Last week marked the final interim committee meetings for the Florida Legislature in advance of the 2020 legislative session. As 2020 is an even year, session will kick off this earlier this year, with lawmakers set to convene on January 14.
As always, your FHBA government relations team continues to monitor potential legislation that will impact the building industry and advocate on your behalf.
In Tallahassee, staff stayed busy with stakeholder meetings regarding HB295 (sponsored by Rep. David Santiago of Deltona) and its companion in the Senate, SB948 (sponsored by Senator Dennis Baxley of Belleview) addressing right to cure claim reform. This legislation is intended to eliminate paltry claims by defining “material violation” and requiring a claim under the notice and right to cure law to be made under oath, along with specific proof provided by the claimant, and an opportunity for the contractor to inspect the defect within the statutory timeframe. This legislation remains high priority for FHBA as we head into this year’s session.
On Wednesday, staff also testified on behalf of the building industry in the House Business & Professions Subcommittee with regard to HB283. This bill, sponsored by Hillsborough County‘s Rep. Jackie Toledo, addresses a number of issues with liens and bonds. The bill was passed favorably by the committee and will now await a hearing by the House Civil Justice Subcommittee. You can read a summary of this bill here.
Also this week, Doug Buck and Dane Bennett represented FHBA at the Florida Building Commission’s December plenary session in St. Augustine. 
Key agenda items included a rule’s workshop for the 8th Edition of the Florida Building Code, along with process options for adopting the 8th Edition for 2023. Commission staff will be working on the voted upon rules and procedures to present at February’s meeting in Orlando.
As the week came to a close, staff also attended a fundraiser in St. Augustine for Senator Hutson. Sen. Hutson has sponsored SB998 for the 2020 legislative session which is a comprehensive rewrite to Florida’s Affordable Housing Program.
As always, FHBA staff stands ready to serve our members best interest as we gear up for an excited and likely intense 2020 session.