SB 7016 — Amendments to the State Constitution

requiringproviding thethat divisionsupervisors toof deemelections theare voterrequired petitionto formpost invalidon iftheir awebsites completedthe noticeactual isPage received;4 of 49 CODING:

providingWords thatstricken supervisors of elections are requireddeletions; to post on their websites the actual costs of signature verification for all petition forms, and that they may increase such costs annually by a specified date;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb costs of signature verification for all petition forms, and that they may increase such costs annually by a specified date;

revising the information relating to verification of signatures which supervisors are required to post on their website;

requiring the office to conduct specifieda preliminary investigations;investigation;

providingrequiring thatthe aSecretary signedof petitionState formto submittedrescind bythe certificate of ballot position if an ineligibleadvisory oropinion unregisteredfrom petitionthe circulatorSupreme mustCourt bedeems invalidated;the initiative petition invalid;

revising information related to signature verification which must be posted on the division’s website;

requiring the Secretary of State to rescind Page 5 of 49 CODING:

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words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 the certificate of ballot position if an advisory opinion from the Supreme Court deems the initiative petition invalid;

requiring that such statement to appear on the petition form and ballot;

requiring a sponsor to refile a petition as a new petition under certain circumstances;Page 5 of 49 CODING:

deleting a provision that deems financial impact statements approved for placement on the ballot under certain circumstances;

requiring the Department of State to update petition forms by a specified date;

requiring the department to make the petition circulator application available by a specified date;

providing that each petition circulator registration expires on a specified date;

requiring the department to notify such petition circulators of the expiration of their registration by a specified date;

requiring the department to develop a certain training within a specified timeframe;

authorizing supervisors of Page 6 of 49 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb electionscircumstances; to increase the costs of signature verification before a specified date;

deleting a provision that deems financial impact statements approved for placement on the ballot under certain circumstances;

requiring the Department of State to update petition forms within a specified timeframe;

requiring the department to make the petition circulator application available within a specified timeframe;

providing that each petition circulator registration expires on a specified date;

requiring the department to notify such petition circulators of the expiration of their registration within a specified timeframe;

authorizing supervisors of elections to increase the costs of signature verification within a specified timeframe;

revising the grounds on which such parties mayPage contest6 anof election49 orCODING: a constitutional amendment;

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Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb may contest an election or a constitutional amendment;

providing criminal penalties for persons who fill in missing information on a signed petition form to secure a ballot position for a candidate, a minor political party, or an issue;

Pageconforming 7a ofcross-reference; 49 CODING:

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words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 conforming a cross-reference;

providing criminal penalties for certain persons who distribute, collect, deliver, or otherwise physically possess more than a certain number of signed petition forms other than their own or forms belonging to an immediate family member;

creating s.

106.151, F.S.;

defining the term “public funds”;

prohibiting an entity of state government or a person acting on behalf of such entity from expending or authorizing the expenditure of public funds for political advertisements or other communications sent to electors concerning a proposed constitutional amendment or revision;

providing applicability;

providing construction;

revising the definition of the term “racketeering activity” to provide criminal and civil penalties for violationspersons ofwho thecommit Floridacrimes Electionrelated Code relating to irregularitiespetition orcirculators fraudand involvingsponsors issueof petitioninitiative activities;petitions;

prohibitingproviding thePage verification7 of a49 signedCODING: petition form for a specified timeframe;

providing construction;

providing effective dates.

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb WHEREAS,applicability; the Legislature and the Secretary of State, in their official capacities, have the duty and obligation to ensure ballot integrity and a valid election process, and WHEREAS, ballot integrity is necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the constitutionally provided initiative process, and WHEREAS, investigations conducted by the Office of Election Crimes and Security have shown that agents of political committees sponsoring initiative petitions engaged in illegal and fraudulent activities while gathering petition signatures in the lead-up to recent elections, and WHEREAS, the evidence brought forward indicates numerous instances of petition circulators being paid per signature, signing petition forms on behalf of deceased individuals, forging or misrepresenting voter signatures on petition forms, using voters’ personal identifying information without consent, committing perjury, and swearing false oaths, and WHEREAS, compensating a petition circulator based on the number of petition forms gathered is a violation of s.

prohibiting the verification of a signed petition form for a specified period of time;

providing construction;

providing a directive to the Division of Law Revision;

providing an effective date.

WHEREAS, the Legislature and the Secretary of State, in their official capacities, have the duty and obligation to ensure ballot integrity and a valid election process, and WHEREAS, ballot integrity is necessary to ensure the effectiveness of the constitutionally provided initiative process, and WHEREAS, investigations conducted by the Office of Election Crimes and Security have shown that agents of political committees sponsoring initiative petitions engaged in illegal and fraudulent activities while gathering petition signatures in the lead-up to the 2024 General Election, and WHEREAS, the evidence brought forward indicates numerous instances of petition circulators being paid per signature, signing petition forms on behalf of deceased individuals, forging or misrepresenting voter signatures on petition forms, using voters’ personal identifying information without consent, committing perjury, and swearing false oaths, and WHEREAS, compensating a petition circulator based on the number of petition forms gathered is a violation of s.

837.02(1), Florida Statutes, and all such violations are third degree felonies under Florida law, and WHEREAS,Page fraudulently8 using another individual’s personal identification without his or her consent is a violation of s.49 CODING:

817.568, Florida Statutes, and is, at minimum, a third degree felony, and Page 9 of 49 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb WHEREAS, thefraudulently fraudulentusing use of another individual’s personal identifyingidentification informationwithout becomeshis aor secondher degreeconsent felonyis with a 3-year mandatory minimum prison sentence if the violation involves the information of mores. than 10 but fewer than 20 persons, a 5-year mandatory minimum prison sentence if the violation involves the information of more than 20 but fewer than 30 persons, and a 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence if the violation involves the information of more than 30 persons, and WHEREAS, despite the fiduciary duty prescribed by Florida law, sponsors of initiative petitions have failed to cooperate with investigations and have attempted to deflect responsibility for the actions of petition circulators to contractors and subcontractors, the sponsors denying that they have custody or control of documents requested by state officials, and WHEREAS, sponsors, contractors, and petition circulators have blatantly attempted to evade investigation by delegating key aspects of petition activities to out-of-state entities, who then subcontracted with other individuals who were even further outside the reach of Florida authorities, and WHEREAS, evidence provided to the Office of Election Crimes and Security by supervisors of elections in several counties showed that petition circulators submitted petition forms on behalf of more than 50 deceased Floridians, and WHEREAS, information provided to the Office of Election Crimes and Security from multiple supervisors of elections and individual Florida voters showed that petition circulators committed perjury and swore false oaths by distributing petition forms with pre-signed attestations to groups of unregistered Page 10 of 49 CODING:

