FL
Florida House Bill H1535

Florida 2025 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1535 Compare Versions

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1010 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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1414 A bill to be entitled 1
1515 An act relating to emergencies; amending s. 83.63, 2
1616 F.S.; requiring certain tenants to be given specified 3
1717 opportunities or notice; amending s. 101.733, F.S.; 4
1818 removing provisions relating to an elections emergency 5
1919 contingency plan; creating s. 101.7325, F.S. ; 6
2020 authorizing certain supervisors of elections to 7
2121 request authority to take specified actions under 8
2222 certain circumstances; requiring certain requests to 9
2323 be submitted in a specified manner; requiring the 10
2424 Secretary of State to approve or deny such requests 11
25-within a specified timeframe; providing criteria to be 12
26-considered when determining if a request should be 13
27-approved or denied; requiring certain requests to be 14
28-deemed approved; requiring such approvals and denials 15
29-to be posted in a specified manner; requirin g such 16
30-supervisors to use specified methods to inform 17
31-affected voters of election changes; creating s. 18
32-101.735, F.S.; requiring the Division of Elections to 19
33-develop a statewide election emergency contingency 20
34-plan for a specified purpose; requiring such pla n to 21
35-include certain procedures; requiring supervisors of 22
36-elections to develop a local election emergency 23
37-contingency plan in consultation with certain 24
38-officials; requiring the plan to be submitted to the 25
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47-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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51-division for approval by a certain date; requiring the 26
52-division to make a certain determination by a 27
53-specified date; requiring the division to adopt rules; 28
54-creating s. 101.736, F.S.; defining the term "tabletop 29
55-exercise"; requiring the Secretary of State, in 30
56-coordination with supervisors of elections, to d evelop 31
57-an election emergency training program; requiring the 32
58-Secretary of State to convene a workgroup for a 33
59-certain purpose by a specified date of every odd -34
60-numbered year; providing requirements for the 35
61-workgroup; requiring the results of the workgroup to 36
62-be used in a specified manner; creating s. 163.31795, 37
63-F.S.; defining the terms "cumulative substantial 38
64-improvement period" and "local government"; requiring 39
65-local governments that are participating in a 40
66-specified insurance program to adopt certain 41
67-cumulative substantial improvement periods; amending 42
68-s. 163.31801, F.S.; prohibiting certain entities from 43
69-assessing impact fees for specified replacement 44
70-structures; providing an exception; providing 45
71-construction; amending s. 193.155, F.S.; providing 46
72-that repair and maintenance of specified property is 47
73-not a change, an addition, or an improvement under 48
74-certain circumstances; revising the square footage 49
75-limitations for certain changes, additions, and 50
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84-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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88-improvements to damaged property; providing 51
89-construction; amending s. 215.559, F.S.; removing a 52
90-reference to a certain report; revising public 53
91-hurricane shelter funding prioritization requirements 54
92-for the Division of Emergency Management; amending s. 55
93-250.375, F.S.; authorizing certain servicemembers to 56
94-provide medical care in specified circumstances; 57
95-amending s. 252.35, F.S.; revising requirements for 58
96-the state comprehensive emergency management plan; 59
97-requiring such plan to include an update on the status 60
98-of certain emergency management capabilities; 61
99-requiring the division to collaborate with the 62
100-Department of Health; revising responsibilities of the 63
101-division; requiring the division to develop a certain 64
102-template; revising the purpose of certain training 65
103-programs; requiring the division to set the minimum 66
104-number of training hours that specified individuals 67
105-must complete biennially; authorizing such training to 68
106-be provided by certain entities; removing a specified 69
107-reporting requirement; amending s. 252.355, F.S.; 70
108-authorizing the Department of Veterans' Affairs to 71
109-provide certain information to specified clients or 72
110-their caregivers; requiring the Florida Housing 73
111-Finance Corporation to enter into memoranda of 74
112-understanding with specified agencies for a certain 75
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121-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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125-purpose; providing that specified persons may use 76
126-special needs shelters in certain circumstances; 77
127-amending s. 252.359, F.S.; revising the manner in 78
128-which the division facilitates transportation and 79
129-distribution of essentials before and after an 80
130-emergency; requiring local law enforcement to 81
131-cooperate with the division to ensure the availability 82
132-of essentials; providing that certain entities have 83
133-specified responsibilities determining roadways; 84
134-amending s. 252.3611, F.S.; directing specified 85
135-entities to submit specified contracts and reports to 86
136-the Legislature under specifi ed conditions; requiring 87
137-such contracts to be posted on a specified secure 88
138-contract system; requiring the division to report 89
139-annually to the Legislature specified information on 90
140-expenditures relating to emergencies; providing 91
141-requirements for such report; amending s. 252.363, 92
142-F.S.; providing for the tolling and extension of 93
143-certain determinations; providing for retroactive 94
144-application; amending s. 252.365, F.S.; requiring 95
145-agency heads to notify the Governor and the division 96
146-of the person designated as the e mergency coordination 97
147-officer annually by a specified date; amending s. 98
148-252.37, F.S.; requiring the division to notify the 99
149-Legislature of its intent to accept or apply for 100
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158-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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162-federal funds under certain circumstances; requiring 101
163-the division to take steps to m aximize the 102
164-availability and expedite the distribution of 103
165-financial assistance from the Federal Government to 104
166-state and local agencies; requiring that such steps 105
167-include the standardization and streamlining of the 106
168-application process for federal financial assistance 107
169-and the provision of assistance to applicants for a 108
170-specified purpose; requiring the division to use 109
171-certain federal funds to implement such requirements; 110
172-creating s. 252.3713, F.S.; requiring the division to 111
173-administer the Hazard Mitigation Gra nt Program; 112
174-authorizing the division to retain a specified 113
175-percentage of the funds for use within this state; 114
176-requiring the remaining percentage to be distributed 115
177-for use by certain recipients; authorizing 116
178-subrecipients to make a certain election for a 117
179-specified use; requiring the consideration of certain 118
180-projects; authorizing the division to coordinate with 119
181-specified entities under certain circumstances; 120
182-requiring the division to ensure that certain 121
183-requirements are met and certain projects are funded; 122
184-authorizing fiscally constrained counties to request 123
185-that the division administer the grant for such a 124
186-county; authorizing such counties to request certain 125
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195-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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199-assistance from the division; requiring the division 126
200-to adopt rules; amending s. 252.373, F.S.; conform ing 127
201-a cross-reference; amending s. 252.38, F.S.; requiring 128
202-political subdivisions to annually provide specified 129
203-notification to the division before a specified date; 130
204-creating s. 252.381, F.S.; requiring counties and 131
205-municipalities to post certain informati on on their 132
206-websites; requiring counties and municipalities to 133
207-develop a poststorm permitting plan; providing 134
208-requirements for such plan; requiring counties and 135
209-municipalities to publish on their websites a 136
210-specified storm recovery guide and updates to suc h 137
211-guide; prohibiting certain counties and municipalities 138
212-from increasing building permit or inspection fees 139
213-within a specified timeframe; requiring certain 140
214-counties and municipalities to use their best efforts 141
215-to open a permitting office for a minimum numb er of 142
216-hours per week; requiring entities to allow 143
217-individuals to receive certain letters electronically 144
218-on or before a specified date; amending s. 252.385, 145
219-F.S.; revising reporting requirements for the 146
220-division; revising requirements for a specified list; 147
221-requiring the Department of Health and the Agency for 148
222-Persons with Disabilities to assist the division with 149
223-certain determinations; creating s. 252.421, F.S.; 150
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232-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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236-requiring the division to coordinate with certain 151
237-counties for a specified purpose; creating s. 2 52.422, 152
238-F.S.; defining the term "impacted local government"; 153
239-prohibiting impacted local governments from proposing 154
240-or adopting certain moratoriums, amendments, or 155
241-procedures for a specified timeframe; authorizing the 156
242-enforcement of certain amendments, plan s, permits, and 157
243-orders under certain circumstances; authorizing any 158
244-person to file suit to enforce specified provisions; 159
245-authorizing counties and municipalities to request a 160
246-specified determination by a court; prohibiting 161
247-counties and municipalities from t aking certain 162
248-actions until the court has issued a preliminary or 163
249-final judgment; requiring plaintiffs to provide 164
250-certain notification before filing suit; requiring 165
251-impacted local governments to take certain actions 166
252-upon receipt of such notification or a s uit may be 167
253-filed; providing for reasonable attorney fees and 168
254-costs; authorizing the use of a certain summary 169
255-procedure; requiring the court to advance the cause on 170
256-the calendar; creating s. 252.505, F.S.; requiring 171
257-certain contracts to include a specified provision; 172
258-defining the term "emergency recovery period"; 173
259-amending s. 373.423, F.S.; requiring the Department of 174
260-Environmental Protection to submit a Flood Inventory 175
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269-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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273-and Restoration Report to the division by a specified 176
274-date; requiring the department to work with specified 177
275-entities to compile information for the report; 178
276-providing specifications for the report; requiring the 179
277-owner of certain infrastructure to submit certain 180
278-information to the department; requiring the 181
279-department to review and update the repo rt biannually; 182
280-requiring the department to submit an updated report 183
281-to the division by a specified date; amending s. 184
282-400.063, F.S.; conforming a cross -reference; amending 185
283-s. 403.7071, F.S.; providing that local governments 186
284-are authorized and encouraged to add certain addendums 187
285-to certain contracts and agreements; requiring 188
286-counties and municipalities to apply to the department 189
287-for authorization to designate at least one debris 190
288-management site; authorizing municipalities to apply 191
289-jointly with a county or adj acent municipality for 192
290-authorization of a debris management site if such 193
291-entities approve a memorandum of understanding; 194
292-providing requirements for such memorandum; creating 195
293-s. 489.1132, F.S.; providing definitions; requiring a 196
294-hurricane preparedness plan to be available for 197
295-inspection at certain worksites; requiring certain 198
296-equipment to be secured in a specified manner no later 199
297-than 24 hours before the impacts of a hurricane are 200
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306-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
307-
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310-anticipated to begin; providing penalties; requiring 201
311-the Florida Building Comm ission to establish specified 202
312-best practices and report findings to the Legislature 203
313-by a specified date; amending s. 553.902, F.S.; 204
314-revising the definition of the term "renovated 205
315-building"; requiring the division to consult with 206
316-specified entities to devel op certain recommendations 207
317-and provide a report to the Legislature by a specified 208
318-date; prohibiting certain counties from proposing or 209
319-adopting certain moratoriums, amendments, or 210
320-procedures for a specified timeframe; declaring that 211
321-such moratoriums, amend ments, or procedures are null 212
322-and void; providing for retroactive application; 213
323-authorizing the enforcement of certain amendments, 214
324-plans, permits, and orders under certain 215
325-circumstances; authorizing certain residents and 216
326-business owners to bring a civil act ion for 217
327-declaratory and injunctive relief against a county or 218
328-municipality that violates specified provisions; 219
329-providing for reasonable attorney fees and costs under 220
330-specified circumstances; providing for future 221
331-expiration; providing a directive to the Div ision of 222
332-Law Revision; providing an effective date. 223
333- 224
334-Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 225
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343-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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348- Section 1. Section 83.63, Florida Statutes, is amended to 227
349-read: 228
350- 83.63 Casualty damage. —If the premises are damaged or 229
351-destroyed other than by the wrongful or negligent acts of the 230
352-tenant so that the enjoyment of the premises is substantially 231
353-impaired:, 232
354- (1) The tenant may terminate the rental agreement and 233
355-immediately vacate the premises. The tenant may vacate the part 234
356-of the premises rendered unusable by the casualty, in which case 235
357-the tenant's liability for rent shall be reduced by the fair 236
358-rental value of that part of the premises damaged or destroyed. 237
359-If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord shall comply 238
360-with s. 83.49(3). 239
361- (2) The tenant must be given: 240
362- (a) The opportunity to collect his or her belongings from 241
363-the premises when it is safe to do so; or 242
364- (b) Notice of the date by which the tenant will be able to 243
365-collect his or her belongings from the premises, which must 244
366-occur within a reasonable time. 245
367- Section 2. Subsection (3) of section 101.733, Florida 246
368-Statutes, is amended to read: 247
369- 101.733 Emergency suspension or delay of an election 248
370-emergency; purpose; elections emergency contingency plan .—249
371-Because of the existing and continuing possibility of an 250
372-
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380-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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384-emergency or common disaster occurring before or during a 251
385-regularly scheduled or special election, and in order to ensure 252
386-maximum citizen participation in the electoral process and 253
387-provide a safe and orderly procedure for p ersons seeking to 254
388-exercise their right to vote, generally to minimize to whatever 255
389-degree possible a person's exposure to danger during declared 256
390-states of emergency, and to protect the integrity of the 257
391-electoral process, it is hereby found and declared to b e 258
392-necessary to designate a procedure for the emergency suspension 259
393-or delay and rescheduling of elections. 260
394- (3) The Division of Elections of the Department of State 261
395-shall adopt, by rule, an elections emergency contingency plan, 262
396-which shall contain goals an d policies that give specific 263
397-direction to state and local elections officials when an 264
398-election has been suspended or delayed due to an emergency. The 265
399-contingency plan shall be statewide in scope and shall address, 266
400-but not be limited to, the following conc erns: 267
401- (a) Providing a procedure for state and local elections 268
402-officials to follow when an election has been suspended or 269
403-delayed to ensure notice of the suspension or delay to the 270
404-proper authorities, the electorate, the communications media, 271
405-poll workers, and the custodians of polling places. 272
406- (b) Providing a procedure for the orderly conduct of a 273
407-rescheduled election, whether municipal, county, district, or 274
408-statewide in scope; coordinating those efforts with the 275
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417-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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421-appropriate elections official, and the m embers of the governing 276
422-body holding such election, if appropriate; and working with the 277
423-appropriate emergency management officials in determining the 278
424-safety of existing polling places or designating additional 279
425-polling places. 280
426- (c) Providing a procedure f or the release and 281
427-certification of election returns to the department for 282
428-elections suspended or delayed and subsequently rescheduled 283
429-under the provisions of ss. 101.731 -101.74. 284
430- Section 3. Section 101.7325, Florida Statutes, is created 285
431-to read: 286
432- 101.7325 Election emergency. — 287
433- (1) If the Governor declares a state of emergency for a 288
434-natural emergency, as defined in s. 252.34, fewer than 60 days 289
435-before an election, the supervisor of a county designated as 290
436-affected by such declaration may request ap proval from the 291
437-Secretary of State to take any of the following actions 292
438-necessary while the declaration continues to designate the area 293
439-as an affected area: 294
440- (a) Notwithstanding the designation deadline in s. 295
441-101.657(1)(b), change the location of designat ed early voting 296
442-sites. The request must identify the new address of each early 297
443-voting site and the hours during which early voting will occur 298
444-at each site. 299
445- (b) Notwithstanding the early voting site locations 300
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454-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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458-authorized in s. 101.657(1), request early vot ing sites at 301
459-locations not specifically authorized by law. The request must 302
460-set forth sufficient facts to establish that a sufficient number 303
461-of early voting sites that were designated, or that may be 304
462-designated under paragraph (a), are unavailable due to t he 305
463-emergency. For purposes of this paragraph, reasons that early 306
464-voting sites may be unavailable include, but are not limited to, 307
465-the site is no longer safe for occupancy, the site is located in 308
466-an area that is currently dangerous to travel to and from, or 309
467-the site does not have adequate utilities. An early voting site 310
468-designated under this paragraph must, to the maximum extent 311
469-practicable, be geographically located so as to provide all 312
470-voters in the area with an equal opportunity to cast a ballot. 313
471- (c) Notwithstanding s. 101.657(1)(d), allow early voting 314
472-to occur the day before an election. 315
473- (d) Notwithstanding ss. 101.657 and 101.71, allow election 316
474-day voting at early voting sites. The request must set forth 317
475-sufficient facts to establish that a s ufficient number of early 318
476-voting sites that were designated, or that may be designated 319
477-under paragraph (a), are unavailable due to the emergency. For 320
478-purposes of this paragraph, reasons that a polling place may be 321
479-unavailable include, but are not limited t o, the polling place 322
480-is no longer safe for occupancy, the polling place is located in 323
481-an area that is currently dangerous to travel to and from, or 324
482-the polling place does not have adequate utilities. An early 325
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491-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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495-voting site designated as a polling place under this paragraph 326
496-must, to the maximum extent practicable, be geographically 327
497-located so as to provide all voters in the area with an equal 328
498-opportunity to cast a ballot. 329
499- (e) Notwithstanding the designation deadline in s. 330
500-101.69(2)(b), designate additional s ecure ballot intake 331
501-stations. The request must identify the location of the 332
502-additional secure ballot intake stations. 333
503- (f) Send a vote-by-mail ballot to a voter who has 334
504-requested such ballot: 335
505- 1. By forwardable mail or to an address other than the 336
506-address listed for the voter in the statewide voter registration 337
507-system. 338
508- 2. Notwithstanding s. 101.62(1)(a) and (b), without the 339
509-voter's written request or if a written request is not signed. 340
510- 3. Notwithstanding s. 101.62(3)(c), as soon as 341
511-practicable. 342
512- (g) If the supervisor determines that a poll worker 343
513-shortage exists, appoint poll workers who have not met the 344
514-training requirements in s. 102.014. However, such poll workers 345
515-must have received the required training within the previous 2 346
516-years. 347
517- (h) Notwithstanding s. 102.012(2), appoint inspectors and 348
518-clerks who are registered qualified electors of this state but 349
519-who are not registered qualified electors of the applicable 350
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528-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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532-county. 351
533- (2) Each supervisor who submits a request pursuant to 352
534-subsection (1) must, to the extent practicable, submit all such 353
535-requests at once. Supervisors may submit revised or additional 354
536-requests should the emergency situation in his or her affected 355
537-county change. The Secretary of State must approve or deny the 356
538-requests in writing within 36 hours after receipt. In deciding 357
539-whether to approve the requests, the Secretary of State must 358
540-consider the severity of the natural emergency, the damage to 359
541-the impacted area, the extent of voter displacement, whether 360
542-voters in an affected area have an e qual opportunity to cast a 361
543-ballot, and any factor that could impede voter access to polling 362
544-places, early voting sites, or supervisor offices. If the 363
545-Secretary of State fails to approve or deny a request within the 364
546-36-hour period, the request is deemed app roved. The Secretary of 365
547-State must publish each approval and denial on the department's 366
548-website. 367
549- (3) The supervisor must publish each approval and denial 368
550-pursuant to subsection (2) on its website and must also use 369
551-print and broadcast media, social media, Internet websites, 370
552-polling place signage, and any other method necessary to inform 371
553-affected voters of any changes to elections made under this 372
554-section. 373
555- Section 4. Section 101.735, Florida Statutes, is created 374
556-to read: 375
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565-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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569- 101.735 Election emergency cont ingency plans.— 376
570- (1) The division shall adopt by rule a statewide election 377
571-emergency contingency plan to provide specific direction in the 378
572-event an emergency occurs preceding or during an election. The 379
573-contingency plan shall include, at minimum, procedure s to: 380
574- (a) Ensure that necessary parties are notified of any 381
575-changes impacting an election that has been suspended, delayed, 382
576-rescheduled, or otherwise affected by an emergency. As used in 383
577-this paragraph, necessary parties include proper authorities, 384
578-the electorate, the media, poll workers, and polling place 385
579-custodians. 386
580- (b) Ensure that an election that has been suspended, 387
581-delayed, rescheduled, or otherwise affected by an emergency is 388
582-conducted in a safe and orderly manner. The procedures must 389
