Legislative Reporter We see a Florida where our communities, economies, and environments all thrive. Dec. 16, 2025
Legislative Interim Committee Meetings concluded last week, marking the end of week six as the legislature prepares for the start of the 60-day Regular Session on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. While committee weeks began at a slower pace, activity accelerated significantly in the final weeks, with members hearing a wide range of presentations from state agencies and panel discussions with various stakeholders that will inform policy debates during session. On the Senate side, Senators advanced priority measures such as the “Rural Renaissance” package and an overhaul of Florida’s educational scholarship programs, both of which are ready to be heard on the Senate floor. On the House side, Representatives considered a range of issues including the minimum age to purchase a firearm, sovereign immunity caps, E-Verify, and multiple property tax proposals. The final committee week was designated “Artificial Intelligence Week” in the House, with committees examining the emerging technology’s impact on state agencies, K-12 and higher education, health care, agriculture, emergency management, infrastructure providers, and the legal profession. The House also convened two meetings of the Select Committee on Congressional Redistricting. While the House has started laying groundwork for a potential mid-decade redistricting, Senate President Albritton announced “there is no ongoing work regarding redistricting taking place in the Senate at this time.” Earlier this month, Governor DeSantis stated his intention to call a special session on congressional redistricting in the spring of 2026. Looking ahead, Governor DeSantis is expected to propose several policy initiatives for legislative consideration, including property tax reductions, limits on mandatory vaccines for children, puppy mill regulations, and congressional redistricting. The governor has also unveiled a proposed Citizen Bill of Rights for Artificial Intelligence. In addition to responding to these proposals, lawmakers will consider hundreds of member-filed bills during the upcoming session. Before the legislature returns to Tallahassee, members face looming bill-filing deadlines. All House bill requests must be filed and published electronically by 5 pm on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, while Senate bills must be filed by noon on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, the first day of session. To date, 882 bills have been filed, and that number is expected to more than double before session begins. Based on the actions of the Legislature during committee weeks, it will be a busy legislative session.
Governor’s Budget Recommendations Last week, Governor Ron DeSantis released the details of his Floridians First FY 2026–27 Budget, a $117.4 billion proposal emphasizing fiscal discipline, tax relief, and priorities that are important to Florida. This budget will be the last budget he submits prior to leaving office in early January 2027. The Legislature often uses the governor’s budget recommendations as a starting point for its own budget deliberations that will begin in late January. The governor’s budget includes $16.75 billion in reserves, $250 million in accelerated debt reduction to keep the state on track to reduce its debts by more than 50 percent, and $118 million to fully fund the Budget Stabilization Fund. Key provisions include expanded sales tax holidays and $300 million to support potential statewide property tax reforms. Majo r investments target K–12 and higher education, workforcetraining, law enforcement recruitment, transportation and infrastructure, rural development, workforce housing, and environmental priorities.
Below are a few highlights from the budget. You can read more here. Infrastructure and Economic Development Investments: • $14.3 billion for the State Transportation Work Program. • $4.9 billion for highway construction and maintenance to include 181 new lane miles. • $1.4 billion to resurface 2,622 lane miles. • $873 million in scheduled repairs for 38 bridges and replacement of 21 bridges. • $155.5 million in seaport infrastructure improvements. • $388.8 million for aviation improvements. • $203.5 million for community trail projects. o $65.4 million dedicated to the SunTrail Network. • $50 million for the Job Growth Grant Fund. • $80 million for Visit Florida. • $170.8 million for the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program. • $72.9 million for the State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) program. • $50 million for the Hometown Heroes Housing program. • $5 million for Cultural and Museum Grants. Environment and Water Quality Investments: • $810 million dedicated to Everglades restoration. o $618 million for CERP. • $150 million for the expanded Water Quality Improvement Grant Program. • $100 million for priority areas of the Indian River Lagoon and Biscayne Bay. • $50 million to accelerate projects to meet Total Maximum Daily Loads. • $100 million for the Lower Kissimmee Basin Stormwater Treatment Area project. • $50 million to restore Florida’s springs and land acquisition to protect springsheds. • $65 million for harmful algal blooms. • $60 million for the Alternative Water Supply Grant Program. • $70 million for Florida’s State Parks. • $115 million for the Florida Forever Program. • $15 million for the Florida Communities Trust. • $15 million for the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program. • $5 million for the Stan Mayfield Working Waterfronts Program. • $208 million for statewide resiliency projects.
