Florida HB 413: Delegation of the Administration of Prescription Medications

Bill Text

CS/CS/HB 413 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb413-02-c2
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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 attorney fees, suit money, and 2
costs; amending s. 61.16, F.S.; providing that an 3
award of attorney fees, suit money, and costs may be 4
awarded retroactively and prospectively; authorizing 5
the inclusion of certain fees, money, and costs in the 6
total award of attorney fees, suit money, and costs; 7
authorizing the court to consider whether a party 8
rejected a good faith offer of settlement when 9
awarding attorney fees, suit money, and costs; 10
authorizing the court to award, deny, or reduce 11
attorney fees, suit money, and costs as a sanction for 12
vexatious or bad faith litigation; requiring the court 13
to make certain written findings; authorizing the 14
court to order an award of attorney fees, suit money, 15
and costs be paid directly to the attorney; requiring 16
the court to include certain written findings of fact 17
when the court finds a party in contempt; providing 18
for the award of attorney fees and costs to a 19
nonoffending party under certain circumstances; 20
providing that certain relief is cumulative and not 21
exclusive; amending s. 742.045, F.S.; authorizing a 22
court to order attorney fees, suit money, and costs in 23
certain appellate proceedings; providing that an award 24
of attorney fees, suit money, and costs may be awarded 25

CS/CS/HB 413 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb413-02-c2
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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

retroactively and prospectively; prohibiting a court 26
from awarding attorney fees, suit money, and costs to 27
a noncompliant party under certain circumstances; 28
providing that a trial court has continuing 29
jurisdiction to award temporary appellate attorney 30
fees and costs under a specified basis and criteria; 31
authorizing the court to consider whether a party 32
rejected a good faith offer of settlement when 33
awarding attorney fees, suit money, and costs; 34
authorizing the court to award, deny, or reduce 35
attorney fees, suit money, and costs as a sanction for 36
vexatious or bad faith litigation; requiring the court 37
to make certain written findings; specifying the 38
primary factor for a court to consider in making 39
awards of appellate attorney fees and costs; 40
authorizing the court to order an award of attorney 41
fees, suit money, and costs be paid directly to the 42
attorney; authorizing the court to take certain 43
actions in an action involving criminal contempt; 44
providing a presumption that certain parties are 45
entitled to recover attorney fees and costs under 46
certain circumstances; providing that certain relief 47
is cumulative and not exclusive; providing 48
applicability; providing an effective date. 49
50

CS/CS/HB 413 2026

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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 51
52
Section 1. Section 61.16, Florida Statutes, is amended to 53
read: 54
61.16 Attorney Attorney's fees, suit money, and costs.— 55
(1) The court may from time to time, after considering the 56
financial resources of both parties, order a party to pay a 57
reasonable amount for attorney attorney's fees, suit money, and 58
the cost to the other party of maintaining or defending any 59
proceeding seeking relief under this chapter, including 60
enforcement, and modification, and appellate proceedings and 61
appeals. 62
(2) An award of attorney fees, suit money, and costs, 63
whether temporary or final, may be awarded retroactively and 64
prospectively as equity requires. Attorney fees, suit money, and 65
costs incurred in pursuing an award of such fees, money, and 66
costs may be included in any award under this section. 67
(3) In those cases in which an action is brought for 68
enforcement and the court finds that the noncompliant party is 69
without justification in the refusal to follow a court order, 70
the court must may not award attorney attorney's fees, suit 71
money, and costs to the noncompliant party. 72
(4) An application for attorney attorney's fees, suit 73
money, or costs, whether temporary or final otherwise, must 74
shall not require corroborating expert testimony in order to 75

CS/CS/HB 413 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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support an award under this chapter. 76
(5) The trial court has shall have continuing jurisdiction 77
to make awards of temporary attorney attorney's fees and costs 78
awards reasonably necessary to prosecute or defend an appeal on 79
the same basis and criteria as though the matter were pending 80
before the court it at the trial leve