Florida HB 5203: Government Administration

Bill Text

HB 5203 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb5203-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to government administration; amending 2
s. 11.26, F.S.; revising the employees required to 3
have permission of the presiding officers of both 4
houses before accepting certain employment; amending 5
s. 11.40, F.S.; revising duties of the Legislative 6
Auditing Committee, the Department of Revenue, and the 7
Department of Financial Services relating to the 8
failure of certain entities to comply with specified 9
auditing and financial reporting requirements; 10
revising procedures that the Department of Revenue and 11
the Department of Financial Services may take upon 12
receipt of certain advice; removing Legislative 13
Auditing Committee procedures for conducting audits; 14
creating s. 11.405, F.S.; creating the Florida 15
Accountability Office within the Legislature for 16
specified purposes; providing for the administration 17
of such office in a specified manner; providing that 18
the office shall consist of certain units; providing 19
leadership selection and terms of office for certain 20
such units; providing responsibilities and 21
organization of certain units; providing requirements 22
for actions between and among such units; providing 23
the office location; requiring the Legislature to 24
provide certain administrative support; providing 25

HB 5203 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb5203-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

requirements for spending decisions and budgeting; 26
requiring the office to employ persons for a specified 27
purpose; requiring the office to make certain 28
employment-related decisions with the approval of 29
specified persons; prohibiting certain officers and 30
employees of the office from certain activities 31
relating to political parties and candidates; 32
requiring certain parties to resign before becoming a 33
candidate for election; creating s. 11.406, F.S.; 34
defining the terms "appropriations project" and 35
"investigation"; providing procedures for submitting 36
complaints; providing procedures to be taken by the 37
Public Integrity Division upon receipt of a complaint; 38
authorizing the division to inspect and investigate 39
certain items and locations; authorizing the division 40
to agree to retain the confidentiality of such 41
information; authorizing specified entities to issue 42
subpoenas in a certain manner; providing procedures 43
for the enforcement of such subpoenas; requiring the 44
division to receive certain reports; requiring the 45
Auditor General and the division to randomly select 46
and review, investigate, or audit certain projects and 47
entities beginning in a specified fiscal year; 48
providing requirements for such reviews, 49
investigations, and audits; requiring the Auditor 50

HB 5203 2026

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General to make certain determinations about 51
recommended audits; requiring such determinations be 52
reported to the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee; 53
creating s. 11.407, F.S.; requiring the General 54
Accountability Division of the office to conduct 55
certain operational and compliance audits beginning on 56
a specified date; authorizing the division to assist 57
other units of the office in conducting certain audits 58
and investigations; amending s. 11.42, F.S.; revising 59
a requirement that the Auditor General possess certain 60
requirements; requiring a deputy director of auditing 61
who possesses certain qualifications be appointed in 62
certain circumstances; requiring the Auditor General 63
to consult with certain entities for a specified 64
purpose; requiring the Auditor General to adopt 65
certain rules; revising rulemaking authority of the 66
Auditor General; amending s. 11.45, F.S.; defining the 67
term "compliance audit"; revising the definition of 68
the term "operational audit"; providing that duties of 69
the office are independent of an audited entity; 70
revising the entities authorized to direct the office 71
to conduct an audit or engagement; revising the 72
frequency with which audits and engagements may be 73
conducted; specifying that certain provisions apply to 74
examinations and investigations; authorizing a 75

HB 5203 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb5203-00
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designated representative of the office to discuss an 76
audit, examination, or investigation with certain 77
officials; providing an alternate deadline for 78
responses to findings; revising the circumstances 79
under which the Legislative Auditing Committee is 80
notified of the failure of certain sch