HB 737 — Persons Disqualified from Being Appointed as a Guardian
Last action — Died in Rules
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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3Passed House
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4Passed Senate
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5To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has passed the House. Introduced December 10, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
Next likely step: consideration and a floor vote in the Senate.
Odds of enactment
Moderate chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a moderate chance of becoming law.
Upgrade to see the exact probability and what's driving it.
A statistical estimate from our own model of past outcomes — an insight, not a guarantee. Policymaking is volatile.
Prognosis
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Passed House
Current position in the legislative process.
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6 sponsors
1 primary, 5 co-sponsors signed on.
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Bipartisan support
Sponsored across 2 parties (3 R · 1 D) — cross-party backing.
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 5 recorded votes so far.
Based on stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes, and cross-state momentum — a description of the observable signals, not a prediction.
Summary
Persons Disqualified from Being Appointed as a Guardian; Authorizes court to appoint person who has been convicted of felony to be guardian of proposed ward; requires court to consider imposing additional requirements on certain guardians to safeguard proposed ward & his or her property; authorizes court to deny appointment as guardian if it determines appointment would place proposed ward, or his or her property, at risk.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
83 added · 100 removed83 line(s) added, 100 removed.
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 737 2026 A bill to be entitled An act relating to persons disqualified from being appointed as a guardian;
authorizing a court to appoint a person who has been convicted of a felony to be a guardian of a ward or proposed ward under certain circumstances;
requiring the court to consider imposing additional requirements on certain guardians to safeguard the proposed ward and his or her property;
authorizing the court to deny an appointment as guardian if it determines an appointment would place the proposed ward, or his or her property, at risk;
A No person who has been convicted of a felony, exceptunless asat providedleast in10 paragraphyears (e).have elapsed since the person completed or was lawfully released from confinement, supervision, or other court- ordered nonmonetary conditions before the appointment as guardian.
2.
A person or who, from any incapacity or illness, is incapable of discharging the duties of a guardian, or who is otherwise unsuitable to perform the duties of a guardian.
hb737-02-c2hb737-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 737 2026 2.3.
A person or who, from any incapacity or illness, is incapable of discharging the duties of a guardian, or who is otherwise unsuitable to perform the duties of a guardian.
3.
Page(d) 2The court may not appoint a guardian in any other circumstance in which a conflict of 4interest CODING:may occur.
(e) A court may appoint a person who has been convicted of Page 2 of 4 CODING:
hb737-02-c2hb737-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HBCS/HB 737 2026 (d)a Thefelony courtto mayserve notas appoint a guardian inif anyall otherof circumstancethe infollowing whichconditions aare conflictmet: of interest may occur.
(e)1.1.
NotwithstandingThe paragraph (a), a court may appoint a person whois hasthe beenparent, convictedchild, ofsibling, aspouse, felonygrandparent, toor servegrandchild as a guardian if all of the followingproposed conditionsward. are met:
a.2.
The person is the parent of the proposed ward.
b.
c.
The person's felony conviction, and all of the terms and conditions of the sentence, have been fulfilled, completed, or terminated at least 10 years before the filing of the application for appointment.
For purposes of this sub- subparagraph, the terms and conditions of the sentence include, but are not limited to, incarceration, parole, fines, restitution and financial penalties, and any other condition required to fulfill the felony conviction.
d.
The felony conviction did not involve financial exploitation, breach of fiduciary duty, or any offense involving financial harm or dishonesty to a vulnerable adult as defined in s.
415.102.
e.
The court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the person is otherwise qualified, suitable, and fit to serve as a guardian under this chapter.
f.
The court finds that the appointment is in the best interests of the proposed ward.
Page 3 of 4 CODING:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
hb737-02-c2 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB 737 2026 2.
The court must consider imposing additional requirements on a guardian appointed under this paragraph to safeguard the proposed ward and the proposed ward's property, including, but not limited to:
a.
Requiring a bond to protect the proposed ward's assets.
b.
Imposing a court-approved budget of the proposed ward's expenses.
c.