583-include a plan to coordinate the actions of the division, 390
584-supervisors, county canvassing boards, and, if appropriate, 391
585-members of the governing body holding such election. 392
586- (c) Determine the safety of existing polling places or 393
587-designate additional polling places in c oordination with the 394
588-appropriate emergency management officials. 395
589- (d) Release and certify returns to the division for 396
590-elections suspended, delayed, rescheduled, or otherwise affected 397
591-by an emergency. 398
592- (e) Coordinate efforts between supervisors in affecte d and 399
593-unaffected counties to ensure voting opportunities for affected 400
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606-voters, including ensuring the delivery of vote -by-mail ballots 401
607-to law enforcement officers, military personnel, first 402
608-responders, and utility line workers. 403
609- (2) Each supervisor shall d evelop, in consultation with 404
610-local emergency management officials, a local election emergency 405
611-contingency plan. The contingency plan must be submitted to the 406
612-division for approval by May 1 of every odd -numbered year. The 407
613-division must determine whether the local election emergency 408
614-contingency plan is sufficient no later than May 30. The 409
615-division shall adopt rules to implement this subsection, 410
616-including the creation of standard criteria for determining the 411
617-sufficiency of local election emergency contingency plans. 412
618- Section 5. Section 101.736, Florida Statutes, is created 413
25+within a specified timeframe; requiring certain 12
26+requests to be deemed approved; requiring such 13
27+approvals and denials to be posted in a specified 14
28+manner; requiring such supervisors to use specified 15
29+methods to inform affected voters of election changes; 16
30+creating s. 101.735, F.S.; requiring the Division of 17
31+Elections to develop a statewide election emergency 18
32+contingency plan for a specified purpose; requiring 19
33+such plan to include certain procedures; requiring 20
34+supervisors of elections to develop a local election 21
35+emergency contingency plan in consultation with 22
36+certain officials; requiring the plan to be submitted 23
37+to the division for approval by a certain date; 24
38+requiring the division to make a certain determination 25
39+
40+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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46+Page 2 of 57
47+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
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49+
50+
51+by a specified date; requiring the division to adop t 26
52+rules; creating s. 101.736, F.S.; defining the term 27
53+"tabletop exercise"; requiring the Secretary of State, 28
54+in coordination with supervisors of elections, to 29
55+develop an election emergency training program; 30
56+requiring the Secretary of State to convene a 31
57+workgroup for a certain purpose by a specified date of 32
58+every odd-numbered year; providing requirements for 33
59+the workgroup; requiring the results of the workgroup 34
60+to be used in a specified manner; creating s. 35
61+163.31795, F.S.; defining the terms "cumulative 36
62+substantial improvement period" and "local 37
63+government"; requiring local governments that are 38
64+participating in a specified insurance program to 39
65+adopt certain cumulative substantial improvement 40
66+periods; amending s. 163.31801, F.S.; prohibiting 41
67+certain entities from assessing impact fees for 42
68+specified replacement structures; providing an 43
69+exception; providing construction; amending s. 44
70+193.155, F.S.; providing that repair and maintenance 45
71+of specified property is not a change, an addition, or 46
72+an improvement under cer tain circumstances; revising 47
73+the square footage limitations for certain changes, 48
74+additions, and improvements to damaged property; 49
75+providing construction; amending s. 215.559, F.S.; 50
76+
77+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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79+
80+
81+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
82+hb1535-02-c2
83+Page 3 of 57
84+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
85+
86+
87+
88+removing a reference to a certain report; revising 51
89+public hurricane shelter funding prioritization 52
90+requirements for the Division of Emergency Management; 53
91+amending s. 250.375, F.S.; authorizing certain 54
92+servicemembers to provide medical care in specified 55
93+circumstances; amending s. 252.35, F.S.; revising 56
94+requirements for the state c omprehensive emergency 57
95+management plan; requiring such plan to include an 58
96+update on the status of certain emergency management 59
97+capabilities; requiring the division to collaborate 60
98+with the Department of Health; revising 61
99+responsibilities of the division; req uiring the 62
100+division to develop a certain template; revising items 63
101+required to be included in a specified inventory; 64
102+removing a specified reporting requirement; amending 65
103+s. 252.355, F.S.; authorizing the Department of 66
104+Veterans' Affairs to provide certain in formation to 67
105+specified clients or their caregivers; requiring the 68
106+Florida Housing Finance Corporation to enter into 69
107+memoranda of understanding with specified agencies for 70
108+a certain purpose; providing that specified persons 71
109+may use special needs shelters in certain 72
110+circumstances; amending s. 252.359, F.S.; revising the 73
111+manner in which the division facilitates 74
112+transportation and distribution of essentials before 75
113+
114+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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118+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
119+hb1535-02-c2
120+Page 4 of 57
121+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
122+
123+
124+
125+and after an emergency; requiring local law 76
126+enforcement to cooperate with the division to ensure 77
127+the availability of essentials; providing that certain 78
128+entities have specified responsibilities determining 79
129+roadways; amending s. 252.3611, F.S.; directing 80
130+specified entities to submit specified contracts and 81
131+reports to the Legislature under specified condi tions; 82
132+requiring such contracts to be posted on a specified 83
133+secure contract system; requiring the division to 84
134+report annually to the Legislature specified 85
135+information on expenditures relating to emergencies; 86
136+providing requirements for such report; amending s. 87
137+252.365, F.S.; requiring agency heads to notify the 88
138+Governor and the division of the person designated as 89
139+the emergency coordination officer annually by a 90
140+specified date; amending s. 252.37, F.S.; requiring 91
141+the division to notify the Legislature of its intent 92
142+to accept or apply for federal funds under certain 93
143+circumstances; requiring the division to take steps to 94
144+maximize the availability and expedite the 95
145+distribution of financial assistance from the Federal 96
146+Government to state and local agencies; requi ring that 97
147+such steps include the standardization and 98
148+streamlining of the application process for federal 99
149+financial assistance and the provision of assistance 100
150+
151+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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155+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
156+hb1535-02-c2
157+Page 5 of 57
158+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
159+
160+
161+
162+to applicants for a specified purpose; requiring the 101
163+division to use certain federal funds to impl ement 102
164+such requirements; creating s. 252.3713, F.S.; 103
165+requiring the division to administer the Hazard 104
166+Mitigation Grant Program; authorizing the division to 105
167+retain a specified percentage of the funds for use 106
168+within this state; requiring the remaining percent age 107
169+to be distributed for use by certain recipients; 108
170+authorizing subrecipients to make a certain election 109
171+for a specified use; requiring the consideration of 110
172+certain projects; authorizing the division to 111
173+coordinate with specified entities under certain 112
174+circumstances; requiring the division to ensure that 113
175+certain requirements are met and certain projects are 114
176+funded; authorizing fiscally constrained counties to 115
177+request that the division administer the grant for 116
178+such a county; authorizing such counties to requ est 117
179+certain assistance from the division; requiring the 118
180+division to adopt rules; amending s. 252.373, F.S.; 119
181+conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 252.38, 120
182+F.S.; requiring political subdivisions to annually 121
183+provide specified notification to the division before 122
184+a specified date; creating s. 252.381, F.S.; requiring 123
185+counties and municipalities to post certain 124
186+information on their websites; requiring counties and 125
187+
188+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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192+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
193+hb1535-02-c2
194+Page 6 of 57
195+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
196+
197+
198+
199+municipalities to develop a poststorm permitting plan; 126
200+providing requirements for such plan; req uiring 127
201+counties and municipalities to publish on their 128
202+websites a specified storm recovery guide and updates 129
203+to such guide; prohibiting certain counties and 130
204+municipalities from increasing building permit or 131
205+inspection fees within a specified timeframe; 132
206+requiring certain counties and municipalities to use 133
207+their best efforts to open a permitting office for a 134
208+minimum number of hours per week; requiring entities 135
209+to allow individuals to receive certain letters 136
210+electronically on or before a specified date; 137
211+requiring specified individuals to complete certain 138
212+training every 2 years beginning on a specified date; 139
213+amending s. 252.385, F.S.; revising reporting 140
214+requirements for the division; revising requirements 141
215+for a specified list; requiring the Department of 142
216+Health and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to 143
217+assist the division with certain determinations; 144
218+creating s. 252.421, F.S.; requiring the division to 145
219+coordinate with certain counties for a specified 146
220+purpose; creating s. 252.422, F.S.; defining the term 147
221+"impacted local government"; prohibiting impacted 148
222+local governments from proposing or adopting certain 149
223+moratoriums, amendments, or procedures for a specified 150
224+
225+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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227+
228+
229+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
230+hb1535-02-c2
231+Page 7 of 57
232+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
233+
234+
235+
236+timeframe; authorizing the enforcement of certain 151
237+amendments, plans, permits, and orders under certai n 152
238+circumstances; authorizing any person to file suit to 153
239+enforce specified provisions; authorizing counties and 154
240+municipalities to request a specified determination by 155
241+a court; prohibiting counties and municipalities from 156
242+taking certain actions until the cou rt has issued a 157
243+preliminary or final judgment; requiring plaintiffs to 158
244+provide certain notification before filing suit; 159
245+requiring impacted local governments to take certain 160
246+actions upon receipt of such notification or a suit 161
247+may be filed; providing for rea sonable attorney fees 162
248+and costs; authorizing the use of a certain summary 163
249+procedure; requiring the court to advance the cause on 164
250+the calendar; creating s. 252.505, F.S.; requiring 165
251+certain contracts to include a specified provision; 166
252+defining the term "emerg ency recovery period"; 167
253+amending s. 400.063, F.S.; conforming a cross -168
254+reference; amending s. 403.7071, F.S.; providing that 169
255+local governments are authorized and encouraged to add 170
256+certain addendums to certain contracts and agreements; 171
257+requiring counties and municipalities to apply to the 172
258+Department of Environmental Protection for 173
259+authorization to designate at least one debris 174
260+management site; authorizing municipalities to apply 175
261+
262+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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266+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
267+hb1535-02-c2
268+Page 8 of 57
269+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
270+
271+
272+
273+jointly with a county or adjacent municipality for 176
274+authorization of a debris manag ement site if such 177
275+entities approve a memorandum of understanding; 178
276+providing requirements for such memorandum; creating 179
277+s. 489.1132, F.S.; providing definitions; requiring a 180
278+hurricane preparedness plan to be available for 181
279+inspection at certain worksites; r equiring certain 182
280+equipment to be secured in a specified manner no later 183
281+than 24 hours before the impacts of a hurricane are 184
282+anticipated to begin; providing penalties; amending s. 185
283+553.902, F.S.; revising the definition of the term 186
284+"renovated building"; requ iring the division to 187
285+consult with specified entities to develop certain 188
286+recommendations and provide a report to the 189
287+Legislature by a specified date; prohibiting certain 190
288+counties from proposing or adopting certain 191
289+moratoriums, amendments, or procedures for a specified 192
290+timeframe; declaring that such moratoriums, 193
291+amendments, or procedures are null and void; providing 194
292+for retroactive application; authorizing the 195
293+enforcement of certain amendments, plans, permits, and 196
294+orders under certain circumstances; authoriz ing 197
295+certain residents and business owners to bring a civil 198
296+action for declaratory and injunctive relief against a 199
297+county or municipality that violates specified 200
298+
299+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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304+hb1535-02-c2
305+Page 9 of 57
306+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
307+
308+
309+
310+provisions; providing for reasonable attorney fees and 201
311+costs under specified circumstances; pro viding for 202
312+future expiration; providing a directive to the 203
313+Division of Law Revision; providing an effective date. 204
314+ 205
315+Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 206
316+ 207
317+ Section 1. Section 83.63, Florida Statutes, is amended to 208
318+read: 209
319+ 83.63 Casualty damage.—If the premises are damaged or 210
320+destroyed other than by the wrongful or negligent acts of the 211
321+tenant so that the enjoyment of the premises is substantially 212
322+impaired:, 213
323+ (1) The tenant may terminate the rental agreement and 214
324+immediately vacate the premises. The tenant may vacate the part 215
325+of the premises rendered unusable by the casualty, in which case 216
326+the tenant's liability for rent shall be reduced by the fair 217
327+rental value of that part of the premises damaged or destroyed. 218
328+If the rental agreeme nt is terminated, the landlord shall comply 219
329+with s. 83.49(3). 220
330+ (2) The tenant must be given: 221
331+ (a) The opportunity to collect his or her belongings from 222
332+the premises when it is safe to do so; or 223
333+ (b) Notice of the date by which the tenant will be able to 224
334+collect his or her belongings from the premises, which must 225
335+
336+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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338+
339+
340+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
341+hb1535-02-c2
342+Page 10 of 57
343+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
344+
345+
346+
347+occur within a reasonable time. 226
348+ Section 2. Subsection (3) of section 101.733, Florida 227
349+Statutes, is amended to read: 228
350+ 101.733 Emergency suspension or delay of an election 229
351+emergency; purpose; elections emergency contingency plan .—230
352+Because of the existing and continuing possibility of an 231
353+emergency or common disaster occurring before or during a 232
354+regularly scheduled or special election, and in order to ensure 233
355+maximum citizen participation in the el ectoral process and 234
356+provide a safe and orderly procedure for persons seeking to 235
357+exercise their right to vote, generally to minimize to whatever 236
358+degree possible a person's exposure to danger during declared 237
359+states of emergency, and to protect the integrity of the 238
360+electoral process, it is hereby found and declared to be 239
361+necessary to designate a procedure for the emergency suspension 240
362+or delay and rescheduling of elections. 241
363+ (3) The Division of Elections of the Department of State 242
364+shall adopt, by rule, an elec tions emergency contingency plan, 243
365+which shall contain goals and policies that give specific 244
366+direction to state and local elections officials when an 245
367+election has been suspended or delayed due to an emergency. The 246
368+contingency plan shall be statewide in scop e and shall address, 247
369+but not be limited to, the following concerns: 248
370+ (a) Providing a procedure for state and local elections 249
371+officials to follow when an election has been suspended or 250
372+
373+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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377+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
378+hb1535-02-c2
379+Page 11 of 57
380+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
381+
382+
383+
384+delayed to ensure notice of the suspension or delay to the 251
385+proper authorities, the electorate, the communications media, 252
386+poll workers, and the custodians of polling places. 253
387+ (b) Providing a procedure for the orderly conduct of a 254
388+rescheduled election, whether municipal, county, district, or 255
389+statewide in scope; coordinating th ose efforts with the 256
390+appropriate elections official, and the members of the governing 257
391+body holding such election, if appropriate; and working with the 258
392+appropriate emergency management officials in determining the 259
393+safety of existing polling places or design ating additional 260
394+polling places. 261
395+ (c) Providing a procedure for the release and 262
396+certification of election returns to the department for 263
397+elections suspended or delayed and subsequently rescheduled 264
398+under the provisions of ss. 101.731 -101.74. 265
399+ Section 3. Section 101.7325, Florida Statutes, is created 266
400+to read: 267
401+ 101.7325 Election emergency. — 268
402+ (1) If the Governor declares a state of emergency for a 269
403+natural emergency, as defined in s. 252.34, fewer than 60 days 270
404+before an election, the supervisor of a county designated as 271
405+affected by such declaration may request approval from the 272
406+Secretary of State to take any of the following actions 273
407+necessary while the declaration continues to designate the area 274
408+as an affected area: 275
409+
410+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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415+hb1535-02-c2
416+Page 12 of 57
417+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
418+
419+
420+
421+ (a) Notwithstanding the designation dead line in s. 276
422+101.657(1)(b), change the location of designated early voting 277
423+sites. The request must identify the new address of each early 278
424+voting site and the hours during which early voting will occur 279
425+at each site. 280
426+ (b) Notwithstanding the early voting site locations 281
427+authorized in s. 101.657(1), request early voting sites at 282
428+locations not specifically authorized by law. The request must 283
429+set forth sufficient facts to establish that a sufficient number 284
430+of early voting sites that were designated, or that may be 285
431+designated under paragraph (a), are unavailable due to the 286
432+emergency. For purposes of this paragraph, reasons that early 287
433+voting sites may be unavailable include, but are not limited to, 288
434+the site is no longer safe for occupancy, the site is located in 289
435+an area that is currently dangerous to travel to and from, or 290
436+the site does not have adequate utilities. An early voting site 291
437+designated under this paragraph must, to the maximum extent 292
438+practicable, be geographically located so as to provide all 293
439+voters in the area with an equal opportunity to cast a ballot. 294
440+ (c) Notwithstanding s. 101.657(1)(d), allow early voting 295
441+to occur the day before an election. 296
442+ (d) Notwithstanding ss. 101.657 and 101.71, allow election 297
443+day voting at early voting sites. The request mus t set forth 298
444+sufficient facts to establish that a sufficient number of early 299
445+voting sites that were designated, or that may be designated 300
446+
447+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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453+Page 13 of 57
454+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
455+
456+
457+
458+under paragraph (a), are unavailable due to the emergency. For 301
459+purposes of this paragraph, reasons that a polling place may be 302
460+unavailable include, but are not limited to, the polling place 303
461+is no longer safe for occupancy, the polling place is located in 304
462+an area that is currently dangerous to travel to and from, or 305
463+the polling place does not have adequate utilities. An ear ly 306
464+voting site designated as a polling place under this paragraph 307
465+must, to the maximum extent practicable, be geographically 308
466+located so as to provide all voters in the area with an equal 309
467+opportunity to cast a ballot. 310
468+ (e) Notwithstanding the designation d eadline in s. 311
469+101.69(2)(b), designate additional secure ballot intake 312
470+stations. The request must identify the location of the 313
471+additional secure ballot intake stations. 314
472+ (f) Send a vote-by-mail ballot to a voter who has 315
473+requested such ballot: 316
474+ 1. By forwardable mail or to an address other than the 317
475+address listed for the voter in the statewide voter registration 318
476+system. 319
477+ 2. Notwithstanding s. 101.62(1)(a) and (b), without the 320
478+voter's written request or if a written request is not signed. 321
479+ 3. Notwithstanding s. 101.62(3)(c), as soon as 322
480+practicable. 323
481+ (g) If the supervisor determines that a poll worker 324
482+shortage exists, appoint poll workers who have not met the 325
483+
484+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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490+Page 14 of 57
491+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
492+
493+
494+
495+training requirements in s. 102.014. However, such poll workers 326
496+must have received the required tra ining within the previous 2 327
497+years. 328
498+ (h) Notwithstanding s. 102.012(2), appoint inspectors and 329
499+clerks who are registered qualified electors of this state but 330
500+who are not registered qualified electors of the applicable 331
501+county. 332
502+ (2) Each supervisor of an af fected area who submits a 333
503+request pursuant to subsection (1) must submit all such requests 334
504+at once. The Secretary of State must approve or deny the 335
505+requests in writing within 36 hours after receipt. If the 336
506+Secretary of State fails to approve or deny a requ est within the 337
507+36-hour period, the request is deemed approved. The Secretary of 338
508+State must publish each approval and denial on the department's 339
509+website. 340
510+ (3) The supervisor shall use print and broadcast media, 341
511+social media, Internet websites, polling plac e signage, and any 342
512+other method necessary to inform affected voters of any changes 343
513+to elections made under this section. 344
514+ Section 4. Section 101.735, Florida Statutes, is created 345
515+to read: 346
516+ 101.735 Election emergency contingency plans. — 347
517+ (1) The division shall adopt by rule a statewide election 348
518+emergency contingency plan to provide specific direction in the 349
519+event an emergency occurs preceding or during an election. The 350
520+
521+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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528+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
529+
530+
531+
532+contingency plan shall include, at minimum, procedures to: 351
533+ (a) Ensure that necessar y parties are notified of any 352
534+changes impacting an election that has been suspended, delayed, 353
535+rescheduled, or otherwise affected by an emergency. As used in 354
536+this paragraph, necessary parties include proper authorities, 355
537+the electorate, the media, poll worke rs, and polling place 356
538+custodians. 357
539+ (b) Ensure that an election that has been suspended, 358
540+delayed, rescheduled, or otherwise affected by an emergency is 359
541+conducted in a safe and orderly manner. The procedures must 360
