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Studio 67Community & Urban Affairs Legislation
Please navigate below to view a summary or check the status and recent updates of community and urban affairs bills monitored by FAC.
Sponsor: Edmonds
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill actions, see below:
Introduces significant changes to the landlord-tenant relationship, including a cap on rent increases: limits rent increases to once per year; additionally, any rent increase is limited to 30% of the current rent. Exceptions are made for new rental agreements and situations where landlords face high unexpected costs. Additionally, landlords, excluding those of single-family homes or duplexes, must provide essential amenities like pest control, security features, garbage disposal, and basic utilities.
The bill further addresses rental agreement terminations. Landlords can terminate the agreement if rent remains unpaid for over 3 days, excluding weekends and certain holidays. Even if partial payment is made, landlords can proceed with termination unless the balance is cleared within 15 days. In cases of disputes, tenants must deposit owed rent in the court’s registry within a specified timeframe or forfeit most defenses, allowing landlords an expedited eviction process.
Sponsor: Robinson (F)/Jones
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill actions, please see below:
Current law authorizes a municipality providing water or sewer utility services to consumers outside of its municipal boundaries to charge those extra-jurisdictional consumers a surcharge of up to 25%. This bill provides an exception, requiring a municipality to charge consumers outside of its municipal boundaries the same rate it charges within its boundaries, in the event that it uses a recipient municipality’s utility facilities in the course of providing these services.
Effective date: July 1, 2024.
Sponsor: Jones
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill actions, please see below:
Strips counties and municipalities of general law authority to set the maximum rates for the towing of vehicles and vessels from a wrecker service.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Stewart
Status: Support
To view the latest bill actions, please see below:
Repeals the section of statute preempting local governments from regulating the removal and trimming of trees.
Effective Date July 1, 2024.
Sponsors: Smith
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
Allows municipalities to set reasonable fees, or incidental to the recovery, removal, or storage of a vehicle or vessel for services performed by towing – storage operators within their area. Clarifies a county or municipality can give instruction for a towing – storage operator can recover, remove, or store a vehicle or vessel and fees may be charged unless vehicle or vessel is stored for under 6 hours. Excludes rental vehicle or vessels agreements as evidence that the person who rented the car is an agent of the rental vehicle or vessel owner. Prohibits municipalities from imposing more stringent ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or rules upon a towing–storage operator regarding acceptance of payment methods. Authorized personnel must except two of the following payment methods cash, bank including debit or credit card, or mobile payment. This bill also contains other provisions that do not affect counties.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsors: Smith / Rodriguez
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
Allows municipalities to set reasonable fees, or incidental to the recovery, removal, or storage of a vehicle or vessel for services performed by towing – storage operators within their area. Clarifies a county or municipality can give instruction for a towing – storage operator can recover, remove, or store a vehicle or vessel and fees may be charged unless vehicle or vessel is stored for under 6 hours. Excludes rental vehicle or vessels agreements as evidence that the person who rented the car is an agent of the rental vehicle or vessel owner. Prohibits municipalities from imposing more stringent ordinances, resolutions, regulations, or rules upon a towing–storage operator regarding acceptance of payment methods. Authorized personnel must except two of the following payment methods cash, bank including debit or credit card, or mobile payment.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Hooper / Esposito
Status: Monitor
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- Prohibits the department from annually committing more than 20 percent of the revenues derived from state fuel taxes and motor vehicle license-related fees deposited into the state transportation fund to public transit projects except:
- Public transit projects that use revenues derived from state fuel taxes and motor vehicle license-related fees that match funds made available by the Federal Government.
- Public transit projects included in the transportation improvement program adopted pursuant to the transportation improvement program and approved by a supermajority vote of the board of county commissioners where the project is located.
- Creates the local agency program to provide assistance to sub-recipient counties, cities, and towns to develop, design, and construct transportation facilities with federal funds. Within this program, Federal-aid highway funds are available only to local agencies that are certified by the department based on agency qualifications, ability to comply with federal requirements, and ability to complete the work. Local agencies, at a minimum, are required to include their contracts to develop, design, or construct transportation facilities the department’s Division I General requirements and Covenants for local agencies, and a contingency amount in the project cost to account for unforeseen conditions.
