[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6083483,"mediaKeyId","2934679-e57a594cf59d5a4b5c737080cfb7c0e8","parentId",2934679,"title","Senate advances bill tightening rules for citizen amendment petitions after fraud report","audioSeconds",5541,"startMs",3019000,"endMs",8560000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2934679-e57a594cf59d5a4b5c737080cfb7c0e8&start=3019&end=8560","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2934679-e57a594cf59d5a4b5c737080cfb7c0e8/thumbnail_3019000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6083483/Florida/Senate-advances-bill-tightening-rules-for-citizen-amendment-petitions-after-fraud-report","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083483-2ed59d127defc660a768bd36b26cc6b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447977&Signature=T7llmMj~4m-C-Ji~Ht6Cdeo1uOFDaOnkkFNhmZHux8GtoWSE8Gr1SmxPn7z9K7m9xyrpQdnMyknC8~KQ9nNGQJo8HzWAPOfgTm9qAoY~yP-LfelM5QZm9ig2PyCfDYZRRlrxZ~6SItI9I9L7gStjdEjoMz07BwYmcduc4ZV~U9v0gjbq1NITMbJgtlNigmThsrlAEvQJeusMbwKIt25WGL2LOqvvRuZfCtvDToPZPsC0385~QoamoAKgVAJMgdE32ONi1WY3iX74XfWx~yVXzkbzhmCnAmCt3PbacCedDqWzEr-CYsSEpqIik0-AsIihq6KoDh1A5904vhrKCF2Ukw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Florida Legislature","date","2025-04-08T00:00:00Z","article","The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee on Monday voted to report favorably on CS/SB 7016, a comprehensive rewrite of Florida's constitutional amendment petition process that establishes new registration, training and identification requirements for petition circulators and new reporting, timelines and penalties for sponsors.

Supporters said the bill responds to findings in a recent Office of Election Crimes and Security report alleging widespread irregularities in the 2024 petition drives. Senator Jeff Gates, one of the bill's sponsors, said the report detailed \"thousands of acts of counterfeiting, deceit, illegal compensation schemes, bulk identity theft, and perjury\" and argued the Legislature must act to protect the constitutional amendment process.

The bill requires petition circulators to register with the state, complete online training, be U.S. and Florida residents, and forbids incentive pay schemes. It requires petitions collected after the bill's effective date to include the full text of the proposed amendment, a financial impact statement and the signer's ID (driver's license number or last four of Social Security). The bill shortens the deadline to deliver collected petitions to supervisors of elections from 30 days to 10 days, and includes a range of civil fines and criminal penalties for certain violations, including making possession of more than a limited number of signed petitions by a non-registered collector a felony in specified circumstances.

A central enforcement mechanism in the bill triggers an investigation by the Office of Election Crimes and Security if any county's validation rate for a petition falls below a statutory threshold during reporting periods. The bill also includes provisions to require sponsors to pay supervisors' administrative costs and creates several new statutory penalties tied to examples cited in the January investigative report.

Opponents at the hearing described wide collateral effects. The American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, Common Cause, student groups and multiple grassroots advocates argued the measure would criminalize well-meaning volunteers, create new burdens for returning citizens and young people, and raise costs so high that only well-funded interests could mount successful citizen initiatives. Several speakers, including college students and longtime petition volunteers, said registering and meeting the new technical requirements will chill participation.

Senator Gates and co-sponsor Representative Grau said the bill seeks to place onus on sponsors to police circulators and to provide sponsors an opportunity to self-report misconduct to avoid fines. They repeatedly cited the Office of Election Crimes and Security's findings as the reason for the bill's urgency and said some provisions would apply prospectively to existing petitions once systems are in place.

The committee report was favorable. A number of members and witnesses requested follow-up: questions ranged from how supervisors would process new ID data and protect it from public-record disclosure, to how investigators would distinguish negligent errors from willful fraud, to whether the 10-day delivery requirement is practical. Sponsors said many implementation details would be handled by the Division of Elections and supervisors of elections but acknowledged some items will require further administrative work.