542+include a plan to coordinate the actions of the division, 361
543+supervisors, county canvassing boards, and, if appropriate, 362
544+members of the governing body holding such election. 363
545+ (c) Determine the safety of existing polling places or 364
546+designate additional polling places in coordination with the 365
547+appropriate emergency management officials. 366
548+ (d) Release and certify returns to the division for 367
549+elections suspended, delayed, rescheduled, or otherwise affected 368
550+by an emergency. 369
551+ (e) Coordinate efforts between supervisors in affected and 370
552+unaffected counties to ens ure voting opportunities for affected 371
553+voters, including ensuring the delivery of vote -by-mail ballots 372
554+to law enforcement officers, military personnel, first 373
555+responders, and utility line workers. 374
556+ (2) Each supervisor shall develop, in consultation with 375
557+
558+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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563+hb1535-02-c2
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565+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
566+
567+
568+
569+local emergency management officials, a local election emergency 376
570+contingency plan. The contingency plan must be submitted to the 377
571+division for approval by May 1 of every odd -numbered year. The 378
572+division must determine whether the local election emergency 379
573+contingency plan is sufficient no later than May 30. The 380
574+division shall adopt rules to implement this subsection, 381
575+including the creation of standard criteria for determining the 382
576+sufficiency of local election emergency contingency plans. 383
577+ Section 5. Section 10 1.736, Florida Statutes, is created 384
578+to read: 385
579+ 101.736 Election emergency training; best practices. — 386
580+ (1) As used in this section, the term "tabletop exercise" 387
581+means a session in which participants are guided through 388
582+possible scenarios and discuss their r oles and responsibilities 389
583+if such a scenario occurs, as well as how they would respond to 390
584+such a scenario. 391
585+ (2) The Secretary of State, in coordination with 392
586+supervisors, shall develop an election emergency training 393
587+program. The training is required for ne wly elected or appointed 394
588+supervisors and any critical staff, as determined by a 395
589+supervisor. The Secretary of State shall update such training at 396
590+least once every 4 years. 397
591+ (3) By June 1 of every odd -numbered year, the Secretary of 398
592+State shall convene a workgroup to create a list of best 399
593+practices for conducting an election during an emergency. 400
594+
595+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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602+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
603+
604+
605+
606+ (a) The workgroup must include at least 10 current 401
607+supervisors. 402
608+ (b) The workgroup must participate in tabletop exercises 403
609+involving election emergencies. 404
610+ (4) Using the list created in subsection (3), the 405
611+Secretary of State must: 406
612+ (a) Incorporate practices applicable to all counties into 407
613+the statewide election emergency contingency plan under s. 408
614+101.735(1). 409
615+ (b) Recommend practices applicable to specific count ies to 410
616+the applicable supervisor for inclusion in the supervisor's 411
617+local election emergency contingency plan under s. 101.735(2). 412
618+ Section 6. Section 163.31795, Florida Statutes, is created 413
619619 to read: 414
620- 101.736 Election emergency training; best practices. — 415
621- (1) As used in this section, the term "tabletop exercise" 416
622-means a session in which participants are guided through 417
623-possible scenarios and discuss their roles and responsibilities 418
624-if such a scenario occurs, as well as how they would respond to 419
625-such a scenario. 420
626- (2) The Secretary of State, in coordination with 421
627-supervisors, shall develop an election emergency training 422
628-program. The training is required for newly elected or appointed 423
629-supervisors and any critical staff, as determined by a 424
630-supervisor. The Secretary of State shall update such training at 425
631-
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639-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
640-
641-
642-
643-least once every 4 years. 426
644- (3) By June 1 of every odd -numbered year, the Secretary of 427
645-State shall convene a workgroup to create a list of best 428
646-practices for conducting an election during an emergency. 429
647- (a) The workgroup must include at least 10 current 430
648-supervisors. 431
649- (b) The workgroup must participate in tabletop exercises 432
650-involving election emergencies. 433
651- (4) Using the list created in subsection (3), the 434
652-Secretary of State must: 435
653- (a) Incorporate practices applicable to all counties into 436
654-the statewide election emergency contingency plan under s. 437
655-101.735(1). 438
656- (b) Recommend practices applicable to specific counties to 439
657-the applicable supervisor for inclusion in the supervisor's 440
658-local election emergency contingency plan under s. 101.735(2). 441
659- Section 6. Section 163.31795, Florida Statutes, is created 442
660-to read: 443
661- 163.31795 Participation in the National Flood Insurance 444
662-Program.— 445
663- (1) For purposes of this section, the term: 446
664- (a) "Cumulative substantial improvement period" means the 447
665-period during which an aggregate of improvements or repairs are 448
666-considered for purposes of determinin g substantial improvement 449
667-as defined in s. 161.54(12). 450
668-
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676-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
677-
678-
679-
680- (b) "Local government" has the same meaning as in s. 451
681-163.2514. 452
682- (2) A local government that is participating in the 453
683-National Flood Insurance Program may not adopt a cumulative 454
684-substantial improvemen t period that is longer than 1 year. 455
685- Section 7. Subsection (14) is added to section 163.31801, 456
686-Florida Statutes, to read: 457
687- 163.31801 Impact fees; short title; intent; minimum 458
688-requirements; audits; challenges. — 459
689- (14) A local government, school distric t, or special 460
690-district may not assess an impact fee for the reconstruction or 461
691-replacement of a previously existing structure if the 462
692-replacement structure is of the same land use as the original 463
693-structure and does not increase the impact on public facilitie s 464
694-beyond that of the original structure. However, if the 465
695-replacement structure increases the demand on public facilities 466
696-due to a significant increase in size, intensity, or capacity of 467
697-use, a local government, school district, or special district 468
698-may assess an impact fee in an amount proportional to the 469
699-difference in the demand between the replacement structure and 470
700-the original structure. Any such fee must be reasonably 471
701-connected to, or have a rational nexus with, the need for 472
702-additional capital facilities and the increased impact generated 473
703-by the reconstruction or replacement of a previously existing 474
704-structure. 475
705-
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713-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
714-
715-
716-
717- Section 8. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (4) of 476
718-section 193.155, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 477
719- 193.155 Homestead assessments.—Homestead property shall be 478
720-assessed at just value as of January 1, 1994. Property receiving 479
721-the homestead exemption after January 1, 1994, shall be assessed 480
722-at just value as of January 1 of the year in which the property 481
723-receives the exemptio n unless the provisions of subsection (8) 482
724-apply. 483
725- (4)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) and s. 193.624, 484
726-changes, additions, or improvements to homestead property shall 485
727-be assessed at just value as of the first January 1 after the 486
728-changes, additions, or improvements are substantially completed. 487
729-Maintenance or repair of the homestead property, including roof 488
730-or window replacement, may not be considered to be a change, an 489
731-addition, or an improvement under this subsection. 490
732- (b)1. Changes, additions, or i mprovements that replace all 491
733-or a portion of homestead property, including ancillary 492
734-improvements, damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity 493
735-shall be assessed upon substantial completion as provided in 494
736-this paragraph. Such assessment must be calculate d using the 495
737-homestead property's assessed value as of the January 1 496
738-immediately before the date on which the damage or destruction 497
739-was sustained, subject to the assessment limitations in 498
740-subsections (1) and (2), when: 499
741- a. The square footage of the homeste ad property as changed 500
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750-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
751-
752-
753-
754-or improved does not exceed 130 110 percent of the square 501
755-footage of the homestead property before the damage or 502
756-destruction; or 503
757- b. The total square footage of the homestead property as 504
758-changed or improved does not exceed 2,000 1,500 square feet. 505
759- 506
760-When a homestead property is elevated above the base flood 507
761-elevation within a special flood hazard area, the square footage 508
762-underneath the homestead property that is used only for parking, 509
763-storage, or access is not included when determinin g the total 510
764-square footage of the homestead property as changed or improved 511
765-under this subparagraph. 512
766- 2. The homestead property's assessed value must be 513
767-increased by the just value of that portion of the changed or 514
768-improved homestead property which is in excess of 130 110 515
769-percent of the square footage of the homestead property before 516
770-the damage or destruction or of that portion exceeding 2,000 517
771-1,500 square feet. 518
772- 3. Homestead property damaged or destroyed by misfortune 519
773-or calamity which, after being chang ed or improved, has a square 520
774-footage of less than 100 percent of the homestead property's 521
775-total square footage before the damage or destruction shall be 522
776-assessed pursuant to subsection (5). 523
777- 4. Changes, additions, or improvements assessed pursuant 524
778-to this paragraph must be reassessed pursuant to subsection (1) 525
779-
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787-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
788-
789-
790-
791-in subsequent years. This paragraph applies to changes, 526
792-additions, or improvements commenced within 5 years after the 527
793-January 1 following the damage or destruction of the homestead. 528
794- Section 9. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 529
795-215.559, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 530
796- 215.559 Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program. —A Hurricane 531
797-Loss Mitigation Program is established in the Division of 532
798-Emergency Management. 533
799- (1) The Legislature shall ann ually appropriate $10 million 534
800-of the moneys authorized for appropriation under s. 535
801-215.555(7)(c) from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund to the 536
802-division for the purposes set forth in this section. Of the 537
803-amount: 538
804- (b) Three million dollars in funds shall be used to 539
805-construct or retrofit facilities used as public hurricane 540
806-shelters. Each year the division shall prioritize the use of 541
807-these funds for projects included in the annual report of the 542
808-Shelter Development Re port prepared in accordance with s. 543
809-252.385(3). The division shall must give funding priority to 544
810-projects located in counties regional planning council regions 545
811-that have shelter deficits , projects that are publicly owned, 546
812-other than schools, and to projects that maximize the use of 547
813-state funds. 548
814- Section 10. Section 250.375, Florida Statutes, is amended 549
815-to read: 550
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824-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
825-
826-
827-
828- 250.375 Medical officer authorization. —A servicemember 551
829-trained to provide medical care who is serving under the 552
830-direction of the Florida Nation al Guard State Surgeon and is 553
831-assigned to a military duty position and authorized by the 554
832-Florida National Guard to provide medical care within the scope 555
833-of the servicemember's professional licensure by virtue of such 556
834-duty position may provide such medical care to military 557
835-personnel and civilians within this state physician who holds an 558
836-active license to practice medicine in any state, a United 559
837-States territory, or the District of Columbia, while serving as 560
838-a medical officer with or in support of the Florida National 561
839-Guard, pursuant to federal or state orders, may practice 562
840-medicine on military personnel or civilians during an emergency 563
841-or declared disaster or during federal military training . 564
842- Section 11. Paragraphs (y) through (dd) of subsection (2) 565
843-of section 252.35, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as 566
844-paragraphs (x) through (cc), respectively, and paragraphs (a), 567
845-(c), and (n) and present paragraph (x) of that subsection are 568
846-amended to read: 569
847- 252.35 Emergency management powers; Division of Emergency 570
848-Management.— 571
849- (2) The division is responsible for carrying out the 572
850-provisions of ss. 252.31 -252.90. In performing its duties, the 573
851-division shall: 574
852- (a) Prepare a state comprehensive emergency management 575
853-
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861-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
862-
863-
864-
865-plan, which must shall be integrated into and coordina ted with 576
866-the emergency management plans and programs of the Federal 577
867-Government. The division shall adopt the plan as a rule in 578
868-accordance with chapter 120. The plan must be implemented by a 579
869-continuous, integrated comprehensive emergency management 580
870-program. The plan must contain provisions to ensure that the 581
871-state is prepared for emergencies and minor, major, and 582
872-catastrophic disasters, and the division shall work closely with 583
873-local governments and agencies and organizations with emergency 584
874-management responsibilities in preparing and maintaining the 585
875-plan. The state comprehensive emergency management plan must be 586
876-operations oriented and: 587
877- 1. Include an evacuation component that includes specific 588
878-regional and interregional planning provisions and promotes 589
879-intergovernmental coordination of evacuation activities. This 590
880-component must, at a minimum: contain guidelines for lifting 591
881-tolls on state highways; ensure coordination pertaining to 592
882-evacuees crossing county lines; set forth procedures for 593
883-directing people caug ht on evacuation routes to safe shelter; 594
884-establish strategies for ensuring sufficient, reasonably priced 595
885-fueling locations along evacuation routes; and establish 596
886-policies and strategies for emergency medical evacuations. 597
887- 2. Include a shelter component th at includes specific 598
888-regional and interregional planning provisions and promotes 599
889-coordination of shelter activities between the public, private, 600
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898-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
899-
900-
901-
902-and nonprofit sectors. This component must, at a minimum: 601
903-contain strategies to ensure the availability of adeq uate public 602
904-shelter space in each county region of the state; establish 603
905-strategies for refuge -of-last-resort programs; provide 604
906-strategies to assist local emergency management efforts to 605
907-ensure that adequate staffing plans exist for all shelters, 606
908-including medical and security personnel; provide for a 607
909-postdisaster communications system for public shelters; 608
910-establish model shelter guidelines for operations, registration, 609
911-inventory, power generation capability, information management, 610
912-and staffing; and set for th policy guidance for sheltering 611
913-people with special needs. 612
914- 3. Include a postdisaster response and recovery component 613
915-that includes specific regional and interregional planning 614
916-provisions and promotes intergovernmental coordination of 615
917-postdisaster response and recovery activities. This component 616
918-must provide for postdisaster response and recovery strategies 617
919-according to whether a disaster is minor, major, or 618
920-catastrophic. The postdisaster response and recovery component 619
921-must, at a minimum: establish the structure of the state's 620
922-postdisaster response and recovery organization; establish 621
923-procedures for activating the state's plan; set forth policies 622
924-used to guide postdisaster response and recovery activities; 623
925-describe the chain of command during the postdis aster response 624
926-and recovery period; describe initial and continuous 625
927-
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935-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
936-
937-
938-
939-postdisaster response and recovery actions; identify the roles 626
940-and responsibilities of each involved agency and organization; 627
941-provide for a comprehensive communications plan; establish 628
942-procedures for coordinating and monitoring statewide mutual aid 629
943-agreements reimbursable under federal public disaster assistance 630
944-programs; provide for rapid impact assessment teams; ensure the 631
945-availability of an effective statewide urban search and rescue 632
946-program coordinated with the fire services; ensure the existence 633
947-of a comprehensive statewide medical care and relief plan 634
948-administered by the Department of Health; and establish systems 635
949-for coordinating volunteers and accepting and distributing 636
950-donated funds and goods. 637
951- 4. Include additional provisions addressing aspects of 638
952-preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation as determined 639
953-necessary by the division. 640
954- 5. Address the need for coordinated and expeditious 641
955-deployment of state resources, including th e Florida National 642
956-Guard. In the case of an imminent major disaster, procedures 643
957-should address predeployment of the Florida National Guard, and, 644
958-in the case of an imminent catastrophic disaster, procedures 645
959-should address predeployment of the Florida Nation al Guard and 646
960-the United States Armed Forces. 647
961- 6. Establish a system of communications and warning to 648
962-ensure that the state's population and emergency management 649
963-agencies are warned of developing emergency situations, 650
964-
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972-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
973-
974-
975-
976-including public health emergencies, a nd can communicate 651
977-emergency response decisions. 652
978- 7. Establish guidelines and schedules for annual exercises 653
979-that evaluate the ability of the state and its political 654
980-subdivisions to respond to minor, major, and catastrophic 655
981-disasters and support local eme rgency management agencies. Such 656
982-exercises shall be coordinated with local governments and, to 657
983-the extent possible, the Federal Government. 658
984- 8. Assign lead and support responsibilities to state 659
985-agencies and personnel for emergency support functions and ot her 660
986-support activities. 661
987- 9. Include the public health emergency plan developed by 662
988-the Department of Health pursuant to s. 381.00315. 663
989- 10. Include an update on the status of the emergency 664
990-management capabilities of the state and its political 665
991-subdivisions. The update must include the emergency management 666
992-capabilities related to public health emergencies, as determined 667
993-in collaboration with the Department of Health. 668
994- 669
995-The complete state comprehensive emergency management plan must 670
996-be submitted to the Preside nt of the Senate, the Speaker of the 671
997-House of Representatives, and the Governor on February 1 of 672
998-every even-numbered year. 673
999- (c) Assist political subdivisions in preparing and 674
1000-maintaining emergency management plans. Such assistance must 675
1001-
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1009-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1010-
1011-
1012-
1013-include the development of a template for comprehensive 676
1014-emergency management plans, including plans for natural 677
1015-disasters, and guidance on the development of mutual aid 678
1016-agreements. 679
1017- (n) Implement training programs to maintain this state's 680
1018-status as a national leader in emer gency management and improve 681
1019-the ability of state and local emergency management personnel to 682
1020-prepare and implement emergency management plans and programs. 683
1021-This must shall include a continuous training program for 684
1022-agencies and individuals who that will be called on to perform 685
1023-key roles in state and local postdisaster response and recovery 686
1024-efforts and for local government personnel on federal and state 687
1025-postdisaster response and recovery strategies and procedures. 688
1026-The division shall specify requireme nts for the minimum number 689
1027-of training hours that county or municipal administrators, 690
1028-county or city managers, county or municipal emergency 691
1029-management directors, and county or municipal public works 692
1030-directors or other officials responsible for the constru ction 693
1031-and maintenance of public infrastructure must complete 694
1032-biennially in addition to the training required pursuant to s. 695
1033-252.38(1)(b). Such training may be provided by the division or, 696
1034-for county personnel, by a foundation that is a not -for-profit 697
1035-corporation under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and 698
1036-has a governing board that includes in its membership county 699
1037-commissioners and professional county staff. If training is 700
1038-
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1047-
1048-
1049-
1050-provided by a foundation, such training must be approved by the 701
1051-division. 702
1052- (x) Report biennially to the President of the Senate, the 703
1053-Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of 704
1054-the Supreme Court, and the Governor, no later than February 1 of 705
1055-every odd-numbered year, the status of the emergency management 706
1056-capabilities of the state and its political subdivisions. This 707
1057-report must include the emergency management capabilities 708
1058-related to public health emergencies, as determined in 709
1059-collaboration with the Department of Health. 710
1060- Section 12. Subsection (4) of section 252.355, Florida 711
1061-Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (5), paragraph (b) of 712
1062-subsection (2) is amended, and a new subsection (4) is added to 713
1063-that section, to read: 714
1064- 252.355 Registry of persons with special needs; notice; 715
1065-registration program. — 716
1066- (2) In order to ensure that all persons with special needs 717
1067-may register, the division shall develop and maintain a special 718
1068-needs shelter registration program. During a public health 719
1069-emergency in which physical distancing is necessary, as 720
1070-determined by the State Hea lth Officer, the division must 721
1071-maintain information on special needs shelter options that 722
1072-mitigate the threat of the spread of infectious diseases. 723
1073- (b) To assist in identifying persons with special needs, 724
1074-home health agencies, hospices, nurse registries, home medical 725
1075-
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1083-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1084-
1085-
1086-
1087-equipment providers, the Department of Veterans' Affairs, the 726
1088-Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health, 727
1089-the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Department of 728
1090-Education, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the 729
1091-Department of Elderly Affairs, and memory disorder clinics 730
1092-shall, and any physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 731
1093-459 and any pharmacy licensed under chapter 465 may, annually 732
1094-provide registration information to all of their special needs 733
1095-clients or their caregivers. The Florida Housing Finance 734
1096-Corporation shall enter into memoranda of understanding with the 735
1097-Department of Elderly Affairs and with the Agency for Persons 736
1098-with Disabilities to ensure special needs registration 737
1099-information is provided t o residents of low-income senior 738
