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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successful defense of the CPA profession: The deregulation bill we’ve spent several weeks fighting has been officially withdrawn in the Florida Legislature.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.

On Tuesday morning, a proposed committee substitute for HB 991 – Community and Economic Development by Rep. Giallombardo passed the House Commerce Committee. This bill – which is the next step on the path to total CPA deregulation – is now ready to be heard by the full Florida House, and we need you to contact your state representatives now.

This week HB 1461 was heard in its second committee, the House State Administration Budget Subcommittee. Once again, FICPA President & CEO Shelly Weir spoke in committee to provide information on the bill highlighting the FICPA’s position and explaining the unintended consequences the bill would have on the CPA profession.

On Monday evening, the Florida House of Representatives filed a substantial committee amendment to House Bill 1461 – Department of Business and Professional Regulation that could significantly reshape the state’s approach to occupational and professional licensure.

We're already halfway through Florida's 2025 Legislative Session, and FICPA Governmental Affairs Team is here to update you on the progress of our FICPA priorities to date and to offer a overview of what to expect in the final 30 days.

As the 2025 Session nears its halfway point, the FICPA continues to advocate for its priority legislation and to engage on specific bills with an impact on the CPA profession.

On Wednesday, March 19, the FICPA’s priority legislation, CS/SB 160 – Public Accountancy by Sen. Joe Gruters, unanimously passed the Florida Senate by a vote of 39-0.

In this blog post co-authored by the state societies of California, Florida, Illinois, New York, Pennsylvania and Texas, we're setting the record straight and providing clarity on what these legislative changes across the country mean for the CPA profession and its future.

The FICPA's priority legislation in the Senate is one of the 10 fastest-moving bills in Tallahassee, demonstrating the strong support and respect CPAs have in the Florida Legislature.

An AICPA Professional Ethics Executive Committee task force is seeking feedback after issuing a discussion memorandum featuring its preliminary conclusions about potential revisions to independence rules related to alternative practice structures. Public comments should be emailed to ethics-exposuredraft@aicpa.org by June 15.

On Day 2 of Florida's 2025 Legislative Session, the FICPA's priority legislation - CS/SB 160 - unanimously passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government. Advancing to a final committee in the Senate this early into Session is a significant accomplishment.

As states explore alternative CPA licensure pathways, CPA society representatives, including the FICPA's Shelly Weir, addressed the misconception that they want to remove the 150-hour requirement during a recent webinar.

The American Institute of CPAs and the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy are seeking comment over the next 60 days on proposed changes to the profession’s model law that would enable an additional path to CPA licensure.

The U.S. Treasury Department on Sunday announced that it will not enforce Corporate Transparency Act reporting requirements against U.S. citizens or domestic reporting companies. The Treasury Department will further be issuing a proposed rulemaking that will narrow the scope of the rule to foreign reporting companies only.