Rep. Susan Valdés

Trustee Settlement and Discharge; Authorizing a trustee to obtain a settlement of his or her accounts and be discharged under certain circumstances; requiring a trustee seeking settlement and discharge to send a trust disclosure document to specified persons; providing that a trustee is discharged upon completion of distributions or transfers if no timely written objections are received and is discharged from all liability and claims arising out of any matter disclosed in the trust disclosure document, etc.

Local Government Regulation of Chickees; Prohibits counties & municipalities, respectively, from enacting ordinance, regulation, or policy that prevents chickee from being constructed by certain persons in specified locations; prohibits counties & municipalities from enacting ordinance, regulation, or policy concerning chickees that is more restrictive than certain federal regulations; provides penalty for certain persons who construct chickees in attempt to assert exemption from Florida Building Code; exempts certain chickees from Florida Fire Prevention Code.

Conservation Lands; Requires Division of State Lands to publish certain information on its website before Acquisition & Restoration Council or Board of Trustees of Internal Improvement Trust Fund meets to review proposed sale of conservation lands; requires that certain parcels proposed for exchange be appraised in accordance with certain criteria; removes provisions requiring division to submit certain requests to Acquisition & Restoration Council for review; removes provisions requiring division to provide certain recommendations to board of trustees; requires division to publish certain information on its website before council or board of trustees meets to review proposed land exchange; requires division to submit certain requests to council for review & requiring council to provide recommendations to division in certain circumstances; requires division to provide certain recommendations to board of trustees in certain circumstances; requires governing board of water management district to publish certain information on its website before meeting to review proposed sale or exchange of certain lands.

Deductions for Certain Losses of Alcoholic Beverages; Authorizes distributor of vinous, spirituous, or malt beverages to make excise tax deduction in its monthly tax report for alcoholic beverages that have become unsellable through warehouse breakage, spoliation, evaporation, or expiration or that have become unfit for human consumption; requires distributors that distribute more than one type of alcoholic beverage to deduct their gross taxes for products according to those specified in specified manner; excludes extraordinary losses of vinous, spirituous, or malt beverages from such deductions; authorizes distributor to deduct actual gallonage of extraordinary loss.

Maddy summaryHB 249 designates the S.S. American Victory - a 1944 World War II merchant vessel now operating as a maritime museum in Tampa - as Florida's official state flagship, replacing the previous designation. The bill amends Florida Statutes to formally recognize this ship, which served in multiple conflicts and now functions as an educational and tourism site. This is a ceremonial designation with no new funding, regulations, or direct impact on residents or businesses, solely updating the state's symbolic representation. The change takes effect July 1, 2026.

Commercial Service Airports; Preempts naming of major commercial service airports to state; provides names for major commercial service airports; provides that renaming specified airport is subject to approval of FAA & execution of certain agreement; provides that such airport names continue to be valid under certain circumstances; requires DOT to annually review provisions naming major commercial service airports for certain purpose; requires DOT to provide certain notice to Legislature; provides requirements for such notice; requires that certain government records created on or after certain date use such airport names; specifies that airport names are branding designations; provides that political subdivision is in compliance with certain provisions under specified circumstances.

Parkinson's Disease Registry ; Requires physicians & advanced practice registered nurses to report certain information to Parkinson's disease registry; provides limited liability for physicians & advanced practice registered nurses under certain circumstances; requires President of Senate & Speaker of House of Representatives to each appoint one member to Parkinson's Disease Research Board; revises membership qualifications & terms; revises report requirements; requires Institute for Parkinson's Disease within University of South Florida, subject to appropriation, to establish & maintain statewide Parkinson's disease registry; provides requirements for such registry; requires institute to create & maintain Parkinson's disease registry-specific website; provides requirements for such website.

Recess Requirements for Middle School Students; Requires district school boards to provide specified amount of free-play recess each week to students in grades 6 through 8.

Maddy summaryHB 1549 increases penalties for driving under the influence (DUI) in Florida, directly affecting drivers convicted of DUI offenses. It raises fines (to $1,000-$2,000 for first offenses, $2,000-$3,000 for second offenses) and extends jail terms (to 6-9 months for first offenses, 9-12 months for second offenses). The bill also lengthens license revocation periods (to 180 days-5 years for first offenses, 5-7 years for second offenses) and requires ignition interlock devices for second-time offenders. Additionally, it adjusts reinstatement rules, mandating 12 months of sobriety, DUI program supervision, and restricted driving for those with revoked licenses.

Refrigerant Safety and Agricultural Continuity; Requires DACS to provide annual report to Legislature by specified date; authorizes DACS to coordinate with certain entities for specified purpose.