Increasing the frequency with which the guardian must file with the court his or her plans and accountings.
ThisAt paragraphleast does10 notyears requirehave theelapsed courtsince tothe appoint a person whocompleted meetsor thewas criterialawfully inreleased thisfrom paragraph,confinement, andsupervision, theor courtother maycourt-ordered denynonmonetary anconditions appointmentbefore if it determines that the appointment wouldof place the proposedperson ward,as orguardian. his or her property, at risk.
Show all 50 changed lines (10 more)
4.
The person would otherwise be eligible to serve as a guardian under this chapter.
5.
After reviewing the person's qualifications, the nature of the felony conviction, and any other relevant information, the court determines that, despite the felony conviction, the person is able to carry out in an appropriate manner all of the requirements and responsibilities of a guardian and act in the proposed ward's best interest.
For purposes of making such determination, the court may require the person to provide certified copies of records relating to the underlying felony offense and conviction.
744.474 Reasons for removal of guardian.—A guardian may be removed for any of the following reasons, and the removal shall bePage in3 additionof to4 anyCODING: other penalties prescribed by law:
Words stricken are deletions;
words underlined are additions.
hb737-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB 737 2026 be in addition to any other penalties prescribed by law:
hb737-02-c2hb737-01-c1
Show all 50 changed rows (10 more)
View plain text versions (3)
- H 737 c1 View text pdf
- H 737 c2 View text Current pdf
- Introduced H 737 Filed pdf
Action History
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Died in Rules
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Received
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Referred to Rules
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In Messages
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CS passed; YEAS 116, NAYS 0
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Read 3rd time
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Added to Third Reading Calendar
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Read 2nd time
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Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
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Added to Second Reading Calendar
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Bill referred to House Calendar
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1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
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CS Filed
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Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
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Reported out of Judiciary Committee
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Favorable with CS by Judiciary Committee
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Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
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Now in Judiciary Committee
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Referred to Judiciary Committee
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1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
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CS Filed
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Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
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Reported out of Human Services Subcommittee
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Favorable with CS by Human Services Subcommittee
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Added to Human Services Subcommittee agenda
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Now in Human Services Subcommittee
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Reported out of Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
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Favorable by Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
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Added to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee agenda
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1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
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Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
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Referred to Judiciary Committee
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Referred to Human Services Subcommittee
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Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
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Filed
Sponsors
- Judiciary Committee · Primary
- Human Services Subcommittee · Cosponsor
- Adam Botana · Cosponsor
- Michael "Mike" Gottlieb · Cosponsor
- Susan L. Valdés · Cosponsor
- Alex Rizo · Cosponsor
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →1 sponsors · 5 co-sponsors · 158 not signed on
Sponsors (1)
- Judiciary Committee
Co-sponsors (5)
- Human Services Subcommittee
- Botana, Adam Republican
- Gottlieb, Michael "Mike" Democrat
- Valdés, Susan L. Republican
- Rizo, Alex Republican
Not signed on (158)
158 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 158 →"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.
Votes
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 79 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 33 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Total | 116 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 99% | 0% | 0% | 1% |
How each member voted (117)
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 83 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Democrat | 32 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Unaffiliated | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 116 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| % of votes cast | 99% | 0% | 0% | 1% |
How each member voted (117)
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Roll call published as PDF — view source.
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 737 do?
- Persons Disqualified from Being Appointed as a Guardian; Authorizes court to appoint person who has been convicted of felony to be guardian of proposed ward; requires court to consider imposing additional requirements on certain guardians to safeguard proposed ward & his or her property; authorizes court to deny appointment as guardian if it determines appointment would place proposed ward, or his or her property, at risk.
- Who sponsors HB 737?
- HB 737 is sponsored by Judiciary Committee, Human Services Subcommittee, Botana, Adam (Republican), Gottlieb, Michael "Mike" (Democrat), Valdés, Susan L. (Republican), and Rizo, Alex (Republican).
- What is the current status of HB 737?
- This bill has passed the House. Introduced December 10, 2025. It now moves to the second chamber.
- Where can I track HB 737?
- Track HB 737 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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