Thousands of bills will be filed during the 2024 Florida Legislative Session, most will be amended, and language will be added along the way, as lawmakers craft their policy and budget ideas that will guide the state into 2025.
Below is a short list of some bills that may be of interest to Florida Specifier readers to track between Jan. 9 and March 8.
HB 19 – County Commissioner Term Limits
Filed by: Joint Resolution Bill by Rep. Michelle Salzman
Proposes amendment to State Constitution to limit terms of office for county commissioners by prohibiting incumbent members who have held office for preceding 8 years from appearing on ballot for reelection; such term limits only apply to terms of office beginning on or after November 5, 2024.
SB 340 – Intentional Damage to Critical Infrastructure
Filed by: Sen. Clay Yarbrough
Providing criminal penalties for causing intentional harm or damage to critical infrastructure; providing for civil liability for such violations, etc. Effective Date: 7/1/2024
SB 406 – Statewide Environmental Resource Permitting Rules
Filed by: Sen. Ana Marie Rodriguez
Requiring that stormwater management systems be designed with side slopes that meet a certain minimum design requirement; superseding certain side slope rules and authorizing their repeal by a specified publication of notice and a specified filing, etc. Effective Date: 7/1/2024
SB 472 – Sovereign Immunity
Filed by: Sen. Jason Brodeur
Increasing the statutory limits on liability for tort claims against the state and its agencies and subdivisions; prohibiting an insurance policy from conditioning payment of benefits on the enactment of a claim bill; specifying that the limitations in effect on the date a final judgment is entered apply to that claim, etc. Effective Date: 7/1/2024
HB 473 – Cybersecurity Incident Liability
Filed by: Rep. Mike Giallombardo
Provides that county, municipality, commercial entity, or third-party agent that complies with certain requirements is not liable in connection with cybersecurity incident. Effective Date: Upon becoming a law
HB 527 – Land and Water Management
Filed by: Rep. Randy Maggard
Requires certain buffer zones for land or water delineations established by county or municipality to be acquired by county or municipality through eminent domain; preempts regulation of specified dredge & fill activities to state; repeals land management review teams. Effective Date: 7/1/2024
SB 594 – Public Works Projects
Filed by: Sen. Erin Grall
Revising the definition of the term “public works project”; deleting a prohibited activity of the state or a political subdivision that contracts for a public works project; authorizing political subdivisions that are the sole source of funding for a public works project to prevent certain contractors and subcontractors and material suppliers or carriers from participating in the bidding process for that project based on the geographic location of the company headquarters or offices or the residences of their employees, etc. Effective Date: 7/1/2024
SB 658 – Cybersecurity Incident Liability
Filed by: Sen. Nick DiCeglie
Providing that a county, municipality, commercial entity, or third-party agent that complies with certain requirements is not liable in connection with a cybersecurity incident; requiring certain entities to adopt certain revised frameworks or standards within a specified time period; specifying that the defendant in certain actions has a certain burden of proof, etc. Effective Date: Upon becoming a law
SB 738 – Environmental Management
Filed by: Sen. Danny Burgess
Providing that the prevailing party in certain actions against the Department of Environmental Protection or a water management district is entitled to reasonable costs and attorney fees; requiring that nonindustrial stormwater management systems be designed with side slopes that meet certain minimum design requirements; revising construction relating to causes of action for damages to real or personal property directly resulting from certain discharges or other conditions of pollution; requiring the department and water management districts to conduct holistic reviews of their respective agency’s costal permitting processes and permit programs, etc. Effective Date: 7/1/2024