817.568, Florida Statutes, and is, at minimum, a third degree felony, and WHEREAS, the fraudulent use of another individual’s personal identifying information becomes a second degree felony with a 3-year mandatory minimum prison sentence if the violation involves the information of more than 10 but fewer than 20 persons, a 5-year mandatory minimum prison sentence if the violation involves the information of more than 20 but fewer than 30 persons, and a 10-year mandatory minimum prison sentence if the violation involves the information of more than 30 persons, and WHEREAS, despite the fiduciary duty prescribed by Florida law, sponsors of initiative petitions have failed to cooperate with investigations and have attempted to deflect responsibility for the actions of petition circulators to contractors and subcontractors, the sponsors denying that they have custody or control of documents requested by state officials, and WHEREAS, sponsors, contractors, and petition circulators have blatantly attempted to evade investigation by delegating key aspects of petition activities to out-of-state entities, who then subcontracted with other individuals who were even further outside the reach of Florida authorities, and WHEREAS, evidence provided to the Office of Election Crimes and Security by supervisors of elections in several counties showed that petition circulators submitted petition forms on behalf of more than 50 deceased Floridians, and WHEREAS, information provided to the Office of Election Page 9 of 49 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb Crimes and Security from multiple supervisors of elections and individual Florida voters showed that petition circulators committed perjury and swore false oaths by distributing petition forms with pre-signed attestations to groups of unregistered circulators, who then obtained signatures outside the registered circulator’s presence, and WHEREAS, investigations revealed that after petition forms were signed and submitted by voters, petition circulators tampered with the signed forms by using a website to obtain missing personal identifying information, and then filled in the incomplete petition forms, and WHEREAS, investigations indicated that some otherwise valid petition forms were obtained by fraud, with circulators misleading prospective signatories by telling them that the amendment did something other than what was described in the ballot summary or amendment language, or not showing the signatories what was on the ballot at all, and WHEREAS, evidence showed that petition circulators were able to obtain the four necessary elements of personal identifying information required on petitions — name, address, voter registration number or birthdate, and signature — using publicly available data to commit identity theft and complete dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of petitions without ever actually circulating a petition, and WHEREAS, the Office of Election Crimes and Security received complaints from many Florida voters whose information was fraudulently submitted on forms for at least four initiative petitions circulated for inclusion in the 2024 General Election, and WHEREAS, many of those complaints arose because some supervisors of elections notified a voter when a petition form bearing his or her name was rejected, which prompted such voters to contact the supervisor of elections or the Office of Election Page 1110 of 49 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb WHEREAS, many of those complaints arose because some supervisors of elections notified a voter when a petition form bearing his or her name was rejected, which prompted such voters to contact the supervisor of elections or the Office of Election Crimes and Security to report potential fraud, and WHEREAS, Florida does not currently restrict eligibility of persons to register as a petition circulators,circulator, even inthough cases where such persons aremay notbe Unitedfrom Statesout citizens,of residestate in another state, or may have been convicted of a felony butfor haveidentity nottheft hador theirelection-related rightcrimes, to vote restored, and WHEREAS, at least one sponsor of an initiative amendment circulated during the 2024 General Election cycle settled a complaint with the Office of Election Crimes and Security for violations related to the petition process and agreed to pay $164,000 in fines, and WHEREAS, existing fines and penalties levied against petition sponsors engaging in, encouraging, or,or at the very least,least turning a blind eye to illegal activities related to the petition process appear to be inadequate deterrents, and WHEREAS, given its constitutional underpinnings, the right to propose an initiative by petition is inherent and absolute, but subject to reasonable regulations as necessary to ensure ballot integrity and a valid election process, NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

Evidence of fraud related to the process of gathering signatures on petitions for constitutional amendments compels the Legislature to act to protect the integrity of the ballot, ensure a valid election process, and protect the Page 1211 of 49 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb gathering signatures on petitions for constitutional amendments compels the Legislature to act to protect the integrity of the ballot, ensure a valid election process, and protect the constitutionally provided initiative process.

(b) Submitted the ballot title, ballot summary substance, and full text of the proposed revision or amendment to the Secretary of State,State whoand has received a financial impact statement pursuant to ss.

XI of the State Constitution in one-half of the congressional districts of the state.Page 12 of 49 CODING:

(2) If the Secretary of State has submitted an initiative petition to the Attorney General pursuant to subsection (1) but Page 13 of 49 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb thestate. validity of the signatures for such initiative petition has expired pursuant to s.

(2) If the Secretary of State has submitted an initiative petition to the Attorney General pursuant to subsection (1) but the validity of the signatures for such initiative petition has expired pursuant to s.

(2) A copy of the petition shall be provided to the Secretary of State and the principal officer of the sponsor of thePage initiative13 petition.of 49 CODING:

(3) Any financial fiscal impact statement that the Supreme Court finds not to be in accordance with s.

100.371(16) must s.

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb 100.371 shall be remanded solely to the Financialinitiative Impactpetition. Estimating Conference for redrafting.

(3) Any financial fiscal impact statement that the Supreme Court finds not to be in accordance with s.

100.371(16) must s.

100.371 shall be remanded solely to the Financial Impact Estimating Conference for redrafting.

EffectiveSubsection July 1, 2025, subsection (28) of section 97.021, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

The term does not include a person who collects,collects delivers,signatures orfrom otherwise physically possesses no more than two signed petition forms in addition to his or her ownspouse, signedparent, petitionchild, formgrandparent, grandchild, or asibling, signed petition form belonging to the person’s spouse, or the parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of thehis person or theher person’s spouse.

