Senate_Bill_180.pdf

ENROLLED

2025 Legislature CS for CS for SB 180, 2nd Engrossed

2025180er

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An act relating to emergencies; amending s. 83.63, 2

F.S.; requiring certain tenants to be given specified 3 opportunities or notice; creating s. 163.31795, F.S.; 4 defining the terms “cumulative substantial improvement 5 period” and “local government”; prohibiting certain 6 local governments from adopting ordinances for 7 substantial improvements or repairs to a structure 8 which include cumulative substantial improvement 9 periods; amending s. 163.31801, F.S.; prohibiting 10 certain entities from assessing impact fees for 11 specified replacement structures; providing an 12 exception; providing construction; amending s. 13

193.155, F.S.; revising the square footage limitations 14 for certain changes, additions, and improvements to 15 damaged property; amending s. 215.559, F.S.; removing 16 a reference to a certain report; revising public 17 hurricane shelter funding prioritization requirements 18 for the Division of Emergency Management; amending s. 19

250.375, F.S.; authorizing certain servicemembers to 20 provide medical care in specified circumstances; 21 amending s. 252.35, F.S.; revising requirements for 22 the state comprehensive emergency management plan; 23 requiring such plan to include an update on the status 24 of certain emergency management capabilities; 25 requiring the division to collaborate with the 26

Department of Health; revising responsibilities of the 27 division; requiring the division to develop a certain 28 template; revising the purpose of certain training 29

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programs; requiring the division to set the minimum 30 number of training hours that specified individuals 31 must complete biennially; authorizing such training to 32 be provided by certain entities; requiring the 33 division to conduct an annual hurricane readiness 34 session in each region designated by the division for 35 a specified purpose; requiring all county emergency 36 management directors, and authorizing other county and 37 municipal personnel, to attend such session; requiring 38 that the session include specified topics and needs; 39 removing a specified reporting requirement; amending 40

s. 252.355, F.S.; authorizing the Department of 41

Veterans’ Affairs to provide certain information to 42 specified clients or their caregivers; requiring the 43

Florida Housing Finance Corporation to enter into 44 memoranda of understanding with specified agencies for 45 a certain purpose; providing that specified persons 46 may use special needs shelters in certain 47 circumstances; amending s. 252.3611, F.S.; directing 48 specified entities to submit specified contracts and 49 reports to the Legislature under specified conditions; 50 requiring such contracts to be posted on a specified 51 secure contract system; requiring the division to 52 report annually to the Legislature specified 53 information on expenditures relating to emergencies; 54 providing requirements for such report; amending s. 55

252.363, F.S.; providing for the tolling and extension 56 of certain determinations; providing for retroactive 57 application; amending s. 252.365, F.S.; requiring 58

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agency heads to notify the Governor and the division 59 of the person designated as the emergency coordination 60 officer annually by a specified date; amending s. 61

252.3655, F.S.; creating the natural hazards risks and 62 mitigation interagency coordinating group; providing 63 the purpose of the group; providing for the membership 64 and administration of the group; requiring agency 65 representatives to provide information relating to 66 natural hazards to this state, agency resources, and 67 efforts to address and mitigate risks and impacts of 68 natural hazards; requiring the group to meet in person 69 or by communications media technology at least 70 quarterly for specified purposes; requiring specified 71 agency heads to meet at least annually to strategize 72 and prioritize state efforts; requiring the division, 73 on behalf of the group, to prepare an annual progress 74 report and submit such report to the Governor and 75

Legislature; revising requirements for such report; 76 amending s. 252.37, F.S.; requiring the division to 77 notify the Legislature of its intent to accept or 78 apply for federal funds under certain circumstances; 79 requiring the division to take steps to maximize the 80 availability and expedite the distribution of 81 financial assistance from the Federal Government to 82 state and local agencies; requiring that such steps 83 include the standardization and streamlining of the 84 application process for federal financial assistance 85 and the provision of assistance to applicants for a 86 specified purpose; requiring the division to use 87

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certain federal funds to implement such requirements; 88 amending s. 252.373, F.S.; conforming a cross-89 reference; amending s. 252.38, F.S.; requiring 90 political subdivisions to annually provide specified 91 notification to the division before a specified date; 92 creating s. 252.381, F.S.; requiring counties and 93 municipalities to post certain information on their 94 websites; requiring counties and municipalities to 95 develop a poststorm permitting plan; providing 96 requirements for such plan; requiring counties and 97 municipalities to update such plan by a specified date 98 annually; requiring counties and municipalities to 99 publish on their websites a specified storm recovery 100 guide by a specified date annually; providing 101 requirements for such guide; requiring certain 102 counties and municipalities to publish on their 103 websites updates to such guide as soon as practicable 104 following a storm; prohibiting certain counties and 105 municipalities from increasing building permit or 106 inspection fees within a specified timeframe; 107 requiring counties and municipalities to allow 108 individuals to receive certain letters electronically 109 on or before a specified date; requiring certain 110 counties and municipalities to use their best efforts 111 to open a permitting office for a minimum number of 112 hours per week; amending s. 252.385, F.S.; revising 113 reporting requirements for the division; revising 114 requirements for a specified list; requiring the 115

