June 27, 2025 | Legislative Reporter
On June 16, after six weeks of overtime and uncertainty, Florida’s legislators passed the 2025-2026 state budget SB 2500 and adjourned sine die. The final budget totals $115.13 billion, including $560 million in supplemental funding for local projects. This year’s budget represents a $3.8 billion reduction from the previous year and reduces the size of state government by nearly 2,000 positions. Despite the reductions, the final budget preserves essential services and maintains investment in the state’s top priorities. The budget retains $12.4 billion in total reserves, including $7 billion in unallocated General Revenue, $4.9 billion in the fully funded Budget Stabilization Fund, and $500 million in the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund.
In addition to the budget, the House and Senate approved HJR 5019, a proposed constitutional amendment for the 2026 ballot to increase the amount of funds that may be retained in the budget stabilization fund from 10 percent to 25 percent of general revenue collections. The amendment also requires an annual transfer to the budget stabilization fund equal to $750 million until the cap is reached and allows withdrawal for critical state needs with two-thirds legislative approval. The Legislature also passed HB 5017 creating a state Debt Reduction Program. The initiative provides a recurring $250 million transfer from General Revenue to the State Board of Administration each year to accelerate the early retirement of outstanding state bonds. Both bills align with the Senate President’s and House Speaker’s priorities to reduce state spending while providing long-term fiscal safeguards for Florida and delivering tax reductions for all Floridians.
The budget now goes to Governor DeSantis. He has 15 days upon receiving the budget to sign it and issue vetoes. Despite this timeframe, it is anticipated that the governor will act on the budget prior to the start of the fiscal year on July 1. Speaker Perez Press Release | Senate President Albritton Press Release
Here is quick overview of the final funding for the programs and projects prioritized by APA Florida:
FY 2025-26 Budget: SB 2500
Environment and Agriculture
Everglades Restoration
Water Quality, Stormwater Upgrades, Wastewater Infrastructure
Blue-Green Algae Task Force
Innovative Technologies for Algal Blooms and Nutrient Enrichment
Biscayne Bay Water Quality Improvements
Septic to Sewer and Water Improvements
Rural and Family Lands Protection
Florida Forever
Florida Communities Trust
Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program /
State Park Improvements
Statewide Flooring and Sea Level Rise Resilience Plan
Housing
SHIP
SAIL
Hometown Heroes
Economic Development & Arts
Job Growth Grant Fund
Visit Florida
Cultural and Museum Grants
Transportation
FDOT Work Program
Tax
Package:
$810 million
$461 million
$10.8 million
$10 million
$20 million
$436.5 million
$250 million
$18 million
$0
$0
$15 million
$150 million
$163.8 million
$71.2 million
$50 million
$50 million
$80 million
$24.5 million
$13.54 billion
Alongside the budget, the Legislature passed HB 7031, a $1.29 billion tax relief package for Floridians. The biggest tax savings in the package come from the repeal of the 2 percent business rent tax, totaling $904.8 million, effective Oct 1,
2025. The second largest tax cut in the package, projected at $167.7 million, creates a permanent Back-to-School Sales Tax Holiday during the month of August for clothing, shoes, backpacks, school supplies, and personal computers or computer-related accessories, including non-recreational software. While the tax package does not specifically reduce property taxes, the bill calls for a study to establish the framework for a constitutional amendment to reduce or eliminate property taxes for voter consideration during the 2026 general election.
Below are additional highlights of relevance to APA Florida included in the tax package.
Additional provisions related to sales tax:
• Permanently eliminates the sales tax on certain batteries, fuel tanks, portable generators, tarps and ground anchors or tie-down kits.
• Permanently eliminates the sales tax on fire extinguishers, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, sunscreen and insect repellent, life jackets and bicycle helmets.
• Permanently eliminates the sales tax on admission to Florida State Parks.
• Creates a new tax holiday from Sept. 8 - Dec. 31, 2025, offering savings on camping, fishing, and hunting supplies.
Property taxes:
• Provides an appropriation of $500,000 of nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of Revenue to provide reimbursement to fiscally constrained counties for refunds made to owners of damaged and uninhabitable residential properties in 2024.
• New exemptions for affordable housing:
o Expands the exemption for land leased by a nonprofit for affordable housing for at least 99 years to include property leased from a local housing finance authority as well as land leased and assigned or subleased from the nonprofit to persons for affordable housing.
o Creates a new exemption for newly constructed multifamily affordable housing of at least 70 units which is on government property leased for at least 30 years.
o Creates a new exemption for new multifamily affordable housing of at least 70 units which is leased on state-owned property leased for at least 60 years. This exemption expires Dec. 31, 2061.
o Expands the exemption for property used for new multifamily affordable housing for 99 years to include property leased from a local housing finance authority.
o Expands eligibility to allow successive owners to apply for the exemption for new multifamily affordable housing that is based on the income of the tenants.
New tax credit programs:
• Creates the Home Away from Home Tax Credit, which provides tax credits to Florida businesses for contributing to charitable organizations that house families of critically ill children at little or no cost to the family while traveling so the child can receive care.
• Creates the Rural Communities Investment Program which allows investors to earn a total of $7 million in annual tax credits against the corporate income or insurance premium tax by investing in a rural fund. The program is capped at $35 million over five years.
Local taxes:
• Extends the local communications services tax rate freeze until 2031.
• Requires local governments to prioritize the use of local CST revenue for the timely review, processing, and approval of permit applications for the use of rights-of-way by providers.
• Allows fiscally constrained counties adjacent to the Gulf of America or the Atlantic Ocean to use tourist development tax (TDT) revenues for public facilities.
• Allows all counties adjacent to the Gulf of America or the Atlantic Ocean to use TDT revenues for beach lifeguards.
• Allows counties and school boards to reduce or repeal certain local discretionary sales surtaxes in effect by a two-thirds vote.
Distributions of tax revenue:
• Extends timeframe for local incentive program benefits in enterprise zones to continue from Dec. 31, 2025 through Dec. 31, 2035, for multi-phase projects that vested on or before Dec. 31, 2021.
Distributions of tax revenue:
• Revises the distribution from documentary stamp tax revenues to:
o Reduce the funds distributed to the Department of Transportation, eliminating the distribution for the New Starts Transit Program and the Florida Rail Enterprise.
o Eliminate the $150 million distribution to the State Housing Trust Fund for s. 420.50871, F.S. Other housing trust fund distributions are unaffected.
o Apply the general revenue service charge to all taxes collected.
PRIORITY BILLS PENDING GOVERNOR ACTION as of June 25
Bill # Page Status Effective Date
HJR 1215 (Tax Exemption) 4 Presented on June 18.
HB 295 (Waste/Recycling) 4 Presented on June 18. July 1, 2025
SB 180 (Emergencies) 4 Presented on June 18. Except as otherwise provided in the bill, it takes effect upon becoming a law.
HB 11 (Water/Sewer Rates) 9 Presented on June 18. July 1, 2025
SB 492 (Mitigation Banks) 11 Presented on June 18. July 1, 2025
HB 1427 (Nursing Programs) 11 Presented on June 18. July 1, 2025
HB 1143 (Oil Drilling) 11 Presented on June 18. July 1, 2025
PRIORITY BILLS WITH GOVERNOR ACTION
SB 384 (Anchoring Areas) 11 Signed on May 19. July 1, 2025
HB 481 (Anchoring Areas) 11 Signed on May 19. Upon becoming law.
HB 683 (Construction Regs) 11 Signed on June 13. July 1, 2025
SB 700 (DACS) 12 Signed on May 15 Except where mentioned, July 1, 2025.
SB 1080 (Local Gov Land Reg) 14 Signed on June 24. The amendments related to impact fees become effective Jan. 1, 2026. Except as otherwise provided, Oct. 1, 2025.
HB 443 (Education) 16 Signed on May 30 July 1, 2025
HB 211 (Farm Products) 16 Signed on June 13 July 1, 2025
HB 393 (Condo Pilot Program) 16 Signed on June 23 Upon becoming law.
SB 784 (Platting) 16 Signed on June 20. July 1, 2025
SB 118 (Presidential Libraries) 17 Signed on June 23. Upon becoming law.
HB 1123 (Sewer Systems) 17 Signed on June 3. July 1, 2025
SB 582 (Demo of Historic Bldgs) 17 Signed on May 23. July 1, 2025
HB 1137 (Utility Restrictions) 17 Signed on May 19. July 1, 2025
SB 1622 (Beaches) 17 Signed on June 24. Upon becoming law.
SB 733 (Brownsfields) 18 Signed on June 18. July 1, 2025
SB 1228 (Spring Restoration) 19 Signed on June 19 July 1, 2025
HB 209 (State Parks) 20 Signed on May 22 July 1, 2025
SB 1730 (Affordable Housing) 21 Signed on June 23 July 1, 2025
SB 462 (Transportation) 23 Signed on June 19 July 1, 2025
SB 1662 (Transportation) 25 Signed on June 19 July 1, 2025
HB 85 (Hazardous Walking) 28 Signed on May 21 July 1, 2025
A total of 1,982 bills of all types were filed during the regular session prior to its extension, with only 234 bills finally being passed by both chambers. The Bill Tracking Report as of June 25 can be viewed here. Please review it to see the final status of the bills that APA Florida tracked over this session. Note: Not all bills are represented below.
Bills of Interest Passed by the Legislature
Every bill passed by the legislature is presented to the governor for approval and becomes a law if the governor approves and signs it, or fails to veto it within seven consecutive days after presentation. If during that period or on the seventh day the legislature adjourns sine die or takes a recess of more than thirty days, the governor has fifteen consecutive days from the date of presentation to act on the bill. To track Gov. DeSantis’s action on bills, go to flgov.com.
Pending Legislation
The following bills of interest were among those passed by both chambers, and are pending decision by the governor as of June 25, 2025:
Ad Valorem Tax Exemption (CS/HJR 1215 ER, Rep. Alvarez): A joint resolution which proposes an amendment to the state constitution to exempt tangible personal property from ad valorem taxes when it is habitually located or typically present on agricultural land, used in the production of agricultural products or for agritourism activities, and owned by the landowner or leaseholder of the agricultural land.
Comprehensive Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan (HB 295 ER, Reps. Casello and Hart): Requires the Department of Environmental Protection to develop a comprehensive waste reduction and recycling plan by July 1, 2026, and subsequently provide a report to the Senate President and House Speaker that includes recommendations for statutory changes necessary to achieve the identified recycling goals and strategies
Emergencies: CS/CS/SB 180 E2 ER (Sen. DeCeglie) was passed by the legislature on May 2. APA Florida sent a Veto Request letter to the governor.
