Community Affairs

>> Many fairs will now come to order Lizbeth please call the roll Chair McClain here. Vice chair massullo Senator Jones. >> Senator leak there. Senator Passadomo here, Senator Pizzo Senator Sharif Senator Trumbull, a quorum is present. Thank you for staying with me for the Pledge of Allegiance. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag United States of America and to really just stands one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank thank you, please. Please. Silence all of your electronic devices. Anyone wishing to speak before the committee should complete an appearance form and hand it to a member of the sergeants office. Should you select to waive your speaking time? Your position will be included in the committee meeting records. Senators. We will move to Senator Diciglie tab 6 it. >> Around the yes. Thank you. >> Chairman to says it will take the senators will take up Tab. 6 SB 984 and firefighter cancer benefits and prevention by Senator Deciglie Senator Deciglie. You are recognized to explain the bill. >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, good afternoon. Senators for as firefighters and paramedics face the highest occupational cancer risks of any profession. In 2019, the Florida Legislature passed a firefighter cancer law at the several years of implementation. Sections of wall in the car f*** Haitian to ensure consistency and proper application. Specifically Senate Bill 94 does 3 things. One, it clarifies firefighters have access to the death benefit for one year after terminating employment allowing firefighters with terminal cancer to spend their final days at home when they're not physically able to stay on the job. Second lien on couples, a requirement for retired firefighters remain on their employer sponsored health insurance to receive a one-time payment when diagnosed with occupational cancer. And this will help transition firefighters to less expensive health plans and gives imports financial and administrative benefits. Mister Chairman, that is the bill. Thank you, Senator Deciglie for the explanation. Other questions on the bill. >> Their parents for lawns. There are Josep Hightower waving in sport. Yes. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Thank you. That is all the appearance forms we have. Is there any debate on the bill? Senator Deciglie recognize close on your bill. >> I ask for your favorable support on this great Bill. Lizbeth. Please call the role on SB 94. >> Senator Jones, senator leak. Yes, senator passadomo. Yes. Senator pizzo. Yes. Senator Sharif, Senator Trumbull, vice chair massullo. Yes. Chair McClain. Yes. Senator Jones. Just walk to Senator Jones. Yeah. On the firefighter cancer bill. Oh, yes, it is. >> To to already said yeah. By your vote SB 94 is reported favorably. Thank you, Senator Deciglie for that now. Now we move on to Tab 11 and that is also by Senator Diciglie Diciglie SB 1612, on electronic payments to local governments by Senator Deciglie. Senator Deciglie. You are recognized to explain the bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. >> This bill requires each unit of local government and each department's of agency and a vision of such units of local government to accept electronic payment online by use of credit cards, charge cards, bank debit cards and electronic fund transfers for payments received by and financial obligations owed to the local government. And senators. This is a great going to tell you why every once in a while we get a real life situation with a problem in this case, there's a business owner who does business with local governments, local government that they don't take anything except checks and the spending and no, no exaggeration, tens of thousands of dollars for overnight mail to send in the Czech. Sometimes the check takes, you know, or local governments take a week to process the checks. So so this bill addresses that and that is the Bill. Mister Chairman, thank you for the explanation. Other questions on the bill. >> There are there. There is an appearance form hard. We've that's art Woodruff is waiving against. That's all the appearance forms that we have. Is there any debate on the bill? Senator Deciglie you're recognize close on the bill. >> The individual who is waiving against I love to speak to my office. If that's okay with that, I close Sir. >> Lizbeth please call the role on SB 1612. >> Senator Jones, senator leak. Yes. Senator passidomo senator pizzo. Yes. Senator Sharif. Yes. Senator Trumbull. Vice chair massullo. Yes. Chair McClain. Yes. >> By your vote SB 1612, is reported favorably for months to get served. That will move to Tab. 8 SB 1180, on community development district recall elections by Senator Arrington Senator Arrington. You're recognized to explain the bill. >> Thank you. And good afternoon. Chair McClain vice chair massullo and members of the committee SB 1180. Was created in direct response to concerns from residents of Concord Estates. A community development district in my Senate district. These residents were seeking clarity about what legal to use tools were available to address the misuse of their money, paid the assessment but were able to find. Then it became clear that Florida law, LAX, regulatory oversight or protective safeguards for CDs SB 1180, establishes a recall framework for elected board members that is similar to what already exists in statute for municipality recalls. Under current statute, residents have very limited options to hold cdd members accountable in practice removal removal typically occurs only after law enforcement becomes involved in a lengthy investigation or legal process unfold. During that time, individuals accused of misconduct may remain in office, continuing making financial decisions they retain control over the community's funds. This is the current case for the cdd. I represent Concord Estates. Concord Estates was approved by a lot OT it by J Lack back in November after gross negligence and fraud in the mount of 2 million dollars was alleged. This bill is about protecting homeowners, strengthening transparency, ensuring that committee funds are managed responsibly. That is the bill, Mister chair. But I do have a strike all adding some additional language. >> Thank you, senator. In front Arrington for the explanation. Other questions on the bill. If not, we'll move to the strike. Yeah. So there is one amendment will take up amendment 3, 3, 7, 6, 2, by Senator Arrington centering thing. You are recognized to explain the bill the amendment. >> Thank you, Mister Chair of this strike. All Amendment adds 2 separate provisions relating to CDs. It includes clarifying language to the original drafted recall process language. The true provisions include the regulation of synthetic turf and expansion of the definition of compact urban mixed use. District regulation of synthetic turf was created during the 2025 legislative session. And that statute prohibits local governments from adopting or enforcing measures that prohibit property owners from installing scented turf. Cds and joeys are planned communities which have Deaton streets trick shuns and as a regulatory authority, they're allowed to enforce those restrictions. The newly created statute from last year creates an unintended consequence that will prevent CDs from enforcing their deed restrictions as it's related to synthetic turf. This amendment will allow CDs to operate. Has regulatory authority enforced 30 