100.371, the use of the random sample method of verification is not available to supervisors.Page 14 of 49 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb (4)(a)supervisors. The supervisor must be paid in advance the sum of 10 cents for each signature checked or the actual cost of checking such signature, whichever is less, by the candidate or, in the case of a petition to have a local issue placed on the ballot, by the person or organization submitting the petition.

(4)(a) The supervisor must be paid in advance the sum of 10 cents for each signature checked or the actual cost of checking such signature, whichever is less, by the candidate or, in the case of a petition to have a local issue placed on the ballot, by the person or organization submitting the petition.

100.371(14)(d),100.371(14)(b), petitions must be retained by the supervisors for a period of 1 year following the election for which the petitions were circulated.

(b) A sponsor of an initiative petition mustshall obtain, at least every third election cycle, a letter pursuant to s.

Failure to obtain such letter results in expiration of the initiative petition’s signatures and disbanding of the Page 1615 of 49 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb of the initiative petition’s signatures and disbanding of the sponsor’s political committee.

15.21(1)(c) on or before February 1, 2026.

(2) The sponsor of an initiative amendment may not sponsor more than one amendment and must shall, before circulating any petition forms prior to obtaining any signatures, register as a political committee pursuant to s.

106.03 and submit the ballot title, ballot summary, article and section of the State Constitution being amended, and the full text of the proposed amendment to the Secretary of State.

After the review by the Financial Impact Estimating Conference, the division shall publish the formsform with the information provided for in subsection (3) and on which signatures for the initiative petition will be affixed The Secretary of State shall adopt rules pursuant to s.

120.54 prescribingPage the16 style and requirements of such49 form.CODING:

Upon filing Page 17 of 49 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb withprescribing the Secretarystyle ofand State,requirements the text of thesuch proposedform. amendment and all forms filed in connection with this section must, upon request, be made available in alternative formats.

(3)(a)Upon Beginningfiling Julywith 1,the 2025,Secretary of State, the petitiontext formof mustthe prominentlyproposed displayamendment and all offorms thefiled following:in connection with this section must, upon request, be made available in alternative formats.

(3)(a) The petition form must prominently display the petition number, the ballot title, the ballot summary, and, for a proposed amendment submitted to the Secretary of State after the effective date of this act, the financial impact statement.

The petition form must also include the full text of the proposed amendment;

the name and address of the sponsor;

and the date received by the Secretary of State, a bar code associated with the initiative petition, and a serial number, and must solicit and require all of the following information:

The petition number.

2.

The ballot title.

3.

The ballot summary.

4.

A notice that the form becomes a public record upon receipt by the supervisor.

5.

A notice that it is a misdemeanor of the first degree to knowingly sign the petition more than once.

6.

A notice that the form will not be validated if all of the requested information is not completed.

7.

For a proposed amendment submitted to the Secretary of State after the effective date of this act, the financial impact statement.

(b) The petition form must also include all of the following:

1.

The full text of the proposed amendment.

2.

The name and address of the sponsor.

3.

The date received by the Secretary of State.

4.

A bar code or serial number associated with the initiative petition.

(c) The petition form must solicit and require all of the following information:

1.

The voter’s Florida voter registration number or date of Pagebirth. 18 of 49 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 birth.

The voter’s signature and the date onsigned. which the voter signed the form.

(d)(b) AThe petition form distributed by a petition circulator must also include all of the following:

The Petition Circulator’s Affidavit with the circulator’s name, permanent address, and petition circulator numberPage or17 barcode.of 49 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb number.

Under penalty of perjury, I declare that I have read the foregoing Petition Circulator’s Affidavit, and that the facts stated in it are true,true. and that if I was paid to circulate or collect this petition, payment was not on a per signature basis.

(e)3. A petition form distributed by a person other than a petition circulator must also include, in lieu of the Petition Page 19 of 49 CODING:

A notice that the form becomes a public record upon receipt by the supervisor of elections.

4.

A notice that it is a misdemeanor of the first degree to knowingly sign the same initiative petition more than once and that the form will not be validated if all requested information is not completed.

(4)(a)1.

A person may not collect signatures or initiative petitions for compensation unless the person is registered as a petition circulator with the Secretary of State and is issued a petition circulator’s number.

2.

Notwithstanding subparagraph 1., a person may collect signatures or initiative petitions from his or her immediate family without registering as a petition circulator.

Such person may not physically possess more than two petition forms in addition to his or her own petition form or a petition form belonging to an immediate family member.

For the purposes of this subsection, the term “immediate family” means a person’s spouse or the parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling Page 18 of 49 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb Circulator’sof Affidavit,the person or the followingperson’s notice:spouse.

This form is for PERSONAL USE only.

Unless registered as a petition circulator, it is a third degree felony to collect, deliver, or otherwise physically possess more than two signed petition forms in addition to your own or those of immediate family members.

(f) The petition form must be in a type not less than 10 points, except for the full text of the proposed amendment, which may be in a type not less than 6 points if 10-point type would cause the length of the petition form to exceed one page front and back.

(4)(a) Beginning July 1, 2025, unless registered as a petition circulator with the Secretary of State and issued a petition circulator number, a person may not collect, deliver, or otherwise physically possess more than two signed petition forms in addition to his or her own signed petition form or a signed petition form belonging to an immediate family member.

For the purposes of this subsection, the term “immediate family” means a person’s spouse, or the parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, or sibling of the person or the person’s spouse signatures or initiative petitions for compensation unless the person is registered as a petition circulator with the Secretary of State.

(b) A person may not collect signatures or initiative petitions if he or she:

1.

Has been convicted of a felony violation and has not had his or her right to vote restored.

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 2.

Is not a citizen of the United States.

3.

Is not a resident of this state.

(c)(4)(c) AnThe applicationdivision formay registrationrevoke musta bepetition submittedcirculator’s inregistration theif format required by the Secretarycirculator ofviolates Statethis andsection. must include the following:

(d)1.