The bill does the following:
• amends s.83.63, related to casualty damage, to allow a tenant the opportunity to collect belongings once it is safe to do so or be given notice of the date, within a reasonable time, when belongings can be collected;
• amends s.163.31795, related to participation in the National Flood Insurance Program, to provide that a local government that is participating in this program may not adopt or enforce an ordinance for substantial improvements or repairs to a structure which includes a cumulative substantial improvement period – defines “cumulative substantial improvement period” as the period during which an aggregate of improvements or repairs are considered for the purposes of determining substantial improvement as defined in s.163.54(12);
• amends s.163.31801, related to impact fees, to prohibit a local government, school district, or special district from assessing an impact fee for the reconstruction or replacement of a previously existing structure if the replacement structure is of the same land use as the original structure and does not increase the impact on public facilities beyond that of the original structure:
◦ however, if the replacement structure increases the demand on public facilities due to a significant increase in size, intensity, or capacity of use, a local government, school district, or special district may assess an impact fee in an amount proportional to the difference in the demand between the replacement structure and the original structure; and
◦ any such fee must be reasonably connected to, or have a rational nexus with, the need for additional capital facilities and the increased impact generated by the reconstruction or replacement of a previously existing structure.
• amends s.193.155(4)(b), related to homestead assessments, to increase the square footage criteria, used to determine if the assessed value is based on that as of the January 1 before damage or destruction, to 130 percent of the square footage of the homestead property and 2,000 square feet after change or improvement of the property;
• amends s.215.559, relating to the Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program, to require the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) to give funding priority for public hurricane shelter projects that are located in counties that
have shelter deficits and to projects that are publicly owned other than schools, in addition to projects that maximize the use of state funds;
• amends s.250.375 to allow servicemembers who are trained to provide medical care and are assigned to a military duty position and authorized by Florida National Guard to provide medical care because of that duty position to provide medical care to both military personnel and civilians during emergencies or declared disasters
• amends s.252.35, related to FDEM, to:
◦ revise the shelter planning component of the comprehensive emergency management plan to require planning to ensure shelter space be available on a county basis, rather than a regional basis;
◦ direct FDEM to establish procedures to coordinate and monitor statewide mutual aid agreements reimbursable under federal public disaster assistance programs;
◦ as part of the comprehensive emergency management plan, include an update on the status of the emergency management capabilities of the state and its political subdivisions; this must include the emergency capabilities related to public health emergencies as determined in collaboration with the Department of Health;
◦ clarify the requirement for the FDEM to assist political subdivisions in preparing and maintaining emergency management plans to include the development of a template for comprehensive emergency management plans and guidance on the development of mutual aid agreements;
◦ require FDEM to specify minimum biennial training requirements for county or municipal administrators, county or city managers, county or municipal emergency management directors, and county or municipal public works directors or other officials responsible for the construction and maintenance of public infrastructure, in addition to minimum training already required under s.252.38(1)(b); training for county personnel may be provided by a foundation that is a 501(c)(3) with a governing board including county commissioners and professional county staff but FDEM must approve the training; and
◦ requires the FDEM to conduct a hurricane readiness session by April 1 annually for the purpose of facilitating coordination between emergency management stakeholders, and identifies attendees, session content and location requirements.
• amends s.252.355, related to registry of persons with special needs, to:
◦ require the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to annually provide information on the special needs registry to their special needs clients and caregivers;
◦ require the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to enter into memoranda of understanding with the Department of Elderly Affairs and with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to ensure special needs registration information is provided to residents of low-income senior independent living properties and independent living properties for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities funded by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, respectively; and
◦ allow the caregiver of a person with special needs who is eligible for admission to a special needs shelter, and all persons for whom he or she is the caregiver, to shelter together in the special needs shelter; if a person with special needs is responsible for the care of persons without special needs, those persons shall be allowed to use the special needs shelter with the person with special needs.
• amends s.252.3611 to revise emergency expenditure auditing and reporting requirements to:
◦ require all contracts executed to support the response to a declared state of emergency, including contracts executed before a declared state of emergency to secure resources or services in advance or anticipation of an emergency, be posted on the secure contract tracking system required under s.215.985(4); and
◦ require FDEM is required to annually report by January 15 to the legislature, including the appropriations committees, on expenditures incurred related to emergencies over the year from November 1 of the previous year; the report must summarize each emergency event, key actions taken by the FDEM, and detail expenditures by event and agency and include an accounting of inventory and assets purchased.
• amends s.252.363(1)(a), related to tolling and extension or permits and other authorizations, to provide that the tolling and extension of permits and other authorizations under this paragraph shall apply retroactively to Sept. 28, 2022, except in the case of the formal determination of the delineation of the extent of wetlands under s.373.421, in which case tolling and extension of determinations under this paragraph shall apply retroactively to Jan. 1, 2023;
• amends s.252.365 to clarify that agency notification to the governor and FDEM of the person initially designated as the emergency coordination officer and their alternative, must be done on or before May 1 of each year;
• amends s.252.3655 to rename the Natural Hazards Interagency Workgroup as the “Natural Hazards Risks and Mitigation Interagency Coordinating Group” and substantially revise the requirements of the group
◦ the purpose for the group is amended to include work related to risks and mitigation; and
◦ administrative and reporting requirements for the group are substantially revised.
• amends s.252.37 to require the FDEM to notify the legislature if it intends to accept or apply for federal funds for a program administered by the FDEM that is new, will be implemented in an innovative or significantly different manner, or will require new budget authority for a state match. The notice must include detail on the program, and the intended use and amount of the funds:
◦ requires the FDEM to maximize the availability and expedite the distribution of financial assistance from the federal government to state and local agencies; in doing so, the FDEM must standardize and streamline the application process for financial assistance through the federal Public Assistance program and the provision of assistance to applicants in order to mitigate the risk of noncompliance with federal requirements; FDEM must use federal finds to implement this requirement.
• amends s.252.38 to require that each political subdivision shall notify the FDEM or before May 1 each year of the person designated as the emergency contact for the political subdivision and his or her alternate and of any changes in persons so designated thereafter; for a county, the emergency contact must be the county emergency management director;
• creates s.252.381(1) to require each county and municipality to post the following information on its publicly accessible website:
◦ a frequently asked questions web page related to natural emergency response, emergency preparedness and public relief for residents following an emergency;
◦ a disaster supply list and list of emergency shelters;
◦ links to information about flood zones;
◦ a checklist for residents explaining next steps to take during post-disaster recovery; and
◦ information specific to persons with disabilities.
• creates s.252.381(2) to:
◦ require each county and municipality to develop a post-storm permitting plan to expedite recovery and rebuilding by providing for special building permit and inspection procedures after a hurricane or tropical storm
◦ the plan must, at a minimum:
▪ ensure sufficient personnel are prepared and available to expeditiously manage post-disaster building inspection, permitting, and enforcement task;
▪ must anticipate conditions that would necessitate supplemental personnel for such tasks and address methods for fulfilling such personnel needs, including through mutual aid agreements as authorized in s.252.40, other arrangements, such as those with private sector contractors, or supplemental state or federal funding;
▪ include training requirements and protocols for supplemental personnel to ensure compliance with local floodplain management requirements that apply within the county or municipality;
▪ account for multiple or alternate locations where building permit services may be offered in person to the public following a hurricane or tropical storm during regular business hours;
▪ specify a protocol to expedite permitting procedures and, if practicable, for the waiver or reduction of applicable fees in accordance with and in addition to the procedures and waivers provided for under s.553.7922;
▪ identify the types of permits that are frequently requested following a hurricane or tropical storm and methods to expedite the processing of such permits; and
▪ specify procedures and resources necessary to promote expeditious debris removal following a hurricane or tropical storm.
• require the plan to be updated annually by May 1:
◦ require a hurricane and tropical storm recovery permitting guide for residential and commercial property owners be posted on the local government website annually by May 1, and provides the information that must be included in the guide; require the guide be updated as soon as practicable after a hurricane or tropical storm to reflect changes specific to the storm, including any permitting fee waivers or reductions;
◦ prohibit a local government, in an area where a state of emergency is declared for a hurricane or tropical storm, from increasing building permit or inspection fees for 180 days after the state of emergency is declared;
◦ require local government to provide, on or before May 1, 2026, an online option for receiving, reviewing, and accessing substantial damage and substantial improvement letters; homeowners must be allowed to provide an email address for the receipt of digital copies of these letters; and
◦ require that, as soon as reasonably practicable following the landfall and passage of a hurricane or tropical storm, each county and municipality that has experienced a direct impact from a natural emergency must use its best efforts to open a permitting office at which residents can access government services for at least 40 hours per week.
• amends s.252.385 to revise public shelter space reporting requirements for the FDEM;
• creates s.252.422, related to restrictions on county or municipal regulations after a hurricane, which:
◦ defines the term “impacted local government” to mean a county listed in a federal disaster declaration located entirely or partially within 100 miles of the track of a storm declared to be a hurricane by the National Hurricane Center while the storm was categorized as a hurricane or a municipality located within such a county; and
◦ prohibits an impacted local government, for 1 year after a hurricane makes landfall, from proposing or adopting:
▪ a moratorium on construction, reconstruction, or redevelopment of any property;
▪ a more restrictive or burdensome amendment to its comprehensive plan or land development regulations; and
▪ a more restrictive or burdensome procedure concerning review, approval, or issuance of a site plan, development permit, or development order, to the extent that those terms are defined in s.163.3164.
◦ provides that, notwithstanding the above prohibition, a comprehensive plan amendment, land development regulation amendment, site plan, development permit, or development order approved or adopted by an impacted local government before or after the effective date of this act may be enforced if:
▪ the associated application is initiated by a private party other than the impacted local government the property that is the subject of the application is owned by the initiating private party;
▪ the proposed comprehensive plan amendment was submitted to reviewing agencies pursuant to s.163.3184 before landfall; or the proposed comprehensive plan amendment or land development regulation is approved by the state land planning agency pursuant to s.380.05.
◦ provides that any person may file suit against any impacted local government for declaratory and injunctive relief to enforce this section and provides a process for doing so, which allows a local government an opportunity to withdraw or e revoke the action at issue before the suit is filed; and
◦ requires the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) to conduct a study on actions taken by local governments after hurricanes which are related to comprehensive plans, land development regulations, and procedures for review, approval, or issuance of site plans, permits, or development orders and make recommendations for legislative options to remove impediments to the construction, reconstruction, or redevelopment of any property damaged by a hurricane and prevent the implementation by local governments of burdensome or restrictive procedures and processes; the report must be submitted to the Senate President and House Speaker by Dec. 1, 2025.