Sponsors: Esposito / DiCeglie
Status: Oppose
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
This bill requires governing bodies of counties that have 75,000 residents or more to create a program to expedite building permits for residential subdivisions or planned communities to issue 50% of these permits. This process must be a two – step process. Within this process, an applicant must submit a preliminary plat to which the governing body must approve to issue these permits along with a performance bond of 130%. This process must be in place by August 15, 2024. By December 31, 2027 the 50% issuance of permits will increase to 75%. An applicant must indemnify a governing body and its agents from damages accruing and directly related to the issuance of a building permit for a structure located in one of these planned communities before the approval and recording of the final plat by a governing body. This bill also removes the subsection relating to single-family residential dwelling building permits and combines the process of all building permits, including single-family residential dwelling and makes the following changes:
- Shock clock – changes to the shot clock for a local government to approve, approve with conditions, or deny a building permit after receiving a complete and sufficient application as follows:
- 30 days if the building permit application is reviewed by the local government.
- 15 days if the owner uses a private provider to obtain the building permit.
- 10 days if the building permit application is for a master plan building permit.
- 10 days after receipt of the application (currently 15 working days) for a building permit application by a contractor on behalf of an owner participating in the Community Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Program.
Authorizes the use of building code permit fees to upgrade technology such as hardware and software used in enforcement activities.
Sponsors: DiCeglie / Griffitts
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
The bill preempts the licensing of public lodging and food service establishments to the state, as well as the regulation of vacation rental advertising platforms. The bill authorizes counties to establish a registration program for vacation rental properties. Counties may charge an annual fee for registration the cap of these registration fees is $150 for an individual registration and a renewal fee of $50 per unit. Counties may also charge a reasonable fee to inspect a vacation rental after registration for compliance with the Florida building code. The bill would allow counties to revoke or deny a registration for the following reasons:
- Unsatisfied county/municipal lien, following a 60-day period allowing the property owner to satisfy the lien
- Repeated violations of local law, ordinances, or regulations; the threshold for revocation is three or more such violations.
The bill would also allow local governments to regulate the following conditions of registration:
- Requiring proper identification by the property owner/his or her agents.
- Obtaining a license to operate as a vacation rental.
- Requiring proper tax documentation.
- Maintaining current information regarding the vacation rental property.
- Require parking standards.
- Requiring a designated party on call to respond to complaints/immediate problems concerning the property.
- A statement of maximum occupancy.
- Requiring the property owner to provide information regarding public health and safety, as well as applicable laws, ordinances, and regulations.
Sponsor: Calatayude / Lopez
Status: Support
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- Removes industrialproperty from being subject to the requirement for affordable housing.
- Clarifies that currently allowed height, density or floor area ratio does not include any development that meets the requirements of the Live Local act or any bonuses, variances, or other special exceptions.
- Modifies theheight requirements:
- Reducesthe height requirement to within 1/4 mile (previously 1 mile).
- Where adjacent properties are three stories or less,allows local governments to restrict the height to a maximum of 4 stories (major change for residential neighborhoods).
- Development within 1/4 mile of amilitary installation may not be administratively approved.
- Specifies that the height and density requirementsdo not apply to airport-impacted areas.
- The development will become a nonconforming use should it no longer meet the affordability requirements.