Update on Property Tax Discussions The House Select Committee on Property Taxes approved eight proposals aimed at reducing or eliminating certain property taxes. The proposals, announced by House Speaker Perez in late October, are based on the late Spring and early Fall work of the select committee. Speaker Perez noted the House plan is to “allow the people of Florida to choose some, all, or none of the proposals on the 2026 ballot.” All the proposals have two distinct components. First, they specifically prohibit an affected government entity from reducing funding for law enforcement. Second, they exempt school taxes. The House has continued to advance the proposals. The State Affairs Committee heard and approved four proposals — HJR 201, 205, 209, and 211 — in their second committee of reference. The Ways and Means Committee then heard HJR 209 in its third committee of reference, and the measure now heads to the House Floor.
The property tax proposals put forth by the House include: • •
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Elimination of Non-school Property Tax for Homesteads (HJR 201): Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to exempt homestead property from all ad valorem taxation other than school district levies. Phased Out Elimination of Non-school Property Tax for Homesteads (HJR 203): Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to annually increase the exemption for homestead property from all ad valorem taxation other than school district levies by $100,000 for 10 years, and make such properties exempt from taxes other than school district levies. Elimination of Non-School Property Tax for Homesteads for Persons Age 65 or Older (HJR 205): Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to exempt homestead property from ad valorem taxation for levies other than school district levies for persons who have attained age 65. Assessed Home Value Homestead Exemption of Non-school Property Tax (HJR 207): Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to add a homestead exemption for levies other than school levies equal to twenty-five percent of the remaining assessed value after applying existing exemptions. Property Insurance Relief Homestead Exemption of Non-school Property Tax (CS for HJR 209): Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to increase the exemption for homestead property from all ad valorem taxation other than school district levies by $200,000 for properties with comprehensive multiperil property insurance. Accrued Save-Our-Homes Property Tax Benefit for Non-school Property Tax (HJR 211): Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to allow the full value of accrued Save-Our-Homes benefits to be transferred to a new homestead for levies other than school district levies. Modification of Limitations on Property Assessment Increases (HJR 213): Proposes an amendment to the state constitution to limit assessment increases for levies other than school district levies for homestead properties to occur once every three years and to limit assessment increases for nonhomestead property to 15 percent once every three years. Ad Valorem Taxation (HB 215): Revises provisions of law to allow newly married couples to combine their accumulated Save Our Homes benefits and to require a 2/3 vote for any increase in the millage rate.
The Senate does not have a dedicated committee, however, Senate President Albritton has expressed support for pursuing a plan to review property tax policy in the upcoming session. Speaking at a legislative delegation meeting in August, and again in Tallahassee in December, President Albritton emphasized that the Senate is working on a solution and will take a measured and balanced approach to the issue. In recent press conferences, Governor DeSantis has made it clear he would like one proposal to eliminate property taxes on all primary homes on the ballot. However, the proposed constitutional amendments must only be approved by Legislature before going on the November 2026 ballot, where proposed constitutional amendments must receive at least a 60 percent majority vote to be approved.
