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Legislative Update: FICPA bill placed on Senate Committee agenda

February 14, 2025

By FICPA Governmental Affairs

The Florida Legislature this week returned to Tallahassee for Interim Committee Week 5. While the legislative work of the week continued, the Capitol was still abuzz with positive feedback and momentum from a very successful CPA Day at the Capitol. As members of our Governmental Affairs Team walked the halls, numerous legislators and staff mentioned the CPA’s strong showing the previous week. 

2025 CPA Day at the Capitol

Thanks to YOU, CPA Day at the Capitol was a resounding success! More than 100 FICPA members walked the halls of the Florida Capitol, meeting with all 160 legislators including – Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Danny Perez – to champion the priorities of the CPA profession. Your grassroots advocacy made a lasting impact, with legislators and staff still talking about the strong presence of CPAs at the Capitol.

No one tells your story better than you, and it was your grassroots advocacy that made all the difference on CPA Day. The Governmental Affairs Team will keep the momentum going to drive forward the FICPA priority legislation to modernize the CPA profession for the future.  

This member-driven advocacy did not go unnoticed, as CPA Day at the Capitol made headlines in both accounting publications and Florida political media.  

FICPA bill placed on Senate Regulated Industries agenda

The momentum from CPA Day is already driving results. 

Our priority legislation, SB 160 – Public Accountancy, has been placed on the Senate Regulated Industries Committee agenda for Tuesday, Feb. 18 at 4 p.m., a critical first step in modernizing CPA licensure in Florida. This is the first of its three committee stops in the Senate. 

The FICPA looks forward to the priority legislation being presented in committee and is thankful to Chair Jennifer Bradley for placing the bill on the agenda. 

To watch the presentation tune in live on the Florida Channel. 

As we approach the final interim committee week before the 2025 Legislative Session begins on March 2nd, the FICPA will continue advocating for policies that support the CPA profession. Stay tuned for updates as our priority legislation progresses. 

Stay engaged, stay informed, and let’s keep this momentum going! 

Legislative Highlights & What’s Next 

  • Legislative Session Outlook: More than 600 bills have been filed, with 1,000 more expected before the March 4 deadline. The FICPA Governmental Affairs team is closely monitoring legislation impacting the profession. 
  • Condo Regulation Discussions: Lawmakers are focused on condo oversight. The FICPA CIRA Committee continues to serve as a key resource in these discussions. 
  •  Special Session C on Immigration: A compromise bill was passed, but no provisions impacted the CPA profession. 

Regulated Industries holds panel discussion on condos 

Interim Legislative Committee weeks continue as the countdown to Session begins. This week, the Legislature met for its fifth Interim Committee Week, and more substantive bills were placed on committee agendas, with panel discussions on key issues. 

Important to CPAs practicing in CIRA, on Tuesday, the Senate Regulated Industries Committee met and held a panel discussion on condos. The panel featured Department of Business and Professional Regulation Secretary Melanie Griffin and others that practice in condos, from builders to association managers. The panel discussed various topics, including the Department’s statistics on recruitment and activity within the Division of Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes. The secretary also discussed the implementation of condo legislation the FICPA monitored last session. To watch coverage of the meeting visit the Florida Channel. 

There continues to be a substantial amount of interest from legislators on this issue. The FICPA expects a significant legislative proposal to arise at some point this year. The FICPA's CIRA Committee has been actively engaged as subject-matter experts for legislators on this important topic.  

Special Session C 

Late Monday evening, both the Florida Legislature and the governor’s office announced Special Session 2025C on immigration would be held starting Tuesday afternoon.  

The FICPA has been carefully monitoring the discussion around Special Session. As previously reported, Gov. DeSantis called a Special Session in January to discuss legislation related to immigration. During Special Session B, the Florida Legislature passed a policy bill from both chambers, but due to disagreements over some aspects of the bill, it was not sent to the Governor to be signed. After much discussion, an agreement was eventually reached between the Legislature and the governor’s office. During Special Session C, the Florida Legislature took up a compromise bill that eventually passed and now awaits the governor’s signature. No bills filed within the Special Session related to the CPA profession.  

On the Horizon: Awaiting appointments

Next week marks the final scheduled Interim Committee Week for the Florida Legislature. While this concludes the Interim Committee sessions, the policy work is just beginning. 

Next week, the Florida Legislature will continue filing new policy proposals and meeting in committees to finalize legislative priorities. 

Meanwhile, outside the Legislature, Gov. Ron DeSantis has yet to announce his appointments for Attorney General, Chief Financial Officer, and Lieutenant Governor. Speculation surrounding these appointments continues to grow in the background of the legislative process. 

Rest assured, the FICPA Governmental Affairs team will keep our members informed at the appropriate time. 