Sponsors: Burgess
Status: Monitor
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Requires counties to establish maximum rates that may be charged by a wrecker operator for the storage of electric vehicles that is at least three times the rate that is charged for the cost of a vehicle stored that is powered by gasoline or diesel. If a vehicle is stored for more than 30 days, the person, entity, or agency that required it to be held at the storage facility is financially responsible for the daily cost of storing the vehicle after 30 days. A wrecker operator may charge fair and reasonable fees plus 10 percent for the cleanup, containment, and disposal of pollution and hazardous materials. This bill also clarifies the duties of recovery, towing, or storing of vehicles and vessels by adding governmental entities in addition to law enforcement.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsors: Borrero / DiCeglie
Status: Monitor
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This bill creates new statute allowing a person who holds a valid license or permit issued by a county or municipality to operate a vehicle for hire the ability to operate a vehicle for hire in any other county without paying additional licensing or permit fees. This does not apply to transportation services to and from an airport. This section does not grant specific authority to counties, municipalities, or special districts to regulate license for vehicles for hire. This sections does not apply to a person who holds a license or permit who provides transportation of a person while on a stretcher or wheelchair, or disability, illness, injury or other incapacitations that makes it impractical to be transported by a common carrier.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Osgood
Status: Monitor
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Requires counties to reduce parking requirements for a proposed development when 75 percent of the proposed development is considered affordable housing and is located within half a mile of a major transportation hub and is accessible from the development. A major transportation hub is considered a bus, train, or light rail station that contains mixed-use development and multi-transportation fully integrated within such station.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsors: Black / Martin
Status: Monitor
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Local Governments may only temporarily relocate a Historical Monument or Memorial due to the construction, expansion, or alteration of public buildings, roads, streets, highways, or any other construction or infrastructure project for up to 12 months. It must be placed back in its original spot or as close as possible if the original spot is not available. An entity may not remove a monument or memorial from public property without authorization from the owner of the monument or memorial. Any official, agent, or member of local government who directs, permits, facilitates, or votes to remove or destroy a monument or memorial is subject to a fine of up to $5,000. An elected official acting in his or her official compacity who knowingly and willingly violates this is subject to removal from the governor. If a monument or memorial is removed, damaged, or destroyed by a local government, the local government shall be liable for restoring the monument or memorial to its original condition. If the local government does not have these funds, the state shall restore the monument or memorial and withhold from the local government all arts, culture, and historical preservation funds until the state is reimbursed. HB 395 would apply to any monuments or memorials that have been removed, damaged, or destroyed on or after 1/1/17 (retroactively) while SB 1122 applies beginning 7/1/24.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsors: Esposito / Trumbull
Status: Oppose
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
Prohibits local governments, through their purchasing or contracting procedures, from seeking to control or affect the wages or employment benefits provided by its vendors, contractors, or service providers.
Preempts labor terms and conditions to be regulations to the state. Unless expressly authorized by special or general law, a county, municipality, special district, or political subdivision of the state may not adopt or enforce any terms of employment that exceed those of the State or Federal conditions.
This bill also requires employers to follow all heat exposure requirements preempted by the state. This includes employee monitoring and protection, water consumption, cooling measures, acclimatization and recovery periods or practices, and posting or distributing notices or materials relating to heat exposure, which inform employees how to protect themselves from such exposures. Employers must also provide proper training programs for heat exposure and first–aid or emergency response due to heat exposure.
Sponsors: Perry / Snyder
Status: Monitor
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The bill specifies that an area that is within more than one zoning category is not considered to be zoned exclusively for single-family or multifamily residential use. Under the bill, low-voltage electric fences will be allowed in areas within multiple zoning categories. The bill also clarifies that counties, municipalities, districts or local governments to provide additional requirements for the installation or maintenance of a low voltage alarm system project or that is otherwise inconsistent with current law.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsors: Regulated Industries
Status: Monitor
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Provides clarifying language on the classification of a code enforcement officer; this includes code inspectors. It also defines code enforcement officers as the same meaning in existing statutes.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsors: Griffitts Jr.
Status: Monitor
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Defines private provider firm as a business organization, including a corporation, partner, business trust, or other legal entity that offers services under this chapter to the public through licenses who are acting as agents, employees, officers, or partners of the firm. Requires local jurisdictions to reduce permit fees for owners who use private provider firms for building inspections or plan reviews. If the local jurisdiction does not reduce the fees, the fee owner may file a complaint with the Department of Commerce. When a private provider is used, the local jurisdiction may also not conduct its own plans review or send an inspector to the building or structure to conduct an inspection. If the private provider is a licensed engineer or architect and affixes his or her industry seal to the affidavit, the local jurisdiction must issue the permit or respond with specific plan features that do not comply with applicable codes within 12 business days. If the licensed engineer or architect does not affix his or her industry seal to the affidavit the local jurisdiction must issue the permit or respond with specific plan features that do not comply with applicable codes within 20 business days.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsors: McClain / Ingoglia
Status: Monitor
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This bill requires governing bodies of counties that have 75,000 residents or more and a municipality of 35,000 residents or more to create a program to expedite the issuance of building permits. This program must be a two-step process that includes the approval of a preliminary plat by a governing body and the approval of a final plat consistent with a master building permit plan. Once the preliminary plat is approved, this bill will require local governments to issue 50% of these permits. This process must be in place by October 1, 2024, and municipalities with existing programs must update their program to issue 50% of building permits within their program. By December 31, 2027, the 50% issuance of permits will increase to 75%. An applicant must indemnify and hold harmless a governing body and its agents from liability and damages accruing and directly related to the issuance of a building permit for a structure located in planned communities. This bill also provides vested rights to an applicant upon approval of a preliminary plat if the applicant relies in good faith, incurs obligation and expenses, and commences construction of the subdivision.
