The bill amends Florida Statutes concerning the service of process, particularly focusing on the roles and responsibilities of registered agents. It mandates that registered agents maintain office hours for service of process from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., and allows for service on employees of registered agents in the absence of the agent. The bill also introduces provisions for serving process on receivers of domestic entities in receivership and clarifies the requirements for substituted service, including the necessity to notify the party being served. Additionally, it specifies that substituted service must be issued in the name of the party to be served in care of the Secretary of State, while removing the Secretary of State's obligation to maintain certain records.

Furthermore, the bill establishes that the Secretary of State and the Department of State are not parties to lawsuits and cannot be served with additional court filings due to substituted service. It clarifies that individuals who were once Florida residents but later became nonresidents are deemed to have appointed the Secretary of State as their agent for service of process related to business conducted in the state. The bill also includes a provision ensuring that any service of process conducted between January 2, 2023, and October 1, 2025, will be considered valid if it complies with either the current or previous laws governing service of process. The amendments will take effect on October 1, 2025, and will apply to all service of process made on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
H 157 Filed: 48.101, 48.161
H 157 c1: 48.101, 48.161
H 157 er: 48.101, 48.161