BILL SUMMARY DETAILS

SB 506 (Wright) adds code enforcement officers to the list of covered professionals under Section 784.07, Florida Statutes, which provides penalties for assault, battery, aggravated assault, and aggravated battery when the offense is knowingly committed against a law enforcement officer or other specified professionals who are engaged in the lawful performance of his or her duties. (Wagoner)

CS/CS/HB 981 (Bankson) and CS/CS/CS/SB 1362 (Harrell) make significant changes to the regulation of private airports, specifically addressing vertiports and powered-lift aircraft. The bill does the following:

Department of Transportation Department (DOT)

•Mandates the DOT to designate a subject matter expert for advanced air mobility, focusing on powered-lift aircraft and electrification of aviation.

•Requires the DOT to provide annual reports to the Governor and Legislature on advanced air mobility industry status, technological advances, federal regulations and recommendations for land use compatibility around vertiports.

•Mandates the DOT to serve as a resource for local governments and stakeholders in powered-lift aircraft and vertiport development.

•Generally prohibits residential construction and educational facilities within a specified buffer zone adjacent to an airport if the airport has not conducted a noise study in order to better define adjacent areas that are incompatible with residential construction and educational facilities.

oAdds an exception to the buffer zone described above in order to allow residential property within the buffer zone of a public-use airport that has as its sole runway a turf runway measuring less than 2,800 feet in length.

Vertiport Approval:

•Requires private airport owners or lessees intending to operate vertiports for powered-lift aircraft to obtain a powered-lift aircraft endorsement from the Department of Transportation (only in CS/CS/HB 981). (Branch)

SB 1774 (Powell) and HB 1477 (Williams) require that parks, youth recreation or sports facilities owned or operated by a local government have a functioning automated external defibrillator (AED) on premises at all times. The bills also specify that employees and volunteers at these facilities have proper training. (Wagoner)

SB 854 (Martin) and HB 1643 (Rommel) require airport authorities, special districts created by the Legislature, to only allow aircraft to land if they meet Federal Aviation Administration noise standards and weight limits set by the International Civil Aviation Organization. Authorized aircraft within the weight range of 75,000 to 125,000 pounds may face restrictions on landing frequency, increased landing fees, or higher charges for hangar and storage facilities. The airport authority can request documentation confirming an aircraft's compliance before its first landing and annually thereafter. (Branch)

HB 805 (Borrero) and SB 1042 (Garcia) – Traffic Infraction Detectors

SB 994 (Burgess) and HB 1045 (Michael) – Student Transportation Safety

CS/SB 440 (Wright) authorizes a utility terrain vehicle (UTV) to legally operate on two-lane county roads and two-lane municipal streets in which the posted speed limit is less than 55 miles per hour. The bill allows a local government to enact an ordinance regulating UTV operation and equipment that is more restrictive than statutory requirements. A local government can prohibit the operation of a UTV on any road under its jurisdiction if the governing body determines that such prohibition is necessary in the interest of safety. (Branch)

SB 7076 (Finance and Tax) prohibits an airport or a seaport from charging a transportation network company (TNC) a pickup fee for a prearranged ride requested within 60 minutes before the time the rider enters the TNC vehicle, which is greater than the lowest pickup fee charged to a taxicab company. (Branch)

CS/CS/CS/HB 1301 (Abbott) and CS/CS/CS/SB 1226 (DiCeglie) address matters related to transportation. Of concern to cities, the bills provide that a public transit provider may not expend state funds directly, indirectly, or through a grant or agreement for any of the following marketing or advertising activities:

•A marketing or public awareness campaign, whether through a digital or print medium, including the use of any wrap, tinting or paint on a bus, commercial motor vehicle or motor vehicle, as in support of any social, political or ideological interest. 

•Use of an asset owned or funded by a public transit provider, including an existing or future asset, which displays, contains or markets, whether through a digital or print medium, any social, political or ideological interest. 

Traffic Lane Repurposing 

•Require public notice and input prior to a governmental entity repurposing one or more existing traffic lanes.

•Also must notify all affected property owners, impacted municipalities, and the counties in which the project is located at least 180 days before the design phase of the project is completed with written explanation.

•Requires that any lane elimination or lane repurposing, recommendation, or application relating to public transit projects must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the transit authority board in a public meeting with a 30-day public notice and that any action of eminent domain for acquisition of public transit facilities carried out by a public transit provider must be discussed by the public transit provider at a public meeting with a 30-day public notice.

CS/CS/CS/HB 1301 passed the House (79-32) and the Senate (39-1) and the awaiting action by the Governor. (Branch)

CS/CS/CS/SB 266 (Hooper), CS/CS/SB 1032 (Gruters), CS/HB 7049 (McFarland) and CS/CS/CS/HB 287 (Esposito) are the legislative priority bills for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). These bills outline various requirements for FDOT and local agencies related to transportation projects. FDOT is mandated to oversee funded projects on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration, update project cost estimates and include contingency amounts. Local agencies must prioritize and budget projects through their respective metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs), be certified by FDOT and incorporate specific contractual requirements and contingency amounts for unforeseen conditions. CS/CS/SB 1032 and CS/HB 7049 specifically prohibit the creation of new MPOs, with exceptions for urbanized areas defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.

In CS/HB 7049 only:

•Adds express authority for local governments to impose minimum age requirements, require possession of a government-issued photographic identification and provide training relating to electric bicycles, motorized scooters and micromobility devices.

In CS/CS/CS/HB 287 only, the permit or relocation agreement for utility installation, location or relocation must:

•Include a reasonable utility relocation schedule to expedite the completion of FDOT’s construction or maintenance project.

