Public Policy Update
Hello everyone. The 2021 Legislative Session ended last Friday, and in case you missed President Cheryl Lambert's message, it turned out to be a very successful session for REALTORS®. In addition to the COVID-19 business liability protections that are now in place and the massive Business Rent Tax cut that's on the horizon, we are also celebrating $1.23 billion for environmental funding, new measures to curb rising property insurance costs, numerous property tax relief measures and strengthened protections for private property rights, among other things. You can find a complete run-down on all of these successes, as well as more information in our 2021 Sine Die Report.
Of course, many of these successes have not been signed into law yet by the governor, so for the next several weeks we will be keeping a close eye on the bills he is receiving and will update you when he takes action on them.
In the meantime, there is plenty to update you on outside of the legislative session so read on for this week's updates.
New Rental Assistance Program to Launch Soon
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which was passed by Congress back in December, provides a significant amount of funding to states to for rental assistance. It also allows housing providers to apply for funds on behalf of tenants.
Although the funds being used are federal dollars, each state is charged with building and administering the programs that provide the rental assistance money. Governor DeSantis chose the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) to administer Florida's rental assistance program (known as Our Florida), and we have word that it will be launching the program soon.
In fact, although the application for these funds is not available yet, the website portal where housing providers will apply is now live. If this issue has impacted you or your clients, I highly encourage you to read Florida Realtors® recent news article on the subject.
Federal Eviction Moratorium Activity
There has been some legal activity regarding the federal eviction moratorium that is currently in place. After a U.S. District Court Judge ruled that the moratorium was unlawful, the U.S. Department of Justice filed an emergency appeal that led to a federal judge staying the order temporarily.
Read the latest on this developing issue in this Florida Realtors® news article.
Governor's Executive Orders
Governor DeSantis signed Executive Order 2021-101 and Executive Order 2021-102 on Monday. Order 2021-101 invalidates all remaining local emergency orders based on the COVID-19 emergency. Order 2021-102 suspends all remaining local government mandates and restrictions based on the COVID‑19 State of Emergency.
Remember, you can find all of the governor's executive orders here.
$111 Million Available for Hurricane Michael-Impacted Communities
Governor DeSantis recently announced that more than $111 million has been awarded to 22 communities through the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity’s (DEO) Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Repair Program for communities impacted by Hurricane Michael. The program, administered by DEO, is designed to provide funding for local governments to strategically rebuild and harden infrastructure in order to prevent or reduce losses from future disasters.
DEO is awarding communities funding for the following 22 projects through the Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Repair Program:
- Bay County ($1,324,601) – to fill and replace an existing stormwater drainage culvert.
- City of Apalachicola ($3,862,869) – to rehabilitate damaged stormwater infrastructure.
- City of Callaway ($2,883,000) - to rehabilitate existing wastewater infrastructure to address increased inflow and infiltration caused by Hurricane Michael deforestation.
- City of Chipley ($2,916,119) – to improve stormwater drainage system around the city.
- City of Cottondale ($4,347,351) – to expand the capacity of the Caney Stormwater Pond.
- City of Lynn Haven ($5,250,000) – to rehabilitate water, sewer, and stormwater lines along West 10th Street, as well as repave roads in the impacted area.
- City of Marianna ($11,181,000) – to conduct a citywide wastewater transmission system restoration and repair project focusing on inflow and infiltration.
- City of Mexico Beach ($5,025,000) – to dredge sand from the Gulf of Mexico and re-nourish the beachfront.
- City of Panama City ($18,986,552) – to replace damaged sanitary sewer lines, damaged stormwater lines, and damaged water lines.
- City of Panama City Beach ($21,330,720) – to combine outfall pipes and redirect them from the beachfront out into the Gulf of Mexico.
- City of Parker ($763,454) – to install and replace manholes, lift stations and other stormwater infrastructure.
- City of Port St. Joe ($9,799,572) – to complete repairs to sanitary sewer collection pipelines, repair manholes, and service laterals.
- City of Springfield ($3,132,798) – to clear and build a retention pond on a portion of city land.
- City of Wewahitchka ($884,085) – to repair or replace water lines damaged by Hurricane Michael.
- Gadsden County ($2,500,000) – to replace the main emergency medical services facility in Quincy damaged by Hurricane Michael.
- Gulf County ($7,012,869) – to lower reliance on coastal water by upgrading water system transmission lines, constructing a booster station, and other improvements.
- Jackson County ($1,379,372) – to replace the roof of Jackson County Correctional Facility that has significant water damage.
- Town of Esto ($826,000) – to revamp culverts and spillways and repave roads to alleviate flooding.
- Town of Malone ($2,037,335) – to rehabilitate the town volunteer fire station.
- Town of Noma ($752,705) – to rehabilitate lift stations, the wastewater treatment plant, and sewer-line.
- Town of Sneads ($4,945,146) – to construct new drainage piping, new roadside ditches, a stormwater management facility, and other stormwater improvements.
- Wakulla County ($375,597) – to move control panels for three lift stations up to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) mandated height of 21 feet along with a six-foot chain-link fence.
The Rebuild Florida General Infrastructure Repair Program will provide an additional round of funding in the future for communities designated by HUD or the state as Most Impacted and Distressed by Hurricane Michael. Individuals who would like to receive updates about future funding opportunities can sign up here.