1100-independent living properties and independent living properties 739
1101-for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities 740
1102-funded by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, respectively. 741
1103-The division shall develop a broch ure that provides information 742
1104-regarding special needs shelter registration procedures. The 743
1105-brochure must be easily accessible on the division's website. 744
1106-All appropriate agencies and community -based service providers, 745
1107-including aging and disability resource centers, memory disorder 746
1108-clinics, home health care providers, hospices, nurse registries, 747
1109-and home medical equipment providers, shall, and any physician 748
1110-licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 may, assist emergency 749
1111-management agencies by annually regist ering persons with special 750
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1120-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1121-
1122-
1123-
1124-needs for special needs shelters, collecting registration 751
1125-information for persons with special needs as part of the 752
1126-program intake process, and establishing programs to educate 753
1127-clients about the registration process and disaster preparedness 754
1128-safety procedures. A client of a state -funded or federally 755
1129-funded service program who has a physical, mental, or cognitive 756
1130-impairment or sensory disability and who needs assistance in 757
1131-evacuating, or when in a shelter, must register as a person with 758
1132-special needs. The registration program shall give persons with 759
1133-special needs the option of preauthorizing emergency response 760
1134-personnel to enter their homes during search and rescue 761
1135-operations if necessary to ensure their safety and welfare 762
1136-following disasters. 763
1137- (4) The caregiver of a person with special needs who is 764
1138-eligible for admission to a special needs shelter, and all 765
1139-persons for whom he or she is the caregiver, shall be allowed to 766
1140-shelter together in the special needs shelter. If a person wit h 767
1141-special needs is responsible for the care of persons without 768
1142-special needs, those persons shall be allowed to use the special 769
1143-needs shelter with the person with special needs. 770
1144- Section 13. Subsections (3) through (6) of section 771
1145-252.359, Florida Statut es, are amended to read: 772
1146- 252.359 Ensuring availability of emergency supplies. — 773
1147- (3) The division, as a function of emergency preparation, 774
1148-response, and recovery, may facilitate shall develop a system to 775
1149-
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1157-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1158-
1159-
1160-
1161-certify each person who facilitates the transport or 776
1162-distribution of essentials in commerce. The division may not 777
1163-certify a person other than a person who routinely transports or 778
1164-distributes essentials. In developing the system, the division: 779
1165- (a) may provide for a preemergency or postemer gency 780
1166-transportation of essentials declaration certification . 781
1167- (b) Shall allow the certification of an employer, if 782
1168-requested by the employer, to constitute a certification of the 783
1169-employer's employees. 784
1170- (c) Shall create an easily recognizable indicium of 785
1171-certification to assist local officials' efforts in determining 786
1172-which persons have been certified under this subsection. 787
1173- (d) Shall limit the duration of each certificate to no 788
1174-more than 1 year. Each certificate may be renewed so long as the 789
1175-criteria for certification are met. 790
1176- (4) A person authorized to transport essentials or 791
1177-employer certified under subsection (3) is not required to 792
1178-obtain any additional certification or fulfill any additional 793
1179-requirement to transport or distribute essentials. 794
1180- (5) Notwithstanding any curfew, restriction, road block, 795
1181-quarantine, or other limitation on access to an area, a person 796
1182-authorized or employer certified under subsection (3) to deliver 797
1183-essentials may enter or remain in the restricted curfew area for 798
1184-the limited purpose of facilitating the transport or 799
1185-distribution of essentials and may provide service that exceeds 800
1186-
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1194-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1195-
1196-
1197-
1198-otherwise applicable hours of service maximums to the extent 801
1199-authorized by a duly executed declaration of a state of 802
1200-emergency. Local law enforcement shall cooperate with the 803
1201-division to ensure the availability of essentials under this 804
1202-section. 805
1203- (6) This section does not prohibit a law enforcement 806
1204-officer from specifying the permissible route of ingress or 807
1205-egress for a person authorized certified under subsection (3). 808
1206-Notwithstanding this section, all state roadways are determined 809
1207-by the Florida Highway Patrol in coordination with the 810
1208-Department of Transportation. 811
1209- Section 14. Subsection (2) of section 252.3611, Florida 812
1210-Statutes, is amended, and subs ection (5) is added to that 813
1211-section, to read: 814
1212- 252.3611 Transparency; audits. — 815
1213- (2) If When the duration of a declaration of a state of an 816
1214-emergency issued by the Governor exceeds 90 days: 817
1215- (a)1. The Executive Office of the Governor or the 818
1216-appropriate agency, within 72 hours after of executing a 819
1217-contract executed with moneys authorized for expenditure to 820
1218-support the response to the declared state of emergency, must 821
1219-the Executive Office of the Governor or the appropriate agency 822
1220-shall submit a copy of such contract to the Legislature. For 823
1221-contracts executed during the first 90 days of the declared 824
1222-state of emergency, the Executive Office of the Governor or the 825
1223-
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1231-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1232-
1233-
1234-
1235-appropriate agency shall submit a copy to the Legislature within 826
1236-the first 120 days of the declared state of emergency. 827
1237- 2. All contracts executed to support the response to a 828
1238-declared state of emergency, including contracts executed before 829
1239-a declared state of emergency to secure resources or services in 830
1240-advance or anticipation o f an emergency, must be posted on the 831
1241-secure contract tracking system required under s. 215.985(14). 832
1242- (b) The Executive Office of the Governor or the 833
1243-appropriate agency shall submit monthly reports to the 834
1244-Legislature of all state expenditures, revenues re ceived, and 835
1245-funds transferred by an agency during the previous month to 836
1246-support the declared state of emergency. 837
1247- (5) Annually, by January 15, the division shall report to 838
1248-the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 839
1249-Representatives, and the c hairs of the appropriations committee 840
1250-of each house of the Legislature on expenditures related to 841
1251-emergencies incurred over the year from November 1 of the 842
1252-previous year. The report must include: 843
1253- (a) A separate summary of each emergency event, whether 844
1254-complete or ongoing, and key actions taken by the division. 845
1255- (b) Details of expenditures, separated by emergency event 846
1256-and agency, for preparing for, responding to, or recovering from 847
1257-the event. The report must specify detailed expenditures for the 848
1258-entire report time period; specify total expenditures for the 849
1259-event; and indicate amounts that are being or are anticipated to 850
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1268-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1269-
1270-
1271-
1272-be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or 851
1273-other federal entity, amounts ineligible for reimbursement, and 852
1274-any amounts deobligated by the Federal Emergency Management 853
1275-Agency or other federal entity for reimbursement. The division 854
1276-shall review expenditures by state agencies to ensure that 855
1277-efforts, purchases, contracts, or expenditures are not 856
1278-duplicated. 857
1279- (c) An accounting of all inventory and assets purchased, 858
1280-separated by emergency event and agency, for preparing for, 859
1281-responding to, or recovering from the event, including motor 860
1282-vehicles, boats, computers, and other equipment, and the current 861
1283-status of such assets, includin g divestment, sale, or donation 862
1284-by the state. The report must include a detailed accounting for 863
1285-the entire report time period and specify a total for the event. 864
1286- Section 15. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 865
1287-252.363, Florida Statutes, is amende d to read: 866
1288- 252.363 Tolling and extension of permits and other 867
1289-authorizations.— 868
1290- (1)(a) The declaration of a state of emergency issued by 869
1291-the Governor for a natural emergency tolls the period remaining 870
1292-to exercise the rights under a permit or other autho rization for 871
1293-the duration of the emergency declaration. Further, the 872
1294-emergency declaration extends the period remaining to exercise 873
1295-the rights under a permit or other authorization for 24 months 874
1296-in addition to the tolled period. The extended period to 875
1297-
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1305-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1306-
1307-
1308-
1309-exercise the rights under a permit or other authorization may 876
1310-not exceed 48 months in total in the event of multiple natural 877
1311-emergencies for which the Governor declares a state of 878
1312-emergency. The tolling and extension of permits and other 879
1313-authorizations under t his paragraph shall apply retroactively to 880
1314-September 28, 2022. This paragraph applies to the following: 881
1315- 1. The expiration of a development order issued by a local 882
1316-government. 883
1317- 2. The expiration of a building permit. 884
1318- 3. The expiration of a permit issue d by the Department of 885
1319-Environmental Protection or a water management district pursuant 886
1320-to part IV of chapter 373. 887
1321- 4. Permits issued by the Department of Environmental 888
1322-Protection or a water management district pursuant to part II of 889
1323-chapter 373 for land subject to a development agreement under 890
1324-ss. 163.3220-163.3243 in which the permittee and the developer 891
1325-are the same or a related entity. 892
1326- 5. The buildout date of a development of regional impact, 893
1327-including any extension of a buildout date that was previo usly 894
1328-granted as specified in s. 380.06(7)(c). 895
1329- 6. The expiration of a development permit or development 896
1330-agreement authorized by Florida Statutes, including those 897
1331-authorized under the Florida Local Government Development 898
1332-Agreement Act, or issued by a local government or other 899
1333-governmental agency. 900
1334-
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1342-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1343-
1344-
1345-
1346- 7. The formal determination of the delineation of the 901
1347-extent of wetlands under s. 373.421. Notwithstanding the 902
1348-timeframes provided in this paragraph, the tolling and extension 903
1349-of determinations under this subpara graph shall apply 904
1350-retroactively to January 1, 2023. 905
1351- Section 16. Subsection (4) of section 252.365, Florida 906
1352-Statutes, is amended to read: 907
1353- 252.365 Emergency coordination officers; disaster -908
1354-preparedness plans.— 909
1355- (4) On or before May 1 of each year, the head of each 910
1356-agency shall notify the Governor and the division in writing of 911
1357-the person initially designated as the emergency coordination 912
1358-officer for such agency and her or his alternate and of any 913
1359-changes in persons so designated thereafter. 914
1360- Section 17. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (5) of 915
1361-section 252.37, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs 916
1362-(d) and (e), respectively, a new paragraph (c) is added to that 917
1363-subsection, and subsection (7) is added to that section, to 918
1364-read: 919
1365- 252.37 Financing.— 920
1366- (5) Unless otherwise specified in the General 921
1367-Appropriations Act: 922
1368- (c) If the division intends to accept or apply for federal 923
1369-funds for a division -administered program that is new, that will 924
1370-be implemented in a manner that is innovative or significantly 925
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1379-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1380-
1381-
1382-
1383-different from the manner in which the program is typically 926
1384-administered, or that will require a state match for which the 927
1385-division will be required to seek new budget authority, the 928
1386-division must notify the Legislature of its intent to accep t or 929
1387-apply for the federal funds. The notice must detail the federal 930
1388-program under which the funds will be accepted or applied for, 931
1389-the intended purpose and use of the funds, and the amount of 932
1390-funds, including the estimated state match. 933
1391- (7) The division shall take steps to maximize the 934
1392-availability and expedite the distribution of financial 935
1393-assistance from the Federal Government to state and local 936
1394-agencies. Such steps must include the standardization and 937
1395-streamlining of the application process for financi al assistance 938
1396-through the federal Public Assistance Program and provision of 939
1397-assistance to applicants in order to mitigate the risk of 940
1398-noncompliance with federal program requirements. The division 941
1399-shall use federal funds allocated as management costs or ot her 942
1400-funds as appropriated to implement this subsection. 943
1401- Section 18. Section 252.3713, Florida Statutes, is created 944
1402-to read: 945
1403- 252.3713 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. — 946
1404- (1) The division shall administer the Hazard Mitigation 947
1405-Grant Program as authoriz ed and described in s. 404 of the 948
1406-Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 949
1407-as amended by Pub. L. No. 103 -181, Pub. L. No. 103 -337, and Pub. 950
1408-
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1416-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1417-
1418-
1419-
1420-L. No. 106-390. 951
1421- (2) The division may retain no more than 25 percent of the 952
1422-total federal allocation of funds received for use within the 953
1423-state. A minimum of 75 percent of any funds received pursuant to 954
1424-a declared disaster must be distributed for use by the 955
1425-subrecipients in the counties specified in the Presidential 956
1426-Disaster Declaration for that disaster. However, a subrecipient 957
1427-may elect to share some or all of its allocation with the 958
1428-division to be used for projects benefiting the region in which 959
1429-the subrecipient is located. 960
1430- (3) The division and subrecipients shall consider projects 961
1431-that fulfill the following purposes when adopting mitigation 962
1432-strategies and plans and applying for funds under the grant 963
1433-program: 964
1434- (a) Reducing shelter space deficits through retrofitting 965
1435-of existing shelters and hardening of public buildings that are 966
1436-not schools. Reducing deficits in shelter space intended to 967
1437-accommodate individuals with special needs must be prioritized 968
1438-before addressing deficits in other types of shelter space. 969
1439-Additionally, general population shelters which are retrofitted 970
1440-must also account for federal accessibility standards and state 971
1441-accessibility standards in part II of chapter 553. 972
1442- (b) Mitigating impacts to public infrastructure, including 973
1443-roads, bridges, and stormwater, water, and sewer systems, to 974
1444-enhance resistance to natural hazards an d prevent and reduce 975
1445-
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1453-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1454-
1455-
1456-
1457-losses. 976
1458- (c) Mitigating impacts to school facilities which will 977
1459-reduce future disaster losses and make the facilities more 978
1460-resistant to natural hazards. 979
1461- (d) Retrofitting of regional and local emergency 980
1462-management or operations cente rs. 981
1463- (e) Other projects that the division may define by rule. 982
1464- (4) The division may coordinate with other state agencies 983
1465-and political subdivisions to develop and implement innovative 984
1466-approaches to funding mitigation projects using grants under the 985
1467-Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, including, but not limited to, 986
1468-combining funding received from multiple federal and state 987
1469-programs. The division, in cooperation with other state agencies 988
1470-that administer federal grant programs, shall ensure that: 989
1471- (a) Projects funded through multiple programs comply with 990
1472-all applicable federal and state requirements of the respective 991
1473-programs under which funding was received. 992
1474- (b) Funding is used for projects in the geographic areas 993
1475-specified in the grant of funding. 994
1476- (5) A fiscally constrained county may request that the 995
1477-division administer the grant for such county. A fiscally 996
1478-constrained county may request additional assistance from the 997
1479-division in preparing applications for grants and developing a 998
1480-structure for implementin g, monitoring the execution of, and 999
1481-closing out projects. 1000
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1490-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1491-
1492-
1493-
1494- (6) The division shall adopt rules to implement this 1001
1495-section. 1002
1496- Section 19. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 1003
1497-252.373, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1004
1498- 252.373 Allocation of fund s; rules.— 1005
1499- (2) The division shall allocate funds from the Emergency 1006
1500-Management, Preparedness, and Assistance Trust Fund to local 1007
1501-emergency management agencies and programs pursuant to criteria 1008
1502-specified in rule. Such rules shall include, but are not limi ted 1009
1503-to: 1010
1504- (a) Requiring that, at a minimum, a local emergency 1011
1505-management agency either: 1012
1506- 1. Have a program director who works at least 40 hours a 1013
1507-week in that capacity; or 1014
1508- 2. If the county has fewer than 75,000 population or is 1015
1509-party to an interjurisdic tional emergency management agreement 1016
1510-entered into pursuant to s. 252.38(3)(c) s. 252.38(3)(b), that 1017
1511-is recognized by the Governor by executive order or rule, have 1018
1512-an emergency management coordinator who works at least 20 hours 1019
1513-a week in that capacity. 1020
1514- Section 20. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (3) of 1021
1515-section 252.38, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs 1022
1516-(b) and (c), respectively, a new paragraph (a) is added to that 1023
1517-subsection, and paragraph (a) of subsection (1) is amended, to 1024
1518-read: 1025
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1527-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1528-
1529-
1530-
1531- 252.38 Emergency management powers of political 1026
1532-subdivisions.—Safeguarding the life and property of its citizens 1027
1533-is an innate responsibility of the governing body of each 1028
1534-political subdivision of the state. 1029
1535- (1) COUNTIES.— 1030
1536- (a) In order to provide effec tive and orderly governmental 1031
1537-control and coordination of emergency operations in emergencies 1032
1538-within the scope of ss. 252.31 -252.90, each county within this 1033
1539-state shall be within the jurisdiction of, and served by, the 1034
1540-division. Except as otherwise provide d in ss. 252.31-252.90, 1035
1541-each local emergency management agency shall have jurisdiction 1036
1542-over and serve an entire county. Unless part of an 1037
1543-interjurisdictional emergency management agreement entered into 1038
1544-pursuant to paragraph (3)(c) (3)(b) which is recognized by the 1039
1545-Governor by executive order or rule, each county must establish 1040
1546-and maintain such an emergency management agency and shall 1041
1547-develop a county emergency management plan and program that is 1042
1548-coordinated and consistent with the state comprehensive 1043
1549-emergency management plan and program. Counties that are part of 1044
1550-an interjurisdictional emergency management agreement entered 1045
1551-into pursuant to paragraph (3)(c) (3)(b) which is recognized by 1046
1552-the Governor by executive order or rule shall cooperatively 1047
1553-develop an emergency management plan and program that is 1048
1554-coordinated and consistent with the state comprehensive 1049
1555-emergency management plan and program. 1050
1556-
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1564-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1565-
1566-
1567-
1568- (3) EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT POWERS; POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. — 1051
1569- (a) Each political subdivision shall notify the division 1052
1570-on or before May 1 each year of the person designated as the 1053
1571-emergency contact for the political subdivision and his or her 1054
1572-alternate and of any changes in p ersons so designated 1055
1573-thereafter. For a county, the emergency contact must be the 1056
1574-county emergency management director. 1057
1575- Section 21. Section 252.381, Florida Statutes, is created 1058
1576-to read: 1059
1577- 252.381 Information related to natural emergencies; 1060
1578-poststorm county and municipal permitting; operations. — 1061
1579- (1) Each county and municipality must post on its publicly 1062
1580-accessible website: 1063
1581- (a) A frequently asked questions web page related to 1064
1582-natural emergency response, emergency preparedness, and public 1065
1583-relief for residents following an emergency. The web page must 1066
1584-answer questions concerning resident evacuations; safety tips; 1067
1585-generator, food and drinking water, and wastewater and 1068
1586-stormwater safety; damage assessment; debris cleanup; accessing 1069
1587-assistance through the F ederal Emergency Management Agency and 1070
1588-this state; building recovery; natural emergency guidance; 1071
1589-applicable laws; and what to do before, during, and after an 1072
1590-emergency. 1073
1591- (b) A disaster supply list and a list of emergency 1074
1592-shelters. 1075
1593-
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1601-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1602-
1603-
1604-
1605- (c) Links to informat ion about flood zones. 1076
1606- (d) A checklist for residents explaining next steps to 1077
1607-take during postdisaster recovery. 1078
1608- (e) Information specific to persons with disabilities, 1079
1609-including, but not limited to, guidelines for special needs 1080
1610-shelter registration; an explanation of how to register for 1081
1611-special needs shelters and where to obtain assistance with that 1082
1612-process; guidelines as to the level of care that is or is not 1083
1613-provided at a special needs shelter as well as situations when 1084
1614-either a general population she lter or hospital should be 1085
1615-considered; and any other postdisaster assistance or resources 1086
1616-available to affected persons with disabilities impacted by a 1087
1617-disaster. 1088
1618- (2) Each county and municipality shall develop a poststorm 1089
1619-permitting plan to expedite recov ery and rebuilding by providing 1090
1620-for special building permit and inspection procedures after a 1091
1621-hurricane or tropical storm. The plan must, at a minimum: 1092
1622- (a) Ensure sufficient personnel are prepared and available 1093
1623-to expeditiously manage postdisaster buildi ng inspection, 1094
1624-permitting, and enforcement tasks. The plan must anticipate 1095
1625-conditions that would necessitate supplemental personnel for 1096
1626-such tasks and address methods for fulfilling such personnel 1097
1627-needs, including through mutual aid agreements as authorize d in 1098
1628-s. 252.40, other arrangements, such as those with private sector 1099
1629-contractors, or supplemental state or federal funding. The plan 1100
1630-
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1638-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1639-
1640-
1641-
1642-must include training requirements and protocols for 1101
1643-supplemental personnel to ensure compliance with local 1102
1644-floodplain management requirements that apply within the county 1103
1645-or municipality. 1104
1646- (b) Account for multiple or alternate locations where 1105
1647-building permit services may be offered in person to the public 1106
1648-following a hurricane or tropical storm during regular business 1107
1649-hours. 1108
1650- (c) Specify a protocol to expedite permitting procedures 1109
