FL H1161

Changes preference for Florida businesses from optional to mandatory ("may" to "shall") in competitive solicitations for personal property by state agencies, counties, municipalities, school districts, and political subdivisions.

Establishes a 5 percent preference for Florida vendors when the lowest bid comes from an out-of-state vendor whose state does not grant reciprocal preferences; otherwise grants a preference equal to what the other state grants.

Extends the same mandatory preference requirements to printing contracts under the same conditions and percentages.

Excludes transportation projects using federal aid funds and contracts awarded to PRIDE Enterprises (Prison Rehabilitative Industries and Diversified Enterprises, Inc.) from these preference requirements.

Requires out-of-state vendors to submit written legal opinions from attorneys licensed in their home states documenting what preferences, if any, that state grants to its own vendors in public contracts.