Proposed board action
Pursuant to Standing Board Policy 1.60, the Board of Governors of The Florida Bar publishes this notice of intent to consider the following items at its December 5, 2025 board of governors meeting. This is governed by Rule 1-12.1, Rules Regulating The Florida Bar. If approved by the board, most rules amendments must still be formally filed with the Supreme Court of Florida, with further notice and opportunity to be heard, before they are officially approved and become effective. Amendments to section bylaws and standing board policies are final on board of governors action. Additionally, non-substantive edits to conform to the Florida Supreme Court style guide are not noted in the summary. To receive a full copy of the text of proposed amendments, email Kelly Smith at [email protected]. Reference any requested proposal by its title and date of this publication.
FINAL ACTION
Chapter 1 General
RULE 1-3.7 REINSTATEMENT TO MEMBERSHIP
Within subdivision (b), removes provision that allows the executive director to waive or extend time periods for continuing legal education or basic skills course requirements.
Chapter 3 Rules of Discipline
RULE 3-7.16 LIMITATION ON TIME TO OPEN INVESTIGATION
Within subdivision (d), adds federal constitutional officers.
Chapter 11 Rules Governing the Law School Practice Program
RULE 11-1.3 REQUIREMENTS AND LIMITATIONS
Within subdivision (c), adds bachelor of law or doctorate of jurisprudence program.
Rule 11-1.8 PRACTICE AFTER GRADUATION
lists the educational requirements for applicants to apply
Standing Board Policies
Standing Board Policy 1.20 Board Meetings
Within subdivision (a), adds that proxy and absentee voting are not allowed and that members must be present for the discussion of an item in order to vote on it.
Standing Board Policy 1.40 Policy for Appointments and Procedure for Elections and Nominations by the Board of Governors
Within subdivision (a), deletes “including women and minorities.”
Standing Board Policy 5.22 Committee Reports
Adds that committees must take summary minutes of each meeting and action, including votes via email. Adds that staff will assist with filing minutes and reports.
Standing Board Policy 900 LEGISLATIVE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES
Adds “and political” to the title of the 900 series.
Standing Board Policy 9.11 Definitions
Adds new subdivision (c), defining legislative activity. Adds new subdivision (d), defining biennial positions. Reletters subsequent subdivisions. Within re-lettered subdivision (e), adds “engaging in” before “any type of public commentary.”
Standing Board Policy 9.50 Technical Assistance and Legislative and Political Activities of Voluntary Florida Bar Groups
Within subdivision (e)(1)(A), adds as defined in policy 9.11. Within subdivision (e)(1)(B), adds “This includes legislative or political activity clearly based on biennial positions.”
Civil Procedure Rules IOPs
Deletes subdivision IV(f) that states that interpretation of the application of the IOPs is in the chair’s sole discretion.
FIRST READING
Chapter 6 Legal Specialization and Education Programs
Rule 6-12.4 DEFERMENT AND EXEMPTION
Within subdivision (a)(1), removes the deferment of practicing with professionalism course for non-resident members who do not give advice on Florida matters. Within subdivision (a)(3), adds that a deferment for hardship lasts for only 1 reporting cycle. Adds new subdivisions (a)(3) and (b)(3), that a member is eligible for only 1 hardship deferment.
RULE 6-12.4 DEFERMENT AND EXEMPTION
Within subdivision (a)(1), deletes current subdivision (C) for out of state members not practicing Florida law. Adds new subdivisions (a)(3) and (b)(3) that members are eligible for only 1 hardship waiver. In subdivision (c)(1) and (2), adds “if the member has completed the Practicing with Professionalism course sponsored by the Young Lawyers Division as required by rule 6-12.3(a)(1).”
Chapter 8 Lawyer Referral Rule
RULE 8-2.2. LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATION SPONSORED LAWYER REFERRAL BYLAWS
Within subdivision (b), adds that lawyers can be members if they are in a county adjacent to the geographic area served by the voluntary bar lawyer referral service.
