Florida · House Bill 597 · 2026 Regular Session

Special Elections

HB 597 Sponsored by Michael "Mike" Gottlieb Died in committee

  1. Introduced Dec 2, 2025
  2. In committee Dec 12, 2025
  3. Passed the House  
  4. Passed the Senate  
  5. To the governor  
  6. Became law Jul 1, 2026

What it does

The legislature's own summary of the bill, or its official long title.

Special Elections; Revises timeframe during which vacancy must be filled by candidates qualifying within timeframes provided by general law; requires Governor to call special primary election & special election under certain circumstance; requires Governor to fix dates of special election after vacancy occurs; requires Governor to consult with Secretary of State & supervisor of elections before setting special…

Read the full title (185 words)

Special Elections; Revises timeframe during which vacancy must be filled by candidates qualifying within timeframes provided by general law; requires Governor to call special primary election & special election under certain circumstance; requires Governor to fix dates of special election after vacancy occurs; requires Governor to consult with Secretary of State & supervisor of elections before setting special election dates; authorizes qualified electors to file petition in circuit court seeking judicial determination of election date under specified conditions; provides that court has authority to fix & declare dates for special election; removes authority of Governor, President of Senate, & Speaker of House of Representatives to waive specified timeframes if all parties concur; requires Governor to fix dates to coincide with already scheduled election; requires that special elections to fill certain vacancies be held no later than election for which resigning officer seeks to qualify; provides that certain persons are deemed elected; requires Governor to consult with certain supervisors of election, in addition to Secretary of State, before declaring date of special election; requires that such order be issued within specified timeframe after occurrence of vacancy.

Every action

7 steps, oldest first, as the legislature records them.

  1. HouseFiled
  2. CommitteeReferred to Government Operations Subcommittee · House Government Operations Subcommittee
  3. CommitteeReferred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee · House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
  4. CommitteeReferred to State Affairs Committee · House State Affairs Committee
  5. CommitteeNow in Government Operations Subcommittee · House Government Operations Subcommittee
  6. House1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
  7. CommitteeDied in Government Operations Subcommittee · House Government Operations Subcommittee

Roll calls

No recorded votes on this bill yet.

Sponsors

The member who introduced it, joined by 1 cosponsor: 1 Democrat.

All 1 cosponsor

From Florida's official records (flsenate.gov), checked Nov 14, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.