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Legislative Update: FICPA represented on Senate committee panel

January 17, 2025

By FICPA Governmental Affairs

At the Capitol

This week, legislators met in Tallahassee for Committee Week 2, the first with both chambers, the House and Senate, meeting at the same time. Various legislative committees of interest held their first meetings, including the Commerce Committee, Regulated Industries Committee, and Industry and Professionals Activities Subcommittees. There are not yet many bills ready to be heard, so committees focused on agency presentations and various issues that are likely to come up during Session.  

Of interest to the profession, Florida Auditor General Sherril Norman, CPA, presented at the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee. She outlined her duties and shared the responsibilities of the CPAs in her office. She also discussed the pipeline shortages both in the CPA profession and in her own office, requesting funds from the Legislature to help facilitate greater recruitment.  

Guy Strum, CPA, presents to Senate Committee 

This week, FICPA State Legislative Policy Chair Guy Strum joined the Senate Regulated Industries Committee, serving on a panel focused on condo law.  

As the FICPA shared before the holidays, Chair Strum served on a panel with Regulated Industries Chair Jennifer Bradley at the FICPA CIRA conference. Sen. Bradley and Minority Leader Jason Pizzo also invited Strum as well as CPAs Tony Gregory, David Hochsprung and Alan Jowers to a Senate Condo Summit to share their expertise with the senators.  

Now, Chair Strum has served as a panelist in the Senate, discussing the pressing issues for CPAs who practice in the condo space. The FICPA thanks Chair Strum for his leadership on this issue and for sharing his experience. The FICPA also thanks Chair Bradley and the Regulated Industries Committee for inviting Strum and hearing from the CPA profession.  

ICYMI: FICPA priority bills filed in the Florida Legislature 

Rep. Mike Caruso, CPA, and Sen. Joe Gruters, CPA, last week filed HB 133: Public Accountancyand SB 160: Public Accountancy in the Florida House and Senate, respectively. These bills, part of FICPA's 2025 legislative priorities, propose important legislative changes that seek to modernize CPA licensure for the future. 

This legislation is the culmination of a multi-year effort to educate our members on the issues at hand and capture your feedback. You spoke, we listened, and now it’s time to act. We are excited to bring these game-changing bills for the CPA profession into the legislative process on behalf of our members this session.   

  1. Promote Innovative Pathways to CPA Licensure : The bills introduce multiple licensure options for CPA candidates, providing more options and flexibility while maintaining the required accounting and business knowledge.
  2. Strengthen and Enhance Florida’s Practice Privileges : The bills introduce the concept of automatic mobility for CPAs licensed in other states who wish to serve clients in Florida. Practice privileges are automatically granted under a “no notice, no fee” model, if the CPA holds an active license in good standing from another state. The bills require a simple minimum criteria: CPAs must have at least a bachelor’s degree and have passed the CPA exam for practice privileges to be granted.   
  3. Streamline Florida’s Licensure by Endorsement Process : The bills create the most efficient system in the nation for out-of-state CPAs to quickly become licensed in Florida. CPAs who hold an active license in good standing, have passed the CPA exam, and hold at least a bachelor’s degree will become licensed Florida CPAs upon application.
  4. Provide efficiencies throughout the licensing process: The bills will help to make Florida a leader in good government and effective pro-business licensing.    

After months of preparation, we are confident that the changes proposed will result in an effective and efficient licensure process that further empowers Florida’s economy and workforce. Protecting and promoting the value of the CPA license is the FICPA’s No. 1 priority.   

Governor Calls Special Session 

On Monday, Gov. Ron DeSantis formally called for a Special Session of the Legislature to convene on Jan. 27. In a press conference, the governor discussed a variety of issues to be addressed during Special Session, including condo law. This follows months of discussions related to condo reform that led to speculation about a potential Special Session.  

Notably the Speaker of the House and Senate President issued a joint statement rejecting the call for a Special Session. Constitutionally, the legislature must meet when the Governor calls a Special Session; however, the decision on whether to pass legislation lies with the Legislature. Ultimately, the Legislature will return to Tallahassee for a Special Session, and whether it chooses to take up legislation remains to be seen.  

The FICPA will stay engaged in the Special Session to monitor impacts on the CPA profession. As always, the FICPA will keep you updated as legislation progresses in the legislative process.  

Governor Appoints Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody to U.S. Senate 

On Thursday, Gov. DeSantis hosted a press conference to announce his appointment of Attorney General Ashely Moody to the U.S. Senate.  

Attorney General Moody will succeed Sen. Marco Rubio who has been appointed as U.S. Secretary of State by President Trump. Moody will serve in the upper chamber of Congress until an election for Senate takes place.  

The FICPA congratulates Moody on her appointment to the U.S. Senate.  

Countdown to CPA Day at the Capitol 

The FICPA’s CPA Day at the Capitol is just days away. We are excited to invite you to Tallahassee to promote the profession on CPA Day. You will join the FICPA Government Affairs team to advocate on behalf of priority legislation that will modernize the CPA profession for the future.

Today is the last day to register for CPA Day at the Capitol.

FICPA Legislative and Advocacy 101 Boot Camp 

On Wednesday, the Governmental Affairs team hosted a webinar overview of the FICPA’s 2025 priority legislation and the legislative environment in Tallahassee.  

The team reviewed the processes of the Legislature, including its leadership, partisan breakdown and how a bill becomes a law.  

The team also reviewed the legislative priorities of the FICPA, educating members on the big issues around licensure and mobility and giving them the tools to discuss proposed legislative solutions with members of the Legislature.  

If you are interested in learning more about the FICPA’s legislative priorities or want to get engaged in the political process, please email jasonh@ficpa.org. 

Looking Ahead 

The countdown is on, and the FICPA looks forward to all this Legislative Session has to offer.  

With a packed FICPA legislative agenda, a Legislature focused on condo reform, and the FICPA’s two CPA Lawmakers in their final terms in office, this session will undoubtably be historic for the CPA profession.  

The FICPA will continue to promote and protect the profession and keep you informed each step of the way. Legislative updates will arrive in your inbox each Friday of Interim Committee Weeks and each week during Session.  

  • Committee Week 4: Jan. 21 – 24, 2025 
  • CPA Day at the Capitol Evening Reception: Jan. 21, 2024 
  • CPA Day at the Capitol: Jan. 22, 2024  
  • Special Legislative Session: Jan. 27- 31 
  • Committee Week 5: Feb. 17-21 
  • Committee Week 6: Feb. 17-21 
  • Regular Session Beings: March 4