A person may not collect signatures or initiative petitions if he or she has been convicted of a felony violation and has not had his or her right to vote restored.

2.

A person may not collect signatures or initiative petitions if he or she is not a citizen of the United States.

(e)(4) An application for registration must be submitted in the format required by the Secretary of State and must include the following:

2.(b) The applicant’s name, permanent address, temporary address, if applicable, and date of birth,birth; Florida driver license or Florida identification card number, and the last four digits of his or her social security number.

a copy of his or her driver license or identification card, regardless of whether such license or identification card was issued by this state;

and the last four digits of his or her social security number.

4.(d)Page A19 statement that the applicant consents to the jurisdiction of the49 courtsCODING: of this state in resolving disputes concerning the petition process.

5.(e) Any information required by the Secretary of State to verify the applicant’s identity or address.

6.

Whether the applicant has been convicted of a felony violation and has not had his or her right to vote restored, by Page 21 of 49 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb including4.(d) theA statement,statement “I affirm that Ithe amapplicant notconsents a convicted felon, or, if I am, my right to votethe hasjurisdiction beenof restored,”the andcourts providingof athis boxstate forin theresolving applicantdisputes toconcerning check to affirm the statement.petition process.

5.(e) Any information required by the Secretary of State to verify the applicant’s identity or address.

6.

Whether the applicant has been convicted of a felony violation and has not had his or her right to vote restored, by including the statement, “I affirm that I am not a convicted felon, or, if I am, my right to vote has been restored.” and providing a box for the applicant to check to affirm the statement.

Whether the applicant is a Florida resident by asking the question, “Are you a resident of the state of Florida?” and providing boxes for the applicant to check whether the applicant is or is not a resident of the state of Florida.

9.

(d) A citizen may challenge a petition circulator’s registration under this section by filing a petition in circuit court.

If the court finds that the respondent is not a registered petition circulator, the court may enjoin the respondent from collecting signatures or initiative petitions until he or she is lawfully registered.

(e) The division may revoke a petition circulator’s registration upon the written request of the sponsor of the initiative petition or if the circulator violates this section.

The Pagetraining 22must ofbe 49developed CODING:by the division and may be in an electronic format available on the division’s public website.

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 training must be developed by the division and must be in an electronic format available on the division’s public website.

3.Page 20 of 49 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb 3.

An explanation that the Florida Election Code prohibits compensation or provision of any benefit based on the number of petition formssignatures gathered or the time within which a number of petition forms are gathered.

(5) A sponsor may not compensate a petition circulator based on the number of petition forms gathered or the time within which a number of petition forms are gathered.

All petitions collected by a petition circulator must contain, in a format Pagerequired 23by the Secretary of 49State, CODING:a completed Petition Circulator’s Affidavit which includes:

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 required by the Secretary of State, a completed Petition Circulator’s Affidavit which includes:

UnderPage penalties21 of perjury,49 ICODING: declare that I have read the foregoing Petition Circulator’s Affidavit and the facts stated in it are true.

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words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have read the foregoing Petition Circulator’s Affidavit and the facts stated in it are true.

All such forms must contain information identifying the petition circulator to whom which the forms are provided.

(7)(a) A sponsor that collects petition forms or uses a petition circulator to collect petition forms serves as a fiduciary to the voter elector signing the petition form and shall ensure, ensuring that any petition form entrusted to the Pagesponsor 24or petition circulator is shall be promptly delivered to the supervisor of 49elections CODING:in the county in which the voter resides within 10 30 days after the voter elector signs the form.

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 sponsor or petition circulator is shall be promptly delivered to the supervisor of elections in the county in which the voter resides within 10 30 days after the voter elector signs the form.

A fine in the amount of $50 per each day late for each petition form received by the supervisor of elections in the countyPage in22 whichof the49 voterCODING: resides more than 10 30 days after the voter elector signed the petition form or the next business day, if the office is closed.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb county in which the voter resides more than 10 30 days after the voter elector signed the petition form or the next business day, if the office is closed.

A fine in the amount of $100 per each day late, up to a maximum of $5,000, for each petition form collected by a sponsor or a petition circulator, signed by a voter on or before February 1 of the year the general election is held and received by the supervisor of elections in the county in which the voter resides after the deadline for such election.

(b) A showing by the sponsor that the failure to deliver the petition form within the required timeframe is based upon Pageforce 25majeure or impossibility of 49performance CODING:is an affirmative defense to a violation of this subsection.

The fines described in this subsection may be waived upon a showing that the failure to deliver the petition form promptly is based upon force majeure or impossibility of performance.

(8) If a person collecting petition forms on behalf of a sponsor of an initiative petition signs another person’s name or a fictitious name to any petition, or fills in missing Page 23 of 49 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb forceinformation majeureon ora impossibilitypetition, ofto performancesecure isa anballot affirmativeposition defensein to a violation of thiss. subsection.

The104.185(2) finesand describedis insubsequently thisconvicted subsectionof maysuch beoffense, waivedthe uponsponsor aof showing that the failureinitiative topetition deliveris theliable petitionfor forma promptlyfine isin basedthe uponamount forceof majeure$5,000 orfor impossibilityeach ofsuch performance.petition.

(8) If a person collecting petition forms on behalf of a sponsor of an initiative petition signs another person’s name or a fictitious name to any petition, or fills in missing information on a signed petition, to secure a ballot position in violation of s.

104.185(2), the sponsor of the initiative petition is liable for a fine in the amount of $5,000 for each such petition.

(10) A sponsor of an initiative petition or a person collecting petition forms on behalf of a sponsor of an initiative petition may not mail or otherwise provide a petition form upon which any information about a voter has been filled in before it is provided to the voter.

TheA sponsor of an initiative petition that violates this subsection is liable for a fine in the amount of $50 for each such petition formform. that is a violation of this subsection.

(11)(8) If the Secretary of State reasonably believes that a person or entity has committed a violation of this section, Pagethe 26secretary ofmay 49refer CODING:the matter to the Attorney General for enforcement.

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 the secretary may refer the matter to the Attorney General for enforcement.