1651-and, if practicable, for the waiver or reduction of applicable 1110
1652-fees in accordance with and in addition to the procedures and 1111
1653-waivers provided for under s. 553.7922. The plan must identify 1112
1654-the types of permits that are frequently requested following a 1113
1655-hurricane or tropical storm and methods to expedite the 1114
1656-processing of such permits. 1115
1657- (d) Specify procedures and resources necessary to promote 1116
1658-expeditious debris removal following a hurricane or trop ical 1117
1659-storm. 1118
1660- (3)(a) Each county and municipality shall publish on its 1119
1661-website a hurricane and tropical storm recovery permitting guide 1120
1662-for residential and commercial property owners. The guide must 1121
1663-describe: 1122
1664- 1. The types of poststorm repairs that requir e a permit 1123
1665-and applicable fees. 1124
1666- 2. The types of poststorm repairs that do not require a 1125
1667-
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1676-
1677-
1678-
1679-permit. 1126
1680- 3. The poststorm permit application process and specific 1127
1681-modifications the county or municipality commonly makes to 1128
1682-expedite the process, including the phys ical locations where 1129
1683-permitting services will be offered. 1130
1684- 4. Local requirements for rebuilding specific to the 1131
1685-county or municipality, including elevation requirements 1132
1686-following substantial damage and substantial improvement 1133
1687-pursuant to the National Floo d Insurance Program (NFIP) and any 1134
1688-local amendments to the building code. 1135
1689- (b) As soon as practicable following a hurricane or 1136
1690-tropical storm, a county or municipality within the area for 1137
1691-which a state of emergency pursuant to s. 252.36 for such 1138
1692-hurricane or tropical storm is declared shall publish updates on 1139
1693-its website to the information required under paragraph (a) 1140
1694-which are specific to such storm, including any permitting fee 1141
1695-waivers or reductions. 1142
1696- (4) For 180 days after a state of emergency is decla red 1143
1697-pursuant to s. 252.36 for a hurricane or tropical storm, a 1144
1698-county or municipality within the area for which the state of 1145
1699-emergency is declared may not increase building permit or 1146
1700-inspection fees. 1147
1701- (5) On or before May 1, 2026, each county and municipa lity 1148
1702-must provide an online option for receiving, reviewing, and 1149
1703-accessing substantial damage and substantial improvement 1150
1704-
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1712-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1713-
1714-
1715-
1716-letters. The county or municipality must allow homeowners to 1151
1717-provide an e-mail address where they can receive digital copies 1152
1718-of such letters. 1153
1719- (6) As soon as reasonably practicable following the 1154
1720-landfall and passage of a hurricane or tropical storm, each 1155
1721-county and municipality that has experienced a direct impact 1156
1722-from a natural emergency must use its best efforts to open a 1157
1723-permitting office at which residents can access government 1158
1724-services for at least 40 hours per week. 1159
1725- Section 22. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 252.385, 1160
1726-Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1161
1727- 252.385 Public shelter space; public records exemption. — 1162
1728- (2)(a) The division shall administer a program to survey 1163
1729-existing schools, universities, community colleges, and other 1164
1730-state-owned, municipally owned, and county -owned public 1165
1731-buildings and any private facility that the owner, in writing, 1166
1732-agrees to provide for u se as a public hurricane evacuation 1167
1733-shelter to identify those that are appropriately designed and 1168
1734-located to serve as such shelters. The owners of the facilities 1169
1735-must be given the opportunity to participate in the surveys. The 1170
1736-state university boards of tr ustees, district school boards, 1171
1737-community college boards of trustees, and the Department of 1172
1738-Education are responsible for coordinating and implementing the 1173
1739-survey of public schools, universities, and community colleges 1174
1740-with the division or the local emerge ncy management agency. 1175
1741-
1742-CS/CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1744-
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1749-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1750-
1751-
1752-
1753- (b) By January 31 of each even -numbered year, the division 1176
1754-shall prepare and submit a statewide emergency shelter plan to 1177
1755-the Governor and Cabinet for approval, subject to the 1178
1756-requirements for approval in s. 1013.37(2). The emergen cy 1179
1757-shelter plan must project, for each of the next 5 years, the 1180
1758-hurricane shelter needs of the state, including periods of time 1181
1759-during which a concurrent public health emergency may 1182
1760-necessitate more space for each individual to accommodate 1183
1761-physical distancing. In addition to information on the general 1184
1762-shelter needs throughout this state, the plan must identify the 1185
1763-general location and square footage of special needs shelters, 1186
1764-by regional planning council region. The plan must also include 1187
1765-information on the availability of shelters that accept pets. 1188
1766-The Department of Health shall assist the division in 1189
1767-determining the estimated need for special needs shelter space 1190
1768-and the adequacy of facilities to meet the needs of persons with 1191
1769-special needs based on informa tion from the registries of 1192
1770-persons with special needs and other information. 1193
1771- (3)(a) The division shall annually provide by October 15 1194
1772-to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of 1195
1773-the House of Representatives a report that includes , and the 1196
1774-Governor a list of facilities recommended to be retrofitted 1197
1775-using state funds. State funds should be maximized and targeted 1198
1776-to projects in counties regional planning council regions with 1199
1777-hurricane evacuation shelter deficits. Additionally, the 1200
1778-
1779-CS/CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1786-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1787-
1788-
1789-
1790-division shall prioritize on the list of recommended facilities 1201
1791-other state-owned, municipal-owned, and county-owned public 1202
1792-buildings, other than schools, for retrofitting using state 1203
1793-funds. The owner or lessee of a public hurricane evacuation 1204
1794-shelter that is included on the list of facilities recommended 1205
1795-for retrofitting is not required to perform any recommended 1206
1796-improvements. 1207
1797- (b) The report required in paragraph (a) must include a 1208
1798-statewide emergency shelter plan that must project, for each of 1209
1799-the next 5 years, the hurricane shelter needs of the state. In 1210
1800-addition to information on the general shelter needs throughout 1211
1801-this state, the plan must identify, by county, the general 1212
1802-location and square footage of special needs shelters. The plan 1213
1803-must also include in formation on the availability of shelters 1214
1804-that accept pets. The Department of Health and the Agency for 1215
1805-Persons with Disabilities shall assist the division in 1216
1806-determining the estimated need for special needs shelter space, 1217
1807-the estimated need for general sh elter space to accommodate 1218
1808-persons with developmental disabilities, including, but not 1219
1809-limited to, autism, and the adequacy of facilities to meet the 1220
1810-needs of persons with special needs based on information from 1221
1811-the registries of persons with special needs and other 1222
1812-information. 1223
1813- Section 23. Section 252.421, Florida Statutes, is created 1224
1814-to read: 1225
1815-
1816-CS/CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1818-
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1823-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1824-
1825-
1826-
1827- 252.421 Management of roadway debris related to natural 1226
1828-emergencies.—The division shall coordinate with fiscally 1227
1829-constrained counties, as described in s. 218.6 7(1), included in 1228
1830-a declared state of emergency for a category 3 or higher 1229
1831-hurricane and the Department of Transportation to provide such 1230
1832-counties with state resources to remove debris from roadways, 1231
1833-including roadways that are publicly accessible but not 1232
1834-maintained by the county. 1233
1835- Section 24. Section 252.422, Florida Statutes, is created 1234
1836-to read: 1235
1837- 252.422 Restrictions on county or municipal regulations 1236
1838-after a hurricane.— 1237
1839- (1) As used in this section, the term "impacted local 1238
1840-government" means a count y listed in a federal disaster 1239
1841-declaration located entirely or partially within 100 miles of 1240
1842-the track of a storm declared to be a hurricane by the National 1241
1843-Hurricane Center while the storm was categorized as a hurricane 1242
1844-or a municipality located within su ch a county. 1243
1845- (2) For 1 year after a hurricane makes landfall, an 1244
1846-impacted local government may not propose or adopt: 1245
1847- (a) A moratorium on construction, reconstruction, or 1246
1848-redevelopment of any property. 1247
1849- (b) A more restrictive or burdensome amendment to its 1248
1850-comprehensive plan or land development regulations. 1249
1851- (c) A more restrictive or burdensome procedure concerning 1250
1852-
1853-CS/CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1855-
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1860-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1861-
1862-
1863-
1864-review, approval, or issuance of a site plan, development 1251
1865-permit, or development order, to the extent that those terms are 1252
1866-defined in s. 163.3164. 1253
1867- (3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), a comprehensive plan 1254
1868-amendment, land development regulation amendment, site plan, 1255
1869-development permit, or development order approved or adopted by 1256
1870-an impacted local government before or after the effective dat e 1257
1871-of this act may be enforced if: 1258
1872- (a) The associated application is initiated by a private 1259
1873-party other than the impacted local government and the property 1260
1874-that is the subject of the application is owned by the 1261
1875-initiating private party; 1262
1876- (b) The proposed comprehensive plan amendment was 1263
1877-submitted to reviewing agencies pursuant to s. 163.3184 before 1264
1878-landfall; or 1265
1879- (c) The proposed comprehensive plan amendment or land 1266
1880-development regulation is approved by the state land planning 1267
1881-agency pursuant to s. 380.05 . 1268
1882- (4)(a) Any person may file suit against any impacted local 1269
1883-government for declaratory and injunctive relief to enforce this 1270
1884-section. 1271
1885- (b) A county or municipality may request a determination 1272
1886-by a court of competent jurisdiction as to whether such acti on 1273
1887-violates this section. Upon such a request, the county or 1274
1888-municipality may not enforce the action until the court has 1275
1889-
1890-CS/CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1892-
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1897-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1898-
1899-
1900-
1901-issued a preliminary or final judgment determining whether the 1276
1902-action violates this section. 1277
1903- (c) Before a plaintiff may file suit, th e plaintiff shall 1278
1904-notify the impacted local government by setting forth the facts 1279
1905-upon which the complaint or petition is based and the reasons 1280
1906-the impacted local government's action violates this section. 1281
1907-Upon receipt of the notice, the impacted local gov ernment shall 1282
1908-have 14 days to withdraw or revoke the action at issue or 1283
1909-otherwise declare it void. If the impacted local government does 1284
1910-not withdraw or revoke the action at issue within the time 1285
1911-prescribed, the plaintiff may file suit. The plaintiff shall be 1286
1912-entitled to entry of a preliminary injunction to prevent the 1287
1913-impacted local government from implementing the challenged 1288
1914-action during pendency of the litigation. In any action 1289
1915-instituted pursuant to this paragraph, the prevailing plaintiff 1290
1916-shall be entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs. 1291
1917- (d) In any case brought under this section, any party is 1292
1918-entitled to the summary procedure provided in s. 51.011, and the 1293
1919-court shall advance the cause on the calendar. 1294
1920- Section 25. Section 252.505, Florida Statutes, is created 1295
1921-to read: 1296
1922- 252.505 Breach of contract during emergency recovery 1297
1923-periods for natural emergencies. —Each state or local government 1298
1924-contract for goods or services related to emergency response for 1299
1925-a natural emergency entered into, renewed , or amended on or 1300
1926-
1927-CS/CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1929-
1930-
1931-CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1932-hb1535-03-c3
1933-Page 53 of 62
1934-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1935-
1936-
1937-
1938-after July 1, 2025, must include a provision that requires a 1301
1939-vendor or service provider that breaches such contract during an 1302
1940-emergency recovery period to pay actual, consequential, and 1303
1941-liquidated damages and a $5,000 penalty. As used in this 1304
1942-section, the term "emergency recovery period" means a 1 -year 1305
1943-period that begins on the date that the Governor initially 1306
1944-declared a state of emergency for a natural emergency. 1307
1945- Section 26. Subsection (4) is added to section 373.423, 1308
1946-Florida Statutes, to read: 1309
1947- 373.423 Inspection. — 1310
1948- (4)(a) By September 1, 2026, the department shall submit a 1311
1949-Flood Inventory and Restoration Report to the Division of 1312
1950-Emergency Management. The department must work with water 1313
1951-management districts, local governments, and operators of public 1314
1952-and private stormwater management systems to compile the 1315
1953-necessary information for the report, which must: 1316
1954- 1. Identify priority infrastructure needs within each 1317
1955-water management district jurisdiction that may result in 1318
1956-flooding or property damage or threaten human health if left 1319
1957-unaddressed; 1320
1958- 2. Identify locations that have both historic flooding 1321
1959-occurrences, based on flood zones identified by the Federal 1322
1960-Emergency Management Agency, and the potential to flood from 1323
1961-future significant storm events, such as hurricanes and tropical 1324
1962-storms; 1325
1963-
1964-CS/CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
1965-
1966-
1967-
1968-CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1969-hb1535-03-c3
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1971-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1972-
1973-
1974-
1975- 3. For each location identified in subparagraph 1. or 1326
1976-subparagraph 2., include an inspection and maintenance schedule 1327
1977-and specific information on the age of the infrastructure, 1328
1978-upstream impacts, and other factors that may lead to system 1329
1979-failure if unaddressed ; and 1330
1980- 4. Include a list of facilities prioritized for funding to 1331
1981-address flooding issues. 1332
1982- (b) The owner of any priority infrastructure identified in 1333
1983-the report must submit an inspection and maintenance schedule to 1334
1984-the department. 1335
1985- (c) The department must review and update the report on a 1336
1986-biannual basis. The report must provide information regarding 1337
1987-compliance with the inspection and maintenance schedules, 1338
1988-include any additional revisions bas ed on storm event 1339
1989-experience, and revise the list of facilities as new flooding 1340
1990-events take place and new projects are implemented to alleviate 1341
1991-infrastructure deficiencies which led to flood ing events. The 1342
1992-department must submit an updated report to the Di vision of 1343
1993-Emergency Management by September 1 of each year in which the 1344
1994-report is due. 1345
1995- Section 27. Subsection (1) of section 400.063, Florida 1346
1996-Statutes, is amended to read: 1347
1997- 400.063 Resident protection. — 1348
1998- (1) The Health Care Trust Fund shall be used f or the 1349
1999-purpose of collecting and disbursing funds generated from the 1350
2000-
2001-CS/CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
2002-
2003-
2004-
2005-CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2006-hb1535-03-c3
2007-Page 55 of 62
2008-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2009-
2010-
2011-
2012-license fees and administrative fines as provided for in ss. 1351
2013-393.0673(5), 400.062(3), 400.121(2), and 400.23(8). Such funds 1352
2014-shall be for the sole purpose of paying for the appropriate 1353
2015-alternate placement, care, and treatment of residents who are 1354
2016-removed from a facility licensed under this part or a facility 1355
2017-specified in s. 393.0678(1) in which the agency determines that 1356
2018-existing conditions or practices constitute an immediate danger 1357
2019-to the health, safety, or security of the residents. If the 1358
2020-agency determines that it is in the best interest of the health, 1359
2021-safety, or security of the residents to provide for an orderly 1360
2022-removal of the residents from the facility, the agency may 1361
2023-utilize such funds to maintain and care for the residents in the 1362
2024-facility pending removal and alternative placement. The 1363
2025-maintenance and care of the residents shall be under the 1364
2026-direction and control of a receiver appointed pursuant to s. 1365
2027-393.0678(1) or s. 400.126(1). Ho wever, funds may be expended in 1366
2028-an emergency upon a filing of a petition for a receiver, upon 1367
2029-the declaration of a state of local emergency pursuant to s. 1368
2030-252.38(3)(b)5. s. 252.38(3)(a)5., or upon a duly authorized 1369
2031-local order of evacuation of a facility b y emergency personnel 1370
2032-to protect the health and safety of the residents. 1371
2033- Section 28. Subsection (7) of section 403.7071, Florida 1372
2034-Statutes, is amended, and subsection (8) is added to that 1373
2035-section, to read: 1374
2036- 403.7071 Management of storm -generated debris.—Solid waste 1375
2037-
2038-CS/CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
2039-
2040-
2041-
2042-CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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2044-Page 56 of 62
2045-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2046-
2047-
2048-
2049-generated as a result of a storm event that is the subject of an 1376
2050-emergency order issued by the department may be managed as 1377
2051-follows: 1378
2052- (7) Unless otherwise specified in a contract or franchise 1379
2053-agreement between a local government and a private solid waste 1380
2054-or debris management service provider, a private solid waste or 1381
2055-debris management service provider is not required to collect 1382
2056-storm-generated yard trash , debris, or waste. Local governments 1383
2057-are authorized and encouraged to add an addendum to existing 1384
2058-contracts or franchise agreements for collection of storm -1385
2059-generated debris. 1386
2060- (8)(a) Each county and municipality shall apply to the 1387
2061-department for authorization of at least one debris management 1388
2062-site as described in subsection (2) and shall annually seek 1389
2063-preauthorization for any previously approved debris management 1390
2064-sites, as allowed by the department. 1391
2065- (b) A municipality may jointly apply for authorization of 1392
2066-a debris management site with a county or at least one adjacent 1393
2067-municipality, if the parties develop and approve a memorandum of 1394
2068-understanding. Such memorandum must clearly outline the capacity 1395
2069-of the debris management site and location of the site relative 1396
2070-to each party. The memorandum of unders tanding must be approved 1397
2071-annually as part of the preauthorization process described in 1398
2072-paragraph (a). 1399
2073- Section 29. Section 489.1132, Florida Statutes, is created 1400
2074-
2075-CS/CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
2076-
2077-
2078-
2079-CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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2082-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2083-
2084-
2085-
2086-to read: 1401
2087- 489.1132 Regulation of hoisting equipment used in 1402
2088-construction, demolition, or e xcavation work during a 1403
2089-hurricane.— 1404
2090- (1) As used in this section, the term: 1405
2091- (a) "Controlling entity" means the general contractor, 1406
2092-prime contractor, or construction manager with overall 1407
2093-responsibility for a construction project. 1408
2094- (b) "Hoisting equipmen t" means power-operated cranes, 1409
2095-derricks, and hoists used in construction, demolition, or 1410
2096-excavation work that are regulated by the Occupational Safety 1411
2097-and Health Administration. 1412
2098- (c) "Mobile crane" means a type of hoisting equipment 1413
2099-incorporating a cable -suspended latticed boom or hydraulic 1414
2100-telescoping boom designed to be moved between operating 1415
2101-locations by transport over a roadway. The term does not include 1416
2102-a mobile crane with a boom length of less than 25 feet or a 1417
2103-maximum rated load capacity of less t han 15,000 pounds. 1418
2104- (d) "Tower crane" means a type of hoisting equipment using 1419
2105-a vertical mast or tower to support a working boom in an 1420
2106-elevated position if the working boom can rotate to move loads 1421
2107-laterally either by rotating at the top of the mast or t ower or 1422
2108-by the rotation of the mast or tower itself, whether the mast or 1423
2109-tower base is fixed in one location or ballasted and moveable 1424
2110-between locations. 1425
2111-
2112-CS/CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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2114-
2115-
2116-CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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2119-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2120-
2121-
2122-
2123- (2)(a) When a tower crane or mobile crane is located on a 1426
2124-worksite, a hurricane preparedness plan fo r the crane must be 1427
2125-available for inspection at the worksite. 1428
2126- (b) In preparation for a hurricane, the controlling entity 1429
2127-must ensure that hoisting equipment is secured in the following 1430
2128-manner no later than 24 hours before the impacts of the 1431
2129-hurricane are anticipated to begin: 1432
2130- 1. All hoisting equipment must be secured in compliance 1433
2131-with manufacturer recommendations relating to hurricane and 1434
2132-high-wind events, including any recommendations relating to the 1435
2133-placement, use, and removal of advertising banners and rigging. 1436
2134- 2. Tower crane turntables must be lubricated before the 1437
2135-event. 1438
2136- 3. Fixed booms on mobile cranes must be laid down whenever 1439
2137-feasible. 1440
2138- 4. Booms on hydraulic cranes must be retracted and stored. 1441
2139- 5. The counterweights of any hoists must be locked below 1442
2140-the top tie-in. 1443
2141- 6. Tower cranes must be set in the weathervane position. 1444
2142- 7. All rigging must be removed from hoist blocks. 1445
2143- 8. All power at the base of tower cranes must be 1446
2144-disconnected. 1447
2145- (3) A person licensed under this part who intenti onally 1448
2146-violates this section is subject to discipline under ss. 455.227 1449
2147-and 489.129. 1450
2148-
2149-CS/CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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2151-
2152-
2153-CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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2156-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2157-
2158-
2159-
2160- (4) The Florida Building Commission shall establish best 1451
2161-practices for the utilization of tower cranes and hoisting 1452
2162-equipment on construction job sites during hurricane season and 1453
2163-report its findings to the Legislature by December 31, 2026. 1454
2164- Section 30. Subsection (6) of section 553.902, Florida 1455
2165-Statutes, is amended to read: 1456
2166- 553.902 Definitions. —As used in this part, the term: 1457
2167- (6) "Renovated building" means a residential or 1458
2168-nonresidential building undergoing alteration that varies or 1459
2169-changes insulation, HVAC systems, water heating systems, or 1460
2170-exterior envelope conditions, if the estimated cost of 1461
2171-renovation exceeds 30 percent of the assessed v alue of the 1462
2172-structure. However, if the alteration is a result of a natural 1463
2173-disaster that is the subject of a declaration of a state of 1464
