Fourth Week of the 2025 Legislative Session 



Welcome to week 4 of the 2025 legislative session! The Countdown Clock reads 35 days until Sine Die. Bills will be heard and amended every day—stay on top of county priorities with this weekly legislative bulletin, or with our comprehensive Bill Tracker. 

Right now, Congress is drafting legislation to extend the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. While bill text is still being drafted and has not yet been released, we know there are proposals under consideration that would offset the cost of extending these tax provisions by eliminating the long-standing municipal bond tax exemption.

Counties rely on tax-exempt municipal bonds to underpin 90% of American infrastructure investments, raising capital for critical infrastructure projects like schools, airports and utilities while keeping costs low for our taxpayers. Eliminating the tax exemption would raise the cost of infrastructure by $823 billion over the next decade. This 2.1% increase in borrowing costs translates to a $6,554 tax increase for over 125 million American households.

County leaders have a unique opportunity right now to advocate to protect the tax exemption and our ability to finance critical infrastructure in our communities. We are targeting members of Congress in your state as part of this advocacy push — please reach out to urge them to take the municipal bond tax exemption off the table now, before text for this bill is drafted.

Visit the NACo Municipal Bond toolkit site for contact information, talking points and other valuable resources.

On Tuesday, SB 482 by Sen. DiCeglie failed in Senate Community Affairs (3 – 4). However, Senator Passidomo moved to reconsider the measure at their next meeting.  

Current law requires a “phase-in” approach to increase impact fees. Specifically, the fee cannot be increased by more than 50% over a four-year period, unless the county produces a finding of “extraordinary circumstances.” This bill would narrow the definition of “extraordinary circumstances” to a formula based on growth over expectation. Specifically, the bill refers to a population estimate at least 1.25 times the 5-year high-series population projection by the University of Florida Bureau of Economic and Business Research (BEBR). No county in Florida would meet this growth metric. The bill also prohibits counties from requiring a development applicant to install or pay for a work of art as a condition of issuing a development permit or development order. 

The House companion, HB 665 by Rep. Steele, is waiting to be heard in House Intergovernmental Affairs.  

On Tuesday, CS/SB 1664 by Sen. Trumbull passed Senate Community Affairs (5-3). The bill requires counties and municipalities to renew local option taxes every 8 years, including tourist development taxes, food and beverage taxes, and discretionary sales surtaxes, through a referendum by January 1, 2033, for continued collection. Taxes not renewed will expire. Future surtaxes are limited to eight-year terms, except when pledged for bond financing, which allows up to 30 years. The bill also protects bondholders by ensuring that pledged revenues continue until outstanding bonds are retired. However, the bill is unclear if bonds may be issued for new projects. FAC opposed the bill along with Tourist Development Councils and cities.  

The House companion, CS/HB 1221 by Rep. Miller, is waiting to be heard in Intergovernmental Affairs. 

On Tuesday, CS/HB 541 by Rep. Chamberlin passed (12-4) in House Careers & Workforce Subcommittee. During the committee, a proposed committee substitute was adopted. The PCS amends the Act to provide specific exemptions from state minimum wage requirements for certain employees. The PCS provides that employers are not required to pay the state minimum wage to employees in a structured work-study, internship, pre-apprenticeship, or other similar work-based learning opportunity, provided such employees choose to opt out of receiving the state minimum wage. However, such employees must be paid at or above the federal minimum wage. The PCS requires such opt out be voluntary and prohibits an employer from coercing an employee to opt out or conditioning an offer of employment on the employee opting out. Under the PCS, the written waiver voluntarily signed by the employee must state that the employee acknowledges his or her right to the state minimum wage pursuant to the State Constitution and that the employee is knowingly and voluntarily choosing to receive a lesser amount for his or her work-based learning opportunity. The PCS specifies that an employee’s waiver to opt out of the state minimum wage is only valid for 12 months after the date his or her employment with the employer begins. Thereafter, the PCS requires the employee be paid at or above the state 

minimum wage regardless of his or her position or job title with the employer. 

The Senate companion, CS/CS/SB 676 by Sen. Martin, passed (5-1) in Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability on Tuesday. During committee, an amendment was adopted that amends the Florida Minimum Wage Act to allow employees to opt out of receiving the minimum wage for work-study, internship, pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship program, or other similar work-based learning opportunities by signing a waiver acknowledging that the employee is knowingly and voluntarily choosing to receive a lesser amount. Parents or guardians must sign the waiver for employees under 18 years of age.  

On Tuesday, CS/CS/HB 268 by Sen. Jones passed unanimously in Senate Community Affairs. The bill provides a public records exemption to protect the privacy of current public officers, their spouses, and their children. The exempted class includes the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Chief Financial Officer, Attorney General, Agriculture Commissioner, and any State Representative, State Senator, Property Appraiser, Supervisor of Elections, School Superintendent, School Board Member, Mayor, City Commissioner, or County Commissioner. The bill exempts from public disclosure the partial home addresses of these officers and their spouses, as well as their personal telephone numbers. Additionally, the bill protects the names, full home addresses, telephone numbers, and dates of birth of their minor children, as well as the names and locations of the schools and daycare facilities they attend. The bill includes a sunset provision for 2030, meaning the exemptions will be repealed unless reauthorized. 

The House companion, HB 789 by Rep. Valdes, has not been heard this session. 

On Tuesday, SJR 748 by Sen. Gaetz unanimously passed Senate Community Affairs (7-0). The bill proposes an amendment to the Florida Constitution to authorize a homestead property tax exemption for the surviving spouses of quadriplegics. Under the proposed amendment, if a quadriplegic was receiving a property tax exemption on their homestead at the time of their death, their surviving spouse would be eligible to continue receiving the exemption. 

The House companion, HJR 163 by Rep. Tant, is waiting to be heard in its second committee stop. 

