Legislature OKs Nick DiCeglie’s massive hurricane preparation, response package

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. 5/5/23-Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, urges the Senate not to concur with the changes made by the House to Senate Bill 714 dealing with vacation rentals, Friday at the Capitol in Tallahassee. The Senate agreed with DiCeglie and in doing so killed the bill for the 2023 session. COLIN HACKLEY PHOTO

The Senate has unanimously cleared a measure to boost hurricane relief and recovery capabilities and enhance storm response. It heads next to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

The bill (SB 180) is sponsored by Sen. Nick DiCeglie, whose own home was damaged in recent hurricanes.

The legislation would provide homeowners a clear and streamlined permitting process as they rebuild. The measure includes clarification on repair guidelines to help avoid future property tax increases, while also increasing disaster management planning, emergency resource coordination, financial transparency and reporting across state and local government entities.

“Multiple major hurricanes ravaged Florida last year, leaving extensive damage statewide,” DiCeglie said.

“After a storm, Floridians need a clear path to recovery. We’re fighting for families to focus on rebuilding without additional delays or burdens, especially for those who sustained damage or lost their homes. Working with our state and local emergency responders, we can streamline restoration efforts and improve emergency response coordination, fortifying and strengthening our communities before the next storm.”

The bill, if signed, will prohibit local governments from increasing building or inspection fees for 180 days, about six months, after a hurricane or tropical storm emergency declaration from either the Governor or the federal government.

It also offers important clarification to homeowners as they rebuild that they may increase the size of their residence to up to 2,000 square feet, or 130% of the size of the structure before the storm caused damage, without having to have the property reassessed for tax purposes.

Additionally, the bill requires local governments to post a recovery permitting guide to ensure property owners are aware of and understand what types of repairs require permits and other building requirements. The guides would be updated annually by May 1, a month before the official start of hurricane season, and would be added to the local government website as soon as possible following a hurricane or tropical storm.

The bill also requires local governments to establish post-storm permitting plans in order to create special building permit and inspection procedures, which would also be updated each year by May 1. The bill requires local governments to ensure proper staffing to ensure speedy permitting issuance. It also requires multiple permitting locations so property owners can easily access services, expedited permitting protocols and, if practicable, waived or reduced permitting fees.

To expand planning, response and recovery coordination and reporting, the bill requires the Department of Emergency Management (DEM) to develop a template for local officials to use as they create emergency management plans, including procedures for coordinating and monitoring statewide mutual aid agreements that are reimbursable under federal disaster assistance programs.

The bill would also require DEM to complete an inventory of all assets purchased for each emergency. It also includes language to help identify at-risk individuals who may require shelter space, by adding the Department of Veterans Affairs to the list of agencies helping to identify those with special needs and requiring the Department of Health and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to help DEM determine shelter space needs, including for persons with disabilities.

Importantly, the bill amends shelter retrofit funds, which total $3 million annually, to prioritize publicly owned buildings that are not schools, a move intended to begin moving shelters away from public schools that are often displaced during storm recovery.

The sweeping bill also requires DEM to establish training for local government officials who have emergency management roles once every two years.

It also requires DEM to conduct an annual hurricane readiness session in each region of the state by April 1 of each year, with the local emergency management director or their designee in attendance. The sessions would include guidance on preparation and response timelines, expedited rebuilding and best practices on coordination.

Finally, the bill requires specific reporting on hurricane spending and actions by state agencies, including posting contracts in the state’s FACTS system, and posting audits. Agencies would be required to provide an annual report after hurricane season outlining expenditures, inventory and other actions taken.

“Florida has set a high bar as the nation’s model in storm response and recovery,” Senate President Ben Albritton said.

His district, located in Central and Southwest Florida, experienced major inland flooding and agriculture and citrus loss during the 2024 hurricane season.

“It’s a testament to our first responders and emergency personnel, as well as the strength and resilience of Floridians in the aftermath of a devastating hurricane,” Albritton added.

“We can always do better. We are incorporating lessons learned and identifying new opportunities to support community restoration and enhance disaster management through proactive planning and coordination. Through these initiatives, Floridians can focus on what matters most: rebuilding their homes, their lives, and their communities.”