Becker’s State Lobbying Update – Week 8: March 2nd-6th, 2026
Welcome to Becker’s Weekly Spotlight! As your trusted lobbyists we are proud to provide the latest developments in politics and policy in Tallahassee. Here is what happened in Tallahassee Week (March 2-6) of the 2026 Legislative Session.
Top Trending Topics
- 50 – Day Drill Down
- House Approves Tax Cut Package
- Budget Not Budging as Session Nears End
- Governor’s Bill Activity
50- Day Drill Down
As of March 3, 2026, we’ve officially hit the 50-day mark of the 2026 Session. So far, 40 bills have passed both chambers and seven are awaiting a decision by Governor DeSantis. Currently, there are 210 general bills that have passed in at least one chamber. Legislative proposals can’t be considered dead until the Legislature adjourns sine die; however, after the 50th day of session it is unlikely that any bill not heard in at least one Senate committee, per Senate Rule 2.9, will become law. The only committee that is allowed to meet after the 50th day is Senate Rules. There are 1,577 total general bills filed in each chamber. There are 526 bills that are still in play meaning they have made it through the committee process or are on the agenda for their final committee stop or have been placed on the Calendar, are on Special Order, are “In Messages”, or have been Enrolled.
With only ten (now seven) days left in the 60-day regular legislative session, we will continue to monitor the movement of bills, the beginning of budget conference negotiations, and whether the Legislature will adjourn as expected on Friday, March 13, 2026.
House Approves Tax Cut Package
On Thursday, March 5, 2026, the House approved the annual tax package aimed at reducing costs for outdoor enthusiasts, gun owners and buyers of America-made beer. HB 7031 by Ways & Means Committee passed the House by a vote of 105-2. The bill revises multiple tax provisions for sales and property taxes. The bill also reduces the tax on slot machine revenue, removes a slot machine licensing fee, temporarily reduces excise taxes on domestic beer and exempts flood insurance policies by surplus lines providers for three years. The bill would suspend sales taxes on firearm accessories such as holsters, magazines, muzzle devices, sights and suppressors during the 2026-27 fiscal year. Lastly, the bill would revive last year’s hunting, fishing and camping sales tax holiday from Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, covering items such as tents and fishing rods, as well as guns, ammunition, bows and crossbows. It would also move the back-to-school tax holiday to July 20 through Aug. 20 and suspend certain taxes on American-made beer for the full fiscal year, which begins July 1. HB 7031 passed the Senate on Friday, March 6, 2026 by a vote of 34-0.
Budget Not Budging as Session Nears End
There is one week remaining in the 2026 Regular Legislative Session and members have yet to begin formal negotiations on the state budget. Leadership has not agreed on allocations and there are serious concerns about whether the spending plan will be completed before session is set to end. The House and Senate spending plans remain roughly $1.4 billion apart, with the House proposing a $113.6 billion budget and the Senate proposing a $115 billion budget. Without a deal by March 10, members would miss the deadline for the constitutionally required 72-hour “cooling off” period needed to finish the session on time. A scenario like the 2025 Legislative Session, where budget disagreements pushed the regular 60-day Session to 105-days in total. The 2026 Session is scheduled to end on Friday, March 13th and the 2026-27 fiscal year begins July 1.
Bills Discussed this Week
Construction
Blue Ribbons Projects
HB 299 by Representative Melo creates a framework for a new type of planned community referred to as a “blue ribbon project” (BRP) that is intended to balance environmental stewardship with the need for development to provide for future growth. The bill designates at least 60% of project land as reserve areas for conservation, agricultural, or other public benefit uses and permits up to 40% for development with mixed residential and commercial uses. It also requires a minimum of 20% of residential units in each phase be affordable or missing-middle housing or reserved for participants in the Florida Hometown Hero Program. The bill permits local governments to adopt the blue-ribbon plan by a site-specific text amendment, incorporating the project into the comprehensive plan and future land use map. Lastly, the bill also provides an appeal procedure if denied approval of BRP. HB 299 passed its final committee, House State Affairs Committee, by a vote of 21-5. It has now been placed on the calendar for 2nd reading.
Its Senate companion, SB 354 by Senator McClain, passed its final committee, Senate Rules, by a vote of 12-10, after being amended to create new standards for large-scale “blue ribbon projects” to balance environmental conservation and economic development. The amendment requires at least 15,000 contiguous acres, with at least 60% reserve area and up to 40% development areas as well as providing local governments with approval via two public hearings and presumes plan compliance. SB 354 was read a 2nd time in the Senate on Thursday, March 5, 2026, where an amendment was adopted that states that development areas may not contain data centers. The bill was temporarily postponed on 3rd reading.