Standing Board Policies
Standing Board Policy 3.12 Finances
Within subdivision (b), adds to the title and subdivision “and contracting” to describe processes and policies.
Standing Board Policy 5.21 Committee Chairs’ and Members’ Expenses
Changes title to merely read “Committee Expenses.” Adds that all bar standing and administrative policies on budgeting, contracting, disbursements, staff travel, and time reporting are applicable to committee expenses.
Standing Board Policy 5.71 General Division Administrative Policies
Adds contracting to the bar policies and procedures that must be followed for divisions.
Standing Board Policy 11.50 Exhibits and Sponsorships
Within subdivision (c), adds sponsors to the title, deletes “does not meet the bar’s criteria for propriety, attractiveness, and good taste,” adds “that is inconsistent or incompatible with the purposes of The Florida Bar,” adds that any vendor that violates or encourages another to violate the Rules Regulating The Florida Bar or Florida Code of Judicial conduct is not eligible to be an exhibitor or sponsor, adds that the bar cannot accept exhibits or sponsors that are inconsistent with the bar’s purposes, and adds a nonexclusive list of areas inconsistent with the bar’s purposes.
Standing Board Policy 13.10 Communications Policy
Within subdivision (f)(1)(C), deletes “standards of ethic and propriety” and replaces with inconsistent with the purpose of the bar with a nonexclusive list to describe the advertising that will not be accepted by the Florida Bar Journal, News, and website.
Board of Legal Specialization and Education Policies
BLSE Policy 5.02
Within subdivision (e)(5), adds that the budget committee will determine the application fee for individual attorney course submission over 2 credit hours not approved by The Florida Bar. Within subdivision (e), adds that no course accreditation fee will be required for CLE appearing on a member’s official CLE transcript from another licensing jurisdiction.
BLSE Policy 5.08
Within subdivision (h), changes “may” to “will” and adds official out of state CLE transcript. Adds new subdivision (i) that The Florida Bar will not award CLE credit for any course attended in a country or countries listed on the United States Department of State Sponsors of Terrorism list.
BLSE Policy 5.03 Evaluation
Clarifies members cannot receive/claim more than 10 credit hours of CLE in a calendar day.
BLSE Policy 5.07 Other CLE Format
Adds that credit will not be awarded for reading materials.
BLSE Policy 5.09 CLER Components Approval Guidelines
5.09(e) clarifies topics should relate to lawyer mental health and wellness and improve the lawyers ability to serve their clients.
BLSE Policy 6.02 Reporting
6.02(c) clarifies materials required for evaluating unapproved bar courses; 6.05 makes appeal process language consistent with BLSE 7.06(c) regarding delinquencies.
BLSE Policy 6.05 Notice of Delinquency and Appeal
Changes “noncompliance” to “delinquency” and adds that the board of governors’ Appeals Committee is who receives the appeals.
Fee Arbitration Procedural Rules
Fee Arbitration Procedural Rules – Rule IV
Adds “and” before “set a time and place for hearing.” Changes “arbitration” to “arbitrate.”
Court Rules Committee Internal Operating Procedures
Criminal Procedure Rules Committee IOPs
Makes changes throughout the IOPs to conform with bar policy and committee practice.
Chapter 1 General
Chapter 2 Bylaws of The Florida Bar
Chapter 3 Rules of Discipline
Chapter 4 Rules of Professional Conduct
Chapter 6 Legal Specialization and Education Programs
Chapter 8 Lawyer Referral Rule
Chapter 7 Clients’ Security Fund
Chapter 10 Rules Governing the Investigation and Prosecution of the Unlicensed Practice of Law
Chapter 11 Rules Governing the Law School Practice Program
Chapter 14 Grievance Mediation and Fee Arbitration
Chapter 20 Florida Registered Paralegal Program
Chapter 21 Military Spouse Authorization to Engage in the Practice of Law in Florida
Standing Board Policies
Board of Legal Specialization and Education Policies
Court Rules Committee Internal Operating Procedures
