Florida's presidential primary will be held March 15 next year.
Gov. Rick Scott signed a bill Thursday setting the primary date, which will give Republicans the option of making the election a winner-take-all contest.
The law previously had the date set for March 1, but that would have meant the Republican delegates would be dispersed proportionally. Democratic delegates will be distributed proportionally regardless of the primary date.
It now gives former Gov. Jeb Bush and Sen. Marco Rubio a potential big boost in their home state should they decide to run for president.
The bill was passed by the Legislature on Wednesday and is the first Scott has signed this year.
The Republican Party of Florida now has to approve the winner-take-all contest, but Chairman Blaise Ingoglia supports the idea.