• creates s.252.505, related to breach of contract during emergency recovery periods for natural emergencies, to require that each state or local government contract for goods or services related to emergency response for a natural emergency entered into, renewed, or amended on or after July 1, 2025, must include a provision that requires a vendor or service provider that breaches such contract during an emergency recovery period to pay a $5,000 penalty and damages, which may be either actual and consequential damages or liquidated damages;
• amends s.373.423, related to inspection, to require DEP to submit a Flood Inventory and Restoration Report to the Division of Emergency Management by Sept. 1, 2026, and update the report on a biannual basis; and identifies the required content of the report;
• amends s.380.0552(9) related to the Florida Keys area of critical state concern, to increase the hurricane evacuation clearance time for permanent residents from 24 hours to 24.5 hours;
• requires the Department of Commerce to conduct baseline modeling scenarios and gather data in order to determine a number of building permit allocations to be distributed in the Florida Keys Area based upon the hurricane evacuation clearance time provided in s.380.0552(9)(a) as amended by this act:
◦ the permit allocations must be distributed to counties and municipalities based on the number of vacant buildable lots within each jurisdiction;
◦ the permit allocations must be distributed over a period of at least 10 years but may not exceed 900 total permit allocations; and
◦ all permits must be issued for vacant, buildable parcels, of which only one may be awarded for any individual parcel, and the distribution of which must prioritize allocations for owner occupied residences, affordable housing, and workforce housing.
• amends s.403.7071, related to management of post-storm generated debris, to:
◦ authorize and encourage local governments to add an addendum to existing contracts or franchise agreements for collection of storm generated debris;
◦ require each county and municipality to apply to DEP for authorization of at least one debris management site and annually seek preauthorization for any previously approved debris management sites, as allowed by the department; and
◦ allow a municipality to jointly apply for authorization of a debris management site with a county or at least one adjacent municipality, if the parties develop and approve a memorandum of understanding; such memorandum must clearly outline the capacity of the debris management site and location of the site relative to each party and be approved annually as part of the preauthorization process
• creates s.489.1132, related to regulation of hoisting equipment used in construction, demolition or excavation work during a hurricane;
• amends the definition of “renovated building in s.553.902; and
• requires FDEM to consult with local governments, the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, the Department of Environmental Protection, and any other appropriate agencies to develop recommendations for statutory changes necessary to streamline the permitting process for repairing and rebuilding structures damaged during natural emergencies, and provide a report containing such recommendations to the Senate President and House Speaker by July 1, 2026.
Additionally, Section 28 of the bill prohibits each county listed in the Federal Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Debby (DR4806), Hurricane Helene (DR- 4828), or Hurricane Milton (DR-4834), and each municipality within one of those counties, from proposing or adopting any moratorium on construction, reconstruction, or redevelopment of any property damaged by such hurricanes; proposing or adopting more restrictive or burdensome amendments to its comprehensive plan or land development regulations; or proposing or adopting more restrictive or burdensome procedures concerning review, approval, or issuance of a site plan, development permit, or development order, to the extent that those terms are defined by s.163.3164, before Oct. 1, 2027. Any such moratorium or restrictive or burdensome comprehensive plan amendment, land development regulation, or procedure shall be null and void ab initio. This applies retroactively to Aug. 1, 2024.
Notwithstanding the above prohibition, any comprehensive plan amendment, land development regulation amendment, site plan, development permit, or development order approved or adopted by a county or municipality before or after the effective date of this act may be enforced if:
a. the associated application is initiated by a private party other than the county or municipality; or
b. the property that is the subject of the application is owned by the initiating private party
A resident of or the owner of a business in a county or municipality may bring a civil action for declaratory and injunctive relief against the county or municipality for a violation of this section. Pending adjudication of the action and
upon filing of a complaint showing a violation of this section, the resident or business owner is entitled to a preliminary injunction against the county or municipality preventing implementation of the moratorium or the comprehensive plan amendment, land development regulation, or procedure. If such civil action is successful, the resident or business owner is entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs.
Attorney fees and costs and damages may not be awarded pursuant to this subsection if:
• the resident or business owner provides the governing body of the county or municipality with written notice that a proposed or enacted moratorium, comprehensive plan amendment, land development regulation, or procedure is in violation of this section; and
• the governing body of the county or municipality withdraws the proposed moratorium, comprehensive plan amendment, land development regulation, or procedure within 14 days; or, in the case of an adopted moratorium, comprehensive plan amendment, land development regulation, or procedure, the governing body of a county or municipality notices an intent to repeal within 14 days after receipt of the notice and repeals the moratorium, comprehensive plan amendment, land development regulation, or procedure within 14 days thereafter.
This section expires June 30, 2028.
Municipal Water and Sewer Utility Rates: HB 11 E1 ER (Rep. F. Robinson) was passed by the legislature on April 30..
The bill amends s.180.191 to provide that any municipality, located within a county as defined in s.125.011(1), that operates a water or sewer utility providing service to customers within another recipient municipality, which also has a facility in that recipient municipality, shall charge consumers in the recipient municipality the same rates, fees, and charges as it charges the consumers within its own municipal boundaries.
To implement this, the bill also provides the following definitions:
• “Facility” means a water treatment facility, a wastewater treatment facility, an intake station, a pumping station, a well, and other physical components of a water or wastewater system. The term does not include pipes, tanks, pumps, or other facilities that transport water from a water source or treatment facility to the consumer; or pipes, conduits, and associated appurtenances that transport wastewater from the point of entry to a wastewater treatment facility;
• “Wastewater treatment facility” means a facility that accepts and treats domestic wastewater or industrial wastewater; and
• “Water treatment facility” means a facility within a water system which can alter the physical, chemical, or bacteriological quality of water.
Mitigation Banks: CS/CS SB 492 E2 ER (Sen. McClain) was passed by the legislature on May 2.
The bill amends s.373.4136 to provide, when issuing a mitigation bank permit after July 1, 2025, a standardized schedule for releasing mitigation credits that the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) and water management districts must adhere to, and deletes existing language that provides they determine the credit release schedule on a case-by-case basis pursuant to statutorily enumerated factors. The bill provides that awarded credits must be released as follows:
• 30 percent after the recordation of the conservation easement and establishment of financial assurances required by the mitigation bank permit; if a preservation-only assessment area is used, 100 percent released for the recordation of the conservation easement and establishment of financial assurances required by the mitigation bank permit;
• 30 percent after completing initial construction activities as established by the mitigation bank permit;
• 20 percent released in increments as monitoring indicates interim performance criteria established in the mitigation bank permit are being met; and
• 20 percent upon meeting final success criteria as established by the mitigation bank permit.
The bill also provides that the mitigation bank applicant may propose an alternative credit release schedule and the department or water management district shall consider the proposed alternative credit release schedule.
Upon request by a mitigation bank permittee for modification of the credit release schedule of a permitted mitigation bank, the DEP or water management district must modify the credit release schedule to conform it to the bill’s credit release schedule if such permitted mitigation bank has not yet had mitigation credits released for the completion of construction activities. The DEP or water management district may not alter, change, or modify any other provision of the mitigation bank permit unrelated to the credit release schedule.
Additionally, the bill prohibits the release of freshwater wetland creation credits until the success criteria established in the mitigation bank permit for initial construction activities are met.
It provides that, once a mitigation bank service area has been established by DEP or a water management district for a mitigation bank, that mitigation bank shall be deemed to implement a plan that provides regional ecological value and the use of credits from such mitigation bank to offset impacts within that bank’s service area shall be considered to have met the cumulative impact requirements of s.373.414(8)(a).
When the provisions of s.373.414(1)(b) and (8) are met and an insufficient number or type of credits from banks whose permitted service area overlays in whole or in part the regional watershed in which the impacts occur, the permit applicant is entitled to a one-time use of credits released from a mitigation bank outside the mitigation bank service area to offset impacts. The DEP or water management district must have determined that the mitigation service area lacked the appropriate credit type. Priority must be given to mitigation banks whose permitted service area fully includes the impacted site.
The bill provides that, if the number of released credits within a mitigation service area only partially offsets the impacts associated with a proposed project in that mitigation service area, the project applicant may use out-of-service area credits to account for the difference between the released credits available in the mitigation bank service area and the credits required to offset the impacts associated with the proposed project. The bill requires the DEP and the water management districts to follow the following guidelines to apply a proximity factor to determine adequate compensatory mitigation as follows:
• 1.0 multiplier shall be applied for use of in-kind credits within the service area;
• 1.0 multiplier shall be applied for use of in-kind and out-of-service-area credits when the service area overlays part of the same regional watershed as the proposed impacts only after credit-deficiency has been established;
• 1.2 multiplier shall be applied for use of in-kind and out-of-service-area credits located within a regional watershed immediately adjacent to the regional watershed overlain by a mitigation bank service area in which proposed impacts are located only after credit deficiency has been established;
• when in-kind credits are not available to offset impacts in the regional watershed immediately adjacent to the regional watershed overlain by a bank service area in which the proposed impacts are located, an additional 0.25 multiplier shall be applied for each additional regional watershed boundary crossed only after credit-deficiency has been established; or
• an additional 0.50 multiplier shall be applied after any other required multipliers if the mitigation used to offset impacts entails an out-of-kind replacement.
The bill provides that the use of these multipliers meets the requirements for addressing cumulative impacts. Once the amount of mitigation required to offset impacts has been determined, and the DEP or water management district determines that out-of-service-area or out-of-kind mitigation is necessary, the DEP or water management district must contact all mitigation banks with a mitigation service area encompassing the location of the proposed impacts within 7 business days after the request from the project applicant and request an accounting of available credits, including outof-kind credits. The accounting may not include credits reserved for other project applicants. The mitigation banks contacted must provide such accounting within 15 business days after the request. If a mitigation bank does not reply within the 15-business-day period, it is presumed credits from that bank are not available.
If one or more mitigation banks replying to the request notifies the DEP or the water management district that out-ofkind credits are available to offset the proposed impact and the DEP or water management district determines that such out-of-kind credits are appropriate to offset all or part of the proposed impact, the DEP or water management district must notify the permit applicant that sufficient credits are available within that bank’s service area to offset the proposed
impacts and the use of credits from another mitigation bank outside of that other mitigation bank’s service area may not occur until use of all of the out-of-kind credits occurs.
Upon receipt of the accounting from the mitigation banks, the DEP or the water management district must determine if sufficient credits exist to offset impacts associated with the proposed project and notify the project applicant of such determination, within 15 business days. The applicant, and no other entity, may rely on the determination for a period of six months beginning on the date DEP or the water management district notified the permit applicant, but only for purposes relating to the pending application producing such determination and not any extensions, nor renewals, nor modifications of any permit issued pursuant to that pending application, nor for any other permit application.
The bill also requires mitigation banks, beginning July 1, 2026 and each July 1 thereafter, to submit annual reports detailing the number and type of available credits for sale to DEP or the water management district. The DEP or the water management districts must compile these reports and provide an annual assessment of the state’s mitigation banking system to the Senate President and House Speaker on Oct. 1, 2026, and annually each October 1 thereafter.
Nursing Education Programs (CS/HB 1427 E2 ER, Rep. Griffitts, Jr.) was passed by the legislature on April 30.
Revises requirements related to nursing education programs; was previously titled Rural Communities and previously proposed changes to enhance rural healthcare access, revise health and medical education programs, and regulate medical specialties.
