Florida · House Bill 965 · 2026 Regular Session

Voluntary Trial Resolution

  1. Introduced Jan 5, 2026
  2. In committee Jan 12, 2026
  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.

Voluntary Trial Resolution; Removes provisions relating to voluntary trial resolution; authorizes parties to civil cases, family law cases, or probate cases to agree to or stipulate appointment of voluntary trial resolution judge; requires parties to promptly serve copy of joint motion & form on presiding judge; requires presiding judge to enter specified order within certain time period; requires appointed…

Read the full title (253 words)

Voluntary Trial Resolution; Removes provisions relating to voluntary trial resolution; authorizes parties to civil cases, family law cases, or probate cases to agree to or stipulate appointment of voluntary trial resolution judge; requires parties to promptly serve copy of joint motion & form on presiding judge; requires presiding judge to enter specified order within certain time period; requires appointed voluntary trial resolution judge to take & subscribe to specified oath; provides exception; requires voluntary trial resolution judge to adjudicate case until final determination of case; requires case to be returned to presiding judge; requires immediate disclosure by voluntary trial resolution judge to parties of circumstances requiring disqualification; authorizes waiver of disqualification; provides for compensation of voluntary trial resolution judge; requires presiding judge to retain jurisdiction for specified purpose; requires clerk of court to treat cases referred to voluntary trial resolution in specified manner; requires chief judge or his or her designee to make available public facilities & personnel in proceedings assigned to voluntary trial resolution judge in specified manner; requires chief judge & clerk to coordinate provision of jurors with voluntary trial resolution judge for certain actions; authorizes parties to agree to use certain facilities for other specified matters; specifies that parties are responsible for certain costs; provides scope of judicial functions of voluntary trial resolution judge; requires presiding judge to maintain jurisdiction to perform certain judicial functions; requires voluntary trial resolution judge to conduct proceedings under specified rules of court; requires voluntary trial resolution proceedings to be noticed & open to public.

Every action

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

Show the 6 earlier steps
  1. HouseFiled
  2. CommitteeReferred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee · House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
  3. CommitteeReferred to Judiciary Committee · House Judiciary Committee
  4. CommitteeNow in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee · House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
  5. House1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
  6. CommitteeAdded to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee agenda · House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
  1. CommitteeFavorable with CS by Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee · House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee15–0 vote
  2. CommitteeReported out of Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee · House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
  3. HouseLaid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
  4. HouseCS Filed
  5. House1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
  6. CommitteeReferred to Judiciary Committee · House Judiciary Committee
  7. CommitteeNow in Judiciary Committee · House Judiciary Committee
  8. CommitteeDied in Judiciary Committee · House Judiciary Committee

Roll calls

1 recorded vote: 0 on the floor, 1 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

Committee votes

DateWhereQuestionResult
Feb 18, 2026 House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee Favorable with CS by Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
Members

Yes · 15

Not voting · 3

Passed 15–0

Sponsors

The member who introduced it.

  • Bill PartingtonR Primary sponsor · District 28
  • CJ Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee Sponsoring committee

From Florida's official records (flsenate.gov), checked Nov 2, 2026. Text links go to the official versions; LegiList does not copy bill text.