Florida Senate - 2025 CS for SB 180 By the Committee on Community Affairs; and Senator DiCeglie 578-02302-25 2025180c1 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to emergency preparedness and 3 response; amending s. 161.101, F.S.; authorizing the 4 Department of Environmental Protection to waive or 5 reduce local government match requirements under 6 certain circumstances; providing for future 7 expiration; amending s. 193.4518, F.S.; providing a 8 tangible personal property assessment limitation, 9 during a certain timeframe and in certain counties, 10 for certain agricultural equipment that is unable to 11 be used due to Hurricanes Debby, Helene, or Milton; 12 specifying conditions for applying for and receiving 13 the assessment limitation; providing procedures for 14 petitioning the value adjustment board if an 15 application is denied; providing for retroactive 16 application; amending s. 215.559, F.S.; deleting a 17 reference to a certain report; revising public 18 hurricane shelter funding prioritization requirements 19 for the Division of Emergency Management; amending s. 20 250.375, F.S.; authorizing certain servicemembers to 21 provide medical care in specified circumstances; 22 amending s. 252.35, F.S.; providing legislative 23 intent; revising the date by which the state 24 comprehensive emergency management plan must be 25 submitted to the Legislature and the Governor; 26 revising the components of the plan; requiring the 27 division to provide certain assistance to political 28 subdivisions; revising requirements for training 29 provided by the division; revising inventory 30 requirements; deleting a requirement for a certain 31 biennial report; requiring the division to conduct an 32 annual hurricane readiness session in each region 33 designated by the division for a specified purpose; 34 requiring all county emergency management directors, 35 and authorizing other county and municipal personnel 36 to attend such session; requiring that the session 37 include specified topics and needs; amending s. 38 252.355, F.S.; authorizing the Department of Veterans 39 Affairs to provide certain information to specified 40 clients or their caregivers; amending s. 252.3611, 41 F.S.; directing specified entities to submit specified 42 contracts and reports to the Legislature under 43 specified conditions; requiring that such contracts be 44 posted on a specified secure contract system; 45 requiring the Auditor General to post the results of 46 specified audits on his or her official website; 47 requiring the division to report annually to the 48 Legislature specified information on expenditures 49 related to emergencies; providing requirements for 50 such report; amending s. 252.365, F.S.; revising the 51 responsibilities for agency emergency coordination 52 officers; requiring agency heads to notify the 53 Governor and the division of the person designated as 54 the emergency coordination officer annually by a 55 specified date; amending s. 252.3655, F.S.; creating 56 the natural hazards risks and mitigation interagency 57 coordinating group; providing the purpose of the 58 group; providing for the membership and administration 59 of the group; requiring agency representatives to 60 provide information relating to natural hazards to 61 this state, agency resources, efforts to address and 62 mitigate risk and impacts of natural hazards; 63 requiring the group to meet in person or by 64 communication media technology at least quarterly for 65 specified purposes; requiring specified agency heads 66 to meet at least annually to strategize and prioritize 67 state efforts; requiring the division, on behalf of 68 the group, to prepare a certain progress report; 69 revising the requirements of such report; revising 70 requirements for an annual progress report by the 71 division on behalf of the group; requiring the 72 division, on behalf of the group, to submit such 73 report to the Governor and the Legislature; amending 74 s. 252.37, F.S.; requiring the division to notify the 75 Legislature of its intent to accept or apply for 76 federal funds under certain circumstances; requiring 77 the division to take steps to maximize the 78 availability and expedite distribution of financial 79 assistance from the Federal Government to state and 80 local agencies; requiring that such steps include the 81 standardization and streamlining of the application 82 process for federal financial assistance and the 83 provision of assistance to those applicants for a 84 specified purpose; requiring the division to use 85 certain federal funds to implement such requirements; 86 creating s. 252.3713, F.S.; requiring the division to 87 administer the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program; 88 authorizing the division to retain a specified 89 percentage of the funds for use within the state; 90 requiring that the remaining percentage be distributed 91 for use by certain recipients; authorizing 92 subrecipients to make a certain election for a 93 specified use; requiring the prioritization of certain 94 projects; authorizing the division to coordinate with 95 specified entities under certain circumstances; 96 requiring that such cooperation ensures certain 97 requirements are met and certain projects are funded; 98 authorizing fiscally constrained counties to request 99 that the division administer the grant for such a 100 county; authorizing such counties to request certain 101 assistance from the division; requiring the division 102 to adopt rules; amending s. 252.373, F.S.; conforming 103 a cross-reference; amending s. 252.38, F.S.; requiring 104 each political subdivision to notify the division of 105 the designated emergency contact annually by a 106 specified date; amending s. 252.385, F.S.; revising 107 reporting requirements for the division; revising 108 requirements for a specified list; requiring the 109 Department of Health and the Agency for Persons with 110 Disabilities to assist the division with certain 111 determinations; creating s. 252.392, F.S.; requiring 112 counties and municipalities to develop a post-storm 113 permitting plan; providing requirements for the plan; 114 requiring annual updates to the plan by a specified 115 date; requiring counties and municipalities to 116 publish, and post on their websites, a specified storm 117 recovery guide annually by a specified date; 118 prohibiting certain counties and municipalities from 119 increasing building permit or inspection fees within a 120 specified timeframe; requiring such counties and 121 municipalities to have certain personnel available 122 during normal business hours; amending s. 400.063, 123 F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 124 403.7071, F.S.; providing that local governments are 125 authorized and encouraged to add certain addendums to 126 certain contracts or agreements; requiring counties 127 and municipalities to apply to the Department of 128 Environmental Protection for authorization to 129 designate at least one debris management site; 130 authorizing municipalities to apply jointly with a 131 county or another adjacent municipality for 132 authorization of a minimum number of debris management 133 sites if such entities approve a memorandum of 134 understanding; providing requirements for such 135 memoranda; prohibiting certain counties from proposing 136 or adopting certain moratoriums, amendments, or 137 procedures for a specified period; declaring that such 138 moratoriums, amendments, or procedures are null and 139 void; providing for retroactive application; providing 140 that certain comprehensive plan amendments, land 141 development regulation amendments, site plans, and 142 development permits or orders may be enforced under 143 specified conditions; authorizing residents and owners 144 of certain businesses to bring a civil action for 145 declaratory and injunctive relief against a county or 146 municipality that violates specified provisions; 147 providing that such residents or business owners are 148 entitled to a preliminary injunction against such 149 county or municipality, under a specified condition; 150 providing for the award of attorney fees and costs; 151 prohibiting the awarding of attorney fees and costs 152 and damages under specified circumstances; providing 153 for future expiration; reenacting s. 252.55(6), F.S., 154 relating to a certain biennial report submitted by the 155 wing commander of the Civil Air Patrol, to incorporate 156 the amendment made to s. 252.35, F.S., in a reference 157 thereto; providing effective dates. 