Legislative Reporter
We see a Florida where our communities, economies, and environments all thrive.
Friday,Feb.27,2026
Despiteahecticweek sevenofthenine-weeklegislativesession,thepolitical andpolicydiscussionsincreasingly point towardboth apossibleextension oftheregularsession and an almost certainspecial sessionlaterthis spring.
Theweek featured aflurryoflegislativeactivityon hundreds ofbills as the committeemeeting process officially winds down and attentionshifts toflooraction inboth chambers Bill amendments werethetool as legislators andlobbyists alike searched forviable “vehicles”to keeppriority bills alive, often addingnewbilllanguageorthecontent ofotherbills, thus making it essential totrackand closely read every amendment. However,notablyabsent werepublicnegotiations onthe statebudget.Perhaps behind-the-scenes negotiations will prompt abudget resolution,but withless than11 days beforea budget must be“on thedesks”oflegislators, theprospects ofanon-timeadjournment arequicklyfading.
Addingto thedynamics,GovernorDeSantis signaledthis weekthat his keypriority,propertytaxreform,willlikelybethe subject ofafuturespecial session.This is on top ofthealreadyscheduledspecialsession forCongressional Redistrictingthe week ofApril 20.
Houseand SenatePass ConservationLandsTransparencyBill
OnThursday,theSenatepassedHB 441,ConservationLands, byRepresentative Kim Kendall (R–St Johns) Thebill is the companion toSB 546bySenatorDebbieMayfield (R–Melbourne)andpassedunanimouslyinboth chambers.Thebill requires at least 30 days’noticebeforethestate considers selling orexchangingstate-owned conservationlands.Thestate must alsoprovidean explanation ofwhytheselands arenolongerneededfor conservationpurposes. HB 441 nowheads to GovernorDeSantis forhis consideration.
Attention onAmendments
As thelegislative funnel continues to narrow,amendments tend toincrease as members look forviable“vehicles”to keep theirprioritybills alive.Last week,several amendments wereadoptedontothe prioritybills we aretracking. Pleasereview theupdates belowcarefully.
Ofnote,onTuesday,SenatorJonathanMartin(R-Ft. Myers)filed and withdrewin committee, an amendmentto SB 208. Theamendment addresses countyrural boundaries andis basedontheFloridaAttorney General’s opinion fromlast November. In hisletter,Attorney General Uthmeierargued that therural boundariesinSeminole andOrangecounties are “likely”unconstitutional and violateproperty owners’rights.
Theproposed amendment allows landowners uptoonemilefrom arural boundaryto applyto the countyto havetheir propertyremoved fromtherural boundarydesignation.Uponremoval,thereis aconclusivepresumptionthat theproperty shall receivea futureland usedesignationand zoning classificationpermitting at least the adjacent densityandintensity The amendment does not eliminaterural boundaries outright but adds requirements forcounties tomaintaintheirrural boundaries.Lastly, theamendment creates anewstatutory right allowingpropertyowners to challengearural boundary designation,even ifa court has previouslyupheldit orruled against removingthepropertyfrom the rural boundary designation.
Weexpect this amendment tobefiled againwhen the bill istakenuponthe floor,likelyWednesday,Thursday, orFridayof next week. Becausethere will beno opportunityfor publiccomment at that stage, wearecoordinatingwithother associations todevelop and deploy atargetedmessagingstrategytolegislators.
Hereis an updateonthebillsAPAFloridais tracking this session.Thefull LobbyTools trackinglist is here. (Table on pp. 9)
Priority Bill Action (Alphabetically)
Affordable Housing – CS/CS/HB 1389 by Rep. Mike Redondo (R-Miami) and SB 1548 by Sen. Alexis Calatayud (R-Miami) make a variety of changes regarding the Live Local Act, passed during the 2023 Regular Session. The bills provide that the preemptions of the Live Local Act permitting the development of affordable housing apply on any property owned by a county, municipality, or school district, provide that a local government may not utilize other dimensional means such as setbacks to constructively restrict the height of an authorized project, provide that farming and farm operations are excluded from the definitions of commercial, industrial, or mixed-use zoning, permit the utilization of the Live Local Act in the vicinity of airports when approved by the airport’s governing body, and clarify language around the prohibition against discriminating against affordable housing development in land use decisions by a local government, and waives sovereign immunity in cases based on such discrimination. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (Senate Staff Analysis / House Staff Analysis)
The House adopted an amendment the does the following:
• Adds that the preemptions of the Live Local Act permitting the development of affordable housing also apply to parcels greater than three acres owned by a religious institution.
• Adds an affordable housing tax exemption for an owner of a property in a multifamily project that received a building permit for the project within four years prior to the taxing authority opting out of the tax exemption, and an owner may continue to receive the exemption for each subsequent year that the same or successive owner applies for and is granted the exemption.
• Exempts from Live Local areas subject to land regulations in existence before July 1, 2026, intended to retain the open character of land, areas of Critical State Concern, and any portion of a property encumbered by a recorded conservation easement.
• Adds the House ADU language (HB 313) without short-term rental protections.
• Allows local governments to provide density bonus incentives to landowners who donate real estate for the purpose of assisting local governments in providing affordable housing to military families that receive the basic allowance for housing
The House also adopted a late-field amendment that removes the ability of local governments to “opt out” of exempting certain property used for affordable housing from ad valorem taxation.
