Jan. 27, 2023 | Legislative Reporter
The fourth week of committee meetings has ended, and bills continue to be filed. Session is scheduled to begin on March 7.
The Bill Tracking Report, as of January 27, can be viewed here. Please review it to see the bills filed that APA Florida is tracking. Note that these tracking reports contain a new feature; if you click on the bill number, you are linked to more information about the bill.
If you would like any bills added to this report or would like more information about a specific bill, please contact Stefanie Svisco at ssvisco@floridaplanning.org.
Since the last update, the following bills of interest have been filed that would do the following:
• Related to local ordinances where if a civil action is filed against a local government to challenge the adoption of a local ordinance on the grounds that the ordinance is arbitrary or unreasonable, the court may assess and award reasonable attorney fees and costs to the plaintiff of up to $50,000. The plaintiff may not recover any attorney fees or costs directly uncured by or associated with litigation to determine an award of reasonable costs or attorney fees. (SB 170, Sen. Trumbull)
• An act relating to public construction, amending s.166.033, F.S., where development permits and orders of an application are under review 180 days after submission, the municipality must deem the application approved, notwithstanding any prior agreement between parties to extend the deadlines established in section 1 Additionally, each contract for construction services between the local government entity and a contractor must provide a list of items required to render the project complete. The list must include a dollar valuation of market rates and estimated total cost. (SB 346, Sen. DiCeglie)
• An act relating to sovereign immunity, amending s.768.28, F.S., that removes statutory limits on liability for tort claims against the state and its agencies and subdivisions. Revises exemptions relating to instituting actions on the state or one of its agencies or subdivisions. It also changes the timeframe in
which the claim must be presented and in which the agency must make a final deposition of the claim after it is filed to prevent the claim from being deemed denied. (HB 401, Rep. Beltran)
• An act relating to transportation, amending s.206.46, F.S., for the State Transportation Trust Fund, no more than 20 percent of the revenues deposited into the fund shall be committed annually by the department for public transit projects in accordance with chapter 314. As a note, these funds are derived from state fuel taxes and motor vehicle license-related fees. (HB 425, Rep. Esposito)
The following bills of interest have had action since the last Legislative Update.
(Note these summaries are based on a review of the bill language and legislative staff analysis. You are encouraged to read the actual bill language of bills that interest you.)
Taxation of Affordable Housing: SB 220 (Sen. Rodriguez) was withdrawn prior to induction by the Senate on 1/18/2023.
NEWS ARTICLES
Agriculture Department wastes no time acquiring rural development rights
Florida Politics | Jan. 26
FPL announces retirement of longtime leader Eric Silagy
Florida Politics | Jan. 25
Senate President Kathleen Passidomo unveils affordable housing package
Florida Politics | Jan. 26
Jason Brodeur files Wildlife Corridor trails connection bill
Florida Politics | Jan. 24
Lack of housing an issue for seasonal ag workers, Senate committee told
Florida Politics | Jan. 24