Bill Tracking List
Priority Bill Summaries (Alphabetically) Bills that have been heard in a committee are at the top. Blue Ribbon Projects – CS/HB 299 by Rep. Lauren Melo (R-Naples) and SB 354 by Sen. Stan McClain (R-Ocala) create a statutory framework for designating and approving large-scale blue ribbon projects (BRPs) that preserve critical land resources while allowing compact, mixed-use development. To qualify as a BRP a proposed development project must contain at least 10,000 acres of contiguous land owned by, or by entities owned or controlled by, the same person, and at least 60 percent of the land must be set aside as “reserve area,” which consists of lands used for environmental conservation, parks and recreation, productive agriculture and silviculture, utility sites, reservoirs and lakes, or other similar types of open space. Any land not set aside as reserve area may be used as “development area,” which consists of lands to be developed for residential, commercial, industrial, or other uses. The bills provide administrative approval by local governments with limited review, automatic approval under specified timeframes, and an appeal process through the Department of Commerce for denied or contested projects. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (House Staff Analysis)
CS/HB 299 passed the House Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee on Dec. 11 by a vote of 12-2. The bill is now in the House Commerce Committee. • The House adopted an amendment to clarify that reserve areas may be used for the DACS Rural and Family Lands Protection Program, which would create permanent land conservation easements, and that the conservation easements must be provided by the developer without charge. The amendment also clarified the affordable housing definition. Housing – SB 48 by Sen. Don Gaetz (R-Pensacola) and CS/HB 313 by Rep. Danny Nix (R-Port Charlotte) require local governments, by Dec. 1, 2026, to adopt ordinances allowing accessory dwelling units (ADUs) in single-family residential zones. The ordinance may regulate the permitting, construction, and use of an ADU, such as renting for less than 1 month, subject to certain exceptions, including parking requirements. The bills clarify that an owner of a property with an ADU may not be denied a homestead exemption based on renting the ADU to another person, but that the ADU must be assessed separately according to its use. The bills authorize a landlord to accept a reusable tenant screening report, prohibit screening fees, allow certain land donated to a local government for affordable housing to be used to provide affordable housing to military families, and direct the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to evaluate the efficacy of using mezzanine finance and the use of tiny homes to meet affordable housing needs. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (Senate Staff Analysis, House Staff Analysis) SB 48 passed the Senate Community Affairs Committee on Nov. 4 by a vote of 7-0. The bill is now in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development. CS/HB 313 passed the House Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee on December 10 by a vote of 13-3. The bill is now in the House Ways and Means Committee. • The House adopted two amendments that removed the bill’s provisions relating to reusable tenant screening reports, provided that local governments, in adopting an ordinance to allow ADUs, may not require any additional action by the property owner to construct the ADU (other than applicable building regulations), and removed the ability of local governments to prohibit the renting or leasing of an ADU for a term of less than one month. Land Use and Development Regulations – SB 208 by Sen. Stan McClain (R-Ocala) and HB 399 by Rep. David Borrero (R-Doral) revise various provisions of law relating to compatibility, infill residential development, and building design regulations. The bills redefine the definition of “compatibility” to specify that the term does not require identical development, and that all residential land uses are compatible if they fall within the same residential land use category in the local government’s comprehensive plan. The bills prohibit local regulations from denying or delaying residential projects based on compatibility concerns if the project adjoins existing residential development in the same land use category. The bills also define “infill residential development” as parcels up to 100 acres meeting specified proximity and size requirements and provide for administrative approval of infill residential development applications without public hearing if certain standards are met. Lastly, the bills provide that regulations related to building design elements may not be applied to development within planned unit developments or master planned communities based on local ordinance or resolution that was not adopted as part of the approval documents for the planned unit development or master planned community. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (Senate Staff Analysis) SB 208 passed the Senate Community Affairs Committee on Nov. 18 by a vote of 5-0. The bill is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Utilities – SB 193 by Rep. Nathan Boyles (R-Milton) and SB 200 by Sen. Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island) clarify legislative intent to ensure that agricultural land used for solar facilities is returned to its original condition at the end of the facility’s useful life. The bills define “agricultural land” and “decommission” and authorize counties to adopt ordinances requiring decommissioning of solar facilities at the end of such facilities’ useful life and require financial assurance for such decommissioning. The bills require the Department of Environmental Protection to develop best management practices and amend procedures for the PSC to approve public utility storm protection plans. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (Senate Staff Analysis) SB 200 passed the Senate Regulated Industries Committee on Dec. 10 by a vote of 9-0. The bill is now in the Senate Community Affairs Committee.
