Week Eight: March 6, 2026

On Tap @ the Cap is your weekly update on what’s happening in Tallahassee during the legislative session and what it means for Florida’s cities.

This is the second-to-last week of the scheduled 60 days of session. At this point, committees in both chambers have concluded their meetings, and bills are almost exclusively heard on the floor. As bills are sent between the chambers, it's important to stay vigilant of amendments. Please continue to stay close to your devices and keep an eye out for any communication from the League.

Budget and Property Taxes

At this point in session, the Legislature would typically be finalizing the state budget and preparing it for final passage. State law requires the budget to be publicly available for 72 hours before a vote. Based on that timeline, the budget would need to be posted by Tuesday for the Legislature to vote on it by next Friday, the final day of the scheduled 60-day session. At this time, a Tuesday posting appears unlikely.

If the Legislature cannot reach an agreement on a budget before the end of the regular session, lawmakers would either need to extend the session or adjourn and return later in a special session to complete the budget. It remains unclear which option they may pursue if a final agreement is not reached next week. We will continue to keep you informed of any decisions regarding a possible extension or special session.

If the session is extended or a special session is called, the scope of that action is also uncertain. It is possible that budget negotiations could be tied to ongoing discussions related to property tax proposals. As more information becomes available on the Legislature’s direction regarding property tax reform, we will provide updates.

Bills Heard

Suits Against the Government (Monitor) 

CS/SB 1366 (Brodeur) is the Senate’s proposal to reform Florida’s sovereign immunity statute. The bill increases tort liability caps for claims accruing on or after October 1, 2026, to $350,000 per person and $500,000 per incident, while preserving the existing requirement that any payment above those caps must be approved by the Legislature through a claims bill unless fully paid within available insurance limits. (Cruz)

CS/SB 1366 was heard in the Senate Rules Committee meeting on Tuesday and passed on a 21-1 vote. The bill has been placed on the Senate Special Order Calendar for Tuesday, March 10, and will be heard on the floor.

Utility Services (Oppose)

CS/CS/HB 1451 (Busatta) eliminates the automatic 25% surcharge on extraterritorial water and sewer service, requires equal rates for certain inter-municipal utility customers, and mandates annual reporting to the Florida Public Service Commission starting in 2027 for utilities providing extraterritorial services. (O’Hara)

CS/CS/HB 1451 was heard on the House floor on Tuesday and passed on an 81-26 vote. The bill has been sent to the Senate for consideration.

CS/CS/CS/SB 1014 (Mayfield) mandates that a municipal utility provide extraterritorial service. (O’Hara)

The Senate bill has been placed on the House Special Order Calendar for Monday, March 9, and will be heard on the House floor.

Local Government Spending (Monitor) 

CS/CS/HB 1329 (Benarroch) and CS/CS/CS/SB 1566 (DiCeglie) expand statutory requirements governing online publication, accessibility, and public transparency of county and municipal budget information. (Wagoner)

CS/CS/HB 1329 was heard on the House floor on Wednesday and passed on an 82-28 vote. The bill was sent to the Senate, where it was substituted with CS/CS/SB 1566 for the House bill. CS/CS/HB 1329 was subsequently heard today, amended, and passed on the Senate floor by a 34-0 vote. Due to the fact that the Senate amended the House bill, CS/CS/HB 1329 was sent back to the House for consideration.

Qualified Contractors (Oppose)

CS/CS/CS/HB 927 (Sapp) and CS/CS/SB 1138 (Massullo) require certain counties and municipalities to create development preapplication consulting programs and use qualified private contractors to assist with reviewing specific development approvals. (Cruz)

Both bills were heard on Thursday. CS/CS/CS/HB 927 was heard first on the House floor and passed on a 110-0 vote. Upon approval by the House, the bill was sent to the Senate. The Senate substituted CS/CS/SB 1138 for the House bill and voted for CS/CS/CS/HB 927 on the Senate floor and passed the bill by a 33-0 vote. The bill has now passed both chambers and will be sent to the Governor for his signature or veto.

Affordable Housing/Live Local Act (Monitor)

SB 1548 (Calatayud) and CS/CS/HB 1389 (Redondo) amend the Live Local Act (LLA) and the Florida Fair Housing Act. (O’Hara)

CS/CS/HB 1389 was heard on the House floor on Wednesday and passed on a 76-29 vote. The bill has been sent to the Senate for consideration.

SB 1548 was heard Tuesday in the Senate Rules Committee meeting and passed on a 21-0 vote. The bill was then placed on the Senate Special Order Calendar for Friday, where it was substituted for the House bill. CS/CS/HB 1389 was amended and voted for, passing on a 34-0 vote. Due to the fact that the Senate amended the House bill, CS/CS/HB 1389 was sent back to the House for consideration.

Transportation (Oppose)

CS/CS/CS/SB 1220 (Massullo) is a broad transportation bill that contains multiple provisions with local government implications, including provisions that would narrow municipal authority over the placement, maintenance, regulation, and permitting of communications facilities in the right-of-way. (Singer)

CS/CS/CS/SB 1220 was heard on the Senate floor on Wednesday and passed by a 35-1 vote. The bill has been sent to the House for consideration.

Impact Fees (Oppose)

CS/CS/HB 1139 (Gentry) substantially revises Florida’s impact fee framework by imposing new substantive and procedural constraints on how local governments, school districts, and special districts calculate, justify, and increase impact fees. (Cruz)

The bill was heard on the House floor on Wednesday and passed on a 109-2 vote. The bill has been sent to the Senate for consideration.

View All Legislative Bill Summaries

What You Can Do 


Please reach out to your local legislators and inform them of how your municipality raises and uses property taxes. We want to ensure legislators are aware of the real-world implications of property tax reform for municipalities and their citizens. Find your legislators' contact information in the Capitol Contacts Directory.