158 159 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 160 161 Section 1.Subsection (23) is added to section 161.101, 162 Florida Statutes, to read: 163 161.101State and local participation in authorized 164 projects and studies relating to beach management and erosion 165 control. 166 (23)Notwithstanding subsections (1), (15), and (16), and 167 for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, for beaches located in any county 168 listed in a federal declaration of disaster in 2024 that were 169 impacted by erosion caused by Hurricane Debby, Hurricane Helene, 170 or Hurricane Milton, the department may waive or reduce the 171 match requirements for local governments. This subsection 172 expires July 1, 2026. 173 Section 2.Effective upon becoming a law, section 193.4518, 174 Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 175 193.4518Assessment of agricultural equipment rendered 176 unable to be used due to hurricanes Hurricane Idalia. 177 (1)As used in this section, the term: 178 (a)Farm has the same meaning as provided in s. 179 823.14(3). 180 (b)Farm operation has the same meaning as provided in s. 181 823.14(3). 182 (c)Unable to be used means the tangible personal 183 property was damaged, or the farm, farm operation, or 184 agricultural processing facility was affected, to such a degree 185 that the tangible personal property could not be used for its 186 intended purpose. 187 (2)(a)For purposes of ad valorem taxation and applying to 188 the 2024 tax roll only, tangible personal property owned and 189 operated by a farm, a farm operation, or an agriculture 190 processing facility located in Charlotte County, Citrus County, 191 Columbia County, Dixie County, Gilchrist County, Hamilton 192 County, Hernando County, Jefferson County, Lafayette County, 193 Levy County, Madison County, Manatee County, Pasco County, 194 Pinellas County, Sarasota County, Suwannee County, or Taylor 195 County is deemed to have a market value no greater than its 196 value for salvage if the tangible personal property was unable 197 to be used for at least 60 days due to the effects of Hurricane 198 Idalia. 199 (b)(3)The deadline for an applicant to file an application 200 with the property appraiser for assessment pursuant to this 201 subsection section is March 1, 2024. 202 (c)(4)If the property appraiser denies an application, the 203 applicant may file, pursuant to s. 194.011(3), a petition with 204 the value adjustment board which requests that the tangible 205 personal property be assessed pursuant to this section. Such 206 petition must be filed on or before the 25th day after the 207 mailing by the property appraiser during the 2024 calendar year 208 of the notice required under s. 194.011(1). 209 (d)(5)This subsection section applies to tax rolls 210 beginning January 1, 2024. 211 (3)(a)For purposes of ad valorem taxation and applying to 212 the 2025 tax roll only, tangible personal property owned and 213 operated by a farm, a farm operation, or an agriculture 214 processing facility located in Alachua County, Baker County, 215 Bradford County, Brevard County, Charlotte County, Citrus 216 County, Clay County, Collier County, Columbia County, DeSoto 217 County, Dixie County, Duval County, Flagler County, Franklin 218 County, Gilchrist County, Glades County, Gulf County, Hamilton 219 County, Hardee County, Hendry County, Hernando County, Highlands 220 County, Hillsborough County, Indian River County, Jefferson 221 County, Lafayette County, Lake County, Lee County, Leon County, 222 Levy County, Madison County, Manatee County, Marion County, 223 Martin County, Okeechobee County, Orange County, Osceola County, 224 Palm Beach County, Pasco County, Pinellas County, Polk County, 225 Putnam County, Sarasota County, Seminole County, St. Johns 226 County, St. Lucie County, Sumter County, Suwannee County, Taylor 227 County, Union County, Volusia County, or Wakulla County is 228 deemed to have a market value no greater than its value for 229 salvage if the tangible personal property was unable to be used 230 for at least 60 days due to the effects of Hurricanes Debby, 231 Helene, and Milton. 232 (b)The deadline for an applicant to file an application 233 with the property appraiser for assessment pursuant to this 234 subsection is August 1, 2025. 235 (c)If the property appraiser denies an application, the 236 applicant may file, pursuant to s. 194.011(3), a petition with 237 the value adjustment board which requests that the tangible 238 personal property be assessed pursuant to this section. Such 239 petition must be filed on or before the 25th day after the 240 mailing by the property appraiser during the 2025 calendar year 241 of the notice required under s. 194.011(1). 242 (d)This subsection applies retroactively to January 1, 243 2025. 244 Section 3.Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 245 215.559, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 246 215.559Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program.A Hurricane Loss 247 Mitigation Program is established in the Division of Emergency 248 Management. 249 (1)The Legislature shall annually appropriate $10 million 250 of the moneys authorized for appropriation under s. 251 215.555(7)(c) from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund to the 252 division for the purposes set forth in this section. Of the 253 amount: 254 (b)Three million dollars in funds shall be used to 255 construct or retrofit facilities used as public hurricane 256 shelters. Each year the division shall prioritize the use of 257 these funds for projects included in the annual report of the 258 Shelter Development Report prepared in accordance with s. 259 252.385(3). The division shall must give funding priority to 260 projects located in counties regional planning council regions 261 that have shelter deficits, projects that are publicly owned, 262 other than schools, and to projects that maximize the use of 263 state funds. 264 Section 4.Section 250.375, Florida Statutes, is amended to 265 read: 266 250.375Medical officer authorization.A servicemember 267 trained to provide medical care who is assigned to a military 268 duty position and authorized by the Florida National Guard to 269 provide medical care by virtue of such duty position may provide 270 such medical care to military personnel and civilians within 271 this state physician who holds an active license to practice 272 medicine in any state, a United States territory, or the 273 District of Columbia, while serving as a medical officer with or 274 in support of the Florida National Guard, pursuant to federal or 275 state orders, may practice medicine on military personnel or 276 civilians during an emergency or declared disaster or during 277 federal military training. 