SB 244 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 3/22

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. An amendment to SB 224 clarifies that the allowance only relates to National Estuary Program Committees.

Senate referrals: Community Affairs (approved 1/9); Governmental Oversight and Accountability (approved 1/22); Rules (approved 1/30) PASSED SENATE 2/14 PASSED BY HOUSE 3/6

House referrals: Local Administration, Federal Affairs and Special Districts Subcommittee (approved 2/7); State Affairs (approved 2/14)

HB 267 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 5/16

HB 267 (Esposito) and SB 684 (DiCeglie) reduces permit requirements for replacing windows, doors and garage doors as long as plans are sealed by a design professional. It limits the authority of local government building officials from auditing private provider performance unless the entity creates a manual that meets certain standards. It requires that an application submitted by an engineer or must be approved within 10 days or a letter issued describing the deficiencies. If the local government does not issue a letter or permit within 10 days, it is automatically approved. Current shot clock provisions are also modified.  

House referrals: Regulatory Reform & Economic Development (approved 12/13); Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts (approved 1/31); Commerce (Approved 2/15). PASSED BY HOUSE 3/4  PASSED BY SENATE 3/6 PASSED BY HOUSE AFTER FURTHER CHANGES 3/7

Senate referrals: Community Affairs (approved 2/6); Fiscal Policy (approved 2/22); Rules (approved 2/26)

SB 328 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 5/16

SB 328 (Calatayud) and HB 1239 (Lopez) amend provisions of the Live Local Act passed in 2023. It also changes the “Missing Middle” tax exemptions and allocates $100M to the Hometown Hero Housing Program. Specifically, it now allows both rental and fee-simple ownership in developments as long as 40% of the units are rentable and affordable. It prohibits local governments from limiting floor area ratio of new projects below 150%, modifies the height preemption for projects that are adjacent to single-family developments and allows a reduction in parking requirements for projects near public transit.

With respect to ad valorem tax exemptions it changes the number of qualifying units from 70 to 10 to be set aside as affordable in the Florida Keys and outlines methods for property appraisers to determine values of tax exempt units. 

The bill appropriates a one-time $100 million to the Florida Hometown Hero program and makes changes to the authority of the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.  

Senate referrals: Community Affairs (approved 1/9); Fiscal Policy (approved  1/31) APPROVED BY SENATE 2/7 PASSED BY HOUSE 2/28

House referrals: State Affairs (approved 2/7); Appropriations (approved 2/20)

SB 1526 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 3/22

SB 1526 (Avila) and HB 1647 (Roach) preempt local governments’ ability to prevent demolition of buildings (including historic buildings) that do not meet current National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) base flood elevations, among other criteria, and are seaward of the coastal construction control line.  It also preempts local governments from restricting redevelopment in those areas or requiring preservation or replication of a demolished structure. Certain communities, such as portions of Miami Beach, Palm Beach and St. Augustine are exempted from the preemptions.

Senate referrals: Community Affairs (approved 1/22); Environment and Natural Resources (approved 1/30); Rules (approved 2/14) PASSED BY SENATE 2/28 PASSED BY HOUSE 3/6

House referrals: Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee (approved 2/1); State Affairs (approved 2/14); Commerce (approved 2/22)

SB 812 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 5/30

HB 655 (McClain) and SB 812 (Ingoglia) require certain governing bodies to create a program to expedite residential building permits by allowing 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. It increases the pre-plat building permit authorizations program to 75% by 2027.  The bill also requires local governments to create a master building permit process, and create a list of outside qualified contractors who can be called on to assist with plans reviews. It changes the definition of vested rights for applicants who have an approved preliminary plat, making it easier for them to receive such rights.

Senate referrals: Community Affairs (approved 1/22); Regulated Industries (approved 2/5); Rules (approved 2/14); PASSED BY SENATE 2/28; PASSED BY HOUSE 3/6

House referrals: Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee (approved 1/17); Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee (approved 1/31); Commerce (approved 2/8)

SB 770 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 6/28

SB 770 (Martin) and HB 927 (Trabulsy) make substantial amendments to the currently-authorized Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, which grants funds to property owners for home improvements that enhance energy efficiency. The bill updates the legislative intent, expands the scope of the program and enhances consumer protections and contractor oversight. 

