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 entities to accept payments online, thereby making their services more accessible to the public. The bill specifies that local governments, including municipalities and various governing bodies, must accept payments via credit cards, charge cards, debit cards, and electronic funds transfers, with the exception of situations where another payment method is mandated by law. Additionally, local governments are permitted to impose a surcharge on users of these electronic payment methods to cover service fees incurred from financial institutions.

Key changes in the bill include the removal of language that previously limited the acceptance of electronic payments to situations where the benefits justified the costs. The bill now mandates that local governments must accept online payments, ensuring a more streamlined and user-friendly process for constituents. The effective date for these changes is set for January 1, 2027.