On Tuesday, SB 1512 by Sen. Ávila passed Senate Community Affairs (7-1), while its House companion CS/HB 1259 by Rep. Busatta passed Ways & Means Committee (14-4) on Thursday. The bill provides a property tax exemption for residential properties subject to long-term leases of six months or more, if the owner already claims a homestead exemption on another property. Eligible properties receive a $25,000 exemption, with an additional $25,000 exemption for non-school district taxes. It also limits annual assessment increases to 3% or the Consumer Price Index, whichever is lower. Properties damaged by disaster can retain their exemption if rebuilt within five years. The bill is contingent on the passage of HJR 1257 and SJR 1510. The joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment allowing the Legislature to extend homestead property tax exemptions and assessment limitations to residential properties subject to long-term leases of six months or more. 



The Revenue Estimating Conference estimates the impact to be over $1.5 billion statewide. There is no language in the bill tying the benefit to affordable housing or providing any relief to the renter. FAC opposed the bill in both chambers emphasizing the tax shift that would occur if the bill passed and is approved by voters.

On Tuesday, SB 1760 by Sen. Grall passed unanimously in the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee. The bill imposes new citizenship and Florida residency requirements on individuals serving in a wide range of public positions, including members of state commissions, boards of trustees, licensing boards, quasi-public entities, and executive department heads. In many cases, these officials would also be required to reside in the same county as the agency’s headquarters. 

The bill also defines the term “office” for purposes of Florida’s constitutional dual office-holding prohibition, listing dozens of public roles—including county and municipal administrators, emergency management directors, and constitutional officers—that would fall under the new definition.

 

The House companion, HB 1445 by Rep. Mayfield, is waiting to be heard in its second committee stop.  

On Tuesday, CS/CS/SB 872 by Sen. Ingoglia passed Senate Community Affairs (6-2). This bill provides that counties and municipalities must establish maximum rates for the storage of electric vehicles from an accident scene, which may be up to three times the rates established by the wrecker operator for the removal and storage of vehicles that run on gasoline or diesel fuels. The bill authorizes wrecker operators to charge actual cost, plus 15 percent, for the cleanup of an accident scene involving an electric vehicle, including a fire or any accidental discharge of any hazardous materials or debris associated with the electric vehicle. 

The House companion, CS/HB 577 by Rep. Nix, is waiting to be heard in its second committee stop Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee. 

On Tuesday, SB 1816 by Sen. McClain was temporarily postponed with an amendment adopted by the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability. The bill preempts local governments from removing, damaging, or destroying historic Florida monuments or memorials, including those honoring military service. The bill declares void any current or future ordinance or regulation from a local government that conflicts with this preemption and imposes civil liability and penalties on elected or appointed officials who violate it. 

The amendment maintains the core structure of the bill but clarifies definitions and enforcement mechanisms, including procedures for temporary relocation due to military or infrastructure needs. It also affirms that the Department of State, in consultation with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, will oversee implementation and rulemaking.

The House companion, HB 1599, by Rep. Black has not been heard this session. 

On Tuesday, CS/SB 440 by Sen. McClain passed (5-2) in Governmental Oversight and Accountability. The bill addresses the use of pronouns in the context of the public workplace, where those pronouns do not correspond with an individual’s sex.  

Specifically, the bill provides that: 

• An employer cannot require an applicant, employee, or contractor, within the context of their state or county employment, to use a person’s preferred pronouns if they do not correspond to that person’s sex; 
• An applicant, employee, or contractor cannot require a public employer to use his or her preferred pronouns if they do not correspond to his or her sex; and 
• An application or other employment form that asks about sex may only offer male or female as answers and cannot provide a nonbinary or other option. 

Additionally, the bill makes it an unlawful employment practice for an employer to require, as a condition of employment, any training, instruction, or other activity on gender identity or gender expression. The Bill grants the Department of Management Services authority to adopt rules to implement portions of the bill. 

The House companion, HB 1495 by Rep. Plakon, has not yet been heard this session.

On Tuesday, SB 1760 by Sen. Grall unanimously passed Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability. The bill requires that members of state commissions, licensing boards, the Board of Governors, and other statutory governing entities must be U.S. citizens and Florida residents. It also requires that department secretaries, executive directors, and chief administrative officers of state agencies reside in the same county as their department headquarters. The bill defines the term “office” under the State Constitution to include state and local officials such as county commissioners, municipal attorneys, sheriffs, and emergency management directors. This definition clarifies who is considered to hold public office versus who is considered an employee, which may impact eligibility, residency, and accountability standards for county and municipal officials. 

The House companion, HB 1445 by Rep. Mayfield, is waiting to be heard in its final committee stop State Affairs. 

On Tuesday, CS/SB 622 by Sen. Rodriguez unanimously passed Senate Regulated Industries. This bill allows pari-mutuel permitholders to lease their facilities to other pari-mutuel holders and jai alai permitholders if located within 35 miles of each other. This changes the current requirement that only allows holders of valid pari-mutuel permits lease their facilities to any other holder of a same class valid pari-mutuel wearing. 

The House companion, CS/HB 709 by Rep. Esposito passed unanimously through House Industries and Professional Activities Subcommittee on Thursday. A Proposed Committee Substitute and an amendment were adopted during committee making the following changes: 

The bill revises the restriction that holders of valid pari-mutuel permits are only entitled to lease their facilities to holders of the same class permit, to also: 

• Allow holders of a valid pari-mutuel permit to lease their facilities, located at the address listed on the permit on January 1, 2021, to any jai alai permitholder when located within a 35-mile radius. 
• Remove the authority for such permitholders to be entitled to obtain an additional permit. 
• Prohibit the lessee from operating a cardroom or slot machine license at the leased facility. 
• Require such jai alai permitholders to conduct at least 59 live performances.  

On Wednesday, SJR 174 and the implementing bill CS/SB 176 both by Sen. DiCeglie unanimously passed Senate Finance and Tax. While the House companion, HJR 1039 and CS/HB 1041 by Rep. Berfield, unanimously passed the House Ways & Means Committee. 

The joint resolution proposes a constitutional amendment to authorize the Legislature, by general law, to prohibit property appraisers from increasing the assessed value of homestead property due to flood mitigation improvements. This includes any structural changes made specifically to reduce flood risk. The bill aims to encourage homeowners to invest in flood protection without facing higher property taxes assessments. However, the assessed value would increase upon the property changing ownership.  