Senate referrals: Community Affairs (approved 1/22); Fiscal Policy (approved  1/31) PASSED BY SENATE 2/7; PASSED BY HOUSE 3/4 PASSED BY SENATE 3/6

House Referrals: Energy, Communications and Cybersecurity Subcommittee (approved 1/30), Ways and Means (approved 2/14), State Affairs (approved 2/21)

SB 702 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 6/13

SB 702 (Martin) and HB 1167 (Yarkosky) define the terms “property rights” as the use rights, ingress and egress rights, and rights incident to land bordering upon navigable waters. The bill would require the award of prevailing party attorney fees to the defendant of a property rights dispute if land use changes were made in compliance with an issued permit.  

Senate referrals: Judiciary (approved 1/16); Rules (approved 1/24; PASSED SENATE 2/1) PASSED HOUSE 3/6

House referrals: Civil Justice Subcommittee (approved 1/25); Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee (approved 1/31); Judiciary (approved 2/21)

SB 1456 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 5/31

HB 1297 (Mooney) and SB 1456 (Rodriguez) Intended to address Monroe County Rate of Growth Ordinance, would exempt counties with areas designated as Areas of Critical State Concern from certain affordable housing requirements that conflict with its strict, environmentally-based development regulations.. Allows use of tourism development funds to be used for affordable housing under certain scenarios. Removes mobile home residents from analysis for 24 hour hurricane evacuation plans, but includes mobile homes in the 48-hour evacuation scenarios.

Senate referrals: Community Affairs (approved 2/6); Finance & Tax (approved 2/20); Appropriations (approved 2/27); PASSED BY SENATE 2/29; PASSED BY HOUSE 3/5

House referrals: Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee (approved 1/31); Ways & Means (approved 2/8); State Affairs (approved 2/21)

SB 1082 VETOED BY GOVERNOR 6/28

SB 1082 (Collins) and HB 1051 (Tuck) prohibits local governments from inhibiting construction of housing for legally verified agricultural workers on bona fide agricultural parcels as long as the housing meets building standards, certain setback and spacing criteria and does not exceed 1.5 percent of the total property area or 35,000 sf. 

Senate referrals: Community Affairs (approved 1/16); Agriculture (approved 1/23); Rules (approved 2/21); PASSED BY SENATE 2/29; PASSED BY HOUSE 3/5

House referrals: Agriculture, Conservation & Resiliency Subcommittee (approved 1/24); State Affairs (approved 2/7); Infrastructure Strategies Committee (approved 2/22)

SB 1420 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 6/13

HB 1419 (Tuck) and SB 1420 (Burgess) SB 1420 (Burgess) deems a comprehensive plan amendment withdrawn if it isn’t submitted to the Department of Commerce within 10 days of adoption. It extends the length of Local Government Emergency Bridge Loan Program terms from 5 to 10 years. 

Among various changes to criteria related to “direct support organizations, it deletes a reference to the Florida Sports Foundation and requires the DOC to establish support organizations for Florida’s military and defense industries and communities, and a program for Florida Veterans and families along with program criteria and funding allocations through Oct. 1, 2029.  It also creates a Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program, and adds health care industries to the the Incumbent Worker Training Program. It contains provisions for the preservation of HOAs. Staff analysis recognizes that the issues addressed in the bill are “disparate.”

An adopted floor amendment prohibits certain citizen-led county charter amendments that preempt any development order or land development regulation unless expressly authorized by the charter.

Senate referrals: Commerce and Tourism (approved 1/23); Appropriations Committee on Commerce, Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development (approved 2/8); Rules (approved 2/21); PASSED BY SENATE: 2/28 PASSED BY HOUSE 3/6

House referrals: Regulatory Reform and Economic Development Subcommittee (approved 2/1); Infrastructure and Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee (approved 2/13); Commerce Committee (approved 2/22)

HB 1645 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 5/15

SB 1624 (Collins) and HB 1645 (Payne) make sweeping changes to Florida’s energy policy. Among various other conditions, it removes references to energy efficiency to reduce the impacts of climate change in the Legislative intent and prohibits wind turbines in the state’s coastal waters and agricultural properties within 1 mile of the coast. 

In terms of impacts to local governments, the bill allows resiliency facilities in all commercial, manufacturing and industrial land use categories and prohibit local development regulations that conflict with resiliency facility citing, and increases the length of gas lines from 50 miles to 100 miles where local governments are able to weigh in on alignments, among many other provisions.