Permits for Drilling, Exploration, and Extraction of Oil and Gas Resources (HB 1143 E1 ER, Reps. Shoaf and Tant) was passed by the legislature on May 2
Prohibits the drilling, exploration or production of oil, gas, or other petroleum products within 10 miles of a national estuarine research reserve in counties designated as rural areas of opportunity, and requires the Department of Environmental Protection to apply a balancing test when considering a permit for oil or gas activities in areas within one mile inland of the coast or other bodies of water.
Legislation Signed by the Governor as of June 24, 2025: GROWTH MANAGEMENT
Annexing State Owned Lands: CS/CS/SB 384 ER (Sen. Burton) was passed by the legislature on April 30. Effective date is July 1, 2025. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on May 19.
The bill amends s.171.0413 to provide that, upon advertising for the first public hearing for adopting an ordinance proposing to annex state-owned lands, a municipality must notify by writing or e-mail each member of the legislative delegation of the county in which the land is located.
Anchoring Limitation Areas (CS/CS/HB 481 ER, Rep. V. Lopez): Restricts anchoring in certain Florida waterways, expands designated anchoring limitation areas, and increases the distance at which vessels may anchor near public mooring fields. Effective date is upon becoming law. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on May 19.
Construction Regulations: CS/CS/CS/HB 683 E1 ER (Rep. Griffitts, Jr.) was passed by the legislature on April 30. Effective date is July 1, 2025. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on June 13.
The bill creates s.125.572 to direct the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to adopt minimum standards for the installation of synthetic turf on single-family residential properties 1 acre or less in size. These standards must consider material type, color, permeability, stormwater management, potable water conservation, water quality, proximity to trees and other vegetation, and other factors impacting environmental conditions of adjacent properties.
Upon the adoption of such standards, local governments are prohibited from adopting or enforcing any ordinance, resolution, order, rule, or policy that prohibits, or is enforced to prohibit, a property owner from installing synthetic turf that complies with these standards which apply to single family residential properties. Local governments are prohibited
from adopting or enforcing any ordinance, resolution, order, rule, or policy that regulates synthetic turf which is inconsistent with the standards adopted which apply to single-family residential property. “Synthetic turf” is defined to mean a manufactured product that resembles natural grass and is used as a surface for landscaping and recreational areas. DEP is directed to adopt rules to implement the section.
Also created is s.218.75, which provides that, beginning on or after July 1, 2025, if a local government receives a price quote from its contractor for a change order requested or issued by the local government for construction services, and the price quote meets all statutory and contractual requirements for the project, the local government must provide written notice to the contractor approving or denying the price quote within 35 days. If a local government denies the price quote, the written notice must specify the alleged deficiencies in the quote and list the actions necessary to remedy the deficiencies. If a local government fails to provide the contractor with a notice in compliance with this section, the change order and price quote are deemed approved, and the local government must pay the contractor the amount stated in the price quote upon completion of the change order. A contract between a local government and a contractor may not alter these provisions.
Sections also amended:
• s.255.0992 to provide that the state or any political subdivision, when scoring or evaluating bids for a public works project, may not penalize a bidder for performing a larger volume of construction work for the state or political subdivision, or reward a bidder for performing a smaller volume of construction work for the state or political subdivision;
• s.399.035 related to elevator accessibility requirements for the physically handicapped, and s.489.505 related to certified alarm system contractors;
• s.553.73 to provide exemption from the Florida Building Code for any system or equipment, whether affixed or movable, which is located on property within a spaceport territory pursuant to s.331.304, and which is used for the production, erection, alteration, modification, repair, launch, processing, recovery, transport, integration, fueling, conditioning, or equipping of a space launch vehicle, payload, or spacecraft;
• s.553.79 to provide that a local government may not require a contract between a builder and an owner, any copies of such contract, or any associated documents including, but not limited to, letters of intent, material cost lists, labor costs, or overhead or profit statements as a requirement to apply for or receive a building permit;
• s.553.791 related to the alternative plans review and inspection process as follows:
o expands permit application requirements to include, in the case of a single-trade plan review where a private provider uses an automated or software-based plans review system, the information reviewed by the automated or software-based plans review system to determine compliance with one or more applicable codes
o includes solar energy and energy storage installations or alterations in the definition of what can be part of a single trade inspection or single-trade plans review
o allows, for single-trade plans review, the use of automated or software-based plans review systems designed to determine compliance with one or more applicable codes, including but not limited to, the National Electrical Code and the Florida Building Code
o for permit applications related to a single-trade plans review for a single-family or two-family dwelling, requires the local government to approve a permit or provide written notice of deficiencies within 5 business days after receipt of the permit application and affidavit
Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: CS/CS/CS/SB 700 E1 ER (Sen. Truenow) was passed by the legislature on April 29. The effective date is, except otherwise expressly provided, July 1, 2025. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on May 15.
This comprehensive bill makes several changes to regulations related to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS). Of particular interest, the bill does the following:
Amends s.163.3162 to address housing for legally verified agricultural workers. It defines “housing site” as the totality of development supporting authorized housing, including buildings, mobile homes, barracks, dormitories used as living areas, parking areas, common areas such as athletic fields or playgrounds, storage structures, and other related structures.
Defines “legally verified agricultural worker” as a person who:
• is lawfully present in the United States;
• meets the definition of eligible worker pursuant to 29 C.F.R. s.502.10;
• has been verified according to the state’s employment eligibility verification requirements and is authorized to work at the time of employment.;
• is seasonally or annually employed in a bona fide agricultural production;
• remains lawfully present and authorized to work throughout the duration of that employment; and
• is not an unauthorized alien as defined in s.448.095(1)
Provides that a governmental entity may not adopt or enforce any legislation, regulation, or ordinance to inhibit the construction or installation of housing for legally verified agricultural workers on land classified as agricultural land pursuant to s.193.461 that is operated as a bona fide farm, except as provided.
Provides that construction or installation of housing units for legally verified agricultural workers on parcels of lands classified as agricultural land must satisfy all of the following criteria:
• must meet federal, local and state building standards, including migrant farmworker housing standards regulated by the Department of Health and federal standards for H-2A visa housing; if written notice of intent is required to be submitted to the Department of Health, the appropriate local governmental entity with jurisdiction over the agricultural lands may also require a copy of the written notice;
• must be maintained in a neat, orderly, and safe manner;
• all structures containing dwelling units must be located a minimum of 10 feet apart;
• the square footage of the housing site’s climate-controlled facilities may not exceed 1.5 percent of the property’s area or 35,000 square feet, whichever is less;
• must provide 50-foot setbacks on all sides; however an internal project driveway may be located in the required yard space if the yard is adjacent to a public roadway or to property that is under common ownership with the housing site;
• may not be located less than 100 feet from a property line adjacent to property zoned for residential use;
• if within 250 feet of a property line, must provide screening, meeting specified designs, between the housing site and any residentially developed adjacent parcels that are under different ownership; and
• must cover access drives with relatively dust-free material such as packed shell or gravel
Provides that a local ordinance adopted must comply with all state and federal regulations for migrant farmworker housing, as applicable. A local government may validly adopt less restrictive land use regulations, but they must still meet specified Department of Health regulations and specified federal regulations. However, the ordinance may not conflict with the definition and requirements of a legally verified agricultural worker.
Further provides that, beginning July 1, 2025, a property owner must maintain records of all approved permits, including successor permits, for migrant labor camps or residential migrant housing for at least three years, and make the records available for inspection within 14 days after receiving a request by a governmental entity.
States that a housing site may not continue to be used and may be required to be removed under the following circumstances:
• if, for any reason, a housing site is not being used for legally verified agricultural workers for longer than 365 days, any structure used as living quarters must be removed within 180 days after receipt of written notice from the county unless the property owner can demonstrate use of the site for housing for legally verified agricultural workers will occur within 90 days;
• if the property on which the housing site is located ceases to be classified as agricultural land pursuant to s.193.461;
• if the permit authorized by the Department of Health for the housing site is revoked, all structures must be removed within 180 days of notice from the county unless the permit is reinstated by the department; and
• if a housing site is found to be occupied by any person who does not meet the definition of a legally verified agricultural worker, or is otherwise unlawfully present in the United States; the property owner, shall be imposed a Class I fine not to exceed $1,000, for the first violation and a Class II fine, not to exceed $5,000, for any subsequent violations.
Provides that the construction or installation of housing sites for legally verified agricultural workers in the Florida Keys and the City of Key West areas of critical state concern is subject to the respective permit allocation systems.
States that a housing site constructed and in use before July 1, 2024, may continue to be used, and the property owner may not be required to make changes to meet the new requirements, unless the housing site will be enlarged, remodeled, renovated, or rehabilitated.
Amends s.366.94 to allow local governments to issue permits for electric vehicle charging stations based solely on standards established by CADS rule and other provisions of state law. DEP must prescribe by rule the time period for approving or denying permit applications.
Amends s.403.852 to prohibit the use of any additive in a public water system which does not meet the following definition of “water quality additive”:
• any chemical, additive, or substance that is used in public water system for the purpose of:
o meeting or surpassing primary or secondary drinking water standards;
o preventing, reducing, or removing. contaminants; or
o improving water quality
Amends several sections of Chapter 496 to amend requirements and regulations related to charitable organizations who solicit contributions in or from the state, or have funds solicited on its behalf. Changes relate to the annual registration process with DACS, prohibited acts, violations, and criminal penalties.
Amends s.500.03 to expand the definition of a “cottage food product” to also mean food that is not time or temperature controlled for safety, in addition to not being a potentially hazardous food.
Amends s.1013.373 to prohibit a local government from adopting any ordinance, regulation, rule, or policy to prohibit, restrict, regulate, or otherwise limit any activities of public educational facilities and auxiliary facilities constructed by a board for agricultural education, for Future Farmers of America or 4-H activities, or the storage of any animal or equipment thereof. It also provides that lands used for agricultural education or for Future Farmers of America or 4-H activities are considered agricultural lands pursuant to s.193.461 and subject to s.823.14.
Local Government Land Regulation: CS/SB 1080 E2 ER (Sen. McClain) was passed by the legislature on April 1. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on June 24
The bill amends s.125.022 and s.166.033 to require that a county or municipality respectively must specify in writing the minimum information that must be submitted in an application for a zoning approval, rezoning approval, subdivision approval, certification, special exception, or variance. Under the bill, the local government must:
• make the minimum information available for inspection and copying at the location where the local government receives applications for development permits and orders;
• provide the minimum information to the applicant at a preapplication meeting; or
• post the minimum information on the local government’s website
Within 5 business days after receiving an application for approval of a development permit or development order, the bill requires that a local government must confirm receipt of the application using the contact information provided by the applicant. The bill clarifies that, within 30 days after receiving an application for approval of a development permit
or order, a local government must review the application for completeness and issue a written notification to the applicant either indicating that all required information is submitted or specifying, with particularity and in writing, any areas that are deficient.
For an application for a development permit or order that does not require final action through a quasi-judicial hearing or public hearing, the bill requires a local government to, within 120 days after the local government has deemed the application complete, approve the application, approve the application with conditions or deny the application.