The committee approved the measure and recommended it favorably to the Senate. The bill will move toward the Senate floor where additional amendments and debate are likely.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee on Fiscal Policy 4/8/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Senate Ethics and Elections Committee on Monday voted to report favorably on CS/SB 7016, a comprehensive rewrite of Florida's constitutional amendment petition process that establishes new registration, training and identification requirements for petition circulators and new reporting, timelines and penalties for sponsors.","taxTitle","Fiscal Policy , Standing Committees, Senate, Legislative, Florida","taxId",26950,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6083470,"Committee adopts substitute for transportation bill, adds $10 million traffic-signal program and data reporting for local surtax use",70,38000,108000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2934679-e57a594cf59d5a4b5c737080cfb7c0e8&start=38&end=108","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2934679-e57a594cf59d5a4b5c737080cfb7c0e8/thumbnail_38000.jpg","/articles/6083470/Florida/Committee-adopts-substitute-for-transportation-bill-adds-10-million-traffic-signal-program-and-data-reporting-for-local-surtax-use","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083470-b26daae4ae683a5a761c563f30b4fd05/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447977&Signature=FhlT5-HF~M5NuR7jxAq4Jy6GDuL2P6iuh~38vFeYY446nskJL6iugOkrhlLdHSLnfsKRwuqgzBY1hGa~37aWFTult7VZpZOodJWUS2PGducdV8B4d1aESMI53rPCJpb~1~hUxBdnf69r6BVShZ2yBJRKyyvW5Q2-EdEmA5QZ5nzGrcU5LsbujFFUhpDNgmULUtsVCX4AdTAS6wald6tosaf~S7IqfJncYnk4Z28b1wG6DULM10-TOYLYIJzsJNILporr98h0-ij4Q6A7yb4qntPhQxZljl-BaQusbtTZyyE8~juxAzLVQ3IWGOmFJrhoRNbRrbLM9OxnSmL1saCN0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate committee adopted a substitute amendment to CS for CS for SB 462, a transportation measure, and reported the bill favorably.

Senator DeSigli, the sponsor, explained the substitute amendment. Key provisions require counties that receive charter county and regional transportation surtax proceeds to submit data on the use of those proceeds to the Office of Economic and Demographic Research. The amendment also prohibits publicly owned airports from charging certain fees for aircraft operations associated with flight training conducted by collegiate aviation programs and creates a pilot program at the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority to study alternative permitting procedures for multi-jurisdictional airports.

The amendment clarified selection procedures for single design-build firms on certain projects, allowed the Florida Department of Transportation to waive some prequalification requirements for small quick-turnaround contracts, and created a traffic-signal modernization program that would retrofit certain signals and allocated $10,000,000 annually from the State Transportation Trust Fund for that program.

The amendment removed several provisions originally in the bill: an earlier proposal to transfer a portion of sales tax revenue to the State Transportation Trust Fund, a requirement that FDOT competitively bid any contract created as part of a bid-protest settlement, and a provision repealing the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council.

After brief committee debate and a roll-call, the committee reported CS for CS for SB 462 favorably.","The committee adopted a substitute amendment to CS for CS for SB 462, adding data reporting requirements for county surtax use, a pilot at Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority and a $10 million annual traffic-signal modernization program.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6083475,"Committee backs wide-ranging Florida Farm Bill with fluoride, drone and land-reuse provisions",158,807000,965000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2934679-e57a594cf59d5a4b5c737080cfb7c0e8&start=807&end=965","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2934679-e57a594cf59d5a4b5c737080cfb7c0e8/thumbnail_807000.jpg","/articles/6083475/Florida/Committee-backs-wide-ranging-Florida-Farm-Bill-with-fluoride-drone-and-land-reuse-provisions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083475-8f3c5c0c554ffcb8bc9037f100dbcdaf/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447977&Signature=NTpa9HVtsYyu0iJtpqvPSbXJkTrzedJ5nZcQ9fGtD8UuSnD5pncYUBIenzYHF6bRmPWfs2Ct0v4aOwW-DHqagVSAVwpzLTYIl4XPVEGgZIiXmZ~BcfytUeEZWldRzfxcuDkRnXCYmh~FlTcA6WRglEc~CmXWGwdc8o6Oli5WrpRT9C8pzcKDw2nIwfWdxfA62ImVkaJYGLN541qtONyPtT1jUyTYoZd4kOUoKM0Gf5iuPrsyPlMYqQ79~lPcWNMr7qJ50zgtbGIwjp8tO4ry5B2SBmF4tDdu1p~h9PzPHQsYFvmNTvKCYv9ZRc9JqCt-oVW0LEHO6Ms4ROwEzTHHkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senate Bill 700, presented in the committee as the \"Florida Farm Bill,\" was reported favorably after the panel adopted a delete-all substitute that sponsor Senator Truenow said kept the bill's underlying intent while adding definitions and clarifications.

