The bill amends Florida Statutes to enhance the authority and accountability of agencies in issuing rules and guidance documents. It establishes that any guidance document or interpretation of a statute issued by an agency without explicit statutory delegation is invalid. Agencies are prohibited from adopting rules or issuing guidance unless they have been expressly granted the power to do so. Additionally, the bill requires agencies to prepare a statement of estimated regulatory costs for proposed rules and mandates a retrospective cost-benefit analysis for each adopted rule after a specified period.

Moreover, the bill introduces a structured process for the expiration and readoption of administrative rules, stipulating that rules will expire after eight years unless readopted. It outlines a review process for existing rules, including public notification and comment periods, and expands the grounds for challenging rules to include guidance documents. If an agency fails to comply with regulatory cost requirements, the rule may be declared invalid. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes various insertions to clarify the processes and requirements for rule expiration, readoption, and challenges.

Statutes affected:
S 448 Filed: 120.52, 120.536