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Studio 672026 Sine die report
florida's legislative Session is Over. The Impact Begins.
The 2026 Legislative Session has officially concluded, and counties across Florida are now preparing for the impacts of newly passed legislation. The Florida Association of Counties’ 2026 Sine Die Report provides a comprehensive overview of the key bills, budget decisions, and policy changes that affect county governments and local communities. This serves as a central resource where county leaders, staff, and partners can quickly find summaries, analysis, and important updates from the legislative session.
The following bill summaries were generated with the assistance of AI.
Passed 2026 legislative bills
From Bill to Law: What Counties Need to Know
Major Failed Bills
Mega-Developments Could Override Local Land-Use Rules Under New “Blue Ribbon Projects” Framework
SB 354 – Sen. Stan McClain (HB 299 – Rep. Lauren Melo)
Creates a state framework allowing extremely large developments (15,000+ acres) to proceed under a “Blue Ribbon Plan,” potentially overriding local comprehensive plans and zoning while reserving 60% of land for conservation or similar uses. Effective July 1, 2026.
Read more.
Ending County Local Business Taxes Across Florida
SB 122 – Sen. Jay Truenow (HB 103 – Rep. Adam Botana)
SB 122 repeals chapter 205, F.S., eliminating county authority to levy local business taxes and ending the local business tax receipt framework statewide. Counties could lose more than $50 million annually in revenue and would need to repeal related ordinances and administrative programs.
Read more.
Constitutional Term Limits Proposed for County Commissioners and School Board Members
HB 27 – Rep. Jeff Holcomb
HB 27 proposes a constitutional amendment limiting county commissioners and school board members to 12 consecutive years in office. After reaching the limit, officials must wait four years before running again. The proposal would appear on the 2026 general election ballot and requires 60% voter approval to take effect.
Read more.
Bill Would Let Businesses Sue Over Arbitrary County Enforcement
SB 588 – Sen. Stan McClain (HB 105 – Rep. Robert Brackett)
SB 588 by Sen. McClain creates a new process to challenge county, municipal, and special district enforcement actions, with attorney fees, damages, and injunctions available if a court finds the action arbitrary or unreasonable.
Read more.
Bill Would Bar Counties and Cities from Funding Most Florida Nonprofits
HB 605 – Rep. Kevin M. Steele
HB 605 by Rep. Kevin M. Steele would create s. 112.3662, F.S., to prohibit political subdivisions from using public funds for most Florida nonprofits, except rural hospitals. Counties could face major limits on nonprofit partnerships, grants, and contracted service delivery.
Read more.
State Pushes “Starter Home” Zoning Reforms Limiting Local Development Regulations
SB 948 – Sen. Stan McClain (HB 1143 – Rep. Danny Nix Jr.)
CS/SB 948 establishes the “Florida Starter Homes Act,” limiting local zoning regulations on residential lots and requiring streamlined approval processes for development permits. The bill expands allowable housing density and exposes local governments to potential litigation for noncompliance. Effective July 1, 2026.
Read more.
Counties Required to Consolidate 911 Systems into Single Command Center
HB 1427 – Rep. Danny Alvarez (SB 1586 – Sen. Nick DiCegliez)
HB 1427 requires counties to consolidate emergency dispatch into a single unified 911 call center, establishes governance and funding requirements, and makes the sheriff the default operator if local governments fail to reach agreement by 2027.
Read more.
State Preemption on Religious Gatherings and Local Business Regulations
SB 1444 – Sen. Jonathan Martin (HB 1227 – Rep. Vanessa Oliver)
SB 1444 preempts regulation of religious gatherings, mutual benefit corporations, and certain home-based business standards to the state. The bill restricts local zoning and parking regulations affecting religious services, limits local regulation of certain nonprofit entities, and reduces county authority over parking standards for home-based businesses.
Read more.
