HB 925 — Threats from Foreign Nations

requiring the Attorney General to periodically submit a certain report to the Legislature, beginning on a specified date;

requiring the Attorney General to report monthly on the Office of the Attorney General's publicly available website certain information;

requiring certain officers and directors to comply with specified requirements;

providing that dissolution of certain organizations does not relieve their officers and directors of specified requirements;

providing criminal penalties for willful violations of specified provisions;

providing that agents who willfully violate specified provisions must be expelled from and prohibited from entering any campus of this state;

requiring the State University System and the Florida College System to adopt specified rules;

providing that proof of the specific identity of a specified foreign principal is permissible but not necessary in certain proceedings;

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 requiring that certain aliens be referred to the Department of Justice for removal proceedings;

providing that a failure to file specified statements is a continuing offense as long as the failure persists;

authorizing the Attorney General to apply to the courts to enjoin the actions of specified persons;

providing that the state court has jurisdiction and authority to issue certain orders;

requiring the Attorney General to notify a registrant in writing after making a certain determination;

prohibiting a person from acting as a certain agent within a specified timeframe after receiving such notice unless certain conditions exist;

prohibiting an agent from entering into a contract that is contingent upon the success of any political activity;

requiring state employees to annually submit a certain affidavit;

providing that specified students or employees who willfully violate specified provisions must be expelled from and prohibited from entering any institution of higher education;

requiring the State University System and the Florida College System to adopt a specified policy;

requiring institutions of higher education to develop a specified reporting mechanism;

requiring certain active businesses and nonprofits to file a specified form;

requiring the Page 4 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 Secretary of State to provide such form;

requiring the Attorney General to provide specified information on the Office of the Attorney General's publicly available website;

authorizing the Attorney General to exchange certain information with specified entities;

providing for retroactive application;

requiring specified persons to file registration statements for a specified timeframe;

authorizing the Attorney General to adopt rules;

creating s.

287.1381, F.S.;

providing legislative purpose;

prohibiting certainspecified companiesentities and governmental entities from entering into agreementsspecified relatingcontracts toor criticalagreements infrastructure with a foreign principals;principal;

prohibiting governmentala entitiesforeign principal from entering into specified contracts or other agreements relatingwith tospecified criticalentities infrastructureand withgovernmental certainentities; companies;

providing exceptions;a criminal penalty;

requiring companiesspecified entities that have entered into a specified contract or agreement with a foreign principal to register with the Department of ManagementCommerce Servicesby toa accessspecified criticaldate; infrastructure;

requiring companiesthe todepartment perform specified actions to remainadopt registereda withspecified theregistration department;form;

requiringproviding thea departmentcivil topenalty; provide certificates to such companies;

authorizingrequiring thean revocationentity selling or transferring control of suchspecified certificatescritical underinfrastructure to provide an affidavit to the department attesting to specified circumstances;information;

requiringprohibiting companiescomputer tosoftware notifyproduced theor departmentmanufactured underby specified conditions;companies from being used in critical infrastructure located within or serving this state;

authorizingrequiring the Pagedepartment 5to ofadopt 62rules; CODING:

providing an effective date.

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hb925-00hb925-01-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 HBCS/HB 925 2025 departmentBe toIt conductEnacted aby certainthe investigationLegislature withinof athe specifiedState timeframe;of Florida:

requiring the Attorney General on behalf of the department to file a request for an injunction with the Supreme Court under certain conditions;

requiring that the Supreme Court issue a certain order;

requiring the department to notify critical infrastructure entities of known or suspected cyberthreats, vulnerabilities, and adversarial activities in a specified manner;

prohibiting the state from using specified software;

providing that if any such software is being used, it must be removed and replaced with compliant software;

providing that companies that remove and replace such software are not required to obtain additional permits to do so;

prohibiting governmental entities and critical infrastructure providers from entering into or renewing certain contracts beginning on a specified date;

requiring the department to create certain public listings;

creating s.

287.1382, F.S.;

providing a short title;

providing legislative purpose;

defining terms;

requiring critical communications infrastructure to have all prohibited equipment removed and replaced;

providing that companies engaging in such replacement and removal do not need additional permits;

requiring communications providers Page 6 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 to file a certain attestation annually with the department;

providing civil penalties for late filing of such attestations;

requiring such companies to provide the department with information related to a person with managerial responsibilities in this state;

requiring communications providers to engage in specified actions;

providing administrative penalties for communications providers that violate specified provisions;

providing administrative fines for communications providers that submit false attestations or certifications;

prohibiting specified communications providers from receiving certain funds;

requiring the department to develop and publish quarterly a certain map;

specifying requirements for such map;

creating s.

