Fla. Stat. 106.265
Civil penalties


(1)(a)

The commission or, in cases referred to the Division of Administrative Hearings pursuant to s. 106.25(5), the administrative law judge is authorized upon the finding of a violation of this chapter or chapter 104 to impose civil penalties in the form of fines not to exceed $2,500 per count. The fine may be multiplied by a factor of 3, not to exceed $7,500, for each subsequent count of the same category, beginning with the fourth offense.If applicable, the commission or the administrative law judge may instead impose a civil penalty as provided in s. 104.271 or s. 106.19.

(1)(a)

The commission or, in cases referred to the Division of Administrative Hearings pursuant to s. 106.25(5), the administrative law judge is authorized upon the finding of a violation of this chapter or chapter 104 to impose civil penalties in the form of fines not to exceed $2,500 per count. The fine may be multiplied by a factor of 3, not to exceed $7,500, for each subsequent count of the same category, beginning with the fourth offense.

(b)

If applicable, the commission or the administrative law judge may instead impose a civil penalty as provided in s. 104.271 or s. 106.19.

(2)

A fine imposed against a political committee jointly and severally attaches to the chair of the political committee if the political committee does not pay the fine within 30 days.

(3)

In determining the amount of such civil penalties, the commission or administrative law judge shall consider, among other mitigating and aggravating circumstances:The gravity of the act or omission;Any previous history of similar acts or omissions;The appropriateness of such penalty to the financial resources of the person, political committee, affiliated party committee, electioneering communications organization, or political party; andWhether the person, political committee, affiliated party committee, electioneering communications organization, or political party has shown good faith in attempting to comply with the provisions of this chapter or chapter 104.

(a)

The gravity of the act or omission;

(b)

Any previous history of similar acts or omissions;

(c)

The appropriateness of such penalty to the financial resources of the person, political committee, affiliated party committee, electioneering communications organization, or political party; and

(d)

Whether the person, political committee, affiliated party committee, electioneering communications organization, or political party has shown good faith in attempting to comply with the provisions of this chapter or chapter 104.

(4)

If any person, political committee, affiliated party committee, electioneering communications organization, or political party fails or refuses to pay to the commission any civil penalties assessed pursuant to the provisions of this section, the commission shall be responsible for collecting the civil penalties resulting from such action.

(5)

Any civil penalty collected pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.

(6)

Any fine assessed pursuant to this chapter shall be deposited into the General Revenue Fund.

(7)

In any case in which the commission determines that a person has filed a complaint against another person with a malicious intent to injure the reputation of the person complained against by filing the complaint with knowledge that the complaint contains one or more false allegations or with reckless disregard for whether the complaint contains false allegations of fact material to a violation of this chapter or chapter 104, the complainant shall be liable for costs and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred in the defense of the person complained against, including the costs and reasonable attorney’s fees incurred in proving entitlement to and the amount of costs and fees. If the complainant fails to pay such costs and fees voluntarily within 30 days following such finding by the commission, the commission shall forward such information to the Department of Legal Affairs, which shall bring a civil action in a court of competent jurisdiction to recover the amount of such costs and fees awarded by the commission.

Source: Section 106.265 — Civil penalties, https://www.­flsenate.­gov/Laws/Statutes/2024/0106.­265 (accessed Aug. 7, 2025).

106.03
Registration of political committees and electioneering communications organizations
106.05
Deposit of contributions
106.06
Treasurer to keep records
106.07
Reports
106.08
Contributions
106.09
Cash contributions and contribution by cashier’s checks
106.11
Expenses of and expenditures by candidates and political committees
106.011
Definitions
106.12
Petty cash funds allowed
106.14
Utilities
106.15
Certain acts prohibited
106.16
Limitation on certain rates and charges
106.17
Polls and surveys relating to candidacies
106.18
When a candidate’s name to be omitted from ballot
106.19
Violations by candidates, persons connected with campaigns, and political committees
106.21
Certificates of election not to be issued upon conviction
106.021
Campaign treasurers
106.22
Duties of the Division of Elections
106.022
Appointment of a registered agent
106.23
Powers of the Division of Elections
106.023
Statement of candidate
106.24
Florida Elections Commission
106.25
Reports of alleged violations to Florida Elections Commission
106.025
Campaign fund raisers
106.26
Powers of commission
106.27
Determinations by commission
106.28
Limitation of actions
106.29
Reports by political parties and affiliated party committees
106.30
Short title
106.31
Legislative intent
106.32
Election Campaign Financing Trust Fund
106.33
Election campaign financing
106.34
Expenditure limits
106.35
Distribution of funds
106.36
Penalties
106.055
Valuation of in-kind contributions
106.071
Independent expenditures
106.072
Social media deplatforming of political candidates
106.075
Elected officials
106.087
Independent expenditures
106.088
Independent expenditures
106.113
Expenditures by local governments
106.125
Credit cards
106.141
Disposition of surplus funds by candidates
106.143
Political advertisements circulated prior to election
106.145
Use of artificial intelligence
106.147
Text message and telephone solicitation
106.161
Air time available at the lowest unit rate
106.165
Use of closed captioning and descriptive narrative in all television broadcasts
106.191
Signatures gathered for initiative petition
106.265
Civil penalties
106.295
Leadership fund
106.353
Candidates voluntarily abiding by election campaign financing limits but not requesting public funds
106.355
Nonparticipating candidate exceeding limits
106.0701
Solicitation of contributions on behalf of s. 527 or s. 501(c)(4) organizations
106.0702
Reporting
106.0703
Electioneering communications organizations
106.0705
Electronic filing of campaign treasurer’s reports
106.0706
Electronic filing of campaign finance reports
106.1405
Use of campaign funds
106.1435
Usage and removal of political campaign advertisements
106.1436
Voter guide
106.1437
Miscellaneous advertisements
106.1439
Electioneering communications
106.1475
Text message and telephone solicitation

Current through Fall 2025

§ 106.265. Civ. penalties's source at flsenate​.gov