Local Government Approval of Affordable Housing Property Tax Exemptions; Expands property tax exemption on certain multifamily projects; provides requirements to receive such exemption; authorizes local governments to approve certain properties for such exemption; provides requirements for local governing body.
Deferred Retirement Option Program Eligibility for School Employees and Personnel; Removes the time limitation for DROP eligibility for certain personnel.
Agriculture; Renames Agriculture & Aquaculture Producers Natural Disaster Recovery Loan Program as Agriculture & Aquaculture Producers Emergency Loan Program; provides that loan funds from loan program may be used for labor costs & to reset & replant agriculture & aquaculture commodities; increases maximum loan amount applicant may receive during application period; authorizes certain applicants to receive supplemental loan; authorizes department to defer or waive loan payments; establishes Silviculture Emergency Recovery Program within department to administer grant program to assist certain timber land owners; requires that grants be used for certain purposes; requires that only timber land located on specified agricultural lands are eligible for program; requires Citrus Research & Development (CRDF) Foundation to work in coordination with department to provide support for certain activities; requires CRDF Foundation to direct & manage certain program; requires department to assist CRDF Foundation in execution of its duties.
SB 376 amends Florida law to clarify that courts must consider information provided by a guardian ad litem (GAL) in child-related cases, including their written reports and testimony. The bill requires GALs to file reports at least 20 days before hearings (unless waived by the court), detailing the child’s wishes and recommendations, and ensures GALs receive all relevant case documents. This directly affects courts, GALs, and children involved in family court matters like custody or abuse cases, ensuring their input is formally weighed. The bill was introduced in January 2025 but withdrawn before committee consideration and has no current legislative status.
Elections of County Commissioners, District School Board Members, and District School Superintendents; Establishes county commissioner districts based on population of county; requires county commissioners to be nominated & elected by qualified electors who reside in same county commissioner district as commissioner; requires membership of board of county commissioners to be based on certain population criteria for each county; requires commissioners to be elected at specified time & terms to be staggered; revises membership of district school boards; requires membership to be based on certain population criteria for each county; requires membership to be identical to that of board of county commissioners; requires members of district school board to be elected by qualified electors who reside in same school district as member; revises provisions relating to election & term of office for district school superintendents.
Insurance Regulations; Requires documentation supporting that financial considerations & payments to affiliates by reciprocal insurers are fair & reasonable; authorizes reciprocal insurers to require subscriber contributions; provides applicability of specialty insurer provisions & nonapplicability of continuing care provider requirements to bondholders; specifies circumstances under which continuing care providers may withdraw specified percentage of required minimum liquid reserve; provides that continuing care & continuing care at-home contracts are not subordinate to any secured claims & must be treated with higher priority over all other claims in event of receivership or liquidation proceedings against continuing care provider; requires each continuing care facility to have its own designated resident representative; provides requirements for providers who borrow or solicit funds from residents; prohibits persons from acting or holding themselves as management companies for continuing care retirement communities without certificate of authority; provides guidelines for commissioner to determine if provider or facility is insolvent or in imminent danger of becoming insolvent; requires office to record notices of lien against continuing care facilities' properties.
Community Redevelopment Plans; Authorizes community redevelopment agency to use specified percentage of tax increment financing funds for certain business support services in carrying out approved community redevelopment plans.
Artificial Food Dyes in K-12 Schools; Prohibits use of specified dyes in foods for certain K-12 food programs; & requires district school boards to adopt policy prohibiting use of specified food dyes in foods for certain food programs & vending machines; & provides exemptions from such prohibition.
Commissioning Reporting Requirements for HVAC and Electrical Systems; Provides additional requirements for certain persons or authorities commissioning certain reports; defines "commissioning authority."
Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal Systems; Specifying that a construction permit for the construction of an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system for a single-family dwelling is valid in perpetuity; providing an exception; prohibiting a municipality or political subdivision from placing certain requirements on applicants for a building permit for a single-family dwelling, etc.
HB 559 redesignates the S.S. American Victory - a 455-foot historic steamship built in 1944 and currently operating as a maritime museum in Tampa - as Florida's official state flagship. The bill amends Florida Statutes to replace the previous designation with this vessel, recognizing its service in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The change takes effect July 1, 2025, and directly affects the ship's ceremonial status as Florida's symbolic flagship. This is a procedural bill focused solely on naming, with no new policies or funding.
Services for Medically Needy Children; Transferring operation of the Children’s Medical Services Managed Care Plan from the Department of Health to the Agency for Health Care Administration, effective on a specified date; requiring the agency to pay for individual and family therapy services provided to Medicaid recipients by certain behavioral health providers if certain conditions are met; requiring the CMS program to transfer operation of certain managed care contracts from the department to the agency effective on a specified date, etc.
