Florida Legislature Passes Expansive New Noncompete Bill, Awaiting Governor's Signature
On April 24, 2025, the Florida Legislature passed the Florida Contracts Honoring Opportunity, Investment, Confidentiality, and Economic Growth (CHOICE) Act, significantly expanding the enforceability of noncompete laws in the state. Although Governor DeSantis has not signed the bill into law, it is expected that he will soon, and the law will be effective July 1, 2025 . Employers are encouraged to immediately review their noncompete agreements and existing practices in light of the bill’s major additions to the current legal landscape . Background In Florida, employers commonly enter into noncompete/nonsolicitation agreements with their employees to protect their trade secrets, confidential information, and relationships with prospective or existing customers. Such agreements are governed under section 542.334, Florida Statutes, which provides a list of factors that courts may consider in evaluating the agreement’s enforceability. To enforce a restrictive covenant agreement, employers...