Effective Date Upon Becoming Law
Sponsors: Martin
Status: Monitor
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Requires governmental entity entering into a contract for a public works project or for the purchase of materials for a public works project must include in the contract a requirement that any iron or steel product permanently incorporated in the project be produced in the United States. This does not apply to a government entity administering the funds or the purchase of the materials that determines the following:
- Iron and Steel produced in the United States are not of sufficient quantities, reasonably available, or of satisfactory quality.
- Iron and Steel products produced by the United States will increase total cost by 20 percent.
- Inconsistent with the public interest.
- Does not prevent a minimal use of foreign steel and iron materials in a public works project if:
- Materials are incidental or ancillary to primary iron or steel products and are not separately identified in the project specification.
- The cost of such materials does not exceed 0.1 percent of the total contract cost or $2,500, whichever is greater.
- Electrical components are not considered iron or steel products.
- Shall not be applied and may not be construed to impair the state’s obligations under any international agreement.
Effective Date: July 1st, 2024
Sponsors: Melo / Bradley
Status: Monitor
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Prohibits food delivery platforms from taking or arranging for the delivery or pickup of orders from a food service establishment without the food service establishment’s consent. Regulation of food delivery platforms is expressly preempted to the state.
Effective Date Upon Becoming Law
Sponsor: Yarkosky / Martin
Status: Monitor
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Requires courts to award reasonable attorney fees and costs to prevailing defendants in civil litigation concerning property rights, if the improvements made by the defendant property owner were made in substantial compliance with, or in reliance on, environmental or regulatory approvals or permits issued by a political subdivision of the state or a state agency. For purposes of the bill, the term “property rights” includes, but is not limited to, use rights, ingress and egress rights, and those rights incident to land bordering upon navigable waters as described in the riparian rights statute.
Effective Date: Upon Becoming a Law
Sponsors: Brackett / Martin
Status: Monitor
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Removing a provision authorizing municipalities from charging specific surcharge rates, fees, and charges to consumers outside its bounds. Requires a public hearing prior to adding any fixed rates, fees, or charges for consumers outside of the municipality. This bill also requires municipalities to conduct a rate study by January 1, 2027, and every 7 years after.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsors: Esposito, Overdorf / Perry
Status: Monitor
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Requires counties to specify the minimum information that must be submitted in an application for zoning approval, rezoning approval, subdivision approval, certification, special exception, or variance. Counties must make this information available for inspection and copying at the location where they receive applications for development permits and orders, along with applicants at the pre-application meeting or posted on the website. This bill also clarifies the 120 / 180-day timeframes for final action in non-qui-jurisdictional and quasi-jurisdictional applications. This bill also requires counties to reduce fees if specific timelines are not met when issuing developmental permits and orders.
