Committee advances post‑hurricane recovery bill to speed permitting, shelters and election flexibility

The Transportation and Economic Development Budget Subcommittee on Feb. 1 reported CS/ HB 1535 favorably after adopting a strike‑all amendment. Representative McFarland, sponsor of the measure, said the bill reflects a ‘‘listening tour’’ of local needs following a severe hurricane season and compiles best practices to prepare for, respond to and recover from storms.

Before a storm, the bill requires counties and municipalities to post hurricane FAQs, disaster supply lists, shelter locations and permitting plans online. The strike‑all amendment adds special‑needs shelter information to those sites, requires local emergency management personnel to complete training from the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) every two years, and directs FDEM to improve the state’s process for maximizing federal financial assistance and to inventory disaster response equipment. The amendment also asks FDEM to develop a template for local emergency management plans and mutual‑aid agreements.

On debris removal, the bill requires local governments to apply in advance for at least one debris‑management site and directs FDEM to coordinate debris removal in fiscally constrained counties. The amendment clarifies that FDEM will assume costs for debris removal in fiscally constrained counties only if the hurricane is a Category 3 or higher.

For shelters and housing, the measure requires the Florida Housing Finance Corporation to enter into memoranda of understanding with the Department of Elder Affairs and APD (Agency for Persons with Disabilities) to ensure residents of independent living facilities receive information about special‑needs shelters. The bill clarifies that if a person with special needs is a caregiver for a non‑special‑needs person, both may shelter together.

Post‑storm, the bill bars local governments from charging an impact fee for rebuilding the same type of structure where land use is unchanged, requires local governments to open permitting offices as soon as reasonably possible (the amendment specifies offices will operate 40 hours per week), prohibits increases in building permit and inspection fees for 180 days after a storm, and requires an online option for substantial‑damage and substantial‑improvement letters. The bill revises the definition of a ‘‘renovated home’’ so homeowners are not required to meet current energy standards unless renovations are substantial and limits NFIP‑related local ‘‘look‑back’’ periods to no longer than one year.

The bill gives supervisors of elections greater emergency flexibility during federally declared disasters occurring within 60 days of an election, but requires supervisors to submit requests through the secretary of state rather than acting unilaterally. Representative McFarland described a non‑exhaustive list of possible requests that supervisors could seek, including changing early‑voting locations, allowing early voting the day before an election, designating additional secure ballot intake stations and waiving certain poll‑worker restrictions. McFarland told the committee the secretary of state would have 14 days to approve or deny grouped requests; if the secretary does not respond within that period the supervisor may assume approval.

Committee members asked clarifying questions during the stop. Representative Fairfield worried a provision could be read to override recently adopted local ordinances; McFarland said the bill is intended only to prevent localities from imposing more burdens on homeowners trying to rebuild after a storm and noted comp‑plan amendments that pre‑date landfall would generally be grandfathered. Representative Griffiths asked about ‘‘super sites’’ for voting during disasters; witnesses and the sponsor noted that while consolidated sites can increase turnout, they can pose accessibility challenges for voters with disabilities and that local supervisors are best placed to design accessible plans. Representative Cross asked what recourse residents have if a supervisor fails to act; McFarland said that failure could amount to a supervisor not fulfilling constitutional duties and is a political remedy for voters.

Public testimony featured supporters from across sectors. Brad Ashwell (All Voting Is Local) and advocacy groups waived in support; Laura Minatello of Disability Rights Florida urged local flexibility, saying consolidated ‘‘super sites’’ can increase turnout but are not always the most accessible option for voters with disabilities and praised leaving operational specifics to local supervisors. Industry groups including the National Waste and Recycling Association and Associated Builders and Contractors also signaled support.

The committee adopted the strike‑all amendment and then reported CS/ HB 1535 favorably to the next House stage.