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Studio 67Leasehold Homesteads Clarified: Long-Term Residential Lessees Confirmed Eligible for Property Tax Exemption
SB 110 – Sen. Kristen Arrington (HB 227 – Rep. Patt Maney)
CS/SB 110 clarifies that residential lessees holding 98-year or longer leases qualify for Florida’s homestead exemption even if the lease ends upon the lessee’s death. The bill amends s. 196.041, F.S., confirming long-term leaseholders may be treated as equitable property owners for homestead tax purposes.
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Limits Local Government Special Assessments on RV Parks
SB 118 – Sen. Jay Truenow (HB 39 – Rep. Danny Nix Jr.)
The bill restricts how counties, municipalities, and special districts may levy special assessments on RV parks by capping square-footage-based assessments at 400 square feet per campsite and requiring consideration of park occupancy rates, potentially reducing local government assessment revenues.
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Florida Raises Local Government Tort Exposure Under Sovereign Immunity Bill
HB 145 – Rep. Fiona McFarland (SB 1366 – Sen. Jason Brodeur)
Florida legislation raises sovereign immunity tort caps from $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident to $350,000 and $500,000. The bill also revises claims procedures and litigation timelines, potentially increasing liability exposure and prompting counties to review insurance coverage, reserves, claims administration, and risk-management practices before the October 1, 2026 applicability date.
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Faster State Payments for Rural Special District Projects
SB 214 – Sen. Stan McClain (HB 273 – Rep. Chad Johnson)
The bill expands eligibility for expedited payments under state or federally funded agreements to certain special districts in rural communities and Rural Areas of Opportunity. It also revises the definition of “rural community” to allow qualifying special districts to participate in rural economic development funding programs.
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Counties Could Privately Strategize on Bert Harris Claims Before Litigation
HB 655 – Rep. Wyman Duggan (SB 332 – Sen. Jennifer Bradley)
CS/CS/HB 655 would let counties and other agencies privately meet with counsel during the Bert Harris Act’s 90-day notice period to discuss settlement strategy, subject to notice, transcription, and later disclosure rules. The bill passed both chambers and was ordered enrolled, with an effective date of July 1, 2026.
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Florida Targets Foreign Government Influence in Politics, Contracts, and Infrastructure
HB 905 – Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka (SB 1178 – Sen. Erin Grall)
The bill requires registration of agents linked to foreign countries of concern, restricts government contracts and IT procurement involving such entities, imposes ethics limits on public officials, and terminates certain international agreements. Counties must update procurement, vendor vetting, and compliance practices beginning July 1, 2026.
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State Would Take Over Naming of Florida’s Biggest Airports, Including Renaming Palm Beach International
HB 919 – Rep. Meg Weinberger (SB 706 – Sen. Debbie Mayfield)
HB 919 passed both chambers and would preempt airport naming to the state, rename Palm Beach International Airport, require updated government records, and likely create implementation costs for Palm Beach County.
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Traffic Violation Penalties Shifted to Support Court Clerks Funding
HB 925 – Rep. Dana Trabulsy (SB 1322 – Sen. Jonathan Martin)
CS/HB 925 increases reimbursement rates to clerks of court for certain filings and modifies the distribution of civil traffic violation penalties to provide clerks with a larger share of remaining funds. The legislation aims to stabilize clerk funding while reducing the portion of traffic penalty revenue distributed to municipalities.
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Florida Bill Would Bar County DEI Programs, Policies, and Related Contract Spending
SB 1134 – Sen. Clay Yarborough (HB 1001 – Rep. Dean Black)
CS/CS/SB 1134 would prohibit counties from funding or taking official DEI-related actions, void certain existing local policies, restrict related contracting and grant spending, authorize resident lawsuits, and take effect January 1, 2027.
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Local Budget Transparency Rules Advance New County Posting and Budget-Cut Requirements
HB 1329 – Rep. Mike Benarroch (SB 1566 – Sen. Nick DiCeglie)
HB 1329 would expand county budget-posting, data-access, and amendment-notice requirements and require a posted 10 percent budget-cut exercise before final adoption. It could increase county administrative and technology costs. The bill’s effective date is July 1, 2026.
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Florida Conforms State Corporate Tax Law to the 2026 Federal Tax Code
HB 7031 – Ways & Means Committee (SB 7046 – Finance and Tax Committee)
HB 7031 was amended to become an Internal Revenue Code conformity bill. It updates Florida corporate income tax references to federal law as of January 1, 2026, applies retroactively, and appears to have minimal direct impact on county governments.
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Presented by the Florida Association of Counties, this initiative helps Floridians understand what’s at stake when it comes to local decision-making, public services, and the everyday systems that keep our communities strong. It’s about protecting what works, preserving what matters, and ensuring Florida remains a place where freedom and local decision-making go hand in hand.