278 Section 5.Subsection (1) and paragraphs (a), (c), (n), 279 (s), and (x) of subsection (2) of section 252.35, Florida 280 Statutes, are amended, and a new paragraph (dd) is added to 281 subsection (2) of that section, to read: 282 252.35Emergency management powers; Division of Emergency 283 Management. 284 (1)The division is responsible for maintaining a 285 comprehensive statewide program of emergency management. The 286 division is responsible for coordination with efforts of the 287 Federal Government with other departments and agencies of state 288 government, with county and municipal governments and school 289 boards, and with private agencies that have a role in emergency 290 management. The Legislature intends for other departments and 291 agencies of state government, county and municipal governments 292 and school boards, and private agencies that have a role in 293 emergency management to coordinate to the greatest extent 294 possible in the provision of emergency management efforts 295 through the division. 296 (2)The division is responsible for carrying out the 297 provisions of ss. 252.31-252.90. In performing its duties, the 298 division shall: 299 (a)Prepare a state comprehensive emergency management 300 plan, which must shall be integrated into and coordinated with 301 the emergency management plans and programs of the Federal 302 Government. The complete state comprehensive emergency 303 management plan must be submitted to the Governor, the President 304 of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives 305 on October 1 of every odd-numbered year. The division shall 306 adopt the plan as a rule in accordance with chapter 120. The 307 plan must be implemented by a continuous, integrated 308 comprehensive emergency management program. The plan must 309 contain provisions to ensure that the state is prepared for 310 emergencies and minor, major, and catastrophic disasters, and 311 the division shall work closely with local governments and 312 agencies and organizations with emergency management 313 responsibilities in preparing and maintaining the plan. The 314 state comprehensive emergency management plan must be operations 315 oriented and: 316 1.Include an evacuation component that includes specific 317 regional and interregional planning provisions and promotes 318 intergovernmental coordination of evacuation activities. This 319 component must, at a minimum: contain guidelines for lifting 320 tolls on state highways; ensure coordination pertaining to 321 evacuees crossing county lines; set forth procedures for 322 directing people caught on evacuation routes to safe shelter; 323 establish strategies for ensuring sufficient, reasonably priced 324 fueling locations along evacuation routes; and establish 325 policies and strategies for emergency medical evacuations. 326 2.Include a shelter component that includes specific 327 regional and interregional planning provisions and promotes 328 coordination of shelter activities between the public, private, 329 and nonprofit sectors. This component must, at a minimum: 330 contain strategies to ensure the availability of adequate public 331 shelter space in each county region of the state; establish 332 strategies for refuge-of-last-resort programs; provide 333 strategies to assist local emergency management efforts to 334 ensure that adequate staffing plans exist for all shelters, 335 including medical and security personnel; provide for a 336 postdisaster communications system for public shelters; 337 establish model shelter guidelines for operations, registration, 338 inventory, power generation capability, information management, 339 and staffing; and set forth policy guidance for sheltering 340 people with special needs. 341 3.Include a postdisaster response and recovery component 342 that includes specific regional and interregional planning 343 provisions and promotes intergovernmental coordination of 344 postdisaster response and recovery activities. This component 345 must provide for postdisaster response and recovery strategies 346 according to whether a disaster is minor, major, or 347 catastrophic. The postdisaster response and recovery component 348 must, at a minimum: establish the structure of the states 349 postdisaster response and recovery organization; establish 350 procedures for activating the states plan; set forth policies 351 used to guide postdisaster response and recovery activities; 352 describe the chain of command during the postdisaster response 353 and recovery period; describe initial and continuous 354 postdisaster response and recovery actions; identify the roles 355 and responsibilities of each involved agency and organization; 356 provide for a comprehensive communications plan; establish 357 procedures for coordinating and monitoring statewide mutual aid 358 agreements reimbursable under federal public disaster assistance 359 programs; provide for rapid impact assessment teams; ensure the 360 availability of an effective statewide urban search and rescue 361 program coordinated with the fire services; ensure the existence 362 of a comprehensive statewide medical care and relief plan 363 administered by the Department of Health; and establish systems 364 for coordinating volunteers and accepting and distributing 365 donated funds and goods. 366 4.Include additional provisions addressing aspects of 367 preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation as determined 368 necessary by the division. 369 5.Address the need for coordinated and expeditious 370 deployment of state resources, including the Florida National 371 Guard. In the case of an imminent major disaster, procedures 372 should address predeployment of the Florida National Guard, and, 373 in the case of an imminent catastrophic disaster, procedures 374 should address predeployment of the Florida National Guard and 375 the United States Armed Forces. 376 6.Establish a system of communications and warning to 377 ensure that the states population and emergency management 378 agencies are warned of developing emergency situations, 379 including public health emergencies, and can communicate 380 emergency response decisions. 381 7.Establish guidelines and schedules for annual exercises 382 that evaluate the ability of the state and its political 383 subdivisions to respond to minor, major, and catastrophic 384 disasters and support local emergency management agencies. Such 385 exercises shall be coordinated with local governments and, to 386 the extent possible, the Federal Government. 387 8.Assign lead and support responsibilities to state 388 agencies and personnel for emergency support functions and other 389 support activities. 390 9.Include the public health emergency plan developed by 391 the Department of Health pursuant to s. 381.00315. 392 10.Include an update on the status of the emergency 393 management capabilities of the state and its political 394 subdivisions. 395 396 The complete state comprehensive emergency management plan must 397 be submitted to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the 398 House of Representatives, and the Governor on February 1 of 399 every even-numbered year. 400 (c)Assist political subdivisions in preparing and 401 maintaining emergency management plans. Such assistance must 402 include the development of a template for comprehensive 403 emergency management plans and guidance on the development of 404 mutual aid agreements when requested by the political 405 subdivision. 406 (n)Implement training programs to maintain Floridas 407 status as a national leader in emergency management and improve 408 the ability of state and local emergency management personnel to 409 prepare and implement emergency management plans and programs. 