Department of Health and the Agency for Persons with 116

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Disabilities to assist the division with certain 117 determinations; creating s. 252.422, F.S.; defining 118 the term “impacted local government”; prohibiting 119 impacted local governments from proposing or adopting 120 certain moratoriums, amendments, or procedures for a 121 specified timeframe; authorizing the enforcement of 122 certain amendments, plans, permits, and orders under 123 certain circumstances; authorizing any person to file 124 suit to enforce specified provisions; authorizing 125 counties and municipalities to request a specified 126 determination by a court; prohibiting counties and 127 municipalities from taking certain actions until the 128 court has issued a preliminary or final judgment; 129 requiring plaintiffs to provide certain notification 130 before filing suit; requiring impacted local 131 governments to take certain actions upon receipt of 132 such notification or a suit may be filed; providing 133 for reasonable attorney fees and costs; authorizing 134 the use of a certain summary procedure; requiring the 135 court to advance the cause on the calendar; requiring 136 the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government 137

Accountability to conduct a study on certain local 138 government actions after hurricanes; specifying 139 requirements for the study and legislative 140 recommendations; requiring the office to submit a 141 report to the Legislature by a specified date; 142 creating s. 252.505, F.S.; requiring that certain 143 contracts include a specified provision; defining the 144 term “emergency recovery period”; amending s. 373.423, 145

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F.S.; requiring the Department of Environmental 146

Protection to submit a Flood Inventory and Restoration 147

Report to the division by a specified date; requiring 148 the department to work with specified entities to 149 compile information for the report; providing 150 specifications for the report; requiring the owner of 151 certain infrastructure to submit certain information 152 to the department; requiring the department to review 153 and update the report biannually; requiring the 154 department to submit an updated report to the division 155 by a specified date; amending s. 380.0552, F.S.; 156 revising the maximum evacuation clearance time for 157 permanent residents of the Florida Keys Area, which 158 time is an element for which amendments to local 159 comprehensive plans in the Florida Keys Area must be 160 reviewed for compliance; requiring the Department of 161

Commerce to conduct baseline modeling scenarios and 162 gather data to determine the number of building permit 163 allocations for distribution in the Florida Keys Area; 164 requiring that such allocations be distributed in a 165 specified manner and over a specified timeframe; 166 prohibiting such allocations from exceeding a 167 specified number; requiring that permits be issued for 168 certain parcels and the distribution of such permits 169 prioritize specified allocations; amending s. 400.063, 170

F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; amending s. 171

403.7071, F.S.; providing that local governments are 172 authorized and encouraged to add certain addendums to 173 certain contracts and agreements; requiring counties 174

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and municipalities to apply to the department for 175 authorization to designate at least one debris 176 management site; authorizing municipalities to apply 177 jointly with a county or adjacent municipality for 178 authorization of a debris management site if such 179 entities approve a memorandum of understanding; 180 providing requirements for such memorandum; creating 181

s. 489.1132, F.S.; providing definitions; requiring a 182 hurricane preparedness plan to be available for 183 inspection at certain worksites; requiring certain 184 equipment to be secured in a specified manner no later 185 than 24 hours before the impacts of a hurricane are 186 anticipated to begin; providing penalties; requiring 187 the Florida Building Commission to establish specified 188 best practices and report findings to the Legislature 189 by a specified date; amending s. 553.902, F.S.; 190 revising the definition of the term “renovated 191 building”; requiring the division to consult with 192 specified entities to develop certain recommendations 193 and provide a report to the Legislature by a specified 194 date; prohibiting certain counties from proposing or 195 adopting certain moratoriums, amendments, or 196 procedures for a specified timeframe; declaring that 197 such moratoriums, amendments, or procedures are null 198 and void; providing for retroactive application; 199 authorizing the enforcement of certain amendments, 200 plans, permits, and orders under certain 201 circumstances; authorizing certain residents and 202 business owners to bring a civil action for 203

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declaratory and injunctive relief against a county or 204 municipality that violates specified provisions; 205 providing for reasonable attorney fees and costs under 206 specified circumstances; providing for future 207 expiration; providing a directive to the Division of 208

Law Revision; providing effective dates. 209

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 211

Section 1. Section 83.63, Florida Statutes, is amended to 213 read: 214

83.63 Casualty damage.—If the premises are damaged or 215

destroyed other than by the wrongful or negligent acts of the 216 tenant so that the enjoyment of the premises is substantially 217 impaired:, 218

