Companion bills filed Tuesday in the Florida Senate and House would codify how state agencies coordinate with a governor-elect during a transition between administrations, setting formal timelines, access rules, and agency obligations that have largely been handled through custom practice.
Under the proposals, SB 1078 and HB 1063, the sitting governor would be required to designate a transition liaison within the Executive Office of the Governor no later than 10 days after the primary election. That liaison would serve as the central point of contact between the outgoing administration, state agencies, and the governor-elect, and would oversee statewide transition planning. The senate bill was filed by Sen. Erin Grall and the house bill was filed by Rep. Toby Overdorf.
The requirement would apply only when a new governor is elected, not when an incumbent is reelected to a second consecutive term.
Each executive branch agency would also be required to appoint an agency transition liaison within the same timeframe. Agencies would be required to prepare standardized briefing books detailing their organizational structure, mission, budget, major contracts, pending or recent litigation, and rulemaking activity, as well as identifying senior leadership personnel.
Those materials would be delivered to the governor-elect shortly after the general election results are certified.
The bills additionally direct the Department of Management Services to provide temporary office space in the Capitol Center for the governor-elect, transition staff, and inauguration team, and require individual agencies to provide temporary workspace at agency headquarters. Agencies would also be required, upon request, to provide access to leadership personnel and may assign limited staff to assist with transition activities.
During the transition period, the governor-elect and designated staff would be granted access to state agency records, including confidential or exempt records, subject to signed confidentiality agreements. Unauthorized disclosure of protected information would be punishable as a first-degree misdemeanor.
The Florida Digital Service would be required to provide secure email accounts, collaboration tools, cybersecurity training, and monitored system access to support transition operations.