2174-emergency by the Governor, the estimated cost of renovation must 1465
2175-exceed 75 percent of the fair market value of the buildi ng 1466
2176-before the natural disaster. 1467
2177- Section 31. The Division of Emergency Management shall 1468
2178-consult with local governments, the Department of Business and 1469
2179-Professional Regulation, the Department of Environmental 1470
2180-Protection, and any other appropriate agencie s to develop 1471
2181-recommendations for statutory changes necessary to streamline 1472
2182-the permitting process for repairing and rebuilding structures 1473
2183-damaged during natural emergencies. By July 1, 2026, the 1474
2184-division shall provide a report containing such recommendatio ns 1475
2185-
2186-CS/CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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2188-
2189-
2190-CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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2193-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2194-
2195-
2196-
2197-to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 1476
2198-Representatives. 1477
2199- Section 32. (1) Each county listed in the Federal 1478
2200-Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Debby (DR -4806), Hurricane 1479
2201-Helene (DR-4828), or Hurricane Milton (DR -4834), and each 1480
2202-municipality within one of those counties, may not propose or 1481
2203-adopt any moratorium on construction, reconstruction, or 1482
2204-redevelopment of any property damaged by such hurricanes; 1483
2205-propose or adopt more restrictive or burdensome amendments to 1484
2206-its comprehensive plan or land development regulations; or 1485
2207-propose or adopt more restrictive or burdensome procedures 1486
2208-concerning review, approval, or issuance of a site plan, 1487
2209-development permit, or development order, to the extent that 1488
2210-those terms are defined by s. 163. 3164, Florida Statutes, before 1489
2211-October 1, 2027, and any such moratorium or restrictive or 1490
2212-burdensome comprehensive plan amendment, land development 1491
2213-regulation, or procedure shall be null and void ab initio. This 1492
2214-subsection applies retroactively to August 1 , 2024. 1493
2215- (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), any comprehensive plan 1494
2216-amendment, land development regulation amendment, site plan, 1495
2217-development permit, or development order approved or adopted by 1496
2218-a county or municipality before or after the effective date of 1497
2219-this act may be enforced if: 1498
2220- (a) The associated application is initiated by a private 1499
2221-party other than the county or municipality. 1500
2222-
2223-CS/CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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2225-
2226-
2227-CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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2230-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2231-
2232-
2233-
2234- (b) The property that is the subject of the application is 1501
2235-owned by the initiating private party. 1502
2236- (3)(a) A resident of or the owner of a business in a 1503
2237-county or municipality may bring a civil action for declaratory 1504
2238-and injunctive relief against the county or municipality for a 1505
2239-violation of this section. Pending adjudication of the action 1506
2240-and upon filing of a complaint sho wing a violation of this 1507
2241-section, the resident or business owner is entitled to a 1508
2242-preliminary injunction against the county or municipality 1509
2243-preventing implementation of the moratorium or the comprehensive 1510
2244-plan amendment, land development regulation, or pro cedure. If 1511
2245-such civil action is successful, the resident or business owner 1512
2246-is entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs. 1513
2247- (b) Attorney fees and costs and damages may not be awarded 1514
2248-pursuant to this subsection if: 1515
2249- 1. The resident or business owner p rovides the governing 1516
2250-body of the county or municipality written notice that a 1517
2251-proposed or enacted moratorium, comprehensive plan amendment, 1518
2252-land development regulation, or procedure is in violation of 1519
2253-this section; and 1520
2254- 2. The governing body of the count y or municipality 1521
2255-withdraws the proposed moratorium, comprehensive plan amendment, 1522
2256-land development regulation, or procedure within 14 days; or, in 1523
2257-the case of an adopted moratorium, comprehensive plan amendment, 1524
2258-land development regulation, or procedure, the governing body of 1525
2259-
2260-CS/CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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2267-F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2268-
2269-
2270-
2271-a county or municipality notices an intent to repeal within 14 1526
2272-days after receipt of the notice and repeals the moratorium, 1527
2273-comprehensive plan amendment, land development regulation, or 1528
2274-procedure within 14 days thereafter. 1529
2275- (4) This section expires June 30, 2028. 1530
2276- Section 33. The Division of Law Revision is directed to 1531
2277-replace the phrase "the effective date of this act" wherever it 1532
2278-occurs in this act with the date this act becomes a law. 1533
2279- Section 34. This act shall take effect upon becoming a 1534
2280-law. 1535
620+ 163.31795 Participation in the National Flood Insura nce 415
621+Program.— 416
622+ (1) For purposes of this section, the term: 417
623+ (a) "Cumulative substantial improvement period" means the 418
624+period during which an aggregate of improvements or repairs are 419
625+considered for purposes of determining substantial improvement 420
626+as defined in s. 161.54(12). 421
627+ (b) "Local government" has the same meaning as in s. 422
628+163.2514. 423
629+ (2) A local government that is participating in the 424
630+National Flood Insurance Program may not adopt a cumulative 425
631+
632+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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639+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
640+
641+
642+
643+substantial improvement period that is longer than 1 year . 426
644+ Section 7. Subsection (14) is added to section 163.31801, 427
645+Florida Statutes, to read: 428
646+ 163.31801 Impact fees; short title; intent; minimum 429
647+requirements; audits; challenges. — 430
648+ (14) A local government, school district, or special 431
649+district may not asse ss an impact fee for the reconstruction or 432
650+replacement of a previously existing structure if the 433
651+replacement structure is of the same land use as the original 434
652+structure and does not increase the impact on public facilities 435
653+beyond that of the original struc ture. However, if the 436
654+replacement structure increases the demand on public facilities 437
655+due to a significant increase in size, intensity, or capacity of 438
656+use, a local government, school district, or special district 439
657+may assess an impact fee in an amount propo rtional to the 440
658+difference in the demand between the replacement structure and 441
659+the original structure. Any such fee must be reasonably 442
660+connected to, or have a rational nexus with, the need for 443
661+additional capital facilities and the increased impact generated 444
662+by the reconstruction or replacement of a previously existing 445
663+structure. 446
664+ Section 8. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (4) of 447
665+section 193.155, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 448
666+ 193.155 Homestead assessments. —Homestead property shall be 449
667+assessed at just value as of January 1, 1994. Property receiving 450
668+
669+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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676+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
677+
678+
679+
680+the homestead exemption after January 1, 1994, shall be assessed 451
681+at just value as of January 1 of the year in which the property 452
682+receives the exemption unless the provisions of subsection (8) 453
683+apply. 454
684+ (4)(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b) and s. 193.624, 455
685+changes, additions, or improvements to homestead property shall 456
686+be assessed at just value as of the first January 1 after the 457
687+changes, additions, or improvements are substantially completed. 458
688+Maintenance or repair of the homestead property, including roof 459
689+or window replacement, may not be considered to be a change, an 460
690+addition, or an improvement under this subsection. 461
691+ (b)1. Changes, additions, or improvements that replace all 462
692+or a portion of homestead property, including ancillary 463
693+improvements, damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity 464
694+shall be assessed upon substantial completion as provided in 465
695+this paragraph. Such assessment must be calculated using the 466
696+homestead property's assessed value as of the January 1 467
697+immediately before the date on which the damage or destruction 468
698+was sustained, subject to the assessment limitations in 469
699+subsections (1) and (2), when: 470
700+ a. The square footage of the homestead property as changed 471
701+or improved does not exc eed 130 110 percent of the square 472
702+footage of the homestead property before the damage or 473
703+destruction; or 474
704+ b. The total square footage of the homestead property as 475
705+
706+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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713+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
714+
715+
716+
717+changed or improved does not exceed 2,000 1,500 square feet. 476
718+ 477
719+When a homestead property is e levated above the base flood 478
720+elevation within a special flood hazard area, the square footage 479
721+underneath the homestead property that is used only for parking, 480
722+storage, or access is not included when determining the total 481
723+square footage of the homestead pro perty as changed or improved 482
724+under this subparagraph. 483
725+ 2. The homestead property's assessed value must be 484
726+increased by the just value of that portion of the changed or 485
727+improved homestead property which is in excess of 130 110 486
728+percent of the square footage of the homestead property before 487
729+the damage or destruction or of that portion exceeding 2,000 488
730+1,500 square feet. 489
731+ 3. Homestead property damaged or destroyed by misfortune 490
732+or calamity which, after being changed or improved, has a square 491
733+footage of less than 100 percent of the homestead property's 492
734+total square footage before the damage or destruction shall be 493
735+assessed pursuant to subsection (5). 494
736+ 4. Changes, additions, or improvements assessed pursuant 495
737+to this paragraph must be reassessed pursuant to subse ction (1) 496
738+in subsequent years. This paragraph applies to changes, 497
739+additions, or improvements commenced within 5 years after the 498
740+January 1 following the damage or destruction of the homestead. 499
741+ Section 9. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 500
742+
743+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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750+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
751+
752+
753+
754+215.559, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 501
755+ 215.559 Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program. —A Hurricane 502
756+Loss Mitigation Program is established in the Division of 503
757+Emergency Management. 504
758+ (1) The Legislature shall annually appropriate $10 million 505
759+of the moneys authorized for appropriation under s. 506
760+215.555(7)(c) from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund to the 507
761+division for the purposes set forth in this section. Of the 508
762+amount: 509
763+ (b) Three million dollars in funds shall be used to 510
764+construct or retrofit facilities used as public hurricane 511
765+shelters. Each year the division shall prioritize the use of 512
766+these funds for projects included in the annual report of the 513
767+Shelter Development Re port prepared in accordance with s. 514
768+252.385(3). The division shall must give funding priority to 515
769+projects located in counties regional planning council regions 516
770+that have shelter deficits , projects that are publicly owned, 517
771+other than schools, and to projects that maximize the use of 518
772+state funds. 519
773+ Section 10. Section 250.375, Florida Statutes, is amended 520
774+to read: 521
775+ 250.375 Medical officer authorization. —A servicemember 522
776+trained to provide medical care who is serving under the 523
777+direction of the Florid a National Guard State Surgeon and is 524
778+assigned to a military duty position and authorized by the 525
779+
780+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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787+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
788+
789+
790+
791+Florida National Guard to provide medical care within the scope 526
792+of the servicemember's professional licensure by virtue of such 527
793+duty position may provide such medical care to military 528
794+personnel and civilians within this state physician who holds an 529
795+active license to practice medicine in any state, a United 530
796+States territory, or the District of Columbia, while serving as 531
797+a medical officer with or in support of the Florida National 532
798+Guard, pursuant to federal or state orders, may practice 533
799+medicine on military personnel or civilians during an emergency 534
800+or declared disaster or during federal military training . 535
801+ Section 11. Paragraphs (y) through (dd) of subsection ( 2) 536
802+of section 252.35, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as 537
803+paragraphs (x) through (cc), respectively, and paragraphs (a), 538
804+(c), and (s) and present paragraph (x) of that subsection are 539
805+amended to read: 540
806+ 252.35 Emergency management powers; Division of Emer gency 541
807+Management.— 542
808+ (2) The division is responsible for carrying out the 543
809+provisions of ss. 252.31 -252.90. In performing its duties, the 544
810+division shall: 545
811+ (a) Prepare a state comprehensive emergency management 546
812+plan, which must shall be integrated into and coordinated with 547
813+the emergency management plans and programs of the Federal 548
814+Government. The division shall adopt the plan as a rule in 549
815+accordance with chapter 120. The plan must be implemented by a 550
816+
817+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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824+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
825+
826+
827+
828+continuous, integrated comprehensive emergency management 551
829+program. The plan must contain provisions to ensure that the 552
830+state is prepared for emergencies and minor, major, and 553
831+catastrophic disasters, and the division shall work closely with 554
832+local governments and agencies and organizations with emergency 555
833+management responsibilities in preparing and maintaining the 556
834+plan. The state comprehensive emergency management plan must be 557
835+operations oriented and: 558
836+ 1. Include an evacuation component that includes specific 559
837+regional and interregional planning provisions and promo tes 560
838+intergovernmental coordination of evacuation activities. This 561
839+component must, at a minimum: contain guidelines for lifting 562
840+tolls on state highways; ensure coordination pertaining to 563
841+evacuees crossing county lines; set forth procedures for 564
842+directing people caught on evacuation routes to safe shelter; 565
843+establish strategies for ensuring sufficient, reasonably priced 566
844+fueling locations along evacuation routes; and establish 567
845+policies and strategies for emergency medical evacuations. 568
846+ 2. Include a shelter comp onent that includes specific 569
847+regional and interregional planning provisions and promotes 570
848+coordination of shelter activities between the public, private, 571
849+and nonprofit sectors. This component must, at a minimum: 572
850+contain strategies to ensure the availability of adequate public 573
851+shelter space in each county region of the state; establish 574
852+strategies for refuge -of-last-resort programs; provide 575
853+
854+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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861+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
862+
863+
864+
865+strategies to assist local emergency management efforts to 576
866+ensure that adequate staffing plans exist for all shelters, 577
867+including medical and security personnel; provide for a 578
868+postdisaster communications system for public shelters; 579
869+establish model shelter guidelines for operations, registration, 580
870+inventory, power generation capability, information management, 581
871+and staffing; and set forth policy guidance for sheltering 582
872+people with special needs. 583
873+ 3. Include a postdisaster response and recovery component 584
874+that includes specific regional and interregional planning 585
875+provisions and promotes intergovernmental coordination of 586
876+postdisaster response and recovery activities. This component 587
877+must provide for postdisaster response and recovery strategies 588
878+according to whether a disaster is minor, major, or 589
879+catastrophic. The postdisaster response and recovery component 590
880+must, at a minimum: establ ish the structure of the state's 591
881+postdisaster response and recovery organization; establish 592
882+procedures for activating the state's plan; set forth policies 593
883+used to guide postdisaster response and recovery activities; 594
884+describe the chain of command during the postdisaster response 595
885+and recovery period; describe initial and continuous 596
886+postdisaster response and recovery actions; identify the roles 597
887+and responsibilities of each involved agency and organization; 598
888+provide for a comprehensive communications plan; estab lish 599
889+procedures for coordinating and monitoring statewide mutual aid 600
890+
891+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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898+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
899+
900+
901+
902+agreements reimbursable under federal public disaster assistance 601
903+programs; provide for rapid impact assessment teams; ensure the 602
904+availability of an effective statewide urban search and re scue 603
905+program coordinated with the fire services; ensure the existence 604
906+of a comprehensive statewide medical care and relief plan 605
907+administered by the Department of Health; and establish systems 606
908+for coordinating volunteers and accepting and distributing 607
909+donated funds and goods. 608
910+ 4. Include additional provisions addressing aspects of 609
911+preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation as determined 610
912+necessary by the division. 611
913+ 5. Address the need for coordinated and expeditious 612
914+deployment of state resources, incl uding the Florida National 613
915+Guard. In the case of an imminent major disaster, procedures 614
916+should address predeployment of the Florida National Guard, and, 615
917+in the case of an imminent catastrophic disaster, procedures 616
918+should address predeployment of the Florid a National Guard and 617
919+the United States Armed Forces. 618
920+ 6. Establish a system of communications and warning to 619
921+ensure that the state's population and emergency management 620
922+agencies are warned of developing emergency situations, 621
923+including public health emerge ncies, and can communicate 622
924+emergency response decisions. 623
925+ 7. Establish guidelines and schedules for annual exercises 624
926+that evaluate the ability of the state and its political 625
927+
928+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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930+
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935+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
936+
937+
938+
939+subdivisions to respond to minor, major, and catastrophic 626
940+disasters and support l ocal emergency management agencies. Such 627
941+exercises shall be coordinated with local governments and, to 628
942+the extent possible, the Federal Government. 629
943+ 8. Assign lead and support responsibilities to state 630
944+agencies and personnel for emergency support function s and other 631
945+support activities. 632
946+ 9. Include the public health emergency plan developed by 633
947+the Department of Health pursuant to s. 381.00315. 634
948+ 10. Include an update on the status of the emergency 635
949+management capabilities of the state and its political 636
950+subdivisions. The update must include the emergency management 637
951+capabilities related to public health emergencies, as determined 638
952+in collaboration with the Department of Health. 639
953+ 640
954+The complete state comprehensive emergency management plan must 641
955+be submitted to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the 642
956+House of Representatives, and the Governor on February 1 of 643
957+every even-numbered year. 644
958+ (c) Assist political subdivisions in preparing and 645
959+maintaining emergency management plans. Such assistance must 646
960+include the development of a template for comprehensive 647
961+emergency management plans, including plans for natural 648
962+disasters, and guidance on the development of mutual aid 649
963+agreements. 650
964+
965+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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967+
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972+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
973+
974+
975+
976+ (s) Complete an inventory of disaster response equipment, 651
977+including portable generators owned by the state and local 652
978+governments which are capable of operating during a major 653
979+disaster. The inventory must identify, at a minimum, the 654
980+location of each generator, the number of generators stored at 655
981+each specific location, the agency to which e ach generator 656
982+belongs, the primary use of the generator by the owner agency, 657
983+and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of persons 658
984+having the authority to loan the stored generators as authorized 659
985+by the division during a declared emergency. 660
986+ (x) Report biennially to the President of the Senate, the 661
987+Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of 662
988+the Supreme Court, and the Governor, no later than February 1 of 663
989+every odd-numbered year, the status of the emergency management 664
990+capabilities of the state and its political subdivisions. This 665
991+report must include the emergency management capabilities 666
992+related to public health emergencies, as determined in 667
993+collaboration with the Department of Health. 668
994+ Section 12. Subsection (4) of section 252.355, Florida 669
995+Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (5), paragraph (b) of 670
996+subsection (2) is amended, and a new subsection (4) is added to 671
997+that section, to read: 672
998+ 252.355 Registry of persons with special needs; notice; 673
999+registration program. — 674
1000+ (2) In order to ensure that all persons with special needs 675
1001+
1002+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1004+
1005+
1006+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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1009+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1010+
1011+
1012+
1013+may register, the division shall develop and maintain a special 676
1014+needs shelter registration program. During a public health 677
1015+emergency in which physical distancing is necessary, as 678
1016+determined by the State Health Offi cer, the division must 679
1017+maintain information on special needs shelter options that 680
1018+mitigate the threat of the spread of infectious diseases. 681
1019+ (b) To assist in identifying persons with special needs, 682
1020+home health agencies, hospices, nurse registries, home me dical 683
1021+equipment providers, the Department of Veterans' Affairs, the 684
1022+Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health, 685
1023+the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Department of 686
1024+Education, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the 687
1025+Department of Elderly Affairs, and memory disorder clinics 688
1026+shall, and any physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 689
1027+459 and any pharmacy licensed under chapter 465 may, annually 690
1028+provide registration information to all of their special needs 691
1029+clients or their caregivers. The Florida Housing Finance 692
1030+Corporation shall enter into memoranda of understanding with the 693
1031+Department of Elderly Affairs and with the Agency for Persons 694
1032+with Disabilities to ensure special needs registration 695
1033+information is provided to reside nts of low-income senior 696