943.0315, F.S.;

providing a short title;

providing legislative intent and policy;

defining terms;

requiring the Chief of Domestic Security to annually produce and publish a certain risk assessment;

requiring that the risk assessment include specified information;

creating the Council on Pacific Conflict;

requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to provide administrative support;

providing for the composition, membership, and appointments of the council;

providing that members of the council are entitled to per diem and travel Page 7 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 reimbursement;

requiring that members be appointed by a specified date;

requiring that the first meeting be held by a specified date and at least quarterly thereafter;

authorizing the chair of the council to call for a meeting at any time;

authorizing the council to retain external advisors for certain purposes;

providing that such advisors may not be compensated, but may be reimbursed for per diem and travel expenses;

requiring the council to prepare a specified annual report;

authorizing the council to perform specified actions;

requiring the council to engage with the Division of Emergency Management to apply for a certain grant;

requiring the Secretary of Management Services to conduct a supply chain audit and submit a report of such audit to the Governor and the Legislature by a specified date;

specifying requirements for the supply chain audit report;

requiring the Governor to provide a summary report to the Legislature and the public;

prohibiting the inclusion of specified information in the report;

requiring the Chief of Domestic Security to lead a specified study, coordinate the research, and develop a report of the study;

requiring the Chief of Domestic Security to identify certain critical infrastructure and assets;

requiring the Chief of Domestic Security Page 8 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 to apply consistent, objective criteria when making such identifications;

requiring the Chief of Domestic Security to produce a certain report by a specified date;

requiring that the report include specified information;

requiring the Chief of Domestic Security to coordinate with specified entities to produce the report;

requiring state agencies to provide the Chief of Domestic Security with specified information;

requiring the Chief of Domestic Security to develop a process for stakeholders to submit certain information;

authorizing the Chief of Domestic Security to coordinate with specified entities;

requiring the Chief of Domestic Security to notify certain owners and operators of a certain identification;

requiring that such notice include specified information;

amending ss.

943.03 and 943.0311, F.S.;

conforming provisions to changes made by the act;

providing a contingent effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

SectionPart 16.81,IV of chapter 692, Florida Statutes, isconsisting createdof tos. read:

16.81692.21, StateFlorida ForeignStatutes, Adversaryis Registrationcreated Act.—and (1)entitled LEGISLATIVE"Protection INTENT.—Itof isState theCritical intentInfrastructure offrom theForeign PageEntities." 9Section of2. 62 CODING:

Section 692.21 Florida Statutes, is created to read:

692.21 Protection of state critical infrastructure from foreign entities.— (1) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the "Florida Critical Infrastructure Protection Act." (2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to protect this state's critical infrastructure by prohibiting foreign adversaries from accessing or controlling such critical infrastructure.

(3) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:

(a) "Computer software" means any information, program, or routine, or any collection of information or set of one or more programs or routines, used or intended to be used to convey information or to cause one or more computers or pieces of computer-related peripheral equipment, or any combination thereof, to perform a task or set of tasks.

(b) "Critical infrastructure" has the same meaning as in Page 2 of 5 CODING:

hb925-00hb925-01-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 HBCS/HB 925 2025 Legislatures. to provide public transparency for the political and propaganda activities and influence operations conducted in this state by agents of adversarial nations and foreign terrorist organizations.

(2)692.201(2). DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:

(a)(c) "Adversarial"Department" nation" means athe countryDepartment listedof inCommerce. 15 C.F.R.

(d) "Foreign country of concern" has the same meaning as in s.

7.4(a).692.201(3).

(b)1.(e) "Foreign principal" has the same meaning as in s.

"Agent692.201(4). of a foreign principal" means:

a.(4) PROHIBITED ACCESS TO INFRASTRUCTURE.— (a) An entity constructing, repairing, operating, or otherwise having significant access to critical infrastructure may not enter into a contract or other agreement relating to critical infrastructure within this state with a foreign principal if the contract or agreement authorizes the foreign principal to directly or remotely access or otherwise control such critical infrastructure.

(b) A persongovernmental whoentity actsmay asnot anenter agent,into a representative,contract an employee, or aother servant,agreement orrelating into anycritical otherinfrastructure capacity,within atthis thestate orderwith ora requestforeign orprincipal underif the directioncontract or controlagreement ofauthorizes athe foreign principal orto a person whose activities are directly or indirectlyremotely supervised,access directed, controlled, financed, or subsidizedotherwise incontrol wholesuch orcritical ininfrastructure. part by a foreign principal, and who directly or through any other person:

(I)(c) EngagesA inforeign politicalprincipal activitiesmay innot enter into a contract or other agreement relating to critical infrastructure within this state forwith an entity constructing, repairing, operating, or inotherwise having significant access to critical infrastructure, or a governmental entity, if the interestscontract ofor suchagreement authorizes the foreign principal;principal to directly or remotely access Page 3 of 5 CODING:

(II) Acts as a public relations counsel, a publicity agent, an information service employee, or a political consultant in this state for or in the interests of such foreign principal;

(III) Collects, disburses, or dispenses any contribution, loan, money, or other thing of value in this state for or in the interest of such foreign principal;

or (IV) Represents the interests of such foreign principal Page 10 of 62 CODING:

hb925-00hb925-01-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 HBCS/HB 925 2025 before any agency or officialotherwise ofcontrol thissuch statecritical orinfrastructure. any of its political subdivisions;

and(5) b.PENALTY.—A person or entity that violates subsection (4) commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.

