Rep. Fiona McFarland

Claims Against the Government; Increasing the statutory limits on the liability of the state and its agencies and subdivisions for tort claims; revising exceptions relating to instituting actions on tort claims against the state or one of its agencies or subdivisions; revising the period after which the failure of certain entities to make a final disposition of a claim shall be deemed a final denial of the claim for certain purposes; revising the statute of limitations for tort claims against the state or one of its agencies or subdivisions and exceptions thereto, etc.

Electronic Payments Made to Units of Local Governments; Requires units of local government to accept certain forms of payments; requires such local governments accept payments online.

Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances; Prohibits, beginning on specified date, certain use & sale, purchase, or distribution of aqueous film-forming foam; requires, beginning on specified date, certain entities to submit aqueous film-forming foam inventories & disposal plans to DEP; prohibits, beginning on specified date, possession & use of aqueous film-forming foam; authorizes DEP to administer certain grants or cost share programs; provides penalties & injunctive relief; requires certain public entities disposing of domestic wastewater biosolids and treated effluent to quarterly conduct specified samplings & submit results to DEP; limits purpose such samplings until specified standards are established by EPA & adopted by DEP.

Customer Service Callback Queues; Defines "callback queue"; establishes pilot program to require the Department of Commerce to use a callback queue for returning certain calls; requires calls to be returned in specified manner and timeframe; requires the department to report specified information to the Legislature by a certain date.

Domestic Violence and Protective Injunctions; Reclassifying penalties for committing a domestic violence offense if a person has a prior conviction for domestic violence; providing that sentencing and incentive gain-time eligibility determinations are made without regard to a penalty enhancement; establishing an electronic monitoring pilot program in a specified county; requiring the sheriff, in consultation with certain persons, to design and implement the pilot program; providing requirements for the pilot program; requiring the Department of Corrections to complete an evaluation and provide specified reports to the Legislature; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to enter injunctions against dating violence and sexual violence into a statewide verification system, etc.

Homestead Tax Exemptions; Provides that repair & maintenance of specified property is not a change, addition, or improvement under certain circumstances; revises interest rate & penalty that applies to property owners who unlawfully received homestead exemption.

Maddy summaryHB 291 revises Florida's definition of "common entity" for motor vehicle distributors and manufacturers. It defines a "common entity" as an organization with over 30% ownership stake controlled by a manufacturer, distributor, or related entity, or where multiple such entities jointly control it. The bill includes two key exemptions: (1) entities tied to distributors already licensed before March 2023, and (2) U.S.-incorporated manufacturers making vehicles without franchised dealers in Florida. The revised definition 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.

Transportation; Revises & provides provisions relating to increasing minimum perception-reaction time for steady yellow signals, seaports, speed detection systems in school zones, automated license plate recognition systems, private school bus contractors, school bus infraction detection systems, lowering maximum speed limits, flashing beacons, school zones, radar & LiDAR units, disabled parking permits, golf carts, prevention of excessive or unusual noise, motor vehicle registration, license plate frames or decorative border devices, digital driver licenses & electronic credentialing system, digital imaged licenses, use of data by identity verification service providers, direct payments to subcontractors, metropolitan planning organizations, & takeover agreements; provides various penalties.

Child Care and Early Learning Services ; Revises minimum standards for child care facility licensing; removes provisions requiring family day care homes & large family child care homes to provide specified information to parents; prohibits residential property insurance policies from providing coverage for liability for claims arising out of, or in connection with, operations of large family child care homes; prohibits insurers from denying, cancelling, & refusing to renew policy for residential property insurance on basis that policyholders or applicants operate large family child care homes; revises requirements for certain prekindergarten curricula; establishes review & approval process for such curricula; creates Florida Child Care Fund; requires DOE direct-support organization to administer fund; requires that funds from state sources & interest earnings be accounted separately; provides for use of funds; provides for establishment & administration of Center for Early Childhood Professional Recognition under specified circumstance.