Read the full stored bill text
HB 1129 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1129-00
Page 1 of 12
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 first responders; amending s. 2
445.08, F.S.; renaming the Florida Law Enforcement 3
Recruitment Bonus Payment Program as the Florida Law 4
Enforcement Officer and Firefighter Recruitment Bonus 5
Payment Program; revising and providing definitions; 6
including newly employed firefighters in the program; 7
requiring the Department of Commerce to consult with 8
the Division of State Fire Marshal to verify certain 9
information; requiring the division to define 10
firefighter misconduct by rule; revising the date the 11
program expires; amending s. 633.134, F.S.; 12
authorizing the Chief Financial Officer to appoint a 13
review panel to assist in reviewing certain grants; 14
providing for review panel membership; providing 15
duties and responsibilities of each review panel; 16
providing for general program support grants and 17
specific fire program grants; requiring the Chief 18
Financial Officer to review the panel's 19
recommendations and, beginning on a specified date, 20
include approved grant applicants in the Department of 21
Financial Services' legislative budget request; 22
requiring certain projects be funded until all 23
appropriated funds are depleted; requiring the 24
Division of State Fire Marshal to adopt certain rules; 25
HB 1129 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1129-00
Page 2 of 12
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
creating s. 633.1424, F.S.; defining the terms "first 26
responder" and "public safety agency"; creating, 27
subject to appropriation, the Institute for 28
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder within the Department of 29
Financial Services for a specified purpose; providing 30
duties and responsibilities of the institute; 31
authorizing the institute to collaborate with other 32
entities to enhance program development and service 33
delivery; requiring the Division of State Fire Marshal 34
to adopt rules; providing an effective date. 35
36
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 37
38
Section 1. Section 445.08, Florida Statutes, is amended to 39
read: 40
445.08 Florida Law Enforcement Officer and Firefighter 41
Recruitment Bonus Payment Program.— 42
(1) As used in For the purposes of this section, the term: 43
(a) "Break in service" means: 44
1. A period of time during which the person is employed 45
with a Florida criminal justice agency or fire service provider 46
but is not employed as a full-time law enforcement officer or 47
firefighter; or 48
2. A period of time during which the person is in between 49
employment as a full-time law enforcement officer or firefighter 50
HB 1129 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1129-00
Page 3 of 12
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
for no longer than 15 days. 51
52
The time period for any break in service does not count toward 53
satisfying the 2-year full-time employment requirement of this 54
section. 55
(b)(a) "Commission" means the Criminal Justice Standards 56
and Training Commission within the Department of Law 57
Enforcement. 58
(c)(b) "Employing agency" has the same meaning as provided 59
in s. 943.10(4). 60
(d) "Fire service provider" has the same meaning as in s. 61
633.102(13). 62
(e) "Firefighter" has the same meaning as in s. 63
633.102(9). 64
(f)(c) "Law enforcement officer" has the same meaning as 65
provided in s. 943.10(1). 66
(g) "Newly employed firefighter" means a person who gains 67
or is appointed to full-time employment as a certified 68
firefighter with a fire service provider on or after July 1, 69
2026, and who has never been previously employed as a 70
firefighter in this state. 71
(h)(d) "Newly employed officer" means a person who gains 72
or is appointed to full-time employment as a certified law 73
enforcement officer with a Florida criminal justice employing 74
agency on or after July 1, 2022, and who has never before been 75
HB 1129 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1129-00
Page 4 of 12
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
employed as a law enforcement officer in this state. 76
(i)(e) "Program" means the Florida Law Enforcement Officer 77
and Firefighter Recruitment Bonus Payment Program. 78
(2)(a) There is created within the department the Florida 79
Law Enforcement Officer and Firefighter Recruitment Bonus 80
Payment Program to aid in the recruitment of law enforcement 81
officers and firefighters within the state. The purpose of the 82
program is to administer one-time bonus payments of up to $5,000 83
to each newly employed officer and newly employed firefighter 84
within the state. 85
(b) Bonus payments provided to eligible newly employed 86
officers and newly employed firefighters are contingent upon 87
legislative appropriations and shall be prorated subject to the 88
amount appropriated for the program. 89
(3) Each bonus payment shall be adjusted to include 7.65 90
percent for the officer's or firefighter's share of Federal 91
Insurance Contribution Act tax on the payment. 92
(4) The department shall develop an annual plan for the 93
administration of the program and distribution of bonus 94
payments. Applicable employing agencies and fire service 95
providers shall assist the department with the collection of any 96
data necessary to determine bonus payment amounts and to 97
distribute the bonus payments, and shall otherwise provide the 98
department with any information or assistance needed to fulfill 99
the requirements of this section. At a minimum, the plan must 100
HB 1129 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1129-00
Page 5 of 12
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
include: 101
(a) The method for determining the estimated number of 102
newly employed officers and newly employed firefighters to gain 103
or be appointed to full-time employment during the applicable 104
