2024 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES AND WINS
More Money for the Hometown Heroes Housing Program: SB 328, injects an
additional $100 million into the successful Hometown Heroes Housing
Program (HHHP), the dynamic first-time homebuyer program for hard-working
Floridians. It also builds on the policies created in last year’s Live Local Act that spur
private investment in affordable housing, and it clarifies changes to local zoning, height
and density regulations to ensure counties and cities have the guidance they need to
create more affordable housing options in their areas.  Effective upon becoming law with
HHHP funding effective July 1, 2024.
$408 Million for State and Local Affordable Housing Programs: Lawmakers
allocated $408 million in the 2024-2025 fiscal year budget (HB 5001) to the State and
Local Government Housing Trust Funds. This includes $174 million for the State
Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) which includes downpayment and closing cost
assistance programs, and $234 million for the State Apartment Incentive Loan program
(SAIL) which helps build affordable rental housing. Please note that the SAIL funding
includes $150 million in recurring funding as specified in the 2023 Live Local Act.
Effective: July 1, 2024.
My Safe Florida Home Program Gets More Funding: SB 7028 includes $200 million
for the My Safe Florida Home Program (MSFH) so more Floridians can protect their
homes against storms and reduce their insurance premiums. The bill also allows
homeowners to receive inspections without having to apply for a grant, lets low-income
homeowners receive up to $10,000 without having to match the amount, and mandates
the program administrator to streamline the grant process while prioritizing reviews
based on income and age, among other things. Effective July 1, 2024.
New My Safe Florida Condominium Pilot Program Created: HB 1029 expands the
My Safe Florida Home Program to include condominiums. This expansion would
allocate $30 million to help condominiums within 15 miles of the coast harden roofs and
openings against storms. Effective July 1, 2024.
Property Insurance Cost Reductions for Floridians: Florida imposes a 1.75% tax on
most Florida insurance premiums. HB 7073 requires insurers to give homestead
property owners a deduction on their residential property insurance premiums in the
amount of 1.75 percent of the policyholder’s total premium. This applies to policies with
coverage for a 12-month period and effective after October 1, 2024, and before
September 30, 2025. Effective July 1, 2024.
Increased Transparency of Condominium Documents: HB 1021 requires an
association managing a condominium with 25 (previously 150) or more units to post
digital copies of official condominium documents on its website. These documents
include condominium bylaws and rules, articles of incorporation, declaration of
condominium, annual financial statements and budget, the FAQ sheet, building
inspection reports, and reserve studies. Effective July 1, 2024.
Increased Transparency of HOA Documents: Two bills passed this year that
significantly increase the transparency and availability of homeowner’s association

(HOA) documents.  HB 1203 requires that by January 1, 2025, homeowners’
associations with 100 or more parcels must maintain official records on their website or
an app. Additionally, HB 59 requires homeowners’ associations to deliver a physical or
digital copy of their rules and covenants to all members and new members. Effective
July 1, 2024.
Over $1.2 Billion for the Everglades and Water Quality: The Florida Legislature
continues to allocate significant funding for projects that improve Florida’s water quality.
The 2024-2025 fiscal year budget (HB 5001) includes money for Everglades restoration
($581 million), the C-51 Reservoir ($100 million), Biscayne Bay ($20 million), the Indian
River Lagoon ($75 million), the Caloosahatchee River & St. Lucie Estuaries ($25
million), harmful algal blooms ($30 million), springs restoration ($55 million), beach
management funding assistance ($50 million), total maximum daily loads ($25 million),
the Wastewater Grant Program ($135 million), Resilient Florida Grant Program ($125
million) and Alternative Water Supply ($55 million). Effective: July 1, 2024.
Seller Flood Disclosure: HB 1049 requires a seller to disclose in writing certain flood
information to a prospective purchaser at or before executing a contract for the sale of
residential property. This disclosure will help buyers make more informed decisions
about a property and reduce the number of post-closing disputes that occur. Effective
October 1, 2024.
Protecting Private Property Rights: HB 621 addresses issues with unauthorized
squatters who occupy private property. The bill aims to quickly restore possession of
such property to the lawful owner by allowing the property owner or their agent to
request the immediate removal of unlawfully occupying persons from a residential
dwelling. Effective July 1, 2024.
Preventing Unlicensed Real Estate Activity: The 2024-2025 fiscal year budget (HB
5001) allocates up to $500,000 to combat unlicensed real estate activity. Effective: July
1, 2024.
Evaluating the Impact of Lookback Periods: The 2024-2025 fiscal year budget (HB
5001) includes $500,000 for the Department of Financial Services to study the benefits
and long-term effects of Lookback periods. When established by local governments,
Lookback periods apply to properties located in special flood zones. When owners of
these homes seek to remodel, renovate or repair the home, the costs cannot equal or
exceed 50% of the home’s depreciated market value within the applicable Lookback
period without having to be brought up to current flood zone standards. Effective: July 1,
2024.
Additional 2024 Realtor wins
Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR): HB 1335 is a wide-
ranging DBPR bill that initially included language repealing the requirement that real
estate licensee applicants pass the state examination within two years of passing the
prelicensure course. Given the complex nature of real estate transactions and the
frequency at which the laws governing them change, Florida Realtors was able to work

with lawmakers to amend the bill to remove this real estate licensee provision. Effective
July 1, 2024.
Continuing Education Requirements: SB 382 removes the continuing education
requirements for certain licensees regulated by DBPR who have held their license
continuously for at least 10 years. An earlier version of the bill included real estate
licensees in these changes, but lawmakers removed them after Florida Realtors
explained the value of continuing education in the real estate profession. Effective July
1, 2024.