Advocacy Alert: FICPA priority bill filed in the Florida Senate

FICPA Governmental Affairs Team

Sen. Joe Gruters on Thursday filed Senate Bill 954 - Certified Public Accountants in the Florida Senate. This bill – which is among the FICPA’s 2024 legislative priorities – creates a new “retired status” license category for CPAs. This is the companion bill to House Bill 813 - Certified Public Accountants, filed by Rep. Mike Caruso on Monday. The bills are identical.  

As discussed in our Advocacy Alert on Monday: Currently, to keep and use the “CPA” designation, CPAs must maintain active licensure requirements, including continuing education. If no longer willing or able to keep up with the licensure requirements in retirement, CPAs must either petition for inactive status or allow their license to become null and void. In either case, they are no longer authorized to use the CPA designation.  

HB 813 SB 954 would amend s. 473.313, F.S. to create a new “retired status” license category. This change would allow CPAs who are at least 65 years of age and have an active or inactive license to petition the BOA (Board of Accountancy) to place their license into retired status. Under this designation, an individual may use “retired CPA” as part of their business card, letterhead, or any electronic communication.  

This change would allow individuals who have had long and distinguished careers to continue serving, without compensation, on a board or in other mentoring or advisory roles for certain specified charitable or civic organizations. Should they want to go back into public practice, the bill allows retired CPAs to reactivate their licenses.  

Having the bills filed in the House and Senate is an important step in our success during the 2024 Legislative Session. The bills will now be referred to the appropriate committees of reference.  

The FICPA will continue to provide updates as the bills move through the process.