If(12)(9) theThe sponsordivision ofshall anadopt initiativeby petitionrule discovers a violationcomplaint ofform thisfor sectiona andvoter reportsan theelector violationwho asclaims soon as practicable to thehave secretary,had thehis sponsoror mayher notPage be24 finedof for49 suchCODING: violation.

(12)(9)Words Thestricken divisionare shalldeletions; adopt by rule a complaint form for a voter an elector who claims to have had his or her signature misrepresented, forged, or not delivered to the supervisor.

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb signature misrepresented, forged, or not delivered to the supervisor.

The sponsor shall submit Pagesigned 27and dated forms to the supervisor of 49elections CODING:for the county of residence listed by the person signing the form for verification of the number of valid signatures obtained.

If a signature on a petition is from a registered voter in another county, the supervisor shall notify the petition sponsor of the misfiled petition.

The supervisor shall promptly verify the signatures within 60 days after receipt of the petition forms and payment of a fee for the actual cost of signature verification incurred by the supervisor.

However, for petition forms submitted less than 60 days before February 1 of an even- numbered year, the supervisor shall promptly verify the Page 25 of 49 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb signedsignatures andwithin dated30 formsdays toafter thereceipt supervisor of elections for the county of residence listed by the person signing the form forand verificationpayment of the numberfee offor validsignature signaturesverification. obtained.

(b)Signatures Themay supervisornot shallbe recordverified theuntil datepayment eachhas submittedbeen petitionreceived isand received.processed by the supervisor.

IfThe asupervisor signatureshall onpromptly arecord, petitionin isthe frommanner aprescribed registeredby voterthe inSecretary anotherof county,State, the supervisordate musteach shallform notifyis thereceived petitionby sponsorthe supervisor, and the divisiondate ofthe signature on the misfiledform petition.is verified as valid.

The supervisor shall promptly verify the signatures within 60 days after receipt of the petition forms and payment and processing of a fee for the actual cost of signature verification incurred by the supervisor.

However, for petition forms submitted less than 60 days before February 1 of an even- numbered year, the supervisor shall promptly verify the signatures within 30 days after receipt of the form and payment of the fee for signature verification.

(c) Beginning July 1, 2025, the supervisor shall promptly record, in the manner prescribed by the Secretary of State, the date each form is received by the supervisor, and the date the signature on the form is verified as valid.

Florida driver license or Florida identification card Pagenumber 28issued ofpursuant 49to CODING:s.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 number issued pursuant to s.

The supervisor shall retain all signature forms, separating forms verified as valid from those deemed invalid, for at least 1Page year26 followingof the49 electionCODING: for which the petition was circulated.

(d)1.(b) On the last day of each month, or on the last day of each week from December 1 of an odd-numbered year through February 1 of the following year, each supervisor shall electronically transmit all received petition forms to the division.

The digital images of the scanned petition forms must be of high enough quality that division personnel are able to accurately discern elements contained in such forms.

Forms must be identified as valid or as invalid.

2.

Each supervisor shall retain all petition forms, identifying forms verified as valid from those deemed invalid, until all petition forms have been processed following the February 1 deadline.

As soon as practicable following the processing of the last timely submitted petition form, but not later than March 15 following the February 1 deadline, the supervisor shall deliver the physical forms to the division.

The Page 29 of 49 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb division shall retain all petition forms for 1 year following the election for which the petition was circulated.

(e)(b)1. Beginning October 1, 2025, when the signature on the petition form is verified as valid, the supervisor shall, as soon as practicable, notify the voter by mail at the mailing address on file in the Florida Voter Registration System.

On the last day of each month, or on the last day of each week from December 1 of an odd-numbered year through February 1 of the following year, each supervisor shall electronically transmit all signature forms to the division.

The digital images of the scanned signature forms must be of high enough quality that division personnel are be able to accurately discern elements contained in such forms.

Forms that have been verified as valid must be separated from those that have been deemed invalid.

2.

Each supervisor must retain all petition forms, separating forms verified as valid from those deemed invalid, until all petition forms have been processed following the February 1 deadline.

As soon as practicable following the processing of the last timely submitted petition form, but not later than March 15 following the February 1 deadline, the supervisor must deliver the physical forms to the division.

The division shall retain all petition forms for 1 year following the election for which the petition was circulated.

(c) When the signature on the petition form is verified as valid, the supervisor shall, as soon as practicable, notify the voter by mail at the mailing address on file in the Florida Voter Registration System.

Such notice must be sent by forwardable mail with a postage prepaid preaddressed form, which may be returned to the Officesupervisor. of Election Crimes and Security.

The notice mustshall include contact information for the Officesupervisor of Electionelections Crimesoffice, and Security, including the telephone number, fax number, mailing address, and e-mail address.

The notice must includePage all27 of the49 followingCODING: statements or information in substantially the following form:

NOTICE A petition to place a proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot for the next general election, bearing your name and signature, has been received and verified by the Supervisor of Elections Office in ...

(insert county)....

The petition is for ...(insert the petition serial number and ballot title)...

and was signed on ...(insert the date the voter signed the petition)....

Check this box ☐, sign, and return this notice to the Office of Election Crimes and Security if you believe Page 30 of 49 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb yourinclude signatureall hasof beenthe misrepresentedfollowing statements or forgedinformation onin asubstantially petition.the following form:

Thea. petition form in question will be invalidated and will not be counted toward the number of signatures required to place this proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot.

A“A noticepetition beingto returnedplace musta beproposed receivedconstitutional byamendment on the Officeballot offor Electionthe Crimesnext general election, bearing your name and Securitysignature, onhas orbeen beforereceived Februaryand 1verified ...by the Supervisor of Elections Office.” b.

(insertThat the yearpetition inincluded: which the general election is held)....

(I) ...(Insert the voter’spetition Floridaserial voter registration number, andballot iftitle, applicable,ballot thesummary, petitionand circulator’ssponsoring number)....committee)...;

Byand signing(II) below,...(Insert Ithe sweardate orthe affirmvoter thatsigned mythe signaturepetition, the date the petition was misrepresentedreceived orby forgedthe onSupervisor of Elections Office, and the date the petition formwas indicatedverified inby thisthe notice.Supervisor of Elections...

