The bill amends various sections of Florida Statutes to strengthen emergency preparedness and response measures, particularly in the wake of hurricanes. It authorizes the Department of Environmental Protection to waive or reduce local government match requirements for beach management projects in counties impacted by Hurricanes Debby, Helene, or Milton during the 2025-2026 fiscal year. Additionally, it establishes a tangible personal property assessment limitation for agricultural equipment rendered unusable due to these hurricanes and revises funding prioritization for public hurricane shelters to better allocate resources to areas with shelter deficits. The bill also creates a natural hazards risks and mitigation interagency coordinating group to enhance collaboration among state agencies and requires counties and municipalities to develop and annually update post-storm permitting plans and recovery guides.

Moreover, the bill introduces new provisions aimed at improving the management of construction and debris following hurricanes. It mandates adherence to specific elevation requirements related to substantial damage and improvements as per the National Flood Insurance Program and local building codes. Local governments are required to publish updates on permitting processes and fee waivers following a declared state of emergency, and they cannot increase building permit or inspection fees for 180 days post-emergency declaration. The bill also prohibits affected counties from imposing construction moratoriums or adopting more restrictive regulations until October 1, 2027, and encourages local governments to enhance their waste management contracts while applying for debris management site authorizations. Overall, the bill aims to streamline recovery efforts and improve Florida's emergency management framework.

Statutes affected:
S 180 Filed: 193.4518, 215.559, 250.375, 252.355, 252.3655, 252.373, 400.063, 403.7071