The bill amends several sections of Florida Statutes concerning local government land regulation, particularly focusing on the processing of development permit applications and the imposition of fees by school districts and local governments. It mandates that counties and municipalities specify the minimum information required for certain applications and establishes strict timeframes for processing these applications. If a county fails to meet these deadlines, it is required to issue refunds to applicants based on the length of the delay. The bill introduces the term "substantive change" to define significant alterations in application proposals and outlines conditions for resetting timeframes. Additionally, it prohibits school districts from collecting certain fees unless they meet specified requirements and revises the voting threshold for local governments to approve impact fee increases, which must now be implemented in increments.

Moreover, the bill revises the process for adopting comprehensive plan amendments, requiring local governments to transmit amendments and supporting data to reviewing agencies within ten working days after adoption. It establishes stricter timelines for public hearings and mandates that amendments be deemed withdrawn if not acted upon within specified timeframes. The bill clarifies the definitions of "development permit" and "development order," prohibits municipalities from requiring state or federal permits as a condition for local development permits unless previously denied, and emphasizes that the issuance of a development permit does not guarantee the applicant's ability to secure necessary state or federal permits. A disclaimer will be included with development permits, informing applicants that all applicable state or federal permits must be obtained before development begins. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1080 Filed: 125.022, 166.033
S 1080 c1: 125.022, 163.3162, 163.3164, 166.033
S 1080 e1: 125.022, 166.033
S 1080 e2: 125.022, 553.80, 166.033
S 1080 er: 125.022, 553.80, 166.033