Florida lawmakers on Friday approved a sweeping hurricane preparedness and recovery package designed to accelerate rebuilding after storms, tighten coordination among emergency agencies, and expand transparency in disaster spending.

The bill, SB 180 by Sen. Nick DiCeglie, cleared both chambers with unanimous support and is now headed to Gov. Ron DeSantis for signature.

“Multiple major hurricanes ravaged Florida last year, leaving extensive damage statewide,” said DiCeglie. “After a storm, Floridians need a clear path to recovery. We’re fighting for families to focus on rebuilding without additional delays or burdens, especially for those who sustained damage or lost their homes.”

The legislation bars local governments from raising building permit or inspection fees for six months following a declared hurricane or tropical storm emergency. It also requires counties and municipalities to publish storm-specific permitting guides and develop annual post-disaster plans that include expedited permitting, staffing protocols, and contingency agreements for mutual aid.

Homeowners would see expanded flexibility when repairing or rebuilding damaged structures. Under the bill, a home may be rebuilt up to 2,000 square feet—or 130 percent of its original size—before triggering a reassessment of its property tax value. The measure also eliminates “lookback” periods that penalized property owners for previous repairs when calculating storm-related damage.

The bill strengthens the state’s Division of Emergency Management by expanding its inventory and reporting requirements, directing it to manage the federal Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, and mandating detailed annual reports on disaster-related expenditures and assets. Emergency response contracts must now include penalty provisions for breach of agreement.

Other changes include increased training requirements for local officials, annual hurricane readiness sessions across all regions, and clear authority for Florida National Guard members to provide medical services during emergencies. The legislation also aims to improve shelter capacity, particularly for individuals with special needs, by prioritizing retrofits of non-school public buildings and facilitating co-sheltering for caregivers and dependents.

In addition, the bill prohibits redevelopment moratoriums in storm-impacted areas within 100 miles of a hurricane’s path and provides temporary tax relief for agricultural equipment damaged during recent storms. The Department of Environmental Protection is tasked with identifying infrastructure at heightened flood risk and reporting those findings.