Effective Date October 1, 2024
Sponsors: Gottlieb / Jones
Status: Monitor
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Provides a public records exemption for the personal identifying and location information of current and former county administrators, assistant county administrators, deputy county administrators, city managers, assistant city managers, deputy city administrators, and the spouses and children of such.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Yarkobosky / Collins
Status: Monitor
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Exempts enhanced firearms training facilities from any local government planning and zooming or public work restrictions. Defines a “Enhanced Firearms Training Facility” as a facility located on land zoned for agricultural use or equivalent used to train people in the use of firearms and personal safety. Defines “owner” as a person who holds the title to the land and facility and holds a percentage interest in the land and facility that is equal to or greater than others who also hold the title. This bill also provides requirements to possess a license for an enhanced firearms training facility. This license must be renewed annually or until the department determines that the owner is no longer in compliance.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsors: Martin / Borrero
Status: Monitor
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A government entity may not display a flag that represents a political viewpoint, including, but not limited to, a politically partisan, racial, sexual orientation and gender, or political ideology viewpoint. The government entity must remain natural when representing political viewpoints in displaying a flag.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsors: Perry
Status: Monitor
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Requires that all plans submitted on or after July 1, 2024, for the construction of a pedestrian crosswalk on a public highway, street, or road which is located at any point other than an intersection with another public highway, street, or road must include coordinated traffic control signal devices. By October 1, 2028, the entity with jurisdiction over a public highway, street, or road with a crosswalk shall either ensure that the crosswalk is controlled by coordinated traffic control signals and pedestrian control signals or remove the crosswalk.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Burton / Griffitts
Status: Monitor
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This bill provides various consumer protection measures including:
- Exemptions to civil actions
- Agreements funded with federal or state assistance
- Contract Document
- Real property transactions; retiring title to moble home
- Prohibited property insurance practices
- Redefines depository institution
- Annual statement for a licensed accountant
- Public Adjusters
- Short-term health insurance
- Notice of property insurance claim
- Notice of premium discounts for hurricane mitigation; uniform mitigation verification inspection loss
- Firework safety standard
- Grant and contract fraud
- Falsely representing the origin of advertisement or communication
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Alvarez / Collins
Status: Monitor
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This bill Preempts the regulation of electric vehicle charging stations to the state and prohibits local governmental entities from enacting or enforcing such regulations.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Michael / Ingoglia
Status: Monitor
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Renames the current statute to restrictions on identification documents. This bill will prohibit a county from accepting any identification card or document issued by any person, entity, or organization that knowingly issues such identification to individuals who are not lawfully present in the United States. This prohibition does not apply to documents issued by the Federal Government.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Chambliss / Rodriguez
Status: Monitor
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Allows for local government to use the fees collected to carry out the local government’s enforcement of the Florida Building Code, including any process or enforcement relating to obtaining and finalizing a building permit. This also includes funds being used for planning, zoning, or other general government activities if the work is related to obtaining a building permit.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: DiCeglie
Status: Monitor
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The bill addresses matters related to transportation. Specifically, the bill:
- Removes obsolete language that requires the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary to appoint FDOT’s inspector general.
- Creates flexibility for FDOT by including the use of a tiered system that correlates with the cost of the construction project to meet the required percentage threshold for funding the purchase of plant materials.
- Requires each public transit provider to certify that its actual administrative cost is not greater than 10 % above the annual state-wide average. These administrative cost include:
- Employee salaries and benefits;
- Small business outreach;
- Insurance; and
- Professional service contracts.
- overhead cost not directly related to the operation and maintenance of the public transit system.
- In the strategic interest of the state and the traveling public to extend to Tampa, the existing passenger rail service is currently terminated in Orlando. To facilitate this extension, the Department of Transportation shall preserve a 44-foot-wide rail corridor within the right-of-way of Interstate 4 between Orlando and Tampa and provide for a minimum vertical clearance for bridges and overpasses therein.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Busatta Cabrera / Brodeur
Status: Monitor
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A municipality that intends to offer utility service under a new, extended, renewed, or materially amended agreement must, in conjunction with the local government of the area to be served, conduct a public meeting within the area to be served. Requires municipalities that provide such service to conduct an annual customer meeting in the areas served outside the municipal boundaries. The bill limits the portion of municipal utility revenues earned from service provided outside the municipal boundaries that may be used to fund or finance the municipality’s non-utility related general government functions. Requires each municipality which provides utility service outside of its municipal boundaries to report annually certain information to the Florida Public Service Commission (PSC) for each type of utility service it provides and requires the PSC to compile and report this data to the Legislature and the Governor.
Limits the rates, fees, and charges that a municipal water or sewer utility may impose on consumers outside its boundaries to no more than 25 percent above the total amount the municipal water or sewer utility charges consumers within the municipal boundaries, provided rates for outside consumers are set in a public hearing using the same methods as rates for other consumers. Prohibits a municipal water or sewer utility that serves consumers within the boundaries of a separate municipality, using a water treatment plant or sewer treatment plant located within the boundaries of that separate municipality, from imposing rates, fees, and charges higher than those imposed on consumers inside its own municipal boundaries.
