TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed another batch of 11 bills into law, covering issues like developmental disabilities, homeless services and condo associations.
Some of these laws will be joining over 150 others that are set to go into effect next month. For a full list of those laws, click here.
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According to the Legislative analyses, each of the new laws signed on Friday is as follows:
HB 73 — Developmental Disabilities
House Bill 73 establishes a “supportive decision-making agreement” (SDM) as a type of power of attorney for those with developmental disabilities.
Under this law, courts are 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 law adds the SDM as a document that can be used by parents in educational decision-making.
The law will take effect on July 1.
HB 755 — Canaveral Port District
House Bill 755 amends the charter of the Canaveral Port District, a special district in Brevard County.
This law revises certain features of the charter, including recordkeeping guidelines, foreign-trade zone boundaries, and the port’s governing authority.
This law took effect upon being signed.
HB 975 — Homeless Services
House Bill 975 amends state statutes regarding employment screening for homeless service professionals.
This bill adds 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 law sets up means for these people to undergo a modified background screening process so that they can be employed by certain homeless service providers.
The law will take effect on July 1, 2025.
HB 1021 — Community Associations (CAs)
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
The law will take effect on July 1.
HB 1115 — Three Rivers Stewardship District
House Bill 1115 revises the boundaries of the Three Rivers Stewardship District, a special district in Sarasota County.
Under this law, the district’s boundaries have been amended to correct for errors in property descriptions and add another tract to the district.
In total, the law increases the district’s acreage by nearly 1,000 acres.
This law took effect upon being signed.
HB 1117 — North Port District
House Bill 1117 creates the “Star Farms Village at North Port Stewardship District,” a special district in Sarasota County.
Under this law, 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.
This law took effect upon being signed.
HB 1165 — Town of Sneads
House Bill 1165 provides more land to the town of Sneads in Jackson County.
While the town is currently about 4.5 square miles, this law conveys around 13.44 acres of land of state land to Sneads.
In addition, the law requires that Sneads use the given land for recreational purposes.
This law took effect upon being signed.
HB 1483 — Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board
House Bill 1483 recodifies prior special acts regarding the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board.
Under this law, the board’s charter will 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
This law took effect upon being signed.
HB 1571 — Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority
House Bill 1571 removes a provision regarding the powers of the Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority.
Specifically, the bill removes a section “prohibiting combination of water system with sewer system within geographic boundaries of authority for purposes of financing.”
The law will take effect on July 1.
HB 7021 — Baker Act and Marchman Act
House Bill 7021 amends the Baker Act and Marchman Act, which deal with mental health and substance abuse, respectively.
Under this law, the Baker Act will 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 law, the Marchman Act will 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
The law will take effect on July 1.
SB 362 — Medical Treatment
Senate Bill 362 increases the maximum medical reimbursements for physicians and surgical procedures — as well as maximum fees for expert witnesses — under Florida’s “Workers Compensation Law.”
The law will take effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
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