HB 157 — Service of Process
Last action — Chapter No. 2025-13
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✓Introduced
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✓In Committee
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✓Passed House
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✓Passed Senate
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✓To Executive
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6Enacted
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 14, 2025. Enacted.
Signed by Governor Ron DeSantis (Republican) on April 29, 2025.
Odds of enactment
High chanceBased on the sponsor, cosponsors, and committee posture, this bill has a high 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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Enacted
Current position in the legislative process.
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2 sponsors
2 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.
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Single-party support
Sponsorship is currently within one party (1 R).
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Cleared a recorded vote
Passed 2 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
Service of Process; Expands hours during which registered agents are required to keep designated registered office; specifies that certain registered agents may be served process in specified manner; authorizes service of process by personally serving receiver for specified domestic entities in receivership during pendency of receivership; requires that certain substituted service of process be issued in name of party to be served in care of SOS; authorizes use of specified substituted service method; provides that SOS & DOS are not parties to lawsuits & may not be served additional court filings by reason of specified substituted service; authorizes substituted service on SOS in specified circumstances; provides retroactive application.
Bill Text
What changed in the latest version
25 added · 37 removed25 line(s) added, 37 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 ENROLLED CS/HB 157 2025 LegislatureA 2bill to be entitled An act relating to service of process;
hb157hb157-01-c1 -01-er 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 ENROLLED CS/HB 157 2025 Legislature revising the information that must be contained in a certain affidavit of compliance;
hb157hb157-01-c1 -01-er 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 ENROLLED CS/HB 157 2025 Legislature limited partnership, including limited liability limited partnerships;
hb157hb157-01-c1 -01-er 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 ENROLLED CS/HB 157 2025 Legislature office designated pursuant to subsection (2) this section on a registered agent that is other than a natural person may serve the process in accordance with the provisions of applicable law relating to service of process on that type of entity or on any employee of the registered agent who is present at the designated registered office at the time of service.
hb157hb157-01-c1 -01-er 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 ENROLLED CS/HB 157 2025 Legislature was not successful, service may then be attempted as required under s.
hb157hb157-01-c1 -01-er 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 ENROLLED CS/HB 157 2025 Legislature (5) Notwithstanding this section and during the pendency of the receivership, a party attempting to serve process on a domestic business entity, business trust, or sole proprietorship in receivership may effectuate service by personal service on the receiver.
hb157hb157-01-c1 -01-er 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 ENROLLED CS/HB 157 2025 Legislature (2) When an individual or a business entity is a nonresident or conceals his, her, or its whereabouts, the party seeking to effectuate service may, after exercising due diligence to locate and effectuate personal service, use the substituted service method specified in subsection (1) in connection with any action in which the court has jurisdiction over the individual or business entity.
hb157hb157-01-c1 -01-er 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 ENROLLED CS/HB 157 2025 Legislature notice or the party is concealing himself, herself, or itself.
hb157hb157-01-c1 -01-er 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 ENROLLED CS/HB 157 2025 Legislature process by the concealed party need not be filed.
hb157hb157-01-c1 -01-er 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 ENROLLED CS/HB 157 2025 Legislature (9)(8) The Department of State shall maintain a record of each process served pursuant to this section and record the time of and the action taken regarding the service.
hb157hb157-01-c1 -01-er 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 ENROLLED CS/HB 157 2025 Legislature diligence, the party seeking to effectuate service of process is unable to effectuate service of process on the foreign business entity in the manner and order of priority registered agent or other official as provided in this chapter, the party may use substituted service of process on the Secretary of State.
hb157hb157-01-c1 -01-er 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 ENROLLED CS/HB 157 2025 Legislature (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), any service of process that occurred between January 2, 2023, and October 1, 2025, which has not been invalidated by a court, is valid if such service complied with either chapter 48, Florida Statutes, as amended by chapter 2022-190, Laws of Florida, or the laws governing service of process in effect before January 2, 2023, which would have applied in the absence of chapter 2022-190, Laws of Florida.