HB 1389 passed the House Commerce Committee on Feb. 24 (vote: 18-5) and now goes to the House Floor.
Agricultural Enclaves –
CS/CS/CS/SB 686 by Sen. Stan McClain (R-Ocala) and CS/CS/HB 691 by Rep. Adam Botana (RBonita Springs) revise the definition of “agricultural enclave” and create an expedited public hearing process. If the local government does not approve or deny certification as an agricultural enclave within 90 days, the parcel is automatically approved. Upon certification, property owners may submit development plans for single-family residential housing consistent with the land use requirements of adjacent parcels. If the certified agricultural enclave is adjacent to an interstate highway, the parcel may be developed for commercial, industrial, or single-family residential purposes if one or more adjacent parcels or an adjacent development permits the same density or intensity as the proposed development. 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 bills provide that the agricultural enclave process does not apply to the Wekiva Study Area, the Everglades, Areas of Critical State Concern, the Florida Wildlife Corridor, or military installations or ranges. The amendments made by this act expire Jan. 1, 2028. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (Senate Staff Analysis / House Staff Analysis)
Amendments adopted in Senate Rules provides that certification of an agricultural enclave may not be based on the perimeter of another agricultural enclave, to avoid a domino effect, and provide that a parcel or parcels exceeding 1,280 acres within counties covered by the St. Lucie River Watershed Protection are not agricultural enclaves.
SB 686 passed the Senate Rules Committee on Feb. 24 (vote: 23-0) and passed the Senate Floor on Feb. 26 (vote: 34-2) and now goes to the House.
Blue Ribbon Projects –
CS/CS/CS/HB 299 by Rep. Lauren Melo (R-Naples) and CS/CS/SB 354 by Sen. Stan McClain (ROcala) 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 (15,000 in the House bill) 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. Reserve areas may not include golf courses, data centers, or solar farms. 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 House bill requires an applicant for a BRP to submit the application, including a proposed text amendment to the future land use element of the local government’s comprehensive plan and a site-specific future land use map amendment that designates the property as a BRP overlay, to the local government for approval. A BRP that meets the requirements is presumed, subject to rebuttal, to be consistent with the local government's comprehensive plan. The presumption may be overcome by the local governing authority upon finding that BRP is substantially inconsistent with the provisions of the governing comprehensive plan. The local government must conduct two hearings, the first at the local government's land planning agency, and the second at the local government's commission or council, at which time a decision on the application will be made by the commission or council. The bill provides a process for an applicant to appeal the denial of the application, The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (House Staff Analysis / Senate Staff Analysis)
HB 299 passed the House State Affairs Committee on Feb. 26 by a vote of 21-5 and now goes to the House Floor. The House adopted an amendment that made several good changes to the bill. The amendment focused on shifting oversight and approval back to the local government. We continue to work closely with Senator McClain and Representative Melo on a few additional technical changes. The Senate bill is up next week in Senate Rules, and we expect it to look similar to the House bill adopted this week.
Conservation Lands – CS/HB 441 by Rep. Kim Kendall (R-St. Johns) and CS/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. (House Staff Analysis / Senate Staff Analysis)
SB 546 was tabled and substituted for HB 411, which passed off the Senate Floor on Feb. 26 (vote: 37-0).
Data Centers –
CS/CS/SB 484 by Sen. Bryan Avila (R-Hialeah Gardens) and CS/CS/HB 1007 by Rep. Griff Griffitts (RPanama City) require the Public Service Commission to develop minimum tariff and service requirements for large load customers that ensure such customers pay their full cost of service and that prevent a public utility from providing electric service to certain foreign entities that are large load customers. The bills maintain the authority of local governments to exercise the powers and responsibilities for comprehensive planning and land development regulation granted by law with respect to large load customers. The bills prohibit agencies from entering into nondisclosure agreements that restrict disclosure of information related to potential data center developments and require economic development agencies to disclose business activities that include the location, relocation, or expansion of a data center. Lastly, the bills create a consumptive use permitting framework for large-scale data centers and authorize water management districts or DEP to require large-scale data centers to use some portion of reclaimed water. The House adopted an amendment that requires a noise impact study before data centers can be built near residential areas. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (Senate Staff Analysis/ House Staff Analysis)
SB 484 passed the Senate Floor on Feb. 26 by a vote of 37-0.
HB 1007 passed the House State Affairs Committee on Feb. 24 by a vote of 21-4, and the House Commerce Committee on Feb. 26.