•Define a reasonable liquidated damage amount for each day the work exceeds the specified time frame.

•Require the utility to be responsible for any damage resulting from the work performed under such permit or relocation agreement. (Branch)

CS/CS/CS/HB 287 passed the House (95-11) and the Senate (38-2) and is awaiting action by the Governor. (Branch)

SB 980 (Perry) requires that all plans submitted on or before July 1, 2024, for the construction of crosswalks located at any place other than an intersection of a public street, highway or road be controlled by pedestrian and traffic signals and meet requirements of the Florida Department of Transportation Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. (Branch)

CS/SB 1464 (Calatayud) and CS/CS/HB 1363 (Busatta Cabrera) are bills related to the use of traffic cameras. Of interest to cities, the bills do the following:

•Prohibit the use of camera systems made by Chinese manufacturers or using materials from China for traffic enforcement in Florida. 

•Require local governments to approve any new camera contracts or renewals in a public meeting.

•Requires local governments to enact ordinances allowing traffic cameras. 

•Require local governments to show evidence the cameras are needed for safety before installation. 

•Mandate local governments submit reports on traffic camera use every year to the state. 

•Noncompliance with rules results in suspension of traffic camera use. (Branch)

HB 1275 (Berfield) and SB 1506 (DiCeglie) require the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) to develop a Strategic Infrastructure Investment Plan to address freight mobility infrastructure. The bills require FDOT to consult with relevant stakeholders including county and municipal governments. Beginning July 1, 2025, the department is required to distribute $150 million to the State Transportation Trust Fund to fund the projects identified in the Strategic Infrastructure Investment Plan. (Branch)

CS/SB 28 (Hooper) increases the annual fees required for electric and hybrid vehicles. Beginning January 1, 2029, the annual fee for electric vehicles (EVs) would increase from $200 to $250, and the annual fee for hybrid vehicles would increase from $50 to $100. The bill specifies that 64% of the proceeds be deposited into the State Transportation Trust Fund (STTF), and 36% must be allocated to the county where the vehicle is registered. Local governments can use these funds for transportation expenditures. The EV fee is not included in CS/CS/HB 107 (Esposito). CS/CS/HB 107 requires the Revenue Estimating Conference to estimate the impact on the General Revenue Fund from the sales tax levied from charging EVs and directs the Department of Revenue to distribute funds into the STTF. (Branch)

CS/CS/SB 1084 (Collins) and CS/CS/HB 1071 (Alvarez) are the legislative priority bills for the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Of concern to cities, the bills preempt a local government from enacting an ordinance regulating electric vehicle charging stations. CS/CS/SB 1084 passed the Senate (26-0) and the House (86-27) and is awaiting action by the Governor. (Branch)

SB 192 (Garcia, I.) – Anchoring of Vessels in Anchoring Limitation Areas (Biscayne Bay)

SB 452 (Burton) and HB 451 (Bell) – Land Acquisition Trust Fund (Heartland Headwaters)

HB 437 (Porras) – Anchoring Limitation Areas (Biscayne Bay)

SB 484 (Bradley) and HB 1049 (Hunchofsky) – Flood Disclosure in the Sale of Real Property

SB 566 (Rodriguez) – Land Acquisition Trust Fund (Florida Keys)

HB 815 (Smith) and SB 998 (Collins) – Liquified Petroleum Gas

HB 1075 (Truenow) and SB 1772 (Collins)  – Soil and Water Conservation Districts

SB 1136 (Trumbull) and HB 1163 (McClain) – Regulation of Water Resources/Water Well Contractors

SB 1210 (Martin) – Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve

HB 1119 (Antone) and SB 38 (Stewart) – Flood Zone Disclosures for Dwelling Units

HB 1311 (LaMarca) and SB 1754 (Pizzo) – Office of the Blue Economy

SB 1756 (Pizzo) – Blue Economy Evaluation

HB 1565 (Grant) and SB 1360 (Gruters) – Florida Red Tide Mitigation and Technology Development Initiative

HB 1411 (Cross) – Shore Protection

HB 1493 (Altman) and SB 1718 (Collins) prohibit the construction, operation or expansion of wind energy facilities and offshore wind energy facilities in the state. (O’Hara)

SB 1538 (Torres) requires state parks to have a certified lifeguard at designated swimming areas within state parks. In addition, the bill requires “police vehicles” to be equipped with a rescue buoy for a water safety incident and requires the staffing for each shift at a fire department to include at least one firefighter who is certified in rescue diving and who is not a captain or battalion chief. (O’Hara)

SB 708 (Burton) and HB 825 (Koster) revise the timeframe within which an excavator is required to provide information through the free-access notification system established by Sunshine State One-Call Florida, Inc., before beginning certain excavation or demolition activities. In addition, the bills revise the timeframes during which member operators who receive such notifications are required to mark the horizontal route of an underground facility and provide a positive response to the system. (O’Hara)

SB 122 (Stewart) repeals a state law preemption of local government regulation of tree pruning, trimming or removal on residential property. (O’Hara)

SB 1620 (Collins) requires the state Acquisition and Restoration Council to determine whether any lands surplused by a local government are within a Florida Wildlife Corridor opportunity area. It prohibits further development rights from being attached to such lands that are determined to be within the Corridor opportunity area. The bill authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to surplus state-owned conservation lands without development rights within the Corridor and provides a disposition process for such lands. The bill requires water management districts to determine whether surplus district lands are within the Corridor opportunity area. (O’Hara)