(1) The tenant may terminate the rental agreement and 219 immediately vacate the premises. The tenant may vacate the part 220 of the premises rendered unusable by the casualty, in which case 221 the tenant’s liability for rent shall be reduced by the fair 222 rental value of that part of the premises damaged or destroyed. 223

If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord shall comply 224 with s. 83.49(3). 225

(2) The tenant must be given: 226

(a) The opportunity to collect his or her belongings from 227 the premises when it is safe to do so; or 228

(b) Notice of the date by which the tenant will be able to 229 collect his or her belongings from the premises, which must 230 occur within a reasonable time. 231

Section 2. Section 163.31795, Florida Statutes, is created 232

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to read: 233

163.31795 Participation in the National Flood Insurance 234

Program.— 235

(1) For purposes of this section, the term: 236

(a) “Cumulative substantial improvement period” means the 237 period during which an aggregate of improvements or repairs are 238 considered for purposes of determining substantial improvement 239 as defined in s. 161.54(12). 240

(b) “Local government” has the same meaning as in s. 241

163.2514. 242

(2) A local government that is participating in the 243

National Flood Insurance Program may not adopt or enforce an 244 ordinance for substantial improvements or repairs to a structure 245 which includes a cumulative substantial improvement period. 246

Section 3. Subsection (14) is added to section 163.31801, 247

Florida Statutes, to read: 248

163.31801 Impact fees; short title; intent; minimum 249

requirements; audits; challenges.— 250

(14) A local government, school district, or special 251 district may not assess an impact fee for the reconstruction or 252 replacement of a previously existing structure if the 253 replacement structure is of the same land use as the original 254 structure and does not increase the impact on public facilities 255 beyond that of the original structure. However, if the 256 replacement structure increases the demand on public facilities 257 due to a significant increase in size, intensity, or capacity of 258 use, a local government, school district, or special district 259 may assess an impact fee in an amount proportional to the 260 difference in the demand between the replacement structure and 261

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the original structure. Any such fee must be reasonably 262 connected to, or have a rational nexus with, the need for 263 additional capital facilities and the increased impact generated 264 by the reconstruction or replacement of a previously existing 265 structure. 266

Section 4. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section 267

193.155, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 268

193.155 Homestead assessments.—Homestead property shall be 269 assessed at just value as of January 1, 1994. Property receiving 270 the homestead exemption after January 1, 1994, shall be assessed 271 at just value as of January 1 of the year in which the property 272 receives the exemption unless the provisions of subsection (8) 273 apply. 274

(4) 275

(b)1. Changes, additions, or improvements that replace all 276 or a portion of homestead property, including ancillary 277 improvements, damaged or destroyed by misfortune or calamity 278 shall be assessed upon substantial completion as provided in 279 this paragraph. Such assessment must be calculated using the 280 homestead property’s assessed value as of the January 1 281 immediately before the date on which the damage or destruction 282 was sustained, subject to the assessment limitations in 283 subsections (1) and (2), when: 284

a. The square footage of the homestead property as changed 285 or improved does not exceed 130 110 percent of the square 286 footage of the homestead property before the damage or 287 destruction; or 288

b. The total square footage of the homestead property as 289 changed or improved does not exceed 2,000 1,500 square feet. 290

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2. The homestead property’s assessed value must be 291 increased by the just value of that portion of the changed or 292 improved homestead property which is in excess of 130 110 293 percent of the square footage of the homestead property before 294 the damage or destruction or of that portion exceeding 2,000 295

1,500 square feet. 296

3. Homestead property damaged or destroyed by misfortune or 297 calamity which, after being changed or improved, has a square 298 footage of less than 100 percent of the homestead property’s 299 total square footage before the damage or destruction shall be 300 assessed pursuant to subsection (5). 301

4. Changes, additions, or improvements assessed pursuant to 302 this paragraph must be reassessed pursuant to subsection (1) in 303 subsequent years. This paragraph applies to changes, additions, 304 or improvements commenced within 5 years after the January 1 305 following the damage or destruction of the homestead. 306

Section 5. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 307

215.559, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 308

215.559 Hurricane Loss Mitigation Program.—A Hurricane Loss 309

Mitigation Program is established in the Division of Emergency 310

Management. 311

(1) The Legislature shall annually appropriate $10 million 312 of the moneys authorized for appropriation under s. 313

215.555(7)(c) from the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund to the 314 division for the purposes set forth in this section. Of the 315 amount: 316

(b) Three million dollars in funds shall be used to 317 construct or retrofit facilities used as public hurricane 318 shelters. Each year the division shall prioritize the use of 319

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these funds for projects included in the annual report of the 320

