TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed another batch of nine bills on Tuesday, covering issues like homeowners’ associations, financial exploitation, and HVAC systems.
All nine bills were received by DeSantis’ office last week alongside 18 others. DeSantis has until June 5 to act on the remaining bills.
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According to the Legislative Analyses, these new laws include the following:
HB 59 — HOA Rules and Covenants
House Bill 59 changes rules surrounding homeowners’ associations.
Specifically, the bill requires HOAs to provide a physical or digital copy of their rules and covenants to each of its members by Oct. 1 — as well as to all new members going forward.
In addition, the law requires HOAs to provide an updated copy of its rules to its members whenever they are updated.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
HB 141 — Economic Development
House Bill 141 eliminates several requirements related to the Regional Rural Development Grants Program.
That program is meant to help rural communities use their resources to attract new businesses into their areas.
Under HB 141, the following changes will take place:
- Removes requirements for grant funds received by a regional development organization to be matched each year by nonstate resources in an amount of 25% of state contributions
- Removes the requirement for local governments and private businesses to make financial or in-kind commitments to the regional organization
- Removes the requirement that the Florida Department of Commerce consider the demonstrated need of the applicant for assistance when approving participants for the program
The law goes into effect on July 1.
HB 149 — Continuing Contracts
House Bill 149 increases the limit for continuing contracts covered by the Consultants’ Competitive Negotiation Act (CCNA).
The CCNA was passed in 1973, and it requires state and local governments to procure services from professionals like architects and engineers on the basis of qualifications rather than just price.
In addition, the CCNA doesn’t prohibit continuing contracts, which are contracts where a hired firm provides services on several projects.
This law ups the maximum threshold for continuing contracts under the CCNA from an estimated per-project construction cost of $4 million to $7.5 million (plus an annual increase based on the CPI).
The law goes into effect on July 1.
HB 293 — Hurricane Protections for HOAs
House Bill 293 improves hurricane protections for homeowners’ associations.
Under this law, HOAs must adopt hurricane protection specifications for each structure governed by the HOA. Those specifications can include factors like the color and style of hurricane protection products.
Additionally, HOAs are prohibited from denying applications to install or replace hurricane protection by a parcel owner — just so long as it conforms with the HOA’s adopted specifications.
According to the Legislative Analysis, “hurricane protection” includes roof systems; permanent fixed or roll-down track storm shutters; impact-resistant windows and doors; polycarbonate panels; reinforced garage doors; erosion controls; exterior fixed generators; and fuel storage tanks.
The law went into effect upon being signed.
HB 481 — HVAC System Regulations
House Bill 481 deals with construction regulations involving HVAC systems.
The law expands the scope of work for certain HVAC system contractors to include specified line-side repairs or replacements, as well as the repair/replacement of specific components for HVAC circuits.
In addition, the law prohibits an HVAC system warranty from being conditioned on product registration. Instead, the full length of such a warrant’s coverage term would begin on the date a contractor installed the system.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
HB 535 — Low-Voltage Electric Fences
House Bill 535 clarifies rules surrounding low-voltage electric fences.
Specifically, the law clarifies that a nonelectric fence or wall must only be completely enclosed on the outside perimeter of a low-voltage electric fence, but it doesn’t have to be completely enclosed on both sides.
In addition, the law requires a low-voltage electric fence to be 2 feet higher than the perimeter nonelectric fence or wall.
Beyond that, the law mandates that local governments allow low-voltage electric fences in areas not exclusively zoned for single- or multi-family residential use.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
HB 705 — Public Works Projects
House Bill 705 amends the definition of “public works project” under state law.
Current rules prohibit the state or political subdivisions that contract for a public works project using state funds from imposing certain requirements on contractors for these projects.
Under HB 705, the definition includes all projects paid for with local funds as well as state-appropriated funds. The bill also clarifies that the definition doesn’t include goods, services or work that are incidental to these projects.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
SB 556 — Protection from Financial Exploitation
Senate Bill 556 provides more protections for specified adults ages 65 years and older, as well as vulnerable adults who might be victims of financial exploitation.
Under this law, financial institutions can delay disbursements or transactions of funds from an account of a specified or vulnerable adult under the following conditions:
- There is a reasonable belief that financial exploitation of the specified adult is at play.
- The financial institution provides written notice to all parties authorized to transact business on the account (as well as trusted contacts) within three business days after the delay was first placed.
- A state-chartered financial institution notifies the Office of Financial Regulation of the delay within three business days after the delay was first placed.
- The financial institution must start an internal review of the facts that caused the employee to believe that financial exploitation was at play.
Any such delay in a disbursement/transaction expires in 15 business days, though it may be extended for an additional 30 business days.
The law goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2025.
SB 644 — Rural Emergency Hospitals
Senate Bill 644 establishes a new hospital designation type: “Rural Emergency Hospital.”
Under this law, rural hospitals licensed in FY2010-2011 or FY2011-2012 will have their licensure expiration date moved from June 30, 2025 to June 30, 2031.
The law goes into effect on July 1.
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