House Bill 1401 amends various sections of Florida Statutes concerning state lotteries, introducing new definitions and revising existing provisions to improve the operational framework of the lottery system. Key updates include the definition of "ball machine" as a device for randomly drawing winning numbers, along with revised definitions for "major procurement" and "retailer." The bill enhances the powers and duties of the Department of the Lottery, mandating public drawings when a ball machine is used and requiring the department to engage an independent firm for security evaluations every two years. It also outlines the information vendors must disclose when submitting bids for major procurements and increases the bond amount that retailers may be required to post.

Additionally, the bill establishes criminal penalties for presenting counterfeit tickets and for retailers who facilitate the theft of lottery tickets, classifying these violations as felonies of the third degree. It clarifies that "patron" and "customer" terms include sworn law enforcement officers when claiming lottery prizes during official duties. The legislation emphasizes transparency and security within the lottery system, ensuring stringent disclosure requirements for vendors and maintaining the integrity of lottery operations. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
H 1401 Filed: 24.116, 24.118