Florida HB 975: Background Screenings and Certifications

Bill Text

CS/HB 975 2026

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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 the Capitol Center and Complex; 2
amending s. 272.12, F.S.; providing that the 3
Department of Management Services is responsible for 4
the aesthetics of the Capitol Center for visitors; 5
amending s. 272.121, F.S.; requiring the department to 6
consider certain factors when developing a specified 7
plan; amending s. 272.16, F.S.; requiring the 8
department, in consultation with the Capitol Police, 9
to establish enhanced security measures in certain 10
parking areas; amending s. 943.61, F.S.; authorizing 11
the Capitol Police to patrol the area surrounding the 12
Capitol Complex to ensure the safety of certain 13
persons; defining the term "area surrounding the 14
Capitol Complex"; providing a requirement for a 15
certain operational plan; requiring the Capitol Police 16
to provide a certain report to the Legislature; 17
amending s. 943.64, F.S.; authorizing certain ex 18
officio agents to patrol the Capitol Complex and the 19
area surrounding the Capitol Complex; amending s. 20
943.601, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; providing 21
an effective date. 22
23
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 24
25

CS/HB 975 2026

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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

Section 1. Subsection (3) is added to section 272.12, 26
Florida Statutes, to read: 27
272.12 Florida Capitol Center Planning District.— 28
(3) The Department of Management Services is responsible 29
for the aesthetics of the Capitol Center for visitors. 30
Section 2. Paragraph (e) is added to subsection (1) of 31
section 272.121, Florida Statutes, to read: 32
272.121 Capitol Center long-range planning.— 33
(1) The Department of Management Services shall develop a 34
comprehensive and long-range plan for the development of state-35
owned property within the Capitol Center. In developing this 36
plan, the department shall consider: 37
(e) The security of the Capitol Center and surrounding 38
areas and the need to keep those spaces safe. 39
Section 3. Subsection (4) of section 272.16, Florida 40
Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (5) and amended, and a new 41
subsection (4) is added to that section, to read: 42
272.16 Parking areas within Capitol Center area.— 43
(4) The Department of Management Services, in consultation 44
with the Capitol Police, shall establish enhanced security 45
measures to protect members of the Legislature, state officers, 46
employees, and visitors in such parking areas. 47
(5)(4) The Department of Management Services shall adopt 48
such rules as are necessary to implement carry out the purposes 49
of subsections (1), and (3), and (4). 50

CS/HB 975 2026

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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

Section 4. Section 943.61, Florida Statutes, is amended to 51
read: 52
943.61 Powers and duties of the Capitol Police.— 53
(1)(a) There is created the Capitol Police within the 54
Department of Law Enforcement, to serve the safety and security 55
needs of both the legislative and executive branches of state 56
government. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Capitol 57
Police serve as a specially trained and highly effective 58
security and law enforcement agency serving the Capitol Complex 59
and the state. It shall be the primary responsibility of the 60
Capitol Police to protect the security of the Governor, the 61
Lieutenant Governor, the members of the Cabinet, and the members 62
of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, and those 63
employees assigned to assist such state officials in the 64
performance of their official duties, and to ensure their access 65
to buildings and premises within the Capitol Complex, thereby 66
providing for the continuous operation of the government of the 67
State of Florida. 68
(b)(2) The Capitol Police shall also provide security and 69
protection for other state officials, employees, and visitors to 70
the Capitol Complex and shall maintain a reasonable degree of 71
safety and security within the Capitol Complex while ensuring 72
reasonable access to buildings and premises within the Capitol 73
Complex by state officials, employees, and visitors. The Capitol 74
Police shall also ensure that adequate signs and personnel are 75

CS/HB 975 2026

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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

in place to inform and assist the occupants of and visitors to 76
buildings within the Capitol Complex. 77
(c) To enforce this subsection, the Capitol Police may 78
patrol and conduct law enforcement activities in the area 79
surrounding the