Effective Date July 1,2024
Sponsor: Redondo / Gruters
Status: Monitor
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This bill redefines urban infill to include mobile home parks and manufactured home communities. Adds moderate–incom to the affordable housing property exemption statute. It also adds community development districts to the Resilient Florida Grant Program, State-Wide Florida and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan, and Regional Resilience Plan. Redefine Moderate Income Persons to include counties with a population of 1 million or more. The term means one or more natural persons or a family, the total annual adjusted gross household income of which is less than 140 % of the median annual adjusted gross income for households within the state or 140% of the median annual adjusted gross income for households within the MSA whichever is greater. Requires the total number of units for a new development or the redevelopment of an existing affordable housing development, which includes more units, must be based on plans presented by the developer, which include factors relating to existing proposed zoning financing and housing supply needs. Prohibits certain projects from requiring certain tax credits or bond financing for allocations of increased revenues derived from amendments to s. 201.15 made by Ch. 2023-17. Authorizes the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to include new construction projects that have received development assistance from the federal government to replace obsolete homes in the mobile home parks and manufactured home communities based on a comprehensive redevelopment plan.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Calatayud / Busatta Cabrera
Status: Monitor
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The bill adds parameters around the use of all cameras for traffic enforcement such that contracts must be competitively bid, and a camera or camera component which is constructed by a Chinese manufacturer or a domestic or international manufacturer that uses materials imported from China may not be used for traffic enforcement in Florida. Similar to current law for school zone speed detection systems, the bill adds the following requirements to the law that authorizes red light cameras:
- A county or municipality must enact an ordinance in order to authorize the placement or installation of, or to authorize contracting with a vendor for the placement or installation of, one or more traffic infraction detectors.
- A county or municipality that operates traffic infraction detectors must annually report the results of all traffic infraction detectors within the county’s or municipality’s jurisdiction.
- Before a county or municipality contracts or renews a contract to place or install traffic infraction detectors, the county or municipality must approve the contract or contract renewal at a regular or special meeting of the county’s or municipality’s governing body.
- The bill provides requirements for the public hearing on a proposed ordinance and the annual reporting.
- The compliance or sufficiency of compliance with the reporting requirement may not be raised in a proceeding challenging specified traffic violations enforced by a traffic infraction detector.
A county or municipality that does not comply with the specified reporting requirements are suspended from operating traffic infraction detectors until such noncompliance is corrected.
In addition to SB 1465, the house version adds: The requirement under current law that each county and municipality must submit to DHSMV a traffic infraction detector report in order for DHSMV to compile its summary report on red light cameras, the bill specifies contents of the county and municipality reports and requires DHSMV to publish each report submitted by a county or municipality on its website.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Rodriguez / Altman
Status: Monitor
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This bill adds ranges to the requirements for local governments to cooperate with major military installations to encourage compatible land use in associated areas. This bill also includes additional facilities in Key West to the current list in statute.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Tuck / Burgess
Status: Monitor
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This bill creates the following changes that impact the Department of Commerce (DCM):
- Provides that if the local government doesn’t hold a second public hearing and adopt a comprehensive plan amendment within 180 days after the DCM provides comments, the amendment is deemed withdrawn; and provides that comprehensive plan amendments are deemed withdrawn if the local government fails to transmit the comprehensive plan amendment to the DCM within 10 working days after the final adoption hearing.
- Deletes an outdated requirement that the Florida Sports Foundation must continue amateur sports programs previously conducted by the Florida Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Amateur Sports.
- Requires the DCM to establish a direct-support organization (DSO); renames the Florida Defense Support Task Force; provides for organizational composition; revises the mission of the DSO; requires the DSO to operate under a contract with the DCM; revises the due date for the annual report; and provides a repeal date of October 1, 2029.
- Revises the term “businesses” to include healthcare facilities and allied health care opportunities, and revises the funding priority purposes to provide that health care facilities, in addition to hospitals, operated by nonprofit or local government entities that provide opportunities in health care, are eligible for the funding under the Incumbent Worker Training Program.
- Specifies that board members of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act are voting members of the state workforce development board.