de deed restrictions in relation to synthetic uttered just as H.O.A. is can. The second portion is CDs these are often used in traditional single-family housing developments. In 2009, the Legislature created a framework for CDs and compact urban mixed use districts that include residential and retail development. This amendment brought inside definition even further to include projects that are qualified opportunity zones and include at least 250,000 Square feet of commercial development and 500 residential real rental units, residential rentals that are affordable in nature. Lastly, the strike all includes clarify language to the recall process. It streamlines language so that provisions of the bill only apply to cdd board members elected by the voters of the district. It also requires that the recall committee submit the forms to the city or county clerk instead of the Department of Commerce. Finally changes the procedures for verifying petition signatures. When a cdd lies and more than one county, these changes allow local ordinances to handle the recall process and for the supervisors to handle the election without involving the Department of Commerce. That is the Amendment. Mister Chair. >> Thank you for that explanation. Are there questions on the amendment? Are there are up and there are no appearance forms on the amendment. Is there any debate on the amendment centering you reckon that Arrington? You're recognized to close on the amendment. I waive close. Mister chair in favor of men. Amendment say yea, yea, all opposed say nay. The amendment is adopted. We now back on the bill as amended. Are there questions on the bill as amended? Are there appearance forms? There is one Woodruff is waiving in support. That is all of the appearance forms that we have. Is there debate on the bill as amended seeing none. Senator, you're recognized to close on the bill as amended. >> Thank you, Mister Chair. I just want to thank you for adding it to today's agenda and for committee staff helping us with these amendments. Appreciate everyone's support. Thank you. >> Elizabeth, please call the Roll on CS for SB 1180. >> Senator Jones, Senator Lee. Yes, senator Passadomo senator Pizzo Senator Sharif yet Senator Trumbull Senator vice chair massullo yet the chair McClain yes. >> By your vote will show SB 1182 reported favorably. Thank you, senators. We're going to move to tab through re. That is a that will be. What are you have to turn the gavel over to my vice chair. >> Very good. We'll take up tab. 3 Senate Bill 936. Temporary door locking devices. Vice Chair McClain, Senator McClain, you're recognized. Thank you, Chairman. Get a >> SB 936. Allows for temporary door locking devices to be installed at any height above the finished floor of a building. The bill defines temper a door locking devices and the criteria must meet when installed. And it directs the Florida Building Commission to incorporate the standards and to the Florida building code. That is the bill. >> Mr. Chairman, any questions questions of the sponsor on this bill? Any questions? All right. No questions. We have new amendments, any appearance cards. All right. We're in debate debate on this good bill. It will shut the door. Senator McClain, you're recognized close. I will. >> Shut the door away from you in close or how close the door and way. Yeah. Wave whatever it is. Elizabeth, please call the role on SB 936. >> Senator Jones, senator leak Senator Passadomo. But Senator Pizzo Senator Sharif. Yes. Senator Trumbull, vice chair massullo. Yes. Chair McClain. Yes, yes. >> By your vote will show SB 936, reported favorably OK and now will pass the gavel back to Chair McClain. >> Thank you, Senator Massullo. Now we'll move on to Tab 2 Cs for SB 380, on legal notices by Senator Trumbull Senator Trumbull. You're recognized to explain the bill. >> Thank you very much, Mr. Chair senators this bill provides greater flexibility and coughs a cost savings by allowing more options for where legal notices can be published as the bill as currently written municipality's the office of Clerks, the Office of Sorry, Parks of Circuit Court and the Office of Tax Collectors are to find a special government agencies and have the option to publish advertisements and legal notices on their own official websites. A private Web site they designate their county's website, the private Web site designated by the county or in a local newspaper. Identity refer to as, quote, other unit of local government or political subdivision will still be required to publish legal notices and advertisements on a county or county designated website this bill. Thank you. Senator Trumbull are the questions on the bill seeing that there is an amendment will take up amendment 1, 5, 9, 8, 7, 2, by Senator Trumbull. Senator Trumbull, you're recognized to explain the amendment. Thank you very much. Mister chair. The senators eye of the amendment clarifies who's covered the definition government agency will cover counties municipality's corks, of course, tax collectors, water management districts and other local government entities. I had a northwest Florida water management was in office last week and I asked them how their process works right now and in Liberty County, which is as the county seat of Bristol does not have a local newspaper. And so in this particular instance, they listed their ordinances on a bulletin board at the Piggly wiggly. So this would allow them to be able to do it on their own website. That's going to be. >> Thank you for that. Excellent, excellent explanation. Senator Trumbull on the posting of Moses in Liberty County of let's see. We do have a well. Is this on the I'm sorry? Do we have event? Okay. So there are no. Are there questions on the Amendment? I'm sorry, senator, the questions you're recognize in early with with us also played all fiscally constrained counties that they can develop their own website. Your Amendment, you're recognized. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. So it Woods, the current process would still apply. What we're saying is we're we're clarifying in this amendment who government agencies are. So, you know, they could have their own website. They could continue doing the newspaper. They can do it on on on on their county's website as well. Many other questions. All right. Seeing the there are no appearance forms for the amendment there. Is there debate on the amendment. Senator Trumbull, you're recognized close on the amendment. I waive close all in favor of amendment say yea, yea, all opposed nay. The amendment is adopted. We're back on the bill as amended. Are there questions on the bill as amended the there are appearance forms on the bill. Caroline? I believe that's no teeth. Carolyn O T good afternoon. You're recognized on what? >> Good afternoon, Mister Chair and committee members. My name is Carolyn Nulty and on the president and CEO of the Florida Press Association. I'm here today on behalf of 155 members across our great state of Florida. In opposition of SB 380, this Bill modifies legal notices publication requirements by expanding the definition of governmental agencies to include additional local government entities, such as the clerk of the court tax collectors and many more. It also allows governmental agencies to publish a legal legally required advertisements and public notices on their own publicly accessible website or the county's website if doing so is less expensive than publishing a newspaper. These