Failed bills
HB 0037 – Removal, Storage, and Cleanup of Electric Vehicles
HB 0053 – Rapid Rail Transit Compact
SB 0092 – Employee Protections
HB 0097 – Transportation Concurrency
HB 0101 – Utility Terrain Vehicles
HB 0103 – Local Business Taxes
HB 0111 – Antisemitism Task Force
SB 0122 – Local Business Taxes
HB 0139 – Adverse Personnel Actions and Ethics Complaints
HB 0149 – Maximum Millage Rates for the 2027-2028 Fiscal Year
HB 0193 – Utilities
SB 0200 – Utilities
HB 0201 – Elimination of Non-school Property Tax for Homesteads
HB 0205 – Non-School Property Tax Elimination for 65+ Homesteads
HB 0207 – Assessed Value Homestead Exemption (Non-School)
HB 0209 – Insurance-Based Homestead Exemption (Non-School)
HB 0211 – Accrued Save-Our-Homes Prop. Tax Benefit for Non-school Prop. Tax
HB 0213 – Modification of Limitations on Property Assessment Increases
HB 0215 – Ad Valorem Taxation
HB 0217 – Land Use Regulations
HB 0225 – Consumer Fairness in Utility Rates
HB 0239 – Standards for Storm Water Systems
SB 0240 – Auxiliary Containers
SB 0258 – Public Records/Medical Examiners
SB 0260 – Removal, Storage, and Cleanup of Electric Vehicles
HB 0263 – Public Records
SB 0270 – Homestead Property Exemption for Persons Age 65 or Older
SB 0272 – Homestead Exemption for Persons 65 and Older
SB 0274 – Homestead Property Tax Benefits for Long-term Owners
SB 0276 – Homestead Prop. Tax Benefits for Long-Term Owners
SB 0278 – Limitation on the Assessed Value of New Homestead Property
SB 0280 – Assessment of Homestead Property
SB 0282 – Small Business Commercial Property Assessment Cap
HB 0283 – School Zone and Pedestrian Safety
SB 0284 – Assessment of Property Owned and Used by Small Businesses
SB 0286 – Homestead Assessment of Improvements
HB 0313 – Housing
HB 0323 – Parking on Public Property
SB 0324 – Transportation Concurrency
SB 0330 – First Responders Disability Provisions
HB 0347 – Adoption and Display of Flags by Governmental Entities
SB 0356 – Utility Terrain Vehicles
SB 0378 – Special Districts
SB 0380 – Legal Notices
HB 0393 – Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans
SB 0426 – Adoption and Display of Flags by Governmental Entities
SB 0446 – Large-scale County Destination Marketing Organizations
SB 0450 – Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for Disabled Veterans
SB 0454 – Tourist Development Taxes
HB 0455 – Protection of Historic Monuments and Memorials
SB 0456 – Tourist Development Tax
SB 0458 – Tourist Development Tax
SB 0460 – Special Elections
HB 0479 – Land and Water Management
SB 0496 – Protection of Historic Monuments and Memorials
SB 0498 – School Zone and Pedestrian Safety
SB 0508 – Landscape Irrigation
HB 0519 – Golf Cart Crossings
HB 0521 – Fines for Violations Detected by Traffic Infraction Detectors
SB 0526 – Construction Regulations
HB 0539 – Code Inspector Body Cameras
HB 0543 – Transportation
HB 0545 – Watercraft Restrictions Based on Energy Source
SB 0550 – Prohibition on Levying Ad Valorem Taxes on Tangible Personal Prop.
SB 0552 – Prohibition on Levying Ad Valorem Taxes on Tangible Personal Prop.