Land Use and Development Regulations
HB 399 by Representative Borrero makes changes concerning land use and development regulations. SB 399 requires application fees for development permits and orders. The bill also requires each local government’s comprehensive plan and land development regulations to include factors for assessing compatibility of residential uses, as well as establishing requirements for examining an application for development for compatibility. The bill requires the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to conduct a study to identify the effect of removing the Urban Development Boundary in Miami-Dade County and other counties. HB 399 passed its final committee, House State Affairs, by a vote of 16-10. Recently, three amendments have been filed but have not been heard. The first amendment filed would prohibit denying building permits for manufactured housing on certain mobile home or RV park lots and clarifies related obligations. The second amendment filed narrows the definition of impacted local governments and restricts new local land use regulations or moratoriums following hurricanes. The third amendment removes specified lines and modifies the title to reference “special exception or variance,” amending a section of the statute 163.3194. The bill was heard on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, and the first amendment was adopted. The bill passed the House by a vote of 71-38 and has now been referred to Senate Rules.
Its Senate companion, SB 208 by Senator McClain, facilitates residential development by making the development permit and development order application process less costly. It will be difficult for local governments to deny applications due to lack of compatibility by requiring them to issue specific and objective reasons for such denials. SB 208 amends two statutes regulating how local governments review development permit and development order applications to address application fees. It also amends a statute addressing the legal status of the comprehensive plan to incorporate several compatibility-related requirements. Additionally, the bill amends a statute to provide that a manufactured home may be placed on any lot in a recreational vehicle park, rather than only on a mobile home lot in a recreational vehicle park. Lastly, the bill amends a statute to provide that an off-site constructed residential dwelling must be permitted as of right in any zoning district where single-family detached dwellings are allowed. The bill passed its final committee, Senate Rules, and has now been placed on the calendar for 2nd reading but has not been scheduled.
Government
Foreign Influence
HB 905 by Representative Persons-Mulicka establishes a framework to limit foreign influence by foreign countries of concern and designated terrorist organizations across government operations. The bill prohibits the acceptance of gifts or contributions from FCOCs and requires agents working with FDOCs to register and disclose their activities and funding. The bill also prohibits public officers and employees from accepting gifts from FCOCs and restricting government contracting and procurement involving foreign sources of concern. Lastly, the bill creates new criminal offenses and penalty enhancements related to foreign influence. On 2nd reading two amendments were adopted. The first requires technology to be incapable of remote access or control and allow the department to identify violating technology. The second amendment prohibits preplanned adoption agreements and gestational surrogacy contracts involving parties from designated foreign countries of concern. HB 905 passed the House by a vote of 86-20 and has now been referred to Senate Rules.
Its Senate companion, SB 1178 by Senator Grall, passed its final committee, Senate Appropriations by a vote of 11-5 and is now eligible to be heard on the Senate floor.
Housing
Affordable Housing
SB 1548 by Senator Calatayud makes a variety of changes regarding the Live Local Act, passed during the 2023 Regular Session to require the authorization of certain affordable housing developments by local governments under certain conditions. The bill requires counties and municipalities to allow multifamily or mixed-use residential projects on property owned by a county, municipality, or school district if at least 40 percent of the units are affordable for at least 30 years. It prohibits local governments from restricting building heights and from imposing more stringent setbacks or stepbacks for these developments beyond what is already allowed. Additionally, the bill expands the definition of “person” in housing discrimination laws to include governmental entities and agencies. Lastly, the bill waives sovereign immunity for state entities in legal actions involving discriminatory housing practices. SB 1548 passed its final committee, Senate Rules, on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, by a vote of 21-0. It has now been placed on the Special- Order calendar for Friday, March 6, 2026, however, it was temporarily postponed.
Its House companion. HB 1389 by Representative Redondo proposes to eliminate the authority to opt out of the “Missing Middle” property tax exemption. Its been placed on the Special-Order calendar for Wednesday, March 4, 2026, where it passed by a vote of 76-29. It has now been referred to Senate Rules.
Local Government
Official Actions of Local Governments
SB 1134 by Senator Yarborough prohibits counties and municipalities from funding, promoting, or taking official actions such as adopting ordinances, resolutions, rules, regulations, programs, or policies, related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). It also prohibits a county or municipality from expending any funds, regardless of the source, to establish, support, sustain, or staff a DEI office or officer. Additionally, the bill provides that a member of a county or municipal governing body acting in his or her official capacity who violates the prohibitions commits misfeasance or malfeasance in office. It also prohibits counties and municipalities from allowing their funds to be used by employees, contractors, and others to promote DEI initiatives. Lastly, the bill allows for an action to be brought by a resident against a county or municipality that violates the bill’s provisions. An amendment was filed that would prohibit local governments from funding or enforcing DEI programs, void existing measures, penalize officials, and specify exceptions. An additional amendment was filed prohibiting local governments from adopting or funding certain diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and provides penalties. The amendments will be discussed on the Senate floor as SB 1134 has been placed on the Special-Order calendar for Wednesday, March 4, 2026.
