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SB0288 • 2026

Rural Electric Cooperatives

Rural Electric Cooperatives

Energy
Enacted

This bill passed the Legislature and reached final enactment based on the latest official action.

Sponsor
Rodriguez
Last action
2026-04-02
Official status
Chapter No. 2026-21
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The official source material does not provide details on enforcement or penalties for violating the ban.

Rural Electric Cooperatives Fee Ban

This law stops rural electric cooperatives in Florida from charging certain fees that restrict customer choices about energy sources and appliances.

What This Bill Does

  • Prohibits rural electric co-ops in Florida from adopting, enacting, or enforcing specific fees like lot fees, developer fees, or surcharges that limit the types of fuel sources for energy production or the use of certain appliances.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Rural electric cooperatives in Florida
  • Customers who buy electricity from rural electric cooperatives

Terms To Know

cooperative
A business owned and run by the people who use it, like a group of farmers or electricity customers.
retail
The part of selling where goods are sold directly to end users, not other businesses.

Limits and Unknowns

  • Only applies to rural electric cooperatives in Florida.
  • Doesn't cover all possible fees or restrictions that might be made by these co-ops.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

815655

Floor amendment S 288 Filed • Shoaf

Senate: Concurred 3/12/2026

Plain English: The amendment removes certain restrictions on the types of fuel sources that can be used for energy production and appliances by rural electric cooperatives.

  • Removes limitations on the types or fuel sources of energy production that may be used, delivered, converted, or supplied to serve customers.
  • Eliminates prohibitions on using appliances like stoves or grills with specific fuel sources.
  • The exact impact and details of removed lines are not fully explained in the provided text.

Bill History

  1. 2026-04-02 The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives

    • Chapter No. 2026-21

  2. 2026-04-01 The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives

    • Approved by Governor

  3. 2026-03-31 The Florida Senate and Florida House of Representatives

    • Signed by Officers and presented to Governor

  4. 2026-03-12 Senate

    • Concurred in 1 amendment(s) (815655) -SJ 880 • CS passed as amended; YEAS 39 NAYS 0 -SJ 880 • Ordered engrossed, then enrolled

  5. 2026-03-11 House

    • Read 2nd time • Amendment 815655 adopted • Added to Third Reading Calendar • Read 3rd time • Passed as amended; YEAS 106, NAYS 1

  6. 2026-03-11 Senate

    • In returning messages

  7. 2026-03-10 House

    • Temporarily postponed, on 2nd Reading • Added to Second Reading Calendar • Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/11/2026)

  8. 2026-03-09 House

    • Bill referred to House Calendar • Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/10/2026) • 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)

  9. 2026-01-29 Senate

    • Read 2nd time -SJ 233 • Read 3rd time -SJ 233 • Passed; YEAS 35 NAYS 0 -SJ 233 • Immediately certified -SJ 236

  10. 2026-01-29 House

    • In Messages

  11. 2026-01-27 Senate

    • Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 22 NAYS 0 • Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading • Placed on Special Order Calendar, 01/29/26

  12. 2026-01-22 Senate

    • On Committee agenda-- Rules, 01/27/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building

  13. 2026-01-20 Senate

    • Favorable by Community Affairs; YEAS 8 NAYS 0 • Now in Rules

  14. 2026-01-15 Senate

    • On Committee agenda-- Community Affairs, 01/20/26, 1:00 pm, 37 Senate Building

  15. 2026-01-13 Senate

    • Introduced

  16. 2025-12-10 Senate

    • Now in Community Affairs

  17. 2025-12-09 Senate

    • Favorable by Regulated Industries; YEAS 9 NAYS 0

  18. 2025-12-01 Senate

    • On Committee agenda-- Regulated Industries, 12/09/25, 1:00 pm, 412 Knott Building

  19. 2025-11-17 Senate

    • Referred to Regulated Industries; Community Affairs; Rules

  20. 2025-10-24 Senate

    • Filed

Official Summary Text

Rural Electric Cooperatives; Prohibiting a cooperative that sells electricity at retail from adopting, enacting, or enforcing a fee meeting specified criteria, etc.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
ENROLLED

2026

Legislature

SB 288, 1st Engrossed

2026288er
1
2 An act relating to rural electric cooperatives;
3 amending s. 425.041, F.S.; prohibiting a cooperative
4 that sells electricity at retail from adopting,
5 enacting, or enforcing a fee meeting specified
6 criteria; providing an effective date.
7
8 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
9
10 Section 1. Section 425.041, Florida Statutes, is amended to
11 read:
12 425.041 Prohibited
fees,
bylaws, tariffs, and policies.—A
13 cooperative
which sells electricity at retail
may not adopt,
14 enact, or enforce
any fee, including a lot fee, developer fee,

15
or surcharge, or
any bylaw, tariff, or policy,
or take any other

16
action,
that restricts or prohibits or has the effect of
17 restricting or prohibiting:
18 (1) The types or fuel sources of energy production which
19 may be used, delivered, converted, or supplied by the entities
20 listed in s. 366.032(1) to serve customers that such entities
21 are authorized to serve.
22 (2) The use of an appliance, including a stove or grill,
23 which uses the types or fuel sources of energy production which
24 may be used, delivered, converted, or supplied by the entities
25 listed in s. 366.032(1). As used in this subsection, the term
26 “appliance” means a device or apparatus manufactured and
27 designed to use energy and for which the Florida Building Code
28 or the Florida Fire Prevention Code provides specific
29 requirements.
30 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.