Senate committee advances overhaul of bail‑bond rules, clarifies returns to defendants and charitable bail funds

The Florida Senate Appropriations Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice on Feb. 19 advanced CS for SB 600, a measure that changes training, solicitation and partial‑release procedures for bail‑bond agents and agencies. Senator Trudeau, sponsor of the committee substitute, told members the bill reduces required in‑person classroom hours for bail agents, tightens solicitation restrictions and clarifies procedures when courts revoke partial release.

An amendment (121,426) adopted in committee removed a prohibition on certain solicitations without written authorization, clarified that cash bonds must be returned in the defendant’s name except where a deposit was made by a charitable bail fund, and extended the remission‑of‑forfeiture period from 24 months to 37 months to align with clerks’ budgeting procedures. Trudeau described the late‑filed technical fix to the amendment as a stakeholder‑driven drafting correction.

Senator Smith sought clarity on the amendment’s effect on charitable bail organizations; Trudeau said the change means charitable organizations will need to decide whether to participate knowing deposits may be returned to defendants in most cases. The record shows supporters including Sean Foster and Barney Bishop waived in favor; Clerk Greg Harrell was listed as supporting the amendment.

The committee called the roll and reported CS for SB 600 favorably; Senators Osgood, Polsky, Simon, Smith, Wright, Yarbrough, Vice Chair Martin and Chair Garcia were recorded as voting yes.

The bill, as amended, now moves to the next stage of floor or committee consideration. The committee did not record any further amendments on the floor during this meeting, and no floor‑level fiscal note or effective date was discussed during the hearing.