Florida · Senate Bill 572 · 2026 Regular Session

Ethics for Public Officers and Employees

SB 572 Sponsored by Gayle Harrell Became law

  1. Introduced Nov 18, 2025
  2. In committee Dec 9, 2025
  3. Passed the Senate Mar 12, 2026
  4. Passed the House  
  5. To the governor Mar 31, 2026
  6. Became law Apr 1, 2026

What it does

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

Ethics for Public Officers and Employees; Revising the definition of the term “relative” to include foster parents and foster children; providing that specified provisions do not prohibit a board, council, commission, or collegial body from appointing, employing, promoting, or advancing elected public officials who are related to a leadership position on the same board, council, commission, or collegial body, etc.

Every action

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

Show the 29 earlier steps
  1. SenateFiled
  2. CommitteeReferred to Ethics and Elections; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Rules · Senate Ethics and Elections
  3. CommitteeOn Committee agenda-- Ethics and Elections, 01/13/26, 4:00 pm, 37 Senate Building · Senate Ethics and Elections
  4. CommitteeFavorable by Ethics and Elections; YEAS 8 NAYS 0 · Senate Ethics and Elections8–0 vote
  5. SenateIntroduced
  6. CommitteeNow in Governmental Oversight and Accountability · Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability
  7. CommitteeOn Committee agenda-- Governmental Oversight and Accountability, 01/26/26, 3:30 pm, 110 Senate Building · Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability
  8. CommitteeCS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability; YEAS 9 NAYS 0 · Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability9–0 vote
  9. SenatePending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
  10. CommitteeNow in Rules · Senate Rules
  11. CommitteeCS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability read 1st time · Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability
  12. CommitteeOn Committee agenda-- Rules, 02/03/26, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building · Senate Rules
  13. CommitteeFavorable by- Rules; YEAS 23 NAYS 0 · Senate Rules23–0 vote
  14. SenatePlaced on Calendar, on 2nd reading
  15. SenatePlaced on Special Order Calendar, 02/11/26
  16. SenateRead 2nd time -SJ 295
  17. SenateAmendment(s) adopted (807008) -SJ 295
  18. SenateRead 3rd time -SJ 299
  19. SenateCS passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 299
  20. SenateImmediately certified -SJ 299
  21. HouseIn Messages
  22. HouseBill referred to House Calendar
  23. HouseBill added to Special Order Calendar (3/10/2026)
  24. House1st Reading (Engrossed 1)
  25. HouseRead 2nd time
  26. HouseAmendment 187567 adopted
  27. HouseAmendment 620573 superseded by substitute
  28. HouseAdded to Third Reading Calendar
  29. HouseRead 3rd time
  1. HouseCS passed as amended; YEAS 113, NAYS 0
  2. SenateIn returning messages
  3. SenateConcurred in 1 amendment(s) (187567) -SJ 829
  4. SenateCS passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 829
  5. SenateOrdered engrossed, then enrolled
  6. GovernorSigned by Officers and presented to Governor
  7. GovernorApproved by Governor
  8. Chapter No. 2026-22

Roll calls

6 recorded votes: 3 on the floor, 3 in committee. Each shows how every member voted.

Third Reading · Full Senate

38–0
Feb 11, 2026 · journal entry
Yes 38 No 0 Not voting 1
Democrats: 11 yes, 0 no Independents: 1 yes, 0 no Republicans: 26 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 38

Not voting · 1

Passage; Third Reading · Full House

113–0
Mar 10, 2026 · journal entry
Yes 113 No 0 Not voting 4
Democrats: 31 yes, 0 no Republicans: 82 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 113

Not voting · 4

Returning Messages · Full Senate

38–0
Mar 12, 2026 · journal entry
Yes 38 No 0 Not voting 1
Democrats: 10 yes, 0 no Independents: 1 yes, 0 no Republicans: 27 yes, 0 no
How each member voted

Yes · 38

Not voting · 1

Committee and other votes

DateWhereQuestionResult
Jan 13, 2026 Senate Ethics and Elections Favorable by Ethics and Elections; YEAS 8 NAYS 0
Members

Yes · 8

 Passed 8–0
Jan 26, 2026 Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability CS by Governmental Oversight and Accountability; YEAS 9 NAYS 0
Members

Yes · 9

 Passed 9–0
Feb 3, 2026 Senate Rules Favorable by- Rules; YEAS 23 NAYS 0
Members

Yes · 23

Not voting · 1

 Passed 23–0

Sponsors

The member who introduced it.

  • Gayle HarrellR Primary sponsor · District 31
  • GO Governmental Oversight and Accountability Sponsoring committee

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