Shelter Development Report prepared in accordance with s. 321

252.385(3). The division shall must give funding priority to 322 projects located in counties regional planning council regions 323 that have shelter deficits, projects that are publicly owned, 324 other than schools, and to projects that maximize the use of 325 state funds. 326

Section 6. Section 250.375, Florida Statutes, is amended to 327 read: 328

250.375 Medical officer authorization.—A servicemember 329

trained to provide medical care who is serving under the 330 direction of the Florida National Guard State Surgeon and is 331 assigned to a military duty position and authorized by the 332

Florida National Guard to provide medical care within the scope 333 of the servicemember’s professional licensure by virtue of such 334 duty position may provide such medical care to military 335 personnel and civilians within this state physician who holds an 336 active license to practice medicine in any state, a United 337

States territory, or the District of Columbia, while serving as 338 a medical officer with or in support of the Florida National 339

Guard, pursuant to federal or state orders, may practice 340 medicine on military personnel or civilians during an emergency 341 or declared disaster or during federal military training. 342

Section 7. Paragraphs (y) through (dd) of subsection (2) of 343 section 252.35, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs 344

(x) through (cc), respectively, paragraphs (a), (c), and (n) and 345 present paragraph (x) of that subsection are amended, and a new 346 paragraph (dd) is added to that subsection, to read: 347

252.35 Emergency management powers; Division of Emergency 348

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Management.— 349

(2) The division is responsible for carrying out the 350 provisions of ss. 252.31-252.90. In performing its duties, the 351 division shall: 352

(a) Prepare a state comprehensive emergency management 353 plan, which must shall be integrated into and coordinated with 354 the emergency management plans and programs of the Federal 355

Government. The division shall adopt the plan as a rule in 356 accordance with chapter 120. The plan must be implemented by a 357 continuous, integrated comprehensive emergency management 358 program. The plan must contain provisions to ensure that the 359 state is prepared for emergencies and minor, major, and 360 catastrophic disasters, and the division shall work closely with 361 local governments and agencies and organizations with emergency 362 management responsibilities in preparing and maintaining the 363 plan. The state comprehensive emergency management plan must be 364 operations oriented and: 365

1. Include an evacuation component that includes specific 366 regional and interregional planning provisions and promotes 367 intergovernmental coordination of evacuation activities. This 368 component must, at a minimum: contain guidelines for lifting 369 tolls on state highways; ensure coordination pertaining to 370 evacuees crossing county lines; set forth procedures for 371 directing people caught on evacuation routes to safe shelter; 372 establish strategies for ensuring sufficient, reasonably priced 373 fueling locations along evacuation routes; and establish 374 policies and strategies for emergency medical evacuations. 375

2. Include a shelter component that includes specific 376 regional and interregional planning provisions and promotes 377

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coordination of shelter activities between the public, private, 378 and nonprofit sectors. This component must, at a minimum: 379 contain strategies to ensure the availability of adequate public 380 shelter space in each county region of the state; establish 381 strategies for refuge-of-last-resort programs; provide 382 strategies to assist local emergency management efforts to 383 ensure that adequate staffing plans exist for all shelters, 384 including medical and security personnel; provide for a 385 postdisaster communications system for public shelters; 386 establish model shelter guidelines for operations, registration, 387 inventory, power generation capability, information management, 388 and staffing; and set forth policy guidance for sheltering 389 people with special needs. 390

3. Include a postdisaster response and recovery component 391 that includes specific regional and interregional planning 392 provisions and promotes intergovernmental coordination of 393 postdisaster response and recovery activities. This component 394 must provide for postdisaster response and recovery strategies 395 according to whether a disaster is minor, major, or 396 catastrophic. The postdisaster response and recovery component 397 must, at a minimum: establish the structure of the state’s 398 postdisaster response and recovery organization; establish 399 procedures for activating the state’s plan; set forth policies 400 used to guide postdisaster response and recovery activities; 401 describe the chain of command during the postdisaster response 402 and recovery period; describe initial and continuous 403 postdisaster response and recovery actions; identify the roles 404 and responsibilities of each involved agency and organization; 405 provide for a comprehensive communications plan; establish 406

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procedures for coordinating and monitoring statewide mutual aid 407 agreements reimbursable under federal public disaster assistance 408 programs; provide for rapid impact assessment teams; ensure the 409 availability of an effective statewide urban search and rescue 410 program coordinated with the fire services; ensure the existence 411 of a comprehensive statewide medical care and relief plan 412 administered by the Department of Health; and establish systems 413 for coordinating volunteers and accepting and distributing 414 donated funds and goods. 415

4. Include additional provisions addressing aspects of 416 preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation as determined 417 necessary by the division. 418

5. Address the need for coordinated and expeditious 419 deployment of state resources, including the Florida National 420