legislative update updates numerous existing statutes to incorporate this new website publication option across various contacts, including judicial sales, Educational Unit Notices retirement System, notifications, Code Enforcement Board communications community can community development, District establishment school district budget hearings and other official notifications. The bill states that aims to modernize how local governments communicate important public information by recognizing the increasing role of online platforms in disseminating disseminating official notices. But it fails to provide guideline guidelines. Proposed standards are stipulations that set a minimum threshold for reaching Floridians if passed this bill as it is, will further fragment and dilute important governmental communications to Florida of Florida residents. Currently 86% of Floridians can sue local news either pregnant or digitally. Additionally, Florida public notices dot com and gauges Floridians with an additional 1 million views resulting in 2 million events annually. Currently Florida Press Association operates the largest public notice website in the state. It's the only site that represents all 67 counties. As a result, it's the state's largest public notice database with the largest audience because of its size, Florida. Public notice website is easily found by individuals through Google search seeking how to place a public notice. In fact, when Googling how do you place a public notice? In Florida? Fda site appears with the directly 2, 3, of the govett it a coveted Google AI search. It's the only site in the state to do so. The Florida Press Association has listened to feedback from last session as well as the past few months. We are modernizing and investing in Florida. Public notices dot com, which will enable it to operate as a self-service model for the public and governmental agencies with the high amount of traffic coming to our site through search results, Florida presses staff has received hundreds of inquiries a month from individuals wanting to place a public notice to satisfy that high demand and make the process of placing a public notice as simple as possible. We are currently in development and testing phase that adds public notice placement feature on our current site, Florida public notices. It's not if you could wrap of the county's think the placement future will provide a user. The step-by-step instruction on how to place that notice that will apply with all legal requirements. Florida presser membership will be required to follow these guidelines. We would like to continue to work with the Senator Trumbull on the language on this bill that would address these concerns. Thank you. Thank you, Sam on Morley. >> Waiving in opposition. Thank you. Be was the this is. Thanks, Amy. Keith, Amy Keith. >> You're recognized. Good afternoon. My name is Amy Keith. I'm the executive director for Common Cause here in Florida. Common Cause has been supporting accountability and transparency in Florida government since 1973 and this includes the ability of Floridians to access public records and notices. When the legislature changed public notice requirements to longer require publishing in newspapers, public notices became harder to find because Floridians must proactively go look for them rather than seeing them when they read the paper. These notices are also have also become harder to find it harder to track and easier to lose track of overtime because they're not included in Florida. Public notices dot com and not archived for future searching and reference once they are removed from that government website SB 380, would make this problem of fragmentation worse. Floridians who have been able to look on their county website as a centralized place to find public notices that are not on folk. Florida public notices dot com now won't even have that. This bill will expand the practice of publishing notices on various agency websites, forcing Floridians to know where to look and went to look and and navigate various systems and Web sites in order to find the public notices that they need. Our ask is quite clear. Floridians don't need more fragmentation on this issue. We need a comprehensive centralized place to easily search for and find public and legal notices from government agencies and departments. We ask that you include such a centralized resource in this Bill. Thank you. >> Yeah, my my people of. >> Senator Mitchell, you're recognized for question. Thank you. Thank you for your testimony. And do you have any statistics to show where people have not been able to find a public notice like you've gotten x number of calls, are you seeing says, you know, reports or e-mails or some way that we can try to have some a number of who is complaining that they can't find the public notices. >> I mean, I think that part of the issue here is that this bill would make it more fragmented into our concern is how we found that people are able to easily find it. And when we're considering changes to further fragment, the bill may be that study should be done about where people go to. Are they searching as the you know, Florida Press Association mentioned on Google where it's very easy to see you, Google how to find a Florida notice and it's going to come up with Florida public notices dot com. So we would suggest that before this is the system is more fragmented, that we actually do that research to look at where people are getting the notices so that we don't end up in a situation where people are able to find them in the future, which is the real risk that this bill presents. >> Senator Pizzo, you're recognized for questions. Sure. Thanks. If I ever have to prove and Mr. Book used to be. My resident expert has a release public that as I've seen a bill in 6 years on this, I remember the last one we had if I've got to prove something was actually properly noticed. I know the evidentiary standard is to present something. It's really simple when it's a self authenticating newspaper, you know that this club out in show. But what do I do it in a digital space who I have to bring the custodian of records in the digital space to say when it was actually electronically posted or to to your point, you want a more centralized aggregate database. If I've got to prove as an element that is properly noticed in Fort Lauderdale, who do I get from this centrally? >> Aggregated data base to come testify that it was probably Otis, let me know that Florida public notices dot com. You can actually search and you can go back and you can actually see if it was notice which enables you to find the notices that you needed as well as to look up what you need for for any legal proceedings. I don't know what it would be on that centralized database. I know that you can search. >> For notices that have been filed in the past on Florida, public notices dot com and then just follow him. Follow up. What is the purpose? >> In your in your estimation or your experience? What's the purpose for that for a legal notice? Let's say for somebody getting divorced in Liberty County for me and in Broward County to be able to. >> To find that. But what's the purpose was to tell the people in Liberty County knowing where to find it easily and at the moment, they might be able to find it on their county website as a centralized location. Like we said, that is what this bill is going to change, right? So if Liberty County and you want to find out