A person who agrees, consents, assumes, or purports to act as, or who is or holds himself or herself out to be, whether pursuant to a contractual relationship or not, an agent of a foreign principal as defined in sub-subparagraph a.

2.

The term does not include a news or press service or association organized under the laws of the United States or of any state or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, or a newspaper, magazine, periodical, or other publication for which there is on file with the United States Postal Service information in compliance with 39 U.S.C.

s.

3685, solely by virtue of any bona fide news or journalistic activities, including the solicitation or acceptance of advertisements, subscriptions, or other compensation therefor, so long as it is at least 80 percent beneficially owned by citizens of the United States and its officers and directors, if any, are citizens of the United States, and such news or press service or association, newspaper, magazine, periodical, or other publication is not owned, directed, supervised, controlled, subsidized, or financed, and none of its policies are determined, by any foreign principal, or by an agent of a foreign principal, required to register under this section.

(c) "Foreign political party" means an organization or any other combination of individuals in a country other than the Page 11 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 United States, or any of the United States' political subdivisions, having for an aim or purpose, or which is engaged in any activity devoted in whole or in part to, the establishment, administration, or control, or acquisition of administration or control, of a government of a foreign country or any of its political subdivisions, or the furtherance or influencing of the political or public interests, policies, or relations of a government of a foreign country or any of its political subdivisions.

(d) "Foreign principal" means:

1.

A government of a foreign country or a foreign political party;

2.

A person outside the United States, unless it is established that the person is an individual and is a citizen of and domiciled within the United States, or that the person is not an individual and is organized under or created by the laws of the United States or any state or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and has its principal place of business within the United States;

3.

A partnership, an association, a corporation, an organization, or other combination of persons organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country;

4.

A partnership, an association, a corporation, an organization, or other combination of persons which is at least Page 12 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 20 percent beneficially owned by a partnership, an association, a corporation, an organization, or other combination of persons organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country;

or 5.

A foreign terrorist organization.

(e) "Foreign terrorist organization" means any organization on the United States Department of State's list of Designated Foreign Terrorist Organizations.

(f) "Government of a foreign country" means a person or group of persons exercising sovereign de facto or de jure political jurisdiction over a country other than the United States, or over any part of such country, and includes any subdivision of any such group and any group or agency to which such sovereign de facto or de jure authority or functions are directly or indirectly delegated.

The term includes any faction or body of insurgents within a country assuming to exercise governmental authority, regardless of whether such faction or body of insurgents has or has not been recognized by the United States.

(g) "Information service employee" means a person who furnishes, disseminates, or publishes accounts, descriptions, information, or data with respect to the political, industrial, employment, economic, social, cultural, or other benefits, advantages, facts, or conditions of any country other than the United States or of any government of a foreign country or of a Page 13 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 foreign political party or of a partnership, an association, a corporation, an organization, or other combination of individuals organized under the laws of, or having its principal place of business in, a foreign country.

(h) "Political activities" means any activities that the person engaging in believes will, or that are intended to in any way, influence an agency or official of this state or any of its political subdivisions, or any section of the public within this state, with reference to formulating, adopting, or changing the domestic or foreign policies of the United States or of this state with reference to the political or public interests, policies, or relations of a government of a foreign country or a foreign political party.

(i) "Political consultant" means a person who informs or advises any other person or entity with reference to the policies of the United States or this state or the political or public interests, policies, or relations of a foreign country or of a foreign political party.

(j) "Print" means any newspaper, periodical, book, pamphlet, sheet music, visiting card, address card, printing proof, engraving, photograph, picture, drawing, plan, map, pattern to be cut out, catalog, prospectus, or advertisement;

any printed, engraved, lithographed, or autographed notice of various kinds;

and, in general, any impression or reproduction obtained on paper or other material assimilable to paper, on Page 14 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 parchment or on cardboard, by means of printing, engraving, lithography, autography, or any other easily recognizable mechanical process, with the exception of the copying press, stamps with movable or immovable type, and the typewriter.

(k) "Public relations counsel" means a person who directly or indirectly informs, advises, or in any way represents a principal in any public relations matter pertaining to political or public interests, policies, or relations of such principal.

(l) "Publicity agent" means a person who directly or indirectly publishes or disseminates oral, visual, graphic, written, or pictorial information or matter of any kind, including publication by means of advertising, books, periodicals, newspapers, lectures, broadcasts, motion pictures, or otherwise.

(m) "Registration statement" means the registration statement and any supplements thereto required to be filed with the Attorney General under subsection (3) or subsection (4), and includes all documents and papers required to be filed, whether attached to or incorporated by reference.

(3) REQUIREMENTS TO REGISTER AS A FOREIGN AGENT IN THIS STATE.— (a) In order to act as an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization, a person must file with the Attorney General a true and complete registration statement and any supplements thereto as required Page 15 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 by this paragraph or paragraph (b) unless the person is exempt from registration under subsection (4).

Except as otherwise provided, any person who becomes an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization must, within 10 days after becoming such agent, file with the Attorney General, in duplicate, a registration statement under oath on a form prescribed by the Attorney General.