For an application for a development permit or order that does require final action through a quasi-judicial hearing or public hearing, the bill requires a local government to, within 180 days after the local government has deemed the application complete, approve the application, approve the application with conditions or deny the application. Additionally, the bill clarifies that a local government and an applicant may agree in writing, or in a public meeting or hearing, to an extension of time for processing an application, particularly in the event of a force majeure or other extraordinary circumstance.
The bill also provides that these timeframes restart if an applicant makes a substantive change to the application. That term is defined as an applicant-initiated change of 15 percent or more in the proposed density, intensity, or square footage of a parcel.
The bill requires a local government to issue specified refunds to an applicant if timeframes are not met:
• 10 percent of the application fee if the local government fails to issue written notification of completeness or written specification of areas of deficiency within 30 days after receiving the application;
• 10 percent of the application fee if the local government fails to issue a written notification of completeness or written specification of areas of deficiency within 30 days after receiving the additional information pursuant to paragraph (3)(b);
• 20 percent of the application fee if the local government fails to issue a written notification of completeness or written specification of areas of deficiency within 10 days after receiving the additional information pursuant to paragraph (3)(c);
• 50 percent of the application fee if the local government fails to approve, approves with conditions, or denies the application within 30 days after conclusion of the 120-day or 180-day timeframe; and
• 100 percent of the application fee if the local government fails to approve, approves with conditions, or denies an application 31 days or more after conclusion of the 120-day or 180-day timeframe.
However, a local government is not required to issue a refund if:
• the applicant and the local government agree to an extension of time;
• the delay is caused by the applicant; or
• the delay is attributable to a force majeure or other extraordinary circumstance. Related to concurrency, s.163.3180 is amended to provide that a school district may not collect, charge, or impose any alternative fee in lieu of an impact fee to mitigate the impact of development on educational facilities unless such fee meets the requirements of s.163.31801(4)(f) and (g). In any action challenging a fee under this paragraph, the school district has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the imposition and amount of the fee meet the requirements of state legal precedent.
The bill amends s.553.80 to clarify that the provision that fees can be used for carrying out local government’s responsibilities in enforcing the Florida Building Code includes, but is not limited to, any process or enforcement related to obtaining or finalizing a building permit.
It also amends s.163.31801(6)(g), related to an increase in impact fees by a local government, school district or special district. These changes become effective Jan. 1, 2026. The bill requires that the impact fee increase ordinance must be unanimously approved by the governing body, as opposed to the currently required two-thirds vote. It also requires that an impact fee increase approved under this paragraph must be implemented in at least two but not more than four equal annual increments beginning with the date on which the impact fee increase ordinance is adopted. Additionally, a local government
may not increase an impact fee rate beyond the phase-in limitations under this paragraph if the local government has not increased the impact fee within the past five years. Any year in which the local government is prohibited from increasing an impact fee because the jurisdiction is in a hurricane disaster area is not included in the five-year period.
The bill also deletes current language in s.163.31801(6)(h) that provides that the requirements of s.163.31801(6) apply retroactively to Jan. 1, 2021. This amendment is effective Jan. 1, 2026.
It also amends s.163.3184 dealing with the expedited state review process, to clarify that the local government must transmit adopted plan amendments and appropriate supporting data and analyses to the reviewing agencies within 10 working days after the date of adoption. The bill also states that if the amendments are not adopted at the second public hearing, the amendments shall be formally adopted by the local government within 180 days after the second public hearing or the amendments are deemed withdrawn. Existing language indicating that the 180-day limitation does not apply to amendments processed pursuant to s.380.06 is deleted. The bill also requires that the local government transmit comprehensive plan amendments, along with the supporting data and analyses, to the state land plan agency and other agencies or local government that have submitted comments within 30 days after the final adoption hearing. Failure to do so results in the amendments being deemed withdrawn.
Education (CS/CS/HB 443 E1 ER, Reps. Snyder and Rizo): Defines charter schools as public facilities for concurrency purposes, increases flexibility in capital spending for lab schools, and broadens enrollment and governance options for charter and virtual programs. Effective Date is July 1, 2025. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on May 30.
Farm Products (HB 211 ER, Rep. Cobb): Revises the term “farm product” to include plants and plant products, regardless of whether they are edible or non-edible, and prohibits governmental entities from prohibiting, regulating or restricting the collection, storage, processing, and distribution of a farm product as part of a bona fide farm operation. Effective Date is July 1, 2025. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on June 13.
My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program (CS/CS/HB 393 E1 ER, Reps. V. Lopez and Honschofsky): Revises the definition of condominiums, narrows eligibility for this pilot program, and revises conditions under which associations may receive hurricane mitigation inspections and grants. Effective Immediately. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on June 23.
Platting: CS/CS/CS/SB 784 ER (Sen. Ingoglia) was passed by the legislature on April 29. Effective Date is July 1, 2025. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on June 20.
The bill amends s.177.071 in connection with how local governments review and approve plats.
Specifically, the bill requires local governments to administratively approve plats or replat submittals, and no further action or approval is required if the plat or replat complies with the requirements or s.177.091. The local governing body must designate, by ordinance or resolution, an administrative authority to receive, review, and process the plat or replat submittal, including designating an administrative official responsible for approving, approving with conditions, or denying the proposed plat or replat.
The administrative authority must be a department, division, or other agency of the local government. For the purposes of issuing final administrative approval of a plat or replat, the term also includes an administrative officer or employee, designated by the governing body, which may be a county or city administrator or manager, or assistant or deputy thereto, or other high-ranking county or city department or division director with direct or indirect oversight responsibility for the local government’s land development, housing, utilities, or public works programs.
Under the bill, the administrative authority must provide written notice in response to a submittal within seven days acknowledging receipt, identifying any missing documents or information required. The notice must also provide information regarding the plat or replat approval process, including requirements and timeframes.
Unless the applicant requests an extension, the administrative authority must approve, approve with conditions, or deny the submittal within the timeframe identified in the initial written notice. A denial must be accompanied by an explanation of why the submittal was denied, specifically identifying all areas if noncompliance and providing citations
to each requirement the plat or replat fails to meet. The administrative authority or any official, employee, agent or designee of the governing body may not request or require the applicant to file an extension of time. The bill also amends s.177.111 to reflect the filing of a plat or replat with circuit court clerk or other recording officer occurs after the approval by the appropriate administrative authority.
Regulation of Presidential Libraries (SB 118 ER, Sen. Brodeur) was passed by the legislature on April 29. Effective immediately. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on June 23.
Preempts to the state all regulation of any presidential library within its jurisdiction, defers regulation to the federal government, and prohibits a local government from encasing or enforcing any measure governing a presidential library, or imposing a requirement or restriction on such libraries except as otherwise authorized by federal law.
Sewer Collection Systems (HB 1123 ER, Reps. Cassell and Woodson): Authorizes a municipality to utilize revenue generated by the municipality from the operation of its central sewage system for the expansion of that system. Effective date is July 1, 2025. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on June 3.
Unlawful Demolition of Historical Buildings and Structures (SB 582 ER, Sen Leek): Authorizes a code enforcement board or special magistrate to impose increased fines for the demolition of a structure that is individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places or is a contributing resource to a listed district, if the demolition was knowing and willful and not permitted or the result of a natural disaster. Effective July 1, 2025. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on May 23.
Utility Service Restrictions (CS/HB 1137 ER, Rep. Shoaf): Adds “board, agency, commission, or authority of a county, municipal corporation, or political subdivision” to the list of entities that are preempted from prohibiting certain types or fuel sources of energy production or the use of appliances that use these specified types or fuel sources of energy production. Effective July 1, 2025. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on May 19.
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Beaches: CS/SB 1622 ER ( Sen. Trumbull) was passed by the legislature on April 29. The effective date identified in the bill is upon becoming law. Effective Immediately upon becoming a law. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on June 24 .
The bill repeals s.163.035, which established procedures that a governmental entity must follow when attempting to establish a “recreational customary use of property.”
The bill provides that the legislature declares the erosion control line shall be the mean high-water line as determined by a survey conducted by the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund for the following counties located on the Gulf with:
• at least three municipalities; and
• an estimated population of less than 275,000, according to the most recent population, excluding the inmate population.
The bill also includes the following provisions which apply to the above counties:
• the legislature further declares that there is no intention on the part of the state to deprive any upland or submerged landowner estimate prepared pursuant to s.186.901of the legitimate and constitutional use and enjoyment of his or her property;
• if an erosion control line has not been established for a critically eroded shoreline, the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund must adopt the erosion control line by resolution and file in the official records of the respective county, a copy of the resolution establishing the location of the erosion control line; and in the book of plats of the respective county, a survey showing the area of beach to be restored and the location of the erosion control line; and
• the Department of Environmental Protection may proceed with beach restoration projects for any area designated by the department as critically eroded in the Critically Eroded Beaches in Florida report dated August 2024. Notwithstanding s.161.141, beach restoration projects conducted pursuant to this section do not require a public easement. Any additions to property seaward of the erosion control line which result from the
restoration project remain state sovereignty lands. The legislature declares that such projects are in the public interest.
Brownfields: CS/SB 733 ER (Rep. Anderson) was passed by the legislature on May 2. Effective date is July 1, 2025. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on June 18.
The bill amends s.376.303, regarding the powers and duties of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). It eliminates the requirement for brownfield property owners to provide local governments with institutional control information for mapping purposes when a contaminated site in a designated brownfield area has such controls in place. It also removes the obligation for local governments to: (1) note the existence of institutional controls on land use and zoning maps; and (2) remove such notations when the local government is provided with evidence that the DEP has issued a “no further action” order without institutional controls for a site currently noted on such maps.
Under current law, the DEP must maintain a registry of all contaminated sites located in a brownfield area which are subject to institutional and engineering controls. Sites for which the DEP has issued a “no further action” order must be removed from this registry. The bill amends this to require that sites be removed from the registry when the DEP has issued a “site rehabilitation completion order,” rather than a “no further action order.”
The bill also amends s.376.30781, regarding tax credits for rehabilitation of brownfield sites in designated brownfield areas. The bill removes the provision that the additional 25 percent tax credit for site rehabilitation costs can be claimed in the final year of cleanup as evidenced by a “no further action” order issued by the DEP. Instead, the bill states that the credit may claimed if the DEP approves the applicant’s annual site rehabilitation application and issues a site rehabilitation completion order. The bill provides that the tax credit applicant must submit the claim for the additional 25 percent within two years after receipt of the site rehabilitation completion order for that site.
Under current law, costs related to solid waste removal are eligible for a tax credit if the applicant submits an affidavit stating that, to the best of the applicant’s knowledge based upon a consultation with appropriate local government officials and available historical records, the brownfield site was never operated as a permitted solid waste disposal area or was never operated for monetary compensation, and the applicant submits all other required documentation and certifications required by law. The bill limits the restriction to sites that were never operated as a permitted solid waste disposal area regulated pursuant to s 403.704 but eliminates both the affidavit requirement and the requirement that the brownfield site never be operated for monetary compensation.