...(Voter’sc. Signature)...

...(Date)...“Check the box, sign, and return this notice to your Supervisor of Elections if you believe your signature has been misrepresented or forged on a petition.

ThisThe noticepetition becomesform ain publicquestion recordwill uponbe receiptinvalidated byand not be counted toward the Officenumber of Electionsignatures Crimesrequired andto Security.place this proposed constitutional amendment on the ballot.” d.

“A returned notice must be received by the Supervisor of Elections by February 1 of the year in which the general election is held.” 2.

Such notice must include both of the following:

a.

A box for a voter to check if his or her signature was misrepresented or forged on the petition and a blank space for the voter to sign and date the return form attesting to such.

b.

The following disclosure, which must be prominently displayed beneath the space for the voter’s signature:

Page 28 of 49 CODING:

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words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb This notice becomes a public record upon receipt by the Supervisor of Elections.

772.083, Florida Statutes, for aany person to knowingly make a false official statement pursuant to s.

Page3. 31 of 49 CODING:

WordsUpon strickenreceiving area deletions;completed notice, the supervisor shall revoke the voter’s petition form, which must be deemed invalid, and the supervisor shall immediately notify the division.

words(d) underlinedEach aresupervisor additions.shall post the actual cost of signature verification for petition forms received more than 60 days before February 1 of an even-numbered year and for petition forms received less than 60 days before February 1 of an even- numbered year on his or her website, and may increase such cost, as necessary, annually on March 1 February 2 of each even- numbered year.

FloridaThese Senatecosts -include 2025operating CSand forpersonnel SBcosts 7016associated 594-03411-25with 20257016c1comparing 2.signatures, printing or sending notices to voters that their signature has been verified, and transmitting petition forms to the division.

Upon receiving a completed notice, the Office of Election Crimes and Security shall transmit a copy of such notices to the division.

The division shall deem the voter’s petition form invalid.

(f) Each supervisor shall post the actual cost of signature verification for petition forms received more than 60 days before February 1 of an even-numbered year and for petition forms received less than 60 days before February 1 of an even- numbered year on his or her website, and may increase such cost, as necessary, annually on March 1 February 2 of each even- numbered year.

These costs include operating and personnel costs associated with comparing signatures, printing and all postage costs related to the verification notice required by paragraph (e), and transmitting petition forms to the division.

(g)(c)(e)(c) On the last day of each month, or on the last day of each week from December 1 of an odd-numbered year through February 1 of the following year, each supervisor shall post on his or her website the total number of signatures submitted, the total number of invalid signatures, the total number of signatures processed, andtotal the aggregate number of verified valid signatures revoked, and thePage distribution29 of such49 signaturesCODING: by congressional district for each proposed amendment proposed by initiative, along with the following information specific to the reporting period:

the total number of signed petition forms received, the total number of signatures verified, the Page 32 of 49 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb distributionthe aggregate number of verified valid signatures and the distribution of such signatures by congressional district,district andfor theeach totalproposed numberamendment ofproposed verifiedby petitioninitiative, formsalong forwardedwith the following information specific to the Secretaryreporting ofperiod: State.

For any reporting period in which the percentagetotal number of signed petition forms deemedreceived, invalid by the supervisortotal exceedsnumber aof totalsignatures ofverified, 25the percentdistribution of theverified petitionvalid formssignatures received by thecongressional supervisordistrict, forand thatthe reportingtotal period,number theof supervisorverified shallpetition notifyforms forwarded to the OfficeSecretary of ElectionState. Crimes and Security.

TheFor Officeany ofreporting Electionperiod Crimesin andwhich Security shall conduct a preliminary investigation into the activitiespercentage of thesignatures sponsor,deemed oneinvalid orexceeds more25 petitionpercent, circulators,the orsupervisor ashall personnotify collecting petition forms on behalf of a sponsor, to determine whether the invalidatedOffice petitions are a result of fraudElection orCrimes anyand otherSecurity. violation of this section.

AsThe Office of Election Crimes and Security, as authorized by ss.s.

97.012(15) and 97.022(1),s. the Office of Elections Crimes and Security may, if warranted, report findings to the statewide prosecutor or the state attorney for the judicial circuit in which the alleged violation occurred for prosecution.

(h)97.022(1), Ashall signedconduct petitiona formpreliminary submittedinvestigation byand anmay, ineligibleif orwarranted, unregisteredreport petitionfindings circulatorto mustthe bestatewide invalidatedprosecutor andor maythe notstate beattorney countedfor toward the numberjudicial ofcircuit necessaryin signatureswhich forthe placementalleged onviolation theoccurred ballot.for prosecution.

(15)(12) The Secretary of State shall determine from the signatures verified by the supervisors of elections the total number of verified valid signatures, less any signatures that were invalidated pursuant to subsection (14), and the distribution of such signatures by congressional districts, and the division shall post such information on its website at the same intervals specified in paragraph (14)(g)(14)(e) (11)(c).

Upon a determination that the requisite number and distribution of Pagevalid 33signatures have been obtained, the secretary shall issue a certificate of 49ballot CODING:position for that proposed amendment and shall assign a designating number pursuant to s.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 valid signatures have been obtained, the secretary shall issue a certificate of ballot position for that proposed amendment and shall assign a designating number pursuant to s.

The secretary mustshall rescind the certificate of ballot position if an advisory opinion issued by the Supreme Court pursuant to s.

(16)(a)(13)(a)Page Upon30 receipt of a49 proposedCODING: revision or amendment from the Secretary of State, the coordinator of the Office of Economic and Demographic Research shall contact the person identified as the sponsor to request an official list of all persons authorized to speak on behalf of the named sponsor and, if there is one, the sponsoring organization at meetings held by the Financial Impact Estimating Conference.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb (16)(a)(13)(a) Upon receipt of a proposed revision or amendment from the Secretary of State, the coordinator of the Office of Economic and Demographic Research shall contact the person identified as the sponsor to request an official list of all persons authorized to speak on behalf of the named sponsor and, if there is one, the sponsoring organization at meetings held by the Financial Impact Estimating Conference.

