Backup Documents 03/12/2024 Item #11B Presentation2024 LEGISLATIVE
SESSION
After-Action Report
Session
Statistics
•1,957 bills and proposed committee bills (PCB)
were filed during the 2024 legislative cycle…
(1,873 last year)
•2,196 amendments were filed to those bills…
(2,674 last year)
•324 bills passed during the 2024 Regular
Session… (356 last year)
•Governor DeSantis now has 15 days from
receipt of a bill to sign or veto-otherwise it
becomes law without his signature…
•682 bills were on the Collier County tracking
list…(443 last year)
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Fiscal Features of the 2024 Regular Session…
The Governor still has line-item veto authority…
BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS: SUMMARY
•Total Budget: $117.46 billion
•$49.4 billion General Revenue; $68.1billion Trust Funds
•$963 million more than 2023 (less than 1% increase)
•Total Reserves: 10 billion
•$5.1 billion General Revenue Unallocated
•$4.4 billion Budget Stabilization Fund ($300 million added)
•$500 million added to the Emergency Preparedness & Response
Fund
•$500 million authorized to retire outstanding state debt
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BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS: EMERGENCY
PREPAREDENESS
•Division of Emergency Management…$1.4 billion
•Non-federally Declared Disaster Response…$500,000
•Open Federally Declared Disasters
•Funding to Communities…$1.02 billion
•State operations… $155 million
•Statewide Emergency Alert and Notification System…$3.5 million
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BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS: ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
•Job Growth Grant Program…$75 million
•VISIT Florida…$80 million
•Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Funding…$100
million
•Community Development Housing and Community Development
Projects… $29.8 million
•Emergency Revolving Bridge Loan…$20 million
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BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS: AFFORDABLE HOUSING
•State Housing Initiative Partnership (SHIP)…$174 million
•State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL)…$84 million
•Florida Hometown Hero Housing Program…$100 million
•Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) $100 million
•My Safe Florida Home Program(SB7028/HB1263)…$200 million
•My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program…$30 million
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BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS: ENVIRONMENT
•Everglades Restoration and South Florida Water Management District
Operations…$702 million
•Water Quality Improvements…$1.7 billion
•Wastewater Grant Program…$135 million
•Water Projects…$410.4 million
•Water Quality Improvements- Everglades…$50 million
•Flood & Sea Level Rise Program…$125 million
•Blue Green Algae Task Force… $10.8 million
•Innovative Technology Grants for Harmful Algal Blooms…$10 million
•Beach Management Funding Assistance…$50 million
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BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS: TRANSPORTATION
•Transportation Work Program…$13.98 billion
•Transportation Disadvantaged: $3 million
•Small City Road Resurface Assistance Program (SCRAP)…$26.5
million
•Small County Outreach Program(SCOP)…$88.6 million
•County Transportation Programs…$67.1 million
•Local Transportation Initiatives (Road Fund) Projects…$387.1 million
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SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
TAX PACKAGE
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS:TAX PACKAGE
•SALES TAX HOLIDAYS…
One 14-day “back-to-school” tax holiday, for certain clothing, school
supplies, learning aids and puzzles, and personal computers.
(July 29 - August 11, 2024)
Two 14-day “disaster preparedness” holidays from, for specified
disaster preparedness supplies for families and their pets.
(June 1-14 and August 24 – September 6, 2024)
“Freedom Month” tax holiday for specific recreational items and
activities. (month of July)
One seven-day “Tool Time” tax holiday for tools and equipment
needed in skilled trades. (September 1-7, 2024)
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SESSION HIGHLIGHTS: TAX PACKAGE CONT…
Toll Relief
HB 5001, the General Appropriations Act, accounts for $450 million for a statewide toll relief program to be developed by the Department of
Transportation. Toll relief will be provided for certain high-use customers from April 2024 until March 2025. Customers using a Florida-
issued transponder who use Florida’s Turnpike System and other toll facilities in the state are eligible. Customers who engage in 35 or more
toll transactions in a month will receive a 50 percent credit.
Property Insurance Tax Relief for Homeowners
HB 7073 includes a one-year relief for residential property insurance policyholders, covering the cost of insurance premium tax and the
State Fire Marshal assessment for residential property insurance policies written between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025, for a
twelve-month coverage period.
