House Bill 281 amends various sections of the Florida Statutes concerning local government code enforcement, particularly focusing on the roles of code enforcement boards and special magistrates. Key provisions include the authorization for counties and municipalities to designate special magistrates to oversee code violations, the ability to assess administrative fees, and the requirement for enforcement boards to record original orders in public records. The bill also revises definitions related to "special magistrate" and "repeat violation," and clarifies procedures for notifying alleged violators and conducting hearings. Additionally, it reduces the timeframe for certified mail notifications from 30 days to 15 days, with stipulations for posting notices if no acknowledgment is received.

The bill further introduces new requirements for the use of body cameras by code inspectors, mandating local governments to establish policies for their use, maintenance, and data storage, along with ensuring proper training for personnel. It also increases penalties for crimes against code inspectors, reclassifying aggravated battery and aggravated assault against them to higher felony levels. The offense severity ranking chart is amended to reflect these changes, demonstrating a stronger legal approach to protecting code inspectors. The act is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 281 Filed: 162.01, 162.02, 162.03, 162.05, 162.07, 162.08, 162.10, 784.083