Guard. In the case of an imminent major disaster, procedures 421 should address predeployment of the Florida National Guard, and, 422 in the case of an imminent catastrophic disaster, procedures 423 should address predeployment of the Florida National Guard and 424 the United States Armed Forces. 425

6. Establish a system of communications and warning to 426 ensure that the state’s population and emergency management 427 agencies are warned of developing emergency situations, 428 including public health emergencies, and can communicate 429 emergency response decisions. 430

7. Establish guidelines and schedules for annual exercises 431 that evaluate the ability of the state and its political 432 subdivisions to respond to minor, major, and catastrophic 433 disasters and support local emergency management agencies. Such 434 exercises shall be coordinated with local governments and, to 435

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the extent possible, the Federal Government. 436

8. Assign lead and support responsibilities to state 437 agencies and personnel for emergency support functions and other 438 support activities. 439

9. Include the public health emergency plan developed by 440 the Department of Health pursuant to s. 381.00315. 441

10. Include an update on the status of the emergency 442 management capabilities of the state and its political 443 subdivisions. The update must include the emergency management 444 capabilities related to public health emergencies, as determined 445 in collaboration with the Department of Health. 446

The complete state comprehensive emergency management plan must 448 be submitted to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the 449

House of Representatives, and the Governor on February 1 of 450 every even-numbered year. 451

(c) Assist political subdivisions in preparing and 452 maintaining emergency management plans. Such assistance must 453 include the development of a template for comprehensive 454 emergency management plans, including plans for natural 455 disasters, and guidance on the development of mutual aid 456 agreements. 457

(n) Implement training programs to maintain this state’s 458 status as a national leader in emergency management and improve 459 the ability of state and local emergency management personnel to 460 prepare and implement emergency management plans and programs. 461

This must shall include a continuous training program for 462 agencies and individuals who that will be called on to perform 463 key roles in state and local postdisaster response and recovery 464

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efforts and for local government personnel on federal and state 465 postdisaster response and recovery strategies and procedures. 466

The division shall specify requirements for the minimum number 467 of training hours that county or municipal administrators, 468 county or city managers, county or municipal emergency 469 management directors, and county or municipal public works 470 directors or other officials responsible for the construction 471 and maintenance of public infrastructure must complete 472 biennially in addition to the training required pursuant to s. 473

252.38(1)(b). Such training may be provided by the division or, 474 for county personnel, by a foundation that is a not-for-profit 475 corporation under s. 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and 476 has a governing board that includes in its membership county 477 commissioners and professional county staff. If training is 478 provided by a foundation, such training must be approved by the 479 division. 480

(x) Report biennially to the President of the Senate, the 481

Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of 482 the Supreme Court, and the Governor, no later than February 1 of 483 every odd-numbered year, the status of the emergency management 484 capabilities of the state and its political subdivisions. This 485 report must include the emergency management capabilities 486 related to public health emergencies, as determined in 487 collaboration with the Department of Health. 488

(dd) Conduct, by April 1 of each year, an annual hurricane 489 readiness session in each region designated by the division to 490 facilitate coordination between all emergency management 491 stakeholders. Each county emergency management director or his 492 or her designee shall, and other county and municipal personnel 493

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may, attend the session for his or her region. A session must 494 include, but is not limited to, guidance on timelines for 495 preparation and response, information on state and federal 496 postdisaster resources and assistance, guidance to promote 497 efficient and expedited rebuilding of the community after a 498 hurricane, best practices for coordination and communication 499 among entities engaged in postdisaster response and recovery, 500 and discussion of any outstanding county or municipal 501 preparedness or readiness needs. 502

Section 8. Subsection (4) of section 252.355, Florida 503

Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (5), paragraph (b) of 504 subsection (2) is amended, and a new subsection (4) is added to 505 that section, to read: 506

252.355 Registry of persons with special needs; notice; 507

registration program.— 508

(2) In order to ensure that all persons with special needs 509 may register, the division shall develop and maintain a special 510 needs shelter registration program. During a public health 511 emergency in which physical distancing is necessary, as 512 determined by the State Health Officer, the division must 513 maintain information on special needs shelter options that 514 mitigate the threat of the spread of infectious diseases. 515

(b) To assist in identifying persons with special needs, 516 home health agencies, hospices, nurse registries, home medical 517 equipment providers, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the 518

Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health, 519 the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Department of 520

Education, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, the 521

Department of Elderly Affairs, and memory disorder clinics 522

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shall, and any physician licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 523

459 and any pharmacy licensed under chapter 465 may, annually 524 provide registration information to all of their special needs 525 clients or their caregivers. The Florida Housing Finance 526

Corporation shall enter into memoranda of understanding with the 527

Department of Elderly Affairs and with the Agency for Persons 528 with Disabilities to ensure special needs registration 529 information is provided to residents of low-income senior 530 independent living properties and independent living properties 531 for persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities 532 funded by the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, respectively. 533