Such person must file a registration statement for the period during which the person was such an agent, even if the termination of the person's status occurred before the end of the reporting period.

The registration statement must include all of the following information, which must be regarded as material fact for the purposes of this subsection:

1.

The registrant's name, principal business address, any other business addresses in the United States or elsewhere, and all residence addresses, if any.

2.

The immigration status of the registrant;

if an individual, the registrant's nationality;

if a partnership, the name, residence addresses, and nationality of each partner and a true and complete copy of the partnership agreement;

if an association, a corporation, an organization, or any other combination of individuals, the name, residence addresses, and nationality of each director and officer and of each person performing the functions of a director or officer and a true and complete copy of the charter, articles of incorporation, Page 16 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 articles of association, constitution, and bylaws, and amendments thereto;

a copy of any other instrument or document and a statement of the terms and conditions of any oral agreement relating to organization, powers, and purposes;

and a statement of ownership and control.

3.

A comprehensive statement of the nature of the registrant's business;

a complete list of the registrant's employees and a statement outlining the nature of the work of each employee;

the name and address of any foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization for whom the registrant is acting, assuming or purporting to act, or has agreed to act;

the character of the business or other activities of any such foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization, and, if any such foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization is not an individual, a statement of the ownership and control of each;

and the extent, if any, to which each such foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization is supervised, directed, owned, controlled, financed, or subsidized, in whole or in part, by any government of a foreign country or foreign political party, or by any other foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization.

4.

Copies of each written agreement and the terms and conditions of each oral agreement, including all modifications Page 17 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 of such agreements, or, if a contract does not exist, a full statement of all the circumstances that indicate the registrant is an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization;

a comprehensive statement of the nature and method of performance of each such contract, and of the existing and proposed activity or activities engaged in or to be engaged in by the registrant as agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization for each such foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization, including a detailed statement of any such activity that is a political activity.

5.

The nature and dollar amount of contributions, income, money, or thing of value, if any, that the registrant has received within the preceding 180 days from each such foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization, either as compensation or for disbursement or otherwise, and the form and time of each such payment and from whom it was received.

6.

A detailed statement of any activity that the registrant performs or assumes or purports or has agreed to perform for himself or herself or any other person other than a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization and that requires his or her registration pursuant to this section, including a detailed statement of any such activity that is a political activity.

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 7.

The name, business, and residence addresses, and if an individual, the nationality, of any person other than a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization for whom the registrant acts, assumes or purports to act, or has agreed to act under such circumstances which require the registrant to register pursuant to this section;

the extent to which each such person is supervised, directed, owned, controlled, financed, or subsidized, in whole or in part, by any government of a foreign country or foreign political party or by any other foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization;

and the nature and amount of contributions, income, money, or thing of value, if any, that the registrant has received during the preceding 180 days from each such person in connection with any of the activities listed in subparagraph 6., either as compensation or for disbursement or otherwise, and the form and time of each such payment and from whom it was received.

8.

A detailed statement of the money and other things of value spent or disposed of by the registrant during the preceding 180 days in furtherance of or in connection with activities that require registration pursuant to this section and that have been undertaken by the registrant either as an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization or for the registrant or any other person or in connection with any activities relating to Page 19 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 the registrant becoming an agent of such foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization, and a detailed statement of any contributions of money or other things of value made by the registrant during the preceding 180 days, other than contributions the making of which is prohibited under 52 U.S.C.

s.

30121 and s.

106.08(12), in connection with an election to any political office or in connection with any primary election, convention, or caucus held to select candidates for any political office.

9.

Copies of any written agreement and the terms and conditions of any oral agreement, including all modifications of such agreements, or, if a contract does not exist, a full statement of all the circumstances, by reason of which the registrant performs or assumes or purports or has agreed to perform for a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization or, for any person other than a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization, any activities that require the registrant to register pursuant to this section.

10.

Other statements, information, or documents pertinent to this section, as the Attorney General may require, relating to national security and the public interest.

11.

Any additional statements and copies of documents that are necessary to ensure the statements made in the registration statement and supplements thereto, and the copies of documents Page 20 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 furnished, are not misleading.

(b)1.

An agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization who has filed a registration statement as required by paragraph (a) shall, within 30 days after the expiration of each 6-month period after such filing, file with the Attorney General a supplement under oath, on a form prescribed by the Attorney General, which sets forth, with respect to such preceding 6-month period, those facts deemed necessary by the Attorney General, in the interests of national security and the public interest, to maintain the accuracy, completeness, and currentness of the information required under this section.

2.

In connection with the information furnished under subparagraph (a)3., subparagraph (a)4., subparagraph (a)6., or subparagraph (a)9., the registrant must give notice to the Attorney General of any change within 10 days after the change occurs.

The Attorney General may require that supplements to the registration statement be filed at more frequent intervals, which filings may include any information to be furnished under this section.

(c)1.

If the registrant is an individual, the registrant must execute the registration statement and any supplements under oath.

2.

If the registrant is a partnership, the majority of the members of such partnership must execute the registration Page 21 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 statement and any supplements under oath.