410 This must shall include a continuous training program for 411 agencies and individuals who that will be called on to perform 412 key roles in state and local postdisaster response and recovery 413 efforts and for local government personnel on federal and state 414 postdisaster response and recovery strategies and procedures. 415 The division shall specify requirements for the minimum number 416 of training hours that county or municipal administrators, 417 county or city managers, county or municipal emergency 418 management directors, and county or municipal public works 419 directors or other officials responsible for the construction 420 and maintenance of public infrastructure must complete 421 biennially in addition to the training required pursuant to s. 422 252.38(1)(b). 423 (s)Complete an inventory of disaster response equipment, 424 including portable generators owned by the state and local 425 governments which are capable of operating during a major 426 disaster. The inventory must identify, at a minimum, the 427 location of each generator, the number of generators stored at 428 each specific location, the agency to which each generator 429 belongs, the primary use of the generator by the owner agency, 430 and the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of persons 431 having the authority to loan the stored generators as authorized 432 by the division during a declared emergency. 433 (x)Report biennially to the President of the Senate, the 434 Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of 435 the Supreme Court, and the Governor, no later than February 1 of 436 every odd-numbered year, the status of the emergency management 437 capabilities of the state and its political subdivisions. This 438 report must include the emergency management capabilities 439 related to public health emergencies, as determined in 440 collaboration with the Department of Health. 441 (dd)Conduct, by April 1 of each year, an annual hurricane 442 readiness session in each region designated by the division to 443 facilitate coordination between all emergency management 444 stakeholders. Each county emergency management director or his 445 or her designee shall, and other county and municipal personnel 446 may, attend the session for his or her region. A session must 447 include, but is not limited to, guidance on timelines for 448 preparation and response, information on state and federal 449 postdisaster resources and assistance, guidance to promote 450 efficient and expedited rebuilding of the community after a 451 hurricane, best practices for coordination and communication 452 among entities engaged in postdisaster response and recovery, 453 and discussion of any outstanding county or municipal 454 preparedness or readiness needs. 455 Section 6.Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) of section 456 252.355, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 457 252.355Registry of persons with special needs; notice; 458 registration program. 459 (2)In order to ensure that all persons with special needs 460 may register, the division shall develop and maintain a special 461 needs shelter registration program. During a public health 462 emergency in which physical distancing is necessary, as 463 determined by the State Health Officer, the division must 464 maintain information on special needs shelter options that 465 mitigate the threat of the spread of infectious diseases. 466 (b)To assist in identifying persons with special needs, 467 home health agencies, hospices, nurse registries, home medical 468 equipment providers, the Department of Veterans Affairs, the 469 Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health, 470 the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Department of 471 Education, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the 472 Department of Elderly Affairs, and memory disorder clinics 473 shall, and any physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 474 459 and any pharmacy licensed under chapter 465 may, annually 475 provide registration information to all of their special needs 476 clients or their caregivers. The division shall develop a 477 brochure that provides information regarding special needs 478 shelter registration procedures. The brochure must be easily 479 accessible on the divisions website. All appropriate agencies 480 and community-based service providers, including aging and 481 disability resource centers, memory disorder clinics, home 482 health care providers, hospices, nurse registries, and home 483 medical equipment providers, shall, and any physician licensed 484 under chapter 458 or chapter 459 may, assist emergency 485 management agencies by annually registering persons with special 486 needs for special needs shelters, collecting registration 487 information for persons with special needs as part of the 488 program intake process, and establishing programs to educate 489 clients about the registration process and disaster preparedness 490 safety procedures. A client of a state-funded or federally 491 funded service program who has a physical, mental, or cognitive 492 impairment or sensory disability and who needs assistance in 493 evacuating, or when in a shelter, must register as a person with 494 special needs. The registration program shall give persons with 495 special needs the option of preauthorizing emergency response 496 personnel to enter their homes during search and rescue 497 operations if necessary to ensure their safety and welfare 498 following disasters. 499 Section 7.Subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section 500 252.3611, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (5) is 501 added to that section, to read: 502 252.3611Transparency; audits. 503 (2)If When the duration of a declaration of a state of an 504 emergency issued by the Governor exceeds 90 days, regardless of 505 whether pursuant to the original declaration or extensions of 506 the same declaration: 507 (a)1.The Executive Office of the Governor or the 508 appropriate agency, within 72 hours after of executing a 509 contract executed with moneys authorized for expenditure to 510 support the response to the declared state of emergency, must 511 the Executive Office of the Governor or the appropriate agency 512 shall submit a copy of such contract to the Legislature. For 513 contracts executed during the first 90 days of the declared 514 state of emergency, the Executive Office of the Governor or the 515 appropriate agency shall submit a copy to the Legislature within 516 the first 120 days of the declared state of emergency. 517 2.All contracts executed to support the response to a 518 declared state of emergency, including contracts executed before 519 a declared state of emergency to secure resources or services in 520 advance or anticipation of an emergency, must be posted on the 521 secure contract tracking system required under s. 215.985(14). 522 (b)The Executive Office of the Governor or the appropriate 523 agency shall submit monthly reports to the Legislature of all 524 state expenditures, revenues received, and funds transferred by 525 an agency during the previous month to support the declared 526 state of emergency. 527 (3)Once an emergency exceeds 1 year, the Auditor General 528 shall conduct a financial audit of all associated expenditures 529 and a compliance audit of all associated contracts entered into 530 during the declared emergency. The Auditor General shall must 531 update the audit annually until the emergency is declared to be 532 ended. The Auditor General shall post the results of the audits 533 on his or her official website. 