The bill also extends the deadline for the DEP to notify tax credit applicants of their eligibility status and credit amount from May 1 to June 1. It also gives the DEP an additional 30 days (for a total of 120 days instead of the current 90 days) to respond after receiving a tax credit applicant’s response to a notice of deficiency.
The bill amends s.376.78 regarding the legislative intent for the Pollutant Discharge Prevention and Control Act. Currently, this statute provides that the reduction of public health and environmental hazards on “existing commercial and industrial” sites is vital to their use and reuse as sources of employment, housing, recreation, and open space areas. The bill changes “existing commercial and industrial sites” to “sites proposed to be rehabilitated and redeveloped.” Also amended is s.376.79, which provides definitions for the Brownfields Redevelopment Act. Currently, this statute defines “brownfield sites” as real property, the expansion, redevelopment, or reuse of which may be complicated by actual or perceived environmental contamination. The bill changes the term “brownfield sites” to “brownfield” and adds that the term only includes real property which has not yet been entered into a brownfield site rehabilitation agreement. The bill adds the following new definition for “brownfield site”: the real property identified in a brownfield site rehabilitation agreement executed by the person responsible for brownfield site rehabilitation of the property and the DEP or a delegated local pollution control program, as applicable.
It amends s.376.81, regarding brownfield site and brownfield areas contamination cleanup criteria, to include the legislative findings. It also provides that if the person responsible for a brownfield site rehabilitation demonstrates compliance with the applicable contamination cleanup criteria, and the brownfield site is only a portion of a larger contaminated site, the DEP or any delegated local pollution control program may not deny a “No Further Action” status for the brownfield site, or refuse to issue a site rehabilitation completion order for the brownfield site, regardless of
whether it has engineering and institutional controls. This applies even where similar contamination exists elsewhere on the contaminated site which was the result of similar or related activities or operations that occurred both on the contaminated site and the brownfield site, provided that all soil and groundwater contamination emanating from the brownfield site is adequately addressed pursuant to Chapter 62-780 of the Florida Administrative Code. This applies to all brownfield sites, irrespective of the effective date of the brownfield site rehabilitation agreement.
The bill amends s.376.82, regarding eligibility criteria, to provide that a local governmental entity may also participate in the program, including any other person who may be organized or united with the local governmental entity for a business purpose, if such entity or person did not cause or contribute to the contamination of a brownfield site on or after July 1, 2025.
Under current law, certain sites are not eligible for participation in the brownfield program unless specific exemptions are secured by a memorandum of agreement (MOA) with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The bill amends this process by providing that, instead of securing an exemption through the MOA, these sites may participate in the brownfields program if the EPA issues a letter stating it has no objection to the site’s participation, and the DEP issues a letter of concurrence.
The bill provides that the existing job creation requirement, related to participation of certain entities in the program, does not apply to the rehabilitation and redevelopment of a brownfield site that will provide housing that is affordable as defined in s.420.0004, create recreational areas, conservation areas, or parks, or be maintained for cultural or historical preservation purposes.
Current law required the DEP to attempt to negotiate an MOA or similar document with the EPA whereby the EPA agrees to forego enforcement of federal corrective action authority at brownfield sites that have received a site rehabilitation completion or “no further action” determination from the DEP or the approved local pollution control program, or that are in the process of implementing a brownfield site rehabilitation agreement. The bill removes this provision and instead provides that, if the EPA issues a letter stating it has no objection to a site’s participation and the person seeking to participate in the brownfield program can reasonably demonstrate he or she will conduct site rehabilitation pursuant to the state contamination cleanup criteria, the DEP may issue a letter of no objection that states the person may participate in the brownfield program.
The bill provides that the DEP may not require as a condition of such letter of concurrence that the EPA forego enforcement of federal corrective action authority at brownfield sites that have received a site rehabilitation completion order. The bill requires the letter of no objection from the EPA and the letter of concurrence from DEP to be added as attachments to the brownfield site rehabilitation agreement.
Proposed brownfield sites that are subject to ongoing formal judicial or administrative enforcement action or corrective action pursuant to an EPA order under s.3008(h) of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, or that have obtained or are required to obtain a permit for the operation of a hazardous waste treatment, storage, or disposal facility, a post closure permit, or a permit pursuant to the federal Hazardous and Solid Waste Amendments of 1984, are eligible for participation in the brownfield program provided that the sites obtain the necessary letters of no objection and concurrence, or comply with the provisions of Section V of the Memorandum of Agreement between the DEP and the EPA Region 4 covering Florida’s Brownfield Program, dated Nov 28, 2005, as may be amended.
Spring Restoration: SB 1228 E1 ER (Sen. McClain) was passed by the legislature on April 29. Effective date is July 1, 2025. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on June 19.
The bill amends s.403.064 which regulates the reuse of reclaimed water. It provides that a domestic wastewater facility with an approved plan may submit a request to the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to amend the plan to incorporate a reclaimed water project identified in an Outstanding Florida Springs recovery or prevention strategy adopted pursuant to s.373.805. DEP must approve the request within 60 days after receipt of the request if all the following conditions are met:
• the identified use of reclaimed water will benefit a rural area of opportunity as defined in s.288.0656(2);
• the project will provide at least 35 million gallons per day of reclaimed water to benefit an Outstanding Florida Spring;
• the project involves more than one domestic wastewater treatment facility; and
• the project implementation and surface water discharge elimination schedule meets the requirements of s.373.805 and has an implementation date of no later than Jan. 1, 2039
State Land Management: CS/CS/HB 209 E1 ER (Reps. Snyder and Gossett-Seidman) was passed by the legislature on May 1. Effective date is July 1, 2025. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on May 22.
The bill creates the State Park Preservation Act. It amends s.253.034(5) to require the Division of State Lands, when developing or updating land management plans, to hold at least one public hearing in any one affected county. Additionally, an electronic copy of each land management plan for parcels that exceed 160 acres in size and for parcels located within a state park must be made available to the public at least 30 days before the required public hearing.
The bill amends s.258.004 to require that state parks or preserves be managed in a manner that provides the greatest combination of benefits to the public and the land’s natural resources. Additionally, the bill requires state parks or preserves to be managed for:
• conservation-based recreational uses and associated facilities
◦ “conservation-based recreational uses” means public outdoor recreational activities that do not significantly invade, degrade, or displace the natural resources, native habitats, or archaeological or historical sites that are preserved within state parks; and
◦ includes but is not limited to, fishing, camping, bicycling, hiking, nature study, swimming, boating, canoeing, horseback riding, diving, birding, sailing, jogging.
• public access and related amenities, including roads, parking areas, walkways, and visitor centers;
• Florida heritage and wildlife viewing, including preservation of historical structures and activities such as glass bottom boat tours; and
• scientific research, including archeology
Such uses must be managed in a manner that is compatible with and that ensures the conservation of the state’s natural resources by minimizing impacts to undisturbed habitat.
To ensure the protection of state park resources, native habitats, and archaeological or historical sites, the bill prohibits sporting facilities, including, but not limited to, golf courses, tennis courts, pickleball courts, ball fields, or other similar facilities, from being constructed in state parks. However, this prohibition should not be construed to prohibit the continued operation, maintenance, or repair of any such sporting facilities, or other facilities, existing within a state park.
The bill authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) Division of Recreation and Parks (DRP) to acquire, install, or permit the installation or operation of camp sites and cabins in state parks. The installation and operation of the cabins must be compatible with the state park’s land management plan and must be approved through the land management plan approval process. Additionally, campsites and cabins must be sited to avoid impacts to the state park’s critical habitat and natural historical resources.
The bill prohibits DRP from authorizing uses or construction activities, including the building or alteration of structures, within a state park that may cause significant harm to the park’s resources. Any use or construction activity must be conducted in a manner that avoids impacts to a state park’s critical habitat and natural and historical resources. The bill prohibits DRP from installing, or permitting the installation, of any lodging establishment in a state park, but this does not prohibit the continued operation, maintenance, or repair, of any such public lodging establishment already in existence.
The bill creates s.258.152, to rename the St. Marks River Preserve State Park as the Ney Landrum State Park.
The bill amends s.259.032 to add that individual management plans for parcels located within a state park must also be developed with input from an advisory group. At least 30 days before the required public hearing, notice of the hearing
must be posted on the on the parcel or project designated for management, advertised in a paper of general circulation, and announced at a scheduled meeting of the local governing body. Subsequent updates to these plans must also be developed with input from an advisory group.
By Dec 1, 2025, the bill requires DEP to submit a report to the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker, that includes the following information:
• park amenities or areas of state parks that have limited use or are closed due to needed repairs, are in need of repair or renovation, or lack the infrastructure necessary to support park purposes as provided in the park’s most recently approved management plan;
• the system’s estimated budget allocation expenditures for the 2023-2024 fiscal year, broken down by salaries and benefits, equipment costs, and contracting costs for the categories of operations, maintenance and repair, park improvement, and administrative overhead; and
• a plan for addressing any needs identified in the first bullet above, including estimated costs for opening all such amenities or areas no later than July 1, 2035
HOUSING
Affordable Housing: CS/CS/SB 1730 E2 ER ( Sen. Calatayud) was passed by the legislature on May 1. Effective date is July 1, 2025. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on June 23.
The bill amends ss.125.01055 and 166.04151, related to the administrative approval of certain affordable housing developments under the Live Local Act.
The bill amends s.125.01055(6) and s.16604151(6) to allow the county or municipality respectively to approve the development of housing that is affordable on any parcel, including any contiguous parcel connected thereto, which is owned by a religious institution as defined in s.170.201(2) that contains a house of public worship, regardless of underlying zoning, so long as at least 10 percent of the units included in the project are for affordable housing.
It also amends s.125.01055(7) and s.166.04151(7) to:
• require local governments to authorize multifamily and mixed use residential as allowable uses in portions of any flexibly zoned area such as a planned unit development permitted for commercial, industrial, or mixed use, if at least 40 percent of the residential units in a proposed multifamily development are rental units that, for a period of at least 30 years, are affordable;
• prohibit local governments from requiring a transfer of density or development units, or an amendment to a developments of regional impact for the building height, zoning, and densities authorized under this subsection;
• prohibit local governments from requiring more than 10 percent of the total square footage of a mixed use development be used for nonresidential purposes;
• prohibit local governments from:
◦ restricting the density below the highest currently allowed, or allowed on July 1, 2023, on land where residential development is allowed under the land development regulations;
◦ restricting the floor area ratio below 150 percent of the highest currently allowed or allowed on July 1, 2023, on land where development is allowed under the land development regulations;
◦ restricting the height below the highest currently allowed or allowed on July 1, 2023, for a commercial or residential building in its jurisdiction within 1 mile or 3 stories, whichever is higher;
◦ if a proposed development is adjacent to, on two or more sides, a parcel zoned for single-family residential use which is within a single-family development with at least 25 contiguous single-family homes, local governments may restrict the height to 150 percent of the tallest building on any property adjacent to the proposed development, the highest height currently allowed, or allowed on July 1, 2023, or three stories, whichever is higher but not to exceed 10 stories:
▪ for municipalities within an area of critical state concern as designated by s.380.0552 or Chapter 28-36, defines “story” to include only the habitable space above the base flood area elevation as designated by FEMA in the most current Flood Insurance Rate Map; may not exceed 10 feet in height measured from
finished floor to finished floor, including space for mechanical equipment, and the highest story may not exceed 10 feet from finished floor to the top plat. (Note this language is only an amendment to s.166.04151(7).)