SB 0558 – Standards for Stormwater Systems
HB 0575 – Auxiliary Containers
SB 0588 – Local Government Enforcement Actions
HB 0597 – Special Elections
SB 0602 – Watercraft Restrictions Based on Energy Source
HB 0605 – Prohibited Uses of Public Funds by Political Subdivisions
HB 0607 – Industries and Professional Activities
HB 0611 – Landscape Irrigation
HB 0617 – Assessment of Property Used for Residential Purposes
HB 0629 – Regulation of Auxiliary Containers
HB 0635 – Cybersecurity Standards and Liability
SB 0636 – Beach Management
SB 0650 – Local Business Taxes
SB 0652 – Mobile Homes
HB 0653 – Electric Vehicle Charging Taxation
HB 0669 – Public Mooring Fields
HB 0673 – Release of Conservation Easements
HB 0675 – Affordable Housing
SB 0680 – Electric Vehicle Charging Taxation
SB 0692 – Cybersecurity Standards and Liability
HB 0693 – Health & Human Services
HB 0699 – Design Professional Contracts
HB 0713 – Locations of Sheriffs’ Offices
SB 0718 – Water Management
HB 0739 – Disability Provisions for First Responders.
SB 0750 – Alternative Plans Review and Building Inspection
HB 0751 – Infrastructure and Resiliency
SB 0752 – Taxation of First-time Buyers
SB 0756 – Affordable Housing
HB 0759 – Court Fees
SB 0766 – Waste Management
SB 0770 – Public Records
HB 0787 – County and School District Ad Valorem Taxing Authority
HB 0789 – Ad Valorem Tax Levies
HB 0791 – Tax/Sales Taxes
HB 0793 – Assessment of Inherited Homestead Property
HB 0795 – Transfer of Homestead Property by Inheritance
SB 0798 – Locations of Sheriffs’ Offices
HB 0799 – Ad Valorem Tax Revenue in Fiscally Constrained Counties
SB 0804 – Electric Vehicle Registration Fees
HB 0819 – Medical Examiners’ Duties
HB 0827 – Disclosure of Estimated Ad Valorem Taxes
HB 0833 – Private School Facilities
SB 0842 – Local Government Official Salaries
HB 0853 – Mobile Home Park Regulations
HB 0855 – Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
SB 0856 – Disclosure of Estimated Ad Valorem Taxes
HB 0865 – Local Regulation of Drinking Straws and Stirrers
SB 0888 – Professional Services Contracts
HB 0903 – Assessed Value of Non-homestead Property
HB 0911 – Florida Building Code Construction Requirements
SB 0912 – Battery Collection and Recovery
SB 0932 – Ad Valorem Tax Revenue in Fiscally Constrained Counties
SB 0938 – Conservation Easements
SB 0940 – Municipal Water and Sewer Utility Rates, Fees, and Charges
SB 0948 – Local Government Land Development Regulations and Orders
HB 0957 – Deferred and Unpaid Taxes
SB 0958 – Local Regulation of Drinking Straws and Stirrers
SB 0968 – Home Backup Power Systems
HB 0981 – Tributaries of St. Johns River
HB 1009 – Gov. Agency Publication of Ads and Public Notices
HB 1011 – Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles Fees
SB 1018 – Deferred Compensation Plans for Public Employees
HB 1033 – Procedures for Discharging Persons to Avoid Homelessness
SB 1042 – Public Waters
HB 1049 – Building Permit Requirements
SB 1058 – Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
HB 1065 – Public Employee Housing Benefits
SB 1066 – Tributaries of the St. Johns River
HB 1067 – Battery Collection and Disposal
SB 1072 – Antisemitism Task Force
HB 1075 – Utilities
HB 1077 – Funding for Body Cameras
SB 1080 – Transportation
HB 1089 – Waste Facilities
HB 1095 – Clerks, Comptrollers & SOE Salaries
SB 1102 – Funding for Body Cameras
HB 1109 – Services During a State of Emergency
SB 1118 – Public Records/Data Centers
HB 1125 – Local Government Salaries and Benefits
HB 1129 – First Responders
HB 1131 – Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for Nonprofit Homes for the Aged
SB 1132 – Procedures for Discharging Persons to Avoid Homelessness