534 (4)Following the expiration or termination of a state of 535 emergency, the Auditor General shall conduct a financial audit 536 of all associated expenditures and a compliance audit of all 537 associated contracts entered into during the state of emergency. 538 The Auditor General shall post the results of the audits on his 539 or her official website. 540 (5)Annually by January 15, the division shall report to 541 the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 542 Representatives, and the chairs of the appropriations committee 543 of each house of the Legislature on expenditures related to 544 emergencies incurred over the year from November 1 of the 545 previous year. The report must include: 546 (a)A separate summary of each emergency event, whether 547 complete or ongoing, and key actions taken by the division. 548 (b)Details of expenditures, separated by emergency event 549 and agency, for preparing for, responding to, or recovering from 550 the event. The report must specify detailed expenditures for the 551 entire report time period; specify total expenditures for the 552 event; and indicate amounts that are being or are anticipated to 553 be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or 554 other federal entity, amounts ineligible for reimbursement, and 555 any amounts deobligated by the Federal Emergency Management 556 Agency or other federal entity for reimbursement. The division 557 shall review expenditures by state agencies to ensure that 558 efforts, purchases, contracts, or expenditures are not 559 duplicated. 560 (c)An accounting of all inventory and assets purchased, 561 separated by emergency event and agency, for preparing for, 562 responding to, or recovering from the event, including motor 563 vehicles, boats, computers, and other equipment, and the current 564 status of such assets, including divestment, sale, or donation 565 by the state. The report must include a detailed accounting for 566 the entire report time period and specify a total for the event. 567 Section 8.Subsections (2) and (4) of section 252.365, 568 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 569 252.365Emergency coordination officers; disaster 570 preparedness plans. 571 (2)The emergency coordination officer is responsible for 572 coordinating with the division on emergency preparedness issues, 573 preparing and maintaining emergency preparedness and 574 postdisaster response and recovery plans for such agency, 575 maintaining rosters of personnel to assist in disaster 576 operations, and coordinating appropriate training for agency 577 personnel, and coordinating with the division on emergency 578 preparedness and recovery issues, including identifying 579 priorities for postdisaster long-term recovery activities. 580 (4)On or before May 1 of each year, the head of each 581 agency shall notify the Governor and the division in writing of 582 the person initially designated as the emergency coordination 583 officer for such agency and her or his alternate and of any 584 changes in persons so designated thereafter. 585 Section 9.Section 252.3655, Florida Statutes, is amended 586 to read: 587 252.3655Natural hazards risks and mitigation interagency 588 coordinating group workgroup. 589 (1)(a)An interagency coordinating group workgroup is 590 created for the purpose of sharing information on the current 591 and potential risks and impacts of natural hazards throughout 592 this the state, coordinating the ongoing efforts of state 593 agencies in addressing and mitigating the risks and impacts of 594 natural hazards, and collaborating on statewide initiatives to 595 address and mitigate the risks and impacts of natural hazards. 596 As used in this section, the term natural hazards includes, 597 but is not limited to, extreme heat, drought, wildfire, sea 598 level change, high tides, storm surge, saltwater intrusion, 599 stormwater runoff, flash floods, inland flooding, and coastal 600 flooding. 601 (b)The agency head, or his or her designated senior 602 manager, from each of the following agencies shall serve on the 603 coordinating group: 604 1.Chief Resilience Officer of the Statewide Office of 605 Resilience. 606 2.Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 607 3.Department of Commerce. 608 4.Department of Environmental Protection. 609 5.Department of Financial Services. 610 6.Department of Law Enforcement. 611 7.Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. 612 8.Department of Military Affairs. 613 9.Division of Emergency Management. 614 10.Department of Transportation. 615 11.Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 616 12.Office of Insurance Regulation. 617 13.Public Service Commission. 618 14.Each water management district Each agency within the 619 executive branch of state government, each water management 620 district, and the Florida Public Service Commission shall select 621 from within such agency a person to be designated as the agency 622 liaison to the workgroup. 623 (c)The director of the Division of Emergency Management, 624 or his or her designee, shall serve as the administrator liaison 625 to and coordinator of the coordinating group workgroup. 626 (d)Each agency representative liaison shall provide 627 information from his or her respective agency, including all 628 relevant reports, on the current and potential risks and impacts 629 of natural hazards to this state to his or her agency, agency 630 resources available, and efforts made by the agency to address 631 and mitigate the risks and impacts of against natural hazards, 632 and efforts made by the agency to address the impacts of natural 633 hazards. 634 (e)1.The coordinating group workgroup shall meet in person 635 or by means of communications media technology as provided in s. 636 120.54(5)(b)2. at least teleconference on a quarterly basis to 637 share information, leverage agency resources, coordinate ongoing 638 efforts, and provide information for inclusion in the annual 639 progress report submitted pursuant to subsection (2). Agency 640 heads for the agencies listed in paragraph (b) shall meet in 641 person at least annually to collectively strategize and 642 prioritize state efforts. 643 2.Information regarding the coordinating group, including 644 meeting agendas and reports, must be posted in a conspicuous 645 location on the divisions website. 646 (2)(a)On behalf of the coordinating group workgroup, the 647 division of Emergency Management shall prepare an annual 648 progress report on the implementation of the states hazard 649 mitigation plan, developed and submitted in accordance with 42 650 U.S.C. s. 5165 and any implementing regulations, as it relates 651 to natural hazards. At a minimum, the annual progress report 652 must: 653 1.Assess each agencys the relevance, level, and 654 significance of current agency efforts to address and mitigate 655 the risks and impacts of natural hazards; and 656 2.Strategize and prioritize ongoing efforts to address and 657 mitigate the risks and impacts of natural hazards;. 658 3.Provide recommendations regarding statutory changes and 659 funding that may assist in addressing or mitigating the risks 660 and impacts of natural hazards; and 661 4.Provide recommendations for state and local natural 662 hazard mitigation strategies. 663 (b)Each liaison is responsible for ensuring that the 664 workgroups annual progress report is posted on his or her 665 agencys website. 666 (c)By January 1 of each year, 2019, and each year 667 thereafter, the division on behalf of the coordinating group 668 workgroup shall submit the annual progress report to the 669 Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the 670 House of Representatives. 