the notices in Liberty County, do you have that centralize? It has to be on the county website so that you can find it there. Well, then that's great. But that's not what this bill is going to do. This isn't necessarily about even a person in Broward finding out what happens in liberty. This is a person in liberty finding out what happens in liberty. >> And we've got that was the least expensive. Where is the least expensive place for resident Liberty County after that, if this bill passes to go posted notice. >> To get post notice? I mean, I it's a yeah. Okay. That's fine. I would say that when when we do have notices publish, we do actually have to make sure that the entire public does able to see those public notices. That is the fundamental purpose. Thank you. Okay. Thanks. Thank you. >> Holly Smith is waiving in support. Claudia Thomas is waiving in support. Cal Ralph Son is waiving in support. Timberline is waiving in support. Treva Roberts is raving waiving in support. Be that good. Freeman is waiving in support. Sam Wagner is waiving in support and Woodruff is waiving in support. I think it's a loop I'm sorry, isn't Lou maybe per per per inky current prank. Anyway, waiving in support Michael Dish or waives in support Williams, Snowden, that mark from so not sure what he was our you want to speak. Okay. You're recognized. I'm sorry. That's okay. >> Williams Snowden, I'm the editor and publisher of the local a son which is a newspaper and website and numerous publications. I just say the concern with the bill is that it dilutes the effectiveness of public notices by making citizens searched various websites to fund notices and as wired one person discovered, it's like going on an Easter egg hunt to try to fund the information that you need. And of course, going to say the point of running them in newspapers is that we do approved for publication affidavit to prove that ring. That's >> and with that, I appreciate your time. Thank you. Thank you for those comments that is everyone that the those are all the appearance forms on the bill. Is there debate on the bill as amended made on the bill as amended? >> Seeing none. Senator Trumbull. You're recognized to close on the bill as amended they so much Mister chair and senators be just the by. I recently stopped getting our newspaper at home. And I know it's sacrilege, but it came twice a week via USPS. And and so I just felt like he was in a great use of of of my resources. And so, you know, everything is moving to digital. What we're really what this bill is saying is that current law, which allows you to be on for a public notice dot com on the county X Y Z dot com or a bulletin board at the piggly wiggly. What we're saying is that if you're a tax collector or if you are a court that the court you can post your noticed on the count of Collier County tax collector dot com's website, saving taxpayer resources and and allowing you know that flexibility and I wouldn't ask for your favorable support centers. >> Elizabeth, please call the Roll on Cs for CS for SB 380. >> Senator Jones, senator Lee. Yes, senator passidomo senator pizzo Senator Sharif. Yes. Senator Trumbull. Yes. Vice chair massullo. Yes. Chair McClain. Yes. >> But your vote Cs for Cs for SB 380, is reported favorably. Now we will move on to Tab 5 SB 962 on affordable housing by Senator Bradley. Senator Bradley, you're recognized to explain your Bill. >> Thank you so much. Mister Chair Sen in recent years, the Legislature has worked diligently to increase the availability of attainable affordable housing for Floridians. And last year as part of that effort, we clarify the application of the zoning preemption by defining commercial industrial and mixed use Senate Bill 960, to amend those definitions slightly to protect our working farms and ensure that the zoning preemption doesn't unintentionally capture farms are farm operations. Let me give you the background of this bill. In Clay County. We have a residential AG zoning designation. And because in our zoning, those individuals who grow fruits and vegetables on their property are allowed to have a produce stand up the road, selling what they grow. That land is now eligible for the density multifamily density of live local in a single family ag community. And we realized that when we back to the definition of commercial and it's any profit on that occurs on that property on even on the AG land. So I wanted to just tweak this statue to make sure that those farm and farm operations on really purely AG property isn't captured in this. And that is the bill. >> Thank you for your that explanation. Other questions on the bill. >> So, you know, they're up and there is an apparent full. >> A dream Hager, a dream Hager. >> Sure. The playboys and support. Thank you. >> Those are all the appearance forms we have. Is there any debate on the bill seeing none. Senator Bradley, you're recognize close close. Mister Chairman, thank you, Elizabeth. Please call the role on SB 962. >> Senator Jones, senator leak. Yes, senator passidomo senator pizzo Senator Sharif. Yes. Senator Trumbull, vice chair massullo. Yes. Chair McClain. Yes. >> By your vote SB 962. Is reported favorably. Thank you, Mister Chairman. And now we will move to tab 10 S P's of 14. 44 on preemption to the state by Senator Martin. Senator Martin, you are recognized to explain the bill. Thank you. Chair Committee. This is a state preemption bill. It's titled Preemption to the state. But I feel like it's more of a religious expression. >> And of freedom to build a playground bill. What this does is it sets a couple responsibilities for local government if they want to regulate religious gatherings, the bill covers that and then also the bill deals with of single family residences. If you want to build a fence, if you want to build a playground, you don't get a permit. If you are doing any sort of construction project under $7500, you don't have to get a permit unless you're taking down walls. There's are a fact in the structure of your house dealing with electricity are dealing with plumbing. That's basically the bill I've been working with are speaking with stakeholders from the county's local government and also those interested in making sure that our religious freedoms are protected. The your ability to be a part of a club or a group that has membership is being protected in the local government isn't micromanaging what you're dealing with your activities as long as they don't spill out into the street so to speak and affect the public safety and health. >> That is the bill. Thank you for that explanation or other questions on the bill you're recognized. Thanks. Just talking about parking. If our to construct a new church for a new church property like it like any other development. What might I be subject to parking requirement like one parking space per 1000 Square Feet or 2, 2, 0, 2, point per per 1000 Square feet. I realize that you keep the fire code and occupancy probably in there. But just talking about the parking situation, is it because it's under the auspices of the exercise of religion that you are your bill does, in fact, preempts local, municipality or government from being able to enforce parking restrictions. You're recognized. >> Thank you. So the purpose of this bill, the intent that I have with with running this bill is that it shouldn't matter what's happening on the property as long as people can drive by on the road and not have a bunch of cars part illegally