Its House companion, HB 1001 by Representative Black, prohibits counties and municipalities from funding, promoting, or taking any official action, such as the adoption or enforcement of ordinances, resolutions, rules, regulations, programs, and policies, relating to diversity, equity, and inclusion after June 30, 2027. However, the bill allows a county or municipality to authorize or permit, in a content-neutral manner, civic and community events so long as certain requirements are met. It is required for a potential recipient of a county or municipal contract or grant to certify that he or she will not use county or municipal funds for diversity, equity, and inclusion materials. HB 1001 passed its final committee, House Commerce, by a vote of 14-7 and is now eligible to be heard on the House floor.
Impact Fees
HB 1139 by Representative Gentry revises Florida’s impact fee framework by imposing new substantive and procedural constraints on how local governments, school districts, and special districts calculate, justify, and increase impact fees. The bill implements new requirements for local governments seeking to increase impact fee rates beyond the base phase-in limitations due to extraordinary circumstances based on a demonstrated-need study. The bill requires the demonstrated-need study to use a plan-based methodology and local data that reflects the differences in area costs and modality of projects between urban, emerging urban, and rural area costs, as relevant. Additionally, the bill prohibits a local government, school board, or special district from increasing its impact fee rate beyond the phase-in limitations if the entity has not increased its impact fee within five years as well as increasing its impact fee rate by more than 100 percent divided equally over a four-year period. Lastly, the bill provides that certain interlocal agreements for mitigating transportation impact entered on or before October 1, 2024, may not be extended beyond October 1, 2031. HB 1139 has been placed on the Special-Order calendar for Wednesday, March 4, 2026, where it passed by a vote of 109-2 and has now been referred to Senate Rules.
Its Senate companion, SB 548 by Senator McClain is in its second committee, Senate Finance and Tax, with an additional committee, Senate Rules, thereafter. The bill has not been scheduled to be heard.
Utility Services
HB 1451 by Representative Busatta requires certain public meetings and reporting for municipalities that provide utility services or intend to provide utility services in areas outside of their municipal boundaries. The bill limits the rates, fees, and charges that a municipal water or sewer utility may impose on customers outside the boundaries of the municipality to no more than 25 percent more than those imposed on customers within the boundaries. HB 1451 passed its final committee, House Commerce, by a vote of 21-3. HB 1451 was heard on the House floor on Tuesday, March 3, 2026, and passed by a vote of 81-26. It has not been referred to Senate Rules.
Its Senate companion, SB 1724 by Senator Martin, has been placed on the calendar for 2nd reading but has not been scheduled to be heard.
Transportation
HB 1233 by Representative Griffitts strengthens the state’s transportation system by revising institute membership, expanding delivery use, enhancing airport and seaport infrastructure planning, restricting certain local regulations, and updating policies related to toll revenues, alternative fuel vehicles, and autonomous technologies. The bill restricts local government authority to regulate drone deliveries and communications facilities, including prohibitions on certain fees, exactions, and conditions. Additionally, the prohibits municipalities or counties from imposing additional survey, permit, or landscaping requirements on communications providers and clarify bonding and indemnification restrictions. Lastly, the bill increases maximum speed limits on limited-access highways to 80 mph and on other specified highways to 70 mph. SB 1220 has been placed on the calendar for 2nd reading.
Its Senate companion, SB 1220 by Senator Massullo has been placed on the Special-Order calendar for Wednesday, March 4, 2026, where it passed by a vote 35-1. It has now been referred to House Messages.
Justice
Domestic Violence and Protective Injunctions
HB 277 by Representative Tendrich revises several statutes relating to domestic violence and protective injunctions. The bill authorizes penalty enhancement if a person commits a crime of domestic violence and has a prior conviction for committing such an offense. It adds language that threatening to kill or injure a family pet and the existence of a military protective order to the list of factors that a judge may consider when determining whether to grant a domestic violence injunction. The bill requires the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to enter injunctions against dating and sexual violence into a statewide database. HB 277 passed the House by a vote of 112-0 and has now been referred to Senate Rules.
Its Senate companion, SB 682 by Senator Calatayud, is placed on the Special-Order Calendar for Monday, March, 9, 2026.