◦ if the proposed development is on a parcel with a contributing structure or building within a historic district which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places before Jan 1, 2000, or is on a parcel with a structure or building individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the local government may restrict the height of the proposed development to the highest currently allowed, or allowed on July 1, 2023, for a commercial or residential building located in its jurisdiction within three-fourths of a mile of the proposed development or 3 stories, whichever is higher.
• clarifies that proposed developments authorized under these subsections must be administratively approved with no further action, including that of any quasi-judicial or administrative board or reviewing body;
• requires that the local government must administratively approve the demolition of an existing structure associated with a proposed development under this subsection, without further action by the board or any quasijudicial or administrative board or reviewing body, if the proposed demolition otherwise complies with all state and local regulations;
• if the proposed development is on a parcel with a contributing structure or building within a historic district which was listed in the National Register of Historic Places before January 1, 2000, or is on a parcel with a structure or building individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places, allows the local government to administratively require the proposed development to comply with local regulations relating to architectural design, such as facade replication, provided it does not affect height, floor area ratio, of density of the proposed development;
• upon request of an applicant, requires local governments to reduce parking requirements, as opposed to considering such reduction, by 15 percent where certain conditions are met;
• provide that, notwithstanding any other law or local ordinance or regulation to the contrary, local governments may allow an adjacent parcel of land to be included within a proposed multifamily development authorized under these subsections;
• specifies that these subsections do not apply to the Wekiva Study Area or the Everglades Protection Area
• provides for priority docketing and prevailing party attorneys’ fees in lawsuits brought for violations of these subsections, not to exceed $250,000;
• provides definitions for commercial use, industrial use, mixed use, planned unit development;
• prohibits local governments from enforcing building moratoria that would have the effect of delaying the permitting or construction of a multifamily residential or mixed-use residential development authorized under these subsections except as follows:
◦ a local government may, by ordinance, impose such a building moratorium for no more than 90 days in any 3-year period. Before adoption of such a building moratorium, an assessment of the need for housing at the extremely-low-income, very-low-income, low-income, or moderate-income limits specified in s.420.0004, including projections of such need for the next 5 years, must be prepared. This assessment must be posted on the local government's website by the date the notice of proposed enactment is published, and presented at the same public meeting at which the proposed ordinance imposing the building moratorium is adopted. This assessment must be included in the business impact estimate for the ordinance imposing such a moratorium required by s.125.66(3).
• provides that the court must assess and award reasonable attorney fees and costs, not to exceed $250,000 to the prevailing party in civil actions filed against a local government for violation of this prohibition;
• provides that the provisions regarding moratoria do not apply to moratoria imposed or enforced to address stormwater or flood water management, to address the supply of potable water, or due to the necessary repair of sanitary sewer systems, if such moratoria apply equally to all types of multifamily or mixed-use residential development;
• requires local government to provide an annual report, beginning Nov. 1, 2026, to the state land planning agency, which includes:
◦ a summary of litigation relating to this subsection that was initiated, remains pending or was resolved during the previous fiscal year; and
◦ a list of all projects proposed or approved during the previous fiscal year , with specific information about each project.
• requires that state land planning agency compile the above information and submit it to the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker, annually by February 1
The bill also includes a provision that allows an applicant, who has submitted an application, written request or notice of intent to use the provisions of s.125.01055(7) or s.166.04151(7) and which was received by the local government before July 1, 2025, may notify the local government by July 1, 2025 of its intent to proceed under the provisions of the applicable subsection as they existed at the time of submittal. Additionally, the local government must allow such an applicant the opportunity to submit a revised application, written request, or notice of intent to account for the changes made by this bill.
It creates s.420.5098 to institute a state housing policy on public sector and hospital employer-sponsored housing. The bill provides that it is the policy of the state to support housing for employees of hospitals, health care facilities, and governmental entities and to allow developers in receipt of federal low-income housing tax credits using federal lowincome housing tax credits allocated pursuant to s.420.5099 local or state funds, or other sources of funding available to finance the development of affordable housing to create a preference for housing for such employees. However, such preference must conform with the requirements of s.42(g)(9) of the Internal Revenue Code.
TRANSPORTATION
Transportation: CS/CS/CS/SB 462 E1 ER (Sen. DiCeglie) was passed by the legislature on April 29. Effective date is July 1, 2025; however, amendments in the bill dealing with school bus infractions become effective immediately upon the bill becoming law. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on June 19
The bill addresses various provisions relating to transportation. Specifically, it:
• revises provisions regarding metropolitan planning organizations (MPO) to:
◦ amend legislative intent regarding MPOs to emphasize: developing multimodal transportation systems, instead of surface transportation systems; serving the mobility needs of people and freight and fostering economic growth and development throughout the urbanized areas of this state in accordance with Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) mission statement;
◦ provide that after July 1, 2025, no additional MPOs may be designated in Florida except in urbanized areas where the urbanized area is not contiguous to an urbanized area designated before the 2020 census;
◦ amend the considerations required by each MPO in developing its Long-Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) and Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to include conserving natural resources, instead of promoting energy conservation; additionally, MPOs must consider projects and strategies to reduce traffic and congestion;
◦ require that FDOT to at least annually convene MPOs of similar size, based on population served, to exchange best practices, and authorizes MPOs to develop committees or working groups as needed to accomplish such purpose;
◦ provide that, at FDOT’s discretion, training for new MPO governing board members shall be provided by FDOT, an entity pursuant to a contract with FDOT, by the Center for Urban Transportation Research or by the Implementing Solutions for Transportation Research and Evaluation of Emerging Technologies (ISTREET) Living Lab;
◦ include public-private partnerships in the list of innovative financing techniques that MPOs may consider;
◦ regarding transportation enhancement activities, include the integration of advanced air mobility and integration of autonomous and electric vehicles, electric bicycles, and motorized scooters used for freight, commuter or micromobility purposes; remove historic preservation, mitigation of water pollution due to highway runoff, and control of outdoor advertising as potential transportation enhancement activities;
◦ authorize each MPO to execute a written agreement with FDOT, which must be reviewed, and updated as necessary, every five years, which clearly establishes the cooperative relationship essential to accomplish state and federal transportation planning requirements; and
◦ require FDOT to establish, in collaboration with each MPO, quality performance metrics such as safety, infrastructure condition, congestion relief, and mobility; require each MPO, as part of its LRTP, in direct coordination with FDOT, to develop targets for each performance measure within the metropolitan planning area and report progress toward establishing performance targets for each measure annually in its transportation improvement plan;
• allows vehicular traffic on coastal beaches for removal of rental equipment using off-highway vehicles as defined in s.317.0003, as authorized by the governing body having jurisdiction of the coastal property through formal agreement;
• requires each county to submit specific information annually for surtax revenues received pursuant to s.212.055(1) to the Office of Economic and Demographic Research;
• amend the definition of micromobility device to mean a motorized transportation device designed for individual use which is typically 20 to 36 inches in width and 50 pounds or less in weight and which operates at a speed of typically less than 15 miles per hour but no more than 28 miles per hour; includes both a human powered and a nonhuman-powered device such as a bicycle, electric bicycle, motorized scooter, or any other device that is owned by an individual or part of a shared fleet;
• amends provisions related to school bus infractions;
• expands the authority of a local government to adopt an ordinance governing the operation of electric bicycles to include on streets, highways, sidewalks, and sidewalk areas within their jurisdiction, as well as those under their jurisdiction;
• authorizes a local government to adopt an ordinance providing one or more minimum age requirements to operate an electric bicycle and may adopt an ordinance requiring an operator of an electric bicycle to possess a government-issued photographic identification while operating the electric bicycle, and allows local government to provide training on the safe operation of electric bicycles and compliance with the traffic laws of this state that apply to electric bicycles;
• authorizes a local government to adopt an ordinance providing one or more minimum age requirements to operate a motorized scooter or micromobility device and may adopt an ordinance requiring a person who operates a motorized scooter or micromobility device to possess a government-issued photographic identification while operating the motorized scooter or micromobility device; allows a local government to provide training on the safe operation of motorized scooters and micromobility devices and compliance with the traffic laws of this state that apply to motorized scooters and micromobility devices;
• prohibits a person from operating a motor vehicle, vessel, or any other conveyance at a speed that creates an excessive wake on a flooded or inundated street or highway;
• creates a process for FDOT to issue expectant mother parking permits;
• prohibit a publicly owned airport from charging a landing fee established on or after January 1, 2025, for aircraft operations conducted by an accredited non-profit institution located in the state which offers a 4-year collegiate aviation program, when such aircraft operations are for flight training necessary for pilot certification and proficiency;
• amends the Florida Airport Development and Assistance Act to change various references from airports to public-use airports, and amends the definition of the term “eligible agency” to include a public-private partnership through a lease or agreement under s.255.065, with a political subdivision of the state or an authority, which owns or seeks to develop a public-use airport;
• authorizes a municipality, county, or authority that owns a public-use airport to participate in the FAA’s Airport Investment Partnership Program by contracting with a private partner to operate the airport under lease or agreement. Subject to the availability of appropriated funds from aviation fuel tax revenues, FDOT may provide for improvements to a municipality, county, or authority that has a private partner under the federal Airport Investment Partnership Program for capital costs of a discretionary improvement project at a public-use airport;
• establishes an airport pilot program at the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority;
• authorizes FDOT to use eminent domain to in advance preserve a corridor for future proposed improvements;
• authorizes FDOT to provide workforce development grants to state colleges and school districts, prioritizing those in in counties in rural communities, for the purchase of equipment simulators and the purchase of instructional aids for use in conjunction with the simulators, and to support offering elective courses in heavy civil construction; allows FDOT annually expend up to $5 million form the State Transportation Fund for FY 2025-26 through 2029-30;
• amends the membership of the Center for Urban Transportation Research ;
• requires project concept studies and PD&E studies for capacity improvements on limited access facilities to evaluate the alternatives to using elevated roadways above existing lanes;
• requires PD&E studies for new alignment projects and capacity improvement projects to be completed, to the maximum extent possible, within 18 months after the date of commencement;
