The bill amends the Florida Vexatious Litigant Law, specifically section 68.093 of the Florida Statutes, to revise definitions and expand the scope of actions considered vexatious litigation. Key changes include the definition of "action," which now encompasses various types of civil actions governed by specific procedural rules, and the criteria for designating someone as a vexatious litigant, which has been adjusted to include individuals who have filed three or more actions in the past seven years that were adversely determined against them. The bill also introduces new provisions for sanctions and remedies, including the requirement for vexatious litigants to furnish security to the opposing party and the establishment of automatic stays on litigation pending the resolution of security motions.

Additionally, the bill prohibits court clerks from accepting filings from individuals designated as vexatious litigants without prior court approval, thereby aiming to reduce frivolous litigation. It specifies that an automatic stay remains in effect until the court makes a ruling on related motions or dismisses the action. The bill also mandates that the clerk of the court maintain a registry of vexatious litigants and provides for cumulative relief alongside existing legal remedies. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1650 Filed: 68.093