TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday received 20 bills from the state Legislature covering a variety of issues, including building regulations, critical infrastructure crimes and rental security deposits.
DeSantis has until Wednesday, May 22 to decide whether to sign the bills into law.
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The news bills include the following:
HB 191 — Town of Orchid
House Bill 191 refers to the town of Orchid in Indian River County.
Under state law, local governments are required to hold public meetings within their jurisdictions — unless they have a population of 500 people or fewer.
Orchid — with a population of 531 as of last year — doesn’t have any meeting facilities in its boundaries, so it’s been holding public meetings at a local privately owned golf club instead.
As such, this bill would provide an exception under state statutes to allow Orchid to hold such meetings within five miles of its boundaries.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect immediately.
HB 267 — Building Regulations
House Bill 267 aims to amend the state’s building code.
More specifically, the bill would implement set time limits for local governments to either approve or deny permit applications.
In addition, the bill would make the following changes:
- Local governments must create auditing standards before auditing a private provider.
- Completing an internship program for residential building inspectors is a pathway for licensure as a residential building inspector.
- Sealed drawings will not be required for replacements of windows, doors, or garage doors in certain homes so long as they meet state standards.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
HB 275 — “Critical Infrastructure” Crimes
House Bill 275 aims to create new offenses under state law involving critical infrastructure.
“Critical infrastructure” in the bill refers to linear assets that are designed to exclude unauthorized people, such as fences, no-trespassing signs, generators, energy plants, or TV stations.
Under this bill, damaging, accessing or tampering with critical infrastructure could result in both criminal and civil penalties.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on July 1.
HB 415 — Pregnancy and Parenting Resources
House Bill 415 seeks to create a “comprehensive state website” with information about pregnancy and parenting resources.
Under this bill, the Department of Health would be responsible for contracting a third party to create the website with details on both public and private resources.
That website would have to include information on resources related to:
- Education materials on pregnancy and parenting
- Maternal health services
- Prenatal and postnatal services
- Educational and mentorship programs for fathers
- Social services
- Financial assistance
- Adoption services
If signed into law, this bill would take effect on July 1.
HB 509 — Collier Mosquito Control District
House Bill 509 aims to revise the boundaries of the Collier Mosquito Control District.
The special district is responsible for cutting down on local mosquito populations, though this bill would expand its boundaries and allow it to service a broader area.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on Oct. 1.
HB 691 — Town of Horseshoe Beach
House Bill 691 aims to provide exceptions for the quota limitation of “quota licenses” for certain restaurants in the town of Horseshoe Beach.
The bill is expected to increase revenues for local businesses in Horseshoe Beach, according to Legislative analysts.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect immediately.
HB 793 — Coral Springs Improvement District
House Bill 793 aims to address the Coral Springs Improvement District, which develops and operates water and sewer systems in Broward County.
This bill would revise certain purchasing and contract requirements for the special district, such as requiring the district to public bid notices, increasing the threshold for competitive bidding, and clarifying that the district must accept the bid of the lowest responsible bidder (unless it’s in the district’s best interest to reject all bids).
If signed into law, the bill would take effect immediately.
HB 819 — Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District
House Bill 819 aims to address the Lehigh Acres Municipal Services Improvement District, which is responsible for public infrastructure in parts of Lee and Hendry counties.
This bill would expand the boundaries of the special district, which is expected to increase revenues for the district.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on Oct. 1
HB 867 — North River Ranch Improvement Stewardship District
House Bill 867 aims to address the North River Ranch Improvement Stewardship District in Manatee County, which is responsible for overseeing community development.
This bill would revise the boundaries of the special district, ultimately adding over 100 acres to it. The changes are estimated to raise an extra $500,000 for the district.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect immediately.
HB 1023 — St. Lucie County
House Bill 1023 aims to amend health care policies for inmates at the St. Lucie County detention center.
Under this bill, health care providers who provide medical services to these inmates may only be compensated for up to 110% of the Medicare reimbursement rate if the provider doesn’t have a contract with the county.
In addition, such compensation would be limited to 125% of the Medicare reimbursement rate if the hospital reported a negative operating margin in the prior year.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect immediately.
HB 1025 — Municipal Service District of Ponte Vedra Beach
House Bill 1025 aims to address the Municipal Service District of Ponte Vedra Beach in St. Johns County, which is responsible for providing certain community services.
Under this bill, term limits for Trustees would receive a lifetime limit of 12 years.
In addition, the bill would increase the threshold for capital projects that require voter approval.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on Oct. 1.
HB 1133 — Vulnerable Road Users
House Bill 1133 aims to amend state statutes regarding traffic infractions involving “vulnerable road users.”
Under state law, “vulnerable road users” are defined as one of the following:
Pedestrian, including a person actually engaged in work upon a highway, or in work upon utility facilities along a highway, or engaged in the provision of emergency services within the right-of-way
Person operating a bicycle, an electric bicycle, a motorcycle, a scooter, or a moped lawfully on the roadway;
Person riding an animal; or
Person lawfully operating on a public right-of-way, crosswalk, or shoulder of the roadway any: farm tractor or similar vehicle designed primarily for farm use; skateboard, roller skates, or in-line skates; horse-drawn carriage; electric personal assistive mobility device; or wheelchair.