671 Section 10.Present paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection 672 (5) of section 252.37, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as 673 paragraphs (d) and (e), respectively, a new paragraph (c) is 674 added to that subsection, and subsection (7) is added to that 675 section, to read: 676 252.37Financing. 677 (5)Unless otherwise specified in the General 678 Appropriations Act: 679 (c)If the division intends to accept or apply for federal 680 funds for a division-administered program that is new, that will 681 be implemented in a manner that is innovative or significantly 682 different from the manner in which the program is typically 683 administered, or that will require a state match for which the 684 division will be required to seek new budget authority, the 685 division must notify the Legislature of its intent to accept or 686 apply for the federal funds. The notice must detail the federal 687 program under which the funds will be accepted or applied for, 688 the intended purpose and use of the funds, and the amount of 689 funds, including the estimated state match. 690 (7)The division shall take steps to maximize the 691 availability and expedite the distribution of financial 692 assistance from the Federal Government to state and local 693 agencies. Such steps must include the standardization and 694 streamlining of the application process for financial assistance 695 through the federal Public Assistance Program and provision of 696 assistance to applicants in order to mitigate the risk of 697 noncompliance with federal program requirements. The division 698 shall use federal funds allocated as management cost or other 699 funds as appropriated to implement this subsection. 700 Section 11.Section 252.3713, Florida Statutes, is created 701 to read: 702 252.3713Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. 703 (1)The division shall administer the Hazard Mitigation 704 Grant Program as authorized and described in s. 404 of the 705 Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 706 as amended by Pub. L. No. 103-181, Pub. L. No. 103-337, and Pub. 707 L. No. 106-390. 708 (2)The division may retain no more than 25 percent of the 709 total federal allocation of funds received for use within the 710 state. A minimum of 75 percent of any funds received pursuant to 711 a declared disaster must be distributed for use by the 712 subrecipients in the counties specified in the Presidential 713 Disaster Declaration for that disaster. However, a subrecipient 714 may elect to share some or all of its allocation with the 715 division to be used for projects benefiting the region in which 716 the subrecipient is located. 717 (3)The division and subrecipients shall prioritize 718 projects that fulfill the following purposes when adopting 719 mitigation strategies and plans and applying for funds under the 720 grant program: 721 (a)Reducing shelter space deficits through retrofitting of 722 existing shelters and hardening of public buildings that are not 723 schools. Reducing deficits in shelter space intended to 724 accommodate individuals with special needs must be prioritized 725 before addressing deficits in other types of shelter space. 726 (b)Mitigating impacts to public infrastructure, including 727 roads, bridges, and stormwater, water, and sewer systems, to 728 enhance resistance to natural hazards and prevent and reduce 729 losses. 730 (c)Mitigating impacts to school facilities which will 731 reduce future disaster losses and make the facilities more 732 resistant to natural hazards. 733 (d)Retrofitting of regional and local emergency management 734 or operations centers. 735 (e)Other projects that the division may define by rule. 736 (4)The division may coordinate with other state agencies 737 and political subdivisions to develop and implement innovative 738 approaches to funding mitigation projects using grants under the 739 Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, including, but not limited to, 740 combining funding received from multiple federal and state 741 programs. The division, in cooperation with other state agencies 742 that administer federal grant programs, shall ensure that: 743 (a)Projects funded through multiple programs comply with 744 all applicable federal and state requirements of the respective 745 programs under which funding was received. 746 (b)Funding is used for projects in the geographic areas 747 specified in the grant of funding. 748 (5)A fiscally constrained county may request that the 749 division administer the grant for such county. A fiscally 750 constrained county may request additional assistance from the 751 division in preparing applications for grants and developing a 752 structure for implementing, monitoring the execution of, and 753 closing out projects. 754 (6)The division shall adopt rules to implement this 755 section. 756 Section 12.Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 757 252.373, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 758 252.373Allocation of funds; rules. 759 (2)The division shall allocate funds from the Emergency 760 Management, Preparedness, and Assistance Trust Fund to local 761 emergency management agencies and programs pursuant to criteria 762 specified in rule. Such rules shall include, but are not limited 763 to: 764 (a)Requiring that, at a minimum, a local emergency 765 management agency either: 766 1.Have a program director who works at least 40 hours a 767 week in that capacity; or 768 2.If the county has fewer than 75,000 population or is 769 party to an interjurisdictional emergency management agreement 770 entered into pursuant to s. 252.38(3)(c) s. 252.38(3)(b), that 771 is recognized by the Governor by executive order or rule, have 772 an emergency management coordinator who works at least 20 hours 773 a week in that capacity. 774 Section 13.Present paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection 775 (3) of section 252.38, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as 776 paragraphs (b) and (c), respectively, a new paragraph (a) is 777 added to that subsection, and paragraph (a) of subsection (1) is 778 amended, to read: 779 252.38Emergency management powers of political 780 subdivisions.Safeguarding the life and property of its citizens 781 is an innate responsibility of the governing body of each 782 political subdivision of the state. 783 (1)COUNTIES. 784 (a)In order to provide effective and orderly governmental 785 control and coordination of emergency operations in emergencies 786 within the scope of ss. 252.31-252.90, each county within this 787 state shall be within the jurisdiction of, and served by, the 788 division. Except as otherwise provided in ss. 252.31-252.90, 789 each local emergency management agency shall have jurisdiction 790 over and serve an entire county. Unless part of an 791 interjurisdictional emergency management agreement entered into 792 pursuant to paragraph (3)(c) (3)(b) which is recognized by the 793 Governor by executive order or rule, each county must establish 794 and maintain such an emergency management agency and shall 795 develop a county emergency management plan and program that is 796 coordinated and consistent with the state comprehensive 797 emergency management plan and program. Counties that are part of 798 an interjurisdictional emergency management agreement entered 799 into pursuant to paragraph (3)(c) (3)(b) which is recognized by 800 the Governor by executive order or rule shall cooperatively 801 develop an emergency management plan and program that is 802 coordinated and consistent with the state comprehensive 803 emergency management plan and program. 