Agricultural Enclaves – SB 686 by Sen. Stan McClain (R-Ocala) and HB 691 by Rep. Adam Botana (R-Bonita Springs) revise the definition of “agricultural enclave” and create an expedited public hearing process requiring local governments to certify a parcel as an agricultural enclave as defined in s.163.3164 if one or more adjacent parcels or an adjacent development permits the same density as, or higher density than, the proposed development. If the local government does not approve or deny certification as an agricultural enclave within 90 days, the parcel is automatically approved. The bills deem development plans approved under a new certification process a conforming use, regardless of local comprehensive plans or zoning, and prohibit enactment or enforcement of burdensome regulations specifically targeting agricultural enclaves. The amendments made by this act expire Jan. 1, 2028. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. Beach Management – SB 636 by Sen. Tom Leek (R-St. Augustine) requires the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to review data for repeated repair efforts when designating critically eroded beaches, requires automatic designation as critically eroded for beaches if local governments have a dedicated financial plan that ensures the preservation of funding, authorizes DEP to require coastal local governments to develop local strategic beach management plans, and accounts for the new local management plans in the comprehensive long-term beach management plan. The bill also expands areas of critical state concern to include certain low-elevation sections inland of dunes and beaches repeatedly prone to seawater breaches. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. Conservation Lands – HB 441 by Rep. Kim Kendall (R-St. Johns) and SB 546 by Sen. Debbie Mayfield (RMelbourne) mandate the Division of State Lands to publicly post a list of conservation lands proposed for sale and the rationale for selling them at least 30 days before the board of trustees meets. The bills require that any parcels proposed for exchange are appraised under specific criteria and that the Division of State Lands publish details about all parcels involved, along with any conservation easements to be retained, at least 30 days before the Acquisition and Restoration Council meets. The bills require water management districts to post, at least 30 days in advance, information on proposed conservation land sales or exchanges. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. Growth Management – SB 548 by Sen. Stan McClain (R-Ocala) creates a new definition for “plan-base methodology” and “extraordinary circumstances.” The bill requires demonstration of at least four of seven specified local conditions to justify an extraordinary circumstance to exceed statutory phase-in limits for impact fee increases. The bill reduces the voting threshold for exceeding impact fee phase-in limitations to a two-thirds vote, restricts use of data older than four years, and prohibits local governments and school districts from exceeding 100 percent total impact fee rate increases in a 4-year period. Entitles prevailing residents and business owners who challenge local government or special district impact fees to reasonable attorney fees and costs. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. Land and Water Management – HB 479 by Rep. Randy Maggard (R-Zephyrhills) and SB 718 by Sen. Stan McClain (R-Ocala) prohibit counties and municipalities from adopting laws, regulations, rules, or policies relating to water quality, water quantity, pollution control, pollutant discharge prevention or removal, and wetlands, and preempts regulation in these areas to the state. The bills require the withholding of state funds from noncompliant local governments and repeal land management review teams. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. Land Use Regulations – HB 217 by Rep. Shane Abbott (R-DeFuniak Springs) and SB 218 by Sen. Don Gaetz (RPensacola) amend s.28 of Chapter 2025-190, Laws of Florida, (SB 180). The bills define the term “impacted local government” to include counties and their municipalities that received both individual and public assistance in federal disaster declarations for Hurricanes Debby, Helene, or Milton. The bills prohibit impacted local governments from adopting moratoria or adding more restrictive land use procedures or regulations affecting properties damaged by those hurricanes before Oct. 1, 2027. The bills apply retroactively to Aug. 1, 2024. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. Land Use Regulations for Local Governments Affected by Natural Disasters – SB 840 by Sen. Nick DiCeglie (RSt. Petersburg) revises Sections 18 and 28 of SB 180. Pertaining to Section 18, the bill narrows the definition of “impacted local government” from counties located within 100 miles of a hurricane’s track to those within 50 miles and requires inclusion in a federal major disaster declaration. The bill clarifies that for one year after a hurricane makes landfall in Florida, an impacted local government may not enforce a moratorium that prevents or delays the repair or