3.

If the registrant is another entity that is not an individual or a partnership, the majority of the officers of such entity or individuals performing the functions of officers or a majority of the board of directors of such entity must execute the registration statement and any supplements under oath.

(d) The filing of a registration statement or a supplement by a registrant pursuant to this section may be deemed not to be in compliance with this section.

The Attorney General's acceptance of such filing is not an indication that the Attorney General has passed upon the merits of the registration statement or the supplement.

The late filing of the registration statement and any supplements does not preclude prosecution under this section for willfully failing to file a registration statement or a supplement when due or for willfully filing a false statement of a material fact or for willfully omitting a material fact or a copy of material documents necessary to make the statements in the registration statement or supplements required by this section.

(e) The Attorney General may allow an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization who is required to register pursuant to this section and has previously registered with the Attorney General pursuant to this section to incorporate by reference any Page 22 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 information or documents previously filed by such agent in the registration statement or supplements required by this section.

(4) EXEMPTIONS.—Subsection (3) does not apply to the following agents of foreign principals:

(a) A duly accredited diplomatic or consular officer of a foreign government who is recognized by the United States Department of State, while the officer is engaged exclusively in activities recognized by the United States Department of State as being within the scope of the officer's functions;

(b) Any official of a foreign government, if the government is recognized by the United States, who is not a public relations counsel, a publicity agent, an information service employee, or a citizen of the United States, and whose name and status and the character of whose duties as such official are of public record with the United States Department of State, while such official is engaged exclusively in activities that are recognized by the Department of State as being within the scope of such official's functions;

(c) Any member of the staff of, or any individual employed by, a duly accredited diplomatic or consular officer of a foreign government who is recognized by the United States Department of State, other than a public relations counsel, a publicity agent, or an information service employee, whose name and status and the character of whose duties as such member or employee are of public record with the United States Department Page 23 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 of State, while such member or employee is engaged exclusively in the performance of activities that are recognized by the United States Department of State as being within the scope of such member's or employee's functions;

or (d) Any individual qualified to practice law in this state, insofar as he or she engages or agrees to engage in the legal representation of a disclosed foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization before any court of law in this state or any political subdivision of this state.

For the purposes of this section, legal representation does not include attempts to influence or persuade agency personnel or officials other than in the course of judicial proceedings, criminal or civil law enforcement inquiries, investigations, or proceedings, or agency proceedings required by statute or regulation to be conducted on the record.

(5) FILING AND LABELING OF INFORMATIONAL MATERIALS.— (a) Any person within this state who is an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization and who is required to register pursuant to this section and who transmits or causes to be transmitted in the United States mail, through digital communication, or by any means or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce any informational materials for or in the interests of such foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization in print or in any other form that is reasonably Page 24 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 adapted to being, or which the agent believes will be or intends to be, disseminated or circulated among two or more persons must file with the Attorney General two copies of such materials no later than 48 hours after the transmission.

(b) It is unlawful for a person within this state who is an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization and who is required to register pursuant to this section to transmit or cause to be transmitted in the United States mail, through digital communication, or by any means or instrumentality of interstate or foreign commerce any informational materials for or in the interests of such foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization without placing in such informational materials a conspicuous statement that the materials are distributed by the agent on behalf of the foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization, and that additional information is on file with the Attorney General.

The Attorney General may adopt rules to implement this paragraph.

(c) The copies of informational materials required to be filed with the Attorney General must be available for public inspection under s.

24, Art.

I of the State Constitution and chapter 119.

(d) It is unlawful for a person within this state who is an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a Page 25 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 foreign terrorist organization and who is required to register pursuant to this section to transmit, convey, or otherwise furnish to any agency or official of this state or its political subdivisions, including a member or committee of the House of Representatives or the Senate or a member or committee of another political subdivision, for or in the interests of such foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization, any political propaganda, or to request from any such agency or official for or in the interests of such foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization any information or advice with respect to any matter pertaining to the political or public interests, policies, or relations of an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization or of a political party from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization or pertaining to the foreign or domestic policies of the United States or of this state unless the propaganda or the request is prefaced or accompanied by a true and accurate statement to the effect that such person is registered as an agent of such foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to this section.

(e) If any agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization required to register under this section appears before any committee of the Legislature or the governing body of a county or a Page 26 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 municipality to testify for or in the interests of such foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization, the agent must, at the time of such appearance, furnish the committee or governing body with a copy of the agent's most recent registration statement filed with the Attorney General for inclusion in the records of the committee or governing body as part of the agent's testimony.

(6) MAINTENANCE OF BOOKS AND RECORDS.—An agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization registered pursuant to this section must, while an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization, keep and maintain books of account and other records regarding all of the agent's activities, the disclosure of which is required pursuant to this section.

Such agent shall maintain such books of account and other records for 3 years after the person is no longer registered as an agent as required by this section.

(a)1.

The agent shall maintain such books of account and other records in accordance with standard business and accounting practices.

2.

The Attorney General may adopt rules to implement this paragraph.