on the road blocking traffic and blocking firetrucks or ambulances are, you know, police vehicles or or anybody else going about their business. What we've done here in Tallahassee just my last 3 years is we've told the local governments that you can't require. I think there was a bill last year. You can't require in certain types of housing in certain locations, a certain number of parking spots because we recognize, you know what, some people take public transportation. We don't have to have so many parking spots. You want to church want to send a boss out percent of and go pick up the neighborhood. Kids bring them to church. If they want to help the elderly and bust and then they don't have you know, they have driver's licenses. Maybe they're assisted living or nursing homes. They want to bring him in. Why is the local government care how many parking spots there are? You know, I'll leave that leave that between the church and the people to go there. If they need more parking spots, something tells me that churches be more than happy to do more parking spots for more people to go. But look as long as as long as traffic is under control and the things that the local government should have jurisdiction over, which is the roads, the utilities, the things that make sure we're not spilling are negative effects on to to other people and other properties. That's local governments job. What happens within the walls of the church are on private property should be left to the people that own that property and manage that property. And that's that that's the intent of this bill. And I'm happy to work with the local governments to to make those ends. >> That call you're recognized. But there's a case go back for a quick because we're going to be faster. You go. Yeah, you get so bad for. There's no in our results. Every time I saw faster and it just never ends the other. And everyone took my chief of staff Maggie's recommendation and just added to the questions with yes or nos. It would go a lot faster. A body. Is there any is is there any implication or is there any insinuation that that common practices in any particular places in the state are restricting forget about parking Bush restricting the actual physical exercise of religion? It's inside of the inside of a place that that yes, that Sorenson the municipality's are coming in and saying you guys can all gather in particular rumor place. You bet. You don't get a look at that scene. That's the insinuation that that asked absolutely be printed. That's happening. >> But then >> we said that its to its props. You're honestly title preemption to the state because talking about exercise religion, then as a golf course action. But I was and I I'm is faithful to my golf game as I am to the lore, unfortunately. But what's the issue with? And I know his name very often on on long par fours. What is the implication or what we're not doing confession to a bus to father for? I have sinned. It has been too long because what's the issue with the private clubs are municipality or county saying you can't hold events you can allow you can't have all these cars coming their way. What's the issue? So under the first book you question her. >> Okay. Back under under the first inning to give the I was trying to answer is yes or no? I can't. Yes, yes. The for some attacks, not just religion cannot just speech but also association. So you you have the right to meet and hang out with who you want to hang out with and spend time with who you want to spend time with without the government micromanaging who they are, what the purpose is, what what tax structure that wasn't. There were no taxes back when the first one was written. And that's the point. The First Amendment. So this is just delineating and separating out religion and then on religious activities. You saw the constitutional right to spend time with whoever you want, whether it's a sorority. Another is a story here that we recognize earlier that it means a lot of people, whether you're worshiping God, whether you're not worshiping, God shouldn't matter to the local government. What should matter is that's private property. I can do what I want on that private property. It's often not hurting other people as long as I'm not spilling into, you know, transportation utilities and the things that, well, whoever she never got her a refund question. >> If our to build powered by a one acre piece of property in the city of Tallahassee, in order to construct a church, what I under your bill not have to comply with whatever parking requirement is in the local ordinance is a local zoning ordinance based on the square footage of how many parking spaces I have to have some I build an office building whether it's medical paraprofessional are adored or passive office Bible, the restaurant. I have a burger requirement to build and number of places where I'm free to gather associated whatever. What a brand new church this morning. This is sort of a grandfather situation. Wouldn't a brand new church have to meet a park or harm based on the based on the the the the square footage of that structure can play to be built? Currently us. >> There are no other questions on the bill. There are appearance forms. Aaron DiPietro you're recognized. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair Aaron Di Pietro with Florida Family Voice. We are in strong support of SB 1444, what does this bill about age or SB 1444? Is a straight for effort to restore balance or local regulations have gone too far and created inconsistency across Florida. Floridians should not lose basic freedoms or face unnecessary red tape simply because they cross the city or county line. This legislation draws reasonable boundaries protects constitutional rights and provides clarity for homeowners, face communities, unlawful private organizations. It does not eliminate local government authority. It simply makes clear without authority must be evaluated. And if necessary limited over the past few years, we've seen occasions where local governments, whether intentionally or unintentionally expand regulation into areas that were never meant to be micromanaged, including religious gatherings, minor home repairs and routine property use. This legislation responds to that trend by establishing consistent statewide standards, reducing unnecessary conflict, ensuring the basic rights are treated the same everywhere in Florida for Florida family voice, the religious freedom component is our main focus. Religious freedom should not be dependent upon geography. Floridians right to gather and worship ought to be the same in every community, not sheet by which side of the county lines they happen to live on yet. In recent years, faith communities across the state have run into increasingly local regulations that while not may be aimed directly at religion in their face, functionally interfere with it really just disappear as a direct prohibition. More often it takes the form of zoning classifications, parking limitations, local location, restrictions or permit conditions that make it harder for congregations to meet. Sometimes gradually, sometimes all at once SB 1444 is intended to draw a clear line. Religious services and gatherings are not privileges dispensed by local governments. Their central part of the first fundamental First Amendment. Thank you so much. Thank you, David Curry. >> You're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman David Cruz, Florida League