House Bill 1459 amends the My Safe Florida Home Program to shift its focus from hurricane mitigation to wind and flood mitigation. The bill introduces new provisions for conducting inspections, projects, and grants specifically related to wind and flood mitigation, while removing any references to hurricane mitigation. The Department of Financial Services is assigned the responsibility of contracting with flood certification entities to perform these inspections and is required to establish eligibility criteria for homeowners seeking assistance. The bill sets maximum state contributions for mitigation grants at $10,000 for wind mitigation and $20,000 for flood mitigation, with the latter amount being a lifetime cap for each home and homeowner.

The legislation also outlines specific requirements for homeowners to qualify for inspections and grants, emphasizing that homes must be owner-occupied and meet certain insurance criteria. It prioritizes grant applications for low-income individuals and those with previous flood insurance claims, while mandating the use of licensed contractors for mitigation work. The bill includes a structured timeline for accepting applications, allows homeowners to certify their eligibility through a signed statement, and requires grant recipients to complete construction and request inspections within one year. Additionally, it appropriates $200 million for mitigation grants and $5 million for public outreach and administrative costs for the 2025-2026 fiscal year, while establishing a quality assurance program and requiring annual reporting on the program's activities and financial impacts. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
H 1459 Filed: 215.5586