Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee Announces Business Annual Report Filing Deadline Extension and Changes to Candidate Petition and Qualifying Processes

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. –

In an effort to support Florida’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Secretary of State Laurel M. Lee announced today the issuance of an emergency order and emergency rules that provide for extensions of annual report filing deadlines for business entities, as well as changes to the candidate petition and candidate qualifying processes.

“The Florida Department of State is concerned about the health and well-being of Floridians,” said Secretary Lee. “It is important that we continue to provide business entities and candidates in our state with options that provide relief for filing requirements during these unprecedented circumstances.”

For additional information, please see the links and summaries below.

Executive Order No. 20-52 and DOS Emergency Order 2020-01

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 20-52 and Department of State Emergency Order 2020-01, signed March 27, 2020, the time requirements for business entities to file annual reports are suspended and tolled until June 30, 2020.  Any profit corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership or limited liability limited partnership annual report filing will have until 12:01 am on July 1, 2020, before a $400 late fee is assessed. Not for profit corporations are not subject to the $400.00 late fee.

Emergency Rule 1SER20-1 – Designation of Division of Elections as Filing Office for Department of State; Requirements for Candidate Qualifying Papers; Withdrawal of Candidacy.

Removes the requirement that the qualifying items be “original[s] and signatures thereon…be made in ink” so that these items can be collected, notarized, and submitted with limited person-to-person contact.  Provides for qualifying documents to be submitted via email.  Notary statements on required forms will be revised accordingly. 

Emergency Rule 1SER20-2 – Candidate Petition Process

Removes the requirement that the voter’s signature on a candidate petition be an “original, ink signature” so that signed petitions can be collected without person-to-person contact. 

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