reconstruction of an existing improvement damaged by such hurricane but carves out moratorium imposed to address stormwater and sewer systems. The bill adds exceptions if a comprehensive plan amendment is needed to comply with state or federal law or a federal floodplain management standard. Clarifies that damage must require a permit to trigger limitations and that an impacted local government may require documentation that the property was damaged by a hurricane. The bill removes the ability to file suits and clarifies that the section does not restrict local government from adopting or enforcing building code or local technical amendments. The bill revises the sunset date of Section 28 to June 30, 2026, instead of June 30, 2028. Landscape Irrigation – SB 508 by Sen. Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) and HB 611 by Rep. Nan Cobb (R-Eustis) establish the “Landscape Irrigation Standards and Water Restrictions Act.” The bills create uniform design, zoning, and spacing requirements for new or significantly modified irrigation systems, specify that only licensed irrigation contractors or property owners may work on irrigation systems, establish new permit requirements for installation and connection of systems to water supplies, implement consistent watering schedules, and authorize local governments to enforce the requirements with fines and penalties. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026.
Priority Monitoring (Alphabetically) Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services – SB 290 by Sen. Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) and HB 433 by Rep. Danny Alvarez (R-Riverview) make a number of changes to laws related to DACS, including requiring the Acquisition and Restoration Council to determine whether any lands surplused by a local governmental entity are suitable for bona fide agricultural purposes, and prohibiting local governments from transferring future development rights for such lands. The bills require Department of Environmental Protection to determine whether any state-owned conservation lands are suitable for bona fide agricultural purposes, and to retain a rural-lands-protection easement for all such lands. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (Senate Staff Analysis) SB 290 passed the Senate Agriculture Committee on Dec. 2 by a vote of 4-0. The bill is now in the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee. Department of Commerce – HB 741 by Rep. Michael Owen (R-Apollo Beach) makes a number of changes to laws related to the Department of Commerce, including exempting federal agencies from the requirement to revert land when land is conveyed for a military installation buffer even if the specific military mission or function of the land has changed, removing the requirement for a federal enterprise community designation and allowing the governor to designate certain unincorporated rural areas with economic distress factors, and repealing the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program Act and renaming the program to the Community Development Block Grant Program, designating the Department as the state administering agency with rulemaking authority. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. Electric Bicycles, Scooters, and Motorcycles – HB 243 by Rep. Yvette Benarroch (R-Naples) and SB 382 by Sen. Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) define “electric motorcycle”, require crash reports if the crash involved a motorized scooter, electric bike, or electric motorcycle, prohibit unauthorized modifications, establish fines for repeated violations, require a valid learner’s or driver license to operate a Class 3 electric bicycle, require electric bicycle operators on shared pathways to yield to pedestrians, expand driver education course requirements and driver license exam questions. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2027. Infrastructure and Resiliency – HB 751 by Rep. Chip LaMarca (R-Lighthouse Point) revises the definition of “qualifying project” to include coastal resiliency projects, grants the Department of Environmental Protection sole authority to execute coastal resiliency projects through public-private partnerships, encourages investment from the private sector, and requires biennial progress reports and an online dashboard for real-time updates on projects. The proposed effective date is upon becoming law. Local Government Enforcement Actions – HB 105 by Rep. Robert Brackett (R-Vero Beach) and SB 588 by Sen. Stan McClain (R-Ocala) prohibit local governments from initiating or threatening enforcement actions deemed arbitrary or unreasonable by a court, define “enforcement action,” and establish procedures, legal remedies, and whistleblower protections in response to a prohibited action. The proposed effective date is October 1, 2026.
