FloridaFlorida exempts unpaid armed security volunteers at worship sites from licensing
Florida law exempts people who voluntarily provide unpaid armed security on the premises of churches and other places of worship from security licensing requirements.
What it does
Unpaid volunteers providing armed security on the premises of a place of worship are exempt from Florida's security licensing requirements.
Argument forPlaces of worship could arrange volunteer armed security more easily because unpaid volunteers are exempt from security licensing requirements.
Argument againstExempting unpaid armed security volunteers from licensing could reduce state oversight of people protecting worshippers.
More detail
Florida exempts these volunteers from the state chapter governing security licensing. The exemption covers people providing armed security on the premises of a church, mosque, synagogue, or other place of worship. The person must provide the services voluntarily and receive no compensation. The law took effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Apr 24Chapter No. 2026-46Latest
- Apr 23Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- Apr 21Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 17Ordered enrolledMinor
- Mar 11CS passed; YEAS 111, NAYS 1Passed House
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 11Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Mar 11Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 101st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)Minor
- Mar 10Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/11/2026)
- Mar 10Bill referred to House Calendar
- Feb 11In Messages
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 11Immediately certified
- Feb 11CS passed; YEAS 39 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Feb 11Read 3rd timeMinor
- Feb 11Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 9Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/11/26
- Feb 3Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Vote recorded Favorable. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 3Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 23 NAYS 0Minor
- Jan 29On Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/03/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
- Jan 20Now in Rules
- Vote recorded Favorable. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 20Favorable by Judiciary; YEAS 9 NAYS 0Minor
- Jan 15On Committee agenda-- Judiciary, 01/20/26, 9:30 am, 110 Senate Building
- Jan 14Now in Judiciary
- Jan 13CS by Criminal Justice read 1st time
- Jan 13IntroducedMinor
- Jan 13Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
- Jan 12CS by Criminal Justice; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
- Vote recorded Favorable with Committee Substitute. Result: pass.Upper
- Jan 5On Committee agenda-- Criminal Justice, 01/12/26, 1:30 pm, 37 Senate Building
- 2025
- Oct 6Referred to Criminal Justice; Judiciary; RulesMinor
- Sep 16FiledIntroduced
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