of Cities want to start off by thanking Senator Martin. He's been very gracious with his time. We had a, you know, a really good discussion and dialogue about our concerns with the bill. With that said, though, whenever we see a bill titled Preemption to the state are members of the Florida League of Cities Grow very concerned. I think that concern is heightened. When we look back just a couple of sessions ago, this legislature passed a bill that was titled or labeled are described as the preemption to end all Preemptions. And I think many of the committee members might be familiar with that Bill. As we look at this bill specifically, you know, one of the central concerns with multiple other preemptions in the bill is the lack of clarity and the potential for unintended consequences. For example, when we look at the term religious gatherings, it is not defined in the bill and certainly wouldn't run into a scenario where a late night party in a residential home is labeled as a residential gathering when it's really social in nature. And the police show up and there's concerns about noise traffic and impacts to the surrounding neighbors. And so clearly it can be easy to add some guardrails there to define some of these terms. Another concern relates to the private club, preemption and the lack of clarity with some of the provisions in that preemption as well. It seems to open up the door for commercial type activity in residential neighborhoods, contra being local zoning and running businesses within residential neighborhood seems to raise concerns about compatibility for the surrounding neighbors. As we look at some of the permitting preemptions in the bill, we have some concerns and how that might enter play with and if IP and federal requirements that cities have to uphold in order to guarantee flood insurance for our residents. And so with that said, we look forward to working with Senator Martin trying to address some of these concerns. But generally speaking, we're dealing with the bill with multiple Preemptions Alega cities would oppose those bills. And so we would ask for a for that to be considered as the vote on this Bill. Thank you, Chairman. Thank you. Jeff Scala, you're recognized. Thank you. Chairman Jeff Scala, Florida Association of counties and >> again, as our friend from the League of Cities stated that any bill that titled Preemption of the station to agree some concern, especially when we're bundling unrelated preemptions together, whether they're about land use about permitting about what we may with the sponsors indicated his religious freedom and the actions of certain classes of businesses in this case, private clubs, without any real clear regulatory, you know, scheme to put in its place after we've preempted them to the state. The bill doesn't have a clear unifying piece that ties all these preemptions together and we've worked when there are business related preemptions on the you know, the piece of legislation to mention that we would have to pass business impact statements to deal with if there is a local rinse related to to certain businesses put simply ask the question, why is the upper chamber of the 3rd largest state dealing with really deals back to street level squabbles, whether it's parking on a one barrier island or if it's the dispute between an H.O.A. and a golf club, what are we doing here and then tackling on other unrelated preemptions on permitting fences, parking for home based businesses. We're going to start having parking lots on 2 acre lots where we're going to have a car lot under this bill. I want to take a second just to kind of talk about private clubs and the bill, the state that it could be a golf club arena. It then says that it's a member base organization. And I just wonder what other types of businesses and it strikes me that we have 2 competing thoughts here. You know what I would say, you know, about religious freeman, the virtues side of this bill. But then there are these private clubs. And I'm you know, that kind of he's more of eyesight is virtue and vice all contained within this bill. >> I think the justices position of those things is is needs to be, you know, police question. >> On the bird, the permitting issues. I think there's some concerns raised in the bill analysis. >> About where, you know, we maybe not requiring a permit it then maybe run foul of federal, you know, FEMA requirements in enough I p. >> So again, I would just caution the committee and the Senate here to to really inject themselves in what amounts to a local street level governance. Thank you, Claudia Thomas Waves waved to waiving against Holly Smith waiving against. >> A cow Ralston waiving against Councilman Dennis Dawson waiving against Tim Everland waiving against. >> Pulse got is in support of Lee waiving against. Thank you. Jamie Roberts is waiving against Ed Freeman is waiving against Lauren Bush is waiving in support. >> But this I think its lowest is a lowest I'm sorry rights. >> For its key. Thank you. Los Peretz Key. Thank you. Is waiving against Michael Distr is waiving against John Labriola is waiving in support. >> I mean. >> Speak is that some? But he a spy. He S P a >> is waiving against and doctor Rich Templin is waiving against those are all of the appearance forms that we have. Is there debate on the bill briefly? Yes, you're recognize Senator Pizzo. >> The portion as it relates to the freedom, an exercise of religion gathering, I'm vehemently in support of and defensive. You know it for anyone to try to take any action, a local or otherwise to do. So really we're asking for is just what we call. And then land development parlance is a preexisting non-conforming use. So it's grandfathered. It's been there. I've read articles about churches that may be implicated are affected. That have been that it had congregation since 1930. So they're going on a century. But a century ago, the main they may be the came by horse and buggy, right? So it's just a different situation. But even you admitted that if I'm building the exact same structure today, I have to provide parking from for a number of emergency reasons. Actually absent that the FEMA think on the private club thing. I just I you're the only one has some of those that have to scroll down. You know, they like on the on the bills introduced. And so I'm happy to talk to you about it. I I know this is going up in in rules. You know, they were asked to be in tip-top shape to get to so that that's the confidence I have. But like right now, now there's it's just it's to double by the vice and virtue things. Pretty cool. It's like a timeline, but I just don't have any real life examples of of of of where something's been hamstrung are hampering so today I can't I can't support it. But if it if it's just for the actual exercise of religion and there's some obstruction, local level, the first person to drive to wherever it is and how Senator Lee, you're recognized. Thank you. Thank you for talking to me. Is Senator Martin Act? I'm really I guess I have to say I really don't understand the sovereign immunity aspect of this, but that brings up a larger point that I think most of us think since I've been in the legislature, we've been trying to address what sovereign immunity level should be without success. This is a complete waiver of sovereign immunity for specific part of the bill. What I'd say is a matter of of 5 philosophy is we as a legislature should address our community. >> And whether we raise it eliminated or whatever it may be, we should address it as a legislature. But I don't think the way to do it is through a patchwork of piecemeal approaches. 