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FICPA fighting to protect CPA licensure and professional standards

What's at Issue

On April 22, a proposed committee substitute for HB 991 - Community and Economic Development by Rep. Giallombardo passed the Florida House of Representatives Commerce Committee. 

And on April 23, the substance of HB 991 was combined in SB 110 - Rural Communities by Sen. Simon.

This bill – which is the next step on the path to total CPA deregulation – is now ready to be heard by the full Florida House. 

To be clear: This legislation has the potential to have catastrophic consequences for the CPA profession.

What's in the Bill

The FICPA is strongly engaged on this issue as we fight to protect the CPA profession. This is a more than 500-page piece of legislation that merges multiple unrelated issues. 

With respect to its impact on CPAs, the legislation has three main provisions:

1. The elimination of all professional and occupational licensing boards under DBPR, including the Florida Board of Accountancy, with regulatory responsibilities moving to DBPR staff. The Division of Certified Public Accountancy would also be relocated from Gainesville to Tallahassee.   

2. The Removal of all continuing professional education (CPE) requirements for DBPR-regulated professions, including:   

  • The 80-hour biennial CPE requirement for CPAs. 
  • All CPE requirements tied to license reactivation.   

3. A directive for DBPR to study alternate pathways to licensure, such as experience-only or experience-plus-exam models, without requiring formal education. The study is to be completed by Jan. 1, 2026.  

Our Concerns

The FICPA has serious concerns and strongly opposes two proposals in HB 991: 

  • Eliminating the Florida Board of Accountancy 
  • Removing Continuing Professional Education (CPE) requirements for CPAs 

These changes would: 

  • Restrict commerce for Florida CPAs 
  • Weaken public protections 
  • Create national disadvantages for Florida CPAs 
  • Increase bureaucracy and state costs 
  • Isolate Florida from national standards 

Why This Matters

CPAs rely on mobility and CPE reciprocity to serve clients across state lines. 

  • Roughly 80% of Florida CPAs serve clients in five or more states. 
  • Nearly 75% of U.S. jurisdictions, including the entire Southeast, recognize CPE reciprocity. 
  • Florida requires CPAs to complete 80 hours of CPE biennially, which is aligned with generally all states, as well as national standards-setting organizations.  
  • Removing CPE requirements would cause Florida CPAs to face added regulatory barriers and be put at a competitive disadvantage with their peers in other states.  

The Florida Board of Accountancy provides expert oversight through volunteer CPAs. 

  • Replacing it with general oversight by the Department could delay resolution, increase costs and reduce effectiveness. 
  • Eliminating the Board would cut Florida off from the national network of state boards. 

Contact Us

Thank you for your continued support of the FICPA and the profession. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jason Harrell or any member of the FICPA Governmental Affairs Team at govaffairs@ficpa.org.