(b) Within 75 days after receipt of a proposed revision or amendment to the State Constitution by initiative petition from the Secretary of State, the Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall complete an analysis and financial impact statement to be placed on the ballot of the estimated increase Pageor 34decrease ofin 49any CODING:revenues or costs to state or local governments and the overall impact to the state budget resulting from the proposed initiative.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 or decrease in any revenues or costs to state or local governments and the overall impact to the state budget resulting from the proposed initiative.

If the initiativePage petition31 has been submitted to the Financial Impact Estimating Conference but the validity of signatures49 hasCODING: expired and the initiative petition no longer qualifies for ballot placement at the ensuing general election, the Secretary of State must notify the Financial Impact Estimating Conference.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb initiative petition has been submitted to the Financial Impact Estimating Conference but the validity of signatures has expired and the initiative petition no longer qualifies for ballot placement at the ensuing general election, the Secretary of State must notify the Financial Impact Estimating Conference.

(b) Immediately upon receipt of a proposed revision or amendment from the Secretary of State, the coordinator of the Office of Economic and Demographic Research shall contact the person identified as the sponsor to request an official list of all persons authorized to speak on behalf of the named sponsor and, if there is one, the sponsoring organization at meetings Pageheld 35by ofthe 49Financial CODING:Impact Estimating Conference.

All other persons shall be deemed interested parties or proponents or opponents of the initiative.

The Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall provide an opportunity for any representatives of the sponsor, interested parties, proponents, or opponents of the initiative to submit information and may solicit information Page 32 of 49 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb heldor byanalysis from any other entities or agencies, including the FinancialOffice Impactof EstimatingEconomic Conference.and Demographic Research.

All other persons shall be deemed interested parties or proponents or opponents of the initiative.

The Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall provide an opportunity for any representatives of the sponsor, interested parties, proponents, or opponents of the initiative to submit information and may solicit information or analysis from any other entities or agencies, including the Office of Economic and Demographic Research.

The Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall be composed consist of four principals:

one person from the professional staff of the Executive Office of the GovernorGovernor, or from a state agency, designated by the Governor;

Each principal shall have appropriate fiscal Pageexpertise 36in the subject matter of 49the CODING:initiative.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 expertise in the subject matter of the initiative.

Principals of the Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall reach a consensus or majority concurrence on a clear and unambiguous financial impact statement, no more than 150 words in length, and immediately submit the statement to the Attorney General.Page 33 of 49 CODING:

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words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb General.

If the financial impact statement projects a net positive impact on the state budget, the ballot must include the Pagestatement 37required ofby 49s. CODING:

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words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 statement required by s.

If the financial impact statement was not produced or if thePage Financial34 Impactof Estimating49 ConferenceCODING: did not meet to produce the financial statement, the ballot must include the statement required by s.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb the Financial Impact Estimating Conference did not meet to produce the financial statement, the ballot must include the statement required by s.

Page(f)3. 38 of 49 CODING:

In addition to the financial impact statement required by this subsection, the Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall draft an initiative financial information statement.

The initiative financial information statement should describe in greater detail than the financial impact statement any projected increase or decrease in revenues or costs that the state or local governments would likely experience if the ballot Page 35 of 49 CODING:

Florida Senate - 2025 CS(Proposed forBill) SBSPB 7016 594-03411-25582-02150A-25 20257016c120257016pb (f)3.measure were approved.

In addition to the financial impact statement required by this subsection, the Financial Impact Estimating Conference shall draft an initiative financial information statement.

The initiative financial information statement should describe in greater detail than the financial impact statement any projected increase or decrease in revenues or costs that the state or local governments would likely experience if the ballot measure were approved.

Each supervisor shall include a copy of each summary from the initiative financial Pageinformation 39statements and the Internet addresses for the information statements on the Secretary of 49State’s CODING:and the Office of Economic and Demographic Research’s websites in the publication or mailing required by s.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 information statements and the Internet addresses for the information statements on the Secretary of State’s and the Office of Economic and Demographic Research’s websites in the publication or mailing required by s.

(18)(15)Page No36 provision of this49 codeCODING: shall be deemed to prohibit a private person exercising lawful control over privately owned property, including property held open to the public for the purposes of a commercial enterprise, from excluding from such property persons seeking to engage in activity supporting or opposing initiative amendments.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb (18)(15) No provision of this code shall be deemed to prohibit a private person exercising lawful control over privately owned property, including property held open to the public for the purposes of a commercial enterprise, from excluding from such property persons seeking to engage in activity supporting or opposing initiative amendments.

(1) ByThe JulyDepartment 1,of 2025,State shall, within 30 days after the Departmenteffective date of Statethis shallact, update the forms as required by the amendments made to s.

100.371(3), Florida Statutes, for any proposed amendments received before Julythe 1,effective 2025.date of this act.

(2)(a) ByThe JuneDepartment 1,of 2025,State shall, within 30 days after the Departmenteffective date of Statethis shallact, make available a new petition circulator application to incorporate the amendments made to s.

EffectiveThirty Julydays 1,after 2025,the effective date of this act, the registration of each petition circulator expires.

No later than 7 days after thisthe sectioneffective becomesdate law,of this act, the Department of State shall notify each petition circulator that his or her registration expiresis onexpiring July 1, 2025, and that he or she may reregister by completing a new application that will be available before the current registration expires.

(c)(3) ByA Junesupervisor 1,of 2025,elections may, within 90 days after the Departmenteffective date of Statethis shallact, developincrease the trainingcost requiredof bysignature verification pursuant to the amendments made to s.

100.371(4)(f),100.371(14)(c), Florida Statutes.

Page 40 of 49 CODING:

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words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 (3) No later than October 1, 2025, a supervisor of elections may increase the cost of signature verification pursuant to the amendments made to s.

100.371(14)(f), Florida Statutes.

Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 101.161,Page Florida37 Statutes,of is49 amended,CODING: and paragraph (e) is added to that subsection, to read:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb 101.161, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (e) is added to that subsection, to read:

(a) A separate financial impact statement concerning the Pagemeasure 41prepared ofby 49the CODING:Financial Impact Estimating Conference in accordance with s.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 measure prepared by the Financial Impact Estimating Conference in accordance with s.

