The bill amends section 215.322 of the Florida Statutes to enhance the acceptance of electronic payments by units of local government. It establishes the legislative intent to require these local governments to accept payments online, thereby making their services more accessible to the public. The bill specifies that local governments, including municipalities and special districts, must accept payments via credit cards, charge cards, debit cards, and electronic funds transfers, with the exception of situations where another form of payment is mandated by law. Additionally, local governments are permitted to impose a surcharge on users of electronic payment methods to cover service fees incurred from financial institutions.

The amendments also clarify that local governments must verify the validity of the payment methods used and ensure that appropriate credit exists for the transaction. The bill removes previous language that allowed local governments to accept electronic payments only to the extent that it was practicable and beneficial. Instead, it mandates the acceptance of online payments, reinforcing the requirement for local governments to adapt to modern payment methods. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2027.