ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA. — Gov. Ron DeSantis signed CS/HB 925: Clerks of the Court into law on May 26 in St. Augustine, Fla. The legislation allows Clerks’ Offices throughout Florida to retain more of the court-related revenues they collect locally.
Under Florida’s previous court funding structure, court-related fees and fines collected locally were pooled and then redistributed statewide. The new law changes that approach by letting clerks keep a larger share of the funds they generate, addressing an approximately $75 million funding gap between the operating costs of Clerks’ Offices statewide and the revenues available to support them.
For St. Johns County, the legislation reduces the amount of locally generated court revenues the Clerk’s Office is required to return to the state. The change is projected to provide an estimated $79,098 in additional funding for St. Johns County during Fiscal Year 2027–2028. In Fiscal Year 2028–2029, an estimated $189,836 in additional funding is projected for the county.
The additional funding flexibility will help reduce reliance on local court subsidy funding provided by St. Johns County. Brandon J. Patty, St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller, said the law represents a collaborative achievement among clerks statewide. “This was truly a collective effort by Clerks across Florida who share a commitment to ensuring our offices have the resources necessary to continue serving the public,” Patty said.
Patty, who has taken an increasingly active role within the Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers (FCCC) association, also credited the organization for its advocacy. “I deeply appreciate the leadership and advocacy of the FCCC and their role in helping move this bill through the Legislature and ultimately to the Governor’s desk,” he said.
The law modifies Florida’s court revenue distribution system beginning in Fiscal Year 2027–2028, with projected increases in retained local funds continuing into Fiscal Year 2028–2029. Statewide, the policy shift is intended to align local revenue retention with the actual costs incurred by Clerks’ Offices in administering court-related functions.