On Thursday, TED 1 by Chair Shoaf and the Transportation & Economic Development Budget Subcommittee passed in Transportation & Economic Development Budget Subcommittee (10-2). The proposed committee bill was refiled as HB 5501. The bill changes the distribution of documentary stamp taxes by redirecting a portion of the collections that are currently deposited in state trust funds and deposits those revenues in the General Revenue Fund. The bill also repeals s. 420.50871, F.S., which outlines the allocation of the portion of these revenues temporarily dedicated for housing programs. 

The bill reallocates these funds in the following ways:  

• Change the distribution of documentary stamp taxes by redirecting a portion of the collections that are currently deposited in state trust funds and deposits those revenues in the General Revenue Fund. The bill reinstates the general revenue service charge previously assessed on the documentary stamp tax, which eliminates a $150 million distribution to the State Housing Trust Fund. This additional distribution was time-limited between 2023 to 2033, and allocated for housing programs  
• The bill repeals s. 420.50871, F.S., which provides that 70 percent of the temporarily redistributed funds must finance projects that: 
• Redevelop an existing affordable housing development while also allowing for the construction of a new development within close proximity to the existing development to be rehabilitated; 
• Address urban infill, including conversions of vacant, dilapidated, or functionally obsolete buildings or the use of underused commercial property; 
•  Provide for mixed use of the location, incorporating nonresidential uses, such as retail, office, institutional, or other appropriate commercial or nonresidential uses; or 
•  Provide housing near military installations in this state. 
• The remaining 30 percent must be used to finance projects that: 
• Propose using or leasing public lands; 
• Address needs of young adults who age out of the foster care system; 
• Meet the needs of elderly persons; or 
• Provide housing to meet the needs in areas of rural opportunity.  
• Redirect the distribution of documentary stamp tax proceeds from the Department of Transportation to general revenue in the amount of $466.75 million or 20.5453 percent of remaining revenues after required distributions in each fiscal year is deposited into the State Transportation Trust Fund for the New Starts Transit Program, the Small County Outreach Program, the Strategic Intermodal System, and the Transportation Regional Incentive Program 

On Tuesday, CS/HB 1397 by Rep. Abbott passes (14-1) in Governmental Oversight and Accountability. The Senate companion was also heard on Tuesday, CS/SB 1662 by Sen. Collins, passed Senate Transportation unanimously. Both bills were amended during their respective committees and are now substantially similar with only minor differences.  



The Senate bill includes that a municipality may not prohibit, or require a permit, for the installation of a public sewer transmission line placed and maintained within and under publicly dedicated rights-of-way as part of a septic-to-sewer conversion where the work is being performed under permits issued by FDOT and the Department of Environmental Protection, or its delegate, relating to environmental control. 

The House bill increases the maximum annual funding amount for the Small County Road Assistance Program from $25 million to $50 million beginning in fiscal year 2025-2026. The bill provides that the minimum annual funding amount for the Small County Outreach Program is $50 million beginning in fiscal year 2025-2026. Funding for both 

programs come from the State Transportation Trust Fund (STTF). 

Amendment changes to both bills are as follows: 

• Provides position titles for the assistant secretaries of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to appoint an Executive Director of Transportation Technology. 
•  Revises provisions regarding the qualifications of Florida Transportation Commission (FTC) members. 
• Requires the FTC to monitor any transit entity receiving public transit block grant funding. 
• Creates the Florida Transportation Research Institute. 
• Authorizes certain space-related and commercial shipbuilding projects to receive Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development funding. 
• Requires seaports to submit semiannual reports to FDOT regarding their operations. 
• Prohibits state funding to a seaport near certain spaceport territory unless it agrees to specified land use requirements. 
• Repeals provisions regarding high-occupancy vehicle lanes, including a related toll exemption 
• Authorizes the withholding of state transportation funds to local jurisdictions for traffic signals not in compliance with FDOT’s uniform system for traffic control devices. 
• Requires FDOT to certify private airports of public interest. 
• Authorizes FDOT to fund certain infrastructure projects associated with spaceports. 
• Requires airports to provide FDOT with the opportunity to use airport property as a staging area during certain declared states of emergency. 
• Authorizes FDOT to inspect commercial airport facilities. 
• Requires airports to submit annual maintenance reports to FDOT and authorizes FDOT to withhold capital improvement funds if an airport fails to perform routine maintenance. 
• Authorizes FDOT to fund additional aviation-related workforce development projects. 
• Makes non hub airports subject to commercial service airport transparency and accountability requirements and amends such requirements for all commercial service airports. 
• Requires commercial service airports to notify FDOT after receiving certain communications or directives from the federal government and following issues or incidents of concern. 
• Codifies advanced air mobility into Florida law. 
• Revises FDOT’s authorization regarding public information and education campaigns. 
• Authorizes FDOT to adopt rules to comply with federal disadvantaged business enterprise rules. 
• Creates the Florida Transportation Academy, within FDOT, to coordinate with certain entities regarding workforce development. 
• Authorizes FDOT to require the modification of an existing connection to a state road due to safety or operational concerns. 
• Increases the size of a “small business” as it relates to FDOT’s business development program. 
• Repeals FDOT’s disadvantaged business enterprise program. 
• Authorizes FDOT to require a surety bond in an amount less than the awarded contract price. 
• Prohibits camping on right-of-way of the State Highway System, except on the Florida National Scenic Trail with the appropriate permit. 
• Prohibits FDOT from providing funds to transportation-related entities for projects or programs that are inconsistent with the energy policy of the state. 
• Makes permanent the authorization for the chair and vice chair of the Legislative Budget Commission to approve FDOT work program amendments in certain cases. 
• Repeals an obsolete report requirement related to electric vehicle charging infrastructure. 
• Removes the Legislative Budget Commission’s approval of emergency loans from the State Infrastructure Bank. 
• Revises and makes permanent FDOT’s Strategic Intermodal System supply chain demands program. 
• Revises and makes permanent the allocation of unused New Starts Transit funds to the Strategic Intermodal System. 
• Revises the membership of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s governing body. 
• Requires the Jacksonville Transportation Authority to post on information on its website regarding on salaries, travel, and contracts and to follow FDOT’s business development program. 