The division shall develop a brochure that provides information 534 regarding special needs shelter registration procedures. The 535 brochure must be easily accessible on the division’s website. 536

All appropriate agencies and community-based service providers, 537 including aging and disability resource centers, memory disorder 538 clinics, home health care providers, hospices, nurse registries, 539 and home medical equipment providers, shall, and any physician 540 licensed under chapter 458 or chapter 459 may, assist emergency 541 management agencies by annually registering persons with special 542 needs for special needs shelters, collecting registration 543 information for persons with special needs as part of the 544 program intake process, and establishing programs to educate 545 clients about the registration process and disaster preparedness 546 safety procedures. A client of a state-funded or federally 547 funded service program who has a physical, mental, or cognitive 548 impairment or sensory disability and who needs assistance in 549 evacuating, or when in a shelter, must register as a person with 550 special needs. The registration program shall give persons with 551

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special needs the option of preauthorizing emergency response 552 personnel to enter their homes during search and rescue 553 operations if necessary to ensure their safety and welfare 554 following disasters. 555

(4) The caregiver of a person with special needs who is 556 eligible for admission to a special needs shelter, and all 557 persons for whom he or she is the caregiver, shall be allowed to 558 shelter together in the special needs shelter. If a person with 559 special needs is responsible for the care of persons without 560 special needs, those persons shall be allowed to use the special 561 needs shelter with the person with special needs. 562

Section 9. Effective January 1, 2026, subsection (2) of 563 section 252.3611, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection 564

(5) is added to that section, to read: 565

252.3611 Transparency; audits.— 566

(2) If When the duration of a declaration of a state of an 567 emergency issued by the Governor exceeds 90 days: 568

(a)1. The Executive Office of the Governor or the 569 appropriate agency, within 72 hours after of executing a 570 contract executed with moneys authorized for expenditure to 571 support the response to the declared state of emergency, must 572 the Executive Office of the Governor or the appropriate agency 573 shall submit a copy of such contract to the Legislature. For 574 contracts executed during the first 90 days of the declared 575 state of emergency, the Executive Office of the Governor or the 576 appropriate agency shall submit a copy to the Legislature within 577 the first 120 days of the declared state of emergency. 578

2. All contracts executed to support the response to a 579 declared state of emergency, including contracts executed before 580

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a declared state of emergency to secure resources or services in 581 advance or anticipation of an emergency, must be posted on the 582 secure contract tracking system required under s. 215.985(14). 583

(b) The Executive Office of the Governor or the appropriate 584 agency shall submit monthly reports to the Legislature of all 585 state expenditures, revenues received, and funds transferred by 586 an agency during the previous month to support the declared 587 state of emergency. 588

(5) Annually, by January 15, the division shall report to 589 the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of 590

Representatives, and the chairs of the appropriations committee 591 of each house of the Legislature on expenditures related to 592 emergencies incurred over the year from November 1 of the 593 previous year. The report must include: 594

(a) A separate summary of each emergency event, whether 595 complete or ongoing, and key actions taken by the division. 596

(b) Details of expenditures, separated by emergency event 597 and agency, for preparing for, responding to, or recovering from 598 the event. The report must specify detailed expenditures for the 599 entire report time period; specify total expenditures for the 600 event; and indicate amounts that are being or are anticipated to 601 be reimbursed by the Federal Emergency Management Agency or 602 other federal entity, amounts ineligible for reimbursement, and 603 any amounts deobligated by the Federal Emergency Management 604

Agency or other federal entity for reimbursement. The division 605 shall review expenditures by state agencies to ensure that 606 efforts, purchases, contracts, or expenditures are not 607 duplicated. 608

(c) An accounting of all inventory and assets purchased, 609

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separated by emergency event and agency, for preparing for, 610 responding to, or recovering from the event, including motor 611 vehicles, boats, computers, and other equipment, and the current 612 status of such assets, including divestment, sale, or donation 613 by the state. The report must include a detailed accounting for 614 the entire report time period and specify a total for the event. 615

Section 10. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 616

252.363, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 617

252.363 Tolling and extension of permits and other 618

authorizations.— 619

(1)(a) The declaration of a state of emergency issued by 620 the Governor for a natural emergency tolls the period remaining 621 to exercise the rights under a permit or other authorization for 622 the duration of the emergency declaration. Further, the 623 emergency declaration extends the period remaining to exercise 624 the rights under a permit or other authorization for 24 months 625 in addition to the tolled period. The extended period to 626 exercise the rights under a permit or other authorization may 627 not exceed 48 months in total in the event of multiple natural 628 emergencies for which the Governor declares a state of 629 emergency. The tolling and extension of permits and other 630 authorizations under this paragraph shall apply retroactively to 631