• require FDOT, if it intends to reject all bids on a project, to provide the lowest responsive, responsible bidder the opportunity to negotiate the scope of work with a reduction in price, and to provide a reduced bid without filing a protest or posting a bond;
• revises provisions related to design-build contracts;
• provides additional insurance requirements for bridge-related contracts over navigable waters;
• authorizes FDOT to waive prequalification for push-button projects having contracts of $1 million or less or non-push-button projects having a contract price of $500,000 or less;
• authorizes FDOT to waive the requirement for a contract bond for contracts of $250,000 or less;
• requires contractors seeking to bid on certain FDOT maintenance contracts to possess the qualifications, record, experience, and equipment needed to perform such work;
• increases threshold amounts for contract disputes resolved by the State Arbitration Board from $1 million to up to $2 million, or upon agreement, greater than $2 million;
• requires FDOT, in its Strategic Intermodal System highway corridors plan of projects, to prioritize projects affecting gaps in a corridor so that the corridor becomes contiguous in its functional characteristics across the corridor;
• requires FDOT to implement a next-generation traffic signal modernization program, to increase traffic signal interconnectivity and provide real-time traffic optimization to improve traffic flow and safety;
• amends the requirements for the Greater Miami Expressway Authority governing body members; and
• requires FDOT to develop and submit a report on the widening of Interstate 4 from U.S. 27 in Polk County to I75 in Hillsborough County as efficiently as possible; the report must be submitted to the Governor, Senate President, and House Speaker by Dec 31, 2025
Transportation: CS/CS/CS/SB 1662 E2 ER (Sen. Collins) was passed by the legislature on April 30. Effective date is July 1, 2025 Signed by Gov. DeSantis on June 19
The bill addresses various provisions relating to transportation. Specifically, it:
• 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 and requires them to follow the standards for public officers provided in s.112.313;
• requires the FTC to monitor any transit entity receiving public transit block grant funding;
• creates the Florida Transportation Research Institute whose mission of the institute is to advance the state’s transportation infrastructure and systems through research, education, and engagement for a safer and more efficient, resilient, and innovative movement of people and goods throughout this state;
• amends FDOT’s areas of program responsibility to add operational technology, change modal development to supply chain and modal development, and change information systems to information technology;
• authorizes certain space-related and commercial shipbuilding projects to receive Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development funding;
• requires the Florida Seaport Mission Plan to provide specific recommendations for the construction of transportation facilities connecting any port to the space and aerospace industries;
• requires each port member of the Florida Seaport Transportation and Economic Development Council to submit semiannual reports t FDOT regarding their operations and support of the state’s economic competitiveness and supply chain;
• prohibits state funding under the Strategic Port Investment Initiative to a seaport near certain spaceport territory unless it agrees not to convert any planned or existing land, facility, or infrastructure designated for cargo purposes to any alternative purpose unless the conversion is approved by the seaport at a publicly noticed meeting as a separate line item on the agenda and with a reasonable opportunity for public comment, and if approved, the legislature expressly approves the use of state funds for a project that includes the conversion;
• creates an intermodal logistics center working group within FDOT to coordinate the planning and development of intermodal logistic centers across the state;
• repeals provisions regarding high-occupancy vehicle lanes;
• authorizes the withholding of state transportation funds deposited in the State Transportation Trust Fund to local jurisdictions for traffic signals not in compliance with FDOT’s uniform system for traffic control devices until the local jurisdiction demonstrates the signals are in compliance;
• allows FDOT to issue a mobile crane special blanket permit for certain purposes;
• revises provisions related to disabled veterans license plates;
• amends definitions in s.330.27, dealing with aircraft and airports;
• requires FDOT to certify private airports of public interest before aircraft operations are allowed; a private airport that was engaged in operations associated with a private airport of public interest on or before July 1, 2025, must obtain a certificate from the department by July 1, 2030:
◦ a private airport of public interest means a private airport engaged in air ambulance operations, commercial air tour operations, commuter operations, on-demand operations, public charter operations, scheduled operations, or supplemental operations; and
◦ the certificate expires 5 years after its effective date
• prohibits a publicly-owned airport from charging a landing fee established on or after Jan. 1, 2025 for aircraft operations conducted by an accredited non-profit institution located in the state that offers a 4-year collegiate aviation program, if such aircraft operations are for flight training necessary for pilot certification and proficiency;
• authorizes FDOT, in consultation with the Department of Commerce and the Department of Environmental Protections, to fund infrastructure projects, and projects associated with critical infrastructure facilities, within or outside of a space port territory as long as the project supports aerospace or launch support facilities within an adjacent spaceport territory boundary;
• requires airports to provide FDOT with the opportunity to use airport property that is not subject to an existing lease agreement with a third party and is not within the air navigation facility as a staging area for equipment and personnel to support emergency preparedness and response operations during certain declared states of emergency;
• require each commercial service airport to establish and maintain a comprehensive infrastructure program to ensure the ongoing preservation and of airport infrastructure and facilities in safe and serviceable condition, and provides the requirements for those programs;
• expands the types of public airport and the aviation discretionary capacity improvement projects that FDOT shall provide priority funding in support of;
• provides that FDOT may fund projects performed by postsecondary education institutions as defined in s.1008.47 that support the training of pilots, air traffic control personnel, or aircraft maintenance technical
personnel, and fund programs that support the transition of honorably discharged military personnel to the aviation industry;
• revises s.332.0075 to amend the definition of “commercial service airport” to include airports providing commercial service, including large, medium, small, and non-hub airports as classified by the FAA;
• amends the definition of “governing body” for a commercial service airport and specifies the type of information and the time period for specified information to be posted on the commercial service airport website;
• requires commercial service airports to notify FDOT after receiving certain communications or directives from the federal government and following issues or incidents of concern;
• requires FDOT to address the need for vertiports, advanced air mobility, and other advances in aviation technology in the statewide aviation plan and, as appropriate, in its work program;
• revises FDOT’s authorization regarding public information and education campaigns, and provides authorization to enter into insurance contracts and purchase heavy equipment and vehicles;
• retires that, on an annual basis, an amount equal to at least 1.5 percent of the total amount contracted for the average of the previous three completed fiscal years of construction projects must be allocated by FDOT on a statewide basis for the purchase of plant materials to enhance the State Highway System rights-of-ways and arterial facilities;
• requires FDOT to develop standards for landscaping materials native to specific regions of the state which are reflective of the state’s heritage and natural landscapes;
• provides that a parking authority created by special act may operate, manage, and control parking facilities in contiguous counties, municipalities, or other local governmental entities upon entering into interlocal agreements with the governing bodies of the appropriate contiguous counties, municipalities, or local governmental entities;
• creates the Florida Transportation Academy, within FDOT, to coordinate with certain entities regarding transportation industry workforce development;
• authorizes FDOT, for access management permits issued after July 1, 1988, to require the modification of an existing connection to a state road if the connection would jeopardize public safety or negatively impact the highway’s operational characteristics;
• increases the size of a “small business” as it relates to FDOT’s business development program from less than $15 million in yearly gross receipts for road and bridge contracts to less than $25 million, and from less than $6.5 million in yearly gross receipts for professional and non-professional services contracts to less than $10 million;
• repeals FDOT’s disadvantaged business enterprise program and related provisions;
• authorizes FDOT, at the discretion of the Secretary of FDOT, to require a surety bond in an amount less than the awarded contract price;
• provides 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 the Department of Transportation pursuant to this chapter and the Department of Environmental Protection, or its delegate, pursuant to Chapter 403;
• prohibits camping on right-of-way of the State Highway System, unless the person is actively navigating the Florida National Scenic Trail with the appropriate permits;
• requires FDOT’s budget requests, pursuant to s.339.135 to include a report identifying any of the following entities that has adopted or promoted energy policy goals inconsistent with the energy policy of the state set forth in s.377.601, as determined after consultation with DACS, the Public Service Commission and DEP:
◦ a public transit provider as defined in s.341.031(1);
◦ an authority created pursuant to Chapters 342, 348, or 349;
◦ a public-use airport as defined in s.332.004; and
◦ a port listed in s 311.09(1)
• amends the FDOT’s Strategic Intermodal System supply chain program by making FDOT’s funding permissive, and removing specific dates, including the 2028 repeal date, making the program permanent;
• makes permanent the allocation of unused New Starts Transit funds to the Strategic Intermodal Systems;
• amends provisions related to the public transit block grant program;
• revises the membership of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s governing body;
• require FDOT to coordinate with all state agencies, including the Department of Environmental Protection, and water management districts to establish a workgroup to review state statutes, policies, practices, and standards relating to statewide mapping programs; and
• require FDOT, in coordination with the workgroup, to review state statutes and policies related to geospatial data sharing throughout state government and make recommendations to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by Nov. 15, 2025, for any legislative action necessary to establish the Department of Transportation as the primary point of contact for statewide geographic information systems and to update statutes relating to geographic information systems and geospatial data sharing to allow for coordination and access to such systems and geospatial data.
Hazardous Walking Conditions (CS/CS/HB 85 ER, Rep. Kendall): Amends s.1006.23(2) to expand the criteria for identifying hazardous walking conditions to include walkways along a limited access facility. Effective July 1, 2025. Signed by Gov. DeSantis on May 21.
Bills That Died:
Of interest, the following bills were among those that failed to pass this year:
• Adaptive Reuse of Land (SB 1572, HB 409)
• Adoption of Comprehensive Plan Amendments (HB 1561)
• Areas of Critical State Concern (SB 1326, HB 995)
• Building and Plumbing Permits for the Use of Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems (SB 1120)
• Building Permits for a Single-family Dwellings (SB 1128, HB 1035)
• Community Associations (SB 368)
• Conversion of Hotels into Residential Housing (SB 1036, HB 685)
• Education (SB 140, HB 123)
• Florida Building Code (SB 838)
• Historic Cemeteries Program (SB 310)
• Housing (SB 184, HB 247)
• Impact Fees (SB 482, HB 665)
• Land Use and Development Regulations (SB 1118, HB 1209)
• Land Use and Zoning (SB 634, HB 401)
• Local Business Taxes (SB 1196, HB 503)
• Local Governing Authorities (SB 1188, HB 569)
• Local Government Code Enforcement (SB 1104, HB 281)
• Local Option Taxes (SB 1664, SB 1114, HB 6031, HB 1221)
• Nature-based Methods for Improving Coastal Resilience (SB 50, HB 371)
• Powers of County Commissioners to Levy Special Assessments (SB 432)
• Property Owner Liability (SB 724, HB 599)
• Rapid Rail Compact (SB 966, HB 833)
• Regional Planning and Economic Development (SB 1264, HB 1125)
• Resilience Districts (SB 1316)
• Resilient Buildings (SB 62, HB 143)
• Restrictions on Redevelopment (SB 452)
• Solar Facilities (SB 1304, HB 1595)
• Special Districts (SB 986, HB 973)
• State Preemption of the Regulation of Hoisting Equipment (SB 346, HB 6009)
• Transportation Concurrency (SB 1074, SB 1738, HB 203)
• Water Management Districts (SB 7002, HB 1169)