Infill Redevelopment – CS/CS/HB 979 by Rep. David Borrero (R-Doral) and CS/CS/SB 1434 by Sen. Alexis Calatayud (R-Miami) create the Infill Redevelopment Act which preempt certain local land development regulations and oversight of qualifying parcels. A parcel qualifies if it consists of at least five acres, is located in a county with a population of more than
1.475 million as of the most recent decennial census and with at least 15 municipalities, and any portion of the parcel is environmentally impacted, which for purposes of the bill means contaminants or pollutants have been detected on the land above certain thresholds in a phase II study or the land has been designated a brownfield area under state law. The bills allow qualifying parcels to be developed for residential uses up to either the average density of all applicable zoning districts within the same jurisdiction, or 25 dwelling units per acre, whichever is lower. The bill excludes land owned by, or that was owned at any time within the 15 years preceding the effective date of the bill, by a public utility. The bills include additional requirements for qualifying parcels that have recreational facilities on them (such as golf courses or recreational areas adjacent to single family homes on all sides) and provide a framework for the sale of such properties to adjacent property owners if they wish to preserve their recreational use. The bills require development projects that meet the requirements to be approved administratively and preempt local laws, ordinance, or regulations that restrict, prohibit, or otherwise limit the development of a qualifying parcel in accordance with the bill. The bill takes effects upon becoming law. (Senate Staff Analysis / House Staff Analysis)
HB 979 passed the House State Affairs Committee on Feb. 26 (vote: 20-3) and now goes to the House Floor. SB 1434 passed the Senate Rules Committee on Feb. 24 (vote: 23-0). The bill now goes to the Senate Floor. We continue to work with Senator Calatayud, Representative Borrero, and the bill proponents on a potential floor amendment to narrow the broad impact on brownfields in the bill. We shared language and detailed maps supporting our recommendation to protect industrial land.
Land Use and Development Regulations –
CS/CS/SB 208 by Sen. Stan McClain (R-Ocala) and CS/CS/CS/HB 399 by Rep. David Borrero (R-Doral) require application fees for development permits and orders to reasonably related to the costs associated with reviewing and processing the application and prohibits fees based on a percentage of project costs. The bills require local government comprehensive plans and land development regulations to include factors for assessing compatibility of allowable residential uses and establishes requirements for examining an application for development for compatibility. The bills prohibit local governments from denying an application on compatibility grounds unless the denial includes written findings identifying areas of incompatibility and concluding that proposed mitigation measures are inadequate and no feasible mitigation measures exist. The House bill requires amendments to the future land use element of the comprehensive plan must be adopted by majority vote of the members present, notwithstanding any county charter, and requires a study on the elimination of the Urban Development Boundary in counties. The proposed effective date is Jan. 1, 2027. (Senate Staff Analysis / House Staff Analysis)
The Senate adopted an amendment adding four new sections to the bill. The amendment:
• Requires local governments’ interlocal agreements with school districts to address reasonable access to public easements and right aways necessary for public school facilities.
• Provides for the placement of manufactured housing on any lot in a recreational vehicle park.
• Provides for parity in regulations for off-site constructed residential dwellings (compared to on-site construction) in local government zoning, land use, and development regulations.
• Requires the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to conduct a study to identify the effect of removing the Urban Development Boundary or similar boundaries in Miami-Dade County and other counties.
The House adopted an amendment that adds the first three sections of the Senate amendment outlined above. In addition, the House amendment requires local governments to administratively approve applications for minor special exceptions or variances by large destination resorts.
SB 208 passed the Senate Rules Committee on Feb. 24 (vote: 22-1) and now goes to the Senate Floor. HB 399 passed the House State Affairs Committee on Feb. 24 (vote: 16-10) and now goes to the House Floor.
Land Use Regulations – HB 217 by Rep. Shane Abbott (R-DeFuniak Springs) and CS/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. As a result, 13 counties and the municipalities within them would not be subject to the restrictions. The Senate bill is no longer retroactive. The changes apply prospectively. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (Senate Staff Analysis)
SB 218 passed the Senate Rules Committee on Feb. 24 by a vote of 23-0.
Local Land Planning and Development – CS/CS/CS/HB 927 by Rep. Judson Sapp (R-Palatka) and CS/CS/SB 1138 by Sen. Ralph Massullo (R-Inverness) require counties with populations of 75,000 or more and municipalities with populations of 10,000 or more to establish a qualified contractor registry by Jan. 1, 2027. Private contractors may supplement local government staff resources in preapplication review of building plans, permit review, and plat approval. A person applying to a local government entity for a permit, plans review, or plat approval may request the use of such contractors at their expense. After preapplication review, the contractor certifies to the local government that items within the application meet the requirements for approval. The local government must then consider the application and approve or deny the application without duplicative reviews. The bills require each local government to establish a registry of qualified contractors and provides requirements for those contractors. Planners certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners with at least 5 years of relevant government experience or at least 10 years of experience as an urban planner if not certified. are included in the list of qualified contractors. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (Senate Staff Analysis / House Staff Analysis)
HB 927 passed the House State Affairs Committee on Feb. 24 (vote: 23-2) and now goes to the House Floor. SB 1138 passed the Senate Rules Committee on Feb. 24 (vote: 23-0) and now goes to the Senate Floor.
Other Bill Action of Interest (Alphabetically)
Areas of Critical State Concern – CS/HB 755 by Rep. Jim Mooney (R-Key Largo) and CS/SB 934 by Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez (R-Doral) exempt projects under a 99-year ground lease with Habitat for Humanity from payment and performance bond requirements and extend through fiscal year 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. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (House Staff Analysis / Senate Staff Analysis)
HB 755 passed off the House Floor on Feb. 25 (vote: 113-0) and now goes to the Senate. SB 934 passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government on Feb. 25 by a vote of 8-0.