1034+independent living properties and independent living properties 697
1035+for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities 698
1036+funded by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, respectively. 699
1037+The division shall develop a brochure that provides information 700
1038+
1039+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1046+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1047+
1048+
1049+
1050+regarding special needs shelter registration procedures. The 701
1051+brochure must be easily accessible on the division's website. 702
1052+All appropriate agencies and community -based service providers, 703
1053+including aging and disability resource centers , memory disorder 704
1054+clinics, home health care providers, hospices, nurse registries, 705
1055+and home medical equipment providers, shall, and any physician 706
1056+licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 may, assist emergency 707
1057+management agencies by annually registering pe rsons with special 708
1058+needs for special needs shelters, collecting registration 709
1059+information for persons with special needs as part of the 710
1060+program intake process, and establishing programs to educate 711
1061+clients about the registration process and disaster prepared ness 712
1062+safety procedures. A client of a state -funded or federally 713
1063+funded service program who has a physical, mental, or cognitive 714
1064+impairment or sensory disability and who needs assistance in 715
1065+evacuating, or when in a shelter, must register as a person with 716
1066+special needs. The registration program shall give persons with 717
1067+special needs the option of preauthorizing emergency response 718
1068+personnel to enter their homes during search and rescue 719
1069+operations if necessary to ensure their safety and welfare 720
1070+following disasters. 721
1071+ (4) The caregiver of a person with special needs who is 722
1072+eligible for admission to a special needs shelter, and all 723
1073+persons for whom he or she is the caregiver, shall be allowed to 724
1074+shelter together in the special needs shelter. If a person with 725
1075+
1076+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1083+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1084+
1085+
1086+
1087+special needs is responsible for the care of persons without 726
1088+special needs, those persons shall be allowed to use the special 727
1089+needs shelter with the person with special needs. 728
1090+ Section 13. Subsections (3) through (6) of section 729
1091+252.359, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 730
1092+ 252.359 Ensuring availability of emergency supplies. — 731
1093+ (3) The division, as a function of emergency preparation, 732
1094+response, and recovery, may facilitate shall develop a system to 733
1095+certify each person who facilitates the transport or 734
1096+distribution of essentials in commerce. The division may not 735
1097+certify a person other than a person who routinely transports or 736
1098+distributes essentials. In developing the system, the division: 737
1099+ (a) may provide for a preemergency or postemer gency 738
1100+transportation of essentials declaration certification . 739
1101+ (b) Shall allow the certification of an employer, if 740
1102+requested by the employer, to constitute a certification of the 741
1103+employer's employees. 742
1104+ (c) Shall create an easily recognizable indicium of 743
1105+certification to assist local officials' efforts in determining 744
1106+which persons have been certified under this subsection. 745
1107+ (d) Shall limit the duration of each certificate to no 746
1108+more than 1 year. Each certificate may be renewed so long as the 747
1109+criteria for certification are met. 748
1110+ (4) A person authorized to transport essentials or 749
1111+employer certified under subsection (3) is not required to 750
1112+
1113+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1120+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1121+
1122+
1123+
1124+obtain any additional certification or fulfill any additional 751
1125+requirement to transport or distribute essentials. 752
1126+ (5) Notwithstanding any curfew, restriction, road block, 753
1127+quarantine, or other limitation on access to an area, a person 754
1128+authorized or employer certified under subsection (3) to deliver 755
1129+essentials may enter or remain in the restricted curfew area for 756
1130+the limited purpose of facilitating the transport or 757
1131+distribution of essentials and may provide service that exceeds 758
1132+otherwise applicable hours of service maximums to the extent 759
1133+authorized by a duly executed declaration of a state of 760
1134+emergency. Local law enforcement shall cooperate with the 761
1135+division to ensure the availability of essentials under this 762
1136+section. 763
1137+ (6) This section does not prohibit a law enforcement 764
1138+officer from specifying the permissible route of ingress or 765
1139+egress for a person authorized certified under subsection (3). 766
1140+Notwithstanding this section, all state roadways are determined 767
1141+by the Florida Highway Patrol in coordination with the 768
1142+Department of Transportation. 769
1143+ Section 14. Subsection (2) of section 252.3611, Florida 770
1144+Statutes, is amended, and subsection (5) is added to that 771
1145+section, to read: 772
1146+ 252.3611 Transparency; audits. — 773
1147+ (2) If When the duration of a declaration of a state of an 774
1148+emergency issued by the Governor exceeds 90 days: 775
1149+
1150+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1152+
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1157+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1158+
1159+
1160+
1161+ (a)1. The Executive Office of the Governor or the 776
1162+appropriate agency, within 72 hours after of executing a 777
1163+contract executed with moneys authorized for expenditure to 778
1164+support the response to the declared state of emergency, must 779
1165+the Executive Office of the Governor or the appropriate agency 780
1166+shall submit a copy of such contract to the Legislature. For 781
1167+contracts executed during the first 90 days of the declared 782
1168+state of emergency, the Executive Office of the Governor or the 783
1169+appropriate agency shall submit a copy to the Legislature within 784
1170+the first 120 days of the declared state of emergency. 785
1171+ 2. All contracts executed to support the response to a 786
1172+declared state of emergency, including contracts executed before 787
1173+a declared state of emergency to secure resources or services in 788
1174+advance or anticipation of an emergency, must be posted on the 789
1175+secure contract tracking system required under s. 215.985(14). 790
1176+ (b) The Executive Office of the Governor or the 791
1177+appropriate agency shall submit monthly reports to the 792
1178+Legislature of all state expenditures, revenues rec eived, and 793
1179+funds transferred by an agency during the previous month to 794
1180+support the declared state of emergency. 795
1181+ (5) Annually, by January 15, the division shall report to 796
1182+the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 797
1183+Representatives, and the ch airs of the appropriations committee 798
1184+of each house of the Legislature on expenditures related to 799
1185+emergencies incurred over the year from November 1 of the 800
1186+
1187+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1189+
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1194+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1195+
1196+
1197+
1198+previous year. The report must include: 801
1199+ (a) A separate summary of each emergency event, whether 802
1200+complete or ongoing, and key actions taken by the division. 803
1201+ (b) Details of expenditures, separated by emergency event 804
1202+and agency, for preparing for, responding to, or recovering from 805
1203+the event. The report must specify detailed expenditures for the 806
1204+entire report time period; specify total expenditures for the 807
1205+event; and indicate amounts that are being or are anticipated to 808
1206+be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or 809
1207+other federal entity, amounts ineligible for reimbursement, and 810
1208+any amounts deobligated by the Federal Emergency Management 811
1209+Agency or other federal entity for reimbursement. The division 812
1210+shall review expenditures by state agencies to ensure that 813
1211+efforts, purchases, contracts, or expenditures are not 814
1212+duplicated. 815
1213+ (c) An accounting o f all inventory and assets purchased, 816
1214+separated by emergency event and agency, for preparing for, 817
1215+responding to, or recovering from the event, including motor 818
1216+vehicles, boats, computers, and other equipment, and the current 819
1217+status of such assets, including divestment, sale, or donation 820
1218+by the state. The report must include a detailed accounting for 821
1219+the entire report time period and specify a total for the event. 822
1220+ Section 15. Subsection (4) of section 252.365, Florida 823
1221+Statutes, is amended to read: 824
1222+ 252.365 Emergency coordination officers; disaster -825
1223+
1224+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1231+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1232+
1233+
1234+
1235+preparedness plans.— 826
1236+ (4) On or before May 1 of each year, the head of each 827
1237+agency shall notify the Governor and the division in writing of 828
1238+the person initially designated as the emergency coordination 829
1239+officer for such agency and her or his alternate and of any 830
1240+changes in persons so designated thereafter. 831
1241+ Section 16. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (5) of 832
1242+section 252.37, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs 833
1243+(d) and (e), respectively, a new p aragraph (c) is added to that 834
1244+subsection, and subsection (7) is added to that section, to 835
1245+read: 836
1246+ 252.37 Financing.— 837
1247+ (5) Unless otherwise specified in the General 838
1248+Appropriations Act: 839
1249+ (c) If the division intends to accept or apply for federal 840
1250+funds for a division-administered program that is new, that will 841
1251+be implemented in a manner that is innovative or significantly 842
1252+different from the manner in which the program is typically 843
1253+administered, or that will require a state match for which the 844
1254+division will be required to seek new budget authority, the 845
1255+division must notify the Legislature of its intent to accept or 846
1256+apply for the federal funds. The notice must detail the federal 847
1257+program under which the funds will be accepted or applied for, 848
1258+the intended purpose and use of the funds, and the amount of 849
1259+funds, including the estimated state match. 850
1260+
1261+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1268+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1269+
1270+
1271+
1272+ (7) The division shall take steps to maximize the 851
1273+availability and expedite the distribution of financial 852
1274+assistance from the Federal Government to state and local 853
1275+agencies. Such steps must include the standardization and 854
1276+streamlining of the application process for financial assistance 855
1277+through the federal Public Assistance Program and provision of 856
1278+assistance to applicants in order to mitigate the risk of 857
1279+noncompliance with federal program requirements. The division 858
1280+shall use federal funds allocated as management costs or other 859
1281+funds as appropriated to implement this subsection. 860
1282+ Section 17. Section 252.3713, Florida Statutes, is created 861
1283+to read: 862
1284+ 252.3713 Hazard Mitiga tion Grant Program.— 863
1285+ (1) The division shall administer the Hazard Mitigation 864
1286+Grant Program as authorized and described in s. 404 of the 865
1287+Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 866
1288+as amended by Pub. L. No. 103 -181, Pub. L. No. 103 -337, and Pub. 867
1289+L. No. 106-390. 868
1290+ (2) The division may retain no more than 25 percent of the 869
1291+total federal allocation of funds received for use within the 870
1292+state. A minimum of 75 percent of any funds received pursuant to 871
1293+a declared disaster must be distributed for use by the 872
1294+subrecipients in the counties specified in the Presidential 873
1295+Disaster Declaration for that disaster. However, a subrecipient 874
1296+may elect to share some or all of its allocation with the 875
1297+
1298+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1305+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1306+
1307+
1308+
1309+division to be used for projects benefiting the region in which 876
1310+the subrecipient is loca ted. 877
1311+ (3) The division and subrecipients shall consider projects 878
1312+that fulfill the following purposes when adopting mitigation 879
1313+strategies and plans and applying for funds under the grant 880
1314+program: 881
1315+ (a) Reducing shelter space deficits through retrofitting 882
1316+of existing shelters and hardening of public buildings that are 883
1317+not schools. Reducing deficits in shelter space intended to 884
1318+accommodate individuals with special needs must be prioritized 885
1319+before addressing deficits in other types of shelter space. 886
1320+Additionally, general population shelters which are retrofitted 887
1321+must also account for federal accessibility standards and state 888
1322+accessibility standards in part I of ch apter 553. 889
1323+ (b) Mitigating impacts to public infrastructure, including 890
1324+roads, bridges, and stormwater, water, and sewer systems, to 891
1325+enhance resistance to natural hazards and prevent and reduce 892
1326+losses. 893
1327+ (c) Mitigating impacts to school facilities which will 894
1328+reduce future disaster losses and make the facilities more 895
1329+resistant to natural hazards. 896
1330+ (d) Retrofitting of regional and local emergency 897
1331+management or operations centers. 898
1332+ (e) Other projects that the division may define by rule. 899
1333+ (4) The division may coordinate with other state agencies 900
1334+
1335+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1337+
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1342+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1343+
1344+
1345+
1346+and political subdivisions to develop and implement innovative 901
1347+approaches to funding mitigation projects using grants under the 902
1348+Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, including, but not limited to, 903
1349+combining funding received from multiple federal and state 904
1350+programs. The division, in cooperation with other state a gencies 905
1351+that administer federal grant programs, shall ensure that: 906
1352+ (a) Projects funded through multiple programs comply with 907
1353+all applicable federal and state requirements of the respective 908
1354+programs under which funding was received. 909
1355+ (b) Funding is used for projects in the geographic areas 910
1356+specified in the grant of funding. 911
1357+ (5) A fiscally constrained county may request that the 912
1358+division administer the grant for such county. A fiscally 913
1359+constrained county may request additional assistance from the 914
1360+division in preparing applications for grants and developing a 915
1361+structure for implementing, monitoring the execution of, and 916
1362+closing out projects. 917
1363+ (6) The division shall adopt rules to implement this 918
1364+section. 919
1365+ Section 18. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of se ction 920
1366+252.373, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 921
1367+ 252.373 Allocation of funds; rules. — 922
1368+ (2) The division shall allocate funds from the Emergency 923
1369+Management, Preparedness, and Assistance Trust Fund to local 924
1370+emergency management agencies and programs p ursuant to criteria 925
1371+
1372+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1379+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1380+
1381+
1382+
1383+specified in rule. Such rules shall include, but are not limited 926
1384+to: 927
1385+ (a) Requiring that, at a minimum, a local emergency 928
1386+management agency either: 929
1387+ 1. Have a program director who works at least 40 hours a 930
1388+week in that capacity; or 931
1389+ 2. If the county has fewer than 75,000 population or is 932
1390+party to an interjurisdictional emergency management agreement 933
1391+entered into pursuant to s. 252.38(3)(c) s. 252.38(3)(b), that 934
1392+is recognized by the Governor by executive order or rule, have 935
1393+an emergency management coordinator who works at least 20 hours 936
1394+a week in that capacity. 937
1395+ Section 19. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (3) of 938
1396+section 252.38, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs 939
1397+(b) and (c), respectively, a new paragraph (a) is add ed to that 940
1398+subsection, and paragraph (a) of subsection (1) is amended, to 941
1399+read: 942
1400+ 252.38 Emergency management powers of political 943
1401+subdivisions.—Safeguarding the life and property of its citizens 944
1402+is an innate responsibility of the governing body of each 945
1403+political subdivision of the state. 946
1404+ (1) COUNTIES.— 947
1405+ (a) In order to provide effective and orderly governmental 948
1406+control and coordination of emergency operations in emergencies 949
1407+within the scope of ss. 252.31 -252.90, each county within this 950
1408+
1409+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1416+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1417+
1418+
1419+
1420+state shall be within the jurisdiction of, and served by, the 951
1421+division. Except as otherwise provided in ss. 252.31 -252.90, 952
1422+each local emergency management agency shall have jurisdiction 953
1423+over and serve an entire county. Unless part of an 954
1424+interjurisdictional emergency managem ent agreement entered into 955
1425+pursuant to paragraph (3)(c) (3)(b) which is recognized by the 956
1426+Governor by executive order or rule, each county must establish 957
1427+and maintain such an emergency management agency and shall 958
1428+develop a county emergency management plan and program that is 959
1429+coordinated and consistent with the state comprehensive 960
1430+emergency management plan and program. Counties that are part of 961
1431+an interjurisdictional emergency management agreement entered 962
1432+into pursuant to paragraph (3)(c) (3)(b) which is recognized by 963
1433+the Governor by executive order or rule shall cooperatively 964
1434+develop an emergency management plan and program that is 965
1435+coordinated and consistent with the state comprehensive 966
1436+emergency management plan and program. 967
1437+ (3) EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT POWERS ; POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. — 968
1438+ (a) Each political subdivision shall notify the division 969
1439+on or before May 1 each year of the person designated as the 970
1440+emergency contact for the political subdivision and his or her 971
1441+alternate and of any changes in persons so des ignated 972
1442+thereafter. For a county, the emergency contact must be the 973
1443+county emergency management director. 974
1444+ Section 20. Section 252.381, Florida Statutes, is created 975
1445+
1446+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1448+
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1453+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1454+
1455+
1456+
1457+to read: 976
1458+ 252.381 Information related to natural emergencies; 977
1459+poststorm county and muni cipal permitting; operations. — 978
1460+ (1) Each county and municipality must post on its publicly 979
1461+accessible website: 980
1462+ (a) A frequently asked questions web page related to 981
1463+natural emergency response, emergency preparedness, and public 982
1464+relief for residents follo wing an emergency. The web page must 983
1465+answer questions concerning resident evacuations; safety tips; 984
1466+generator, food and drinking water, and wastewater and 985
1467+stormwater safety; damage assessment; debris cleanup; accessing 986
1468+assistance through the Federal Emerge ncy Management Agency and 987
1469+this state; building recovery; natural emergency guidance; 988
1470+applicable laws; and what to do before, during, and after an 989
1471+emergency. 990
1472+ (b) A disaster supply list and a list of emergency 991
1473+shelters. 992
1474+ (c) Links to information about flood zones. 993
1475+ (d) A checklist for residents explaining next steps to 994
1476+take during postdisaster recovery. 995
1477+ (e) Information specific to persons with disabilities, 996
1478+including, but not limited to, guidelines for special needs 997
1479+shelter registration; an explanati on of how to register for 998
1480+special needs shelters and where to obtain assistance with that 999
1481+process; guidelines as to the level of care that is or is not 1000
1482+
1483+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1489+Page 41 of 57
1490+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1491+
1492+
1493+
1494+provided at a special needs shelter as well as situations when 1001
1495+either a general population shelter or ho spital should be 1002
1496+considered; and any other postdisaster assistance or resources 1003
1497+available to affected persons with disabilities impacted by a 1004
1498+disaster. 1005
1499+ (2) Each county and municipality shall develop a poststorm 1006
1500+permitting plan to expedite recovery and re building by providing 1007
1501+for special building permit and inspection procedures after a 1008
1502+hurricane or tropical storm. The plan must, at a minimum: 1009
1503+ (a) Ensure sufficient personnel are prepared and available 1010
1504+to expeditiously manage postdisaster building inspect ion, 1011
1505+permitting, and enforcement tasks. The plan must anticipate 1012
1506+conditions that would necessitate supplemental personnel for 1013
1507+such tasks and address methods for fulfilling such personnel 1014
1508+needs, including through mutual aid agreements as authorized in 1015
1509+s. 252.40, other arrangements, such as those with private sector 1016
1510+contractors, or supplemental state or federal funding. The plan 1017
1511+must include training requirements and protocols for 1018
1512+supplemental personnel to ensure compliance with local 1019
1513+floodplain management re quirements that apply within the county 1020
1514+or municipality. 1021
1515+ (b) Account for multiple or alternate locations where 1022
1516+building permit services may be offered in person to the public 1023
1517+following a hurricane or tropical storm during regular business 1024
1518+hours. 1025
1519+
1520+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1527+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1528+
1529+
1530+
1531+ (c) Specify a protocol to expedite permitting procedures 1026
1532+and, if practicable, for the waiver or reduction of applicable 1027
1533+fees in accordance with and in addition to the procedures and 1028
1534+waivers provided for under s. 553.7922. The plan must identify 1029
1535+the types of permits that are frequently requested following a 1030
1536+hurricane or tropical storm and methods to expedite the 1031
1537+processing of such permits. 1032
1538+ (d) Specify procedures and resources necessary to promote 1033
1539+expeditious debris removal following a hurricane or tropical 1034
1540+storm. 1035
1541+ (3)(a) Each county and municipality shall publish on its 1036
1542+website a hurricane and tropical storm recovery permitting guide 1037
1543+for residential and commercial property owners. The guide must 1038
1544+describe: 1039
1545+ 1. The types of poststorm repairs that require a permit 1040
1546+and applicable fees. 1041
1547+ 2. The types of poststorm repairs that do not require a 1042
1548+permit. 1043
1549+ 3. The poststorm permit application process and specific 1044
1550+modifications the county or municipality commonly makes to 1045
1551+expedite the process, including the physical locat ions where 1046
1552+permitting services will be offered. 1047
1553+ 4. Local requirements for rebuilding specific to the 1048
1554+county or municipality, including elevation requirements 1049
1555+following substantial damage and substantial improvement 1050
1556+
1557+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1559+
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1564+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1565+
1566+
1567+
1568+pursuant to the National Flood Insuranc e Program (NFIP) and any 1051
1569+local amendments to the building code. 1052
1570+ (b) As soon as practicable following a hurricane or 1053
1571+tropical storm, a county or municipality within the area for 1054
1572+which a state of emergency pursuant to s. 252.36 for such 1055
1573+hurricane or tropical storm is declared shall publish updates on 1056
1574+its website to the information required under paragraph (a) 1057
1575+which are specific to such storm, including any permitting fee 1058
1576+waivers or reductions. 1059
1577+ (4) For 180 days after a state of emergency is declared 1060
1578+pursuant to s. 252.36 for a hurricane or tropical storm, a 1061
1579+county or municipality within the area for which the state of 1062