The bill also includes a one-year insurance premium tax relief on flood insurance policies, reducing the cost of flood insurance policies
written between October 1, 2024, and September 30, 2025.
Small Business Tax Relief
HB 7073 provides a $5 million credit for three years against the corporate income tax for businesses employing persons with unique abilities
of $1,000 per employee.
Additionally, the bill provides for a $5 million credit for three years for businesses for childcare expenses incurred on behalf of employees.
The bill also increases the annual cap for the Strong Families Tax Credit Program from $20 million to $40 million. The Strong Families Tax
Credit Program was created in 2021 to provide tax credits for businesses that make monetary donations to certain eligible charitable
organizations focused on child welfare and well-being.
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APPROPRIATION REQUESTS
Governor still has line-item veto authority…
$10 MILLION-
Veterans
Nursing Home
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From the funds in Specific Appropriations 587A, $10,000,000 in nonrecurring funds from the General Revenue Fund is provided to support the construction of a new State Veterans Administration State Nursing Home and Adult Day Health Center in Collier County.
$3.6 MILLION-
EMS/FIRE
STATION #74
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Allocation of $3.6 million for the
construction of the new
EMS/Fire Station #74 in the
unincorporated and eastern
portion of Collier County.
$1 MILLION
W. GOODLETTE-
FRANK
STORMWATER
IMPROVEMENTS
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Allocation of $1 million for the
rehabilitation of 10 miles of
stormwater system to improve
flood protection and water quality
in partnership with the City of
Naples.
$4.5 NAPLES
PARK PUBLIC
UTILITIES
RENEWAL
PROJECT 17
•Allocation of $4.5 million to complete the next phase of the Naples Park Public Utilities Renewal Program to replace cement water mains and clay gravity mains and fire hydrants at the end of useful life on 103rd and 104th Avenues.
•Project includes the construction of a new wastewater pump station, installation of backflow prevention devices and sewer cleanouts for 400 residents.
•Includes the construction of a new stormwater drainage system to improve water quality flow into the Vanderbilt Lagoon tidal system.
$3 MILLION
PALM RIVER
PUBLIC
UTILITIES
RENEWAL
PROJECT 18
•Allocation of $3 million to complete the next phase of the Palm River Public Utilities Renewal Program to replace cement water mains, clay gravity mains and fire hydrants at the end of useful life in areas 3,5 & 7.
•Project includes the construction of a new wastewater pump station, rehabilitate existing wastewater pump stations and install backflow prevention devices and sewer cleanouts for 300 residents.
•Includes the construction of a new stormwater drainage system to improve water quality flow to the Cocohatchee River.
Thank
you!
APPROPRATION TOTAL $22.1 MILLION
Senate President Kathleen Passidomo
Representative Adam Botana
Representative Lauren Melo
Representative Bob Rommel
$4.2 MILLION
COLLIER AREA
TRANSIT
MAINTENCE
FACILITY20
•Federal allocation of $4.2 million awarded through Ranking Member: Representative Mario Diaz-Balart through the Transit Infrastructure Grant for the construction of a Collier Area Transit Maintenance Facility.
•The transit system maintenance facility, a prefabricated building constructed under outdated building codes in 1985, has exceeded its useful life and is due to be replaced. The building also took damage to its roof and exterior wall membrane during Hurricane Ian. This federal funding will help provide for the construction of a state-of-the-art, sustainable maintenance facility.
GENERAL LEGISLATION OF INTEREST
OF THE 2024 REGULAR SESSION…
Many awaiting presentation and action by the Governor…
Did NOT make it to the finish line…
County Commissioner Term Limits- (SB 438/HB57)
House amended bill to match the 8- year limit in the Senate bill but
ultimately, they were unable to reach consensus between 8 or 12
years.
Suits Against the Government - (SB472/HB569) “Sovereign Immunity”
The Senate sovereign immunity proposal would have increased the
caps — currently set at $200,000 for a single person to $400,000 and
$300,000 per incident to $600,000. This year it reached the floor in
the Senate and through two committees in the House before dying.
Transportation – (SB1032/7049)
This bill required, by February 2025, the M.P.O.s serving Lee and
Collier counties to submit a report considering the feasibility of
consolidation into a single M.P.O.
Both Senate and House bills did not move out of Appropriations.
