The bill amends Florida Statutes to establish a process for certifying certain parcels of land as agricultural enclaves, allowing owners to apply to local governments for this designation. It mandates that local governments provide a written report on the application within 30 days and hold a public hearing to approve or deny the certification within another 30 days. If the local government fails to act within 90 days, the parcel is automatically certified. The bill also stipulates that if an application is denied, the local government must provide a written decision with findings of fact, and the applicant has the right to seek judicial review. Additionally, it allows for the development of certified agricultural enclaves for commercial, industrial, or single-family residential purposes under certain conditions, while prohibiting local governments from imposing more burdensome regulations on these enclaves compared to other applications.

The bill revises the definition of "agricultural enclave" to include specific criteria regarding ownership, continuous agricultural use, and surrounding development. It also introduces new provisions that require local governments to treat agricultural enclaves as if they are within urban service districts and to enter into written agreements with owners regarding development plans. Notably, the bill removes previous provisions related to amendments to local government comprehensive plans for agricultural enclaves. The amendments made by this act will expire on January 1, 2028, reverting the text to its previous state, with certain exceptions for other amendments. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
H 691 Filed: 163.3162, 163.3164
H 691 c1: 163.3162, 163.3164
H 691 c2: 163.3162, 163.3164