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FL S1650

Bill

Status

Introduced

2/28/2025

Primary Sponsor

Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice

Click for details

Origin

Senate

2025 Regular Session

AI Summary

  • Expands the definition of "action" under Florida's Vexatious Litigant Law to include small claims cases and actions in other state or federal courts, while continuing to exclude family law matters
  • Increases the lookback period for qualifying as a vexatious litigant from 5 years to 7 years and expands the criteria to include behaviors such as repeatedly relitigating resolved claims, filing unmeritorious pleadings, conducting unnecessary discovery, or engaging in frivolous delay tactics
  • Allows any party (not just defendants) to move for a security order against a vexatious litigant, and expands sanctions for non-compliance to include denial of relief, striking of pleadings, or default judgment when the vexatious litigant is a defendant or respondent
  • Transfers authority over prefiling orders and leave-to-file determinations from the administrative judge to the court generally, and specifies that automatic stays remain in effect until the court vacates the stay, rules on the pending motion, or dismisses the action
  • Takes effect July 1, 2025

Legislative Description

Vexatious Litigants

Last Action

Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/HB 1559 (Ch. 2025-128)

4/23/2025

Committee Referrals

Rules4/14/2025
Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice3/20/2025

Full Bill Text

No bill text available