On Tuesday, CS/HB 567 by Rep. McFarland passed unanimously in House Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee. The bill addresses numerous changes related to the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) and Florida transportation policy. During committee 3 amendments were adopted making changes in the following areas: 

• Requires that utility owners make all new, replaced, or relocated underground facilities within the right-of-way (ROW) electronically detectable using techniques approved by DOT. A utility owner must pay the ROW authority actual damages resulting from the utility owner’s failure or refusal to timely remove or relocate its utility lines located in the ROW. Additionally, the bill states that the issuance of permits for new installation of utilities within the authority’s ROW may be subject to reimbursement of any costs incurred by the authority due to the failure of the utility owner to timely relocate utilities pursuant to an approved work schedule or due to work performed by the utility owner which damages existing infrastructure and causes a roadway failure. 
• DOT may provide an incentive the owner of an electric, gas, and water or waste utility to facilitate the accelerated completion of utility relocation. Such incentives must be provided for via a joint agreement between the department and the utility  
• Directs the Department of Revenue to distribute $4.167 million from tax levied on each taxable transaction for the sale of electrical power or energy to account for the impact of electric and hybrid vehicles on the state highway system. 
• The bill creates a new requirement that each county must annually provide the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) with uniform project data. For each county, this data must match up to the county’s fiscal year and must include, but is not limited to: 
• Details on transportation revenues by source of taxes or fees, 
• Expenditure of such revenues for projects that were funded, and 
• The unexpended balance of such revenues. 
• Implementation of Next-Generation Traffic Signal Modernization program. The program shall consist of retrofitting existing traffic signals and controllers and providing a communication backbone for remote operations and management of such signals on the State Highway System and nonstate highway systems.  
• This bill allows a local government to adopt an ordinance providing one or more Minimum age requirements to operate an electric bicycle, motorized scooter, or mobility device and requiring an operator to possess government-issued photographic identification.  
• Provides that DHSMV must, by rule, provide for the design, size, color, and placement of the expectant mother parking permit placard or decal. DHSMV must ensure that the placard or decal conspicuously displays the expiration date. 
• Removes the duty of Space Florida6 to partner with the Metropolitan Planning Organization Advisory Council to coordinate and specify how aerospace planning and programming will be part of the state’s cooperative transportation planning process. 
• Modifies the legislative intent related to the establishment of Metropolitan Planning Organizations (M.P.O.s) to emphasize   
• The development of multimodal transportation systems, instead of surface transportation systems 
• Serving the mobility needs of people and freight and fostering economic growth and development within and through urbanized areas of this state while balancing conservation of natural resources. 
• No additional M.P.O.’s may be designated after July 1, 2025, except in urbanized areas 
• Revises the items that each M.P.O. must consider when developing its long-range transportation plan (LRTP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to include projects and strategies that will conserve natural resources and reduce traffic and congestion where feasible. 
• Provides that training for new M.P.O. governing board members must be provided by DOT and by either CUTR or by the Implementing Solutions from Transportation Research and Evaluation of Emerging Technologies Program (I-STREET). 
• Creates M.P.O. accountability and transparency provisions. 
• Adds to the definition of eligible agency to include a public or private partnership through a lease or agreement as defined in current statute with a political subdivision or state agency.  
• A municipality, county, or airport authority that owns a public-use airport can join the FAA’s Airport Investment Partnership Program by leasing or contracting with a private partner to operate the airport. If aviation fuel tax funds are available, the state transportation department may help fund capital improvement projects at such airports. 
• Restates DOT’s ability to purchase property or property rights in advance to preserve a corridor for future proposed improvements 
• Alters the composition of the advisory board for the Center for Urban Transportation Research (CUTR). 
• All project concept studies and project development and environmental studies for capacity improvement projects on limited-access facilities must include the evaluation of alternatives that provide transportation capacity using elevated roadways above existing lanes. Additionally, project development and environmental studies for new alignment projects and new capacity improvement projects must be completed within 18 months after commencement. 
• Requires DOT to award proposed construction and maintenance work to the lowest responsive, responsible bidder 

The Senate companion, CS/SB 462 by Sen. DiCeglie, will be heard in Senate Regulated Industries on Tuesday April 1st.  

On Monday, SB 1738 by Sen. Ingoglia passed unanimously in Senate Transportation. The bill permits a local government to identify facilities necessary to maintain current levels of service, as opposed to facilities necessary to meet newly adopted levels of service, in the capital improvements element of the comprehensive plan. The bill allows a local government to elaborate on capital improvements in its comprehensive plan but does not replace the adoption of a level of service for the purpose of applying concurrency to future development.  

The House companion, HB 203, by Rep. Grow has not been heard this session.  

On Tuesday, CS/HB 943 by Rep. Lopez (V) passed (14-1) in House Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee. During committee, 4 amendments were adopted that made various changes to the Live Local Act (LLA) including: 

