Florida Banking June/July 2025

GOVERNMENT RELATIONS

SESSION MAY HAVE FINALLY ENDED

BY ANTHONY DIMARCO FBA EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

N ear the end of Session, I joked that I wasn’t sure whether we would have a new Pope or a state budget first. Today, May 8, Pope Leo XIV, was selected, but we do not have a budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year. The 2025 Session, is officially extended until June 6, to finalize the budget. The Speaker and President have not yet agreed on allocations or the conference committee meeting schedule to finalize the budget. There is a chance, albeit slight, that a budget won’t be agreed on by the start of the fiscal year – July 1. In Florida’s recent history, the Legislature came close to not meeting this constitutional duty. In 1992, the Legislature was embroiled in a redistricting battle and did not pass a budget until June 30. Gov. Chiles signed the budget on July 1. Will history repeat itself, or will the legislative leaders and the Governor agree

to a budget by June 30 (or before)? For the FBA, the 2025 Session was a mixed bag. The Farm Bill passed with the private right of action for “debanking” agriculture producers, while containing our language to criminalize stealing mail or mailbox keys. IOTA nearly made it over the finish line, only to be removed from the bill after a deal in the House where both parties and key legislators must meet to negotiate the issue over the summer. Bills we supported on trusts, financial exploitation of vulnerable adults, and securities passed. The condo bill also passed at the end of Session.

Here's a short summary of these bills. Debanking, Frivolous Lawsuits, Mail Theft and the Farm Bill

The Florida Farm Bill, SB 700, contains language permitting lawsuits by anyone in the agriculture

business who believes a financial institution discriminated against them when trying to secure financial services. The bill also includes language criminalizing mail theft and theft of mail box keys. The provision applies to the United States Postal Service and private delivery services, such as FedEx and UPS. Gov. DeSantis has indicated he will sign the bill. IOTA Unfortunately, this issue did not pass. The original legislation, HB 173 by Rep. Brackett (R) and SB 498 by Sen. Grall (R), had different results. HB 173 was never heard in the House, SB 498 passed the Senate. Sen. Grall then added it to her legislation, HB 1549, dealing with financial services. The House removed it from the bill

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