fiscal year. 105
(b) The minimum eligibility requirements a newly employed 106
officer and newly employed firefighter must meet to receive and 107
retain a bonus payment, which must include: 108
1. Obtaining certification for employment or appointment 109
as a law enforcement officer under pursuant to s. 943.1395 or as 110
a firefighter under s. 633.408. 111
2. Gaining full-time employment with a Florida criminal 112
justice agency or a fire service provider. 113
3. Maintaining full-time employment as a law enforcement 114
officer with a Florida criminal justice agency or as a 115
firefighter with a fire service provider for at least 2 years 116
after from the date on which the officer or firefighter obtained 117
certification. The required 2-year employment period may be 118
satisfied by maintaining full-time employment at one or more 119
employing agencies or fire service providers, but such period 120
must not contain any break in service longer than 180 calendar 121
days. 122
(c) The standards by which the department will determine 123
under what circumstances a break in service is acceptable. A law 124
enforcement officer or firefighter must provide documentation to 125
HB 1129 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1129-00
Page 6 of 12
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
the department justifying a break in service. For purposes of 126
this section, the term "break in service" means a period of time 127
during which the person is employed with a Florida criminal 128
justice agency but is not employed as a full-time law 129
enforcement officer or a period of time during which the person 130
is in between employment as a full-time law enforcement officer 131
for no longer than 15 days. The time period for any break in 132
service does not count toward satisfying the 2-year full-time 133
employment requirement of this section. 134
(d) The method that will be used to determine the bonus 135
payment amount to be distributed to each newly employed officer 136
and newly employed firefighter. 137
(e) The method that will be used to distribute bonus 138
payments to applicable employing agencies and fire service 139
providers for distribution to eligible officers and 140
firefighters. Such method should prioritize distributing bonus 141
payments to eligible officers and firefighters in the most 142
efficient and quickest manner possible. 143
(f) The estimated cost to the department associated with 144
developing and administering the program and distributing bonus 145
payment funds. 146
(g) The method by which an officer or a firefighter must 147
reimburse the state if he or she received a bonus payment under 148
the program, but failed to maintain continuous employment for 149
the required 2-year period. Reimbursement may shall not be 150
HB 1129 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1129-00
Page 7 of 12
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 if an officer or a firefighter is discharged by his or 151
her employing agency or fire service provider for a reason other 152
than misconduct as designated on the affidavit of separation 153
completed by the employing agency or fire service provider and 154
maintained by the commission. 155
156
The department may establish other criteria deemed necessary to 157
determine bonus payment eligibility and distribution. 158
(5) The department shall consult quarterly with the 159
commission and the Division of State Fire Marshal to verify the 160
certification of newly employed officers and newly employed 161
firefighters and affidavits of separation submitted to the 162
commission and Division of State Fire Marshal which detail 163
officer or firefighter misconduct. The Division of State Fire 164
Marshal shall define by rule firefighter misconduct. 165
(6) The department shall submit the plan to the Executive 166
Office of the Governor's Office of Policy and Budget, the chair 167
of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and the chair of the 168
House Appropriations Committee by October 1 of each year. The 169
department is authorized to submit budget amendments pursuant to 170
chapter 216 as necessary to release appropriated funds for 171
distribution to applicable employing agencies and fire service 172
providers under this program. 173
(7) The funding allocation for the bonus payments must be 174
used solely to comply with the requirements of this section, but 175
HB 1129 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1129-00
Page 8 of 12
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
applicable collective bargaining units are not otherwise 176
precluded from wage negotiation. 177
(8) The department shall adopt rules to implement this 178
section. 179
(9) This section expires July 1, 2028 2026. 180
Section 2. Section 633.134, Florida Statutes, is amended 181
to read: 182
633.134 Gifts and grants; grant review panel.— 183
(1) The division may accept for any of its purposes and 184
functions any donations of property and grants of money from any 185
governmental unit, public agency, institution, person, firm, or 186
corporation. Such moneys shall be deposited, disbursed, and 187
administered in a trust fund as provided by law. 188
(2)(a) The Chief Financial Officer may appoint a review 189
panel to assist in the grant review process. A review panel must 190
consist of five members from the fire service industry or other 191
professions that involve the specific industry or program for 192
which the panel has been appointed. Each member of a review 193
panel is appointed to a 1-year term. 194
(b) Each review panel must review and score grant 195
applications and recommend to the department which applicants 196
should be awarded a grant. Each panel must submit to the 197
department a list of eligible applicants by score. 198
(c) Each review panel must hold a forum for public comment 199
before recommending a grant application. 200
HB 1129 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1129-00