• Prohibits a county from adopting any law, ordinance, rule or other measure that limits or prohibits affordable housing including any measure that: 
• Limits the maximum percentage of units within a geographic area 
• Limits the maximum percentage of units within a certain distance from another affordable housing project. 
•  Prohibits affordable housing in an area zoned for such use. 
• Provides that BoCC may approve an affordable housing development on any parcel owned by a religious institution that contains a use of public worship regardless of zoning if at least 10% of the units in the proposed development will be for affordable housing. 
• Creates new definitions of “allowable density”, “Allowable use” “Commercial Use” and “industrial use” and “planned unit development” from regardless as how those terms are defined in a county's LDRs. 
• Mandates that counties authorize multi-family or mixed-use development on county-owned sites; on any PUD permitted for commercial, industrial or mixed use; or any district zoned for Single Family homes or duplex, if 40% of the residential units will be affordable for at least 30 years. 
• A county must authorize inclusion of an adjacent parcel as part of a multifamily development regardless of its land use designation if the units comply with the LLA. 
• Prohibits requiring a LLA applicant to acquire or transfer density or development units, or amendments to any DRI, development agreement, restrictive covenant, as condition of approval. 
• Requires a minimum of 65% of the total square footage in mixed-use projects to be designated for residential use and prohibits a county from requiring nonresidential uses to be more than 10%. 
• Prohibits local governments from restricting or taking any action that has the effect of restricting: 
• The maximum lot size of a proposed multifamily or mixed-use residential development below the highest maximum lot size allowed on or after July 1, 2023, on any unincorporated land in the local government where multifamily or mixed-use residential development is allowed pursuant to the local government’s land development regulations. 
• The maximum lot coverage of a proposed multifamily or mixed-use residential development below 70 percent.  
• Preempts any local government ordinance, resolution, or action that has the effect, either directly or indirectly, of doing any of the following, and provides that any such ordinance, resolution, or action that does any of the following is superseded by state law: 
• Limiting the height, floor area ratio, or density of an affordable housing project; 
• Unreasonably delaying the development or construction of an affordable housing project, including, but not limited to, imposing a moratorium; 
• Restricting the manner in which affordable units are developed or accessed within a project or regulation the types of units in the project; or 
• Restricting or limiting an affordable housing project in any other way. 
• Requires each county to reduce parking by 20% for LLA, or 100% if the project is less than 20,000 sq ft, regardless of proximity to the bus stop, sidewalk, nearby parking, or other provisions for safe access. 
• Authorizes "prevailing party" to recover attorney fees and costs in challenge under LLA. 
• After July 2023, if a county adopts an ordinance, resolution, or makes any other decision that has the direct or indirect effect of: 
• Limiting height, FAR, or density of LLA project; 
• Unreasonably delays development or construction of a LLA project, including moratorium; 
• Restricts manner in which affordable units are developed or accessed or regulates the type of units; 
• Restricts or limits a LLA project in any other way 

Then such action is preempted.  If a property owner files a site plan, then the admin review process for the LLA project must be based only on LDRs in effect at time of application filing.  

• Expressly preempts the regulation of affordable housing under LLA section to the state, and this subsection (7) supersedes any local ordinance, resolution, or other local regulations. 
• Gives a vested right to LLA project owner who has acted in reliance on the approval, if the project continues to comply with requirements of the bill.  
• Mandates a 20 percent reduction in impact fees  
• Waives sovereign immunity completely for actions brought under the Florida Fair Housing Act. 
• Requires local governments to allow the construction of accessory dwelling units 
• Creates expedited foreclosure proceedings for abandoned real property 

FAC Staff, Courtney Mooney, testified against the bill in committee.  

The Senate companion, SB 1730 by Sen. Calatayud, will be heard on Monday, 3/31 in Community Affairs.  

On Tuesday, CS/CS/SB 1078 by Sen. McClain passed Senate Community Affairs (5-3). This bill defines "alteration" as adding, installing, relocating, replacing, or removing fire alarm systems. Local enforcement agencies must issue permits for fire alarm/sprinkler system projects within 2 business days and mandates inspections within 24 hours of request. The bill also specifies permit fee reductions for local governments failing to meet deadlines (10% per business day), with exceptions for agreed extensions, applicant delays, or force majeure. Requires Local enforcement agencies to establish a simplified permitting process by October 1, 2025. 



The House companion, CS/HB 551 by Rep. Borrero, is waiting to be heard in its second committee stop Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee.

On Tuesday, CS/HB 701 by Rep. Stark unanimously passed Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee. The bill requires counties and eligible municipalities to provide lot rental assistance for mobile homeowners in mobile home parks under their local housing assistance plans. The bill allocates state and local housing funds for mobile home lot rentals, allows funding for construction, rehabilitation, or emergency repair of mobile homes, and prohibits local governments from discriminating between housing types when awarding funds. The bill also eliminates the restriction that limited the allocation of SHIP funds to no more than 20 percent for manufactured housing. 

The Senate companion, SB 1714 by Sen. Burton, will be heard on Monday, March 31st, in Community Affairs.  

On Wednesday, HB 11 by Rep. Robinson, passed unanimously off the House Floor. This bill requires that a municipal utility that provides service to an adjacent municipality charge these extra-jurisdictional consumers the same as those within their own boundaries under specific circumstances. This requirement specifically applies when the municipal utility operates a utility plant or facility in the adjacent municipality.    

The Senate companion, SB 202 by Sen. Jones, will be heard on Monday, March 31st, in Community Affairs.  

On Wednesday, CS/CS/CS/SB 88 by Sen. Wright passed (32-5) in Senate Rules. The Bill Establishes a definition of utility terrain vehicle (UTV) and provides county and municipal road regulations. The bill allows UTVs to operate at all hours but a UTV may only be operated on designated two-lane county roads or two-lane municipal streets in which the posted speed limit is less than 55 miles per hour. Before making such designation, the responsible county or municipality must first determine that a UTV may safely travel on or cross the public road or street, considering factors including speed, volume, and character of motor vehicle traffic using the road or street. The bill also allows a county or municipality to enact an ordinance regarding UTV operation and equipment, which is more restrictive than the requirements set forth in the statute. A county or municipality may also prohibit the use of UTVs on any road under its jurisdiction if the governing body of such county or municipality determines that such prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety. During the committee, an amendment was adopted that clarifies that UTVs are subject to motor vehicle insurance requirements and that a person must maintain the registration certificate or a copy of the registration in the UTV. 

The House companion, HB 221 by Rep. Gentry, has not yet been heard this session.

On Thursday, HB 749 by Rep. Sap unanimously passed House Budget committee. The bill expands employer-paid health insurance benefits to cover firefighters who become totally and permanently disabled during an official training exercise, as well as to their spouses and dependent children. 

The Senate companion, CS/SB 1202 by Sen. McClain, has not been heard this session. 

On Monday, CS/SB 810 by Senator Burgess unanimously passed in the Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development. The newly amended bill requires local governments to conduct annual inspections of all structures within MS4 permitted stormwater systems within their stormwater management systems prior to hurricane season each year (June 1). Many counties already conduct routine inspections of their stormwater systems, though this is more often done on an 8-10 year interval due to the high volume of structures.   

The bill also directs the Division of Emergency Management to adopt rules for implementation of this section.  

Currently, there is no House companion legislation. 

