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March 21, 2025 | Legislative Reporter This past week was the third week of the 2025 Legislative Session, scheduled to end on May 2. The Bill Tracking Report, as of March 21, can be viewed here. Please review it to see the filed bills that APA Florida is tracking and their status. If you would like any bills added to this report or would like more information about a specific bill, please contact Stefanie Svisco at ssvisco@floridaplanning.org. The following bills of interest had action this week.
Note these summaries are based on a review of the bill language and legislative staff analysis. You are encouraged to read the actual bill language of bills that interest you. Please note that not all bills are covered in all legislative reports. The reports focus on bills of particular interest that have had action over the previous week. You can use the Bill Tracking Report to see the status of other bills.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT Alternative Plans Review and Inspections: CS/SB 1134 (Sen. Calatayud) was reported favorably, reflecting an amendment to correct a technical error, by the Senate Community Affairs Committee on March 17 and moves to the Senate Regulated Industries Committee, its second of three committees of reference. The bill amends s.553.791 to allow private providers to perform “single-trade plans review,” an analogous concept to the existing single-trade inspections provided for in current law. Such single-trade plans review may be conducted using an automated or software-based plans review system to determine compliance with applicable codes, provided that the provider specifies in the required affidavit any such system used. Additionally, where the local building official must issue a permit within 20 business days after receipt of an application and private provider affidavit, the bill requires action within 5 business days if the permit application is related to single-trade plans review for single-family or two-family dwellings. The bill also expands the universe of valid trade work for which private providers can perform inspections, and now plans review, to include solar energy and energy storage installations or alterations. Finally, the bill specifically allows private providers to perform single-trade inspections virtually and requires the notice to the building official pursuant to s.553.791(5) include whether inspections will be conducted virtually or in person. A similar bill, CS/HB 1071 (Rep. Benarroch), was reported favorably by the House Industries & Professional Activities Subcommittee on March 19 and moves to the House Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee, its second of three committees of reference. Annexing State-owned Lands: CS/CS/SB 384 (Sen. Burton) was reported favorably, reflecting an amendment, by the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee on March 17 and moves to the Senate Rules Committee, its third and final committee of reference. March 21, 2025 | Legislative Reporter
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