Becker’s State Lobbying Update – Week 2: January 19th-23rd, 2026
Hot Topic
“Property Tax Elimination”
The Florida House of Representatives presented eight (8) proposals relating to the elimination of Property Taxes. All eight proposals passed out of their first committee of reference, House Select Committee on Property Taxes. Four proposals have moved forward and were heard in two committees of reference and are now waiting to be heard in their final committee, Ways and Means. Two proposals, HJR 209 by Representative Busatta and HJR 203 by Representative Miller, have passed all committees of reference. The next stop for these two bills would be the House floor.
HJR 203 – Phased Out Elimination of Non-School Property Tax for Homesteads by Representative Miller
HJR 203 by Representative Miller proposes an amendment to the Florida Constitution to increase the second homestead exemption for ad valorem taxes that currently applies to the assessed value of homestead properties between $50,000 and $75,000, by adding $100,000 per year to this exemption for ten years. Beginning in 2037, the entire assessed value of homestead properties would be exempt from all ad valorem taxes other than school taxes. The Joint Resolution also proposes a new section of the Florida Constitution prohibiting local governments from reducing funding for services provided by law enforcement, firefighters, and first responders below a specified base year. HJR 203 passed its final committee of reference, Ways and Means Committee by a vote of 10-6.
Community Affairs
HB 657 – Community Associations by Representative Porras
HB 657 by Representative Porras, requires homeowners’ associations (HOAs) to include “Kaufman” language in governing documents, which effectively subjects an HOA to Florida’s current community laws and any future enactments. The bill creates the Homeowners’ Association Dissolution and Accountability Act under which an HOA may be terminated by a plan of termination that meets certain requirements specified in the bill. In addition, the bill specifies that upon the dissolution of an HOA, its governing documents which are recorded in the official records of the county are deemed terminated and unenforceable. Lastly, the bill creates a community association court program that will have jurisdiction over disputes arising under the Condominium Act, Cooperative Act, or Homeowner’s Association Act. HB 657 passed the House Housing, Agriculture, & Tourism Subcommittee with a vote of 16-0 and now moves to the House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee.
Construction
SB 840 – Land Use Regulations for Local Governments Affected by Natural Disasters by Senator DiCeglie
HB 1465 – Restrictions on Local Government Regulations After a Hurricane by Representative Andrade
SB 840 by Senator DiCeglie amends provisions in SB 180, that passed in the 2025 legislative session, regarding restrictions on local government power to regulate land use following hurricanes. SB 840 narrows the geographic area subject to SB 180’s restrictions and revises them to clarify the circumstances in which they will be enforced. The bill shortens the timeline that specified counties may enact new land use restrictions and moves the expiration date from 2028 to 2026. In addition, the bill reduces the number of impacted local governments by redefining the term to include only counties located partially or entirely within 50 miles, instead of 100 miles, of the track of a hurricane listed in a federal major disaster declaration. Also, the bill prohibits enforcing something that would delay hurricane-related repairs or reconstruction, requiring those repairs to comply with regulations following the hurricane, or imposing new procedures that extend approval timelines. Lastly, the bill permits local governments to request proof of hurricane damage but removes prior provisions for relief against them. SB 840 passed the Judiciary Committee by a vote of 9-0 and now moves to the Senate Rules Committee.
Education
SB 320 – Administrative Efficiency in Public Schools by Senator Simon
HB 1321 – Educational Facilities by Representative Conerly
SB 320 by Senator Simon streamlines administrative processes for school districts by reducing regulations, increasing flexibility in policymaking, and enhancing financial and facilities management. The bill eliminates certain school district requirements. The bill requires the State Board of Education to provide a timeline for approving school turnaround plans and for the release of Title I funding. In addition, the bill exempts school boards from Administrative Procedures Act rulemaking requirements, while maintaining requirements for public input and transparency. Also, the bill expands district school board discretion in allocating Title I funding and clarifies that charter schools can access services or programs funded by Title I. Lastly, the bill requires the Department of Education to provide district school boards with annual guidance on statutory and rule-based requirements. SB 320 passed the Senate with a vote of 36-0.
