Emergencies

Created new section prohibiting impacted local governments from adopting moratoriums or restrictive regulations for one year after a hurricane makes landfall, with specific exceptions for applications initiated by private parties.

Required counties and municipalities to develop poststorm permitting plans, publish hurricane recovery guides, and maintain online options for receiving substantial damage letters by May 1, 2026.

Increased training hour requirements for emergency management personnel and added requirements for annual hurricane readiness sessions in each region.

Established a $5,000 penalty for vendors who breach emergency recovery contracts and created a new Flood Inventory and Restoration Report requirement for the Department of Environmental Protection.

Extended the maximum evacuation clearance time for permanent residents of the Florida Keys Area from 24.5 hours to 24 hours and required permit allocations to be distributed over at least 10 years.

Created new definitions for 'impacted local government' and 'emergency recovery period' to clarify applicability of new restrictions and protections.

Authorized civil actions for declaratory and injunctive relief against local governments that violate new hurricane restrictions, with provisions for attorney fees and summary procedures.

Added new sections for debris management site authorization, hoisting equipment security during hurricanes, and breach of contract penalties during emergency recovery periods.

Allows the Department of Environmental Protection to waive or reduce local government match requirements for beach management projects in counties affected by Hurricanes Debby, Helene, or Milton for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, expiring July 1, 2026.

Extends tangible personal property assessment limitation for agricultural equipment unable to be used due to Hurricanes Debby, Helene, or Milton to additional counties beyond those affected by Hurricane Idalia, with retroactive application to January 1, 2025.

Requires the Division of Emergency Management to conduct annual hurricane readiness sessions in each designated region by April 1, with mandatory attendance for county emergency management directors.

Creates new post-storm permitting plans for counties and municipalities, requiring annual updates and publication of recovery guides by May 1 each year.

Prohibits counties and municipalities within 100 miles of a hurricane track from increasing building permit or inspection fees for 180 days after emergency declaration.

Establishes a natural hazards risks and mitigation interagency coordinating group with quarterly meetings and annual progress reports to the Governor and Legislature.

Requires MS4 entities to conduct annual inspections of stormwater management systems and submit completed inspection checklists to the Department of Environmental Protection and Division of Emergency Management.

Requires the Division of Emergency Management to administer the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program with specific priorities for shelter space deficits, public infrastructure, and school facilities.

Revises the deadline for submitting the state comprehensive emergency management plan from October 1 of odd-numbered years to February 1 of even-numbered years.

Clarifies that the Florida Keys Area hurricane evacuation clearance time must be no more than 26 hours, up from 24 hours, for compliance with local comprehensive plan amendments.

Expanded tax assessment relief for agricultural equipment damaged by Hurricanes Debby, Helene, and Milton to include additional counties beyond those affected by Hurricane Idalia.

Created a new Natural Hazards Risks and Mitigation Interagency Coordinating Group to share information and coordinate efforts across state agencies on natural hazard risks.

Required counties and municipalities to develop post-storm permitting plans and publish storm recovery guides annually by May 1.

Prohibited counties and municipalities within 100 miles of a hurricane track from increasing building permit or inspection fees for 180 days after emergency declaration.

Reduced maximum evacuation clearance time for permanent residents in the Florida Keys Area from 26 hours to 24 hours.

Prohibited local governments from adopting lookback ordinances for substantial improvements that are more stringent than the Florida Building Code, with retroactive invalidation of pre-July 1, 2025 ordinances.

Required counties and municipalities to apply to the Department of Environmental Protection for authorization to designate at least one debris management site.

Changed the deadline for submitting the state comprehensive emergency management plan from October 1 of odd-numbered years to February 1 of even-numbered years.

Authorized residents and business owners to sue counties or municipalities that violate rebuilding restrictions, with entitlement to preliminary injunctions and attorney fees.

Authorized the Division of Emergency Management to retain up to 25% of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds for state use, with minimum 75% distributed to subrecipients.

Added tax assessment relief for agricultural equipment unable to be used due to Hurricanes Debby, Helene, or Milton, with retroactive application to January 1, 2025 for affected counties.

Requires all counties and municipalities to develop post-storm permitting plans with annual updates and publish recovery guides on their websites by May 1 annually.

Prohibits counties from imposing new building moratoriums or more restrictive regulations for 180 days after a state of emergency is declared for hurricanes or tropical storms.

Requires agency heads to notify the Governor and Division of Emergency Management of designated emergency coordination officers by May 1 each year, down from an unspecified date.

Mandates quarterly meetings of the Natural Hazards Risks and Mitigation Interagency Coordinating Group and annual in-person meetings of agency heads to strategize on state efforts.

Allows residents and business owners to sue counties or municipalities for declaratory and injunctive relief if they violate post-disaster building restrictions, with attorney fees available if the lawsuit succeeds.

Changed the deadline for submitting the state comprehensive emergency management plan from October 1 of odd-numbered years to February 1 of even-numbered years.

Authorizes the Division of Emergency Management to retain up to 25% of Hazard Mitigation Grant Program funds for state use, with at least 75% distributed to subrecipients in disaster-affected counties.