CS/CS/SB 250 (Martin) is a bill dealing with natural emergencies that impact the state. Of interest to cities, the bill does the following:

Building Permits and Contracts

•Requires the Division of Emergency Management to post on its website a model debris removal contract for the benefit of local governments. 

•Encourages local governments to create emergency financial plans in preparation for major natural disasters.

•Authorizes local governments to create specialized building inspection teams following a natural disaster and encourages interlocal agreements for additional building inspection services during a state of emergency. 

•Requires local governments to expedite the issuance of permits following a natural disaster.

•Prohibits counties and municipalities located in areas designated in the Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster declaration for Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole from increasing building fees before October 1, 2024. This preemption expires on June 30, 2025.

Tolling and Contractors

•Increases the extension of certain building permits following a declaration of a state of emergency from six to 24 months and caps such extension at 48 months in the event of multiple natural emergencies.

•Allows registered contractors to engage in contracting for the types of work covered by their registration within areas for which a state of emergency has been declared. This authorization terminates 24 months after the expiration of the declared state of emergency. 

Zoning and Funding

•Provides that counties and municipalities cannot prohibit a resident from placing a temporary residential structure on their property for up to 36 months following a natural emergency under certain circumstances.

•Prohibits counties and municipalities within the disaster declaration for Hurricane Ian or Hurricane Nicole from adopting more restrictive procedures for proposing amendments to its comprehensive plan or land development regulations or for issuing a development permit or development order before October 1, 2024.

•Makes the Local Government Emergency Bridge Loan Program a revolving program, and makes funds available for local governments impacted by federally declared disasters until July 1, 2038. 

CS/CS/SB 250 passed the Senate (39-0) and is awaiting action by the House. Currently, there is no House companion. (Branch)