collector or local governing
65 authority issuing a business tax receipt to any individual,
66 business, or entity under this chapter may revoke or refuse to
67 renew such receipt if the individual, business, or entity, or
68 parent company of such individual, business, or entity, is doing
69 business with Cuba in violation of federal law.
70 (2) Any appropriate tax collector or local governing
71 authority may request a sworn affidavit or declaration from any
72 individual, business, or entity attesting to whether the
73 individual, business, or entity is doing business with Cuba in
74 violation of federal law.
75 (3) A person who knowingly makes a false declaration under
76 subsection (2) commits the crime of perjury by false written
77 declaration, a felony of the third degree, punishable as
78 provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.
79 Section 5. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
80 288.816, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection (7) is
81 added to that section, to read:
82 288.816 Intergovernmental relations.—
83 (3) The state protocol officer may:
84 (a) Coordinate and carry out activities designed to
85 encourage the state and its subdivisions to participate in
86 sister city and sister state affiliations with foreign countries
87 and their subdivisions. Such activities may include a State of
88 Florida sister cities conference. Such activities may not
89 include encouragement of any affiliations with foreign countries
90 of concern as defined in s. 288.860(1) or their subdivisions.
91 (7) The department shall publish on its website, to be
92 updated quarterly, the following information:
93 (a) A current and accurate list of all foreign consulate
94 offices.
95 (b) A current and accurate list of all sister city and
96 sister state affiliations, including a copy of all such
97 agreements.
98 Section 6. Subsections (3), (4), and (5) of section
99 288.8175, Florida Statutes, are amended, and a new subsection
100 (7) is added to that section, to read:
101 288.8175 Linkage institutes between postsecondary
102 institutions in this state and foreign countries.—
103 (3) Each institute must be co-administered in this state by
104 a university-community college partnership, as designated in
105 subsection (5), and must have a private sector and public sector
106 advisory committee. The advisory committee must be
107 representative of the international education and commercial
108 interests of the state and may have members who are native to
109 the foreign country partner. Six members must be appointed by
110 the Department of Education. The Department of Education must
111 appoint at least one member who is an international educator.
112 The presidents, or their designees, of the participating
113 university and community college must also serve on the advisory
114 committee.
115 (4) The institutes are:
116 (a) Florida-Brazil Institute (University of Florida and
117 Miami Dade College).
118 (b) Florida-Costa Rica Institute (Florida State University
119 and Valencia College).
120 (c) Florida Caribbean Institute (Florida International
121 University and Daytona State College).
122 (d) Florida-Canada Institute (University of Central Florida
123 and Palm Beach State College).
124 (e) Florida-China Institute (University of West Florida,
125 University of South Florida, and Eastern Florida State College).
126 (e)(f) Florida-Japan Institute (University of South
127 Florida, University of West Florida, and St. Petersburg
128 College).
129 (f)(g) Florida-France Institute (New College of the
130 University of South Florida, Miami Dade College, and Florida
131 State University).
132 (g)(h) Florida-Israel Institute (Florida Atlantic
133 University and Broward College).
134 (h)(i) Florida-West Africa Institute (Florida Agricultural
135 and Mechanical University, University of North Florida, and
136 Florida State College at Jacksonville).
137 (i)(j) Florida-Eastern Europe Institute (University of
138 Central Florida and Lake-Sumter State College).
139 (j)(k) Florida-Mexico Institute (Florida International
140 University and Polk State College).
141 (5) Each institute is allowed to exempt from s. 1009.21 up
142 to 25 full-time equivalent students per year from the respective
143 host countries to study in any of the state universities or
144 community colleges in this state as resident students for
145 tuition purposes. The institute directors shall develop
146 criteria, to be approved by the Department of Education, for the
147 selection of these students. Students must return home within 3
148 years after their tenure of graduate or undergraduate study for
149 a length of time equal to their exemption period.
150 (7) A linkage institute may not enter into any agreement or
151 participate in any activities with a foreign country of concern
152 as defined in s. 288.860(1) or any organization in a foreign
153 country of concern.
154 Section 7. Present subsection (4) of section 288.854,
155 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (5), and a new
156 subsection (4) is added to that section, to read:
157 288.854 Support for a free and independent Cuba.—
158 (4)(a) If the Federal Government changes the diplomatic
159 status of Cuba, the Governor may, by executive order, suspend
160 the provisions of any statute or rule restricting interactions
161 with Cuba for a period not to exceed adjournment sine die of the
162 regular session of the Legislature after such suspension. A
163 suspension expires upon adjournment sine die of such regular
164 session of the Legislature. A suspension may not be renewed or
165 extended.
166 (b) If the Governor suspends a statute or rule under
167 paragraph (a), he or she may not subsequently suspend the same
168 statute or rule relating to Cuba unless expressly authorized by
169 the Legislature.
