2023 Legislative Update - So Far!

Over the course of the 2023 Florida legislative session, 18 bills were introduced that proposed changes to multiple statutes that directly impact contractors and the construction industry in Florida. Of those 18, five have been signed into law, and four more passed through the legislature and need to be sent to Florida’s governor for signature or veto. Here’s where we stand so far:

Updated June 11, 2023.

The Bills That Have Been Signed by the Governor.

  • Senate Bill 346 - Public Construction (effective July 1, 2023) (read more here)

    • Changes to public construction prompt payment laws

  • Senate Bill 360 - Causes of Action Based on Improvements to Real Property (effective April 13, 2023) (read more here and here)

    • Changes to statute of limitations and statute of repose for construction defects, and change to definition of material violation of building code

  • Senate Bill 1718 - Immigration (effective July 1, 2023, except where otherwise noted) (read more here)

    • Puts contractor licenses at risk for knowingly employing illegal immigrants

  • House Bill 1091 - Licensing Fee Relief (effective July 1, 2023) (read more here)

    • Reduces licensing fees by 50% for the next two renewal cycles

  • House Bill 837 - Civil Remedies (effective March 24, 2023) (read more here)

    • Alters negligence statute of limitations and attorneys’ fees on bonds

  • House Bill 869 - Department of Business and Professional Regulation (read more here)

    • Eases licensure requirements for out of state mold remediation/assessment or asbestos assessment companies that have been licensed in another state for at least 10 years

The Bills Waiting to Be Signed

  • House Bill 1383 - Local Occupation Licensing

    • Delays local licensing changes implementation to July 1, 2024 and requires the DBPR to create several new categories of specialty licenses.

  • House Bill 331 - Liens and Bonds

    • Multiple changes to Chapter 255, 337, and 713, Florida Statutes, impacting liens, bonds, and notices for construction projects

  • House Bill 89 - Building Construction

    • Multiple changes to Chapter 553 and 633, Florida Statutes, requiring plans examiners to provide detailed reasons for rejecting or requiring changes to building plans

The Bills That Died During the Legislative Session

  • House Bill 1625 - Local Occupational Licensing

  • Senate Bill 1584 - Local Occupational Licensing

  • Senate Bill 1570 - Local Occupational Licensing (abandoned in favor of HB 1383, referenced above)

  • Senate Bill 782 - Department of Business and Professional Regulation (abandoned in favor of HB 869, referenced above)

  • House Bill 611 - Bonds of Contractors Constructing Public Buildings

  • Senate Bill 562 - Notices of Commencement

  • House Bill 419 - Home Repairs and Solicitation Sales

  • House Bill 383 - Public Construction (abandoned in favor of SB 346, referenced above)

  • House Bill 85 - Causes of Action Based on Improvements to Real Property (abandoned in favor of SB 360, referenced above)