This bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes related to the service of process, primarily focusing on the responsibilities and procedures involving registered agents. It expands the hours during which registered agents must keep their offices open for service of process, now requiring them to be available from 10 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Additionally, it allows for service of process on employees of registered agents if the agent is not present. The bill also introduces provisions for serving process on receivers of domestic entities in receivership and specifies that substituted service must be issued in the name of the party being served, with certain notification requirements to the party.

Further amendments clarify that the Secretary of State and the Department of State are not parties to lawsuits and cannot be served with additional court filings after substituted service is effectuated. The bill also establishes that individuals who were once residents of Florida but have since become nonresidents are deemed to have appointed the Secretary of State as their agent for service of process. The changes are set to take effect on October 1, 2025, and include retroactive applications for certain provisions.

Statutes affected:
S 576 Filed: 48.101, 48.161