HB 0139 – Adverse Personnel Actions and Ethics Complains
HB 1143 – Local Government Land Development Regulations and Orders
SB 1164 – Gambling
HB 1165 – Certified Recovery Residences
HB 1167 – Advanced Wastewater Treatment
HB 1177 – Spaceport Operations and Space Florida
HB 1173 – Boating-restricted Areas
HB 1183 – Transportation Infrastructure Land Development Regulations
SB 1184 – Homestead Assessment Limitation Transfer
SB 1188 – Municipal Water and Sewer Utility Rates
HB 1189 – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Affirmative Action
HB 1193 – Residential Living Arrangements
SB 1196 – Waste Facilities
SB 1200 – Regulation of Public Swimming Pools and Bathing Places
SB 1208 – Sovereign Immunity of County Constitutional Officers in Tort Actions
SB 1210 – Transfer of Homestead Property by Inheritance
SB 1212 – Transfer of Homestead Property by Inheritance
HB 1233 – Transportation
SB 1218 – Building Requirements of Certain Structures
HB 1227 – Preemption to the State
SB 1238 – Residential Living Arrangements
HB 1251 – Expenditure of Public Funds by Local Governments
SB 1254 – Rapid Rail Transit Compact
HB 1257 – Tax/Documentary Stamp Tax to Fund Down Payment Assistance
HB 1259 – Trust Funds/Creation/First-time Homebuyer Assis. Program Trust Fund
SB 1260– Services During a State of Emergency
SB 1274 – Transportation
HB 1275 – Prohibition on Levying Ad Valorem Taxes on Tangible Personal Prop.
HB 1277 – Prohibition on Levying Ad Valorem Taxes on Tangible Personal Prop.
SB 1286 – First Responders
HB 1289 – Special Risk Class
SB 1290 – Recovery Residence Accountability and Protection Act
HB 1297 – Beach Management
HB 1303 – Department of Financial Services
SB 1304 – Special Risk Class
SB 1310 – Railroad Crossing Safety
HB 1317 – Protection of the Eastern Gulf Test and Training Range
SB 1320 – Tax Referenda
HB 1323 – Railroad Crossing Safety
SB 1342 – Transportation Infrastructure Land Development Regulations
SB 1350 – Affordable Housing Property Tax Exemptions
SB 1356 – Handling of Animals
HB 1365 – Right Turns at Intersections Using Traffic Infraction Detectors
SB 1386 – Blue-Green Algae Task Force Implementation
SB 1392 – Right Turns at Intersections Using Traffic Infraction Detectors
HB 1395 – Artificial Intelligence
SB 1406 – Constitutional Amendment Approval Threshold
HB 1411 – Assessment of Property with Decreasing Just Valuation
HB 1413 – Assessment of Property with Decreasing Just Valuation
SB 1420 – Local Utility Revenues
HB 1427 – Public Safety
SB 1430 – Ad Valorem Tax Exemption for Nonprofit Homes for the Aged
SB 1432 – Public Employee Housing Benefits
HB 1439 – Tax Referendums
SB 1444 – Preemption to the State
HB 1461 – Advanced Nuclear Reactors
SB 1468 – Advanced Wastewater Treatment
HB 1495 – Workforce Notice Requirements
SB 1512 – Space Florida
SB 1520 – Affordable Housing Property Tax Exemption
SB 1528 – Transferring Years of Creditable Service
HB 1545 – Homestead Tax Exemptions
SB 1572 – Department of Financial Services
SB 1584 – Senate Confirmation & Emergency Extension Approval
SB 1586 – Public Safety
SB 1598 – Elections
SB 1608 – Assessment of Property with Decreasing Just Valuation
SB 1610 – Assessment of Property with Decreasing Just Valuation
SB 1628 – Net-zero Policies by Governmental Entities
SB 1642 – Gender Identity Employment Practices
SB 1662 – Prohibited Preferences
SB 1696 – Advanced Nuclear Reactors
SB 1698 – Employer Notice Requirements
HB 6005 – Special Districts
HB 6007 – Tourist Development Taxes
HB 6027 – Homestead Assessment Limitation Transfer
SB 1696 – Advanced Nuclear Reactors
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.