S. 316.027 (1)
HB 1133 would set up specific penalties for anyone who commits a non-criminal traffic infraction that seriously injures or kills a vulnerable road user.
Those penalties include fines, suspension of driver’s licenses, and the requirement to complete a driver improvement course.
These are in addition to any other criminal charges that could arise from such incidents.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on July 1.
HB 1305 — Security Deposits
House Bill 1305 aims to amend the state’s Residential Landlord and Tenant Act following a recent case out of Palm Beach County.
According to Seeking Rents, the case involved two tenants who sued their former apartment complex after it failed to return a $500 security deposit.
Under state law, security deposits have to be held in a “Florida banking institution,” and the complex had kept the tenants’ deposits in an account with JP Morgan Chase — a national bank headquartered in New York.
Legislative analysts said that the definition of “Florida banking institution” used by plaintiffs in that case have since been repealed, but because the Act doesn’t define that term, it opens up the possibility of similar lawsuits in the future, which could deter developers from investing in more rental housing that would drop prices.
As a result, HB 1305 adds the following definition for “Florida banking institution” to the Act:
A bank, credit union, trust company, savings bank, or savings or thrift association doing business under the authority of a charter issued by the United States, this state, or any other state which is authorized to transact business in this state and whose deposits or share accounts are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund
House Bill 1305
If signed into law, the bill would go into effect immediately.
HB 1567 — Emergency Management Directors
House Bill 1567 aims to create requirements to qualify for Emergency Management Directors in the state.
Under the State Emergency Management Act, each county is required to have a director for its respective emergency management agency.
These directors are appointed by local leaders, though there are no specific minimum qualifications to serve as one.
As such, this bill seeks to establish minimum education, experience and training requirements to qualify for a director position. These standards include holding a bachelor’s degree, having at least four years of similar experience in another role, and completing 150 hours of emergency management training.
If HB 1567 is approved, existing county emergency management directors will have until June 30, 2026 to meet the new criteria.
If signed into law, the bill would go into effect on July 1.
HB 5401 — New Judgeships
House Bill 5401 aims to establish a few new judge positions in Florida.
According to Legislative analysts, the state’s Supreme Court issued an order in November detailing the need for the new positions.
As a result, this bill would set up the following:
- A circuit court judgeship in the First Judicial Circuit (Escambia, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa and Walton counties)
- A circuit court judgeship in the Twentieth Judicial Circuit (Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties)
- A county court judgeship in Columbia County
- A county court judgeship in Santa Rosa County
- Two county court judgeships in Hillsborough County
- Three new county court judgeships in Orange County
If signed into law, the bill would go into effect on July 1.
SB 92 — Yacht and Ship Brokers’ Act
Senate Bill 92 aims to revise state regulations of yacht and ship brokers/salespeople.
Under this bill, such brokers wouldn’t be required to hold a license in Florida if they primarily operate as a broker in another state and buy a yacht from someone in Florida who is licensed.
If signed into law, the bill would go into effect on Oct. 1.
SB 328 — Affordable Housing
Senate Bill 328 aims to amend parts of the Live Local Act.
Some of those changes are as follows:
- Preempting local governments’ “floor area ratio” for certain developments
- Prohibiting qualifying developments within 1/4-mile of a military installation from using the Act’s administrative approval process
- Exempting certain airport-impacted areas from the Act’s provisions
- Modifying parking reduction requirements for qualifying developments located near certain transportation facilities
- Requiring local governments to publish policies on their websites about the procedures and expectations for approval of qualifying developments
- Clarifying that only the affordable units in a qualifying development must be rental units
For ad valorem tax exemptions on newly constructed multifamily developments, the bill would require 10 units — rather than 70 — be set aside for income-limited households in the Florida Keys to qualify for the exemption.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect immediately.
SB 382 — Continuing Education Requirements
Senate Bill 382 aims to revise requirements for licensure by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
Under this bill, someone trying to renew their license with the DBPR and who has held their license for at least 10 years is exempted from being required to complete continuing education — so long as there is no disciplinary action imposed on the license.
However, this rule would not apply to engineers, CPAs, brokers, broker associates, sales associates, real estate appraisers, architects or interior designers.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on July 1.
SB 892 — Dental Insurance Claims
Senate Bill 892 aims to revise parts of the Florida Insurance Code related to covered dental services.
Under this bill, insurers would be prohibited from denying claim payments if a dental procedure was authorized by an insurer before taking place, with few exceptions.
In addition, the bill seeks to make other changes, like requiring insurers to receive written consent from dentists prior to employing claim payments via credit cards, and prohibiting insurers from charging dentists a fee when paying a claim through an automatic clearinghouse.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
SB 994 — Student Transportation Safety
Senate Bill 994 aims to revise state statutes related to camera enforcement of traffic infractions where a driver passes a stopped school bus.
More specifically, the bill would make the following changes:
- Manufacturers of school bus infraction detectors may receive a fixed amount of collected proceeds for services rendered regarding those detectors.
- Required signage on school buses with these detectors must be revised.
- Funds collected from related civil penalties are allocated to the respective school district to pay for the detector program and other student transportation safety enhancements.
- The collection of evidence from such a detector doesn’t constitute remote surveillance.
- The use of video and images on these detection systems are limited to their specific purpose.
- Certain traffic fines are remitted to the respective school district.
If signed into law, the bill would take effect immediately.
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