Palm Beach County State Legislative Update

Week of March 24

UPDATES FROM THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH

Governor DeSantis Releases Awards for Water Quality and Resiliency Projects

Governor Ron DeSantis announced more than $389 million in grants to improve water quality and quantity across Florida this week. The funding includes $189 million in Water Quality Improvement Grants and $55 million in Alternative Water Supply Grants. Additionally, the Governor awarded $13.5 million in Resilient Florida Planning Grants and $225 million in Resilient Florida Implementation Grants. Wetlands Restoration and Protection Grants were also announced.

Palm Beach County was awarded the following funding for four critical projects in our community:

• Prosperity Farms Road Bridge Adaptation - $4,000,000
• Green Cay Wetlands Indirect Potable Reuse Reclaimed Water - $3,792,400
• Habitat Restoration of Eastern Loxahatchee Slough - $300,000
• East Main Street Sanitary Sewer Lateral Installation Project - $263,300

UPDATES FROM THE LEGISLATURE

House and Senate Release Budget Proposals

The Florida House and Senate have released their proposed state budgets for Fiscal Year (FY) 25-26. The House proposal totals $112.95 billion in spending, while the Senate’s budget comes in at approximately $117.36 billion. These budgets will be voted on next week, placing the bills in the proper posture to be reconciled during budget conference later in the legislative session.

House Budget

Speaker of the House Danny Perez (R-Miami) announced that the House budget proposal will permanently cut the sales tax rate from 6% to 5.25%. If successful, it would be the largest tax cut in state history. Accounting for this significant reduction in revenues from sales tax, the House budget proposal totals $112.95 billion. This is $6 billion less than the current fiscal year’s budget and $2.7 billion less than the budget Governor DeSantis proposed earlier this year.

Some highlights include $200 million for the Resilient Florida Grant Program, $55 million for facility repairs and maintenance at state correctional institutions, $285 million for affordable housing including $50 million for the Hometown Heroes program, $483 million for the My Safe Florida Home Program, and $12 billion to be kept in state reserves.

Funding for two additional circuit court judges is provided for Palm Beach County’s 15^th Judicial Circuit and one additional county court judge.

The House also released its budget implementing and conforming bills. In one of these conforming bills the House proposes to eliminate a 10-year, $500 million health innovation loan program created by a recently enacted law which was part of former Senate President Kathleen Passidomo’s “Live Healthy” initiative. Included in these bills is also a repeal of the Local Trail Management Grant program offered by the Department of Environmental Protection, as well as an express ban on using state funding for programs that promote diversity, equity and inclusion.

Senate Budget

The Senate budget proposal sits at $117.36 billion, which is $1.3 billion less than the adjusted total budget for FY 24-25.

Highlights from this proposal include $403.8 million for affordable housing programs including $150 million for Hometown Heroes, $500 million for the Emergency Preparedness and Response Trust Fund, $200 million in appropriations as designated by the Rural Renaissance bill (SB 110), $80 million for VISIT Florida, and funding for two additional county court judges in Palm Beach County. The Senate’s budget eliminates 967 vacant, but currently funded position sand authorizes the early payment of $600 million in state debt.

The House and Senate are $4.4 billion apart with their budgets at this time, a very large difference that must be reconciled in the conference process. An announcement about when conference will take place is expected in the next two weeks.

Palm Beach County Appropriations Project Requests

To be eligible for conference and potential funding in the final budget, an appropriations project request must be funded in at least one chamber’s budget proposal. The Senate will review and consider amendments to its proposal on Wednesday in committee, providing an opportunity for additional projects to be eligible for funding in the final budget.

Of the 13 appropriation projects submitted by Palm Beach County, 12 have been included in at least one chamber’s proposal. We are currently working with members of our legislative delegation to introduce a budget amendment in the Senate for the final project to ensure all submitted requests qualify for conference. Below is a table reflecting where each of the projects submitted currently stand.

Palm Beach County priority projects for various entities and their current funding status are also included below. Palm Beach County Delegation Members may be filing amendments to the budget in the Senate Appropriations Committee for these projects, therefore, those that are not yet funded may be partially funded by Wednesday.