School Zone and Pedestrian Safety – HB 283 by Rep. Jose Alvarez (R-Kissimmee) and SB 498 by Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez (R-Doral) require design and construction plans for crosswalks in school zones or on public roads exceeding 35 mph to include specified traffic control devices. The bills permit use of Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons, Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons, Flashing Beacons, and In-Roadway Warning Lights to enhance visibility and safety. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. Spaceport Operations – HB 335 by Rep. Kim Kendall (R-St. Johns) requires Space Florida to enhance and promote the development and use of quintimodal transportation hubs, provides powers and duties of spaceport operators, and revises the composition of the Space Florida board of directors. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. Special Districts – HB 123 by Rep. Toby Overdorf (R-Stuart) abolishes certain soil and water conservation districts and transfers their assets and liabilities to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The bill provides that independent special districts that grant public access to district lands or water areas for outdoor recreational purposes owe no duty of care to perform specified actions and are not responsible for injury to persons or property caused by act or omission of such person upon such lands or water areas. The bill also revises special district laws, and updates liability, annexation, purchasing, and performance review provisions. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. Standards for Storm Water Systems – HB 239 by Rep. J.J. Grow (R-Inverness) and SB 558 by Sen. Danny Burgess (RZephyrhills) require all newly installed storm water systems in counties and municipalities to follow Department of Transportation standards and undergo final inspections by a certified third-party engineer, superseding all local requirements. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. Stormwater Treatment – SB 848 by Sen. Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) defines “compensating stormwater treatment” and “total land area,” clarifies compliance conditions, authorizes compensating stormwater treatment as a form of mitigation for water quality impacts, provides the transfer of legal responsibility for regulatory compliance to enhancement credit generators, and allows third parties to generate and sell water quality enhancement credits, including on public lands, but mandates cessation of activities if deemed contrary to the public interest. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. Terminology Associated with Florida Housing Finance Corporation – HB 489 by Rep. Michael Owen (R-Apollo Beach) adds a new definition of “demonstrated capacity” outlining specific skill, experience, and creditworthiness thresholds, creates a definition for “qualifying principle,” requiring ownership of at least 25 percent of a corporate or partnership entity, and updates the definitions of “eligible housing provider” and “sponsor” to require at least one qualifying principal meeting the new “demonstrated capacity” standard. The proposed effective date is upon becoming law. Transportation – HB 543 by Rep. Fiona McFarland (R-Sarasota) makes a number of changes to laws related to transportation, including increasing the minimum perception reaction time of all steady yellow signals, requiring certain seaports to submit annual report describing measures taken to support commercial space launch, prohibiting certain seaports from converting planned or existing land, facilities, or infrastructure that supports cargo purposes unless specified conditions are met, and requiring the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to implement a Next-generation Traffic Signal Modernization Grant. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. Transportation Concurrency – HB 97 by Rep. J.J. Grow (R-Inverness) and SB 324 by Sen. Stan McClain (R-Ocala) allow counties with a population of 200,000 or less that apply concurrency to transportation facilities to identify in their comprehensive plan those facilities necessary to maintain current levels of service rather than meeting adopted levels of service. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (House Staff Analysis) HB 97 passed the House Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee on Nov. 18 by a vote of 16-0 and passed the House Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee on Dec. 11 by a vote of 14-0. The bill is now in the House Commerce Committee.