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SESSION HIGHLIGHTS:COLLIER COUNTY SPECIFIC
Mile Marker 63 Public Safety Facility SB 1226
Guarantees for the 2024-2025 fiscal year, the amount of reimbursement shall be $2.31 million. (Current language states it may not exceed $1.4 million in any state fiscal year.)
Amended language sets the stage for negotiations for the interlocal agreement that expires June 30,2027.
By December 31, 2024, and every 5 years thereafter, Collier County shall provide a maintenance and operations comprehensive plan to the department. The comprehensive plan must include a current inventory of assets, including their projected service life, and area service needs; the call and response history for emergency services provided in the preceding 5 years on Alligator Alley, including costs; and future projections for assets and equipment, including replacement or purchase needs, and operating costs.
The local governmental entity and the department shall review and adopt the comprehensive plan as part of the interlocal agreement. In accordance with projected incoming toll revenues for Alligator Alley, the department shall include the corresponding funding needs of the comprehensive plan in the department’s work program. 23
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS:COLLIER COUNTY SPECIFIC
Collier County Mosquito District (CMCD) -HB 509
Sponsored by Representative Melo, this bill revises the boundaries of
CMCD to include approximately 329 square miles in northern and
eastern Collier County, including the area contained in the Ave Maria
Stewardship Community District that is currently served by CMCD
through an interlocal agreement. The boundary expansion of the
CMCD was approved by the voters of Collier County.
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SESSION HIGHLIGHTS: COLLIER SPECIAL MENTION
SB 718 Exposures of First Responders to Fentanyl and
Fentanyl Analogs
Collier County Sheriff’s Cpl. Robert Palmer testified during Judiciary
committee sharing his experience of unknowingly overdosing due to
a fentanyl exposure while at a domestic violence call on April 12,
2023. It required two doses of fentanyl to “bring him back.”
This bills establishes criminal penalties for adults who recklessly
expose first responders to dangerous fentanyl or analogs, resulting in
overdose or serious injury. It also amends existing law to protect
individuals seeking medical assistance for drug-related overdoses
from arrest or prosecution.
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SESSION HIGHLIGHTS: COLLIER SPECIAL MENTION
HB 725 Veterans’ Long-term Care Facilities Admissions
Expands eligibility for residency and prioritizes admittance in
veterans’ long-term care facilities to include spouses and surviving
spouses of veterans.
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Hallmark Legislation for 2024 Session…
Live Healthy Act, a priority of Senate President Passidomo, includes tuition assistance for
medical, nursing and dental students, loans to build clinics and creating a statewide health
screening portal.
Learn Local package deregulates schools to cut red tape and reduce bureaucracy in public
schools.
Legislation of Interest…
SB 328 Affordable Housing- “Live Local Glitch Bill”
Authorizes multifamily and mixed-use residential developments in areas zoned for
commercial, industrial, or mixed-use if at least 40 percent of units are affordable.
Prohibits counties and municipalities from requiring zoning changes or land use
amendments for such developments and from restricting the density, floor area ratio,
or height of these developments below certain thresholds.
Allows for administrative approval of developments meeting affordability and zoning
criteria, except when located near military installations.
Requires counties and municipalities to maintain a policy for administrative approvals
on their websites and to consider reducing or eliminating parking requirements for
developments near major transportation hubs or within transit-oriented developments.
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Legislation of Interest…
SB 328 Affordable Housing- continued…
Mandates mixed-use residential developments within designated transit-
oriented areas to comply with specific requirements, except for use, height,
density, floor area ratio, and parking.
Provides applicants with an opportunity to submit revised applications or
notices to account for changes made by the act.
Updates the definition of "newly constructed" for affordable housing property
exemptions and revises criteria for multifamily projects to receive ad valorem
property tax exemptions.
Specifies conditions under which developments can be treated as
conforming or nonconforming uses.
Excludes certain airport-impacted areas from these provisions and revises
the Florida Housing Finance Corporation's powers to preclude applicants
from programs under certain conditions.29
Legislation of Interest…
HB 479 Alternative Mobility Funding Systems and Impact Fees: provides
that only the local government issuing the building permit may charge for
transportation impacts on a development. The bill directs the permitting local
government to collect and account for extra-jurisdictional impacts.
Currently the County has interlocal agreements in place with Marco Island
and the City of Naples to collect County impact fees on behalf of the County.
