This bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes related to impact fees, introducing new definitions and requirements for local governments when considering increases to these fees. It defines "plan-based methodology" as the use of recent and localized data to project growth and its impacts over a six-year period, and "extraordinary circumstances" as measurable effects of development that necessitate mitigation beyond current impact fee amounts. The bill mandates that a demonstrated-need study using plan-based methodology must be completed before any increase in impact fees can be adopted, and it prohibits such increases unless specific extraordinary circumstances are demonstrated.

Additionally, the bill outlines the criteria that must be met for local governments to increase impact fees, including holding public workshops and obtaining a two-thirds vote from the governing body. It specifies that increases in non-transportation impact fees require at least two of several listed extraordinary circumstances, while transportation impact fees require at least three. The bill also includes a provision that prevents local governments from increasing impact fees if they have not done so in the past five years, with exceptions for jurisdictions affected by hurricane disasters. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 482 c1: 212.055