All Roll Calls
Yes: 316 • No: 2
FloridaSB 1802025SenateWALLET
Emergencies
Sponsored By: Nick DiCeglie (Republican)
Signed by Governor
AppropriationCommunity AffairsAppropriationsHouse Calendar
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
20 provisions identified: 14 benefits, 2 costs, 4 mixed.
More tax protection for rebuilt homesteads
The law expands property-tax protections for Florida homesteads rebuilt after damage or destruction. The size limits rise from 110% to 130% of the home's former size, or from 1,500 to 2,000 square feet. Homes within either limit keep their prior assessed-value treatment. Portions above the applicable limit count at their just value. Work must begin within five years after the January 1 following the damage. Homes rebuilt smaller than their original size follow a separate assessment rule.
Caregiving households can shelter together
People eligible for special-needs shelters can stay with people they care for. Their caregivers can also stay with them and others the caregivers care for. Florida Veterans' Affairs must give its special-needs clients or caregivers registration information every year. The state housing finance corporation must arrange agency agreements to provide registration information at its funded low-income senior and intellectual or developmental disability independent-living properties. Registration information alone does not guarantee shelter placement.
Limits on stricter post-hurricane rebuilding rules
For one year after hurricane landfall, covered local governments cannot propose or adopt specified building freezes or stricter development rules. Coverage requires a county in a federal disaster declaration, wholly or partly within 100 miles of the hurricane's track. Cities within those counties are also covered. Anyone seeking court orders to stop a violation must first give notice and 14 days to withdraw the action. Specified privately initiated or state-approved actions are exempt.
Lower rebuilding fees and storm fee protections
Local governments, school districts, and special districts cannot charge impact fees for qualifying replacement buildings. The replacement must keep the same land use and not increase demand on public facilities. A significant increase in size, intensity, or capacity allows only proportional fees tied to added demand and needed facilities. Separately, counties and cities in a declared hurricane or tropical-storm emergency area cannot raise building permit or inspection fees for 180 days.
Rebuilding protections after three named hurricanes
Until October 1, 2027, covered localities cannot impose specified building freezes or stricter development rules on hurricane-damaged property. This covers Debby, Helene, and Milton damage in their federally declared disaster counties and cities within them. Prohibited actions are void from August 1, 2024; applications initiated by private property owners are exempt. Residents and business owners can seek court relief, with reasonable attorney fees and costs for successful cases. After written notice, withdrawing a proposal within 14 days avoids fees, costs, and damages; adopted rules require repeal notice within 14 days and repeal within another 14 days.
Stronger rights for renters after damage
Tenants can end their lease and leave when casualty damage substantially harms the home's habitability. Tenants who leave only the damaged portion receive a rent reduction based on that portion's fair rental value. For substantial damage not caused by a tenant's wrongful or careless acts, landlords must also provide access to belongings. Landlords must allow collection when safe or give notice of a collection date within a reasonable time. Landlords' continuing duties still apply.
Changed rebuilding thresholds and flood rules
For work caused by a natural disaster under the Governor's emergency declaration, the renovated-building threshold is 75% of pre-disaster fair market value. Estimated renovation costs must exceed that amount to meet the definition. Other work keeps the threshold of costs exceeding 30% of assessed value. Separately, local governments in the National Flood Insurance Program cannot adopt or enforce substantial-improvement rules that add improvements together over time.
Easier storm rebuilding permits for owners
Each county and city must update its storm permitting plan and publish a recovery permit guide by May 1 annually. These cover staffing, service locations, faster permits, debris removal, permit requirements, fees, and fee relief where practicable. After a hurricane or tropical storm with a declared emergency, localities must publish storm-specific updates as soon as practicable. Directly affected localities must use their best efforts to reopen permitting services promptly after the storm, for at least 40 hours weekly. By May 1, 2026, they must offer online access to substantial-damage and substantial-improvement letters, with emailed copies available to homeowners.
More time to use wetland determinations
A Governor-declared natural emergency pauses the remaining time to use rights under an affected formal wetland-boundary determination. The pause lasts for the emergency, and the law adds another 24 months. Extensions for multiple natural emergencies cannot exceed 48 months total. This protection applies retroactively to January 1, 2023.
Local governments must prepare debris sites
Each Florida county and city must apply for state environmental approval of at least one debris management site. They must seek annual preapproval for previously approved sites as the agency allows. A city can apply with a county or adjacent city through a written agreement describing site capacity and location. The partners must approve that agreement annually during preapproval.
Local officials must strengthen storm readiness
Florida emergency officials must give local governments disaster-plan templates and guidance on agreements to share emergency help. They must set extra training hours every two years for local administrators, managers, emergency directors, and public-infrastructure officials. The division can provide training; approved nonprofit foundations with county commissioners and professional staff on their boards can train county personnel. Regional hurricane sessions are due annually by April 1, with each county emergency director or designee required to attend. By May 1 annually, counties and cities must post public emergency information, including shelter and supply lists, flood-zone links, recovery steps, and disability resources.
Shelter funding targets counties with shortages
Florida directs $3 million annually to public hurricane shelter construction and upgrades, not household payments. Priority goes to counties short on shelter space, publicly owned projects other than schools, and projects stretching state dollars. The state emergency plan must address adequate public shelter space in every county, rather than each region. By October 15 annually, emergency officials must submit a five-year shelter plan and recommended upgrades, prioritizing non-school public buildings. With health and disability agencies' help, the plan must identify special-needs shelter locations and space by county and estimate needs for people with developmental disabilities.
