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Legislative Update: House files bill to eliminate the Florida Board of Accountancy

December 05, 2025

In this Update:

  • Deregulation bill that would eliminate the Board of Accountancy filed in the House.
  • FICPA hosts highly successful, record-breaking CPA Day at the Capitol, with 150 CPAs in attendance.
  • FICPA priority bill, SB 364, on agenda next Tuesday in Senate Regulated Industries Committee.
  • House Property Tax reforms continue to advance in committee.
  • FICPA State Tax-DOR Liaison Meeting held in Tallahassee.

By FICPA Governmental Affairs

Since the end of the 2025 Session in June, the FICPA has been consistently communicating to our members that last Session’s deregulation threat would likely return. The FICPA has worked diligently in the last six months to prepare for what we knew was coming.  

Late Tuesday afternoon, the Florida House filed HB 607 - Industries and Professional Activities by Rep. Yarkosky. Similar to last year, the bill proposes to eliminate the Board of Accountancy along with a host of other licensing boards and certain licensure components of other professions within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).  

To be clear, the FICPA is 100% opposed to the elimination of the Florida Board of Accountancy. While we are still analyzing the full impact and scope of the bill, this provision alone would be catastrophic to the value of the CPA license and CPAs’ ability to practice and conduct commerce across state lines. There is a long road ahead, and the FICPA is fully engaged with all the appropriate legislative leaders on this critical matter.   

Of course, the FICPA was prepared for this bill, and our response was immediate, swift and strong. Within 24 hours of HB 607 being filed, and with huge thanks to our members who attended CPA Day at the Capitol, the FICPA voiced its concerns with the bill with all 160 members of the legislature. 

At this time, the FICPA asks members to await further instructions on how you can help. It is still very early in the process. It is important that the profession speaks with a single, unified voice. We kindly ask you please do not contact legislators on this issue until we ask for additional member support. Allow your FICPA Governmental Affairs Team to fully engage on the profession’s behalf, but be on standby for further instructions. The FICPA will keep you informed as the bill moves through the legislative process and will issue a call when your action is needed.   

FICPA Hosts Record-Breaking CPA Day at the Capitol

On Wednesday, the FICPA hosted its annual CPA Day at the Capitol. More than 150 CPAs from around the state came to Tallahassee to represent the profession. This was by far the largest advocacy event in FICPA history and was tremendously impactful. The record-breaking day started with remarks from our keynote speaker, DBPR Secretary Melanie Griffin, at our kickoff breakfast followed by recognition of Horizon Award and Leadership Academy graduates. The event then transitioned into CPA Day, as Sen. Joe Gruters, CPA, joined as a special guest speaker, providing his words of wisdom as the CPAs on hand prepared for a strong day of advocacy.  

President & CEO Shelly Weir, Chief External Affairs Officer Jason Harrell, and Director of Legislative and Political Affairs Lauren Jones presented a legislative briefing highlighting the FICPA’s Legislative Priorities and the goals for the day: 

  • Educating lawmakers on our priority legislation – HB 333 by Rep. Blanco and SB 364 by Sen. Gruters. 
  • Communicating that CPAs support an effective and efficient licensure process.  
  • Protecting the profession from deregulation – specifically maintaining a strong and efficient Board of Accountancy.  
  • Reinforcing the importance of the CPA profession as part of Florida’s strong and growing economy.  

With the deregulation bill filed the night prior, the timing of our CPA Day could not have been more perfect for our members to make a huge impact.  

The group then walked to the Capitol and took our traditional group photo, this year with Sen. Gruters standing in front. This is Sen. Gruters' last year in the Legislature, and this was a wonderful way to celebrate his proud tenure. 

Attendees then broke into their respective groups and headed inside the Capitol to make their voices heard. FICPA groups attended more than 80 in-person meetings with legislators and delivered a packet of information to all 160 legislators.  

During the meetings, groups shared the FICPA’s opposition to legislation that would eliminate the Board of Accountancy. Members shared concerns regarding the bill and the impact it would have on their license. Due to the timing of the bill filing and CPA Day at the Capitol, the CPA profession was the first to share its concerns about the bill with all 160 members of the legislature. 

Throughout the day, members also were given the opportunity to participate in a Senate Chamber tour, featuring the appearance of Senate President Ben Albritton and Sen. Gruters. The day wrapped with a closing reception at the FICPA Capitol Office. Overall, it was an incredibly impactful event, and its positive impacts are already being felt.  

The FICPA sends a special thank you to all members who participated in CPA Day at the Capitol. The strong showing of support from the profession makes a difference in the FICPA’s advocacy strategy.   

FICPA Legislative Priority - SB 364 on Agenda Tuesday 

The FICPA is excited to announce that SB 364 – Public Accountancy by Sen. Gruters, CPA, is on agenda for next Tuesday, Dec. 9, in its first committee of reference: Senate Regulated Industries. The bill is being presented in committee very early in the legislative process this year, and it has also received only two committee references, making it even closer to once again passing off the Senate floor.  

FICPA Hosts Department of Revenue Liaison Meeting  

On Thursday, the FICPA hosted its annual Department of Revenue Liaison Meeting. This years-long fixture on the calendar represents the longstanding relationship between the FICPA and the Department. Members discussed a wide range of issues and listened to a Department update from Executive Director Dr. Jim Zingale. The FICPA thanks its members for participating in this long-held tradition and thanks to the Department for hosting and facilitating these key conversations.  

House Passes Four Property Tax Bills Through Second Committee 

On Tuesday, the House State Affairs Committee heard four of the eight proposed bills on elimination of property taxes. These bills were among a host of proposed constitutional amendments to property taxes, which the FICPA previously reported here. These bills were first heard and voted on in the House Select Committee on Property Taxes. In the committee, members asked questions and debated how the bills would impact local government budgets. The four proposed bills that were heard on the committee were:  

  • HJR 211 - Accrued Save-Our-Homes Property Tax Benefit for Non-school Property Tax by Rep. Overdorf
  • CS/HJR 209 - Property Insurance Relief Homestead Exemption of Non-school Property Tax by Rep. Busatta
  • HJR 205 - Elimination of Non-School Property Tax for Homesteads for Persons Age 65 or Older by Rep. Porras
  • HJR 201 - Elimination of Non-school Property Tax for Homesteads by Rep. Steele 

Interestingly, HJR 203 – Phased Out Elimination of Non-school Property Tax for Homesteads, HJR 207 – Assessed Home Value Homestead Exemption of Non-school Property Tax and HB 215 – Ad Valorem Taxation were not heard by the State Affairs Committee. As a reminder, these bills do not yet have companions in the Senate. In a press availability following the committee meeting, Rep. Overdorf, who chairs the Select Committee on Property Taxes, did not rule out that these bills would still be considered moving forward. Members who are interested in listening to the discussion can find the committee meeting recording here. The FICPA will continue to monitor the movement of these bills. 

Looking Ahead to Session 

This concludes the fifth Interim Committee Week. Next week, the Legislature will return to Tallahassee for its final Interim Committee Week, where committees will take up the final bills and issues to prepare for session.  

After a short break for the holidays, the 2026 Session will officially kick off Jan. 13. Thus far, more 650 bills have been filed. The FICPA expects that number to more than double in the next few weeks. All regular member bills must be filed by the first day of Session.  

Join our KPC program! 

With large legislative issues ahead, your support is needed. If you have a relationship with a member of the legislature, please sign up to become a Key Person Contact (KPC). KPCs are FICPA members who have built meaningful relationships with their local legislators and are willing to assist the advocacy program with strategic outreach to those contacts during the legislative process. Join the program here.