FL H0323

Requires that any monetary or cash component of pretrial release must be met by a surety bond or U.S. currency/postal money order/cashier's check, changing from permissive ("may") to mandatory ("must") language, and expands criminal bail bond provisions to include bonds executed by Florida residents in addition to licensed bail bond agents.

Establishes a tiered forfeiture remission schedule based on when a defendant surrenders or is apprehended after forfeiture, ranging from 100% remission within 90 days down to 45% within 1,095 days, replacing the previous system of discretionary remission capped at 100%, 95%, 90%, 85%, or 50% depending on timeframe.

Extends the application period for remission of forfeiture from 2 years to 1,095 days, extends the surety's right to arrest a principal after forfeiture from 2 years to 3 years, and reduces the state's extradition response deadline from 30 days to 10 days after a written request by the surety agent.

Requires clerks to discharge bonds without further court order upon pretrial release revocation/detention, resolution of underlying criminal charges after forfeiture, or confirmation that a defendant is in custody with the surety agreeing to pay return costs; also requires clerks to issue remissions within 10 days of a court order, with unpaid remissions accruing interest at 1.5% per month.

Adds a licensed bail agent to the membership of county public safety coordinating councils and repeals s. 903.08 (sufficiency of sureties) and s. 903.17 (substitution of cash bail for other bail), with an effective date of July 1, 2025.