The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes concerning the management and rehabilitation of brownfields, specifically removing the requirement for property owners to provide information about institutional controls to local governments and eliminating local government mapping requirements. It mandates that sites receiving a site rehabilitation completion order without institutional controls be removed from the registry of contaminated sites. Additionally, the bill revises the conditions for claiming tax credits for rehabilitating contaminated sites, including setting a timeframe for application submissions and adjusting eligibility criteria. New definitions for "brownfield" and "brownfield site" are introduced, and the legislative intent regarding the rehabilitation and redevelopment of contaminated sites is clarified, with a focus on facilitating redevelopment efforts.

Moreover, the bill establishes eligibility criteria and liability protections for individuals and local governmental entities that have not contributed to contamination on or after July 1, 2025. It allows potential brownfield sites under federal enforcement actions to participate in the program if they secure necessary letters of no objection from the EPA and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The language regarding remediation obligations is modified, replacing "no further action letter" with "site rehabilitation completion order." The bill also includes provisions for economic development tax exemptions for businesses in brownfield areas and establishes a Center for Brownfield Rehabilitation Assistance at the University of South Florida to conduct research on brownfield rehabilitation, with the act set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 736 Filed: 376.78, 196.1995, 288.1175
S 736 c1: 376.78, 196.1995, 288.1175
S 736 c2: 376.78, 196.1995, 288.1175