House Bill 1303 establishes the Florida Agency for Fiscal Oversight within the Department of Financial Services to improve fiscal management and oversight of local governments. The bill requires local governments to notify the agency when they authorize certain referendums, prompting the agency to conduct an audit. It grants the agency the authority to request information, impose fines for noncompliance, and withhold state funds if necessary. Additionally, the bill mandates financial ethics training for agency employees and local government officials to help them recognize misuse of public funds and understand whistle-blower protections. It also amends existing statutes to eliminate certain operational requirements for a governmental efficiency hotline and introduces new reporting obligations, including an annual Local Government Efficiency Report and the use of specific contract tracking systems.

The bill further enhances transparency and accountability in contract management by requiring electronic copies of contracts and procurement documents to be posted on a contract tracking system, with provisions for redacting confidential information. Amendments expand the law's scope to include county contracts alongside state entities and clarify that the Chief Financial Officer is not responsible for redacting information posted by other entities. The new requirements will not be enforced until the secure contract tracking system is operational, with a deadline for implementation set for July 1, 2027. The act is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
H 1303 Filed: 215.985