(b) Any agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization must keep and maintain books of account and preserve all written records with Page 27 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 respect to the person's activities.

Such books and records must be open at all reasonable times to inspection by any official charged with the enforcement of this section.

(c) It is unlawful for any person to willfully conceal, destroy, obliterate, mutilate, or falsify, or to attempt to conceal, destroy, obliterate, mutilate, or falsify, or to cause to be concealed, destroyed, obliterated, mutilated, or falsified, any books or records required to be kept or maintained under this subsection.

(d) A person who violates this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.

775.083,775.083. or punishable by a fine of not more than $50,000, or both.

(7)(6) PUBLICREGISTRATION.— TRANSPARENCY(a) ANDBeginning EXAMINATIONJanuary OF1, OFFICIAL2026, RECORDS.—an (a)entity Theconstructing, Attorneyrepairing, Generaloperating, shallor retainotherwise onehaving copysignificant ofaccess allto registrationcritical statementsinfrastructure furnishedwithin under this sectionstate which areentered publicinto recordsa andcontract openor other agreement with a foreign principal relating to publicsuch examinationcritical andinfrastructure inspectionbefore asJuly required1, under2025, s.must register by January 1 of each year for the remainder of the term of the contract or agreement with the foreign principal relating to such critical infrastructure.

24,The Art.department must adopt a registration form, which, at minimum, must include all of the following:

I of the State Constitution and chapter 119.

(b) The Attorney General shall, promptly upon receipt, transmit one copy of any registration statement and any amendments or supplements to the United States Secretary of State.

Failure of the Attorney General to transmit a copy is not a bar to prosecution under this section.

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 (c) The Attorney General may furnish to any department or agency or committee of the Legislature any information obtained in the administration of this section.

(d) Beginning January 1, 2026, and every 6 months thereafter, the Attorney General shall submit a report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The report must include information detailing the Attorney General's administration of this section, including, but not limited to, registrations filed pursuant to this section and the nature, sources, and content of political propaganda disseminated and distributed.

(e) The Attorney General shall report monthly on the Office of the Attorney General's publicly available website information related to the administration of this section, including registrations filed and the nature, sources, and content of political propaganda disseminated and distributed.

(8) LIABILITY OF OFFICERS.—An officer or an individual performing the functions of an officer or a director or an individual performing the functions of a director of an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization, which agent is not an individual, shall comply with the requirements of this section.

Dissolution of any organization acting as an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization does not relieve any officer or individual performing the functions of an Page 29 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 officer or any director or individual performing the functions of a director from the requirement to comply with this section.

If such an agent fails to comply with the requirements of this section, each of the agent's officers or persons performing the functions of officers or each of the agent's directors or persons performing the functions of directors may be prosecuted.

(9) ENFORCEMENT AND PENALTIES.— (a) Except as provided in subsection (6) or paragraph (h), a person who:

WillfullyThe violatesname thisof sectionthe orentity anyconstructing, rulerepairing, adoptedoperating, underor thisotherwise sectionhaving commitssignificant aaccess felonyto ofcritical theinfrastructure thirdwithin degree,this punishablestate. as provided in s.

775.082, s.

775.083, or s.

775.084, or punishable by a fine of not more than $100,000, or both;

or 2.

In any registration statement, supplement, or other document filed with or furnished to the Attorney General under this section, willfully makes a false statement of a material fact, willfully omits any material fact required to be stated, or willfully omits a material fact or a copy of a material document necessary to ensure that the statements and the copies of documents furnished are not misleading commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.

775.082, s.

775.083, or s.

775.084, or punishable by a fine of not more than $100,000, or both.

(b) A person who is a student, a faculty member, a researcher, an adjunct professor, or otherwise employed by or Page 30 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 associated with the State University System or Florida College System and who:

1.

Willfully violates this section or any rules adopted by the Attorney General, upon conviction, must be expelled or dismissed from any role with an institution of higher education in this state and must be prohibited from entering any campus in this state;

or 2.

In any registration statement or supplement thereto or any other document filed with or furnished to the Attorney General pursuant to this section, willfully makes a false statement of a material fact, willfully omits any material fact required to be stated in the registration statement, or furnishes misleading supplements or copies of documents, upon conviction, must be expelled or dismissed from any role with an institution of higher education in this state and must be prohibited from entering any campus in this state.

(c) Each institution in the State University System or the Florida College System shall adopt rules for permanent expulsion and dismissal of an individual found in violation of this section.

(d) In any proceeding under this section in which a person is charged with being an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization with respect to a foreign principal outside of the United States, proof of the specific identity of the foreign principal from an Page 31 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization is permissible but is not necessary.

(e) Any alien who is convicted of a violation of, or a conspiracy to violate, any provision of this section or any rule adopted under this section must be referred to the United States Department of Justice for removal pursuant to the Immigration and Nationality Act.

(f) Notwithstanding any other law, failure to file the registration statement or any supplement as required by paragraph (3)(a) or paragraph (3)(b) is considered a continuing offense for as long as such failure persists.