hb157hb157-01-c1 -01-er
View plain text versions (3)
- H 157 c1 View text pdf
- H 157 er View text Current pdf
- Introduced H 157 Filed pdf
Action History
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Chapter No. 2025-13
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Approved by Governor
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Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
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Ordered enrolled
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In Messages
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Immediately certified
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CS passed; YEAS 36 NAYS 0
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Read 3rd time
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Read 2nd time
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Substituted for CS/SB 576
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Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
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Withdrawn from 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 113, NAYS 0
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Read 3rd time
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Added to Third Reading Calendar
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Placed on 3rd reading
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Read 2nd time
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Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/26/2025)
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Added to Second Reading Calendar
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Bill released to House Calendar
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Reported out of Judiciary Committee
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Favorable 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 Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
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Favorable with CS by Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
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1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
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Added to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee agenda
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Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
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Referred to Judiciary Committee
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Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
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Filed
Sponsors
- Mike Redondo · Primary
- Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee · Primary
Sponsorship breakdown
Export CSV (upgrade) →2 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 162 not signed on
Sponsors (2)
- Redondo, Mike Republican
- Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
Co-sponsors (0)
None.
Not signed on (162)
162 members have not signed on to this bill.
Show all 162 →"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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democrat | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Republican | 25 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Unaffiliated | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| No Party Affiliation | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 36 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| % of votes cast | 95% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
How each member voted (38)
| Member | Party | Vote |
|---|---|---|
| Ingoglia | — | Yea |
| Collins | — | Yea |
| Arrington, Kristen Aston | Democrat | Yea |
| Berman, Lori | Democrat | Yea |
| Bernard, Mack | Democrat | Yea |
| Davis, Tracie | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Jones, Shevrin D. "Shev" | Democrat | Not Voting |
| Osgood, Rosalind | Democrat | Yea |
| Polsky, Tina Scott | Democrat | Yea |
| Rouson, Darryl Ervin | Democrat | Yea |
| Sharief, Barbara | Democrat | Yea |
| Smith, Carlos Guillermo | Democrat | Yea |
| Pizzo, Jason W. B. | No Party Affiliation | Yea |
| Albritton, Ben | Republican | Yea |
| Boyd, Jim | Republican | Yea |
| Bradley, Jennifer | Republican | Yea |
| Brodeur, Jason | Republican | Yea |
| Burgess, Danny | Republican | Yea |
| Burton, Colleen | Republican | Yea |
| Calatayud, Alexis | Republican | Yea |
| DiCeglie, Nick | Republican | Yea |
| Gaetz, Don | Republican | Yea |
| Garcia, Ileana | Republican | Yea |
| Grall, Erin | Republican | Yea |
| Gruters, Joe | Republican | Yea |
| Harrell, Gayle | Republican | Yea |
| Hooper, Ed | Republican | Yea |
| Leek, Thomas J. "Tom" | Republican | Yea |
| Martin, Jonathan | Republican | Yea |
| McClain, Stan | Republican | Yea |
| Passidomo, Kathleen | Republican | Yea |
| Rodriguez, Ana Maria | Republican | Yea |
| Simon, Corey | Republican | Yea |
| Truenow, Keith L. | Republican | Yea |
| Trumbull, Jay | Republican | Yea |
| Vacant | Republican | Yea |
| Wright, Tom A. | Republican | Yea |
| Yarborough, Clay | Republican | Yea |
| Party | Yea | Nay | Present | Not Voting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | 79 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Democrat | 29 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Unaffiliated | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 113 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| % of votes cast | 95% | 0% | 0% | 5% |
How each member voted (119)
Subjects
Frequently asked questions
- What does HB 157 do?
- Service of Process; Expands hours during which registered agents are required to keep designated registered office; specifies that certain registered agents may be served process in specified manner; authorizes service of process by personally serving receiver for specified domestic entities in receivership during pendency of receivership; requires that certain substituted service of process be issued in name of party to be served in care of SOS; authorizes use of specified substituted service method; provides that SOS & DOS are not parties to lawsuits & may not be served additional court filings by reason of specified substituted service; authorizes substituted service on SOS in specified circumstances; provides retroactive application.
- Who sponsors HB 157?
- HB 157 is sponsored by Redondo, Mike (Republican) and Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee.
- What is the current status of HB 157?
- This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced January 14, 2025. Enacted.
- Where can I track HB 157?
- Track HB 157 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.
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