THEPage FINANCIAL38 IMPACTof OF49 THISCODING: AMENDMENT, IF ANY, HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb THE FINANCIAL IMPACT OF THIS AMENDMENT, IF ANY, HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED AT THIS TIME.

102.141 determines, within 5 days after the certification by the Elections Canvassing Commission, that a typographical error occurred in the official returns of the county, the correction of which could result in a change in the outcome of an election, the county canvassing board must certify corrected returns to the Department of State within 24 hours, and the Elections PageCanvassing 42Commission ofmust 49correct CODING:and recertify the election returns as soon as practicable.

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words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 Canvassing Commission must correct and recertify the election returns as soon as practicable.

102.121 Elections Canvassing Commission to issue certificates.—The Elections Canvassing Commission shall make and sign separate certificates of the result of the election for federalPage officers,39 and state officers, and constitutional amendments, which certificates must shall be written and contain the total number of votes49 castCODING: for and against each person for each office and the total number of votes cast for and against each constitutional amendment.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb federal officers, and state officers, and constitutional amendments, which certificates must shall be written and contain the total number of votes cast for and against each person for each office and the total number of votes cast for and against each constitutional amendment.

(3) The complaint must shall set forth the grounds on which the contestant intends to establish his or her right to such Pageoffice; 43 of 49 CODING:

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words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 office;

(a) Misconduct, fraud, or corruption on the part of any election official or any member of the canvassing board sufficient to change or place in doubt the result of the election.Page 40 of 49 CODING:

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words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb election.

The sponsor Pageof 44a ofconstitutional 49amendment CODING:proposed by initiative petition, identified pursuant to s.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 of a constitutional amendment proposed by initiative petition, identified pursuant to s.

signing another person’s name or a fictitious name.— (2)Page A41 person who signs another person’s name or a fictitious name to any petition, or who fills in missing information on a signed petition, to secure ballot position for a candidate, a minor political party, or an issue commits a felony of the49 thirdCODING: degree, punishable as provided in s.

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb (2) A person who signs another person’s name or a fictitious name to any petition, or who fills in missing information on a petition, to secure ballot position for a candidate, a minor political party, or an issue commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.

100.371(4)(a)100.371(4)(a)1. s.

s.

EffectiveSection July 1, 2025, section 104.188, PageFlorida 45Statutes, ofis 49created CODING:to read:

Words stricken are deletions;

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 Florida Statutes, is created to read:

(2)Page A42 personof who49 collects,CODING: delivers, or otherwise physically possesses more than two signed petition forms in addition to his or her own signed petition form or a signed petition form belonging to an immediate family member, and who is not registered as a petition circulator pursuant to s.

100.371(4)(a),Words commitsstricken aare felonydeletions; of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb (2) A person who distributes, collects, delivers, or otherwise physically possesses more than two signed petition forms in addition to his or her own petition form or a petition form belonging to an immediate family member, and who is not registered as a petition circulator pursuant to s.

100.371(4)(a)1., commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s.

Section 106.151, Florida Statutes, is created to read:

106.151 Use of public funds prohibited.— (1) As used in this section, the term “public funds” means all moneys under the jurisdiction or control of the state government.

(2) The state government or any person acting on behalf of the state government may not expend or authorize the expenditure of, and a person or group may not accept, public funds for a political advertisement or any other communication sent to electors concerning any proposed constitutional amendment or revision that is subject to a vote of the electors.

This subsection applies to a communication initiated by the state government or a person acting on behalf of the state government, irrespective of whether the communication is limited to factual Page 46 of 49 CODING:

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words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 information or advocates for the passage or defeat of a proposed constitutional amendment or revision.

This subsection does not preclude the state government or a person acting on behalf of the state government from reporting on official actions of the state government in an accurate, fair, and impartial manner;

posting factual information on a government website or in printed materials;

hosting and providing information at a public forum;

providing factual information in response to an inquiry;

or providing information as otherwise authorized or required by law.

(3) With the exception of the prohibitions specified in subsection (2), this section does not preclude an elected official of the state government from expressing an opinion on any issue at any time.

Section 17.

Section 18.17.

authorization and use of proceeds.—It is the legislative intent that any authorization for imposition of a discretionary sales surtax shall be published in the Florida Statutes as a Pagesubsection 47of this section, irrespective of 49the CODING:duration of the levy.

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 subsection of this section, irrespective of the duration of the levy.

TaxablePage transactions43 andof administrative49 proceduresCODING: shall be as provided in s.

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words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb Taxable transactions and administrative procedures shall be as provided in s.

The proposal to adopt a discretionary sales surtax as provided in this subsection and to create a trust fund within the county accounts must shall be placed on the ballot in accordance with law and must be approved in a referendum held at a general election in accordance with subsection (10).

100.371(14) Pages. 48 of 49 CODING:

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Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 7016 594-03411-25 20257016c1 s.

Section 19.18.

Paragraph (d)(a) isof added to subsection (8) of section 895.02, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

(8)Page “Racketeering44 activity”of means49 toCODING: commit, to attempt to commit, to conspire to commit, or to solicit, coerce, or intimidate another person to commit:

(d)Words Astricken violationare ofdeletions; the Florida Election Code relating to irregularities or fraud involving issue petition activities.

words underlined are additions.

Florida Senate - 2025 (Proposed Bill) SPB 7016 582-02150A-25 20257016pb (8) “Racketeering activity” means to commit, to attempt to commit, to conspire to commit, or to solicit, coerce, or intimidate another person to commit:

(a) Any crime that is chargeable by petition, indictment, or information under the following provisions of the Florida Statutes:

1.

Section 100.371, relating to petition circulators and sponsors of initiative petitions.

2.

Section 104.155(2), relating to aiding or soliciting a noncitizen in voting.

3.2.

Section 210.18, relating to evasion of payment of cigarette taxes.

4.3.

Section 316.1935, relating to fleeing or attempting to elude a law enforcement officer and aggravated fleeing or eluding.