1580+emergency is declared may not increase building permit or 1063
1581+inspection fees. 1064
1582+ (5) On or before May 1, 2026, each county and municipality 1065
1583+must provide an online option for receiving, reviewing, and 1066
1584+accessing substantial damage and substantial improvement 1067
1585+letters. The county or municipality must allow homeowners to 1068
1586+provide an e-mail address where they can receive digital copies 1069
1587+of such letters. 1070
1588+ (6) As soon as reasonably practicable following the 1071
1589+landfall and passage of a hurricane or tropical storm, each 1072
1590+county and municipality that has experienced a direct impact 1073
1591+from a natural emergency must use its best efforts to open a 1074
1592+permitting office at w hich residents can access government 1075
1593+
1594+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1601+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1602+
1603+
1604+
1605+services for at least 40 hours per week. 1076
1606+ (7) Beginning October 1, 2025, emergency management 1077
1607+personnel of a county or municipality, and individuals who are 1078
1608+designated to perform key roles in postdisaster response for a 1079
1609+county or municipality, must complete the training provided by 1080
1610+the division pursuant to s. 252.35 every 2 years. 1081
1611+ Section 21. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 252.385, 1082
1612+Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 1083
1613+ 252.385 Public shelter space; public records exemption.— 1084
1614+ (2)(a) The division shall administer a program to survey 1085
1615+existing schools, universities, community colleges, and other 1086
1616+state-owned, municipally owned, and county -owned public 1087
1617+buildings and any private facility that the owner, in writi ng, 1088
1618+agrees to provide for use as a public hurricane evacuation 1089
1619+shelter to identify those that are appropriately designed and 1090
1620+located to serve as such shelters. The owners of the facilities 1091
1621+must be given the opportunity to participate in the surveys. The 1092
1622+state university boards of trustees, district school boards, 1093
1623+community college boards of trustees, and the Department of 1094
1624+Education are responsible for coordinating and implementing the 1095
1625+survey of public schools, universities, and community colleges 1096
1626+with the division or the local emergency management agency. 1097
1627+ (b) By January 31 of each even -numbered year, the division 1098
1628+shall prepare and submit a statewide emergency shelter plan to 1099
1629+the Governor and Cabinet for approval, subject to the 1100
1630+
1631+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1638+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1639+
1640+
1641+
1642+requirements for approval in s. 1013.37(2). The emergency 1101
1643+shelter plan must project, for each of the next 5 years, the 1102
1644+hurricane shelter needs of the state, including periods of time 1103
1645+during which a concurrent public health emergency may 1104
1646+necessitate more space for each individual to a ccommodate 1105
1647+physical distancing. In addition to information on the general 1106
1648+shelter needs throughout this state, the plan must identify the 1107
1649+general location and square footage of special needs shelters, 1108
1650+by regional planning council region. The plan must also include 1109
1651+information on the availability of shelters that accept pets. 1110
1652+The Department of Health shall assist the division in 1111
1653+determining the estimated need for special needs shelter space 1112
1654+and the adequacy of facilities to meet the needs of persons with 1113
1655+special needs based on information from the registries of 1114
1656+persons with special needs and other information. 1115
1657+ (3)(a) The division shall annually provide by October 15 1116
1658+to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of 1117
1659+the House of Representative s a report that includes , and the 1118
1660+Governor a list of facilities recommended to be retrofitted 1119
1661+using state funds. State funds should be maximized and targeted 1120
1662+to projects in counties regional planning council regions with 1121
1663+hurricane evacuation shelter defici ts. Additionally, the 1122
1664+division shall prioritize on the list of recommended facilities 1123
1665+other state-owned, municipal-owned, and county-owned public 1124
1666+buildings, other than schools, for retrofitting using state 1125
1667+
1668+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
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1675+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1676+
1677+
1678+
1679+funds. The owner or lessee of a public hurricane e vacuation 1126
1680+shelter that is included on the list of facilities recommended 1127
1681+for retrofitting is not required to perform any recommended 1128
1682+improvements. 1129
1683+ (b) The report required in paragraph (a) must include a 1130
1684+statewide emergency shelter plan that must project, for each of 1131
1685+the next 5 years, the hurricane shelter needs of the state. In 1132
1686+addition to information on the general shelter needs throughout 1133
1687+this state, the plan must identify, by county, the general 1134
1688+location and square footage of special needs shelters. Th e plan 1135
1689+must also include information on the availability of shelters 1136
1690+that accept pets. The Department of Health and the Agency for 1137
1691+Persons with Disabilities shall assist the division in 1138
1692+determining the estimated need for special needs shelter space, 1139
1693+the estimated need for general shelter space to accommodate 1140
1694+persons with developmental disabilities, including, but not 1141
1695+limited to, autism, and the adequacy of facilities to meet the 1142
1696+needs of persons with special needs based on information from 1143
1697+the registries of persons with special needs and other 1144
1698+information. 1145
1699+ Section 22. Section 252.421, Florida Statutes, is created 1146
1700+to read: 1147
1701+ 252.421 Management of roadway debris related to natural 1148
1702+emergencies.—The division shall coordinate with fiscally 1149
1703+constrained counties, as described in s. 218.67(1), included in 1150
1704+
1705+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
1706+
1707+
1708+
1709+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1710+hb1535-02-c2
1711+Page 47 of 57
1712+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1713+
1714+
1715+
1716+a declared state of emergency for a category 3 or higher 1151
1717+hurricane and the Department of Transportation to provide such 1152
1718+counties with state resources to remove debris from roadways, 1153
1719+including roadways that are p ublicly accessible but not 1154
1720+maintained by the county. 1155
1721+ Section 23. Section 252.422, Florida Statutes, is created 1156
1722+to read: 1157
1723+ 252.422 Restrictions on county or municipal regulations 1158
1724+after a hurricane.— 1159
1725+ (1) As used in this section, the term "impacted loca l 1160
1726+government" means a county listed in a federal disaster 1161
1727+declaration located entirely or partially within 100 miles of 1162
1728+the track of a storm declared to be a hurricane by the National 1163
1729+Hurricane Center while the storm was categorized as a hurricane 1164
1730+or a municipality located within such a county. 1165
1731+ (2) For 1 year after a hurricane makes landfall, an 1166
1732+impacted local government may not propose or adopt: 1167
1733+ (a) A moratorium on construction, reconstruction, or 1168
1734+redevelopment of any property. 1169
1735+ (b) A more restrictive or burdensome amendment to its 1170
1736+comprehensive plan or land development regulations. 1171
1737+ (c) A more restrictive or burdensome procedure concerning 1172
1738+review, approval, or issuance of a site plan, development 1173
1739+permit, or development order, to the extent that those terms are 1174
1740+defined in s. 163.3164. 1175
1741+
1742+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
1743+
1744+
1745+
1746+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1747+hb1535-02-c2
1748+Page 48 of 57
1749+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1750+
1751+
1752+
1753+ (3) Notwithstanding subsection (2), a comprehensive plan 1176
1754+amendment, land development regulation amendment, site plan, 1177
1755+development permit, or development order approved or adopted by 1178
1756+an impacted local governme nt before or after the effective date 1179
1757+of this act may be enforced if: 1180
1758+ (a) The associated application is initiated by a private 1181
1759+party other than the impacted local government and the property 1182
1760+that is the subject of the application is owned by the 1183
1761+initiating private party; 1184
1762+ (b) The proposed comprehensive plan amendment was 1185
1763+submitted to reviewing agencies pursuant to s. 163.3184 before 1186
1764+landfall; or 1187
1765+ (c) The proposed comprehensive plan amendment or land 1188
1766+development regulation is approved by the state land p lanning 1189
1767+agency pursuant to s. 380.05. 1190
1768+ (4)(a) Any person may file suit against any impacted local 1191
1769+government for declaratory and injunctive relief to enforce this 1192
1770+section. 1193
1771+ (b) A county or municipality may request a determination 1194
1772+by a court of competent jurisdiction as to whether such action 1195
1773+violates this section. Upon such a request, the county or 1196
1774+municipality may not enforce the action until the court has 1197
1775+issued a preliminary or final judgment determining whether the 1198
1776+action violates this section. 1199
1777+ (c) Before a plaintiff may file suit, the plaintiff shall 1200
1778+
1779+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
1780+
1781+
1782+
1783+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1784+hb1535-02-c2
1785+Page 49 of 57
1786+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1787+
1788+
1789+
1790+notify the impacted local government by setting forth the facts 1201
1791+upon which the complaint or petition is based and the reasons 1202
1792+the impacted local government's action violates this section. 1203
1793+Upon receipt of the notice, the impacted local government shall 1204
1794+have 14 days to withdraw or revoke the action at issue or 1205
1795+otherwise declare it void. If the impacted local government does 1206
1796+not withdraw or revoke the action at issue within the time 1207
1797+prescribed, the plaintif f may file suit. The plaintiff shall be 1208
1798+entitled to entry of a preliminary injunction to prevent the 1209
1799+impacted local government from implementing the challenged 1210
1800+action during pendency of the litigation. In any action 1211
1801+instituted pursuant to this paragraph, t he prevailing plaintiff 1212
1802+shall be entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs. 1213
1803+ (d) In any case brought under this section, any party is 1214
1804+entitled to the summary procedure provided in s. 51.011, and the 1215
1805+court shall advance the cause on the calendar. 1216
1806+ Section 24. Section 252.505, Florida Statutes, is created 1217
1807+to read: 1218
1808+ 252.505 Breach of contract during emergency recovery 1219
1809+periods for natural emergencies. —Each state or local government 1220
1810+contract for goods or services related to emergency response for 1221
1811+a natural emergency entered into, renewed, or amended on or 1222
1812+after July 1, 2025, must include a provision that requires a 1223
1813+vendor or service provider that breaches such contract during an 1224
1814+emergency recovery period to pay actual and consequential 1225
1815+
1816+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
1817+
1818+
1819+
1820+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1821+hb1535-02-c2
1822+Page 50 of 57
1823+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1824+
1825+
1826+
1827+damages and a $5,000 penalty. As used in this section, the term 1226
1828+"emergency recovery period" means a 1 -year period that begins on 1227
1829+the date that the Governor initially declared a state of 1228
1830+emergency for a natural emergency. 1229
1831+ Section 25. Subsection (1) of section 400.063, F lorida 1230
1832+Statutes, is amended to read: 1231
1833+ 400.063 Resident protection. — 1232
1834+ (1) The Health Care Trust Fund shall be used for the 1233
1835+purpose of collecting and disbursing funds generated from the 1234
1836+license fees and administrative fines as provided for in ss. 1235
1837+393.0673(5), 400.062(3), 400.121(2), and 400.23(8). Such funds 1236
1838+shall be for the sole purpose of paying for the appropriate 1237
1839+alternate placement, care, and treatment of residents who are 1238
1840+removed from a facility licensed under this part or a facility 1239
1841+specified in s. 393.0678(1) in which the agency determines that 1240
1842+existing conditions or practices constitute an immediate danger 1241
1843+to the health, safety, or security of the residents. If the 1242
1844+agency determines that it is in the best interest of the health, 1243
1845+safety, or security of the residents to provide for an orderly 1244
1846+removal of the residents from the facility, the agency may 1245
1847+utilize such funds to maintain and care for the residents in the 1246
1848+facility pending removal and alternative placement. The 1247
1849+maintenance and care of the resid ents shall be under the 1248
1850+direction and control of a receiver appointed pursuant to s. 1249
1851+393.0678(1) or s. 400.126(1). However, funds may be expended in 1250
1852+
1853+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
1854+
1855+
1856+
1857+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1858+hb1535-02-c2
1859+Page 51 of 57
1860+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1861+
1862+
1863+
1864+an emergency upon a filing of a petition for a receiver, upon 1251
1865+the declaration of a state of local emergency pursuant to s. 1252
1866+252.38(3)(b)5. s. 252.38(3)(a)5., or upon a duly authorized 1253
1867+local order of evacuation of a facility by emergency personnel 1254
1868+to protect the health and safety of the residents. 1255
1869+ Section 26. Subsection (7) of section 403.7071, Florida 1256
1870+Statutes, is amended, and subsection (8) is added to that 1257
1871+section, to read: 1258
1872+ 403.7071 Management of storm -generated debris.—Solid waste 1259
1873+generated as a result of a storm event that is the subject of an 1260
1874+emergency order issued by the department may be managed as 1261
1875+follows: 1262
1876+ (7) Unless otherwise specified in a contract or franchise 1263
1877+agreement between a local government and a private solid waste 1264
1878+or debris management service provider, a private solid waste or 1265
1879+debris management service provider is not required to collect 1266
1880+storm-generated yard trash , debris, or waste. Local governments 1267
1881+are authorized and encouraged to add an addendum to existing 1268
1882+contracts or franchise agreements for collection of storm -1269
1883+generated debris. 1270
1884+ (8)(a) Each county and municipality shall apply to the 1271
1885+department for authorization of at least one debris management 1272
1886+site as described in subsection (2) and shall annually seek 1273
1887+preauthorization for any previously approved debris management 1274
1888+sites, as allowed by the department. 1275
1889+
1890+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
1891+
1892+
1893+
1894+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1895+hb1535-02-c2
1896+Page 52 of 57
1897+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1898+
1899+
1900+
1901+ (b) A municipality may join tly apply for authorization of 1276
1902+a debris management site with a county or at least one adjacent 1277
1903+municipality, if the parties develop and approve a memorandum of 1278
1904+understanding. Such memorandum must clearly outline the capacity 1279
1905+of the debris management site a nd location of the site relative 1280
1906+to each party. The memorandum of understanding must be approved 1281
1907+annually as part of the preauthorization process described in 1282
1908+paragraph (a). 1283
1909+ Section 27. Section 489.1132, Florida Statutes, is created 1284
1910+to read: 1285
1911+ 489.1132 Regulation of hoisting equipment used in 1286
1912+construction, demolition, or excavation work during a 1287
1913+hurricane.— 1288
1914+ (1) As used in this section, the term: 1289
1915+ (a) "Hoisting equipment" means power -operated cranes, 1290
1916+derricks, and hoists used in construction, demoliti on, or 1291
1917+excavation work that are regulated by the Occupational Safety 1292
1918+and Health Administration. 1293
1919+ (b) "Mobile crane" means a type of hoisting equipment 1294
1920+incorporating a cable -suspended latticed boom or hydraulic 1295
1921+telescoping boom designed to be moved between operating 1296
1922+locations by transport over a roadway. The term does not include 1297
1923+a mobile crane with a boom length of less than 25 feet or a 1298
1924+maximum rated load capacity of less than 15,000 pounds. 1299
1925+ (c) "Tower crane" means a type of hoisting equipment using 1300
1926+
1927+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
1928+
1929+
1930+
1931+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1932+hb1535-02-c2
1933+Page 53 of 57
1934+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1935+
1936+
1937+
1938+a vertical mast or tower to support a working boom in an 1301
1939+elevated position if the working boom can rotate to move loads 1302
1940+laterally either by rotating at the top of the mast or tower or 1303
1941+by the rotation of the mast or tower itself, whether the mast or 1304
1942+tower base is fixed in one location or ballasted and moveable 1305
1943+between locations. 1306
1944+ (2)(a) When a tower crane or mobile crane is located on a 1307
1945+worksite, a hurricane preparedness plan for the crane must be 1308
1946+available for inspection at the worksite. 1309
1947+ (b) In preparation for a hurricane, hoisting equipment 1310
1948+must be secured in the following manner no later than 24 hours 1311
1949+before the impacts of the hurricane are anticipated to begin: 1312
1950+ 1. All hoisting equipment must be secured in compliance 1313
1951+with manufacturer recommendations rel ating to hurricane and 1314
1952+high-wind events, including any recommendations relating to the 1315
1953+placement, use, and removal of advertising banners and rigging. 1316
1954+ 2. Tower crane turntables must be lubricated before the 1317
1955+event. 1318
1956+ 3. Fixed booms on mobile cranes must b e laid down whenever 1319
1957+feasible. 1320
1958+ 4. Booms on hydraulic cranes must be retracted and stored. 1321
1959+ 5. The counterweights of any hoists must be locked below 1322
1960+the top tie-in. 1323
1961+ 6. Tower cranes must be set in the weathervane position. 1324
1962+ 7. All rigging must be remov ed from hoist blocks. 1325
1963+
1964+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
1965+
1966+
1967+
1968+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
1969+hb1535-02-c2
1970+Page 54 of 57
1971+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
1972+
1973+
1974+
1975+ 8. All power at the base of tower cranes must be 1326
1976+disconnected. 1327
1977+ (3) A person licensed under this part who intentionally 1328
1978+violates this section is subject to discipline under ss. 455.227 1329
1979+and 489.129. 1330
1980+ Section 28. Subsection (6) of section 553.902, Florida 1331
1981+Statutes, is amended to read: 1332
1982+ 553.902 Definitions. —As used in this part, the term: 1333
1983+ (6) "Renovated building" means a residential or 1334
1984+nonresidential building undergoing alteration that varies or 1335
1985+changes insulation, HVAC systems, water heating systems, or 1336
1986+exterior envelope conditions, if the estimated cost of 1337
1987+renovation exceeds 30 percent of the assessed value of the 1338
1988+structure. However, if the alteration is a result of a natural 1339
1989+disaster that is the subject of a declaration of a st ate of 1340
1990+emergency by the Governor, the estimated cost of renovation must 1341
1991+exceed 75 percent of the fair market value of the building 1342
1992+before the natural disaster. 1343
1993+ Section 29. The Division of Emergency Management shall 1344
1994+consult with local governments, the D epartment of Business and 1345
1995+Professional Regulation, the Department of Environmental 1346
1996+Protection, and any other appropriate agencies to develop 1347
1997+recommendations for statutory changes necessary to streamline 1348
1998+the permitting process for repairing and rebuilding s tructures 1349
1999+damaged during natural emergencies. By July 1, 2026, the 1350
2000+
2001+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
2002+
2003+
2004+
2005+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2006+hb1535-02-c2
2007+Page 55 of 57
2008+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2009+
2010+
2011+
2012+division shall provide a report containing such recommendations 1351
2013+to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of 1352
2014+Representatives. 1353
2015+ Section 30. (1) Each county listed in t he Federal 1354
2016+Disaster Declaration for Hurricane Debby (DR -4806), Hurricane 1355
2017+Helene (DR-4828), or Hurricane Milton (DR -4834), and each 1356
2018+municipality within one of those counties, may not propose or 1357
2019+adopt any moratorium on construction, reconstruction, or 1358
2020+redevelopment of any property damaged by such hurricanes; 1359
2021+propose or adopt more restrictive or burdensome amendments to 1360
2022+its comprehensive plan or land development regulations; or 1361
2023+propose or adopt more restrictive or burdensome procedures 1362
2024+concerning review, appro val, or issuance of a site plan, 1363
2025+development permit, or development order, to the extent that 1364
2026+those terms are defined by s. 163.3164, Florida Statutes, before 1365
2027+October 1, 2027, and any such moratorium or restrictive or 1366
2028+burdensome comprehensive plan amendmen t, land development 1367
2029+regulation, or procedure shall be null and void ab initio. This 1368
2030+subsection applies retroactively to August 1, 2024. 1369
2031+ (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), any comprehensive plan 1370
2032+amendment, land development regulation amendment, site plan , 1371
2033+development permit, or development order approved or adopted by 1372
2034+a county or municipality before or after the effective date of 1373
2035+this act may be enforced if: 1374
2036+ (a) The associated application is initiated by a private 1375
2037+
2038+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
2039+
2040+
2041+
2042+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2043+hb1535-02-c2
2044+Page 56 of 57
2045+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2046+
2047+
2048+
2049+party other than the county or municipa lity. 1376
2050+ (b) The property that is the subject of the application is 1377
2051+owned by the initiating private party. 1378
2052+ (3)(a) A resident of or the owner of a business in a 1379
2053+county or municipality may bring a civil action for declaratory 1380
2054+and injunctive relief against t he county or municipality for a 1381
2055+violation of this section. Pending adjudication of the action 1382
2056+and upon filing of a complaint showing a violation of this 1383
2057+section, the resident or business owner is entitled to a 1384
2058+preliminary injunction against the county or m unicipality 1385
2059+preventing implementation of the moratorium or the comprehensive 1386
2060+plan amendment, land development regulation, or procedure. If 1387
2061+such civil action is successful, the resident or business owner 1388
2062+is entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs. 1389
2063+ (b) Attorney fees and costs and damages may not be awarded 1390
2064+pursuant to this subsection if: 1391
2065+ 1. The resident or business owner provides the governing 1392
2066+body of the county or municipality written notice that a 1393
2067+proposed or enacted moratorium, comprehensive pla n amendment, 1394
2068+land development regulation, or procedure is in violation of 1395
2069+this section; and 1396
2070+ 2. The governing body of the county or municipality 1397
2071+withdraws the proposed moratorium, comprehensive plan amendment, 1398
2072+land development regulation, or procedure wit hin 14 days; or, in 1399
2073+the case of an adopted moratorium, comprehensive plan amendment, 1400
2074+
2075+CS/CS/HB 1535 2025
2076+
2077+
2078+
2079+CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
2080+hb1535-02-c2
2081+Page 57 of 57
2082+F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
2083+
2084+
2085+
2086+land development regulation, or procedure, the governing body of 1401
2087+a county or municipality notices an intent to repeal within 14 1402
2088+days after receipt of the notice and repeal s the moratorium, 1403
2089+comprehensive plan amendment, land development regulation, or 1404
2090+procedure within 14 days thereafter. 1405
2091+ (4) This section expires June 30, 2028. 1406
2092+ Section 31. The Division of Law Revision is directed to 1407
2093+replace the phrase "the effective dat e of this act" wherever it 1408
2094+occurs in this act with the date this act becomes a law. 1409
2095+ Section 32. This act shall take effect upon becoming a 1410
2096+law. 1411