804 (3)EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT POWERS; POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. 805 (a)Each political subdivision shall notify the division on 806 or before May 1 each year of the person designated as the 807 emergency contact for the political subdivision and his or her 808 alternate and of any changes in persons so designated 809 thereafter. For a county, this includes the county emergency 810 management director. 811 Section 14.Subsections (2) and (3) of section 252.385, 812 Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 813 252.385Public shelter space; public records exemption. 814 (2)(a)The division shall administer a program to survey 815 existing schools, universities, community colleges, and other 816 state-owned, municipally owned, and county-owned public 817 buildings and any private facility that the owner, in writing, 818 agrees to provide for use as a public hurricane evacuation 819 shelter to identify those that are appropriately designed and 820 located to serve as such shelters. The owners of the facilities 821 must be given the opportunity to participate in the surveys. The 822 state university boards of trustees, district school boards, 823 community college boards of trustees, and the Department of 824 Education are responsible for coordinating and implementing the 825 survey of public schools, universities, and community colleges 826 with the division or the local emergency management agency. 827 (b)By January 31 of each even-numbered year, the division 828 shall prepare and submit a statewide emergency shelter plan to 829 the Governor and Cabinet for approval, subject to the 830 requirements for approval in s. 1013.37(2). The emergency 831 shelter plan must project, for each of the next 5 years, the 832 hurricane shelter needs of the state, including periods of time 833 during which a concurrent public health emergency may 834 necessitate more space for each individual to accommodate 835 physical distancing. In addition to information on the general 836 shelter needs throughout this state, the plan must identify the 837 general location and square footage of special needs shelters, 838 by regional planning council region. The plan must also include 839 information on the availability of shelters that accept pets. 840 The Department of Health shall assist the division in 841 determining the estimated need for special needs shelter space 842 and the adequacy of facilities to meet the needs of persons with 843 special needs based on information from the registries of 844 persons with special needs and other information. 845 (3)(a)The division shall annually provide by October 15 to 846 the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of 847 the House of Representatives a report that includes, and the 848 Governor a list of facilities recommended to be retrofitted 849 using state funds. State funds should be maximized and targeted 850 to projects in counties regional planning council regions with 851 hurricane evacuation shelter deficits. Additionally, the 852 division shall prioritize on the list of recommended facilities 853 other state-owned, municipal-owned, and county-owned public 854 buildings, other than schools, for retrofit using state funds. 855 The owner or lessee of a public hurricane evacuation shelter 856 that is included on the list of facilities recommended for 857 retrofitting is not required to perform any recommended 858 improvements. 859 (b)The report required in paragraph (a) must include a 860 statewide emergency shelter plan that must project, for each of 861 the next 5 years, the hurricane shelter needs of the state. In 862 addition to information on the general shelter needs throughout 863 this state, the plan must identify, by county, the general 864 location and square footage of special needs shelters. The plan 865 must also include information on the availability of shelters 866 that accept pets. The Department of Health and the Agency for 867 Persons with Disabilities shall assist the division in 868 determining the estimated need for special needs shelter space, 869 the estimated need for general shelter space to accommodate 870 persons with developmental disabilities, including, but not 871 limited to, autism, and the adequacy of facilities to meet the 872 needs of persons with special needs based on information from 873 the registries of persons with special needs and other 874 information. 875 Section 15.Section 252.392, Florida Statutes, is created 876 to read: 877 252.392Post-storm county and municipal permitting; 878 operations. 879 (1)(a)Each county and municipality shall develop a post 880 storm permitting plan to expedite recovery and rebuilding by 881 providing for special building permit and inspection procedures 882 after a hurricane or tropical storm. The plan must, at a 883 minimum: 884 1.Ensure sufficient personnel are prepared and available 885 to expeditiously manage post-disaster building inspection, 886 permitting, and enforcement tasks. The plan must anticipate 887 conditions that would necessitate supplemental personnel for 888 such tasks and address methods for fulfilling such personnel 889 needs, including through mutual aid agreements as authorized in 890 s. 252.40, other arrangements, such as those with private sector 891 contractors, or supplemental state or federal funding. The plan 892 must include training requirements and protocols for 893 supplemental personnel to ensure compliance with local 894 floodplain management requirements that apply within the county 895 or municipality. 896 2.Account for multiple or alternate locations where 897 building permit services may be offered in-person to the public 898 following a hurricane or tropical storm, during regular business 899 hours. 900 3.Specify a protocol to expedite permitting procedures 901 and, if practicable, for the waiver or reduction of applicable 902 fees in accordance with and in addition to the procedures and 903 waivers provided for under s. 553.7922. The plan must identify 904 the types of permits that are frequently requested following a 905 hurricane or tropical storm and methods to expedite the 906 processing of such permits. 907 4.Specify procedures and resources necessary to promote 908 expeditious debris removal following a hurricane or tropical 909 storm. 910 (b)Each county and municipality shall update the plan no 911 later than May 1 annually. 912 (2)(a)By May 1 annually, each county and municipality 913 shall publish on its website a hurricane and tropical storm 914 recovery permitting guide for residential and commercial 915 property owners. The guide must describe: 916 1.The types of post-storm repairs that require a permit 917 and applicable fees. 918 2.The types of post-storm repairs that do not require a 919 permit. 920 3.The post-storm permit application process and specific 921 modifications the county or municipality commonly makes to 922 expedite the process, including the physical locations where 923 permitting services will be offered. 924 4.Local requirements for rebuilding specific to the county 925 or municipality, including elevation requirements following 926 substantial damage and substantial improvement pursuant to the 927 National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and any local amendments 928 to the building code. 929 (b)As soon as practicable following a hurricane or 930 tropical storm, a county or municipality within the area for 931 which a state of emergency pursuant to s. 252.36 for such 932 hurricane or tropical storm is declared shall publish updates on 933 its website to the information required under paragraph (a) 934 which are specific to such storm, including any permitting fee 935 waivers or reductions. 