Sponsor Truenow said the bill can be divided into technical, agency-process changes and several larger policy provisions. Among the larger items she summarized: a prohibition on adding any substance to public water systems that is unrelated to water purity; new labeling requirements for meat, milk, poultry and egg products; criminal prohibitions on flying drones over greenbelt farmland and a misdemeanor for harassing people with drones on public or private property; updates to state agriculture and aquaculture disaster recovery loan and grant programs; an \"honest service\" registry limiting charities from soliciting donations from certain foreign countries of concern; and a provision allowing the state to purchase agricultural land that was converted to solar fields after decommissioning and re-offer it for agricultural use.

Supporters and opponents presented multiple viewpoints. Speakers ranged from county water activists who oppose mandatory fluoridation to bankers and trade associations concerned about a private right of action in financial discrimination clauses (Section 74) and the bill's interplay with recent banking-related regulations. Senator Boyd urged the sponsor to work with bankers on the private-right-of-action language as the bill moves to the floor. The League of Women Voters testified against the bill as written where it would preempt local authority over water fluoridation decisions.

The committee adopted the strike-all amendment and reported SB 700 favorably. Senators asked for continued consultation on implementation details, including the mechanics of potential land purchases and funding sources for those acquisitions.","Senate Bill 700, described by its sponsor as the Florida Farm Bill, was reported favorably after committee debate. The strike-all amendment clarifies definitions and adds provisions on water additives, food labeling, drones, disaster recovery programs and land purchases of former solar fields.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6083479,"Committee advances 'Lucy's Law' to strengthen penalties for reckless boating after parents' testimony",129,262000,391000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2934679-e57a594cf59d5a4b5c737080cfb7c0e8&start=262&end=391","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2934679-e57a594cf59d5a4b5c737080cfb7c0e8/thumbnail_262000.jpg","/articles/6083479/Florida/Committee-advances-Lucys-Law-to-strengthen-penalties-for-reckless-boating-after-parents-testimony","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083479-98986f631fba4055d7700290cc632c93/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447977&Signature=CtPDCjqIUpLTjOrHk3K0XkFoAFEuTr4NGhyX91QWHU1Sl5PQ-q-q6CaOEPzPiIo3S-DHm35m5Zq~N0PnJpFcc6zaTlHTTRgoldRYOUoj3i-FnL73sgrHIAbnxUwdoCDqAUbAoOtfGIJ3C9i8z~8qVEpKzVBGjar3BwVVHiiy2YpKNOsg8Z8QXek97Q4OGVuQvx10gD5CBA6SbuytoeDEZwqkIuVyApf-xWXApiWRZ~S~YwJRsWaTt~8bnB~aRD7YfFk7fUERSeBSQRih-AmEJU9UJn6qiWYes212RYVJLhUGjYrMm72s~4muiMOHCbOiuwOYrxOh-O25yk84ogYBGQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate Committee on Fiscal Policy reported CS for CS for SB 628, known in the hearing as \"Lucy's Law,\" favorably after sponsor Senator Nick Martin described the bill as a measure to \"align boating laws more closely with motor vehicle laws to increase accountability and safety on our waterways.\"

During public comment, Melissa Fernandez and her husband Andy, parents of a 17-year-old named Lucy who died in a 2022 boating crash, urged senators to pass the bill. Melissa Fernandez recounted the crash, said investigators found GPS evidence that the vessel \"traveled in a straight line with an increase in speed on the wrong side of the channel,\" and described her family's belief that the criminal response to the crash fell short: \"When charges were finally brought forward after an 11 month investigation, they amounted to little more than a traffic ticket.\"

Senator Martin withdrew two pending amendments and presented the underlying bill, explaining it establishes penalties for leaving the scene of a vessel accident and for reckless operation, and includes defences. He told the committee he was coordinating with stakeholders on language. Several supporters waved in; there was no extended debate after public comment. Senator Martin closed by thanking the parents for their advocacy.

