FloridaHB 13292026HouseWALLET

Local Government Finances

Sponsored By: Yvette Benarroch (Republican)

Signed by Governor

AppropriationIntergovernmental Affairs SubcommitteeState Administration Budget SubcommitteeState Affairs CommitteeHouse CalendarRules

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

9 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 4 mixed.

Large development fee increases face limits

Beginning January 1, 2027, local governments and districts can exceed usual impact-fee phase-in limits only through an extra approval process. They need a plan-based need study completed within the previous 12 months, using local data no more than 4 years old. The study must state capacity standards, and a declaration must explain how and when increases fund capacity improvements. Approval requires at least 2 publicly noticed workshops about extraordinary circumstances and a unanimous governing-body vote. Increases must begin when the ordinance is adopted, in 2 to 4 equal annual steps. The maximum increase is 100%, divided equally over 4 years; prior or existing fee deductions cannot be included. This authority is unavailable without a fee increase in the past 5 years, excluding years when hurricane-disaster-area rules barred increases.

Development fee payors get refund deadlines

Beginning January 1, 2027, Florida entities collecting impact fees must answer written overpayment requests within 30 days. They must approve or deny each request in writing. After approval, the payor has 30 days from receiving the response to choose a refund or credit. The entity must provide the full refund or credit within 30 days after receiving that choice.

Residents can see local employee pay

Beginning January 1, 2027, Florida counties and municipalities must post quarterly reports showing employee names, job titles, and salaries. Reports cover every employee paid with county or municipal appropriations. County reports must be downloadable; municipalities without websites must send their reports to the county for posting. These disclosure rules do not change employee pay.

Residents get clearer local budget records

Beginning January 1, 2027, Florida counties and municipalities must post downloadable tentative budgets at least 5 days before budget hearings. Tentative budgets must stay online at least 45 days; final budgets must be posted within 30 days and remain at least 5 years. Tentative, adopted tentative, and final budgets must cover the proposed year, current year, and previous 4 years. Required details include an overview with graphics, revenue and spending by fund, department and program spending, debt, capital projects, staffing, and reserves. Covered proposed budget changes must be posted 5 days before adoption, and adopted changes must remain online at least 5 years. This covers county changes requiring a hearing under the specified procedure and municipal changes outside other authorized amendment procedures. Counties must also advertise covered amendment hearings at least 5 days ahead. Municipalities without websites must send their records to the county for posting.

Local governments must explore budget cuts

Beginning January 1, 2027, Florida counties and municipalities must hold workshops exploring a 10% reduction from the current year's budget. The exercise must protect essential public services and legal obligations. It must happen at least 14 days before final budget adoption. Local governments must post the exercise or a link to a workshop recording. The law requires planning and public access, not actual budget cuts.

Local infrastructure tax reference gets updated

Beginning January 1, 2027, the law updates the legal reference for public facilities eligible for local infrastructure sales-tax funding. Counties, municipalities, and school districts must use that revised reference when deciding which infrastructure costs qualify. This provision does not specify a tax-rate change, project amount, or household savings.

Local budget calendars carry court limits

Beginning January 1, 2027, Florida counties and municipalities must publish next-year budget calendars by January 30 each year. When practical, calendars must list budget requests, taxable-value timing, workshops, hearings, and the required budget-reduction exercise. Municipalities without websites must send their calendars to the county for posting. Publishing a county calendar cannot serve as grounds for a court challenge to adoption of its tentative or final budget.

Local development fees need updated studies

Beginning January 1, 2027, the law sets study rules for impact fees adopted or increased after July 1, 2026. Impact fees are one-time development charges for needed infrastructure. Local governments, school districts, and special districts must use plan-based studies showing the need for fees. Studies must use the most recent local data available within 4 years of the fee update and plan for 10 years of growth. They must identify needed capacity and specific capital projects. A local government raising a fee must adopt its new study within 12 months after starting it; no fee amount is set.

Local transportation funding options and deadlines

Beginning January 1, 2027, local governments ending transportation concurrency can choose alternative transportation funding systems, including impact fees. Concurrency links development approval to transportation capacity. Governments do not have to replace transportation impact fees with a mobility plan and fee. Agreements between local governments made before October 1, 2024, to coordinate transportation-impact mitigation cannot extend beyond October 1, 2031. These rules set no household payment or fee amount.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Yvette Benarroch
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
Affiliation unavailable
State Affairs Committee
Affiliation unavailable

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 203 • No: 47

House vote • 3/12/2026

House Floor Vote

Yes: 87 • No: 19

Senate vote • 3/6/2026

Senate Floor Vote

Yes: 34 • No: 0

House vote • 3/4/2026