From property tax reductions for homes rebuilt after hurricanes to new rules for election supervisors following storms, the Florida House of Representatives is advancing a proposal to address issues that arose during the damaging 2024 hurricane season.
- From property tax reductions for homes rebuilt after hurricanes to new rules for election supervisors following storms, the Florida House of Representatives is advancing a proposal to address issues that arose during the damaging 2024 hurricane season.
- Proposed changes for hurricane-affected properties
- Changes for election supervisors
- Safety of construction equipment ahead of storms or hurricanes
The House Natural Resources and Disasters Subcommittee unanimously approved a far-reaching bill (HB 1535) that also seeks to revise shelter regulations, address debris cleanup in fiscally constrained rural counties, and determine the placement of cranes when storms or hurricanes approach land.
The proposal is the result of “feedback from our local governments. It’s feedback from real estate agents. It’s feedback from homeowners’ associations, builders, environmentalists, emergency managers, and all of that is integrated into this bill.”
Proposed changes for hurricane-affected properties
The bill would prohibit counties under federal disaster declarations for hurricanes Debby, Helene, or Milton from imposing moratoriums affecting the reconstruction of storm-damaged properties until October 1, 2027.
Local governments, school districts, and special districts would also be barred from imposing impact fees when post-storm or hurricane reconstruction does not alter prior land-use designations.
Additionally, residents would be allowed to rebuild properties up to 130% larger than the pre-hurricane footprint without facing increases in the assessed value of their properties.
The proposal also requires state agencies to work with local governments to streamline repair and reconstruction permits for damaged structures.
Changes for election supervisors
Under the proposal, if the governor declares an emergency within 60 days after an election, county election supervisors could change the locations of early voting sites, extend the early voting period to the day before the election, and request approval from the secretary of state to use early voting sites on Election Day.
Supervisors could also take steps such as mailing vote-by-mail ballots to displaced individuals. Contingency plans would need to be established in case elections are suspended, delayed, or rescheduled due to an emergency.
Safety of construction equipment ahead of storms or hurricanes
The legislation also addresses the case of a construction crane that was not removed before Hurricane Milton struck St. Petersburg last year. The crane collapsed onto an office building.
The bill would require that, 24 hours before a hurricane’s projected landfall, all lifting equipment be secured according to manufacturer recommendations, which could include removing advertising, installing fixed booms where possible, and placing towers in a weathervaning position.
The legislation would also require the Florida Division of Emergency Management to conduct a study on the state’s emergency shelter needs, including accommodations for individuals with developmental disabilities and pet space availability. The division would also be tasked with coordinating debris removal with fiscally constrained counties in areas where emergencies have been declared.
Hurricanes Debby and Helene made landfall last year in rural Taylor County, while Hurricane Milton made landfall in Sarasota County.
The bill needs approval from two more House panels before it can go to the full House.
