SB 122 (Stewart) would repeal a law first passed during the 2019 legislative session, which preempted local governments from requiring permits for pruning, trimming or removing a tree on residential property when an  arborist or landscape architect rendered the opinion that the tree is damaged, diseased, or pest-infested, or presents a danger to others or property. The law was amended in the 2022 session to narrow the definition of residential property to a single family detached building on an existing lot, and to require the arborist or architect to document that the tree poses an “unacceptable risk"-- moderate or worse – to persons or property.

Senate referrals: Community Affairs; Judiciary; Rules

SB 224 (Wright) and HB 413 (Altman) are similar bills that would allow regional citizen volunteer advisory committees to conduct remote meetings via communications media technology. The bill also requires the public meeting notice to state how an interested person may participate, and the availability of the communications media technology.

Senate referrals: Community Affairs; Governmental Oversight and Accountability; Rules

House referrals: Local Administration, Federal Affairs and Special Districts; Ethics, Elections and Open Government; State Affairs

HB 267 (Esposito) would require local governments to create a program to expedite issuing residential building permits. Among other provisions, the deadline for local governments to respond to residential permit applications would be reduced from 10 to 3 days, with such permits automatically approved if the deadline is not met. Deadlines for residential permits within master-planned communities would be set at 1 day, with automatic approval for failing to meet the deadline. Permits for single-family dwellings for property owners in a community block-grant disaster-recovery program would require issuance within 9 days. Building permits issued would be valid indefinitely but must comply with subsequent changes in the state building code or local government rules or ordinances. 

House referrals: Regulatory Reform & Economic Development; Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts; Commerce. 

HB 339 (Roth) prohibits local governments from adopting ordinances, regulations, rules, or policies that require certificates of use for certain agricultural lands, facilities, & venues or limit certain activities associated with agritourism; provides for termination, expiration, extension, & renewal of specified local government ordinances, rules, & measures.

House Referrals: Agriculture, Conservation and Resiliency Subcommittee; Local Administration, Federal Affairs and Special Districts Subcommittee; Infrastructure Strategies Committee

SB 386 (Osgood) would require local governments to reduce the minimum parking requirements for a proposed affordable housing development located within one-half miles of a major transportation hub (defined as any bus, train, or light rail station that contains mixed-use development and multimodal transportation options).

Senate referrals: Community Affairs; Transportation; Rules

HB 665 (McClain) Expedited Approval of Residential Building Permits would require governing bodies to create program to expedite residential building permits and require governing bodies in counties with more than 75,000 residents or municipalities with more than 30,000 residents develop a program which would allow to at least 50 of building permits to be issued before a final plat is approved, as long as a preliminary plat has been approved, among other conditions.  The governing body is required to submit a certified letter with information about the program to DBPR & DOC.

SB 38 (Stewart) would require landlords to disclose to a potential tenant whether the dwelling is located within a flood zone as designated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and include the risk designation for the flood zone. 

Senate referrals: Judiciary; Community Affairs; Rules

SB 32 (Garcia) would require the Department of Environmental Protection to adopt rules  for mangrove replanting and restoration. The rules would have addressed erosion in areas of critical state concern, protect barrier and spoil islands, assisted Everglades restoration and Biscayne Bay revitalization efforts, promoted public awareness of the value of mangroves statewide and encouraged partnerships with local governmental entities to create local mangrove protection and restoration zone programs.

Senate referrals: Environment and Natural Resources (on agenda 12/6); Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; Rules.

SB 298 (Polsky) amends the Resilient Florida Grant Program to provide funds for coastal counties to conduct saltwater intrusion vulnerability assessments to analyze effects and threats to the county’s water supply. The information obtained from the assessment shall be used to update the county’s comprehensive statewide flood vulnerability and sea level rise data, and projections of costs necessary to relocate freshwater wellfields. FDEP would provide 50% cost-sharing, except for coastal counties with a population of 50,000 or less that would be exempt from contributing to the cost-share. 

Senate referrals: Environment and Natural Resources (on agenda 12/6); Fiscal Policy

SB 484 (Bradley) would require property sellers to disclose whether property has suffered damage from flooding and the number of times the property has been subject to flooding; whether the owner has maintained flood insurance; whether all or part of the property is in a flood zone; whether the owner has ever filed a claim for flood damage; and whether the owner has received federal assistance for flood damage.

Senate referrals: Judiciary; Banking and Insurance; Rules

HB 451 (Bell) and SB 452 (Burton) would require a $20 million annual appropriation from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to implement the Heartland Headwaters Protection and Sustainability Act, funding projects to protect the water resources in the Green Swamp and Polk County and develop alternative water supplies for the region. 

House referrals: Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee; Water Quality, Supply & Treatment Subcommittee;  Appropriations

Senate referrals: Environment and Natural Resources; Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment and General Government; Appropriations

SB 566 (Rodriguez) would require a $20 million annual appropriation from the Land Acquisition Trust Fund to provide financial assistance to local governments to implement the Florida Keys Stewardship Act to protect and restore waterways and coral reefs, or to acquire conservation land in the area. Funds could not be used for wastewater management projects or programs.

SB 510 (Stewart) would impose an excise tax for extracting state waters for commercial or industrial use, and require that proceeds be deposited for use in the Water Protection and Sustainability Program Trust Fund.

HB 527 (Maggard) would require local governments that create larger buffers zones for development around waterways than state minimums to pay to acquire the additional land through eminent domain, and would preempt to the state any regulation of dredge and fill activities. 

SB 266 (Hooper) and HB 287 (Esposito) would, among many provisions, impose a 20% cap on spending from state transportation trust fund revenues for most public transit projects and prohibit the creation of new metropolitan planning organizations. 

Senate referrals: Transportation, Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development; Appropriations

House referrals: Transportation & Modals Subcommittee; Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee; Infrastructure Strategies Committee