The Committee on Rules met and reported favorably on nine bills, with the committee chair announcing each measure "reported favorably" after roll call votes. The agenda included changes to warranty-association solvency options, candidate qualification enforcement, protections for housing-assistance applicants' records, expanded options for public-records exemptions for sensitive infrastructure, updates to trust law, and a policy to allow local opt-in for on-street use of utility terrain vehicles (UTVs).

Why it matters: Several bills make technical or administrative changes that affect how businesses, local governments and state agencies comply with Florida law. Senate Bill 88 on UTVs prompted the meeting's most extensive debate, with supporters saying it gives law enforcement enforcement tools and opponents warning of misuse in denser communities.

The meeting opened with roll call and procedural instructions from Chair Passadomo. Senator Trudeau explained CS for CS for SB 282, which modifies financial-security options for home and service warranty associations regulated under chapter 634, allowing more than one collateral liability insurance policy (CLIP) and clarifying documentation options for companies meeting net-worth requirements. The committee adopted an amendment (barcode 103856) that gives contractual liability policies the option to pay a percentage of claims as incurred or to pay a percentage upon failure of the association to pay claims.

Senator Arrington presented CS for SB 280, changing candidate-qualification law to create a sworn party-affiliation requirement enforceable through a private right of action. “If a circuit court determines such person did not comply he or she is disqualified from placement on the ballot,” the sponsor said.

Senator McClain presented SB 7004, a sunset-review bill that would repeal the expiration date for a public-records exemption protecting certain applicants or participants in federal, state, or local housing-assistance programs during disasters, citing post-disaster privacy concerns.

Senator Wright led the discussion on CS for CS for SB 88, the opt-in UTV bill. The bill would allow counties or municipalities to designate two-lane roads or municipal streets with posted limits under 55 mph for UTV operation after a local safety determination; UTVs could cross state highways but would not generally operate on the state highway system. The bill requires a licensed driver and equipment including seat belts, and treats violations as noncriminal traffic infractions.

Ben Johnson, identified as a retired sheriff from DeLand, testified in support of the UTV bill: "It's a great way of local transportation...it's much more durable, a lot roll cages, etcetera, and it's a safe little vehicle." Senator Wright argued the bill "gives our law enforcement the tools they need" to address uninsured or improperly driven UTVs.

Opponents stressed enforcement concerns in urban areas. Senator Jones said she planned to vote no, saying, "that is my only reason why I'm gonna vote no on this bill, because of how, in some of these larger, communities...they are using these." Senator Osgood expressed similar safety concerns and said she would vote no for the same reasons.

Other bills the committee moved forward included CS for SB 106 (allowing substitute service via the messaging method used by scammers so courts can freeze assets and permit a 30-day hold after final order), CS/CS for SB 262 (technical clarifications to the Florida Trust Code including rules on ‘‘decanting’’ and homestead reassessment when transferring into a community-property trust), SB 402 (standardizing references to branches of the Armed Forces in the statute on unlawful use of uniforms, medals or insignia), SB 7000 (repealing the sunset for records-exemption protections for site-specific information on threatened or endangered species), and SB 7006 (retaining public-records and public-meeting exemptions for NG911 and public-safety radio infrastructure maps and plans).

Votes at a glance:
- CS for CS for SB 282 — Home and service warranty association financial requirements; amendment adopted (barcode 103856); reported favorably.
- CS for SB 280 — Candidate qualification; creates an enforceable sworn party-affiliation requirement and a private right of action; reported favorably.
- SB 7004 — Public-records exemption (applicants/participants in housing-assistance programs) sunset repeal; reported favorably.
- CS for CS for SB 88 — Utility terrain vehicles; local opt-in for street use with equipment and licensing requirements; late amendment (barcode 685694) clarifying insurance cross-references adopted; reported favorably (multiple senators voiced opposition based on local misuse concerns).
- CS for SB 106 — Exploitation of vulnerable adults / substitute service via messaging apps; amendment adopted confirming a 30-day hold; reported favorably.
- CS for CS for SB 262 — Trust law technical amendments (decanting, redemption by satisfaction, community property trust homestead reassessment protections); reported favorably.
- SB 402 — Unlawful use of uniforms, medals, insignia; standardizes statutory references to the Armed Forces; reported favorably.
- SB 7000 — OGSR: site-specific location information for endangered/threatened species; sunset repeal; reported favorably.
- SB 7006 — Public records/meetings exemption for NG911 and public-safety radio infrastructure; reported favorably.

Several measures drew little debate and multiple written supporters waived testimony. The committee chair called the roll after each item and announced the favorable report. No final floor adoption occurred at this meeting; each bill was simply reported favorably out of committee and will proceed through the legislative process.

The committee adjourned after Senator Boyd moved to adjourn and no objection was voiced.