The bill establishes new residency and citizenship requirements for various public officers and employees in Florida, effective October 1, 2025. It mandates that secretaries, executive directors of departments, chief administrative officers, and other appointed state officials must be United States citizens and residents of Florida. Additionally, starting January 6, 2027, members of state university boards of trustees and the Board of Governors must also meet similar criteria. If these requirements are not met, the respective office will be considered vacant. The bill also amends existing laws to prohibit state, county, and municipal officers from using their official authority to solicit political contributions and restricts reimbursement for travel expenses between an employee's residence and their official headquarters.

Moreover, the bill introduces amendments to the governance of local university boards and lobbying regulations. It expands the definition of "office" to include various governmental positions and clarifies the definition of "expenditure" in relation to lobbying activities. The bill removes the state residency requirement for university board members while emphasizing diversity and regional representation in appointments. It also establishes a process for investigating complaints against lobbyists regarding registration and expenditure violations, with the Governor authorized to enforce the commission's findings. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1445 c1: 104.31, 110.233, 1001.71
H 1445 e1: 112.061, 1001.71
H 1445 er: 112.061, 1001.71