- Requires the Secretary of the DCM, rather than the Governor, to appoint commissioners of deeds who authenticate acknowledgements in certain real estate transactions outside of Florida, but within the United States, and outside of the United States or within foreign countries.
- Specifies that a homeowner’s association’s proposed revived declaration of covenants and articles of incorporation and bylaws must be submitted to the DCM within 60 days after obtaining valid written consent from a majority of the affected parcel owners, or within 60 days after the date the documents are approved by affected parcel owners by a vote at a meeting.
In addition to the House Bill the Senate bill does the following
- Extends the repayment period of the Local Government Emergency Revolving Bridge Loan Program from 5 to 10 years and directs the DCM to amend existing loans executed before Feb. 1, 2024, in order to increase the loan term to a total of 10 years from the original date of execution; and
- Removes a provision requiring the Secretary of the DCM, rather than the Governor, to appoint commissioners of deeds who authenticate acknowledgements in certain real estate transactions in other states or foreign countries.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsors: Altman/Collins
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill actions, please see below:
HB1493
SB 1718
Prohibits the construction, operation, or expansion of wind energy facilities in the state, and provides for injunctive relief by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Sponsor: Avila / Roach
Status: Monitor
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Provides a definition for Nonconforming Structure as a structure that does not conform to the requirements for new construction issued by the National Flood Insurance Program. Defines a replacement structure as a new structure built on property where a structure was demolished or will be demolished in accordance with this section. Along with these definitions this bill creates the Resiliency and Safe Structures Act (Act), providing that a local government may not prohibit, restrict, or prevent the demolition of the following structures for any reason other than public safety:
- Nonconforming structures located within one-half mile of the coastline which are also within zones V, VE, AO, or AE, as identified in the Flood Insurance Rate Map issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency;
- Any structure determined to be unsafe by a local building official; and
- Any structure ordered to be demolished by a local government that has proper jurisdiction.
Provides that a local government must authorize replacement structures to be developed to the maximum height and overall building size authorized by local development regulations. Prohibits a local government from imposing certain restrictions and limitations on a replacement structure to be built on the property where a structure was demolished. Provides that a local government may review an application for a demolition permit only administratively for compliance with applicable building and safety codes.
The provisions of the bill do not apply to single-family homes or structures individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Gantt / Jones
Status: Monitor
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Requires developers who participate in an inclusionary housing ordinance to provide a specific number or percentage of affordable housing units to be included in a development. Removes provisions allowing developers to contribute to a housing fund or alternative affordable housing options in lieu of building affordable housing within their developments.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Beltran
Status: Monitor
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https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/1621
If the demolition of a structure individually listed on or contributing to the National Register of Historic Places or of an individually listed local historical landmark may be the basis for an enhanced fine if the code enforcement board or special magistrate makes findings that the demolition was not the result of a natural disaster. These fines may not exceed an amount that is 20 percent of the value of the property as the property appraiser’s evaluation of fair market value.
Effective Date: July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Campbell
Status: Monitor
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Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, a parking lot or other parking facility in this state is exempt from mandatory minimum parking space requirements if:
- The parking lot or other parking facility is located within one-half mile of a point of access to public transit.
- Such public transit arrives at the point of access at least every 30 minutes during peak travel hours.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsors: Regulated Industries
Status: Support
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This bill removes the schedule repeal of exemption for public records requirements for certain information held by a utility owned or operated by a unit of local government. The bill also repeals the schedule of exemption for public meeting requirements for certain portions of meetings help by a utility owned and operated by a unit of local government.
Effective Date October 1, 2024
Sponsor: DiCeglie / Duggan
Status: Monitor
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This bill amends the scope of the Community Planning Act to provide that counties and municipalities have the power and responsibility to evaluate transportation impacts, apply concurrency, or assess fees related to transportation improvements. In addition, notwithstanding any other general law, counties and municipalities have the exclusive power and responsibility to exercise the activities specified to each under the act.
The bill provides that, notwithstanding any provision in a development order, agreement, local comprehensive plan, or LDR, a local government that continues to implement a transportation concurrency system must credit the fair market value of any land dedicated to a “government entity” for transportation facilities against the total proportionate share payment computed relating to concurrency. The bill also removes the authority of a local government to cumulatively analyze trips from a previous stage or phase of development that did not result in impacts for which mitigation was required or provided when determining if an impact requires mitigation for the subsequent stage or phase of development.
