Becker’s State Lobbying Update – Week 9: March 9th-13th, 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 9 (March 9-13) of the 2026 Legislative Session.
Top Trending Topics
- Sine Die and Budget
- Sovereign Immunity
- Governor’s Activity
Sine Die and Budget
On Thursday, March 12, 2026, Senate President Ben Albritton and House Speaker Daniel Perez informed lawmakers that the 60-day regular session will adjourn on Friday, March 13. Legislators will reconvene in mid-April for a special session to finalize the state budget.
During the interim, the presiding officers and budget chairs of both chambers will remain in Tallahassee to continue refining the numbers and reach agreement on allocations. Once allocations are set, lawmakers can begin the budget conference process and work to close the roughly $1.4 billion gap between the House and Senate spending proposals. The 2027 fiscal year begins July 1.
Sovereign Immunity
On Thursday, March 12, 2026, the House and Senate reached an agreement on a revised version of HB 145 by Representative McFarland, which raises Florida’s sovereign immunity caps. Under the compromise, local governments would be required to pay up to $350,000 per person and $500,000 per incident in lawsuit damages – an increase from the current limits of $200,000 and $300.000, respectively.
The bill also shortens the statute of limitations for filing claims from three years to 18 months, with certain exceptions. The legislation is scheduled to take effect on October 1, 2026.
While injured parties may sue for damages and automatically collect up to the statutory caps, any award that exceeds those limits would require a claims bill to obtain additional payment from the Legislature.
Governor’s Activity
As of the evening of Thursday, March 12, a total of 158 bills passed both chambers and been enrolled. Currently no bills have been presented to the Governor. The Governor has seven days to act on bills that have been presented to him during Session, and 15 days outside of Session.
Bills Heard this Week
Land Use
Land Use and Development Regulations
HB 399 by Representative Borrero makes several changes to land use and development regulations. The bill requires local governments to include in their comprehensive plans and land development regulations specific factors for assessing the compatibility of residential uses, and it establishes requirements for reviewing development applications through a compatibility lens. HB 399 also redirects the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) to study the impacts of removing the Urban Development Boundary in Miami-Dade County and potentially in other counties. The bill passed the House by a vote of 71-38 and has been referred to the Senate Rules committee where it was later withdrawn and placed on the Second-Order Calendar.
Its Senate companion, SB 208 by Senator McClain, was substituted for HB 399 on 2nd reading. Six amendments were considered: two failed, and four were adopted.
- Amendment 1 prohibits local governments from requiring compost facilities to buy new land for permits and from revoking existing permits that comply with best practices.
- Amendment 2 specifies that the subsection (4) of the bill will expire on July 1, 2031.
- Amendment 3 requires continued compliance with the Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern’s permit allocation requirements for certain housing units.
- Amendment 4 streamlines local officials’ review of residential compatibility and expands where off-site constructed homes may be located.
After extensive debate, HB 399 was read a third time and passed the Senate by a vote of 27-11. The bill becomes effective upon becoming law.
Education
Education
HB 1279 by Representative Kincart Jonsson increases in-state enrollment requirements by directing preeminent universities to reserve 95% of each new FTIC fall cohort for Florida residents and limits international student enrollment. It requires students to be U.S. citizens or lawfully present to receive state financial aid and updates performance-based funding metrics.
The legislation broadens eligible accreditors, removes the DEI accreditation spending exemption, and prohibits graduation requirements that include courses distorting historical events or promoting discriminatory content. It eliminates the gender-equity plan requirement for athletics, reduces comment periods for certain AA transfer programs, and clarifies licensure exemptions.
Lastly, the bill standardizes weighted grading for advanced courses, clarifies dual enrollment requirements, authorizes bonuses for Florida Advanced Course and Test offerings, and improves transparency and quality assurance for blind services and vocational rehabilitation providers.
HB 1279 passed the House by a vote of 84-25 and was referred to Senate Rules where it was withdrawn and placed on the Special-Order calendar. Its Senate companion, SB 7038 by the Education Postsecondary committee, was substituted for HB 1279 where it was heard on third reading and passed by a vote of 36-1. The bill has an effective date of July 1.
School Safety
SB 896 by Senator Gaetz expands the school guardian program to include Florida’s public colleges, in addition to existing K-12 and private school programs. It creates a second-degree felony for discharging a firearm within 1,000 feet of a school during school hours or events and designates the offense as a level 6 under the Criminal Punishment Code. The bill also requires certain student behavioral and threat‑assessment records to follow students transferring to state colleges or universities, and mandates safety‑protocol and emergency‑procedure training for teachers and staff.
SB 896 was substituted for its House companion, HB 757 by Representative Salzman, which passed the House by a vote 83-25, was amended in the Senate and passed by a vote of 26-10 and then returned to the House and passed with the amendment by a vote of 88-20.
School Teacher Training and Mentoring Program
SB 182 by Senator Jones creates the School Teacher Training and Mentoring Program within the Department of Education to strengthen teacher effectiveness and improve student outcomes. It allows experienced, highly rated current or retired teachers to mentor new or struggling teachers, with limits on the number of mentees and stipends of up to $3,000. The DOE must set program standards and a standard mentor-mentee contract, and the State Board of Education may adopt rules. The bill also allows Educational Enrichment Allocation funds under the FEFP to support the program.