936 (3)For 180 days after a state of emergency is declared 937 pursuant to s. 252.36 for a hurricane or tropical storm, a 938 county or municipality within the area for which the state of 939 emergency is declared: 940 (a)May not increase building permit or inspection fees. 941 (b)Must have employees and supplemental personnel 942 available during the countys or municipalitys normal business 943 hours to process permits. 944 Section 16.Subsection (1) of section 400.063, Florida 945 Statutes, is amended to read: 946 400.063Resident protection. 947 (1)The Health Care Trust Fund shall be used for the 948 purpose of collecting and disbursing funds generated from the 949 license fees and administrative fines as provided for in ss. 950 393.0673(5), 400.062(3), 400.121(2), and 400.23(8). Such funds 951 shall be for the sole purpose of paying for the appropriate 952 alternate placement, care, and treatment of residents who are 953 removed from a facility licensed under this part or a facility 954 specified in s. 393.0678(1) in which the agency determines that 955 existing conditions or practices constitute an immediate danger 956 to the health, safety, or security of the residents. If the 957 agency determines that it is in the best interest of the health, 958 safety, or security of the residents to provide for an orderly 959 removal of the residents from the facility, the agency may 960 utilize such funds to maintain and care for the residents in the 961 facility pending removal and alternative placement. The 962 maintenance and care of the residents shall be under the 963 direction and control of a receiver appointed pursuant to s. 964 393.0678(1) or s. 400.126(1). However, funds may be expended in 965 an emergency upon a filing of a petition for a receiver, upon 966 the declaration of a state of local emergency pursuant to s. 967 252.38(3)(b)5. s. 252.38(3)(a)5., or upon a duly authorized 968 local order of evacuation of a facility by emergency personnel 969 to protect the health and safety of the residents. 970 Section 17.Subsection (7) of section 403.7071, Florida 971 Statutes, is amended, and subsection (8) is added to that 972 section, to read: 973 403.7071Management of storm-generated debris.Solid waste 974 generated as a result of a storm event that is the subject of an 975 emergency order issued by the department may be managed as 976 follows: 977 (7)Unless otherwise specified in a contract or franchise 978 agreement between a local government and a private solid waste 979 or debris management service provider, a private solid waste or 980 debris management service provider is not required to collect 981 storm-generated yard trash. Local governments are authorized and 982 encouraged to add an addendum to existing contracts or franchise 983 agreements for collection of storm-generated debris. 984 (8)(a)Each county and municipality shall apply to the 985 department for authorization of at least one debris management 986 site as described in subsection (2) and shall annually seek 987 preauthorization for any previously approved debris management 988 sites, as allowed by the department. 989 (b)A municipality may jointly apply for authorization of a 990 debris management site with a county or at least one adjacent 991 municipality, if the parties develop and approve a memorandum of 992 understanding. Such memorandum must clearly outline the capacity 993 of the debris management site and location of the site relative 994 to each party. The memorandum of understanding must be approved 995 annually as part of the preauthorization process described in 996 paragraph (a). 997 Section 18.(1)Each county listed in the federal disaster 998 declaration for Hurricane Debby (DR-4806), Hurricane Helene (DR 999 4828), or Hurricane Milton (DR-4834), and each municipality 1000 within one of those counties, shall not propose or adopt any 1001 moratorium on construction, reconstruction, or redevelopment of 1002 any property damaged by such hurricanes; propose or adopt more 1003 restrictive or burdensome amendments to its comprehensive plan 1004 or land development regulations; or propose or adopt more 1005 restrictive or burdensome procedures concerning review, 1006 approval, or issuance of a site plan, development permit, or 1007 development order, to the extent that those terms are defined by 1008 s. 163.3164, Florida Statutes, before October 1, 2027, and any 1009 such moratorium or restrictive or burdensome comprehensive plan 1010 amendment, land development regulation, or procedure shall be 1011 null and void ab initio. This subsection applies retroactively 1012 to August 1, 2024. 1013 (2)Notwithstanding subsection (1), any comprehensive plan 1014 amendment, land development regulation amendment, site plan, 1015 development permit, or development order approved or adopted by 1016 a county or municipality before or after the effective date of 1017 this section may be enforced if: 1018 (a)The associated application is initiated by a private 1019 party other than the county or municipality. 1020 (b)The property that is the subject of the application is 1021 owned by the initiating private party. 1022 (3)(a)A resident of or the owner of a business in a county 1023 or municipality may bring a civil action for declaratory and 1024 injunctive relief against the county or municipality for a 1025 violation of this section. Pending adjudication of the action 1026 and upon filing of a complaint showing a violation of this 1027 section, the resident or business owner is entitled to a 1028 preliminary injunction against the county or municipality 1029 preventing implementation of the moratorium or the comprehensive 1030 plan amendment, land development regulation, or procedure. If 1031 such civil action is successful, the resident or business owner 1032 is entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs. 1033 (b)Attorney fees and costs and damages may not be awarded 1034 pursuant to this subsection if: 1035 1.The resident or business owner provides the governing 1036 body of the county or municipality written notice that a 1037 proposed or enacted moratorium, comprehensive plan amendment, 1038 land development regulation, or procedure is in violation of 1039 this section; and 1040 2.The governing body of the county or municipality 1041 withdraws the proposed moratorium, comprehensive plan amendment, 1042 land development regulation, or procedure within 14 days; or, in 1043 the case of an adopted moratorium, comprehensive plan amendment, 1044 land development regulation, or procedure, the governing body of 1045 a county or municipality notices an intent to repeal within 14 1046 days after receipt of the notice and repeals the moratorium, 1047 comprehensive plan amendment, land development regulation, or 1048 procedure within 14 days thereafter. 1049 (4)This section shall take effect upon becoming a law and 1050 expires June 30, 2028. 1051 Section 19.For the purpose of incorporating the amendment 1052 made by this act to section 252.35, Florida Statutes, in a 1053 reference thereto, subsection (6) of section 252.55, Florida 1054 Statutes, is reenacted to read: 1055 252.55Civil Air Patrol, Florida Wing. 1056 (6)The wing commander of the Florida Wing of the Civil Air 1057 Patrol shall biennially furnish the division a 2-year projection 1058 of the goals and objectives of the Civil Air Patrol which shall 1059 be reported in the divisions biennial report submitted pursuant 1060 to s. 252.35. 1061 Section 20.Except as otherwise expressly provided in this 1062 act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon 1063 this act becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1, 1064 2025.