Page 9 of 12
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
(d) Each review panel must review the lists of eligible 201
applicants for a grant and create two lists, one of which must 202
consist of recommendations for eligible applicants for general 203
program support grants and one of which must consist of 204
recommendations for eligible applicants for specific fire 205
project grants, and submit the lists to the Chief Financial 206
Officer. 207
(e) A general program support grant or a specific fire 208
program grant includes, but is not limited to, all of the 209
following: 210
1. Grants for the purchase, replacement, or maintenance of 211
operational equipment and resources, including, but not limited 212
to, fire apparatuses, personal protective equipment, 213
communication systems, rescue tools, and other essential 214
firefighting and emergency response equipment. 215
2. Grants pertaining to fixed capital outlay, grants and 216
aids, and grants and aids to local governments and nonstate 217
entities-fixed capital outlay, as those terms are defined in s. 218
216.011(1), and the construction or remodel of fire departments. 219
3. Grants to support state-coordinated outreach programs 220
such as mobile fire safety exhibits, educational tours, and 221
statewide fire awareness campaigns. An outreach program must 222
prioritize grant funds to Florida-based fire departments, safety 223
educators, and emergency personnel and promote best practices in 224
fire prevention, public safety, and emergency preparedness. 225
HB 1129 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1129-00
Page 10 of 12
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
4. Grants or stipends for individual firefighters or fire 226
service instructors selected through a competitive process based 227
on merit, leadership, or innovation in fire safety. Grant funds 228
may support training, research, or professional exchange 229
opportunities that advance public safety practices in this 230
state. 231
5. Grants for programs or projects that advance the 232
mission of fire prevention and emergency response, including, 233
but not limited to, firefighter health and wellness initiatives, 234
emergency planning and coordination systems, public safety 235
communications upgrades, or community preparedness efforts. A 236
program or project must clearly demonstrate alignment with the 237
goals of this subsection and provide measurable public safety 238
outcomes. 239
6. Grants for programs or projects that advance the 240
mission of arson prevention, arson investigation, juvenile arson 241
prevention, arson intervention programs, and police canine 242
programs. Eligible recipients include entities that investigate 243
or prevent arson. As used in this sub-subparagraph, the term 244
"police canine" has the same meaning as in s. 401.254(1). 245
(f) The Chief Financial Officer shall review the review 246
panel's recommendations and, beginning January 1, 2027, submit a 247
list of approved applicants to be included in the department's 248
legislative budget request. Projects from the Chief Financial 249
Officer's approved list must be funded by score until all 250
HB 1129 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1129-00
Page 11 of 12
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
appropriated funds are depleted. 251
(g) The division shall adopt rules to implement and 252
administer this subsection, including rules establishing: 253
1. Eligibility criteria and the scoring rubric for the 254
awarding of grants. 255
2. Particular grant programs or projects, categories of 256
grants, and procedures necessary for the prudent administration 257
of the grant programs or projects. 258
Section 3. Section 633.1424, Florida Statutes, is created 259
to read: 260
633.1424 Institute for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder.— 261
(1) As used in this section, the term: 262
(a) "First responder" has the same meaning as in s. 263
125.01045(2). 264
(b) "Public safety agency" has the same meaning as in s. 265
365.172(3). 266
(2) Subject to appropriation, the Institute for 267
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder is established within the 268
Department of Financial Services to serve as a statewide center 269
for research, training, outreach, and program development in 270
support of first responder behavioral health. The purpose of the 271
institute is to strengthen the mental resilience and well-being 272
of the state's public safety workforce through coordination of 273
research, training initiatives, public outreach, and policy 274
guidance. 275
HB 1129 2026
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1129-00
Page 12 of 12
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
(3) The institute must do all of the following: 276
(a) Coordinate statewide research efforts on behavioral 277
health issues, including suicide prevention, burnout reduction, 278
and resilience-building, which affect first responders. 279
(b) Develop and disseminate evidence-informed best 280
practices and policy recommendations relating to first responder 281
behavioral health. 282
(c) Facilitate training programs and technical assistance 283
in behavioral health initiatives for public safety agencies. 284
(d) Serve as a central hub for public outreach and 285
awareness campaigns aimed at improving mental health outcomes 286
for first responders. 287
(e) Evaluate behavioral health programs and initiatives to 288
measure their effectiveness and their impact on first 289
responders. 290
(4) The initiative may collaborate with public and private 291
partners, including, but not limited to, Florida College System 292
institutions, state universities, public safety agencies, mental 293
health providers, and community organizations, to enhance 294
program development and service delivery. 295
(5) The division shall adopt rules to implement this 296
section. 297
Section 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. 298