Its House companion, HB 157 by Representative Hinson, was substituted for SB 182 and passed the Senate unanimously (34-0) before returning to the House. The House added requirements for cursive instructions in grades 2-5 and the display of historical portraits in public schools, then passed the bill unanimously (110-0) and returned to the Senate. The Senate accepted the House changes and added its own amendment to expand charter school enrollment protections, revising scholarship reversion rules, designating certain private schools as permitted uses and reiterating the cursive instruction mandate. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 37-0 and returned the bill as amended back to the House. The House agreed to the Senate’s amended version, passing it by a vote of 91-11.
Healthcare
Human Trafficking Education for Nurse Licensure
SB 340 by Senator Harrell requires new nurse licensure applicants to complete a two-hour course on human trafficking to be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX). This requirement applies to students who apply to take the NCLEX on or after July 1, 2027. SB 340 passed the Senate by a vote of 38-0 and passed the House by a vote of 113-0. Its companion bill, HB 303 by Representative Bartleman, is laid on the table in the House.
Drug Prices and Coverage
HB 697 by Representative Kincart Jonsson establishes new regulations for pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) concerning business practices and pharmacy contracts. The bill makes it unlawful for a PBM to prevent a pharmacy from declining to dispense a drug at a price below the pharmacy’s actual acquisition cost, protecting pharmacies from being forced to take financial losses. It also requires PBMs to allow in-network pharmacies to file consolidated appeals for multiple similar claims. Finally, the bill excludes a PBM which only serves Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) beneficiaries from certain existing PBM contract requirements. HB 697 passed the House by a vote of 108-0.
Its Senate Companion, SB 1760 by Senator Brodeur, was substituted for HB 697 and amended in the Senate to include $31 million to temporarily restore eligibility – through June 30- for more than 11,000 individuals in the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program or ADAP (ADAP). The Senate passed the amended bill by a vote of 38- and returned to the House. The House accepted the amendment and passed the bill by a vote of 108-0.
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). Additionally, this bill prohibits a country or municipality from expending any funds to establish or support a DEI office or officer. SB 1134 passed the Senate by a vote of 25-11 adopting one amendment that prohibits municipalities from adopting or funding diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, declares existing programs void, and provides penalties and exceptions. The bill returned to the House where ten amendments failed. The bill passed by a vote of 77-37.
Its companion bill, HB 1001 by Representative Black, is now laid on the table in the House.
Affordable Housing/Live Local Act
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 the House on third reading by a vote of 76-29 and was referred to the Senate.
SB 1548 was substituted for its House companion, HB 1389 by Representative Redondo. The Senate adopted an amendment on second reading that promotes affordable housing by mandating flexibility in local zoning, protecting farmland from commercial classification, expanding anti-discrimination protections, and simplifying accessory dwelling unit approvals. The Senate passed the amended bill by a vote of 34-0 and returned it to the House. The House in turn accepted the Senate’s amendment and also amended the bill by expanding the allowable areas and development standards for multifamily and mixed-use affordable housing, revising property tax exemptions, clarifies farmland use, ensures non-exclusion of certain properties, and strengthens anti-discrimination measures. The House voted on the amended bill by a vote of 98-4 and the Senate voted by a vote of 35-0.
Retail
Domestic Animals
SB 1004 by Senator Gaetz implements consumer protections related to the sale of cats and dogs that are financed. The bill requires that if a purchase is canceled, the financing agreement must be terminated at no cost to the customer. Additionally, this bill requires that all financing terms be disclosed to a customer, requires a pet dealer to provide copies of certain medical records to a consumer purchasing a cat or dog, and implements a three-day waiting period between signing an agreement and taking possession of the animal if a financing agreement is involved. SB 1004 passed the Senate by a vote of 36-0 and passed the House by a vote of 110-0.
Its House companion, HB 1521 by Representative Weinberger, was laid on the table in the House.
Municipal Utilities
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 within a municipal boundary. 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 the House floor by a vote of 81-26, was substituted for SB 1724 by Senator Martin, and passed the Senate floor by a vote of 29-6 with an added amendment. The bill then passed the House again by a vote of 79-24 with an amended amendment. The Senate passed the bill with the amended amendment by a vote of 30-6.
Provision of Municipal Utility Service to Owners Outside the Municipal Limits
SB 1014 by Senator Mayfield prohibits municipal water and wastewater utilities from declining to extend water or wastewater service to a property outside of the corresponding municipality’s corporate limits solely based on the owner of such property’s refusal to allow the property to be annexed by the municipality. SB 1014 passed the Senate by a vote of 37-0. The bill moved to the House where an amendment was filed that would delete everything after the enacting clause. The amendment expands municipal utility obligations, restricts annexation-based denials, requires capacity reviews, and modernize rural electronic cooperative governance. The House adopted the amendment and the bill passed by a vote of 92-16 and returned to the Senate. The Senate refused to accept the House amendment and returned the bill to the House asking the House to recede. The bill died in House messages.