170 (c) At least 30 days before the next regular session of the
171 Legislature following a change in Cuba’s diplomatic status by
172 the Federal Government, the Governor shall submit to the
173 President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
174 Representatives written recommendations for policy changes, if
175 any, that should be considered by the Legislature concerning
176 Cuba. However, if the change in Cuba’s diplomatic status occurs
177 within 30 days before the convening of the next regular session
178 of the Legislature or during the regular session of the
179 Legislature, the Governor must submit such recommendations as
180 soon as practicable.
181 (d) This subsection is repealed October 2, 2028, unless
182 saved from repeal through reenactment by the Legislature.
183 Section 8. Subsection (2) of section 288.860, Florida
184 Statutes, is amended to read:
185 288.860 International cultural agreements.—
186 (2)(a) A state agency, political subdivision, or public
187 school authorized to expend state-appropriated funds or levy ad
188 valorem taxes may not participate in any agreement with or
189 accept any grant from a foreign country of concern or its
190 subdivisions, or any entity controlled by a foreign country of
191 concern.
192 (b) All agreements under paragraph (a), including, but not
193 limited to, sister city agreements, are terminated as of July 1,
194 2026, which:
195 (a) Constrains the freedom of contract of such public
196 entity;
197 (b) Allows the curriculum or values of a program in the
198 state to be directed or controlled by the foreign country of
199 concern; or
200 (c) Promotes an agenda detrimental to the safety or
201 security of the United States or its residents. Before the
202 execution of any cultural exchange agreement with a foreign
203 country of concern, the substance of the agreement must be
204 shared with federal agencies concerned with protecting national
205 security or enforcing trade sanctions, embargoes, or other
206 restrictions under federal law. If such federal agency provides
207 information suggesting that such agreement promotes an agenda
208 detrimental to the safety or security of the United States or
209 its residents, the public entity may not enter into the
210 agreement.
211 Section 9. Subsection (1) of section 316.0078, Florida
212 Statutes, is amended to read:
213 316.0078 Prohibition on contracting for camera systems of
214 vendors of foreign countries of concern.—
215 (1) As used in this section, the term: terms
216 (a) “Controlling interest” means possession of the power to
217 direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of a
218 company, whether through ownership of securities, by contract,
219 or otherwise. A person or an entity that directly or indirectly
220 has 25 percent or more of the voting interests of a company or
221 is entitled to 25 percent or more of its profits is presumed to
222 possess a controlling interest. and
223 (b) “Foreign country of concern” means the People’s
224 Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic
225 of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic
226 of Cuba, the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro, or the Syrian
227 Arab Republic, including any agency of or any other entity of
228 significant control of such foreign country of concern have the
229 same meanings as in s. 287.138(1).
230 Section 10. Subsection (14) of section 496.404, Florida
231 Statutes, is amended to read:
232 496.404 Definitions.—As used in ss. 496.401-496.424, the
233 term:
234 (14) “Foreign source of concern” means any of the
235 following:
236 (a) The government or any official of the government of a
237 foreign country of concern;
238 (b) A political party or member of a political party or any
239 subdivision of a political party in a foreign country of
240 concern;
241 (c) A partnership, an association, a corporation, an
242 organization, or other combination of persons organized under
243 the laws of or having its principal place of business in a
244 foreign country of concern, or a subsidiary of such entity;
245 (d) Any person who is domiciled in a foreign country of
246 concern and is not a citizen or lawful permanent citizen of the
247 United States;
248 (e) An agent, including a subsidiary or an affiliate of a
249 foreign legal entity, acting on behalf of a foreign source of
250 concern; or
251 (f) An entity in which a person, entity, or collection of
252 persons or entities described in paragraphs (a)-(e) has a
253 controlling interest. As used in this paragraph, the term
254 “controlling interest” means the possession of the power to
255 direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of
256 an entity, whether through ownership of securities, by contract,
257 or otherwise. A person or an entity that directly or indirectly
258 has the right to vote 25 percent or more of the voting interest
259 of the company or is entitled to 25 percent or more of its
260 profits is presumed to possess a controlling interest; or
261 (g) A designated foreign terrorist organization as defined
262 in s. 775.32 or an agent acting on behalf of a designated
263 foreign terrorist organization.
264 Section 11. Subsection (3) of section 692.201, Florida
265 Statutes, is amended to read:
266 692.201 Definitions.—As used in this part, the term:
267 (3) “Foreign country of concern” means the People’s
268 Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic
269 of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, the Republic
270 of Cuba, the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro, or the Syrian
271 Arab Republic, including any agency of or any other entity under
272 of significant control of such foreign country of concern.