Building Permits and Inspections – CS/CS/HB 803 by Rep. Dana Trabulsy (R-Fort Pierce) and CS/SB 1234 by Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R-St. Petersburg) amend provisions related to the Florida Building Code, local building permit requirements, and requirements for private providers of Building Code and plans review services. The bills provide that building permits for single-family dwellings expire one year after the latter of the issuance of the permit or the effective date of the next edition of the Building Code, but local governments can extend. The bills exempt temporary residential hurricane and flood protection walls or barriers meeting certain requirements, exempt permits for work valued at $7,500 or less on a single-family dwelling’s lot with exceptions, provide that permits may not be required for retaining walls on single-family or two-family dwellings or townhouses, and require response to permit applications for work valued less than $15,000 in five days. The bills provide that officials may only perform building inspections of construction that a private provider has deemed compliant when they have “knowledge” that the inspection forms submitted by the private provider were incomplete or incorrect and address permit fees. The bills deem building permits approved for construction or renovation of single-family dwellings subject to a state of emergency within the previous 24 months and require issuance of permits for such projects within two days. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (House Staff Analysis / Senate Staff Analysis)
HB 803 passed the off the House Floor on Feb. 25 (vote: 114-0) and now goes to the Senate.
SB 1234 passed the Senate Rules Committee on Feb. 24 (vote: 18-4) and now goes to the Senate Floor.
Community Development Districts – CS/CS/HB 1051 by Rep. Jose Alvarez (D-Kissimmee) and CS/CS/SB 1180 by Sen. Kristen Arrington (D-Kissimmee) create a new recall process for community development district (CDD) board members elected by the qualified electors of the district, including petition requirements, grounds for removal, and election procedures. The bills clarify that the prohibition on local government regulation of synthetic turf does not limit a CDD’s ability to enforce deed restrictions and expands the types of developments that can qualify as a “compact, urban, mixed-use district,” promoting high density, mixed-use projects, including affordable housing, in targeted urban areas. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (House Staff Analysis / Senate Staff Analysis)
SB 1180 passed the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee on Feb. 24 (vote: 18-0) and passed off the Senate Floor on Feb. 26 by a vote of 37-0. The bill now goes to the House.
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services –
CS/CS/CS/SB 290 by Sen. Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) and CS/CS/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 (DEP) to determine whether any state-owned conservation lands are suitable for bona fide agricultural purposes, and to retain a rural-landsprotection easement for all such lands. The bills prohibit surplusing designated state forest lands, state park lands, wildlife management areas, or lands within the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. The bills add definitions for “ecologically significant parcel” and “low-density municipality” and require applications for development on an ecologically significant parcel to have an attestation that the development will not exceed a maximum density of 1 residential unit per 20 acres. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (Senate Staff Analysis / House Staff Analysis)
HB 433 passed the House State Affairs Committee on Feb. 24 (vote: 22-3) and now goes to the House Floor.
Department of Environmental Protection – CS/CS/CS/HB 1417 by Rep. Chip LaMarca (R-Lighthouse Point) and CS/CS/SB 1510 by Sen. Ralph Massullo (R-Inverness) revise several provisions of law related to the Department of Environmental Protection. The bills add two new members to the Acquisition and Restoration Council and direct the ARC to administer the Florida Communities Trust. The bills allow a septic system remediation plan to require conventional septic system upgrades where central sewerage is unavailable for certain properties, provide a 60-day waiting period before an approved BMAP is effective, provide that cities and counties that are rural communities will not need a minimum 50 percent cost share for projects in the Statewide Flooding and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan, repeal provisions establishing the Environmental Regulation Commission, and create best management practices for stormwater at solar facilities. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (House Staff Analysis / Senate Staff Analysis)
HB 1417 passed the House State Affairs Committee on Feb. 24 (vote: 24-0). The bill now goes to the House Floor. SB 1510 passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government on Feb. 25 by a vote of 8-0.
Local Government Spending –
CS/CS/HB 1329 by Rep. Yvette Benarroch (R-Naples) and CS/CS/ SB 1566 by Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R-St. Petersburg) require county and municipal budgets to be posted on the local government’s website in a searchable format, require counties and municipalities to conduct an annual budget cutting exercise identifying specific reductions and post the results of the exercise on the local government’s website, revise the length of time for which each county, municipality, or special district must post certain budget information on its website, require counties to provide public notice of a hearing on a proposed budget amendment at least seven days before the hearing, and provide an exception from the bills requirements for counties and cities that meet certain conditions. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (House Staff Analysis) / Senate Staff Analysis)
HB 1329 passed the House State Affairs Committee on Feb. 26 (vote: 17-6) and now goes to the House Floor. SB 1566 passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government on Feb. 25 by a vote of 6-2.
Micromobility Device – CS/HB 243 by Rep. Yvette Benarroch (R-Naples) and CS/SB 382 by Sen. Keith Truenow (RTavares) provide that a person operating an electric bicycle on certain shared pathways must adhere to certain protocols and that a person operating an electric bicycle on a sidewalk or other area designated for pedestrians may not operate the electric bicycle at a speed greater than 10 miles per hour if a pedestrian is within 50 feet of the electric bicycle. The bills create the Micromobility Device Safety Task Force that must submit a report by Oct. 1, 2026, with recommendations to improve state law and the regulatory framework, and require micromobility device crash data collection and reporting. The bill takes effect upon becoming law. (House Staff Analysis / Senate Staff Analysis)
SB 382 passed off the Senate Floor on Feb. 25 (vote: 37-0). The bill now goes to the House.
