A legislative proposal aimed at strengthening Florida’s disaster preparedness and post-hurricane recovery efforts advanced Tuesday, receiving unanimous approval from the House Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee.
The bill, HB 1535, sponsored by Rep. Fiona McFarland, introduces new requirements for emergency management, debris removal, post-storm reconstruction, election procedures, and construction site safety. According to a legislative analysis, the proposal stems from lessons learned during the 2024 hurricane season and reflects input from local governments, emergency officials, and industry stakeholders.
If enacted, the legislation would require counties and municipalities to publish emergency preparedness information online, including evacuation guidelines, flood zone maps, and post-disaster recovery resources. The measure also mandates biennial training for emergency management personnel, beginning in October 2025, to ensure local responders remain familiar with state and federal recovery strategies.
To control post-storm costs, the bill directs the Division of Emergency Management to establish maximum rates for debris removal contracts, updated every two years. Local governments entering into contracts for cleanup services after June 1, 2025, would be prohibited from exceeding these rates. The division would also be required to coordinate debris clearance in fiscally constrained counties following a declared emergency, including assisting with the removal of debris from roadways not maintained by the county but accessible to the public.
The legislation would prohibit local governments from imposing construction moratoriums for two years following a hurricane making landfall in counties located within 100 miles of the storm’s track. The bill defines “impacted local government” as a county or municipality located within 100 miles of a hurricane’s track while the storm was still categorized as a hurricane.
Local governments, school districts, and special districts would be barred from assessing impact fees on the reconstruction or replacement of previously existing structures unless the replacement structure is larger than the original. In jurisdictions that use a tiered fee system, impact fees would be assessed based on the difference between the original structure’s fee and that of the replacement.
For homeowners in flood-prone areas, the bill limits the cumulative substantial improvement period to one year for jurisdictions participating in the National Flood Insurance Program, preventing local governments from requiring homeowners to make multiple incremental upgrades over an extended period to meet substantial improvement thresholds.
The proposal also strengthens safety regulations for construction cranes and hoisting equipment at active worksites. It requires that hurricane preparedness plans for cranes be made available for inspection and that all hoisting equipment be secured no later than 24 hours before the anticipated impact of a hurricane. Contractors found in violation would be subject to disciplinary action by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
The bill includes several changes to election procedures during declared emergencies. If a state of emergency is declared within 60 days of an election, county supervisors of elections in affected areas would have broader authority to relocate early voting sites, extend the early voting period to the day before an election, and use early voting sites as polling locations on Election Day with approval from the secretary of state. Supervisors could also send vote-by-mail ballots to displaced voters, including those requesting a ballot without a signed written request or to an address not listed in the voter registration system.
Additionally, the bill requires the secretary of state, in coordination with county elections supervisors, to develop an election emergency training program, updated every four years. The secretary must also convene a workgroup every odd-numbered year to establish best practices for conducting elections during emergencies.
The bill further directs the Division of Emergency Management to assess the state’s emergency shelter capacity, including accommodations for individuals with disabilities and space for pets.
HB 1535 must clear two additional House committees before advancing to the full chamber.
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