Senate referrals: Regulated Industries (approved 1/29); Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government (approved 2/20); Fiscal Policy (approved 2/27) POSTPONED 3/5

House referrals: Energy, Communications & Cybersecurity Subcommittee (approved 1/30); Appropriations (approved 2/8); Commerce (approved 2/15); PASSED BY HOUSE 2/29, PASSED BY SENATE 3/6

SB 1628 SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR 5/7

SB 1628 (Collins) and HB 1547 (McClure) adds comprehensive plan and zoning ordinances to the list of ordinance types that must include economic analysis. However, it exempts ordinances enacted to implement development orders and development permits, and comprehensive plan and land development regulation amendments initiated by a private party other than the local government. 

A floor amendment was adopted which requires that a bond referendum where the bond issue amount is greater than $500M can only be held at a general election. Otherwise, the local government still has the option of doing this at a regularly scheduled or special election. 

Senate referrals: Community Affairs (approved 2/6); Fiscal Policy (approved 2/22) PASSED BY SENATE 3/1 PASSED BY HOUSE 3/6

House referrals: Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee (approved 2/7); State Affairs (approved  2/21) 

HB 1049 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 5/29

SB 484 (Bradley) and HB 1049 (Hunschofsky) 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 (approved 2/5); Fiscal Policy (approved 2/22); Rules (approved 2/26) 

House referrals: Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee (approved 2/6); Judiciary (approved 2/21); PASSED HOUSE 3/4 PASSED SENATE 3/4

SB 1208 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 4/25

HB 1143 (Cross), HB 1263 (LaMarca), and SB 7028 (House Committee on Banking and Insurance) would provide for home inspections for flood damage under My Safe Florida Home Program; require the Department of Financial services (DFS) to contract with flood certification entities to provide mitigation inspections; provides requirements for flood certification entities to qualify for selection by department; provides requirements for flood mitigation grants; authorizes flood mitigation inspectors to participate as mitigation contractors under program; requires matching fund grants to be made available to certain entities for projects that reduce flood damage. HB 1143 includes an appropriation of $205 million, HB 1263 includes an appropriation of $107 million, and SB 1208 includes an appropriation of $205 million. 

Senate Bill 1208 referrals: Banking and Insurance; Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; Fiscal Policy

Senate Bill 7028 Committee Bill by Banking and Insurance (1/16); Fiscal Policy (approved 1/31) PASSED BY SENATE 2/7; PASSED BY HOUSE 3/7 $200M APPROPRIATION

House Bill 1143 referrals: Insurance & Banking Subcommittee; State Administration & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee; Commerce

House Bill 1263 referrals: Insurance and Banking Subcommittee (approved 2/1); State Admin and Tech Approps (approved 2/13); Commerce

SB 1638 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 4/4

Both SB 1638 (Hutson) and HB 1417 (Buchanan) would dedicate funds received from the Seminole Gaming Compact to acquire and manage conservation lands and finance water quality improvements. SB 1638 includes extensive details dictating how the funds would be split among categories and agencies; HB 1417 does not. SB 1638 would create a work program to prioritize and administer water quality projects and establish a revolving loans program. It would also create a state grant program, subject to separate state appropriation, to assist local governments in operating and maintaining trails within the Florida Greenways and Trails System. In an amendment, the work program for water quality projects was removed from SB 1638.

UPDATE: The two chambers ultimately agreed on a bill that would dedicate the following from gambling revenues: $100 million for land acquisition within the Florida Wildlife Corridor; $100 million for land management; $100 million for the Resilient Florida program; and $79 million for water quality improvement grants. The bill would dedicate an additional $150 million from general revenue to the South Florida Water Management District.

Senate referrals: Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government (approved 1/24); Fiscal Policy (approved 2/15) PASSED BY SENATE 2/22 PASSED BY HOUSE 3/5

House referrals: Infrastructure Strategies (approved 2/15); Appropriations (approved 2/20)

HB 1557 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 4/25

SB 1386 (Calatayud) and HB 1557 (Chaney), is an omnibus bill covering several topics related to aquatic preserves, water quality and resiliency regulations. Specifically, it declares the Kristin Jacobs Coral Reef Conservation Area (Broward County) an aquatic preserve area. 

With respect to water quality, it requires water management districts to establish rules to promote the use of reclaimed water and requires that facilities providing reclaimed water meet advanced wastewater treatment criteria. It also establishes criteria for FEDP assumption of the state’s onsite wastewater treatment program, including requirements for various studies, plans and grant programs as well as penalties. 

It defines Florida’s Flood Hub, establishes criteria for communities and projects eligible for grant program funds and addresses certain data assessment and resiliency plan guidelines. Importantly, it opens up the eligibility for grant program recipients to regional entities.

