SB2512 • 2026

Judges

Budget

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Appropriations
Last action: 2026-03-13
Official status: House - Died in Messages
Effective date: 2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary text and official digest do not provide specific details about which circuits and counties are affected, but this information can be found in the full bill text.

Increasing the Number of Judges

This bill amends Florida Statutes to increase the number of circuit judges in certain circuits and county court judges in specific counties.

What This Bill Does

Amends section 26.031, Florida Statutes, to increase the number of circuit judges in the First, Fifth, Seventh, Eighteenth, Nineteenth, and Twentieth judicial circuits.
Amends section 34.022, Florida Statutes, to increase the number of county court judges in Duval, Highlands, Hillsborough, Lee, Miami-Dade, Orange, and Walton counties.

Who It Names or Affects

Judges in specific judicial circuits and counties
Courts in the affected areas

Terms To Know

Circuit judges: Judges who work in a circuit court, which handles more serious cases.
County court judges: Judges who work in county courts, handling less serious cases and some appeals.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill only affects specific circuits and counties listed.
It does not provide details on how the new judges will be appointed or funded.

Bill History

2026-03-13 House
• Died in Messages
2026-02-20 Senate
• Read 2nd time -SJ 416 • Read 3rd time -SJ 416 • Passed; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 416 • The Senate requests that the House pass the bill as passed by the Senate or agree to include the bill in the Budget Conference -SJ 416 • Immediately certified -SJ 419
2026-02-20 House
• In Messages
2026-02-19 Senate
• Introduced
2026-02-18 Senate
• Submitted as Committee Bill and Reported Favorably by Appropriations; YEAS 18 NAYS 0 • Filed • Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading • Placed on Special Order Calendar, 02/20/26
2026-02-13 Senate
• Submitted for consideration by Appropriations • On Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 02/18/26, 1:30 pm, 412 Knott Building

Official Summary Text

Judges; Increasing the number of circuit judges in certain judicial circuits; increasing the number of county court judges in certain counties, etc.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Florida Senate
-
2026

SB 2512

By
the Committee on Appropriations

576-03000-26 20262512__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to judges; amending s. 26.031, F.S.;
3 increasing the number of circuit judges in certain
4 judicial circuits; amending s. 34.022, F.S.;
5 increasing the number of county court judges in
6 certain counties; providing an effective date.
7
8 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
9
10 Section 1. Subsections (1), (5), (7), (18), (19), and (20)
11 of section 26.031, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
12 26.031 Judicial circuits; number of judges.—The number of
13 circuit judges in each circuit shall be as follows:
14
15 JUDICIAL CIRCUIT TOTAL
16 (1) First...........................................
27

26

17 (5) Fifth...........................................
35

34

18 (7) Seventh.........................................
30

29

19 (18) Eighteenth.....................................
27

26

20 (19) Nineteenth.....................................
21

20

21 (20) Twentieth......................................
40

32

22 Section 2. Subsections (15), (27), (28), (35), (43), (48),
23 and (66) of section 34.022, Florida Statutes, are amended to
24 read:
25 34.022 Number of county court judges for each county.—The
26 number of county court judges in each county shall be as
27 follows:
28
29 COUNTY TOTAL
30 (15) Duval..........................................
20

17

31 (27) Highlands........................................
2

1

32 (28) Hillsborough...................................
26

25

33 (35) Lee.............................................
10

9

34 (43) Miami-Dade.....................................
50

47

35 (48) Orange.........................................
24

22

36 (66) Walton...........................................
2

1

37 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.