The committee then called the roll and recorded a favorable report. The committee's action sends the bill toward the Senate floor.","Senators reported CS for CS for SB 628 favorably after sponsor Senator Martin described the measure as enhancing penalties for leaving the scene of a vessel accident and reckless vessel operation; bereaved parents delivered emotional testimony urging passage.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6083465,"Votes at a glance: committee reports six bills favorably; key outcomes listed",2207,8553000,10760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2934679-e57a594cf59d5a4b5c737080cfb7c0e8&start=8553&end=10760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2934679-e57a594cf59d5a4b5c737080cfb7c0e8/thumbnail_8553000.jpg","/articles/6083465/Florida/Votes-at-a-glance-committee-reports-six-bills-favorably-key-outcomes-listed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6083465-ad64daf5d273ceff59c796623a280bc3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770447977&Signature=eplEGm1BvfgTs59EuY1FRD74N3D2XhC7VVy2ph3DlvqW4eVYAlLJ-mViNnQ9l4jmeXYw53B7XZp5ZjqNTKDujZ6AveCwU4nd-a88~OEEuZvp9V48qor13CXAiRMvYLb55xsKJmrv2dUGnSaN8Kn1fCwWx8mOK4d21Yu5GprXcpo3axQde9zRRTByCJhrcmv8QFxRWL7l47X7q7-mptZ0Qmd6Z~cy0wf6js4ySaGaEDnT700c4W5Y85RS62j19JhPRa0~oDiyzDHwOm0tKlrgo2OsH8kYRo1wKHsjV0g0OsH7HQBgnG8IzxGqnWX1GyJbFzpojsLnAcs3w1wJ7ru7-A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The committee completed votes and reported several bills favorably. Listed below are the bills the committee reported and the key outcomes or notes from committee debate. For bills with additional debate or testimony, separate articles summarize those discussions.

Votes at a glance

- CS/CS/CS for SB 462 (transportation): Reported favorably after adoption of a substitute amendment that added surtax reporting, an airport pilot program at the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority, contracting clarifications and a $10,000,000 annual traffic-signal modernization allocation. (See transportation article for details.)

- CS/CS/CS for SB 628 (\"Lucy's Law\", boating safety): Reported favorably following sponsor explanation and testimony by the victim's parents urging tougher penalties for reckless vessel operation and leaving the scene. (See Lucy's Law article for details.)

- CS/CS for SB 700 (Florida Farm Bill): Reported favorably after a delete-all substitute; the bill contains provisions on water additives, food labeling, drone rules over farmland, disaster recovery programs, and a mechanism to repurchase farmland converted to solar after decommissioning. Workers and trade groups flagged concerns about private-right-of-action language and local preemption on fluoridation.

- SB 796 (distributed wastewater treatment systems): Reported favorably. Sponsor said the bill allows general permits through the Department of Environmental Protection for distributed wastewater treatment units to replace failing septic tanks; committee testimony included a waiver of support.

- CS for SP 1618 (pre-K through grade 12 education package): Reported favorably after a lengthy delete-all amendment that combined K-12 and higher education provisions, including VPK enrollment flexibility, education standards language, student-support changes, and a provision restricting use of state or federal funds for social or political activism in public schools.

- CS/SB 7016 (initiative-petition reform): Reported favorably after extensive debate and public comment (see separate article). The bill establishes new circulator registration and training, ID requirements on petition forms, new time limits for delivery and validation, and a schedule of fines and enforcement triggers tied to the Office of Election Crimes and Security's findings.

Committee procedure

The committee called the roll for each reported bill and recorded votes; the transcript records the committee's votes as reported favorably for the bills above. For detailed vote counts and individual senator positions, see the committee roll-call entries in the official minutes and transcript.","The committee recorded favorable reports on multiple bills during the meeting, including CS/CS/CS for SB 462 (transportation), CS/CS/CS for SB 628 (Lucy's Law), CS/CS for SB 700 (Florida Farm Bill), SB 796 (distributed wastewater permits), CS/CS for SP 1618 (K-20 education package) and CS/SB 7016 (initiative petition reform).","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senate advances bill tightening rules for citizen amendment petitions after fraud report

Committee adopts substitute for transportation bill, adds $10 million traffic-signal program and data reporting for local surtax use

Committee backs wide-ranging Florida Farm Bill with fluoride, drone and land-reuse provisions

Committee advances 'Lucy's Law' to strengthen penalties for reckless boating after parents' testimony

Votes at a glance: committee reports six bills favorably; key outcomes listed