Bill bans officials from taking gifts from countries of concern, requires lobbyist registration
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, and Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, filed similar bills forbidding local government officials from accepting gifts from foreign countries of concern.
Under SB 734, local governments’ public officers, an agency employee, or a local government attorney could not solicit or accept gifts, loans, rewards, promises of future employments or favors from a foreign country of concern.
As stated, “foreign countries of concern” include China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria. It also defines countries under “any agency or any other entity under significant control of such foreign country of concern.”
“These measures offered in this bill protect taxpayers while bringing much needed transparency to local governments,” Ingoglia said in a press release. “Floridians deserve to know if, when and who are influencing local decision making.”
Local governments would also be required to create lobbyist registrations, the Senate bill said. The direction intends to give oversight to local taxpayers to document who is getting paid to influence local policy.
“Government works best in the sunshine,” Andrade added. “I look forward to working with Senator Ingoglia to inject more transparency and accountability in the process of governing.”
In a related measure, Florida lawmakers introduced a bill during the 2023 Legislative Session prohibiting state universities and state colleges from entering into agreements with foreign countries of concern.
Rep. Jennifer Canady, R-Lakeland, and Sen. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah Gardens, carried the legislation and it was approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis in May.
“The prevention of sensitive material and academic findings from falling into the wrong hands is also critical to national security,” Avila said. “We must continue to enact policies that will strengthen public trust and integrity in our higher education institutions.”
DeSantis also signed another foreign measure, SB 264, into law prohibiting “foreign principals from owning or acquiring agricultural land in the state.” The legislation covers the foreign countries of concern.
The law banned foreign entities from owning or acquiring property within 10 miles of any military installation or critical infrastructure in the state.
In November, DeSantis signed a measure instituting sanctions targeting Iran.
The bill widened the definition of a “scrutinized company to include any company engaging in business operations with the government of Iran.” It also specified relations in energy, petrochemical, financial, construction, manufacturing, textile, mining, metals, shipping, shipbuilding or port sectors.