Prohibited Governmental Policies Regulating Greenhouse Gas Emissions – CS/HB 1217 by Rep. John Snyder (R-Palm City) and SB 7046 by the Senate Finance and Tax Committee establish certain prohibitions on a governmental entity adopting, implementing, using public funds to support, or imposing any charge to advance net zero policies. The House bill provides a legislative finding that net zero policies, carbon taxes and assessments, and emission trading programs are detrimental to the energy security and economic interest of the state and inconsistent with the energy and environmental policies of the state. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (Senate Staff Analysis / House Staff Analysis)
HB 1217 passed the House Commerce Committee on Feb. 25 (vote: 19-4) and now goes to the House Floor.
SB 7046 passed the Senate Finance and Tax Committee on Feb. 25 by a vote of 5-2.
Official Actions of Local Governments –
CS/CS/HB 1001 by Rep. Dean Black (R-Jacksonville) and CS/CS/SB 1134 by Sen. Clay Yarborough (R-Jacksonville) prohibit counties and municipalities from taking specific actions relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion. The prohibitions include funding, promoting, or taking any official action, such as the adoption or enforcement of ordinances, resolutions, rules, regulations, programs, and policies after June 30, 2027, related to DEI. The bills also prohibit spending any funds, regardless of source, for DEI offices and officers. The bills do allow a county or municipality to authorize or permit, in a content-neutral manner, civic and community events so long as certain requirements are met. The bills require a potential recipient of a county or municipal contract or grant to certify that he or she will not use county or municipal funds for DEI materials. The bills provide penalties and the ability to bring an action in circuit court against counties or municipalities who violate the bill. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2027. (House Staff Analysis / Senate Staff Analysis)
HB 1001 passed the House Commerce Committee on Feb. 26.
Public Meetings –
CS/CS/SB 332 by Sen. Jennifer Bradley (R-Fleming Island) and CS/CS/HB 655 by Rep. Wyman Duggan (R-Jacksonville) create a public meetings exemption to allow a state or local agency to meet privately with its attorney to review a claim made against the government pursuant to the Bert J. Harris, Jr., Property Rights Protection Act. The bills create a public records exemption for the transcript, recordings, minutes, and records generated during an exempt portion of such meeting. Once the claim is resolved or has expired, the records of the meeting will be open to the public. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (Senate Staff Analysis / House Staff Analysis)
SB 332 passed the Senate Rules Committee on Feb. 24 (vote: 21-0). The bill now goes to the Senate Floor. HB 655 passed off the House Floor on Feb. 25 (vote:116-0). The bill now goes to the Senate.
Special District Funding – CS/SB 214 by Sen. Stan McClain (R-Ocala) and CS/HB 273 by Rep. Chad Johnson (R-Newberry) require agency agreements that provide state or federal financial assistance to special districts located in a rural community or rural area of opportunity, or that provide water and wastewater services in such areas, to include a provision allowing the agency to provide for the payment of invoices for verified and eligible performance that has been completed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the agreement. The bills revise the definition of “rural community” for the Rural Economic Development Initiative to include special districts located in rural counties. The bills prohibit downtown development districts of a municipality with a population greater than 400,000 from expanding their boundaries without referendum approval by a vote of the electors, revise budgeting procedures for such districts, and require approval of the district’s budget by the governing body of the municipality. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (Senate Staff Analysis / House Staff Analysis)
HB 273 passed the House State Affairs Committee on Feb. 26 (vote: 24-1) and now goes to the House Floor.
Stormwater Treatment –
CS/CS/SB 848 by Sen. Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) and CS/CS/HB 1457 by Karen Gonzalez Pittman (R-Tampa) provide that regional stormwater systems or water quality enhancement areas operated by non-local governmental entities independently or under contract with a seaport or local government may not provide stormwater treatment, achieve net improvement of water quality, or convey enhancement credits for proposed port activities that cause or contribute to stormwater pollution at certain seaports. The bills authorize environmental resource permit (ERP) applicants to use compensating stormwater treatment as a mitigation measure when existing ambient water quality prevents compliance with water quality standards. The bills allow entities to apply for provisional WQEA permits pending the DEP adoption of WQEA rules. DEP and water management districts must allow the use of WQEA enhancement credits generated under such provisional permits, provided applicable statutory requirements are met. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (Senate Staff Analysis / House Staff Analysis)
SB 848 passed off the Senate Floor on Feb. 26 by a vote of 36-0. HB 1457 passed the House State Affairs Committee on Feb. 26 by a vote of 24-0. The bill now goes to the House Floor.
Transportation –
CS/CS/CS/HB 543 by Rep. Fiona McFarland (R-Sarasota) and CS/SB 1274 by Sen. Nick DiCeglie (RSt. Petersburg) make a number of changes to laws related to transportation, including increasing yellow traffic signal intervals at intersections equipped with a traffic infraction detector, narrowing the definition of “micromobility device” by removing traditional bicycles, providing counties and municipalities the flexibility to set lower speed limits for local streets and highways in a residence district, providing requirements for seaports that are located in counties with designated spaceport territory, requiring FDOT to adopt rules establishing circumstances under which it may make direct payments to a first-tier subcontractor, and making several changes to school bus infraction detection systems and school zone speed detection systems. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (House Staff Analysis / Senate Staff Analysis) The House adopted an amendment that requires Charlotte, Collier, and Lee Counties’ MPOs to prepare a feasibility report by Dec. 31, 2026, exploring consolidation into one entity.
