The Legislation Committee had an amazing 2024-25! We owe a huge debt of gratitude and thanks to our stellar legislative consultants, Aimee Diaz Lyon and Doug Bell, as well as our Legislation Committee Chair Woody Pollack. Through their great work, the Section pursued FOUR pieces of legislature and all FOUR made it through the Legislature and have been signed into law. This may be a Section record! This past legislative session, lawmakers filed a total of 1,959 bills with only 269 bills passing both houses to be presented to the Governor for his signature. Four out of those 269 passed bills were the result of the hard work of the Business Law Section's dedicated members and legislative consultants. Thank you all for a wonderful year. Here are more details about our four proactive bill successes:

Limited Liability Companies – SB 316 by Sen. Lori Berman (D-Boynton Beach) amends the Florida Revised Limited Liability Company Act in chapter 605, F.S., to provide for the creation and regulation of protected series limited liability companies under Florida law. The new provisions take effect July 1, 2026.  

Chapter No. 2025-162

Securities – HB 379 by Rep. Webster Barnaby (R-Deland) revises provisions of chapter 517, F.S., the “Florida Securities and Investor Protection Act”. In 2024, the Florida Legislature enacted legislation that revised chapter 517, F.S., based on recommendations by the Chapter 517 Task Force of the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar in coordination with the Office of Financial Regulation. HB 379 provides clarifying and technical changes to the 2024 Legislation.

Chapter No. 2025-28

Service of Process - HB 157 by Rep. Mike Redondo (R-Miami) revises provisions of Chapter 48, F.S., relating to service of process. In 2022, the Legislature enacted legislation that revised chapter 48 based on recommendations from the Chapter 48 Task Force of the Business Law Section of The Florida Bar. HB 157 provides clarifying and technical changes to the 2022 Legislation.  

Chapter No. 2025-13

Uniform Commercial Code – HB 515 by Rep. Richard Gentry (R-Debary) creates ch. 669, F.S., within Florida’s Uniform Commercial Code, to incorporate newly-promulgated Article 12 of the Model Uniform Commercial Code. The bill provides updated rules for commercial transactions involving virtual currencies, distributed ledger technologies and other technological developments and establishes a baseline framework allowing creditors to secure liens against digital assets owned by debtors.

Chapter No. 2025-92

Religious Accommodation Lawsuits on the Rise—What Employers Need to Know

By Deedee Bitran

Religious accommodation in the workplace isn’t just a legal requirement—it’s a growing area of litigation risk. A recent Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) lawsuit against Marriott underscores the stakes for employers nationwide.

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Do you have an idea for an article? Submit Business Law Section blog articles here. Submit Florida Bar Journal articles here.

Michael Chesal, a founding member of the Peretz Chesal & Herrmann, P.L., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in intellectual property law. He is also a certified mediator in the Southern District of Florida and a Supreme Court certified Circuit Civil mediator. 

What have you gained from your involvement with the Section?

My experience with the Business Law Section has benefitted my professional development to an immeasurable degree. But most of all, the fellowship and camaraderie that I have experienced with other business lawyers and judges around the state could only have been possible through my active participation in the Section, and it’s something that I dare say no other professional organization can match or even come close to offering.

What is something that will surprise our members to learn about you?

I suspect it may not actually come as a surprise, but for the last two years I have been serving on the Mobile Volunteer Patrol in Shark Valley at Everglades National Park. Come visit (and bring your bicycle). Let’s just say we not only preach about work-life balance. We live it.

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ESI Protocol

The Business Law Section of The Florida Bar is pleased to announce the full approval of its newly updated Sample ESI Protocol and Guidelines. Developed collaboratively by the Electronic Discovery and Digital Evidence Committee and the Rules of Court Committee, the revised protocol reflects modern best practices in managing electronically stored information in litigation. This resource is designed to provide practical, standardized guidance for attorneys navigating complex e-discovery issues. Florida lawyers are encouraged to review and adopt the protocol in their practice. Newly updated Sample ESI Protocol and Guidelines are now available through the Business Law Section’s website.

CLE on Demand

Need CLE? Miss a program? Many of our past programs are available on demand.

Planning a CLE

Do you have an idea for a great CLE? Learn more here.

Business Litigation and Real Property Case Law Updates

July 2025