South Florida AgriCenter and Emergency Shelter at the South Florida Fairgrounds: $0 (Senate), $0 (House)

Let's Move 365! Health Initiative for Low Income Families & Elderly: $500,000 (Senate), $0 (House)

Busch Wildlife Sanctuary's Environmental Education Program: $500,000 (Senate), $250,000 (House)

Boca Helping Hands (BHH) Job Training Program: $427,700 (Senate), $0 (House)

HB 4011, Palm Beach County

A local bill, HB 4011, introduced by Representative Kelly Skidmore at the request of Palm Beach County has unanimously passed its second of three committees this week. This revises the Building Code Advisory Board of Palm Beach County’s Special Act to amend the definition of “building official” as it pertains to the BCAB. Currently, only full-time government employees qualify to serve on the BCAB, excluding part-time contracted staff and private providers that are now increasingly relied upon by local governments. This restriction has led to vacancies, undermining the Board’s effectiveness and ability to meet quorum requirements.

Expanding the definition will enable the Board of County Commissioners to appoint qualified professionals more efficiently, ensuring the BCAB operates at full capacity to serve municipalities, residents, and the broader construction and regulatory community. 

HB 365 & SB 382, Rent of Affordable Dwelling Units

These bills, introduced at the request of Palm Beach County by Representative Debra Tendrich and Senator Mack Bernard, were unanimously passed in committee this week. The bills prohibit a landlord from increasing the rent of a unit during the term of a rental agreement if the unit is affordable housing and receives federal, state, or local funding or tax incentives. However, the bill does not prohibit such landlords from increasing the rent when the tenant is renewing the rental agreement or if they are required to for compliance with federal laws, rules, and regulations. The bills only apply to agreements with a term of 13 months or less that are entered into on or after July 1, 2026. The House bill has one more committee to pass through. The Senate companion bill has two more committee references.

SB 810, Stormwater Management Systems

SB 810 mandates annual inspections of all permitted stormwater systems by municipal separate storm sewer (MS4) entities. These inspections must identify infrastructure vulnerable to blockage, failure, or deterioration that could lead to flooding and property damage. MS4 entities must complete a stormwater facility inspection checklist and submit it to the Department of Environmental Protection and the Division of Emergency Management by September 1, 2026, and annually by June 1 thereafter. The bill will be heard in its final committee of reference next week. There is no House companion currently, but the legislation could be amended into another bill as session progresses. 

SB 100, Display of Flags by Governmental Entities

SB 100 was passed through its second committee of reference this week. The bill prohibits a governmental agency, local government, public school, college, or university from erecting or displaying a flag that represents a political viewpoint, including a politically partisan, racial, sexual orientation, gender, or political ideology viewpoint. Any governmental entity that displays the United States flag must do so in a way that the United States flag is in a more prominent position than any other displayed flag. The bill has one more committee before the Senate floor.

SB 1664, Local Option Taxes

This bill requires that local discretionary sales surtaxes, tourist development taxes, and local option food and beverage taxes in effect as of June 30, 2025, be renewed by January 1, 2033, through a referendum. The bill sets an 8-year duration for these taxes, except for those pledged for debt service, which can be renewed after the debt is retired. Future tax levies pledged for debt service are limited to a maximum 30-year duration. The bill has two more committees of reference in the Senate, as does the House companion bill, HB 1221.

SB 1386 & HB 857, Assault or Battery on a Utility Worker

These bills reclassify and enhance offenses that occur when a person knowingly commits an assault or battery against utility worker while the utility worker is engaged in the lawful performance of his or her official duties. The bills both passed their first of three committees this week.

SB 440, Gender Identity Employment Practices

Passed by the first of three committee references this week, SB 440 prohibits governments from requiring employees use pronouns to refer to another person that don’t match a person’s biological sex while at work. It also prohibits local governments from requiring training, instruction, or activities related to gender identity or gender expression as a job requirement. The House version of the bill has not yet been heard.

SB 818, Utility Relocation



This legislation passed its first of three committees in the Senate this week. SB 818 revises the process for the relocation of utilities used to provide broadband Internet, cable, and video service, shifting cost responsibility from the utility owner to the right-of-way authority that requires such relocation. Therefore, if the county requires the relocation of the aforementioned utilities, the county will have to pay for such relocation. The House companion bill has one more committee to pass through before being eligible for consideration by the full chamber.