Senate referrals: Environment and Natural Resources (approved 1/17); Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government (approved 2/13); Fiscal Policy (approved 2/22)

House referrals: Water Quality, Supply & Treatment Subcommittee (approved 1/24); Agriculture & Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee (approved 1/31); Infrastructure Strategies Committee (approved 2/8); PASSED BY HOUSE 2/15; PASSED BY SENATE 3/5

SB 1532 SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR 5/7

SB 1532 (Brodeur) and HB 1073 (Truenow) allows water quality enhancement credits to be purchased by private entities under certain circumstances. It also allows lands owned by local governments to be used as mitigation banks where there are mitigation credit deficiencies for private banks.

Senate referrals: Environment and Natural Resources (approved 1/17); Community Affairs (approved 2/6); Rules (approved 2/14); PASSED BY SENATE 2/28; PASSED BY HOUSE 3/5

House referrals: Water Quality Supply and Treatment Subcommittee (approved 1/29); Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee (approved 2/5); Infrastructure Strategies Committee (approved 2/22)

SB 7040 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 6/17

SB 7040 (Environment and Natural Resources Committee) and HB 7053 (Water Quality, Supply & Treatment Subcommittee) updates out of date stormwater regulations to improve compliance of existing water quality regulations and provides a schedule of treatment criteria based on the receiving waterbody’s status as an “ impaired water” or as a designated Outstanding Florida Waterbody. Numerous exemptions apply, such as, presumption of compliance for scenarios where compliance is demonstrated through modeling or calculations vs. actual data collection, low impact development and grandfathered projects. 

Senate referrals: Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government (approved 2/8); Rules (approved 2/14); PASSED SENATE 2/22; PASSED HOUSE 3/5

House referrals: House Water Quality Supply and Treatment (approved 2/15)

HB 287 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 4/25

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. SB 266 would prohibit the creation of new metropolitan planning organizations. 

UPDATE: HB 287 and SB 266 were amended by the sponsors to expand the exceptions to the 20% cap on state funds for public transit projects to exclude bus or rail rapid transit that would maintain or enhance the level of service on the state highway system. 

Senate referrals: Transportation (approved 1/17); Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism and Economic Development (approved 2/8); Appropriations (approved 2/22)

House referrals: Transportation & Modals Subcommittee (approved 1/10); Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee (approved 2/1); Infrastructure Strategies Committee (approved 2/22); PASSED BY HOUSE 2/29; PASSED BY SENATE 3/5

HB 479 SIGNED BY GOVERNOR 6/17

SB 688 (Martin) and HB 479 (Robinson) authorize local governments to adopt an alternative mobility planning and fee system or an alternative system in certain circumstances; prohibit an alternative system from imposing responsibility for funding an existing transportation deficiency upon new development; provide that only local governments issuing building permits may charge for transportation impacts; and revise requirements for the calculation of impact fees by certain local governments and special districts.

UPDATE: SB 688 was updated in a committee substitute approved by the Rules Committee to prevent developers from being charged by more than one government for transportation impacts but ensure counties would not go uncompensated. The committee substitute also requires that developers must meet all local government regulations before proceeding with a development.

Senate referrals: Community Affairs (approved 1/9); Transportation (approved 1/30); Rules (approved 2/26)

House referrals: Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee (approved 1/10); Ways & Means (approved 1/17); Commerce (approved 1/30); PASSED BY HOUSE 2/28; PASSED BY SENATE 3/4

HB 1301 SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR 4/3

SB 1226 (DiCeglie) and HB 1301 (Abbott) would establish several transportation policies. Both would limit the portion of funds spent on  landscaping in highway projects, among other common provisions. SB 1226 would require the state Department of Transportation to preserve a corridor on Interstate 4 between Orlando and  Tampa to allow for passenger rail.  HB 1301 would bar the Florida Department of Transportation and MPOs from considering any “nonpecuniary social, political or ideological factor” in their planning, and the definition includes any policies aimed at achieving “net zero emissions of carbon dioxide.”

UPDATE: HB 1301 was amended by its sponsor to remove the ban on FDOT and MPOs considering nonpecuniary social, political or ideological factors. Limits on landscaping spending were not included in the final bill.    

Senate referrals: Transportation (approved 2/6); Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development (approved 2/20); Fiscal Policy (approved 2/27)

House referrals: Transportation & Modals Subcommittee (approved  1/25); Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee (approved 2/5); Infrastructure Strategies (approved 2/15)  PASSED BY HOUSE 2/27; PASSED BY SENATE 3/6; PASSED BY HOUSE AFTER FURTHER CHANGES 3/7