2025 Bill Tracker 

Here are some of the key bills of interest the FICPA is monitoring ahead of Session: 

Mobility and licensure

House Bill 133 - Public Accountancy by Rep. Caruso / Senate Bill 160 - Public Accountancy by Sen. Gruters. The FICPA’s priority legislation seeks to modernize the CPA licensure for the future by opening new alternative pathways to licensure: 

  • Current Path: 150 semester hours, one year of experience, and pass the CPA exam. 
  • New Pathway 1: Master’s degree in accounting/finance, one year of experience, and pass the CPA exam. 
  • New Pathway 2: Bachelor’s degree in accounting/finance, two years of experience, and pass the CPA exam. 
  • New Pathway 3: Bachelor’s degree in any field, with coursework in accounting/finance, two years of experience, and pass the CPA exam. 

The bill also streamlines practice privileges for out-of-state CPAs who seek to practice in Florida by introducing the concept of automatic mobility. Out-of-state CPAs who hold a license, graduated with at least a bachelor's degree, and passed the CPA licensure exam will be granted practice privileges in the state with no notice and no fee. The bill also streamlines the licensure by endorsement process, creating the most efficient system in the nation. 

  • HB 133 has been referred to the Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee in the House of Representatives. 
  • SB 160 has been referred to the Regulated Industries Committee in the Senate. On Regulated Industries Committee agenda for Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 4 pm.  

House Bill 195 - Education in Correctional Facilities for Licensed Professions by Rep. Chambliss. The bill requires professional boards regulated by DBPR (such as the Board of Accountancy) to ensure that inmates in a correctional institution who take classes that meet the necessary curriculum requirements receive credit toward licensure requirements for the successful completion of classes. 

  • HB 195 has been referred to the Criminal Justice Subcommittee in the House of Representatives. HB 195 passed out of the Criminal Justice Subcommittee. It will be sent to its second committee of reference, the House Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee.   

Senate Bill 320 - Licensure Requirements for Surveyors and Mappers by Sen. Gaetz. The bill creates alternative pathways to licensure for Surveyors and Mappers. Similarly to the CPA profession, surveyors are licensed and regulated by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). While the bill does not impact the CPA profession, the FICPA will continue to monitor changes in professional and occupational licensure which may impact the profession. 

  • On Commerce and Tourism Committee agenda for Tuesday, Feb. 18, at 8:30 a.m. 

Senate Bill 286 - Mobile Opportunity by Interstate Licensure Endorsement Act by Sen. Rodriguez. The bill impacts licensed medical professionals and their licensure by endorsement process. While the bill does not currently impact the CPA profession, the FICPA is closely monitoring all trends of licensure bills and tracking any that may be amended to include the CPA profession. 

  • SB 286 has been referred to the Health Policy Committee in the Senate. 

Audit/Tax/Industry 

Senate Bill 354 – Public Service Commission by Sen. Gaetz. The bill requires a certified public accountant sit on the Public Service Commission.  

  • SB 354 has been referenced to Regulated Industries in the Senate.

Senate Bill 282 - Home and Service Warranty Association Financial Requirements by Sen. Truenow. The bill makes changes to the regulation of home and service warranty association financial requirements by requiring an association licensed under 634.3077 to meet requirements by providing "one of" the following options, rather than both, the annual audited financial statements and the Form 10-K, Form 10-Q, or Form 20-F. 

  • SB 282 has been referred to the Banking and Insurance Committee in the Senate. 

House Bill 227 - Ad Valorem Taxation by Rep. Caruso/Senate Bill 378 Ad Valorem Taxation by Sen. Harrell. The bill authorizes taxpayers to rescind a previously filed homestead exemption application by notifying the property appraiser using a specified form between August 1 and September 15 of the same tax year. It requires continuous property ownership from January 1 of the previous year until the application date to qualify for rescission and mandates property appraisers to adjust the tax roll to reflect rescinded homestead exemptions before certifying the tax roll to tax collectors. The bill grants the Department of Revenue the authority to adopt emergency rules for managing the rescission of homestead exemptions, effective for 6 months with the possibility of renewal. 

  • HB 227 has been referred to the Ways and Means Committee in the House.  
  • SB 378 has been referred to the Community Affairs Committee in the Senate. 

Senate Bill 220 - Social Work Licensure Compact by Sen. Harrell/House Bill 27 – Social Work Licensure Compact by Rep. Hunchofsky. The bill establishes the Social Work Licensure Commission and requires the commission to keep accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements subject to the financial review and accounting procedures established under its bylaws. All receipts and disbursements of funds handled by the commission are subject to an annual financial review by a certified or licensed public accountant, and the report of the financial review must be included in and become part of the annual report of the commission. 

  • HB 27 passed out of House Health Professions and Programs Subcommittee. It will be sent to its second committee of reference Health Care Budget Subcommittee.  

Condos/HOAs 

Senate Bill 368 - Community Associations by Rep. Garcia. The bill creates the Condominium and Homeowners’ Association Economic Crime, Fraud, and Corruption Investigation Pilot Program under the Department of Legal Affairs. It gives the Department the power to issue subpoenas and conduct audits for investigations in furtherance of the pilot program and administer oaths, subpoena witnesses, and compel the production of books, papers, or other records relevant to such investigations. If, after reviewing a complaint filed under the pilot program, the department finds sufficient evidence for criminal prosecutions, it must refer the case to the appropriate state attorney for prosecution. 

  • SB 368 has been referred to Regulated Industries in the Senate.