Agreements will need to be amended and fee schedules updated.
Proponents state it makes fees predictable and assures there is no “double
jeopardy” for builders.
The language in this legislation was agreed upon by the Florida Association
of Counties and League of Cities.
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Legislation of Interest…
SB 812 Expedited Approval of Residential Building Permits
Expedites the process for issuing residential building permits approvals before a final plat is recorded.
Mandates local governing bodies to implement a program to accelerate residential building permit issuance, with a requirement to issue up to 50% of requested permits by October 1, 2024, and up to 75% by December 31, 2027.
Specifies that the accelerated process should include a two-step application for preliminary plat adoption and a master building permit process valid for up to three years.
Allows applicants to employ private providers to hasten the building permit application process upon preliminary plat approval.
Instructs local governments to create a registry of at least three qualified contractors for application review, ensuring contractors do not have conflicts of interest with applicants.
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Legislation of Interest…
SB 812 Expedited Approval of Residential Building Permits-continued…
Permits local governments to issue addresses and temporary parcel IDs
based on application plat metes and bounds.
Clarifies conditions under which building permits must be issued and
establishes an applicant's right to sell residential structures before final plat
approval and recording.
Protects applicants' vested rights to an approved preliminary plat, prohibiting
substantive changes without consent.
Requires applicants to indemnify local governments, their bodies,
employees, and agents from liabilities relating to the construction within the
residential subdivision or community.
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Legislation of Interest…
HB 433 Employee Regulations
The bill seeks to establish statewide preemption over employment regulations and workplace heat exposure requirements, invalidating local government ordinances that exceed or conflict with state or federal labor laws.
Prohibits local governments from setting minimum wages different from state or federal levels and from influencing or dictating the wage policies of businesses in contracts or business relations with the local government.
Allows local governments to set their own employee standards that exceed state or federal laws, but restricts them from applying these standards to external businesses or in business contracts.
Preempts the regulation of employment terms and conditions to the state, stating local ordinances, rules, or policies that conflict with state or federal laws on employment terms are void.
Specific to workplace heat exposure, designates the state's responsibility to regulate and voids any local regulations, but mandates the Department of Commerce to adopt rules if the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) hasn't by July 1, 2028.
Permits local governments to implement heat exposure requirements for their own employees, and exempts instances where compliance would hinder the distribution of federal funds or is inconsistent with federal requirements.33
Legislation of Interest…
HB 7017- Annual Adjustment to Homestead Exemptions
Proposes an amendment requiring annual inflation adjustments to the value of certain homestead exemptions.
Exempts from taxation the first $25,000 in assessed value of real estate used as the owner's permanent residence, with an added exemption for values greater than $50,000 and up to $75,000 for non-school district levies.
Mandates that the $25,000 exemption value for non-school district levies be annually adjusted based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for All Urban Consumers starting January 1 of each year, if the CPI change is positive.
Specifies that any homestead exemption added to the constitution after January 1, 2025, for non-school district levies will also be subject to annual CPI adjustments.
Allows a discount on ad valorem taxes for veterans aged 65 or older with combat-related, service-connected disabilities, transferable to a surviving spouse under certain conditions.
Offers provisions for the legislature to grant additional homestead tax exemptions and ad valorem tax relief under specified conditions to renters, certain senior citizens, the surviving spouse of a veteran or first responder who died in the line of duty, and permanently disabled first responders.
Sets the effective date for the annual adjustment requirement as January 1, 2025.
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This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND
Legislation of Interest…
HB 1645 Energy Resources The bill aims to reform energy policy and
infrastructure in Florida, focusing on natural gas, electric utilities, and renewable energy
while repealing certain renewable energy incentive programs.
Prohibits construction or expansion of the following:
An offshore wind energy facility.
A wind turbine or wind energy facility on real property within 1 mile of
coastline in this state.
A wind turbine or wind energy facility on real property within 1 mile of the
Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway or Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.
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Legislation of Interest…
HB 165 Sampling of Beach Waters and Public Bathing Spaces
Requires the Department of Health to adopt and enforce rules for sampling beach waters and public bathing places to protect public health, revising existing regulations.
Mandates the Department of Health to issue health advisories within 24 hours or the next business day if water quality does not meet standards and requires closure of affected areas if deemed necessary for public health. Closures remain until standards are restored and advisories lifted.
