TAMPA BAY — In a question-and-answer session after policy announcements in Tampa Bay, Gov. Ron DeSantis defended his signing of SB 180, saying the law protects homeowners’ ability to restore residences damaged by hurricanes and criticized the Legislature for not fully funding a state home-fortification grant program that left some residents on waiting lists.

DeSantis said the bill was necessary because local governments in some cases had prevented homeowners from rebuilding properties to their pre-storm condition. "If you have damage to your home and you go to rebuild it and to restore it to what it was like before the storm hit, you should be permitted to do it," he said. He acknowledged there are other provisions in the bill and that local governments may challenge one or more of them in court, but said he signed it to protect homeowners who were "getting stymied by local governments."

On grant funding, DeSantis said lawmakers missed an opportunity when they did not replenish the My Safe Florida Home grant fund at the start of the fiscal year and left a waiting list unpaid. He said the program — a mitigation grant program that provides matching funds to help homeowners fortify properties and obtain insurance discounts — was effective and popular and that delaying funding reduced the program’s value for people trying to complete repairs ahead of hurricane season.

DeSantis also said the administration had pushed for a special appropriation to clear the waiting list earlier in the year and expressed disappointment that the Legislature did not act in January. He described the program as one that reduces taxpayer costs and community disruption by improving homes' resilience to storms.

The governor discussed other storm-related assistance programs and condo assessments, saying he had urged earlier action to give people peace of mind. He did not announce new emergency funding at the event.

The governor’s remarks are administrative and explanatory: he defended an enacted law and urged more timely appropriations but did not announce a new legislative or executive action at the event.