FloridaFlorida law lets court clerks count trust fund money in budgets
Starting July 1, 2026, court clerks may count trust fund balances in budgets, and county offices may use listed websites for real property notices.
What it does
The court operations corporation may count trust fund balances when planning clerks’ budgets for court work. At least 10 percent of the cumulative excess must stay in reserve until the reserve reaches at least 16 percent of the year’s total budget authority.
Clerks and county comptrollers may post required real property notices on their own websites, designated private sites, or county websites.
When a violation occurs in a municipality, 28.2 percent of the remaining civil penalties goes to the municipality and 28.2 percent goes to the state fine and forfeiture fund.
Argument forCounting trust fund balances in court budgets could help clerks cover court work when fee revenue does not cover planned costs.
Argument againstHolding part of the trust fund excess in reserve could leave clerks with less of that money available for court budgets right away.
More detail
The Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation may include money remaining in the Clerks of the Court Trust Fund when it plans and approves clerks’ budgets. This applies to the combined budgets of court clerks for court-related work. At least 10 percent of the cumulative excess must be held in reserve until the funds reach at least 16 percent of the current county fiscal year’s total budget authority. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
Clerks of circuit court and county comptrollers may use specified websites to publish required notices and advertisements about real property. This applies to real property notices and advertisements that a clerk of circuit court or county comptroller must publish. The website may belong to the clerk or comptroller, be a private site designated by that office, be the county’s official website, or be a private site designated by the county. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
County courts distribute 28.2 percent of the remaining civil penalties to a municipality and deposit 28.2 percent into the state fine and forfeiture fund when a violation occurs within a municipality. This applies to the distribution of civil penalties received by county courts under the traffic law chapter. For violations in a Seminole or Miccosukee special improvement district, 56.4 percent goes to that district. For violations in an eligible unincorporated county area, 56.4 percent goes to the state fine and forfeiture fund. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 26Chapter No. 2026-112Latest
- May 22Approved by Governor Ron DeSantisBecame Law
- May 21Signed by Officers and presented to GovernorTo Governor
- Mar 12Ordered engrossed, then enrolledMinor
- Vote recorded Passage. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 12CS passed as amended; YEAS 101, NAYS 5Major
- Mar 12Amendment 878376 Concur
- Mar 12Added to Senate Message List
- Mar 11In Messages
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 11CS passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- Mar 11Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 11Amendment(s) adopted (878376)
- Mar 11Read 2nd timeMinor
- Mar 11Substituted for CS/CS/SB 532
- Mar 11Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- Mar 11Withdrawn from RulesMajor
- Mar 4ReceivedMinor
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 4Referred to RulesMinor
- Mar 4In Messages
- Mar 4CS passed; YEAS 111, NAYS 1Passed House
- Mar 4Read 3rd timeMinor
- Mar 4Added to Third Reading Calendar
- Mar 4Read 2nd timeMinor
- Feb 26Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/4/2026)
- Feb 24Added to Second Reading Calendar
- Vote recorded Favorable (Judiciary Committee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 24Bill released to House Calendar
- Feb 24Reported out of Judiciary Committee
- Feb 24Favorable by Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Feb 20Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
- Feb 16Now in Judiciary Committee
- Vote recorded Favorable (Justice Budget Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Reported out of Justice Budget Subcommittee
- Feb 16Favorable by Justice Budget SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 12Added to Justice Budget Subcommittee agenda
- Feb 6Now in Justice Budget Subcommittee
- Feb 6Referred to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Feb 6Referred to Justice Budget SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 41st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)Minor
- Feb 4CS FiledMinor
- Feb 4Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)Minor
- Feb 4Reported out of Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
- Feb 3Favorable with CS by Civil Justice & Claims SubcommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Favorable With Committee Substitute (Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee). Result: pass.Lower
- Jan 30Added to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee agenda
- Jan 131st Reading (Original Filed Version)Minor
- Jan 12Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
- Jan 12Referred to Judiciary CommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Justice Budget SubcommitteeMinor
- Jan 12Referred to Civil Justice & Claims SubcommitteeMinor
- 2025
- Dec 29FiledIntroduced
Government & EthicsTaxes & Budget