(g) If a person is engaged in or about to engage in any acts that constitute or will constitute a violation of this section or rules adopted under this section, or if any agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization fails to comply with this section or any rules adopted under this section, the Attorney General may apply to the appropriate state court for an order enjoining such acts or enjoining such person from continuing to act as an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization, or may apply for an order requiring compliance with this section or any rules adopted under this section.

The state court has jurisdiction and the authority to issue a temporary or permanent injunction, restraining order, or other such order.

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 (h) If the Attorney General determines that a registration statement does not comply with the requirements of this section or any rules adopted under this section, he or she must notify the registrant in writing, specifying how the statement is deficient.

It is unlawful for any person to act as an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization at any time 10 days or more after receipt of such notification without filing an amended registration statement in full compliance with the requirements imposed by this section.

A person who violates this paragraph commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s.

775.082 or s.

775.083, or punishable by a fine of not more than $50,000, or both.

(i) It is unlawful for an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization required to register under this section to be a party to any contract, agreement, or understanding, either express or implied, with the foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization pursuant to which the amount or payment of the compensation, fee, or other remuneration of the agent is contingent in whole or in part upon the success of any political activities carried out by the agent.

(10) ATTESTATIONS FOR STATE INSTITUTIONS AND BUSINESSES.— (a) Annually, an employee of this state shall submit a signed affidavit to his or her employer attesting that the Page 33 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 employee is not an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization.

(b) A person who is a student, a faculty member, a researcher, or an adjunct professor or who is otherwise employed by or associated with the State University System or the Florida College System and who willfully violates this section, makes a false statement of material fact, or willfully omits any material fact required to be stated in any registration statement or supplement pursuant to this section or in any other document filed with the Attorney General's office must be permanently expelled and dismissed from any role with the institution of higher education in this state and must be prohibited from entering any institution of higher education's campus in this state.

Each institution of the State University System and the Florida College System shall adopt a policy for the expulsion or dismissal of any individual who has violated this section.

(c) Each institution of higher education in this state shall develop a reporting mechanism for students who are former citizens of an adversarial nation or who are dissidents against or critics of an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization and who are being harassed by an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization to file a report with the institution of higher education describing the harassment.

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 (d) An active business or a nonprofit operating within this state shall attest in writing that such business or nonprofit is cognizant of and in compliance with this section.

The Secretary of State shall provide a simple 1-page attestation form for all businesses and nonprofits operating within this state to attest to their compliance with this section.

(11) DATA SHARING AND PUBLIC TRANSPARENCY.— (a) In order to increase public transparency, the Attorney General shall provide information about the registrant, including, but not limited to, the registration statement and activities of the agent, on the Office of the Attorney General's publicly available website.

(b) The Attorney General may exchange information collected pursuant to this section with government officials of other states to increase the transparency and registration compliance of agents of foreign principals from adversarial nations or foreign terrorist organizations which operate in multiple states.

(12) APPLICATION.—The requirements of this section are retroactive for any person who acted as an agent of a foreign principal from an adversarial nation or a foreign terrorist organization at any time after January 1, 2019.

Such person shall file with the Attorney General a registration statement and any supplements as required by subsection (3) for any activities occurring between January 1, 2019, and July 1, 2025.

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 (13) RULEMAKING.—The Attorney General may adopt rules to administer this section.

Section 2.

Section 287.1381, Florida Statutes, is created to read:

287.1381 Florida Critical Infrastructure Protection Act.— (1) SHORT TITLE.—This section may be cited as the "Florida Critical Infrastructure Protection Act." (2) PURPOSE.—The purpose of this section is to protect this state's critical infrastructure by prohibiting foreign adversaries from accessing state critical infrastructure, by assessing Florida's vulnerability to sanctioned communication equipment, and by prohibiting the use of adversary cameras and laser sensor technologies in this state's transportation systems.

(3) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:

(a) "Company" means nonprofit organization or a for-profit sole proprietorship, organization, association, corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, or limited liability company, including a wholly owned subsidiary, a majority-owned subsidiary, a parent company, or an affiliate of those entities or business associations.

(b) "Country of concern" has the same meaning as the term "foreign country of concern" in s.

286.101.

(c) "Critical infrastructure" means systems and assets, Page 36 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 whether physical or virtual, so vital to this state or the country that the incapacity or destruction of such systems and assets would have a debilitating impact on state or national security, state or national economic security, state or national public health, or any combination thereof.

Critical infrastructure may be publicly or privately owned and includes, but is not limited to:

1.

Gas and oil production, storage, or delivery systems.

WaterThe supply,address treatment,of storage,the critical infrastructure the entity is constructing, repairing, or deliveryoperating systems.or to which the entity otherwise has significant access.

TelecommunicationsA networks.description of the specific terms of the contract or agreement which authorize a foreign principal to engage in constructing, repairing, or operating or to otherwise have significant access to such critical infrastructure.

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Electrical power delivery systems.

5.

Emergency services.

6.

Transportation systems and services.

7.

Personal data or other classified information storage systems, including cybersecurity.

