CS/HB 1053 Summary

• Creates section 16.65, Florida Statutes, defining "matter of great governmental concern" as conduct or harm adversely affecting citizens of at least five counties.

• Requires political subdivisions to serve written notice to the Attorney General when commencing civil actions in state court.

• Authorizes the Attorney General to determine within 180 days whether an action involves a matter of great governmental concern, and if so, to file a competing civil action within one year.

• Stays a political subdivision's civil action upon notice of the Attorney General's determination, unless the Attorney General fails to timely file an action or publishes notice of declining to proceed.

• Requires the Attorney General to publish outcomes of actions on an official webpage titled "Matters of Great Governmental Concern" within 15 days of settlement or judgment, with any recovered funds deposited in the General Revenue Fund; mandates state courts to dismiss political subdivision actions as moot if resolved by an Attorney General action on the same matter.