273 Section 12. Section 775.08255, Florida Statutes, is created
274 to read:
275 775.08255 Offenses by foreign agents; reclassification.—
276 (1) As used in this section, the term:
277 (a) “Agent of a foreign government or designated foreign
278 terrorist organization” means a person acting on behalf of or
279 otherwise employed or controlled by a foreign government or a
280 designated foreign terrorist organization.
281 (b) “Designated foreign terrorist organization” has the
282 same meaning as provided in s. 775.32.
283 (c) “Foreign government” has the same meaning as provided
284 in s. 286.101(1).
285 (2) The penalty for any misdemeanor or felony may be
286 reclassified if the commission of such misdemeanor or felony was
287 for the purpose of benefiting, promoting, or furthering the
288 interests of a foreign government, a designated foreign
289 terrorist organization, or an agent of a foreign government or
290 designated foreign terrorist organization. The reclassification
291 is as follows:
292 (a) A misdemeanor of the second degree is reclassified to a
293 misdemeanor of the first degree.
294 (b) A misdemeanor of the first degree is reclassified to a
295 felony of the third degree.
296 (c) A felony of the third degree is reclassified to a
297 felony of the second degree.
298 (d) A felony of the second degree is reclassified to a
299 felony of the first degree.
300 (e) A felony of the first degree is reclassified to a life
301 felony.
302 (3) In addition to any other penalties prescribed by law, a
303 person convicted of a felony of the first degree or a life
304 felony under this section must be sentenced to a minimum term of
305 imprisonment of 15 years.
306 Section 13. Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section
307 282.802, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
308 282.802 Government Technology Modernization Council.—
309 (7)(a) The council shall meet at least quarterly to:
310 1. Recommend legislative and administrative actions that
311 the Legislature and state agencies as defined in s. 282.318(2)
312 may take to promote the development of data modernization in
313 this state.
314 2. Assess and provide guidance on necessary legislative
315 reforms and the creation of a state code of ethics for
316 artificial intelligence systems in state government.
317 3. Assess the effect of automated decision systems or
318 identity management on constitutional and other legal rights,
319 duties, and privileges of residents of this state.
320 4. Evaluate common standards for artificial intelligence
321 safety and security measures, including the benefits of
322 requiring disclosure of the digital provenance for all images
323 and audio created using generative artificial intelligence as a
324 means of revealing the origin and edit of the image or audio, as
325 well as the best methods for such disclosure.
326 5. Assess the manner in which governmental entities and the
327 private sector are using artificial intelligence with a focus on
328 opportunity areas for deployments in systems across this state.
329 6. Determine the manner in which artificial intelligence is
330 being exploited by bad actors, including foreign countries of
331 concern as defined in s. 286.101(1) s. 287.138(1).
332 7. Evaluate the need for curriculum to prepare school-age
333 audiences with the digital media and visual literacy skills
334 needed to navigate the digital information landscape.
335 Section 14. Subsection (2) of section 63.213, Florida
336 Statutes, is amended to read:
337 63.213 Preplanned adoption agreement.—
338 (2)(a) A preplanned adoption agreement is prohibited if:
339 1. The volunteer mother is a citizen or resident of a
340 foreign country of concern as defined in s. 286.101(1).
341 2. Either the intended father or intended mother is a
342 citizen or resident of a foreign country of concern as defined
343 in s. 286.101(1).
344 (b) A preplanned adoption agreement must include, but need
345 not be limited to, the following terms:
346 1.(a) That the volunteer mother agrees to become pregnant
347 by the fertility technique specified in the agreement, to bear
348 the child, and to terminate any parental rights and
349 responsibilities to the child she might have through a written
350 consent executed at the same time as the preplanned adoption
351 agreement, subject to a right of rescission by the volunteer
352 mother any time within 48 hours after the birth of the child, if
353 the volunteer mother is genetically related to the child.
354 2.(b) That the volunteer mother agrees to submit to
355 reasonable medical evaluation and treatment and to adhere to
356 reasonable medical instructions about her prenatal health.
357 3.(c) That the volunteer mother acknowledges that she is
358 aware that she will assume parental rights and responsibilities
359 for the child born to her as otherwise provided by law for a
360 mother if the intended father and intended mother terminate the
361 agreement before final transfer of custody is completed, if a
362 court determines that a parent clearly specified by the
363 preplanned adoption agreement to be the biological parent is not
364 the biological parent, or if the preplanned adoption is not
365 approved by the court pursuant to the Florida Adoption Act.
366 4.(d) That an intended father who is also the biological
367 father acknowledges that he is aware that he will assume
368 parental rights and responsibilities for the child as otherwise
369 provided by law for a father if the agreement is terminated for
370 any reason by any party before final transfer of custody is
371 completed or if the planned adoption is not approved by the
372 court pursuant to the Florida Adoption Act.