The bill repeals the exception for water and sewer connection fees in the impact fee statute. Therefore, such connection fees would have to comply with the requirements of the statute as other impact fees. The bill modifies the exception when credits toward a developer’s payment of impact fees, mobility fees or other development exaction must be maintained when an amendment is made to a development order of an approved DRI to apply:
- Internal, private facilities required by local regulation; or
- Any offsite facilities necessary to provide safe and adequate services solely to the development and not the general public.
A proposed change to an approved DRI that reduces the originally approved height, density, or intensity of the development or that changes only the location or acreage of uses and infrastructure or exchanges permitted uses must be administratively approved and is not subject to review by the local government. The bill further requires that a local government’s review of a proposed change to a previously approved DRI and any development order required to construct the development within the DRI must abide by any prior agreements and actions vesting the laws and policies governing the development. Additionally, deletes the requirement that a new condition in an amendment to a development order approving the application for a proposed change to the DRI must be consistent with the local government’s comprehensive plan or LDRs.
The bill requires that any proposed change to a previously approved DRI showing a multimodal pathway suitable for bicycles, pedestrians, and low-speed vehicles along an internal roadway be approved by the local government if the ROW remains sufficient for the ultimate number of lanes of the internal roadway.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Abbott
Status: Monitor
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The bill addresses matters related to transportation. Specifically, the bill:
- Removes obsolete language that requires the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Secretary to appoint FDOT’s inspector general.
- Creates flexibility for FDOT by including the use of a tiered system that correlates with the cost of the construction project to meet the required percentage threshold for funding the purchase of plant materials.
- Expressly authorizes FDOT to procure and establish contracts with one or more financial institutions, credit card companies, or other entities for the acceptance and processing of credit cards, charge c ards, debit cards, electronic funds transfers, or any other means of electronic payment for the collection of amounts to which the turnpike enterprise is entitled.
- Changes the time period a prepaid toll account can remain dormant from three years to ten.
- Provides circumstances wherein FDOT may not expend any state funds to support a project or program of a public transit provider, authority, public-use airport, or a port.
- Provides that the remainder of the revenues deposited into the State Transportation T rust Fund (STTF) derived from the registration of motor vehicles must first be available for appropriation for payments under a service contract entered into with the Florida Department of Transportation Financing Corporation to fund arterial highway projects.
- Allows FDOT to enter into a service contract with the Florida Department of Transportation Financing Corporation to finance projects identified in the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative in the work program.
- Provides that when developing transportation plans, FDOT and Metropolitan Planning Organizations may not consider any nonpecuniary social, political, or ideological factor.
- Creates a Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program within the Department of Commerce.
- Provides that if no funds are allocated to projects that qualify for the New Starts Transit Program by June 30 of the current fiscal year, then such funds must revert and are appropriated to the STTF.
- Provides that each public transit provider, during a publicly noticed meeting, must annually certify that its budgeted and actual administrative costs are not greater than 10 percent above the annual state average of administrative costs.
- Provides that a public transit provider may not expend state funds dire ctly, indirectly, or through a grant or agreement, for specified marketing or advertising activities.
- Provides that any new wrap, tinting, paint, medium, or advertisement on the passenger windows of a vehicle used by a public transit provider may not be darker than the legally allowed window tinting requirements.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Mooney / Hooper
Status: Support
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This bill directs the Construction Industry Licensing Board to provide a registration program for specialty contractors who were registered with a local jurisdiction during calendar years 2021, 2022, or 2023, when the local jurisdiction has since determined not to issue local licenses.
To be eligible for registration under these circumstances, an applicant must provide:
- Evidence of the prior local registration during 2021, 2022, or 2023;
- Evidence that the local jurisdiction does not require a license for the category of work for which the applicant was issued a certification of registration or local license during 2021, 2022, or 2023, which may include a notification on the website of the local jurisdiction or an email or letter from the local building department;
- The required application fee; and
- Compliance with the insurance and financial responsibility requirements for contractors under current law.
Effective Date July 1, 2024