The bill amends Florida's administrative procedures law to enhance the rulemaking process for state agencies. It introduces a definition for "technical change," which encompasses non-substantive corrections like fixing citations or typographical errors. Agencies are now required to publish a notice of proposed rule within 90 days of the enabling legislation's effective date, while previous deadlines for drafting and proposing rules have been removed. The bill also establishes new requirements for incorporating materials by reference, mandating that these materials be submitted electronically and made publicly accessible. Additionally, it outlines procedures for rule adoption, including the need for agencies to provide specific information in notices and to publish them in the Florida Administrative Register within designated timeframes.

Moreover, the bill emphasizes the impact of proposed rules on small businesses, small counties, and small cities, requiring agencies to prepare a statement of estimated regulatory costs if a rule adversely affects these entities or is expected to increase costs beyond $200,000 within a year. It mandates timely communication regarding changes to proposed rules and clarifies the conditions for adopting emergency rules, including a maximum duration of 90 days unless specific conditions are met. Significant deletions from current law include the removal of specific deadlines for publishing notices, replaced with more flexible requirements, and the bill allows for ongoing corrections to the regulatory plan. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 108 Filed: 120.55