HB 543 passed the House State Affairs Committee on Feb. 26 (vote: 26-0) and goes to the House Floor.
Transportation – CS/CS/CS/SB 1220 by Sen. Ralph Massullo (R-Inverness) and CS/CS/HB 1233 by Rep. Griff Griffitts (R-Panama City) make several changes to Florida’s transportation systems. The bills require ports to include strategies for securing critical infrastructure resources in their strategic plans, require the Florida Greenways and Trails Council to update its prioritization of regionally significant trails, require strategic plans for seaports and commercial service airports to provide strategies for obtaining and maintaining critical infrastructure resources, expand personal delivery device use to certain sidewalks, crosswalks, bicycle lanes, and shoulders, require minimum safety criteria and human operator oversight of personal delivery devices, prohibit local governments from blocking commercial property drone delivery services or counting drone infrastructure against required parking spaces, define the term “advanced air mobility corridor connection point” and incorporate that term into the definition of the term “transportation corridor,” remove FDOT’s authority to purchase promotional items for electric vehicle use but broadens authority for transportation-related economic development including advanced air mobility, allow more flexibility in the construction materials for state trail networks, and require FDOT to study the impact of alternative fuel vehicles on state transportation revenues and evaluate revenue models to address this impact. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (Senate Staff Analysis / House Staff Analysis)
SB 1220 passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on Feb. 24 (vote: 17-0) and goes to the Senate Floor.
HB 1233 passed the House Commerce Committee on Feb. 24 (vote: 23-1) and now goes to the House Floor.
Vertiports – CS/CS/CS/HB 1093 by Rep. Leonard Spencer (D-Winter Garden) and CS/CS/SB 1362 by Sen. Gayle Harrell (R-Stuart) amend Florida law to include vertiports and charging systems as qualifying projects for funding under publicprivate partnerships between state and private entities. The bills authorize FDOT to fund all of the project costs of a public or private vertiport if federal funds are not available. If federal funds are available, FDOT may fund up to 80 percent of the nonfederal share of the project costs. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026. (House SAnalysis / Senate Analysis)
HB 1093 passed the House Commerce Committee on Feb. 24 (vote: 23-0) and now goes to the House Floor.
Updated 2/19/26 | *red = action this week*
Bill Title Sponsor
Priority Bills (33)
High Chance of Final Passage (16)
HB 1389 / SB 1548 Affordable Housing
SB 686 / HB 691 Agricultural Enclaves
SB 636 / HB 1297 Beach Management
HB 299 / SB 354 Blue Ribbon Projects
HB 441 / SB 546 Conservation Lands
HB 979 / SB 1434 Infill Redevelopment
SB 208 / HB 399 Land Use and Development Regulations
HB 927 / SB 1138
Local Land Planning and Development
Low Chance of Final Passage (17)
SB 548 / HB 1139 Growth Management
SB 48 / HB 313 Housing
HB 1007 Hyperscale Data Centers
SB 484 / HB 1517 Data Centers
HB 479 / SB 718 Land and Water Management
HB 217 / SB 218 Land Use Regulations
SB 840 / HB 1465 Land Use Regulations for Local Governments Affected by Natural Disasters
SB 948 / HB 1143
Local Government Land Development Regulations and Orders
HB 1183 / SB 1342 Transportation Infrastructure Land Development Regulations
Tracked Bills with High Chance of Passage (33)
SB 1362 / HB 1093 Advanced Air Mobility
Committee Stops
Rep. Redondo / Sen. Calatayud
Sen. McClain / Rep. Botana
Sen. Leek / Rep. Greco
Rep. Melo / Sen. McClain
Rep. Kendall / Sen. Mayfield
Rep. Borrero / Sen. Calatayud
Sen. McClain / Rep. Borrero
Rep. Sapp / Sen. Massullo
Sen. McClain / Rep. Gentry
Sen. Gaetz / Rep. Nix
Rep. Griffitts
Sen. Avila / Rep. Joseph
Rep. Maggard / Sen. McClain
Rep. Abbott / Sen. Gaetz
Sen. DiCeglie / Rep. Andrade
Sen. McClain / Rep. Nix
Rep. Cross / Sen. Rouson
HB - Heard in 2/3
