With the stroke of a pen, Gov. Ron DeSantis on June 22 made law the measure providing Florida’s Court Clerks and Comptrollers access to an additional $24.1 million that would otherwise flow to the state’s general revenue fund.

HB 977, the legislation aimed at diversifying clerk revenues, supporting staffing needs, and accounting for services without a dedicated funding source, was a critical step in stabilizing clerk operations, according to the clerks.

The clerks’ current funding model relies heavily on revenue sources that fluctuate dramatically. Clerks retain only about half of the fines and fees they collect, with 46% distributed to the state’s general revenue fund and other outside trust funds.