Florida HB 965: Retirement Credit for Military Service

Bill Text

CS/HB 965 2026

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A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to voluntary trial resolution; 2
amending s. 44.104, F.S.; deleting provisions relating 3
to voluntary trial resolution; creating s. 44.1045, 4
F.S.; defining the term "presiding judge"; authorizing 5
parties to civil cases, family law cases, or probate 6
cases to agree to or stipulate the appointment of a 7
voluntary trial resolution judge; providing 8
eligibility requirements; authorizing the parties to 9
file such agreement or stipulation with the clerk of 10
the court and to file a joint motion requesting such 11
appointment; requiring the joint motion to be 12
accompanied by a certain form; requiring the parties 13
to promptly serve a copy of the joint motion and form 14
on the presiding judge; requiring the presiding judge 15
to enter a specified order within a certain time 16
period; requiring an appointed voluntary trial 17
resolution judge to take and subscribe to a specified 18
oath; providing an exception; requiring a voluntary 19
trial resolution judge to adjudicate a case until a 20
final determination of the case; requiring the case to 21
be returned to the presiding judge under certain 22
circumstances; requiring immediate disclosure by a 23
voluntary trial resolution judge to the parties of 24
circumstances requiring disqualification; authorizing 25

CS/HB 965 2026

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waiver of disqualification; providing construction and 26
applicability; providing for compensation of a 27
voluntary trial resolution judge; requiring the 28
presiding judge to retain jurisdiction for a specified 29
purpose; requiring the clerk of the court to treat 30
cases referred to voluntary trial resolution in a 31
specified manner; requiring the chief judge or his or 32
her designee to make available public facilities and 33
personnel in proceedings assigned to a voluntary trial 34
resolution judge in a specified manner; requiring the 35
chief judge and the clerk to coordinate the provision 36
of jurors with a voluntary trial resolution judge for 37
certain actions; authorizing the parties to agree to 38
use certain facilities for other specified matters; 39
specifying that the parties are responsible for 40
certain costs; providing the scope of judicial 41
functions of a voluntary trial resolution judge; 42
requiring the presiding judge to maintain jurisdiction 43
to perform certain judicial functions; requiring a 44
voluntary trial resolution judge to conduct 45
proceedings under specified rules of court; requiring 46
voluntary trial resolution proceedings to be noticed 47
and open to the public; providing for judicial review; 48
providing applicability; amending s. 44.107, F.S.; 49
conforming provisions to changes made by the act; 50

CS/HB 965 2026

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providing an effective date. 51
52
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 53
54
Section 1. Section 44.104, Florida Statutes, is amended to 55
read: 56
44.104 Voluntary binding arbitration and voluntary trial 57
resolution.— 58
(1) Two or more opposing parties who are involved in a 59
civil dispute may agree in writing to submit the controversy to 60
voluntary binding arbitration, or voluntary trial resolution, in 61
lieu of litigation of the issues involved before, prior to or 62
after a lawsuit has been filed, provided no constitutional issue 63
is involved. 64
(2) If the parties have entered into an agreement that 65
which provides in voluntary binding arbitration for a method for 66
appointing of one or more arbitrators, or which provides in 67
voluntary trial resolution a method for appointing a member of 68
The Florida Bar in good standing for more than 5 years to act as 69
trial resolution judge, the court shall proceed with the 70
appointment as prescribed. However, in voluntary binding 71
arbitration at least one of the arbitrators, who shall serve as 72
the chief arbitrator, shall meet the qualifications and training 73
requirements adopted pursuant to s. 44.106. In the absence of an 74
agreement, or if the agreement method fails or for any reason 75

CS/HB 965 2026

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cannot be followed, the court, on application of a party, shall 76
appoint one or more qualified arbitrators, or the trial 77
resolution judge, as the case requires. 78
(3) The arbitrators must or trial resolution judge shall 79
be compensated by the parties according to their agreement. 80
(4) Within 10 days after the subm