The bill CS/CS/CS/HB 1219 establishes two new parts within Chapter 542 of the Florida Statutes: the "Florida Antitrust Act of 1980" and the "Florida Contracts Honoring Opportunity, Investment, Confidentiality, and Economic Growth (CHOICE) Act." It introduces provisions regarding covered garden leave and noncompete agreements, clarifying that these agreements are not restraints of trade. The bill outlines specific requirements for these agreements, including notice periods, employee rights, and conditions for issuing preliminary injunctions. It also allows employers to reduce salaries or benefits for gross misconduct without breaching the agreement and enables the recovery of monetary damages and attorney fees for prevailing parties in disputes.

Additionally, the bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes to replace the term "act" with "part," ensuring consistency in legal terminology. It empowers the Attorney General to intervene in civil proceedings related to antitrust laws and clarifies the procedures for civil investigative demands. The bill specifies the responsibilities of public officers in assisting investigations and outlines jurisdiction for antitrust lawsuits. It emphasizes that actions under this part are not barred by their relation to interstate or foreign commerce and that remedies are cumulative. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1219 c2: 542.15, 542.16, 542.17, 542.20, 542.22, 542.23, 542.235, 542.24, 542.25, 542.26, 542.27, 542.29, 542.30, 542.31, 542.32, 542.33, 542.35, 542.36
H 1219 c3: 542.15, 542.16, 542.17, 542.20, 542.22, 542.23, 542.235, 542.24, 542.25, 542.26, 542.27, 542.29, 542.30, 542.31, 542.32, 542.33, 542.35, 542.36
H 1219 er: 542.15, 542.16, 542.17, 542.20, 542.22, 542.23, 542.235, 542.24, 542.25, 542.26, 542.27, 542.29, 542.30, 542.31, 542.32, 542.33, 542.35, 542.36