A Good Time for Non-Profits to Review Their Governance Practices

South Dade is fortunate to have a strong network of nonprofit organizations, foundations, churches, associations and community groups working every day to support our residents.

With recent updates to Florida’s nonprofit corporation laws now in effect, this may be a good time for nonprofit leaders and boards to take a fresh look at how their organizations operate.

Effective July 1, 2026, House Bill 797 updated several areas of Florida Chapter 617, the law governing nonprofit corporations. The changes address areas such as board and member meetings, remote participation, voting procedures, proxies, written actions outside of meetings, conflicts of interest and corporate records.

For most organizations, this does not necessarily mean something is wrong or that major changes are immediately required. It simply creates an opportunity to make sure governing documents and day-to-day practices remain aligned with current Florida law.

A helpful place to begin is with a few simple considerations:

Are your bylaws still consistent with the way your organization actually operates?

Are board members clear on when and how votes may be taken outside of a formal meeting?

Do your procedures address virtual or remote participation?

Are conflict-of-interest disclosures and corporate records being handled consistently?

And perhaps most importantly, when was the last time your board reviewed its governance documents together?

NONPROFIT GOVERNANCE CHECK-IN

Consider using the following as a simple preparation checklist:

• Locate the most current copy of your bylaws and Articles of Incorporation.
• Confirm when your bylaws were last reviewed or amended.
• Review your procedures for board and member meetings.
• Review how remote or virtual participation is handled.
• Confirm your process for votes or written actions taken outside of a meeting.
• Review member voting and proxy procedures, if applicable.
• Confirm that conflict-of-interest policies and disclosures are current.
• Review your corporate-record retention and access procedures.
• Make sure board members understand their governance responsibilities.
• Identify any areas that may require guidance from qualified nonprofit legal counsel.

The goal is not to create more paperwork. It is to help organizations protect the work they are already doing.

Reliable information is available directly through the Florida Senate at FloridaSenate.gov. Nonprofit leaders can search for “Chapter 617” or “HB 797 — Nonprofit Corporations” to review the current law and legislative information.

At the South Dade Chamber of Commerce, we are reviewing these changes internally as well. We believe part of the Chamber’s role is not only to keep our members informed, but to help translate important changes into practical steps they can use.

Strong organizations are built on strong foundations, and good governance helps protect the mission, the people and the communities those organizations serve.

This information is provided for general educational purposes and should not be considered legal advice.