State agencies must coordinate hazard prevention
Florida emergency officials administer an agency group that shares natural-hazard information and coordinates ways to reduce harm. The group must meet at least quarterly, and agency heads must meet in person at least annually. Information about the group must appear on the division's website. Each January 1, the division must report progress and recommendations on prevention strategies, law changes, and funding to state leaders.
Guard members can provide medical care
Trained Florida National Guard members can provide medical care to military personnel and civilians in Florida. They must hold a military duty assignment, receive Guard authorization, and serve under the Guard's State Surgeon. Their care must stay within their professional license.
State must streamline federal disaster aid
Florida emergency officials must maximize available federal disaster aid and speed its distribution to state and local agencies. They must standardize Public Assistance applications and help applicants avoid compliance problems. The state emergency plan must also explain coordination and monitoring of statewide aid-sharing agreements eligible for federal reimbursement. Federal management-cost funds or other appropriated money can support this work; the law sets no amount.
Storm debris pickup depends on contracts
Private waste and debris providers do not have to collect storm-generated yard trash, debris, or waste unless their contracts require it. This applies when the storm is covered by a Florida environmental agency emergency order. Local governments can add storm-debris collection terms to existing agreements. Residents' pickup service therefore depends on local contracts.
Emergency vendors face contract breach penalties
Covered government contracts for natural-emergency response must include a $5,000 penalty plus damages for vendor breaches during recovery. This applies to contracts entered into, renewed, or amended on or after July 1, 2025. The recovery period lasts one year from the Governor's initial emergency declaration. Damages can be actual and consequential damages or an amount set in the contract.
Flood infrastructure owners must plan upkeep
Florida's environmental agency must submit its first Flood Inventory and Restoration Report to emergency officials by September 1, 2026. It must identify priority infrastructure, places with past or possible future flooding, upkeep schedules, and facilities prioritized for funding. Owners of listed priority infrastructure must submit inspection and maintenance schedules. The agency must review and update the report biannually, with updated reports due September 1 in reporting years.
Construction sites must secure hurricane equipment
Worksites with tower cranes or qualifying mobile cranes must have a hurricane preparedness plan available. Responsible parties must secure covered hoisting equipment at least 24 hours before expected hurricane impacts. They must follow manufacturer recommendations and equipment-specific safety requirements. Mobile cranes with booms under 25 feet or rated capacity below 15,000 pounds are excluded. Licensed people face discipline for intentional violations.
Keys housing permits prioritized but capped
Florida Keys evacuation planning raises the maximum clearance time for permanent residents from 24 to 24.5 hours. A professionally accepted, state-approved study includes Key West but excludes mobile-home residents from the permanent-resident calculation. The Department of Commerce must use evacuation modeling to set no more than 900 total building permit allocations over at least 10 years. Allocations depend on vacant buildable lots, with only one permit per parcel. Distribution must prioritize owner-occupied homes, affordable housing, and workforce housing.
Sponsors & Cosponsors
Sponsor
Nick DiCeglie
Republican • Senate
Cosponsors
Appropriations
Affiliation unavailable
Community Affairs
Affiliation unavailable
Roll Call Votes
Senate vote • 5/2/2025
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 34 • No: 1
House vote • 5/2/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 106 • No: 0
House vote • 4/29/2025
House Floor Vote
Yes: 115 • No: 1
Senate vote • 4/9/2025
Senate Floor Vote
Yes: 37 • No: 0
Senate vote • 4/2/2025
Appropriations Vote
Yes: 17 • No: 0
Senate vote • 3/11/2025
Community Affairs Vote
Yes: 7 • No: 0
Actions Timeline
Chapter No. 2025-190
6/30/2025Approved by Governor
6/26/2025Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
6/18/2025Ordered engrossed, then enrolled
5/2/2025SenateCS passed as amended; YEAS 106, NAYS 0
5/2/2025HouseAmendment 461112 Concur
5/2/2025HouseSenate Message List
5/2/2025HouseIn Messages
5/2/2025HouseCS passed as amended; YEAS 34 NAYS 1 -SJ 1120
5/2/2025SenateConcurred in 1 amendment(s) (392939) as amended -SJ 1120
5/2/2025SenateAmendment(s) to House amendment(s) adopted (461112) -SJ 1112
5/2/2025SenateIn returning messages
4/29/2025SenateCS passed as amended; YEAS 115, NAYS 1
4/29/2025HouseRead 3rd time
4/29/2025HouseAdded to Third Reading Calendar
4/29/2025HousePlaced on 3rd reading
4/29/2025HouseAmendment 392939 adopted
4/29/2025HouseRead 2nd time
4/29/2025House1st Reading (Engrossed 1)
4/28/2025HouseBill added to Special Order Calendar (4/29/2025)
4/28/2025HouseBill referred to House Calendar
4/28/2025HouseIn Messages
4/9/2025HouseImmediately certified -SJ 392
4/9/2025SenateCS passed as amended; YEAS 37 NAYS 0 -SJ 378
4/9/2025SenateRead 3rd time -SJ 378
4/9/2025Senate
Bill Text
er
6/26/2025
e2
5/5/2025
e1
4/9/2025
c2
4/4/2025
c1
3/13/2025
Filed
2/27/2025