On Tuesday, HB 295 by Rep. Casello unanimously passed the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee. The bill directs DEP to establish a statewide recycling and waste reduction plan and goal by July 1, 2026. The plan is expected to consider recommendations from the prior comprehensive statewide recycling plan, and the corresponding final report issued in 2020. At a minimum, the plan must identify a goal based on sustainable materials management and waste diversion and incentivize recycling practices among private businesses. FAC supported the bill as part of its Guiding Principles.  

The Senate companion, SB 200 by Sen. Berman, remains in its second stop, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government. 

On Tuesday, CS/SB 800 by Senator McClain passed unanimously in Senate Commerce and Tourism. The bill prohibits the sale of certain batteries without proper labeling and disposal instructions. Additionally, such batteries are eligible for a separate materials collection program apart from the conventional solid waste and recycling streams. This marks a response to a number of fires in waste facilities and collection trucks, as a result of the highly flammable batteries.   

The House companion, HB 1201 by Rep. Gentry, has not been heard this session. 

On Tuesday, CS/CS/SB 832 by Sen. Burgess unanimously passed in Senate Environment and Natural Resources. The bill codifies a strict liability defense in lawsuits brought by the Department of Environmental Protection or others for a cause of action based on a natural geological substance on the site of a former phosphate mine. For a defendant to be exempt from strict liability under the defense created by the bill, the defendant must prove that:  

• A notice identifying the property as a former phosphate mine has been recorded within the county where the property is located. 
• The Department of Health has conducted a gamma radiation survey of the land parcel at the request of a landowner. 

The House companion, CS/HB 585 by Rep. Albert, is waiting to be heard in Civil Justice & Claims subcommittee. 

On Thursday, CS/HB 433 by Rep. Overdorf passed in the House Budget committee (22-4). The Senate companion CS/SB 108 by Sen. Grall unanimously passed off the Senate floor last week.  

The bill requires every state agency, in coordination with the joint administrative procedures committee (JAPC), to review all agency rules for statutorily delegated authority on a five-year schedule—20% per year. Additionally, the House version requires a statement of estimated regulatory costs (SERC) for all proposed/final rules, and change notices. Current law only requires a SERC for those rules or changes likely to increase regulatory costs by more than $200,000 within the first year of implementation.

On Wednesday, CS/HB 843 by Rep. Johnson passed unanimously in the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Budget Subcommittee. The bill specifies that the FWC Grants and Donations Trust Fund may be used for allowable grant and donor agreement activities regardless of the type of revenue. The bill authorizes FWC to use the Nongame Wildlife Trust Fund for law enforcement purposes. Finally, the bill authorizes FWC to enter into cooperative agreements, voluntary agreements, or memoranda of understanding with related agencies and private landowners to coordinate nongame programs.  

The Senate companion, SB 388 by Sen. Rodriguez, has not been heard this session. 

On Tuesday, SB 866 by Sen. Martin passed the Senate Environment and Natural Resources (7-1). SB 866 removes the restriction that prevents local governments from regulating vessel anchoring outside of the marked boundaries of mooring fields. It retains the restriction for counties with populations of 1.5 million or greater or in areas of critical state concern, but creates an additional exception to allow local governments within those counties to regulate vessels that anchor for at least four hours overnight for more than 30 days in a six-month period. This excludes any time vessels are anchored overnight in a mooring field or for marine construction, installation, or maintenance work. The bill adds anchoring limitation areas in Biscayne Bay in Miami-Dade County, within which a person may not anchor a vessel at any time overnight. The anchoring limitation areas lie between:  

• Palm Island and Star Island, 
• Palm Island and Hibiscus Island 
• Palm Island and Watson Island. 

The bill prevents the owner or operator of a vessel or floating structure from anchoring or mooring within 300 feet outward from the marked boundary of a public mooring field. The bill extends the prohibition from 100 to 300 feet. 

The House companion, CS/HB 481 by Rep. Lopez, was temporarily postponed. 

On Tuesday, CS/SB 1792 by Sen. Gruters unanimously passed in Senate Environment and Natural Resources. The bill revises the definition of "conservation purposes" to include dry sandy beaches, making them eligible for certain property tax exemptions. It also requires the Division of State Lands and the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection to establish a pilot program to inventory existing dry sandy beaches and assess public access deficiencies. The bill expands the Acquisition and Restoration Council to include a beach and shore preservation specialist and allows the state to acquire and manage additional beach areas for public access and environmental protection. 



Currently, there is no House companion legislation. 

On Tuesday, CS/SB 946 by Sen. Rodriguez unanimously passed Senate Environment and Natural Resources. The bill prohibits local governments from siting a solid waste facility, waste-to-energy plant, incinerator, or similar waste management sites within two miles of the Everglades Protection Area, the Everglades Construction Project, or any related water storage or conveyance structures. Permitting authority for such facilities is preempted to the state, overriding any local government regulations.  

The House companion, HB 1199 by Rep. Gentry, has not been heard this session.

Meanwhile, CS/HB 1609 by Rep. Weinberger passed (11-3) the House Intergovernmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday.  The bill would similarly preclude a local government from siting waste-to-energy or similar facilities within one half-mile of a school or residential neighborhood. Following concerns from a number of local governments, an amendment was adopted to grandfather in existing facilities.  

The Senate companion, SB 1008 by Sen. Avila, is waiting to be heard in its second committee stop, Community Affairs. 

On Wednesday, CS/HB 577 unanimously passes House Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee. The bill requires counties to establish a separate maximum rate for the removal and storage of electric vehicles that may be up to three times greater than the rates established by that county for the removal or storage of gasoline or diesel vehicles. The bill also authorizes wrecker operators to charge actual costs, plus a 10 percent surcharge, for the cleanup of an accident scene involving an electric vehicle. During the committee meeting, an amendment was adopted that Increased the maximum surcharge a wrecker operator may charge for the cleanup of an electric vehicle accident from 10 percent to 15 percent. 

The Senate companion, CS/SB 872 will be heard in its second committee stop Senate Community Affairs on Tuesday.    

