“I’m excited to announce my administration’s newest veteran-focused initiative: the “Salute Our Soldiers” Military Housing Loan Program for veterans and active duty military personnel throughout the state. To start, Florida Housing will set aside funds to assist over 1,000 veterans and active duty military members by making the homebuying process easier and more affordable."
- Governor Ron DeSantis commenting on a new housing loan program launched this week for active military personnel and veterans.
We just finished week six of the legislative session and we are seeing significant progress on some of our priority issues.
I'm happy to report the private property rights/vacation rental bill we are supporting in the House (HB 1011) passed its final committee and is headed to the floor! It's companion, SB 1128, is in its final committee stop in the Senate and we expect it to be placed on that committee agenda next week.
Equally exciting, our two priority bills concerning emotional support animals have passed all their committees and both have been sent to their respective chambers for floor votes. SB 1084 is set to be heard in the Senate on Wednesday and we are hopeful the House will schedule HB 209 soon.
Lastly, the House tax cut package (HB 7097), which includes a cut to the business rent tax, passed out of the Ways & Means Committee this week and will head to the House floor.
Private Property Rights/Vacation Rentals
- SB 1128 – Preempts the regulation of vacation rentals to the state and strikes a balance between addressing community concerns and preserving private property rights.
- HB 1011 - Companion bill to SB 1128.
- Current status: Passed the Commerce Committee on a 14 - 9 vote. The bill now moves to the House floor.
Affordable Housing
- SB 998 – Allows local governments to approve affordable housing development on any property zoned residential, commercial or industrial. Also, provides additional accountability and training for Affordable Housing Advisory Committees and Local Housing Assistance Plans.
- Current status: Passed the Infrastructure and Security Committee on a 7 - 0 vote. Waiting to be placed on the Appropriations committee agenda.
- HB 1339 - Companion bill to SB 998
- Current status: Passed the Way & Means Committee on a 17 - 0 vote. Waiting to be placed on the Commerce Committee agenda.
Emotional Support Animals (ESA)
- HB 209 - Helps curb the abuse of ESA certificates related to housing. The bill does not address restaurants, airplanes, or other public places.
- Current status: Waiting to be heard on the House floor.
- SB 1084 – Companion bill to HB 209.
- Current status: Passed the Rules Committee with a 16 - 0 vote. It is now on the special order calendar in the Senate. Will be heard on 2/26/2020 when the Senate is on the floor.
Environment
- SB 712 - Main environmental bill of the 2020 session. Contains the findings from the Blue-Green Algae Task Force and has a heavy focus on Onsite Treatment and Disposal Systems (septic tanks).
- Current status: Passed the Appropriations Committee, its last committee stop, on a 20 - 1 vote. Now heads to the Senate floor.
- HB 1343 – Companion bill to SB 712.
- Current status: Waiting to be placed on the State Affairs Committee agenda, its last committee stop before heading to the House floor.
Real Estate Conveyances
- HB 469 - Eliminates the two witness requirement for real estate leases longer than a year.
- Current status: The bill passed the House on a unanimous 117 - 0 vote. Sent to the Senate.
- SB 1224 – Companion bill to HB 469.
- Current status: Currently on second reading on the Senate floor.
Discriminatory Restrictive Covenants
- HB 733 - Designed to extinguish discriminatory restrictive covenants.
- Current status: On second reading on the House floor.
- SB 802 – Companion bill to HB 733.
- Current status: In its last committee of reference, the Rules Committee, waiting to be placed on the agenda.
Other Bills of Interest
The below are some additional bills of interest that we are watching.
Insurance Consumer Protection
- HB 1137 - Requires prospective policyholders to sign or otherwise acknowledge a disclosure notifying them that their property insurance policy is being placed with a surplus lines company. Requires insurers to deliver to a policyholder between March 1 and June 1 a copy of their declarations page and an outline of their hurricane coverage, provided the policyholder has provided their email address to their insurer. Insurers cannot require policyholders to pursue dispute resolution -- whether litigation, mediation, or arbitration -- outside of Florida.
- Current status: On second reading on the House floor.
- SB 1492 – Companion bill to HB 1137.
- Current status: In its last committee of reference, the Rules Committee, waiting to be placed on the agenda.
Homestead Property Taxes
- HB 371 - The joint resolution proposes an amendment to the State Constitution extending the period to transfer the Save Our Homes benefit from a prior homestead to a new homestead by an additional year, to the third year subsequent to abandonment of the old homestead.
- Current status: Passed the State Affairs Committee on a 19 - 0 vote. On second reading on the House floor.
- SB 148 – Companion bill to HB 371.
- Current status: In its final committee, the Appropriations Committee, waiting to be placed on the agenda.
Stay updated on all of the bills that the Public Policy Office is tracking through our Legislative Tracker.