Other Legislation of Interest (Alphabetically) Affordable Housing – HB 675 by Rep. Fentrice Driskell (D-Temple Terrace) and SB 756 by Sen. Tracie Davis (DJacksonville) extend the mandated affordability period for certain rental units from 30 to 50 years to qualify for zoning variances, reduce the income threshold from 120 percent to 100 percent for tax exemptions and exempt first-time homebuyer transactions from documentary stamp taxes. Areas of Critical State Concern – HB 755 by Rep. Jim Mooney (R-Key Largo) authorizes local governments to adopt ordinances to provide ad valorem tax exemption for certain portions of property used to provide affordable housing located in an area of critical state concern, removes the 10-unit requirement, exempts projects under a 99-year ground lease with Habitat for Humanity from payment and performance bond requirements, applies lien rights only to the leasehold interest, and extends through FY 2035–36 the allocation of at least $5 million annually from Florida Forever for purchasing land in the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern. Assessment of Property Used for Residential Purposes – SB 434 by Sen. Tom Leek (R-St. Augustine) and HB 614 by Rep. Toby Overdorf (R-Stuart) prohibit increasing the assessed value of residential property based on improvements made to enhance wind resistance. Food Insecure Areas – HB 337 by Rep. Michele Rayner (D-St. Petersburg) and SB 852 by Sen. Shev Jones (D-Miami Gardens) authorize local governments to enact land development regulations for small-footprint grocery stores in food insecure areas and permits local governments to include these land uses in their comprehensive plans. Historic Cemeteries Program – SB 34 by Sen. Barbara Sharief (D-Davie) and HB 425 by Rep. Wallace Aristide (DNorth Miami Beach) require local governments to approve an application to change the zoning of excess land sold by a historic African American cemetery to match the most permissive adjacent classification. Homestead Exemptions – SB 110 by Sen. Kristen Arrington (D-Kissimmee) and HB 227 by Rep. Patt Maney (R-Fort Walton Beach) allow leasehold interests with an original term of at least 98 years to qualify for homestead exemptions even if they terminate upon the death of the lessees. Issuance of Special Business Licenses – HB 87 by Rep. Robert Brackett (R-Vero Beach) and SB 392 by Sen. Tom Leek (R-St. Augustine) reduce the minimum service area requirement from 2,000 square feet to 1,200 square feet and lower the number of required physical seats and capacity from 120 to 80 for on-premises service for a special beverage license. Legal Notices – CS/SB 380 by Sen. Jay Trumbull (R-Panama City) gives a municipality, the office of the clerk of the circuit court, and the office of the tax collector more control over where it may publish advertisements and legal notices by giving them the option to publish advertisements and legal notices on their own official websites, a private website they designate, their county’s website, a private website designated by the county, or in a local newspaper. An entity referred to as an “other unit of local government or political subdivision” will still be required to publish legal notices and advertisements on a county or county designated website. Local Business Taxes – SB 122 by Sen. Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) and HB 103 by Rep. Adam Botana (R-Bonita Springs) repeal provisions relating to local business taxes, authorize certain municipalities to continue to impose a business tax, and authorize such municipalities to revise the definition of the term “merchant.” Maximum Millage Rates for the 2027-28 Fiscal Year – HB 149 by Rep. Ryan Chamberlin (R-Ocala) provides a method to cap county and school millage rates for the 2027-28 fiscal year at levels that generate the same ad valorem tax revenue as in 2022-23. Protection of Historic Monuments and Memorials – HB 455 by Rep. Dean Black (R-Jacksonville) and SB 496 by Sen. Stan McClain (R-Ocala) establish the Historic Florida Monuments and Memorials Protection Act to protect monuments and memorials that are at least 25 years old and located on public property. The bills preempt local governments from enacting or enforcing ordinances or rules affecting the removal, damage, or destruction of these monuments and memorials, rendering any such regulations void, and provide enforcement mechanisms.
