FICPA successfully defends CPA profession from 2025 deregulation threat in Florida Legislature
FICPA successfully defends profession, with deregulation bill withdrawn from Legislature
The FICPA is excited to report that we have mounted a successful defense of the CPA profession: The deregulation bill we’ve spent several weeks fighting has been officially withdrawn in the Florida Legislature.
The Florida House and Senate on Thursday came to an agreement that will once again extend Florida’s Legislative Session, this time to June 18.
But the chambers have agreed to only focus on the state budget and a handful of related items, with “all other measures … indefinitely postponed and withdrawn from consideration.”
This means SB 110, the otherwise-unrelated legislative vehicle the Florida House used in attempt to advance a catastrophic deregulation proposal, is no longer in play during the 2025 Session.
As we informed our members on May 3, following the conclusion of the 60-day Regular Session, SB 110 was one of the 16 bills still up for consideration in the Legislature’s initial extension to June 6. Although we were informed by our legislative sources that any further discussion of SB 110 would likely not include the House amendment and instead be limited to the Senate’s original intent – a renaissance of Florida’s rural communities – we remained vigilant over the last month, keeping a close eye on any renewed threats to the profession.
Had the House proposal passed, Florida’s CPAs would have most likely lost their practice privileges in other states, and Florida would have been just one legislative action away from the total elimination of licensure.
Now, with SB 110 officially withdrawn, we can breathe a sigh of relief and take tremendous pride in our successful defense of the CPA profession from the most significant deregulatory threat we’ve ever faced.
What was in the bill?
The FICPA is strongly engaged on this issue as we fight to protect the CPA profession. This is a more than 500-page piece of legislation that merges multiple unrelated issues.
With respect to its impact on CPAs, the legislation has three main provisions:
1. The elimination of all professional and occupational licensing boards under DBPR, including the Florida Board of Accountancy, with regulatory responsibilities moving to DBPR staff. The Division of Certified Public Accountancy would also be relocated from Gainesville to Tallahassee.
2. The Removal of all continuing professional education (CPE) requirements for DBPR-regulated professions, including:
- The 80-hour biennial CPE requirement for CPAs.
- All CPE requirements tied to license reactivation.
3. A directive for DBPR to study alternate pathways to licensure, such as experience-only or experience-plus-exam models, without requiring formal education. The study is to be completed by Jan. 1, 2026.
Why we opposed it
The FICPA strenuously opposed both:
- The Elimination of the Florida Board of Accountancy
- And the removing of continuing professional education (CPE) requirements for CPAs
These changes would have:
- Restricted commerce for Florida CPAs
- Weakened public protections
- Created national disadvantages for Florida CPAs
- Increased bureaucracy and state costs
- Isolated Florida from national standards
Why This Matters
CPAs rely on mobility and CPE reciprocity to serve clients across state lines.
- Roughly 80% of Florida CPAs serve clients in five or more states.
- Nearly 75% of U.S. jurisdictions, including the entire Southeast, recognize CPE reciprocity.
- Florida requires CPAs to complete 80 hours of CPE biennially, which is aligned with generally all states, as well as national standards-setting organizations.
- Removing CPE requirements would cause Florida CPAs to face added regulatory barriers and be put at a competitive disadvantage with their peers in other states.
The Florida Board of Accountancy provides expert oversight through volunteer CPAs.
- Replacing it with general oversight by the Department could delay resolution, increase costs and reduce effectiveness.
- Eliminating the Board would cut Florida off from the national network of state boards.
Contact Us
Thank you for your continued support of the FICPA and the profession. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jason Harrell or any member of the FICPA Governmental Affairs Team at govaffairs@ficpa.org.