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Join us on March 23 at 2:00 p.m. ET for our annual
Post-Legislative Session webinar to learn what major legislation with municipal impact passed and failed during the 2022 Legislative Session. Register Now
We are hosting the final weekly Monday morning conference call for the 2022 Legislative Session on March 7 to share the latest information on priority issues and all things advocacy-related. We hope you will join us! Learn More
The following is a brief synopsis of the key legislative actions and bill summaries for this week. Thanks for all you do!
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Key Legislative Actions & Bill Summaries |
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Sovereign Immunity Substantially Amended in the House
On Monday, CS/CS/HB 985 (Beltran) was substantially amended in its final committee stop before reaching the House floor. The House Judiciary Committee amended the bill to increase the current statutory limits for claims from $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident to $400,000 per person and $600,000 per incident. With the last week of session closing in, it is important to note that the Senate companion, CS/CS/CS/SB 974 (Gruters), is stuck in its last committee of reference. Substantive differences remain between the House and Senate versions of the bills. We will keep you updated with any movement as we move into the final week of session. (Cruz)
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No Butts About It – Smoking in Public Places Passes Both Chambers (Support)
On Wednesday, CS/HB 105 (Fine) passed both chambers and is now headed to the Governor. The bill would allow cities to restrict smoking within the boundaries of any public beach or park they own. The bill prevents cities and counties from restricting unfiltered cigars. Thank you to those who actively engaged on this issue. Please stay tuned for more information about how you can help ensure this bill gets signed by the Governor. We appreciate your advocacy efforts! (Taggart)
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Tree Protection – FLC Priority – Passes the Senate (Support)
This week, CS/SB 518 (Brodeur), relating to tree protection ordinances and a League priority, passed unanimously on the Senate floor. The bill would amend current law provisions that prohibit local governments from requiring permits for the removal of "dangerous" trees on residential property. We anticipate that the House companion, HB 1555 (McClain), will be heard on the House floor next week. (O'Hara)
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PFAS Bill Passes the House (Support)
HB 1475 (McClure) requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to adopt rules for cleanup target levels for per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) in soil and groundwater and prohibit agency enforcement action relating to PFAS contamination until such rules are adopted and then ratified by the Legislature. HB 1475 passed unanimously on the House floor this afternoon. CS/SB 7012 (Brodeur), the Senate companion, was temporarily postponed in the Senate. (O'Hara)
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Tax Package Passes the House (Neutral)
On Wednesday, CS/HB 7071 (Payne), the House tax package for the 2022 Legislative Session, passed unanimously on the House floor. Of importance to cities, several provisions in the bill are related to property taxes, including increasing the value of property exempt from ad valorem taxation for residents who are widows, widowers, blind, or totally and permanently disabled from $500 to $5,000. The bill also provides property tax abatement for residential property rendered uninhabitable for 30 days or more due to a catastrophic event and provides relief from all assessments to owners affected by the Surfside condo collapse. The bill is now awaiting action by the Senate. (Hughes)
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Cybersecurity Passes the House (Support)
CS/HB 7055 (Giallombardo), relating to cybersecurity, passed unanimously on the House floor this afternoon. The bill requires local governments to adopt cybersecurity standards and participate in annual trainings, outlines reporting requirements for cyber and ransomware incidents and prohibits local governments from paying ransom demands. We anticipate that the Senate companion, CS/SB 1670 (Hutson), will be heard on the Senate floor next week. The House and Senate continue budget negotiations on funding for local government cybersecurity.
Linked to the bill above, CS/HB 7057 (Giallombardo) passed unanimously on the House floor. The bill creates a public record exemption for information related to a local government’s critical infrastructure, network schematics and for cybersecurity insurance coverage limits and deductible self-insurance amounts. The bill also creates a public meeting exemption for any meeting that would reveal information on a local government’s IT resources or data. CS/SB 1694 (Hutson) is awaiting action by the full Senate. (Taggart)
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Stay Informed. Stay Engaged. |
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