HB 1071 – Education by Representative Trabulsy
HB 1071 by Representative Trabulsy gives the commissioner of education the authority to remove instructional materials of a publisher if the company doesn’t follow state law on content, marketing, and distribution of the materials. The bill requires instruction on embryonic development, including the use of a computer-generated video that would be selected by the Board of Education. The bill prohibits school dollars from being used for political activism or to discriminate based on race, sex, national origin, disability, or religion. The bill reinforces parental rights, strengthens student health and safety, keeps education dollars focused on students, strengthens early learning accountability, and improves oversight of scholarship and instructional programs. HB 1071 passed the House Student Academic Success Subcommittee with a vote of 12-5 and now heads to the House PreK-12 Budget Subcommittee.
Government
SB 998 – Department of Commerce by Senator Yarborough
HB 741 – Department of Commerce by Representative Owen
SB 998 by Senator Yarborough consolidates the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program under the Department of Commerce, revises definitions and requirements for rural communities, and strengthens enforcement of E-Verify and unauthorized alien employment provisions. The bill provides an exemption from land being reverted to the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund if the land conveyance is less than the appraised value for government agencies. The bill revises the definition of rural community. The bill repeals provisions that establish and govern the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program. The bill requires employers using the E-Verify system to maintain E-Verify results showing each employee is authorized to work. SB 988 passed the Commerce and Tourism Committee by a vote of 6-4 and now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development.
Healthcare
HB 301 – Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Autonomous Practice by Representative Shoaf
SB 138 – Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Autonomous Practice by Senator Truenow
HB 301 by Representative Shoaf authorizes psychiatric nurses registered for autonomous practice to engage in the practice of psychiatric mental health services, as determined by the Board of Nursing, without an established physician protocol. HB 301 removes the current restriction that psychiatric nurses can only practice autonomously in primary care services. The bill will eliminate the cost of supervision for autonomous psychiatric nurses, which may increase access to care and reduce health care costs. HB 301 passed the Health & Human Services Committee by a vote of 18-5.
HB 327 – Uterine Fibroid Research Database by Representative Dunkley and Representative Valdes
SB 196 – Uterine Fibroid Research Database by Senator Sharief
HB 327 by Representatives Dunkley and Valdes requires a healthcare provider to submit identified Uterine Fibroid data to the Department of Health for inclusion in the Uterine Fibroid Research Database. HB 327 also adds Uterine Fibroids to the list of infectious or noninfectious diseases of public health significance, which requires health care providers to submit identified uterine fibroid data to DOH for epidemiological research purposes. HB 327 passed the Health Care Budget Subcommittee by a vote of 12-0 and now heads to the Health & Human Services Committee.
CS/SB 340 – Human Trafficking Training for Nursing Students by Senator Harrell
CS/HB 303 – Human Trafficking Training for Nursing Students by Representative Bartleman
SB 340 and HB 303 by Senator Harrell and Representative Bartleman requires that nursing programs in the state of Florida have a two-hour course in human trafficking to make this part of Florida nursing programs. SB 340 requires graduates of professional and practical nursing programs to complete a two-hour course on human trafficking to be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX), a prerequisite for full licensure. SB 340 passed the Senate Health Policy Committee with a vote of 11-0 and now heads to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services. HB 303 passed the House Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee with a vote of 17-0 and now heads to the House Careers & Workforce Subcommittee.
Justice
HB 413 – Attorney Fees, Suit Money, and Costs by Representative Gottlieb
SB 644 – Attorney Fees, Suit Money, and Costs by Senator Grall
HB 413 by Representative Gottlieb amends attorney fee provisions for dissolution of marriage, support, time-sharing, and determination of percentage proceedings. The bill expressly authorizes a court to award appellate attorney fees, within specified parameters. The bill specifies when a court must not award attorney fees to a non-compliant party in an enforcement action and may assess attorney fees against an offender in a criminal contempt proceeding. The bill specifies that attorney fees may be awarded retroactively and prospectively as equity requires and clarifies that the total attorney fee award may include any attorney fees incurred in pursuing the award. The bill authorizes a court, in determining entitlement to and the amount of an attorney fee award, to consider whether either party rejected a good faith settlement offer and authorizes a court to award attorney fees or deny or modify an attorney fee award if a party engaged in vexatious or bad faith litigation. The bill specifies that the relief provided by the bill is cumulative as to all other relief available. HB 413 passed the House Judiciary Committee with a vote of 21-0.
