TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis received another batch of 25 bills from the Legislature, covering a range of subjects like animal adoptions, killing bears, and health treatments.
DeSantis has until June 22 to act on the bills.
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According to the Legislative analyses, each of the newly received bills is as follows:
HB 73 — Developmental Disabilities
House Bill 73 aims to establish a “supportive decision-making agreement” (SDM) as a type of power of attorney for those with developmental disabilities.
Under this bill, courts would be required to address whether an “incapacitated individual” would need help to exercise their rights during a petition to determine incapacity, and to what extent he/she needs that help.
The SDM allows a supporter to help such an individual with communication and decision-making, though the SDM can’t necessarily bind a person with disabilities to any of the supporter’s actions.
In addition, the bill would add the SDM as a document that can be used by parents in educational decision-making.
If approved, the bill would take effect on July 1.
HB 87 — Taking of Bears
House Bill 87 aims to create a “Self Defense Act,” which allows people to use lethal force against a bear under certain conditions.
Those conditions are as follows:
- The person reasonably believed it was necessary to avoid the imminent threat of death or serious harm to themselves, someone else, or a pet.
- The person didn’t lure the bear with materials like food for illegal reasons, such as training dogs to hunt.
- The person didn’t purposefully or “recklessly” place himself/herself or a pet in a situation where lethal force was necessary.
- The person notified FWC within 24 hours after using lethal force against a bear.
In addition, the bill would prohibit people from owning, selling or disposing of a bear or its parts in this situation. Instead, FWC would handle the disposal.
If approved, the bill would go into effect on July 1.
HB 273 — Public Records (Animal Adoptions)
House Bill 273 aims to create a public records exemption for the personal information of people who adopt or foster pets from shelters or humane societies.
However, that exemption is subject to the state’s Open Government Sunset Review Act, meaning it will be repealed on Oct. 2, 2029 unless reenacted by the Legislature.
If approved, this bill would take effect upon being signed.
HB 303 — Rabies Vaccinations
House Bill 303 aims to allow agents of a local animal control authority or sheriff’s office to administer rabies vaccinations.
To do so, the agent would have to be supervised by a veterinarian, and the vaccines may be provided to impounded dogs, cats and ferrets that are set to be adopted or fostered.
However, the veterinarian wouldn’t have to be physically present — the veterinarian would only be required to be available for consultation via telecommunications.
If approved, the bill would go into effect on July 1.
HB 429 — Real Property
House Bill 429 aims to put the secretary of state — as opposed to the governor — in charge of appointing commissioners of deeds.
The bill would also revise the Florida Vacation Plan and Timesharing Act, making the following changes:
- Allows a COA’s board of administration to “delete” facilities with member approval as long as those deletions are approved by at least two-thirds of the board.
- Grants the managing firm of a timeshare project the right to remove someone from the property, just like with hotel operators, restaurants and similar establishments
- Requires the managing firm of a timeshare condo to provide a necessary assessment certificate instead of the estoppel certificate
If approved, the bill would take effect on July 1.
HB 755 — Canaveral Port District
House Bill 755 aims to amend the charter of the Canaveral Port District, a special district in Brevard County.
If passed, this bill would revise certain features of the charter, including recordkeeping guidelines, foreign-trade zone boundaries, and the port’s governing authority.
If approved, this bill would take effect upon being signed.
HB 823 — North Okaloosa Fire District
House Bill 823 aims to provide more authority to the North Okaloosa Fire District, a special district in Okaloosa County.
Under this bill, the district’s board of fire commissioners would be allowed to schedule impact fees to pay for new facilities and equipment, as well as enter agreements with the county to share public funds if the county government already imposes impact fees for fire protection services.
If approved, this bill would take effect upon being signed.
HB 849 — Veterinary Telehealth
House Bill 849 aims to create the “Providing Equity in Telehealth Services” (PETS) Act, which allows for the use of veterinary telehealth.
Under the bill, though, veterinarians would be prohibited from prescribing certain drugs unless the animal has been examined in person.
If approved, the bill would go into effect on July 1.
HB 897 — Dorcas Fire District
House Bill 897 aims to change the Dorcas Fire District, an independent special district in Okaloosa County.
Under this bill, it would be changed into a dependent special district, with a board made up of Okaloosa County commissioners or their appointees.
If approved, this bill would take effect upon being signed.
HB 975 — Homeless Services
House Bill 975 aims to amend state statutes regarding employment screening for homeless service professionals.
This bill would add more requirements to background screenings for such positions to protect vulnerable people from potential harm.
However, while people with a lived experience of homelessness can use that experience to help others, these same people could have criminal histories that would prevent them from passing these screenings.
As a result, the bill aims to set up means for these people to undergo a modified background screening process so that they can be employed by certain homeless service providers.
If approved, the bill would go into effect on July 1, 2025.
HB 1021 — Community Associations
House Bill 1021 aims to make changes under the law regarding community associations — such as condo associations (COAs) or homeowners associations (HOAs) — and their management.
Under this bill, such managers would be required to return all of their CA records within 20 days of a service agreement being terminated.
The bill would also make the following changes:
- Various new requirements regarding record-keeping by community associations
- Criminal penalties for associations accepting kickbacks or engaging in fraudulent voting activities
- Requirements for residential COAs with 10 or more units to meet at least once quarterly for community members to ask questions
If approved, the bill would take effect on July 1.
HB 1115 — Three Rivers Stewardship District
House Bill 1115 aims to revise the boundaries of the Three Rivers Stewardship District, a special district in Sarasota County.
Under this bill, the district’s boundaries would be amended to correct for errors in property descriptions and add another tract to the district.
In total, the bill would increase the district’s acreage by nearly 1,000 acres.
