Committee approves state‑courts package updating duty‑judge rules, arbitration pay and notary practice

The Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously reported favorably on Senate Bill 538, the state‑courts legislative package sponsored by Senator Bradley. The committee recorded 11 yays, 0 nays on the roll call.

Senator Bradley told the panel the bill updates several statutes to reflect modern court operations. Key provisions highlighted in committee include clarifying how each judicial circuit designates a duty judge to hear emergency matters, removing a location restriction on duty hearings, repealing a cap on compensation for arbitrators in court‑ordered nonbinding arbitration, and creating an alternative procedure for judicial authentication of oaths, affidavits, and acknowledgements when a court seal is unavailable.

Representatives of court and dispute‑resolution groups filed appearance forms waiving in support, including the alternative‑dispute‑resolution section of the Florida Bar, judges from the district and circuit courts, and the Florida Smart Justice Alliance. There was no substantive debate in committee. Lisa called the roll and recorded 11 yays, 0 nays; the measure was reported favorably for further Senate consideration.

Bradley closed by saying the bill aligns statutes with present court practice and provides administrative flexibility when judges perform duties away from the courthouse.