SB - Heard in 1/3 - not up next week
HB - 2nd Reading
SB - Heard in 2/3 - up next Tuesday 2/24
SB - 2nd Reading | HB - Heard in 2/3
HB - Heard in 2/3
SB - Heard in 2/3 - not up next week
HB - Passed House | SB - 2nd Reading
HB - Heard in 2/3
SB - Heard in 2/3 - up next Tuesday 2/24
SB - Heard in 2/3 - up next Tuesday 2/24
HB - Heard in 2/3
HB - Heard in 2/3
SB - Heard in 2/3 - up next Tuesday 2/24
SB - Heard in 1/3 |
HB - 2nd Reading
SB - Passed Senate | HB - Died in Committee
HB - Never Heard
SB - 2nd Reading | HB - Never Heard
HB - Heard in 1/3 | SB - Never Heard
HB - Never Heard
SB - Heard in 2/3 - up next Tuesday 2/24
SB - Passed Senate | HB - Never Heard
SB - Died in Committee | HB - Heard in 1/3
HB - Never Heard
SB - Heard in 2/3
Sen. Harrell / Rep. Spencer
SB - Heard in 2/3 | HB - Heard in 3/4
SB 962 / HB 837
Affordable Housing
HB 803 / SB 1234 Building Permits and Inspections
HB 1051 / SB 1180
Community Development District Recall Elections
Sen. Bradley / Rep. Busatta
Rep. Trabulsy / Sen. DiCeglie
Rep. Alvarez (J) / Sen. Arrington
SB - Passed Senate | HB - 2nd Reading
HB - 2nd Reading - on Floor Agenda 2/25
SB - Heard in 2/3 - up next Tuesday 2/24
HB - Heard 3/3
SB - Heard in 2/3 - up next Tuesday 2/24
SB 290 / HB 433 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Sen. Truenow / Rep. Alvarez SB - Passed Senate | HB - Heard in 2/3
HB 243 / SB 382 Electric Bicycles, Scooters, and Motorcycles Rep. Benarroch / Sen. Truenow HB - 2nd Reading | SB - 2nd Reading
SB 110 / HB 227 Homestead Exemptions
SB 380 / HB 1009 Legal Notices
Sen. Arrington
SB - Passed Senate | HB - 2nd Reading
Sen. Trumbull / Rep. Griffitts SB - Heard by 2/3 | HB - Heard by 2/3
HB 1001 / SB 1134 Official Actions of Local Governments Rep. Black / Sen. Yarborough HB - Heard in 2/3 | SB - 2nd Reading
SB 332 / HB 655 Public Meetings
SB 168 / HB 481 Public Nuisances
SB 214 / HB 273 Special District Funding
SB 848 / HB 1457 Stormwater Treatment
HB 543 / SB 1274 Transportation
SB 1220 / HB 1233 Transportation
HB 981 / SB 1066 Tributaries of St. Johns River
HJR 203
Phased Out Elimination of Non-school Property Tax for Homesteads
Tracked Bills with Low Chance of Final Passage (87)
HB 799 / SB 932 Ad Valorem Tax Revenue in Fiscally Constrained Counties
HB 675 / SB 756
Affordable Housing
Sen. Bradley / Rep. Duggan SB - Heard in 2/3 - up next Tuesday 2/24 HB - 2nd Reading - on Floor Agenda 2/25
Sen. Truenow / Rep. Booth SB - Passed | HB - 2nd Reading
Sen. McClain / Rep. Johnson
- Heard by 2/3 |
- Heard by 2/3
HB - Heard in 1/2
Sen. Truenow / Rep. Gonzalez Pittman SB - 2nd Reading
Rep. McFarland / Sen. DiCeglie HB - Heard in 2/3 | SB - Heard in 1/3
Sen. Massullo / Rep. Griffitts SB - Heard in 2/3 - up next Tuesday 2/24
HB - Heard in 1/2
Rep. Duggan / Sen. Brodeur
Rep. Miller
HB - 2nd Reading | SB - TP'd on Senate Calendar
HJR - Passed House
Rep. Tuck / Sen. McClain
Rep. Driskell / Sen. Davis
SB 1520 Affordable Housing Property Tax Exemption Sen. Calatayud
SB 1350 Affordable Housing Property Tax Exemptions Sen. McClain
HB 755 / SB 934 Areas of Critical State Concern
Rep. Mooney / Sen. Rodriguez
SB 434 / HB 617 Assessment of Property Used for Residential Purposes Sen. Leek / Rep. Overdorf
HB 1421 / SB 1658 Cattle Grazing on State Land
HB 741 / SB 998 Department of Commerce
Rep. Albert / Sen. Truenow
Rep. Owen / Sen. Yarborough
HB 1417 / SB 1510 Department of Environmental Protection Rep. LaMarca / Sen. Massullo
HB 1303 / SB 1572 Department of Financial Services Rep. Miller / Sen. DiCeglie
HB -Never Heard
SB - Never Heard
HB - Died in Committee | SB - Never Heard
SB - Heard in 1/3
SB - Never Heard
HB - 2nd Reading - on Floor Agenda 2/25
SB - Heard in 1/3
SB - Passed Senate | HB - Never Heard
HB - 2nd Reading | SB - Never Heard
HB - Heard in 2/3 | SB - Heard in 1/3
HB - Heard in 2/3 | SB - Heard in 1/3
HB - Never Heard | SB - Never Heard
HB 911 / SB 1218
Florida Building Code Construction Requirements
HB 337 / SB 852 Food Insecure Areas
SB 34 / HB 425 Historic Cemeteries Program
HB 1493 / SB 1726 Housing
HB 751 Infrastructure and Resiliency
Rep. Mooney / Sen. Rodriguez