Taxes
HB 103 – Local Business Taxes by Representative Botana
SB 650 – Local Business Taxes by Senator Bernard
HB 103 by Representative Botana removes the ability of local governments to impose a local business tax. It is estimated that the bill will not impact state government revenues. The bill permits those already imposing a gross receipts-based merchant tax to continue doing so and revises the definition of the term merchant. HB 103 passed the Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee by a vote of 10-6 and now moves to the House State Affairs Committee.
HJR 213 – Modification of Limitations on Property Assessment Increases by Representative Griffitts Jr.
HJR 213 by Representative Griffitts Jr. proposes an amendment to Article VII, Section 4 of the Florida Constitution to provide that changes in assessments for individual properties will only occur once every three years for ad valorem taxes levied by counties, cities, and special districts instead of each year. The bill states that assessments for homestead properties will be limited to 3 percent or the change in inflation over the 3 years, whichever is lower. Assessments of non-homestead property will be limited to 15 percent over three years, instead of 10 percent each year. The bill proposes a new Section 7 of Article VIII of the Florida Constitution to prohibit local governments from reducing funding for law enforcement firefighters and first responders services below a specified base year. HJR 213 passed the House State Affairs Committee with a vote of 17-7 and now heads to the House Ways & Means Committee.
SB 214 – Special District Funding by Senator McClain
HB 273 – Special District Funding by Representative Johnson
SB 214 by Senator McClain and HB 273 by Representative Johnson expand the eligibility of special districts for financial assistance in rural communities. The bill allows state agencies to pay invoices directly to certain special districts under financial hardship provisions when these districts are located within a rural county. In addition, the bill adds special districts to the statutory definition of the term rural community. This enables them to receive benefits and programming offered to rural counties. SB 214 passed the Commerce and Tourism Committee by a vote of 10-0 and now heads to the Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development. HB 273 passed the House Housing, Agriculture, & Tourism Subcommittee by a vote of 15-0 and now heads to the House State Affairs Committee.
Technology
SB 482 – Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights by Senator Leek
HB 1395 – Artificial Intelligence by Representative Rizo
SB 482 by Senator Leek creates the “Artificial Intelligence Bill of Rights” to provide that Floridians are entitled to certain rights with respect to the use of artificial intelligence. SB 482 provides definitions and defines “artificial intelligence” to mean an engineered or machine-based system that varies in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the input it receives how to generate outputs that influence physical or virtual environments. In addition, the bill mandates transparency and parental consent for minors through the use of companion chatbots. A companion chatbot must provide certain disclosures to an account holder, as well as remind the account holder to take a break, and that the companion chatbot is artificially generated and not human. SB 482 passed the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee with a vote of 10-0 and now heads to Senate Appropriations.
Utilities
SB 484 – Data Centers by Senator Avila
HB 1517 – Approval of Data Center Facilities by Representative Joseph
SB 484 by Senator Avila revises Florida law regarding the regulation of large-scale data centers and certain large electricity users. The bill specifies that agencies may not enter into non-disclosure agreements or other contracts restricting the agency from disclosing information about a potential data center development to members of the public. The bill maintains the authority of local governments to exercise the powers and responsibilities for comprehensive planning and land development regulation granted by law with respect to large load customers. The bill requires the Public Service Commission to develop minimum large load tariff requirements for public electric utilities. The tariff requirements must reasonably ensure that large load customers pay for their own cost of service and that the general body of rate payers do not bear the risk of non-payment of such cost. The bill prohibits public electric utilities from providing service to large load facilities owned or controlled by foreign countries of concern. The bill establishes a distinct large-scale data center consumptive use permit, permit requirements, and application process. Large-scale data centers seeking consumptive use permits may see an increase in costs relating to the application process and additional permitting requirements authorized by this bill. SB 484 passed the Senate Regulated Industries Committee by a vote of 8-0 and now moves to the Senate Community Affairs Committee.
