FL H0337

County court jurisdictional limits for civil actions at law increase from $15,000 to $30,000 effective January 1, 2020, and further to $50,000 effective January 1, 2023, with corresponding new filing fee tiers ($295 for claims over $2,500 but not more than $15,000; $395 for claims over $15,000).

Circuit court appellate jurisdiction is revised to exclude appeals of county court orders or judgments where the amount in controversy exceeds $15,000 (effective January 1, 2020, with this exception repealed January 1, 2023), directing those appeals instead to district courts of appeal.

Portions of numerous court-related fees, fines, service charges, and costs collected by clerks of court across more than 20 Florida statutes are required to be remitted to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the General Revenue Fund, applied retroactively to July 1, 2008, and declared remedial and clarifying in nature.

The Clerks of the Court Trust Fund surplus transfer schedule to the General Revenue Fund is phased in: excess funds above $10 million transferred by February 1, 2020; at least 50% transferred by February 1, 2021 and 2022 (with a $20 million cap retained); and full cumulative excess transferred annually beginning February 1, 2023.

The Office of the State Courts Administrator must submit a report to the Governor and Legislature by February 1, 2021, with recommendations on county court jurisdiction adjustments, a review of court fees for adequate funding, and a review of appellate jurisdiction of district and circuit courts including the use of appellate panels.