(d) "Cybersecurity" means the measures taken to protect a computer, computer network, computer system, or other technology infrastructure against unauthorized use or access.

(e) "Domicile" means either the country in which a company is registered, or where the company's affairs are primarily completed, or the country in which the majority of a company's ownership share is held.

(f) "Foreign principal" means all of the following:

1.

The government or any official of the government of a country of concern.

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hb925-00hb925-01-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 HBCS/HB 925 2025 2.(b) An entity that violates paragraph (a) is subject to a civil penalty of $1,000 for each day the violation continues.

A(7) politicalREQUIRED partyAFFIDAVIT.—Before commencing any sale or memberother transfer of acontrol politicalof partycritical infrastructure within this state, the entity selling or anyotherwise subdivisiontransferring control of asuch politicalcritical partyinfrastructure ofmust aprovide countryan affidavit, signed under penalty of concern.perjury, to the department attesting that the buyer or transferee is not a foreign principal.

3.(8) PROHIBITIONS ON CERTAIN COMPUTER SOFTWARE IN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.—Computer software produced or manufactured by a company headquartered in and subject to the laws of a foreign country of concern, or a company under the direction or control of a foreign country of concern, may not be used in critical infrastructure located within or serving this state.

A(9) partnershipRULEMAKING.—The association,department corporation,shall organization,adopt orrules otherto combinationimplement ofthis personssection. organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a country of concern, or a subsidiary of such entity, or owned or controlled wholly or in part by any person, entity, or collection of persons or entities of a country of concern.

4.

Any person who is domiciled in a country of concern and is not a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.

5.

Any person, entity, or collection of persons or entities described in subparagraphs 1.-4.

having a controlling interest in a partnership, association, corporation, organization, trust, or any other legal entity or subsidiary formed for the purpose of owning real property.

(g) "Software" means any program or routine, or any set of one or more programs or routines, which is used or intended for use to cause one or more computers or pieces of computer-related peripheral equipment, or any combination thereof, to perform a task or set of tasks related to state infrastructure.

The term includes any operational software.

(4) PROHIBITED ACCESS TO INFRASTRUCTURE.— (a) A company or other entity constructing, repairing, operating, or otherwise having significant access to critical Page 38 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 infrastructure may not enter into an agreement relating to critical infrastructure within this state with a foreign principal if the agreement allows the foreign principal from a country of concern to directly or remotely access or control critical infrastructure in this state.

(b) A governmental entity may not enter into a contract or other agreement relating to critical infrastructure in this state with a company that is a foreign principal if the agreement allows the foreign principal to directly or remotely access or control critical infrastructure in this state.

(c) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) or paragraph (b), an entity or governmental entity may enter into a contract relating to critical infrastructure with a foreign principal or use products or services produced by a foreign principal if all of the following apply:

1.

There is no reasonable alternative for addressing the need relevant to critical infrastructure.

2.

The contract is preapproved by the department.

3.

Not entering into such contract or agreement would pose a greater threat to this state than the threat associated with entering into the contract.

(5) REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCESS TO CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE.— (a) In order to access critical infrastructure, a company shall register with the department by filing a certification form that the department prescribes by rule.

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 (b) To remain registered with the department to access critical infrastructure, a company must do all of the following:

1.

Identify all employee positions in the organization which have access to critical infrastructure.

2.

Before hiring a person or allowing such person to continue to have access to critical infrastructure, obtain from the Department of Law Enforcement a background screening to protect critical infrastructure from infiltration or interference by a country of concern.

3.

Prohibit foreign nationals from a country of concern from accessing critical infrastructure.

4.

Disclose any ownership of, partnership with, or control from any entity not domiciled within the United States.

5.

Store and process all data generated by such critical infrastructure on domestic servers.

6.

Use cloud service providers or data centers that are located within the United States.

7.

Immediately report any cyberattack, security breach, or suspicious activity to the department.

8.

Comply with subsection (4).

(c) The department shall provide a certificate to a company that complies with this section and shall revoke such certificate if the company is no longer in compliance with this section.

(6) POWERS OF THE DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES.— Page 40 of 62 CODING:

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hb925-00 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 HB 925 2025 (a) The department must be notified by the owner of a critical infrastructure installation of any proposed sale or transfer of such critical infrastructure to, or proposed investment in such critical infrastructure by, an entity domiciled outside of the United States or an entity owned in whole or in part by a country of concern.

(b) The department must investigate the proposed sale, transfer, or investment within 30 days after receiving the notice.

If the department finds, beyond a reasonable doubt, that such proposed sale, transfer, or investment threatens critical infrastructure security, state economic security, public health, or any combination thereof, the Attorney General on behalf of the department shall file a request for an injunction opposing the proposed sale, transfer, or investment with the Supreme Court.

(c) If the Supreme Court finds that such sale, transfer, or investment poses a reasonable threat to state critical infrastructure security, state economic security, state or national public health, or any combination thereof, the Supreme Court shall issue an order denying such sale, transfer, or investment.

(d) The department shall notify critical infrastructure entities of known or suspected cyberthreats, vulnerabilities, and adversarial activities in a manner consistent with the goals of:

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