SB 1596: Employment of Minors; HB 49: Employment, Curfew of Minors/Preemption of Local Laws Regulating Presence of Minors in Public Places

• SB 1596 (Sen. Burgess) has passed its first two of three committees of reference on a party-line vote and was amended three times during its committee hearings. HB 49 is in the proper posture for its final committee hearing in the Commerce Committee. HB 49 (Rep. Chaney) is currently in its first of three committees of reference—the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee.
• The bills revise certain employment restrictions for minors 16 and 17 years of age and revise the age at which employment restrictions apply. Further, the bills require a curfew adopted by a county or municipal ordinance to include certain exceptions.

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• SB 1492 (Sen. Trumbull) is currently in its first of three committees of reference—the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee. HB 433 (Rep. Esposito) passed its first of three committees last week and is now in its second committee—the House Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee.
• The bills preempt regulation of heat exposure requirements in the workplace to the state and provide those certain local laws, ordinances, resolutions, regulations, rules, codes, policies, and amendments are void and prohibited. The bills require the Department of Commerce to adopt rules relating to workplace heat exposure requirements if OSHA has not done so by a specific date and prohibit local governments from mandating or imposing requirements or seeking information from persons relating to certain requirements.

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• SB 472 (Sen. Brodeur) is currently in its first of three committees of reference—the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee. HB 569 (Rep. McFarland) passed its first of three committees of reference last week on a nearly unanimous vote after being amended. It is currently in the House Appropriations Committee.
• SB 472 increases the statutory limits on liability for tort claims against the state and its agencies and subdivisions and prohibits an insurance policy from conditioning payment of benefits on the enactment of a claim bill. The bill specifies that the limitations in effect on the date a final judgment is entered apply to that claim.
• HB 569 is a broader bill that abolishes the common-law doctrine of home venue privilege with respect to action against the state and increases statutory limits on liability for tort claims against the state and its agencies and subdivisions. The proposal authorizes subdivisions of the state to settle claims in excess of statutory limits without further action by the Legislature regardless of insurance coverage limits and prohibits insurance policies from conditioning payment of benefits on enactment of the claim bill. Further, the bill specifies that limitations in effect on the date the final judgment is entered apply to that claim and requires DFS to adjust limitations on tort liability every year. Additionally, HB 569 revises the period within which certain claims must be present to certain entities. It revises the exceptions relating to instituting actions on tort claims against the state or one of its agencies or subdivisions. Finally, the bill revises the period after which failure of certain entities to make a final disposition of a claim shall be deemed a final denial of the claim and revises the statute of limitations for tort claims against the state or one of its agencies or subdivisions.?

SB 1144; HB 609: Local Business Tax

• SB 1144 (Sen. DiCeglie) is currently in its first of three committees of reference—the Senate Community Affairs Committee. HB 609 (Rep. Botana) was discussed during its first committee hearing in the House Ways and Means Committee—where it currently sits—but no votes were taken.
• The bills repeal the statutory provisions relating to local business taxes.

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• SB 576 (Sen. Ingoglia) is currently in its first of three committees of reference—the Senate Criminal Justice Committee. HB 601 (Rep. Duggan) passed its first of three committees of reference and is currently in its second committee—the House Criminal Justice Subcommittee.
• SB 576 revises the definition of “political subdivision” and prohibits a political subdivision from adopting or attempting to enforce certain ordinances relating to the receipt, processing, or investigation of complaints against law enforcement officers or correctional officers or relating to civilian oversight of law enforcement agency investigations of complaints of misconduct by such officers.
• HB 601 preempts regulation of complaints against law enforcement officers and correctional officers to the state.?

?HB 1: Social Media Use for Minors

HB 1 (McFarland) requires social media platforms to prohibit minors from creating new accounts, terminate accounts, and provide additional options for termination of such accounts. The bill requires reasonable age verification methods to verify the ages of account holders, the disclosure of specified policies, and the provision of specified resources, measures, and disclaimers. Authorizes DLA to bring actions for violations under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.

• Favorable by Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee; 13 Yeas, 1 Nay
• Now in Judiciary Committee

HB 3: Online Access to Materials Harmful to Minors

HB 3 (Overdorf) requires a commercial entity that publishes or distributes material harmful to minors on certain websites & applications to perform reasonable age verification, prevent certain access, & provide for reporting unauthorized or unlawful access. Prohibits retention of certain personal identifying information and authorizes DLA to bring action under Florida Deceptive & Unfair Trade Practices Act for violations. Will provide civil penalties, private causes of action, and that certain commercial entities are subject to jurisdiction of state courts.

• Favorable by Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee; 13 Yeas, 0 Nays
• The Committee Substitute Text (C1) has been filed 

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SB 328: Affordable Housing

SB 328 (Calatayud) prohibits counties and municipalities, respectively, from restricting the floor area ratio of certain proposed developments under certain circumstances. Authorizes counties and municipalities to restrict the height of proposed developments under certain circumstances and requires them to consider reducing parking requirements under certain circumstances. Revises conditions for when multifamily projects are considered property for a charitable purpose and are eligible to receive an ad valorem property tax exemption, etc., appropriation: $100,000,000

• Favorable with CS by Community Affairs; 8 Yeas, 0 Nays
• The Committee Substitute Text (C1) has been filed
• Now in Fiscal Policy 

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• Referred to Energy, Communications & Cybersecurity Subcommittee; Ways & Means Committee; Commerce Committee
• Now in Energy, Communications & Cybersecurity Subcommittee

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HB 1221: Land Use and Development Regulations

HB 1221 (McClain) Revises mechanisms by which owners of agricultural lands apply for and are granted rezonings. Revises requirements for use by local governments in reviewing applications for agricultural enclaves and types of data on which comprehensive plans and plan amendments must be based. It revises the means by which methodology is applied in data collection, whether a particular methodology is professionally accepted and evaluated, and criteria for adopting small-scale development amendment. Revises content requirements for local land development regulations and mechanisms by which applications for infill development must be administratively approved.

• Filed 1/4/24
• Not yet referenced to committees