Public Meetings – SB 332 by Sen. Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island) and HB 655 by Rep. Wyman Duggan (RJacksonville) provide that specified entities may meet in private with their attorneys to discuss certain claims concerning private property rights and require that such meetings be transcribed and that such transcripts become public records at specified times. Public Nuisances – SB 168 by Sen. Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) and HB 481 Rep. Erika Booth (R-Orlando) expand public nuisance laws to include gambling houses, remove limitations on fines, and provide clearer penalties and foreclosure processes. Rapid Rail Transit Compact – HB 53 by Rep. Yvonne Hinson (D-Gainesville) authorizes the governor to execute a Rapid Rail Transit Compact and establishes the Southern Rail Commission as the joint agency responsible for studying feasibility and coordinating interstate passenger rail service. Residential Impacts from Mining Activities – SB 56 by Sen. Barbara Sharief (D-Davie) provide that the Division of State Fire Marshal retains sole and exclusive authority to adopt standards, limits, and regulations for explosives used for certain mining activities, creates monitoring requirements, and revises remedies for filing a petition for alleged damage due to the use of explosives in connection with construction materials. Rural Communities – SB 250 by Sen. Corey Simon (R-Tallahassee) addresses a number of issues for the benefit of rural communities. The bill creates the Office of Rural Prosperity, creates the Florida Arterial Road Modernization program to provide investment in rural arterial roads, provides additional funding for the Small County Road Assistance Program, creates a rural transit operating block grant program for public transit providers, increases the minimum State Housing Initiatives Program allocation from $350,000 to $1 million for counties, and amends the criteria for being designated a fiscally constrained county. Rural Counties – HB 723 by Rep. Shane Abbott (R-DeFuniak Springs) makes a number of changes relating to rural counties. The bill requires state agencies to expedite payment requests for invoices due for rural communities using federal or state grant funds, prohibits state land purchases in fiscally constrained counties if the federal and state owned land is greater than 40 precent of the total land, with specific exceptions, increases the annual appropriation for the Small County Road Assistance Program from $25 million to $50 million beginning in FY 2026-27, and authorizes $50 million from the State Transportation Trust Fund for the Small County Outreach Program starting in fiscal year 2026-27. Special Districts – SB 378 by Sen. Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) and HB 6005 Rep. Sam Greco (R-Palm Coast) repeals the statutory requirements related to special districts’ performance measures and standards. Special District Funding – SB 214 by Sen. Stan McClain (R-Ocala) and HB 273 by Rep. Chad Johnson (R-Newberry) expands invoice payment provisions for rural communities to include certain special districts and broadens the definition of “rural community” to encompass those districts. The Tourist Development Tax – SB 456 by Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) allows the use of tourist development tax revenues for public safety improvements as well as the development and construction of affordable and workforce housing. Tourist Development Taxes – SB 454 by Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) and HB 6007 by Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando) remove the requirement that counties spend at least 40 percent of collected tourist development tax revenues to promote and advertise tourism. Tourist Development Tax – SB 458 by Sen. Carlos Guillermo Smith (D-Orlando) reduces the mandated portion of tourist development tax revenue for promotion and advertisement from 40 percent to 20 precent and allows counties to use the remaining funds on specified public facilities once the reduced 20 precent threshold is met.
Use of Artificial Intelligence by State Agencies – SB 146 by Sen. Gayle Harrell (R-Stuart) requires the Florida Digital Service to conduct a study on the use of Artificial Intelligence by state agencies and report to the governor and legislature by March 1, 2027. Water Management Districts – HB 701 by Rep. Bill Conerly (R-Lakewood Ranch) expands lobbying restrictions to prohibit expenditures, streamlines water management district operations including requiring a quorum for water management district board meetings and an affirmative majority vote for official actions, expands reporting requirements for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, prohibits water management districts from using state funds as a local match for any state grant program, authorizes water management districts to levy certain ad valorem taxes on specified property for certain purposes, requires more budget transparency, and requires that certain projects submitted by water management districts for the Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan be ranked on separate list.