Gov. Rick Scott signed Senate Bill 846 into law on Friday, June 20, 2014. The ethics bill takes effect July 1, 2014 and requires lobbyists at Florida’s five water management districts to register and file periodic reports with the Lobbyist Registration Office of the Florida Legislature.

The original version of the bill would have required lobbyist registration for individuals seeking to influence any of the 136 independent special districts statewide. Such independent special districts include water management districts, hospital districts, and any other independent special district that exercises ad valorem taxing authority. The final version, however, only requires lobbyist registration for individuals seeking to influence Florida’s water management districts.

Rep. Kathleen Passidomo considered the original version of the bill too broad, thus revising the bill in committee to only impose lobbyist registration on water management districts. Passidomo has said if registration works smoothly at the water districts, the Legislature may consider requiring more special districts to register lobbyists.