The Florida Legislature has passed a bill to increase funding for the My Safe Florida Home Program by $200 million.

The Florida Legislature has approved a bill that allocates an additional $200 million to the My Safe Florida Home Program.

Senate Bill 7028, now awaiting Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature, also restricts the Department of Financial Services from accepting new applications or creating a waiting list once the funds are exhausted, ensuring a cap on the program’s commitments.

Lawmakers amended the initial drafting of the bill, increasing the provisional funding from $107 million to the approved $200 million.

Last November, the Florida Senate approved legislation to address the existing backlog within the My Safe Florida Home Program, allocating $176 million in funding. At the time of the funding package’s ratification, the program was paused due to a growing backlog of applications exceeding 17,000, alongside a lack of funds. According to the state website, applicants whose grant status indicated “Submitted” were unable to be attended to until additional funding was appropriated by the Florida Legislature.

Reinstated in 2022 amid an ongoing rise in property insurance costs, the My Safe Florida Home Program provides free evaluations to eligible homeowners in Florida to strengthen homes against large-scale storms. Between May 2022 and February 2023, a total of 16,724 mitigation inspections were completed and 2,979 grant applications were approved.

This week, Senate lawmakers passed legislation that would extend the scope of the existing My Safe Florida Home Program to include condominium associations. The measure introduces the My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program (MSFCP), aligning with the goals of the 2006-initiated My Safe Florida Home Program, which offered inspection services and financial grants to owners of single-family, site-built residences for the purpose of hurricane damage mitigation. Notably, provisions had not previously been extended to condominiums.

The MSFCP enables condominium associations to secure services from licensed inspectors to assess their buildings’ susceptibility to hurricane impacts and to obtain grants for essential fortifications, subject to available funding.