Palm Beach County State Legislative Update

Week of March 17

Florida Senate Unanimously Passes “Rural Renaissance” Bill

The Rural Renaissance bill, sponsored by Senator Corey Simon, was passed unanimously by the Florida Senate this week. The bill aims to revitalize Florida’s rural communities by improving infrastructure, economic development, education, and healthcare. Senate President Ben Albritton has championed the bill, emphasizing modernization while preserving small-town values.

An amendment was introduced by the bill sponsor and adopted on the Senate floor that allowed counties located within the Everglades Agricultural Area to apply to the County Incentive Grant Program, managed by the Florida Department of Transportation, for the reconstruction of farm-to-market roads in the region. This amendment enables these counties to request full funding—covering 100% of project costs—up to $15 million per year for farm-to-market road reconstruction. The funding is available from FY 2025-2026 through FY 2030-2031. It also requires the Department to provide priority to eligible projects submitted by these counties when determining grant awards under this program. Should this bill pass the House and be signed by the Governor, Palm Beach County would be eligible to apply for up to $90 million in state funding over six years for improvements to County Road 880.

With an almost $200 million investment in rural communities across Florida, SB 110 seeks to boost rural Florida’s quality of life while ensuring long-term economic sustainability. The House companion bill will be heard in its first committee of reference next week and does not yet include the language mentioned in the paragraph above to match the Senate bill.

HB 4011, Palm Beach County

A local bill, HB 4011, introduced by Representative Kelly Skidmore at the request of Palm Beach County has unanimously passed its first of three committees this week. This revises the Building Code Advisory Board of Palm Beach County’s Special Act to amend the definition of “building official” as it pertains to the BCAB. Currently, only full-time government employees qualify to serve on the BCAB, excluding part-time contracted staff and private providers that are now increasingly relied upon by local governments. This restriction has led to vacancies, undermining the Board’s effectiveness and ability to meet quorum requirements.

Expanding the definition will enable the Board of County Commissioners to appoint qualified professionals more efficiently, ensuring the BCAB operates at full capacity to serve municipalities, residents, and the broader construction and regulatory community. 

HB 365, Rent of Affordable Dwelling Units

This bill, introduced at the request of Palm Beach County by Representative Debra Tendrich, was unanimously passed by the House Housing, Agriculture and Tourism Subcommittee. The bill prohibits a landlord from increasing the rent of a unit during the term of a rental agreement if the unit is affordable housing and receives federal, state, or local funding or tax incentives. However, the bill does not prohibit such landlords from increasing the rent when the tenant is renewing the rental agreement and only applies to agreements with a term of 13 months or less that are entered into on or after July 1, 2026. The bill has two more committees to pass through. The Senate companion bill, filed by Palm Beach County Senator Mack Bernard, will be heard in its first committee next week.

SB 7006/GOS4, Public Records Exemption of 911 Systems and Public Communications Infrastructure

The Senate Committee on Rules approved SB 7006 this week, readying the bill for the Senate floor. This legislation saves from repeal the exemption of certain 911, E911 and public safety radio communication plans and maps from public records requirements to protect public safety and security. It also adds NG 911 systems to the types of infrastructure exempted from these requirements. The existing exemption for meetings where these items are being discussed is maintained with this legislation as well. By keeping this information confidential, the county aims to prevent potential misuse by individuals who may seek to disrupt emergency response operations or exploit vulnerabilities in the public safety communication infrastructure.

The House Government Operations Subcommittee introduced the companion measure as a proposed committee bill and passed it this week. This legislation mirrors the Senate bill but does not include NG 911 systems as part of the exemption. Now that it has been approved it will be refiled with a specific bill number and referred to other committees for consideration.

HB 301, Suits Against the Government

Sovereign immunity limits the amount individuals can recover in lawsuits against state and local governments. Currently, Florida has a cap on damages at $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident. This legislation would increase the caps to $1 million per person and $3 million per incident. Raising the cap will increase the number of lawsuits as well as the number and size of payouts, putting additional pressure on local budgets. The House Budget Committee approved the bill by a vote of 25-3, with the bill sponsor indicating she was open to reducing the numbers in the current version of the bill in its third committee stop. The Senate version of the bill has yet to be taken up in committee.