If approved, this bill would take effect upon being signed.
HB 1117 — North Port District
House Bill 1117 aims to create the “Star Farms Village at North Port Stewardship District,” a special district in Sarasota County.
Under this bill, the new 2,086-acre district would be established in the city of North Port, and its purpose would be to install and maintain community infrastructure.
If approved, this bill would take effect upon being signed.
HB 1165 — Town of Sneads
House Bill 1165 aims to provide more land to the town of Sneads in Jackson County.
While the town is currently about 4.5 square miles, this bill would convey around 13.44 acres of land of state land to Sneads.
In addition, the bill would require that Sneads use the given land for recreational purposes.
If approved, this bill would take effect upon being signed.
HB 1483 — Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board
House Bill 1483 aims to recodify prior special acts regarding the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board.
Under this bill, the board’s charter would see the following changes:
- Update definitions about types of contracting
- Remove registration requirements for contractors to fit with a licensing law that takes effect on July 1
- Provide certification exams for specialty contractors
- Clarify why disciplinary action can be brought against a certificate
If approved, this bill would take effect upon being signed.
HB 1571 — Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority
House Bill 1571 aims to remove a provision regarding the powers of the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority.
Specifically, the bill would remove a section “prohibiting combination of water system with sewer system within geographic boundaries of authority for purposes of financing.”
If approved, the bill would take effect on July 1.
HB 1573 — Pace Fire Rescue District
House Bill 1573 aims to amend the charter of the Pace Fire Rescue District, a special district in Santa Rosa County.
Under this bill, the district’s tax authority would be restricted, with maximum rates imposed on non-ad valorem assessments.
If approved, this bill would take effect upon being signed, though the changes to the charter would go into effect on Oct. 1.
HB 1575 — Avalon Beach-Mulat Fire Protection District
House Bill 1575 aims to amend the charter of the Avalon Beach-Mulat Fire Protection District, a special district in Santa Rosa County.
Under this bill, the district’s tax authority would be restricted, with maximum rates imposed on non-ad valorem assessments.
If approved, this bill would take effect upon being signed, though the changes to the charter would go into effect on Oct. 1.
HB 1577 — Midway Fire District
House Bill 1577 aims to amend the charter of the Midway Fire District, a special district in Santa Rosa County.
Under this bill, the district’s tax authority would be restricted, with maximum rates imposed on non-ad valorem assessments.
If approved, this bill would take effect upon being signed, though the changes to the charter would go into effect on Oct. 1.
HB 6007 — St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office
House Bill 6007 aims to pay a woman compensation after her lawsuit against the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
The woman — Julia Perez — was knocked unconscious for three months after she struck a patrol car while riding her motorcycle back in 2019, according to News 6 partner WJXT.
In the aftermath, the deputy whose patrol car she struck — who was making a U-turn at the time of the crash — was found to be at fault.
Due to the significant injuries that Perez suffered, county commissioners approved a $6.3 million settlement, which this bill seeks to award to Perez.
If approved, this bill would take effect upon being signed.
HB 7019 — Homestead Exemptions
House Bill 7019 aims to implement changes to the state’s Constitution as proposed by House Bill 7017.
More specifically, this bill would amend the law accordingly to add an annual inflation adjustment to exemptions on assessed values for all levies (aside from school district levies) between $50,000 and $75,000.
If approved by DeSantis — and if HB 7017 is approved by voters later this year — the bill would take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
HB 7021 — Baker Act and Marchman Act
House Bill 7021 aims to amend the Baker Act and Marchman Act, which deal with mental health and substance abuse, respectively.
Under this bill, the Baker Act would have the following changes:
- Gives officers discretion when it comes to initiating involuntary examinations
- Requires the 72-hour examination period to start when a patient arrives at a facility
- Extends the maximum time a person can be ordered into involuntary outpatient services from 90 days to six months
- Removes the 30-bed limit for crisis stabilization units
Under this bill, the Marchman Act would have the following changes:
- Requires courts to inform respondents about the of the right to request an independent assessment
- Reduces a court’s timeframe to schedule a hearing from 15 days to 10 days
- Allows the person who filed a petition for a treatment order to petition to extend that treatment
- Combines the two-petition process — for assessment and stabilization, and for treatment —into a single process
If approved, the bill would go into effect on July 1.
SB 362 — Medical Treatment
Senate Bill 362 aims to increase the maximum medical reimbursements for physicians and surgical procedures — as well as maximum fees for expert witnesses — under Florida’s “Workers Compensation Law.”
If approved, the bill would go into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
SB 692 — Public Records (FGCC)
Senate Bill 692 aims to create a public records exemption for personal information about commissioners on the Florida Gaming Control Commission (FGCC).
Under this bill, the following information about these figures would be exempted from the public record:
- Home addresses, telephone numbers, dates of birth and photographs
- Places of employment for spouses and children
- Names and locations of schools/day cares attended by children
However, that exemption is subject to the state’s Open Government Sunset Review Act, meaning it would be repealed on Oct. 2, 2029 unless reenacted by the Legislature.
If approved, the bill would take effect on July 1.
SB 1698 — Food and Hemp Products
Senate Bill 1698 aimed to make changes to the State Hemp Program.
Under this bill, high-potency hemp products — such as those with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and other cannabinoids — would have been banned.
However, DeSantis vetoed this bill within the same day he received it, citing undue regulatory burdens on small businesses.
“Senate Bill 1698 would introduce dramatic disruption and harm to many small retail and manufacturing businesses in Florida — businesses that have emerged due to recent legislation paving the way for the commercial use of hemp,” DeSantis wrote.
For a list of all the new laws going into effect next month, click here.
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