Elimination of Non-school Property for Homesteads; Proposes amendment to State Constitution to make homestead property exempt from all ad valorem taxation other than school district levies beginning in a specified year, to prohibit local governments from reducing total funding for services provided by law enforcement, firefighters, and other first responders, and provide an effective date.
HB 551, titled "Medical Conscience," allows healthcare providers and payors in Florida to file lawsuits if their conscience rights are violated, such as when forced to provide services conflicting with their beliefs. The bill creates a two-step enforcement process: first, the Attorney General can sue violators, but if they don’t act within 180 days, providers/payors can directly file civil suits for damages, injunctions, or attorney fees. It amends Florida Statute 381.00321 to clarify these rights and remedies, affecting healthcare workers and insurers who face mandatory service requirements. The law would take effect on July 1, 2026, if passed.
Pub. Rec./Applicants, Owners, and Operators of Family Foster Homes and References of Such Persons; Provides confidentiality & exemption from public records requirements for personal identifying & location information of applicants for family foster homes & current & former owners & operators of family foster homes, & names & personal identifying & location information of spouses, children, & other adult household members of such applicants, owners, or operators; provides confidentiality & exemption from public records requirements for personal identifying & location information of character or neighbor references of family foster home applicant or current or former owner or operator of family foster home; provides for future legislative review & repeal of exemption; provides statement of public necessity.
Temporary Door Locking Devices; Defines "temporary door locking device"; authorizing temporary door locking devices to be installed at any height; requires Florida Building Commission to incorporate certain standards for temporary door locking devices into Florida Building Code; requires use of temporary door locking devices be integrated into building safety plans, safety drills, & training programs for specified purpose.
Watercraft Restrictions Based on Energy Source; Authorizes state agencies, governmental entities, & local governments to restrict use of watercraft based on energy source used to power watercraft if such watercraft is used on certain bodies of water.
Pub. Rec./Injunctions for Protection in Cases of Repeat or Serious Violence; Provides exemption from public records requirements for petitions, & contents thereof, for injunctions for protection against serious violence by known person; provides exemption from public records requirements for information that can be used to identify petitioner or respondent in such petition for injunction; provides statement of public necessity.
Public Records/Commissioners of the Florida Commission on Human Relations; Providing an exemption from public records requirements for the personal identifying and location information of certain current or former personnel and commissioners of the Florida Commission on Human Relations and the spouses and children of such current or former personnel and commissioners; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; providing a statement of public necessity, etc.
Motor Vehicle Operator Privacy; Prohibits certain personal information & e-mail addresses from being sold to or shared with third-party company, foreign country of concern, or foreign principal; provides for retroactive application; provides penalties for third-party company that uses or releases certain information for specified purpose.
HB 489 updates definitions used by Florida's Housing Finance Corporation to clarify eligibility for affordable housing programs. It defines key terms like "demonstrated capacity" (requiring completion of at least three U.S. affordable housing projects, including one in Florida, within five years) and "qualifying principal" (a person owning 25%+ of a housing entity). The bill also clarifies that "elderly" means 62+ and ensures housing meeting specific criteria qualifies as elderly housing. These changes directly affect housing providers (both nonprofits and for-profits) seeking to develop or manage affordable housing projects funded through the corporation.
Pub. Rec./Municipal Clerks; Provides exemption from public records requirements for personal identifying & location information of current & former municipal clerks & their staff, spouses, & children; provides for future legislative review & repeal; provides for retroactive application; provides statement of public necessity.
Restrictions on Employer-owned Life Insurance Policies; Authorizes employer-owned life insurance policies covering key persons of business entities, organizations, companies, & corporations under certain circumstances; requires certain disclosures to key persons; prohibits employer-owned life insurance policies covering certain employees; provides that policies covering such employees are void as against public policy; requires insurer notice to OIR of employer-owned life insurance policies; requires office to maintain registry & publish annual report; provides that premiums, loan interests, & expenses related to employer-owned life insurance are not tax deductible; subjecting death benefits received by employers to corporate income tax; requires OIR to adopt certain standard forms.
Products Liability Actions Under the Florida Pesticide Law; Prohibits pesticide-related products liability action for failure to warn if pesticide's label meets specified conditions.