On Tuesday, CS/SB 1580 by Sen. Rodriguez unanimously passed Environment and Natural Resources. The bill provides that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has the exclusive authority to execute coastal resiliency projects through public-private partnerships. The bill provides that, to encourage investment from the private sector in such projects, DEP may:  

• Enter into long-term revenue-sharing agreements.  
• Provide expedited permitting for construction. 
• Seek comments from local governments and the public during project planning and execution and incorporate actions responsive to such comments into the project.  
• Engage in-state vocational schools and apprenticeship programs to train workers in specialized resiliency construction.  

The bill requires DEP to publish biennial progress reports for each coastal resiliency project funded through a public-private partnership. DEP must also create and maintain on its website an online dashboard for real-time updates on project execution. 

The House companion, HB 1345 by Rep. LaMarca, will be heard in House Natural Resources & Disaster Subcommittee on Tuesday, April 1st.  

On Tuesday, SB 1622 by Sen. Trumbull passed in Senate Judiciary (9-2), while The House companion HB 6043 by Rep. Andrade unanimously passed in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee on Thursday. The bill repeals a current preemption requiring local governments to receive judicial affirmation for any customary use ordinance or policy.  

FAC staff supported the bill during committee. 

On Tuesday, HB 1143 by Rep. Shoaf unanimously passed the House Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee. The Senate companion, SB 1300 by Sen. Simon, unanimously passed Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government on Tuesday as well. The bill prohibits drilling, exploration, or production of oil, gas, or other petroleum products within 10 miles of a national estuarine research reserve.  

On Tuesday, SB 1142 by Sen. Rodriguez unanimously passed the Senate Judiciary committee. The bills allow for the release of a water management district conservation easement under 15 acres under certain circumstances. Specifically, the parcel must be surrounded by impervious surfaces on three or more sides, have no cultural or historical significance, and the parcel owner must provide compensatory mitigation for any development that occurs. Once released, the parcel may be developed in a manner consistent with the surrounding parcels’ land use.  

The House companion, CS/HB 1175 by Rep. Duggan, is waiting to be heard in State Affairs Committee.

On Tuesday, SB 1228 by Sen. McClain unanimously passed in Senate Regulated Industries. Meanwhile, the House companion HB 691 by Rep. Conerly unanimously passed House State Affairs on Thursday. The bill allows wastewater facilities to request a plan amendment to incorporate a reclaimed water project into an Outstanding Florida Springs recovery or prevention strategy. The bill requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to approve the request within 60 days if it A) benefits a rural area of opportunity, B) provides at least 35 million gallons per day of reclaimed water to an Outstanding Florida Spring, C) involves multiple wastewater facilities, and D) meets minimum flow and level requirements. 

On Wednesday, SB 796 by Sen. Bradley unanimously passed Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government. The bill grants a general permit under DEP for replacing basic septic systems with a distributed wastewater treatment system (DWTS). The permittee must meet certain reporting and operational criteria as part of their permit approval. The bill also allows for installation of individual distributed wastewater treatment units (DWTUs) without further DEP action if the units and broader system are commonly owned by the same entity. Additionally, DEP must be noticed 30 days in advance of installation.  The House companion, HB 645 by Rep. Conerly, is waiting to be heard in the House State Affairs committee. 

On Tuesday, CS/HB 1183 by Rep. Giallombardo passed in the House Information Technology Budget & Policy Subcommittee (14-2). The bill shields local governments from lawsuits related to a cybersecurity breach if they substantially comply with specified cybersecurity standards which include generally accepted best practices such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, as well as maintaining disaster recovery plans, and implementing multi-factor authentication (MFA). FAC staff supported this bill in committee.  

The Senate companion, SB 1576 by Sen. DiCeglie, has not yet been heard this session. 

On Tuesday, SB 818 by Sen. McClain unanimously passed in the Senate Regulated Industries Committee. The bill amends current law to require that state and local governments pay the full cost of relocating broadband, cable, and video service utilities located in public rights-of-way when such utilities interfere with a road or rail project. 

The bill maintains the general requirement that other utility owners must pay their own relocation costs but creates a broad exemption for these communication service providers. In committee, FAC testified against the bill. The bill would shift the cost burden of utility relocations from broadband, cable, and video service providers to taxpayers, including those who may not benefit from these services.  

The House companion, HB 703 by Rep. Robinson, is waiting to be heard in its second committee stop.  

On Tuesday, CS/HB 253 by Rep. Bankson unanimously passed in the House Government Operations Subcommittee. The bill increases penalties for certain vehicle-related offenses and creates new criminal violations related to license plate obscuring devices. 

The bill raises the penalty for using prohibited red, red-and-white, or blue lights to stop or attempt to stop another vehicle from a first-degree misdemeanor to a third-degree felony. 

The bill defines “license plate obscuring devices” and prohibits their possession, purchase, manufacture, sale, or distribution, with violations ranging from second-degree misdemeanors to third-degree felonies, depending on the circumstances. Use of such a device to assist in committing or fleeing a crime is considered a third-degree felony. 

The Senate companion, CS/SB 44 by Sen. Rodriguez, is waiting to be heard in its second committee stop. 

On Tuesday, CS/HB 393 by Rep. Lopez (V) unanimously passed in the House Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee. The bill reduces the required approval threshold from 100% to 75% of unit owners residing in the structure for grant eligibility. The bill eliminates the per-unit caps on roof and window grants, raises the maximum total grant award to $175,000 per association, and expands eligible improvements to include roof-deck attachments, secondary water barriers, and sliding glass door protection. The bill also requires that all improvements be identified in the final hurricane mitigation inspection and that associations complete milestone inspections and structural integrity reserve studies before applying.  

The Senate companion, CS/CS/SB 592 by Sen. Leek, also passed unanimously in the Senate Regulated Industries Committee. The bill makes largely similar changes to the program, including lowering the unit owner approval threshold to 75%, removing outdated caps on grant amounts, and requiring improvements to be supported by a final hurricane mitigation inspection report. Like the House version, the Senate bill expands eligible projects and updates the program’s administrative provisions to reflect lessons learned during its initial implementation. 