373 5.(e) That the intended father and intended mother
374 acknowledge that they may not receive custody or the parental
375 rights under the agreement if the volunteer mother terminates
376 the agreement or if the volunteer mother rescinds her consent to
377 place her child for adoption within 48 hours after the birth of
378 the child, if the volunteer mother is genetically related to the
379 child.
380 6.(f) That the intended father and intended mother may
381 agree to pay all reasonable legal, medical, psychological, or
382 psychiatric expenses of the volunteer mother related to the
383 preplanned adoption arrangement and may agree to pay the
384 reasonable living expenses and wages lost due to the pregnancy
385 and birth of the volunteer mother and reasonable compensation
386 for inconvenience, discomfort, and medical risk. No other
387 compensation, whether in cash or in kind, shall be made pursuant
388 to a preplanned adoption arrangement.
389 7.(g) That the intended father and intended mother agree to
390 accept custody of and to assert full parental rights and
391 responsibilities for the child immediately upon the child’s
392 birth, regardless of any impairment to the child.
393 8.(h) That the intended father and intended mother shall
394 have the right to specify the blood and tissue typing tests to
395 be performed if the agreement specifies that at least one of
396 them is intended to be the biological parent of the child.
397 9.(i) That the agreement may be terminated at any time by
398 any of the parties.
399 Section 15. Subsection (1) of section 742.15, Florida
400 Statutes, is amended to read:
401 742.15 Gestational surrogacy contract.—
402 (1)(a) Before Prior to engaging in gestational surrogacy, a
403 binding and enforceable gestational surrogacy contract shall be
404 made between the commissioning couple and the gestational
405 surrogate. A contract for gestational surrogacy is shall not be
406 binding and enforceable unless the gestational surrogate is 18
407 years of age or older and the commissioning couple are legally
408 married and are both 18 years of age or older.
409 (b)1. A gestational surrogacy contract may not be entered
410 into in this state if any party to the contract is a citizen or
411 resident of a foreign country of concern as defined in s.
412 286.101(1).
413 2. A gestational surrogacy contract executed in violation
414 of this paragraph is void and unenforceable as against the
415 public policy of the state.
416 Section 16. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
417
418 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
419 And the title is amended as follows:
420 Delete everything before the enacting clause
421 and insert:
422 A bill to be entitled
423 An act relating to foreign influence; providing a
424 short title; amending s. 112.313, F.S.; defining the
425 terms “designated foreign terrorist organization” and
426 “foreign country of concern”; providing penalties for
427 specified persons who solicit or accept anything of
428 value from persons or entities representing a
429 designated foreign terrorist organization or a foreign
430 country of concern; amending s. 112.3142, F.S.;
431 requiring the Commission on Ethics to adopt certain
432 rules by a specified date; amending s. 205.0532, F.S.;
433 authorizing any appropriate tax collector to revoke or
434 refuse to renew business tax receipts of specified
435 individuals, businesses, or entities; authorizing such
436 tax collector or a local governing authority to
437 request a specified sworn affidavit or declaration
438 from such individual, business, or entity; providing
439 criminal penalties; amending s. 288.816, F.S.;
440 prohibiting certain activities encouraging
441 affiliations with foreign countries of concern;
442 requiring the Department of Commerce to publish and
443 update certain information on its website; amending s.
444 288.8175, F.S.; deleting the Florida-China Institute
445 from the list of linkage institutes; deleting an
446 exemption for linkage institutes; prohibiting a
447 linkage institute from entering into an agreement or
448 participating in an activity with a foreign country of
449 concern; amending s. 288.854, F.S.; authorizing the
450 Governor to suspend certain laws or rules relating to
451 Cuba for a specified period under certain
452 circumstances; prohibiting such suspension from being
453 renewed or extended; prohibiting the Governor from
454 suspending the same laws or rules without express
455 authorization from the Legislature; requiring the
456 Governor to submit to the Legislature certain written
457 recommendations within a specified timeframe;
458 providing for future legislative repeal of certain
459 provisions; amending s. 288.860, F.S.; requiring that
460 certain agreements be terminated by a specified date;
461 amending s. 316.0078, F.S.; revising the definitions
462 of the terms “controlling interest” and “foreign
463 country of concern”; amending s. 496.404, F.S.;
464 revising the definition of the term “foreign source of
465 concern”; amending s. 692.201, F.S.; revising the
466 definition of the term “foreign country of concern”;
467 creating s. 775.08255, F.S.; defining terms;
468 prohibiting enforcement of certain laws of a foreign
469 government; providing enhanced criminal penalties;
470 amending s. 282.802, F.S.; conforming a cross
471 reference; amending s. 63.213, F.S.; prohibiting
472 preplanned adoption agreements unless certain
473 conditions are met; amending s. 742.15, F.S.;
474 prohibiting contracts for gestational surrogacy unless
475 certain conditions are met; declaring that certain
476 contracts are void and unenforceable; providing an
477 effective date.