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Each year, the FICPA is proud to present awards in recognition of key lawmakers who demonstrate strong support for the CPA profession within the Florida Legislature. In this edition of of Legislative Update, we thank Reps. Omar Blanco and Yvette Benarroch.

In response to sweeping changes in CPA licensure requirements set to take effect across many states starting Jan. 1, 2026, CPA QualityPro, a groundbreaking compliance platform for accounting firms, officially launched today, with strategic backing from the Florida Institute of CPAs (FICPA) and the Washington Society of CPAs (WSCPA).

The 2025 Regular Session is done, but the legislative process never stops. And as the summer heat rises, so too does the behind-the-scenes activity in Tallahassee.

This bipartisan, bicameral legislation will expedite the issuance of federal tax relief and provide the IRS with authority to grant tax relief once the governor of a state declares a disaster or state of emergency. The FICPA, along with the AICPA and our state society partners, has long advocated for this years-in-the-making reform.

“We are thankful to the members of Congress who supported millions of businesses’ ability to retain pass-through entity tax SALT deduction and our partners throughout the state CPA societies and other professional service businesses for their diligent advocacy on this important issue" AICPA President & CEO Mark Koziel said.

“I know first-hand the impact of this Foundation,” Keller said. “I sincerely hope that my journey from Scholar to Chair will inspire both our students and benefactors, opening their eyes to what’s possible and underlining the value of this remarkable institution."

“It is an honor to Chair an organization that has had a profound influence on my professional development,” Lake said. “The work of the FICPA is critical in shaping fiscal policy, educating taxpayers, advocating for our profession and protecting our role as stewards of the public trust.”

Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed into law both the State of Florida’s Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget and its annual tax package. On Friday, the governor was presented with the final 12 bills from the 2025 Legislative Session, including SB 2500, the General Appropriations Act.

“As the reconciliation process continues, we urge members of the Senate and the House of Representatives to adopt the Senate’s position regarding pass-through entities and support the removal of new limitations of the SALT deduction," AICPA President & CEO Mark Koziel said.

“Overall, the AICPA appreciates the Senate Finance Committee’s efforts to improve and correct the targeting of SSTBs in the House bill, which lacked a foundation in sound tax policy. However, we remain concerned regarding the inequitable treatment of pass-through entities compared to corporations,” said AICPA President & CEO, Mark Koziel, CPA, CGMA.

Late Monday evening, the Florida Legislature adjourned sine die, bringing the 2025 Session to a close. The Session ran 105 days — one of the longest in recent history - and will go down as one of the most consequential for the CPA profession in decades.

The team at CPACharge is here to delve into the practical applications of AI in accounting, exploring how it can automate routine tasks, provide data-driven insights, and, ultimately, help you deliver more value to your clients.

“Each year, the Women to Watch Awards celebrate the remarkable leaders at the forefront of the profession in Florida,” Weir said. “I thank Kristen and Alex for the contributions they’ve made to the FICPA and congratulate them on this richly deserved honor.”

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 initial announcements from the House Speaker and Senate President did not provide any additional information on the outcome of the concerning components of SB 110. At this time, no additional member action or outreach to legislators is needed.

In today’s volatile and technology driven business landscape, finance leaders are learning not only how to weather the storm but how to surf the waves of change. AICPA's Barry Payne offers these insights into the evolving role of corporate finance and accounting professionals, using feedback and stories from the AICPA & CIMA Future of Finance Group.

“You have my commitment to help facilitate what I can during my term as chair – to listen and connect,” Lexy Kessler said in her acceptance speech. “Helping to move our profession forward on the pipeline, innovation, adapting technology at a disruptive pace and celebrating the value of our profession.”

AICPA and NASBA have approved model legislation for an additional CPA licensure path. The bachelor’s degree path, paired with two years of professional experience and passage of the CPA Exam, will become part of the model accounting law. Individual states will need to enact legislation and/or adopt rules and regulations, depending on the jurisdiction, before candidates can pursue this path.

The Florida Legislature has extended its 2025 Session until June 6, and the FICPA is watching for any continued threats to the profession.

This week, more than 1,000 FICPA members sent letters to their Florida House Representatives voicing their strong opposition to the deregulation of the profession. Though the language has passed the House, Friday was neither the final vote nor the end of this process.