Rep. Raynor / Sen. Jones
Sen. Sharief / Rep. Aristide
Rep. Joseph / Sen. Smith
Rep. LaMarca
HB 87 / SB 392 Issuance of Special Beverage Licenses Rep. Brackett / Sen. Leek
SB 508 / HB 611 Landscape Irrigation
HB 103 / SB 122 Local Business Taxes
HB 105 / SB 588 Local Government Enforcement Actions
HB 1329 / SB 1566 Local Government Spending
HB 1141 Military Installations and Ranges
HB 149 Maximum Millage Rates for the 2027-2028 Fiscal Year
Sen. Truenow / Rep. Cobb
Rep. Botana / Sen. Truenow
Rep. Brackett / Sen. McClain
Rep. Benarroch / Sen. DiCeglie
Rep. Mooney
Rep. Chamberlin
HB 455 / SB 496 Protection of Historic Monuments and Memorials Rep. Black / Sen. McClain
SB 1628 / HB 1217 Net-zero Policies by Governmental Entities Sen. Avila / Rep. Snyder
HB 1227 / SB 1444 Preemption to the State
HB 833 / SB 1264 Private School Facilities
HB 437 / SB 770 Public Records
HB 53 / SB 1254 Rapid Rail Transit Compact
SB 1020 / HB 929 Regulation of Chickees
HB 673 / SB 938 Release of Conservation Easements
SB 56 Residential Impacts from Mining Activities
SB 250/ HB 723 Rural Counties / Rural Communities
HB 283 / SB 498 School Zone and Pedestrian Safety
HB 335 / SB 916 Spaceport Operations
SB 378 / HB 6005 Special Districts
HB 123 Special Districts
HB 239 / SB 558
HB 489 / SB 1348
Standards for Storm Water Systems
Terminology Associated with Florida Housing Finance Corporation
SB 456 The Tourist Development Tax
SB 458 Tourist Development Tax
Rep. Oliver / Sen. Martin
Rep. Cassel / Sen. Calatayud
Rep. Andrade / Sen. Rouson
Rep. Hinson / Sen. Davis
HB - Never Heard | SB - Never Heard
HB - Never Heard | SB - Never Heard
SB - Heard by 1/3 |
HB - Heard in 1/3
HB - Never Heard | SB - Never Heard
HB - Never Heard
HB - Never Heard | SB - Never Heard
HB - Never Heard | SB - Never Heard
HB - 2nd Reading | SB - Heard by 1/3
HB - 2nd Reading - on Floor Agenda 2/25
SB - Never Heard
HB - Heard in 2/3 | SB - Never Heard
HB - Never Heard
HB - Never Heard
- Heard in 2/3 |
- Never Heard
- Heard in 1/3 | HB - Heard in 2/3
- Never Heard |
- Died in Committee
- Heard in 1/2 | SB - Died in Committee
- Heard in 3/4 |
- Heard in 1/2 |
- Never Heard
- Never Heard
Sen. Truenow / Rep. Cobb SB - Died in Committee| HB - 2nd Reading
Rep. Duggan / Sen. McClain HB - Died in Committee | SB - Never Heard
Sen. Sharief
Sen. Simon / Rep. Abbott
Rep. Alvarez / Sen. Rodriguez
Rep. Kendall / Sen. Mayfield
Sen. Truenow / Rep. Greco
Rep. Overdorf
Rep. Grow / Sen. Burgess
Rep. Owen / Sen. Calatayud
Sen. Smith
Sen. Smith
SB - Never Heard
SB - In House messages | HB - Never Heard
HB - Died in Committee | SB - Never Heard
HB - Died in Committee | SB - Never Heard
SB - Never Heard | HB - Never Heard
HB - Never Heard
HB - Never Heard | SB - Died in Committee
HB - Never Heard
SB - Never Heard
SB - Never Heard
SB - Never Heard
SB 454 / SB 6007
Tourist Development Taxes
SB 976 Tourist Development Tax Uses
HB 97 Transportation Concurrency
SB 146 Use of Artificial Intelligence by State Agencies
HB 193 / SB 200 Utilities
HB 701 / SB 1120 Water Management Districts
HJR 201
HJR 205
HJR 207
Elimination of Non-school Property Tax for Homesteads
Elimination of Non-School Property Tax for Homesteads for Persons Age 65 or Older
Assessed Home Value Homestead Exemption of Non-school Property Tax
HJR 209 Property Insurance Relief Homestead Exemption of Non-school Property Tax
HJR 211
Accrued Save-Our-Homes Property Tax Benefit for Non-school Property Tax
HJR 213 Modification of Limitations on Property Assessment Increases
HB 215 Ad Valorem Taxation
Sen. Smith / Rep. Eskamani
Sen. Smith
Rep. Grow
Sen. Harrell
Rep. Boyles / Sen. Bradley
Rep. Conerly / Sen. Brodeur
Rep. Steele
Rep. Porras
Rep. Abbott
Rep. Busatta
Rep. Overdorf
Rep. Griffitts
SB - Never Heard | HB - Never Heard
SB - Never Heard
HB - Heard in 2/3
SB - Never Heard
HB - Never Heard | SB - Died in Committee
HB - Never Heard | SB - Passed Senate
HJR 203 the H. PT Proposal
HJR 203 the H. PT Proposal
HJR 203 the H. PT Proposal
HJR 203 the H. PT Proposal
HJR 203 the H. PT Proposal
HJR 203 the H. PT Proposal
Rep. Albert HJR 203 the H. PT Proposal