September 28, 2022, except in the case of the formal 632 determination of the delineation of the extent of wetlands under 633

s. 373.421, in which case tolling and extension of 634 determinations under this paragraph shall apply retroactively to 635

January 1, 2023. This paragraph applies to the following: 636

1. The expiration of a development order issued by a local 637 government. 638

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2. The expiration of a building permit. 639

3. The expiration of a permit issued by the Department of 640

Environmental Protection or a water management district pursuant 641 to part IV of chapter 373. 642

4. Permits issued by the Department of Environmental 643

Protection or a water management district pursuant to part II of 644 chapter 373 for land subject to a development agreement under 645

ss. 163.3220-163.3243 in which the permittee and the developer 646 are the same or a related entity. 647

5. The buildout date of a development of regional impact, 648 including any extension of a buildout date that was previously 649 granted as specified in s. 380.06(7)(c). 650

6. The expiration of a development permit or development 651 agreement authorized by Florida Statutes, including those 652 authorized under the Florida Local Government Development 653

Agreement Act, or issued by a local government or other 654 governmental agency. 655

7. The formal determination of the delineation of the 656 extent of wetlands under s. 373.421. 657

Section 11. Subsection (4) of section 252.365, Florida 658

Statutes, is amended to read: 659

252.365 Emergency coordination officers; disaster-660

preparedness plans.— 661

(4) On or before May 1 of each year, the head of each 662 agency shall notify the Governor and the division in writing of 663 the person initially designated as the emergency coordination 664 officer for such agency and her or his alternate and of any 665 changes in persons so designated thereafter. 666

Section 12. Section 252.3655, Florida Statutes, is amended 667

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to read: 668

252.3655 Natural hazards risks and mitigation interagency 669 coordinating group workgroup.— 670

(1)(a) An interagency coordinating group workgroup is 671 created for the purpose of sharing information on the current 672 and potential risks and impacts of natural hazards throughout 673 this the state, coordinating the ongoing efforts of state 674 agencies in addressing and mitigating the risks and impacts of 675 natural hazards, and collaborating on statewide initiatives to 676 address and mitigate the risks and impacts of natural hazards. 677

As used in this section, the term “natural hazards” includes, 678 but is not limited to, extreme heat, drought, wildfire, sea-679 level change, high tides, storm surge, saltwater intrusion, 680 stormwater runoff, flash floods, inland flooding, and coastal 681 flooding. 682

(b) The agency head, or his or her designated senior 683 manager, from each of the following agencies shall serve on the 684 coordinating group: 685

1. Chief Resilience Officer of the Statewide Office of 686

Resilience. 687

2. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 688

3. Department of Commerce. 689

4. Department of Environmental Protection. 690

5. Department of Financial Services. 691

6. Department of Law Enforcement. 692

7. Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. 693

8. Department of Military Affairs. 694

9. Division of Emergency Management. 695

10. Department of Transportation. 696

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11. Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 697

12. Office of Insurance Regulation. 698

13. Public Service Commission. 699

14. Each water management district Each agency within the 700 executive branch of state government, each water management 701 district, and the Florida Public Service Commission shall select 702 from within such agency a person to be designated as the agency 703 liaison to the workgroup. 704

(c) The director of the Division of Emergency Management, 705 or his or her designee, shall serve as the administrator liaison 706 to and coordinator of the coordinating group workgroup. 707

(d) Each agency representative liaison shall provide 708 information from his or her respective agency, including all 709 relevant reports, on the current and potential risks and impacts 710 of natural hazards to this state to his or her agency, agency 711 resources available, and efforts made by the agency to address 712 and mitigate the risks and impacts of against natural hazards, 713 and efforts made by the agency to address the impacts of natural 714 hazards. 715

(e)1. The coordinating group workgroup shall meet in person 716 or by means of communications media technology as provided in s. 717

120.54(5)(b)2. at least teleconference on a quarterly basis to 718 share information, leverage agency resources, coordinate ongoing 719 efforts, and provide information for inclusion in the annual 720 progress report submitted pursuant to subsection (2). Agency 721 heads for the agencies listed in paragraph (b) shall meet in 722 person at least annually to collectively strategize and 723 prioritize state efforts. 724

2. Information regarding the coordinating group, including 725

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meeting agendas and reports, must be posted in a conspicuous 726 location on the division’s website. 727

(2)(a) On behalf of the coordinating group workgroup, the 728 division of Emergency Management shall prepare an annual 729 progress report on the implementation of the state’s hazard 730 mitigation plan, developed and submitted in accordance with 42 731

U.S.C. s. 5165 and any implementing regulations, as it relates 732 to natural hazards. At a minimum, the annual progress report 733 must: 734

1. Assess each agency’s the relevance, level, and 735 significance of current agency efforts to address and mitigate 736 the risks and impacts of natural hazards; and 737