3rd different statutes. And so I'm going to support the bill today. I think that's particularly troubling to me then and look forward to seeing it as it moves through the process. It gets better. Thank you. You're recognized Senator best known that. So no, no, no, no. I'm not going to some suggest changes. >> I actually agree with both Senator Pizzo and Senator leak end. I'm going to see it again in judiciary and then rules. And I think by the time you meet with the stakeholders and others little pre be in good shape. So again, I I want to move it forward because you have a good point with regard to the religious issue and we'll see what happens is the most. So a vote for today. >> Senators a way and maybe just a little bit. I normally try not do as chair. But one of the reason that I did allow for the bill to be put on the agenda is there was that I had heard a couple things a church went to. They wanted that in addition to their church, one of the requirements of the city was that they had to install 3 electric charging units on their property at their cost. And so those there were and then there was another issue aside. The sidewalk was it was kind of a sidewalk to nowhere on their own property. And it did indeed into a bridge that had no pedestrian crosswalk, you know, way on. And so anyway, that was my. And that was one of the reasons I don't disagree with some of the broader pieces of it that, you know, certainly those things need to be worked out. But that was that was one of the reasons why I wanted to kind of get in on the agenda was be able to maybe have a conversation about some of that on the charging stations in general. I I don't know how an electric utility is asking someone else to build. They're build infrastructure for them on their property, whether to charge or any other place. But that should be up to property owners. If they want to do that, not that that would be part of a a building code or or a land development code. And so but to the church. So the church, this church and in general has been held up now for 8 or 10 months of that was going to add, you know, some $8900,000 to the cost of the church. And I want to disparage any communities, but it's close by >> but many ways and that that that was my intent on trying to bring it up. And certainly the larger broader preemptions are, you know, certainly not really what I had was part of my intention, but so I am getting support, build it. They as well and any other debate. What that means said, Senator Martin, you're recognized to close on your Bill. >> Thank you. I was honored to start our political life in the state legislature think you'd have to do is owning and that the local governments would handle all that. They have committees. They have town halls. They have all all of this. The problem is year after year after year we come up here and we hear crazy stories about how local governments are micromanaging the lives of the people back home, not to the better but because somebody had a really good idea and they ran for city council or they ran for county commission and before you know it some buddies, business stream, somebody is church. Somebody is home. Somebody playground is now subject to a whole bunch of bureaucrats and now you can build a playground for kids in your backyard without going to getting permits. Guys, we got to put a stop to this. We talk about the red all the time up here in Tallahassee. Let's talk about direct back home where it matters. I appreciate those who are supporting a bill today. You all know that, you know, I'm going to work to make the bills good as it can get, get over the finish line. But we got to have tough conversations and I love it. When the cities and the counties come in my office and the plate about my bills that makes their job a little bit harder harder now because it's harder for the sake of being hard harder because now they have their forest to listen to somebody who has heard their constituents complain to me because they won't respond back home. I appreciate your support. Look forward to present this bill in the future and believe it or not. I look forward to working with the counties and the cities to find out why they're making our citizens lives more difficult back home. >> Elizabeth, please call the role on SB 1444. Senator Jones, senator leak. Yes, senator passidomo senator Pizzo Senator Sharif, Senator Trumbull. Just vice chair massullo. Yes. Chair McClain. Yes by your Vote. Sb 1444. Is reported favorably. Now we will move to Tab one SB 218, land use regulations by Senator Gaetz. Good afternoon, Senator Gaetz. You are recognized to explain your bill. >> It's a good place to do it on my own. >> I thought you didn't want to hear him even though you do when your mother wants your money. A chairman last session, the legislature passed Senate Bill 180 which was designed to help communities recover from hurricanes Debby Helene and Milton that bill insure their property owners damaged by those hurricanes would be able to rebuild and not be slowed down a restricted why local government moratoria or zoning rules. Senate bill, 180 applied to every county in Florida one way or another. Those that were affected by the storms as well as those that we know were not affected at all. Senate Bill, 218, maintains all of the provisions of Senate Bill, 180, in all of the counties who sustained hurricane damage. But it exams from Senate Bill, 180, those counties which had no hurricane damage and therefore did not qualify for or received individual and public assistance from FEMA, but simply Mr. Chairman the bill before you restores normal land use authority and flexibility, counties on affected by the storms while keeping all of Senate Bill, 1 80's protections in place for areas that sustained damage and require rebuilding. And that is the bill. >> Thank you for that explanation. Are there questions on the bill? Senator Lee, you're recognized for question. Thank you, Senator Gaetz, how does this fed with Senator Deciglie is revisions to Senate Bill 180 if you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman Senator League. >> Senator Deciglie and I are working together on in effect both bills. I'm a co-sponsor of his bill. I believe that there are there are some heavy waters in the House with respect to some of the provisions that Senator Deciglie is working on. I don't mean to speak for him, but I I was was recommended to be that we continue to proceed with our bill at the same time as Senator Diciglie is bill proceeds along one where the other we hope to get relief from some of the problems we face. >> Any question that the questions? No. There is one appearance form a BART Woodruff is waiving in support. That's all the appearance forms we have. Is there any debate on the bill debates in the Senate? You're recognized to close on the bill. I waive close, Sir. Thank you, Elizabeth. Please call the role on SB 218. >> Senator Jones? Yes, senator leak. Yes. Senator passadomo U.S.. Senator Pizzo Senator Sharif. Yes. Senator Trumbull. Yes. Vice chair massullo. Yes. Chair McClain. Yes. >> By your vote. Sb 218. Is reported favorably. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, sir. Now we'll move to Tab 9 SB 1434, on infill development Redevelops infill redevelopment. Senator Calatayud Senator Calatayud. You are recognized to explain your Bill. >> Thank you, Mr. Chair of the purpose of this bill is to incentivize the redevelopment of environmentally challenge properties within the state are been communities by streamlining their subdivision and zoning processes based on the population requirements. Only properties currently in 4 counties would currently qualify for the development pursuant to this bill properties that are either contaminated or have a high likelihood of being contaminated. Often blight, blighted vacant or underdeveloped as a result of the prohibitive costs associated with remediation, this boat cream, monetary savings really to the zoning tylan process. Later, investments through mediation development of qualified properties with a focus on residential uses. The bill also aims to increase housing inventory, interstates, most densely populated counties with the goal of lowering housing prices for Florida's families. That is the bill, Mister Chair. >> Thank you for that explanation. Are there questions on the bill? Senator Jones, you're recognized. >> Thank you so much, Mister Chair and thank you, Senator Calatayud. I will go directly to the bill and I'm looking at particularly line one 19 to live one. 26. We use the word environmentally protect the environment and the impact it is. Our first question is how is environment impacted land? How do you identify how would it be identified? >> Thank you for the question directly recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chair, thank you for the question. Senator. Specifically the environmentally impacted land. The purpose of it is to focus on contaminated contaminated land or high likelihood of contamination and a little bit further down from 119. We identify what is not considered environmentally impacted lanta. That's not agriculture land. That's not land owned or operated by local government for Public Park uses. That's not land outside of an urban growth boundary and that's not land within a quarter mile of the military installation. >> Thank you. Miss your your your can. Can we just go back and forth game? Yes. Go right. Thank you. So in on that on that same line up, who makes who ensures that the developer? They don't exploit any any loopholes to designate land has been cold impacted to bypass the local government. >> Thank. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the question. Senator. If we'd like to tighten up the language on the environmentally impacted land, I would be very open to working together with you and stakeholders on trying to find the the best comprehensive definition on that process. >> I appreciate that. And we care a gym down to line won. 35 to one 42. So I represent Miami Shores area. And so they have a degree, Karen, Karen, that I'm sure that they want to maintain and looking at line one. 35 1.42. So how does the language, how did that go against the character of a community in that that they have said that they want to maintain? >> Thank you, Mr. Chair, thank you for the question. Senator. This bill, specifically itemize is to 2 different paths. One, there's the aligning to the zoning, height and density and intensity of the neighboring adjacent to residential. So it mirrors the community and in the instance where the parcel is in immediately connected to residential, it essentially is a low density town, home style town, home style. Single-family home style developments was kind of the lowest intensity. >> In with that, so places are giving example. So West part, why use represent or Miami Gardens? They have quite a few brown fields in those areas. Is there a possibility that even in the building of these the hearing is that the deals can be those things can be mill on land that has been deemed as not environmentally safe. >> Specifically the thank you for the question specifically in this provision, it's contaminated or environmentally impacted parcels who would have the opportunity to near the zoning that they're either adjacent to or they would have a townhome or single family home residential style did that. That's the language of the bill related to the zoning. >> In just 4 for clarity like and this is risky as minors on this because I figured I am not in the office while while I was reading to the bill and we've done live local and I know we're looking at this now, any correlation separate they working together can talk to talk to us about that or help me understand that. >> This is not live local, right. This is a nother strategy. I think that the state can look at on specifically environmentally contaminated environmentally impacted land and creating a pathway for some of that, I would say under utilized phase to be a part of the increase housing stock that the state, particularly in South Florida and a large urban counties requires. >> Dual does does does is eliminate the opportunity for public input of whether or not they want us like that within within their community. >> There's certain provisions that do have administrative processes within this bill. But I think the most important pieces dissimilar to how live local functions. This is not a increase in height and density and intensity in a community. This is a mirroring there's no change of care through. There's no change of there's no change of what you would see on one block to the next. >> Has there been an issue within the local government 2, why we would need this bill today. There's a certain area that you have seen to wear. We bought this bill today. And the reason I'm asking is is I represent Gottlieb. The city at a packed a represent these areas. So I don't even know how many of those parcels probably are in in those communities. And I'm concerned about the possibility of Overdevelopment. Should I be concerned about the issue, the revenues be concerned about the issue, the local government because about that by chance? >> I think the reality of the housing situation in South Florida is there's not enough housing for the residents we have, especially for looking at seniors, transition to downsizing for young people, looking to stay in our communities. And so I think wise development policies are important. Think the under utilization of vacant contaminated land or environmentally impacted land is another avenue in which we can deliver to our constituents. Whether we're talking about state county and local municipal level, the much-needed housing stock that they need. And this is this is one avenue in which we can transform vacant and underutilized space into housing stock. Appreciate it. Thank you so much. >> And when. >> Thank you, Mister Chair. I really like your bill. I think you've done a good job putting together a way. I think we can have more affordable housing in our areas, particularly urban areas. The only question is and you know, contaminated land is a is a broad spectrum of different types of property as we define contamination. My only concern in question is how can we assure that whatever residents will be future to occupy those spaces will be safe. >> Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chu, thank you for the question. Senator. The legislation does or remove any of the requirements for the Browns field or contaminated parcel environments and impacted parcel would have to meet. In fact, the the premise of the bill is that the zoning and and the zoning changes would alleviate some of the cost that would ultimately go into the potentially potentially intense remediation require