HB 1221, Local Option Taxes



This legislation requires that any local discretionary sales surtax, tourist development tax, or local option food and beverage tax which is subject to approval in a referendum and is in effect on June 30, 2025, be renewed on or before January 1, 2033. The bill generally creates a new 8-year duration for those taxes; however, for any tax that is pledged for debt service, the 2033 renewal is delayed until the retirement of the debt. Future levies that will be pledged for debt service are subject to a maximum 30-year duration. The bill passed through the House Ways & Means Committee and has two more committees of reference before being eligible to be heard on the House floor. The Senate companion measure will be heard in its first committee next week.

SB 420, Diversity Equity & Inclusion

The Senate Committee on Community Affairs approved of SB 420 after significant debate on Monday.  SB 420 prohibits counties and municipalities from funding, promoting, or taking actions such as adopting ordinances, resolutions, rules, regulations, programs, or policies, related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. A county or municipality may not expend any funds, regardless of source, or establish, support, sustain, or staff a diversity, equity, and inclusion office or officer. If a member of the county or municipal governing body violates the prohibitions the bill stipulates that they commit misfeasance or malfeasance in office. 

An action in court is provided to allow an individual to sue a government if they violate these provisions. The bill does not prohibit official action required for compliance with general or federal law or regulation. Further, the bill requires any potential recipient of a county or municipal contract or grant to certify before such award that they do not and will not use local government funds to require employees, contractors, volunteers, vendors, or agents to ascribe to, study, or be instructed using materials related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. SB 420 has two more committees to pass through, while the House companion measure has not yet been heard.

SJR 802, Term Limits for Members of Board of County Commissioners and District School Boards



SJR 802 proposes an amendment to the Florida Constitution to be voted on for approval or rejection at the next general election in November of 2026. The amendment would create a new term limit of 8 consecutive years for county commissioners and adding the term limit of eight consecutive years for school board members that already exists in statute. The bill was advanced to the next committee. The House companion resolution was also approved by its first committee this week.

SB 1080, Local Government Land Regulation



The Senate Committee on Community Affairs approved SB 1080 this week, which requires local governments to do several things regarding land regulation. Local governments under the bill are required to specify the minimum information required for certain zoning applications, process an application for a development permit or development order within certain timeframes, not limit the number of quasi-judicial hearings or public hearings if such limitation causes delay in the consideration of an application, and issue a refund to an applicant if the local government fails to meet certain timeframes when processing an application. The bill also provides that comprehensive plan amendments are not required to be approved at the second public hearing in the amendment adoption process to avoid being deemed withdrawn. Both the Senate bill and its House companion are referred to two more committees for hearings before they can be considered on the chamber floor.

SB 1118, Land Use and Development Regulations

This bill introduces significant changes to comprehensive planning, land use regulations, and homeowners’ associations. The bill streamlines administrative approval for development in agricultural enclaves and mandates that all residential land uses, zoning categories, and housing types be treated as compatible. It also prevents local governments from using optional elements in comprehensive plans to limit density or intensity of land use. Additionally, any ordinance adopting a comprehensive plan or amendment that imposes more restrictive development procedures must now be approved by a supermajority vote, and court reviews of comprehensive plan amendments will follow a more favorable standard than the current challenge process.

For land development regulations, the bill defines "extraordinary circumstances" for increasing impact fees beyond state limits and clarifies that ethanol production for agricultural purposes is not considered chemical manufacturing, which could impact zoning and permitting. It also prohibits counties and municipalities from requiring public art installations as a condition for development approval. Updates to plat submittal procedures are also included in the bill and the legislation ensures that municipalities retain regulatory authority over land use when annexing unincorporated areas.



Regarding homeowners’ associations, the bill introduces recreational covenants to regulate amenity fees, dues, and expenses. It restricts how certain fees can be imposed and collected, establishing new requirements for governing these costs. The bill was passed through its first of three committees this week. 

SB 1260, County Constitutional Officer Budget Processes

The Senate Community Affairs Committee advanced SB 1260 this week which creates a process for a clerk of the circuit court or supervisor of elections to appeal his or her budget to the Administration Commission in the same manner currently provided for sheriff budgets. The bill also revises the budget submission process for the clerk of circuit court to clarify that the board of county commissioners may require the clerk to correct errors in the budget and that the board may amend the budget as part of the county budgeting process. The bill has two more committees of reference, while the House companion has just one more committee stop.

HB 503, Local Business Taxes



The bill, passed by its second of three committees, creates a limitation on the amount of revenue a local government may receive from local business taxes based on the revenue the local government received in local Fiscal Year (FY) ending September 30, 2024, or September 30, 2025, whichever is greater. The bill provides for rate reductions, refunds, and reporting requirements to implement the revenue limitation. The Senate version of the bill has yet to receive a hearing.