Requires municipalities, counties, and owners of public boat docks, marinas, and piers to notify the Department of Health of incidents affecting water quality within 24 hours or the next business day.
Demands the Department of Environmental Protection to investigate nearby wastewater facilities for incidents contributing to contamination.
Stipulates the Department of Health to adopt a standard health advisory sign for posting at beach access points and affected areas, detailing sign size and posting requirements.
Assigns responsibility for posting and maintaining health advisory signs to municipalities, counties, and the Department of Environmental Protection for affected areas under their jurisdiction, coordinating with the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as necessary.
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Legislation of Interest…
SB 280 Vacation Rentals
Implements regulations for vacation rentals, including registration, inspection, and operation guidelines, and mandates advertising platforms to collect and remit taxes on rentals.
Application: Mandates local governments must review the application for completeness or issue written notice of denial. If the local government fails to accept or deny within the timeframe provided in legislation the application is deemed accepted.
Registration Fees- allows local governments to require vacation rental registration, annual renewal of registration, inspection for compliance with Florida Building and Fire Prevention codes and charge a “reasonable” fee per unit. Additional fees apply if there is a change in ownership.
Fines: allows local governments to fine vacation rental operator up to $500 for failing to comply with registration requirements if operator has not cured within 15 days.
Designated Responsible Party Owner Identity- The operator of a vacation rental must submit identifying information about the owner and operator and maintain at all times a responsible party who is capable of responding to complaints or emergencies related to the vacation rental including being available by telephone at provided contact number 24/7 and receive legal notices of violations on behalf of rental operator.
Maximum Overnight Occupancy- state and comply with maximum overnight occupancy which does not exceed either two persons per bedroom, plus additional two persons in one common area, or more than two persons per bedroom if there is at least 50 sq feet per persons plus an additional two persons in common area, whichever is greater.
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Legislation of Interest…
SB 280 Vacation Rentals continued…
Suspension- the code enforcement magistrate must recommend suspension of the vacation rental registration if there are:
One or more violations on 5 separate days during 30- day period;
One or more violations on 5 separate days during a 60-day period;
One or more violations after two prior suspensions of the vacation rental registration
If code enforcement board or special magistrate recommends suspension of registration, a local government may suspend registration for a period of:
Up to 30 days for one or more violations on 5 separate days during a 60-day period;
Up to 60 days for one or more violations on 5 separate days during a 30- day period; or
Up to 90 days for one or more violations after two prior suspensions
A local government may not suspend a vacation rental registration for violations of a local law, ordinance, or regulations which are not directly related to the vacation rental premises.
“Grandfather” any county law, ordinance or regulation initially adopted on or before January 1, 2016, that establishes county registration requirements for rental of vacation rentals and any amendments thereto adopted before January 1, 2024. 38
Legislation of Interest…
HB1365- Unauthorized Public Camping and Public Sleeping:
The legislation prohibits counties and municipalities from authorizing or otherwise
allowing public camping or sleeping on public property without certification or
designated public property certified by Secretary of Children and Family Services.
Allows a county, by majority vote of the county’s government to designate
property to be used for no longer than one year for the purposes of public
camping or sleeping.
Requires the county to establish and maintain minimum standards and
procedures for property designated for public camping or sleeping for purposes
of ensuring safety, security, sanitation, mental health and substance abuse
services coordination, and illegal substance and alcohol use prohibition.
The bill moves back the effective date for the cause of action, which allows
people to sue localities for not implementing the rule, to Jan. 1, 2025.39
Legislation of Interest…
Homeowners & Community Association/Timeshare/ Mobile
Home related legislation:
HB59 Provision of Homeowners’ Association Rules & Covenants
HB293 Hurricane Protections for Homeowners’ Associations
HB613 Mobile Home Park Lot Tenancies
HB1021 Community Association
HB1029 My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program
HB1203 Homeowners’ Associations
HB1305 Residential Tenancies
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COMING SOON…
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THANK YOU!
State Team:
Smith, Bryan & Myers
Lead: Lisa Hurley
Federal Team:
Becker & Poliakoff
Leads: Amanda Wood &
Omar Franco
Departmental Conduits
Ian Barnwell
Diane DiPascale
Joshua Thomas
Lee Willer-Spector
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