On Tuesday, CS/SB 1604 by Sen. Martin passed in the Senate Criminal Justice Committee (5-2). The bill exempts jail and prison personnel from criminal penalties for using tracking devices on inmates and modifies procedures for involuntary mental health treatment. The bill also streamlines how DOC seeks court approval for emergency surgical interventions and allows continued placement and treatment of mentally ill inmates without requiring separate administrative hearings. 

The House companion, CS/HB 903 by Rep. Jacques, passed in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee on Wednesday (14-3). The bill includes the same provisions as the Senate bill and adds new restrictions on tort claims filed by indigent inmates, including a one-year statute of limitations and expanded use of liens on inmate trust accounts to recover court costs. The bill would also allow involuntary administration of psychotropic medication in emergency situations and authorize DOC ombudsmen to make medical decisions when inmates are incapacitated. 

On Wednesday, SB 130 by Sen. Bradley passed unanimously on the Senate Floor. The bill extends the current 90-day filing deadline to two years for individuals whose convictions are vacated on or after July 1, 2025, and also allows a new window for retroactive claims from individuals previously disqualified due to the original deadline or Florida’s "clean hands" provision. The bill removes the restriction that previously barred individuals with unrelated violent or multiple nonviolent felony convictions from seeking compensation and clarifies that only currently incarcerated individuals serving time for unrelated felonies are ineligible. The bill also requires reimbursement to the state if the claimant prevails in a related civil action and ensures the Chief Financial Officer may not issue compensation while a claimant is incarcerated, except for the wrongful conviction. 

The House companion CS/HB 59 by Rep. Koster, also unanimously passed in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday. The house bill includes additional clarifications related to how claimants must notify the state if seeking further compensation through the courts after receiving an award under the Act. 

On Thursday, SB 7006 by the Regulated Industries Committee unanimously passed on the Senate floor and on Tuesday CS/HB 7009 by Government Operations Subcommittee and Rep. Cornerly unanimously passed the House Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee. The bills reenact and expand public record and public meeting exemptions for documents and discussions related to 911, E911, and public safety radio communication systems, including now Next Generation 911 (NG911) infrastructure. 



The bills exempt from disclosure building plans, blueprints, diagrams, and maps that reveal the structure or location of communication towers, antennas, and other related facilities owned or operated by a government agency. They also expand exemptions for portions of public meetings that would reveal this information. 

The exemptions are scheduled to sunset in 2030 unless reenacted again, and both bills include the constitutionally required public necessity statement, citing the risk of cyberattacks or terrorism as justification for shielding this information from public access. 

On Thursday, HB 425 by Rep. Yeager unanimously passed Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee. The bill requires health insurers and HMOs to reimburse out-of-network ambulance providers at the lesser of the following: the rate set or approved by the local government where the service occurred, 325% of the Medicare rate for the same service and geographic area, or the ambulance provider’s billed charges. 

The bill prohibits ambulance providers from balance billing patients for any remaining amount beyond standard cost-sharing, and requires that insurers treat these payments as payment in full. It also subjects ambulance claims to existing prompt payment requirements and limits patient cost-sharing to in-network levels. 

The Senate companion, SB 704 by Sen. Bradley, has not been heard this session. 

On Monday, HB 1427 by Rep. Griffitts Jr. unanimously passed the House Commerce Committee. The bill creates a state Office of Rural Prosperity (ORP) and makes major investments in a number of programs focused on rural communities. Highlights include:  

• Authorizes roughly $200 million in total appropriations  
• Shifts the fiscally constrained county distribution to a more reliable underlying revenue source. Additionally, the bill establishes a new distribution formula and $50 million floor on annual funding under this section. For reference, the FY 2023-24 distributions for this program totaled $12.2 million. Note: this increased funding also comes with narrower prescribed uses: 50% of the funding must be used on public safety expenditures, 30% on infrastructure, and the remaining 20% on general purposes.   
• Removes the $200 million cap on distributions into the State Transportation Trust Fund to allow for greater funding of associated programs  
• Establishes the Florida Arterial Road Modernization (FARM) program, an adaptation of the existing Farm-to-Market road program within the SCOP statute. The bill also establishes a $50 million annual floor for funding this program.  
• Establishes a $25 million annual floor for the SCRAP program, and requires that   
• Additional revenues from motor vehicle title fees be used to supplement SCRAP funding  
• Appropriates $45 million to the Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF)   
• Raises the individual floor for local housing distributions under SHIP from $350,000 to $1 million, and appropriates $19 million to this end.   
• Authorizes a $1 million allocation for counties within the Renaissance Grant program. Eligible counties are those which are “growth-impeded” and spending should prioritize strategies to stimulate population growth in rural communities.   

The Senate companion, CS/SB 110 by Sen. Simon, passed unanimously on the Senate floor. 

On Wednesday, CS/CS/SB 700 by Sen. Truenow passed Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government (8-4), meanwhile the House companion CS/CS/HB 651 by Rep. Tuck passed in the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee (14-4). The bill as filed would have required counties to review the 10-year site plans of electric utilities and conduct a study on the site suitability of any solar projects planned on agriculture lands. This language was ultimately left out in the newest versions of the bill.  

The bill includes a preemption on local governments regulations on the installation of housing for agricultural workers on land classified as agricultural. A standalone bill including this preemption passed the legislature in 2024 but was ultimately vetoed by the Governor.   

The bill gives local governments limited authority to require certain building, sanitation, and landscaping standards of such a housing facility. Such housing structures constructed before July 1, 2024, are exempt from these requirements unless the structure is changed or expanded. Housing structures are to be removed if agricultural operations cease for 365 days (following a 180-day notice period by the local government to resume operations) or if the DOH housing permit is revoked.   

The package also includes a prohibition on fluoridating public water supplies, among other provisions.   

On Thursday, CS/SB 733 by Rep. Anderson unanimously passed House Ways and Means committee and on Wednesday, CS/CS/SB 736 by Sen. Truenow unanimously passed Senate Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government. The bill prohibits a local pollution control program from denying a “no further action” notice or site rehabilitation completion order once certain performance criteria have been met in the cleanup process. Once a completion order has been issued, the entity responsible for rehabilitation is eligible for tax credits under the state’s brownfield redevelopment program for two years following the completion order. Additionally, the bill removes local government mapping requirements for institutional controls on brownfield sites.