S 414

Florida Senate - 2026  SB 414
By Senator Bracy Davis
15-00596-26  2026414__
1A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to use of campaign funds for campaign
3related child care expenses; amending s. 106.1405,
4F.S.; defining the terms “campaign-related child care
5expenses” and “eligible child care provider”;
6authorizing a candidate to use funds on deposit in his
7or her campaign account to pay for campaign-related
8child care expenses under specified conditions;
9requiring a candidate to maintain specified records
10for a specified timeframe and provide such records to
11the Division of Elections upon request; requiring a
12candidate to disclose the use of campaign funds for
13campaign-related child care expenses in his or her
14regular campaign finance reports; providing an
15effective date.
16
17Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19Section 1. Section 106.1405, Florida Statutes, is amended
20to read:
21106.1405 Use of campaign funds.—
22(1) As used in this section, the term:
23(a) “Campaign-related child care expenses” means the costs
24associated with the care of a candidate’s dependent child due to
25campaign activities, such as participating in campaign events,
26canvassing, participating in debates, and meeting with
27constituents or donors.
28(b) “Eligible child care provider” means any individual or
29licensed organization that provides child care services,
30including center-based, family-based, and in-home care, for
31compensation; is legally operating under state law; and complies
32with all applicable state and local requirements for the
33provision of child care services.
34(2) A candidate or the spouse of a candidate may not use
35funds on deposit in a campaign account of such candidate to
36defray normal living expenses for the candidate or the
37candidate’s family, other than expenses actually incurred for
38transportation, meals, and lodging by the candidate or a family
39member during travel in the course of the campaign.
40(3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), a candidate may use
41funds on deposit in his or her campaign account to pay for
42campaign-related child care expenses if the expense would not
43exist were it not for the candidate’s campaign and if the
44following conditions are met:
45(a) Campaign funds may not be used for child care expenses
46unrelated to campaign activities, such as personal errands or
47routine child care.
48(b) The candidate maintains and provides to the division,
49upon request, clear records of all campaign-related child care
50expenses reimbursed by campaign funds, including dates, times,
51and descriptions of campaign events in which the candidate
52engaged.
531. Receipts or invoices from the eligible child care
54provider, along with proof of payment, must be maintained for
55auditing purposes for at least 3 years after the campaign ends.
562. A candidate shall disclose the use of campaign funds for
57campaign-related child care expenses in his or her regular
58campaign finance reports, specifying the amounts and dates of
59such expenses.
60Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.