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HB 535 2026
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hb535-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to candidate qualifying; amending ss. 2
99.061 and 105.031, F.S.; requiring certain candidates 3
to provide the filing officer a statement disclosing 4
dual citizenship for nomination and election to 5
federal, state, county, multicounty, district, or 6
judicial office or to a district school board; 7
reenacting s. 99.012(1)(b), F.S., relating to 8
definition of the term "qualifying," to incorporate 9
the amendments made to ss. 99.061 and 105.031, F.S., 10
in references thereto; providing an effective date. 11
12
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13
14
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section 15
99.061, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 16
99.061 Method of qualifying for nomination or election to 17
federal, state, county, or district office.— 18
(7)(a) In order for a candidate to be qualified, the 19
following items must be received by the filing officer by the 20
end of the qualifying period: 21
1. A properly executed check drawn upon the candidate's 22
campaign account payable to the person or entity as prescribed 23
by the filing officer in an amount not less than the fee 24
required by s. 99.092, unless the candidate obtained the 25
HB 535 2026
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
required number of signatures on petitions pursuant to s. 26
99.095. The filing fee for a special district candidate is not 27
required to be drawn upon the candidate's campaign account. If a 28
candidate's check is returned by the bank for any reason, the 29
filing officer shall immediately notify the candidate and the 30
candidate shall have until the end of qualifying to pay the fee 31
with a cashier's check purchased from funds of the campaign 32
account. Failure to pay the fee as provided in this subparagraph 33
shall disqualify the candidate. 34
2. The candidate's oath required by s. 99.021, which must 35
contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the 36
ballot; the office sought, including the district or group 37
number if applicable; and the signature of the candidate, which 38
must be verified under oath or affirmation pursuant to s. 39
92.525(1)(a). 40
3. If the office sought is partisan, the written statement 41
of political party affiliation required by s. 99.021(1)(b); or 42
if the candidate is running without party affiliation for a 43
partisan office, the written statement required by s. 44
99.021(1)(c). 45
4. The completed form for the appointment of campaign 46
treasurer and designation of campaign depository, as required by 47
s. 106.021. 48
5. The full and public disclosure or statement of 49
financial interests required by subsection (5). A public officer 50
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
who has filed the full and public disclosure or statement of 51
financial interests with the Commission on Ethics before 52
qualifying for office may file a copy of that disclosure or a 53
verification or receipt of electronic filing as provided in 54
subsection (5) at the time of qualifying. 55
6. If the candidate is a citizen of another country in 56
addition to being a citizen of the United States, a statement 57
disclosing any other country the candidate is also a citizen of. 58
Section 2. Paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section 59
105.031, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 60
105.031 Qualification; filing fee; candidate's oath; items 61
required to be filed.— 62
(5) ITEMS REQUIRED TO BE FILED.— 63
(a) In order for a candidate for judicial office or the 64
office of school board member to be qualified, the following 65
items must be received by the filing officer by the end of the 66
qualifying period: 67
1. Except for candidates for retention to judicial office, 68
a properly executed check drawn upon the candidate's campaign 69
account in an amount not less than the fee required by 70
subsection (3) or, in lieu thereof, the copy of the notice of 71
obtaining ballot position pursuant to s. 105.035. If a 72
candidate's check is returned by the bank for any reason, the 73
filing officer shall immediately notify the candidate and the 74
candidate shall, the end of qualifying notwithstanding, have 48 75
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
hours from the time such notification is received, excluding 76
Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, to pay the fee with a 77
cashier's check purchased from funds of the campaign account. 78
Failure to pay the fee as provided in this subparagraph shall 79
disqualify the candidate. 80
2. The candidate's oath required by subsection (4), which 81
must contain the name of the candidate as it is to appear on the 82
ballot; the office sought, including the district or group 83
number if applicable; and the signature of the candidate, duly 84
acknowledged. 85
3. The loyalty oath required by s. 876.05, signed by the 86
candidate and duly acknowledged. 87
4. The completed form for the appointment of campaign 88
treasurer and designation of campaign depository, as required by 89
s. 106.021. In addition, each candidate for judicial office, 90
including an incumbent judge, shall file a statement with the 91
qualifying officer, within 10 days after filing the appointment 92
of campaign treasurer and designation of campaign depository, 93
stating that the candidate has read and understands the 94
requirements of the Florida Code of Judicial Conduct. Such 95
statement shall be in substantially the following form: 96
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Statement of Candidate for Judicial Office 98
99
I, ...(name of candidate)..., a judicial candidate, have 100
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received, read, and understand the requirements of the Florida 101
Code of Judicial Conduct. 102
...(Signature of candidate)... 103
...(Date)... 104
105
5. The full and public disclosure of financial interests 106
required by s. 8, Art. II of the State Constitution or the 107
statement of financial interests required by s. 112.3145, 108
whichever is applicable. A public officer who has filed the full 109
and public disclosure or statement of financial interests with 110
the Commission on Ethics or the supervisor of elections prior to 111
qualifying for office may file a copy of that disclosure at the 112
time of qualifying. 113
6. If the candidate is a citizen of another country in 114
addition to being a citizen of the United States, a statement 115
disclosing any other country the candidate is also a citizen of. 116
Section 3. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments 117
made by this act to sections 99.061 and 105.031, Florida 118
Statutes, in references thereto, paragraph (b) of subsection (1) 119
of section 99.012, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 120
99.012 Restrictions on individuals qualifying for public 121
office.— 122
(1) As used in this section: 123
(b) "Qualify" means to fulfill the requirements set forth 124
in s. 99.061(7)(a) or s. 105.031(5)(a). 125
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 126