2. Strategize and prioritize ongoing efforts to address and 738 mitigate the risks and impacts of natural hazards; 739

3. Provide recommendations regarding statutory changes and 740 funding that may assist in addressing or mitigating the risks 741 and impacts of natural hazards; and 742

4. Provide recommendations for state and local natural 743 hazard mitigation strategies. 744

(b) Each liaison is responsible for ensuring that the 745 workgroup’s annual progress report is posted on his or her 746 agency’s website. 747

(c) By January 1 of each year, 2019, and each year 748 thereafter, the division on behalf of the coordinating group 749 workgroup shall submit the annual progress report to the 750

Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the 751

House of Representatives. 752

Section 13. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (5) of 753 section 252.37, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs 754

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(d) and (e), respectively, a new paragraph (c) is added to that 755 subsection, and subsection (7) is added to that section, to 756 read: 757

252.37 Financing.— 758

(5) Unless otherwise specified in the General 759

Appropriations Act: 760

(c) If the division intends to accept or apply for federal 761 funds for a division-administered program that is new, that will 762 be implemented in a manner that is innovative or significantly 763 different from the manner in which the program is typically 764 administered, or that will require a state match for which the 765 division will be required to seek new budget authority, the 766 division must notify the Legislature of its intent to accept or 767 apply for the federal funds. The notice must detail the federal 768 program under which the funds will be accepted or applied for, 769 the intended purpose and use of the funds, and the amount of 770 funds, including the estimated state match. 771

(7) The division shall take steps to maximize the 772 availability and expedite the distribution of financial 773 assistance from the Federal Government to state and local 774 agencies. Such steps must include the standardization and 775 streamlining of the application process for financial assistance 776 through the federal Public Assistance Program and provision of 777 assistance to applicants in order to mitigate the risk of 778 noncompliance with federal program requirements. The division 779 shall use federal funds allocated as management costs or other 780 funds as appropriated to implement this subsection. 781

Section 14. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 782

252.373, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 783

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252.373 Allocation of funds; rules.— 784

(2) The division shall allocate funds from the Emergency 785

Management, Preparedness, and Assistance Trust Fund to local 786 emergency management agencies and programs pursuant to criteria 787 specified in rule. Such rules shall include, but are not limited 788 to: 789

(a) Requiring that, at a minimum, a local emergency 790 management agency either: 791

1. Have a program director who works at least 40 hours a 792 week in that capacity; or 793

2. If the county has fewer than 75,000 population or is 794 party to an interjurisdictional emergency management agreement 795 entered into pursuant to s. 252.38(3)(c) s. 252.38(3)(b), that 796 is recognized by the Governor by executive order or rule, have 797 an emergency management coordinator who works at least 20 hours 798 a week in that capacity. 799

Section 15. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (3) of 800 section 252.38, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs 801

(b) and (c), respectively, a new paragraph (a) is added to that 802 subsection, and paragraph (a) of subsection (1) is amended, to 803 read: 804

252.38 Emergency management powers of political 805

subdivisions.—Safeguarding the life and property of its citizens 806 is an innate responsibility of the governing body of each 807 political subdivision of the state. 808

(1) COUNTIES.— 809

(a) In order to provide effective and orderly governmental 810 control and coordination of emergency operations in emergencies 811 within the scope of ss. 252.31-252.90, each county within this 812

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state shall be within the jurisdiction of, and served by, the 813 division. Except as otherwise provided in ss. 252.31-252.90, 814 each local emergency management agency shall have jurisdiction 815 over and serve an entire county. Unless part of an 816 interjurisdictional emergency management agreement entered into 817 pursuant to paragraph (3)(c) (3)(b) which is recognized by the 818

Governor by executive order or rule, each county must establish 819 and maintain such an emergency management agency and shall 820 develop a county emergency management plan and program that is 821 coordinated and consistent with the state comprehensive 822 emergency management plan and program. Counties that are part of 823 an interjurisdictional emergency management agreement entered 824 into pursuant to paragraph (3)(c) (3)(b) which is recognized by 825 the Governor by executive order or rule shall cooperatively 826 develop an emergency management plan and program that is 827 coordinated and consistent with the state comprehensive 828 emergency management plan and program. 829

(3) EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT POWERS; POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS.— 830

(a) Each political subdivision shall notify the division on 831 or before May 1 each year of the person designated as the 832 emergency contact for the political subdivision and his or her 833 alternate and of any changes in persons so designated 834 thereafter. For a county, the emergency contact must be the 835 county emergency management director. 836

Section 16. Section 252.381, Florida Statutes, is created 837 to read: 838

252.381 Information related to natural emergencies; 839

poststorm county and municipal permitting; operations.— 840

(1) Each county and municipality must post on its publicly 841

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