Preview of 2025 Construction-Related Legislative Issues
Organizational Session takes place on November 19 and Tallahassee will be abuzz as 120 House members and twenty new Senators will be sworn- in to office . Legislative Committee meetings for House members kick-off on December 2 and state senators will meet the week of December 9 . Both Chambers will be back to the Capitol on January 13 and committee meetings will occur for five weeks prior to the March commencement of the Legislative Session . Some of the key construction-related issues being discussed currently are outlined below .
Ø Contractor V-NUCA will be seeking to expand the scope of work for underground utility contractors as it pertains to fire suppression lines .
Ø Damage Prevention / Sunshine 811 — After workshops this past summer with members of Sunshine 811 , the group has decided not to pursue legislation in 2025 . Scott Johnson was appointed to the Sunshine 811 Legislative Committee .
Ø Growth Management Land Use Compatibility-Some groups will be seeking to better define the limits of Land Use Compatibility within the growth management statutes .
Ø Mitigation Bank Credits-Developers will look to bring the state mitigation banking process in line with the federal process which allows developers to go to adjacent basins to borrow credits . Army Corps allows a proximity factor to get credits from an adjacent basin . Some areas of the state are without credits causing development delays .
Ø Statute of Repose — Reducing the statute of repose from 10 years to 7 years was a huge victory for our industry ( think construction defects ); however , last year a provision was added to the condominium law that affects HOAs / developments extending the Statute of Repose past the 7-year mark . Efforts to restore the initial timeline will ensue .
Ø Impact Fees- Local Governments are enacting impact fees that exceed the limits set forth through statute . There will be legislative initiatives to curb jurisdictions from imposing exorbitant impact fees by defining “ extraordinary circumstances ” for situations whereby a jurisdiction wants to pierce the allowable cap of up to a 50 percent increase over a four-year period .
Ø Moratorium on Development-Several local governments are currently imposing or considering moratoriums on development and a “ NIMBY ” attitude is prevalent .
Ø Private Providers — Contractors and owners have the option to use private providers for building inspections and the industry wants to make changes to ensure local governments don ’ t create obstacles delaying inspections .
Ø Swimming Pools — The FSPA has proposed a comprehensive measure to clarify the scope of work for the various levels of swimming pool and spa contractors . Part of the proposal includes specifying that a pool contractor may perform excavation .
Ø Workforce — All the construction trades are grappling with ways to expand workforce initiatives and many lawmakers have expressed ideas to create a workforce pipeline .
Ø Construction Fraud — For the past several years , legislation has been introduced to target the bad actors and fraudulent activity in the construction trades . FHBA will be proposing a measure to deal with construction fraud .
Ø Permitting — There will be legislation aimed at increasing transparency in permitting fees and further reducing timelines .
Ø Roofing — The FRSA will seek reforms to the statutes on the roofing provisions as they relate to property insurance .
Ø Cranes — In light of the recent crane collapse in St . Petersburg , we expect efforts to pass specific regulations during high-wind events .
Ø Live Local Act — The omnibus law passed two years ago has been getting mixed reviews by local jurisdictions with several cities and counties opting out of the law due to the tax-break implications for the affordable housing projects and subsequent impact on government revenues . Expect more “ tweaks ” to improve the measure and expand affordable housing by offering more incentives to builders and developers .