Bill > S0944

This bill modifies Florida's statute of limitations for legal actions related to improvements to real property, specifically addressing when and how long property owners or contractors have to file lawsuits concerning design, planning, or construction defects. The bill expands and clarifies the timeframes for bringing such actions, defining "completion of the improvement" as the earliest of receiving a certificate of occupancy, completing required building code inspections, or final acceptance for certain infrastructure projects. The statute now provides multiple trigger points for when the limitations period begins, including completion of the improvement, abandonment of construction, termination of a contractor's contract, or completion of the contract itself. The bill sets a maximum 7-year window for bringing an action, with a special provision for latent (hidden) defects that allows the time to run from when the defect is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. Additionally, the bill allows for certain related claims (counterclaims, cross-claims, and third-party claims) to be filed up to one year after the original pleading, even if they would otherwise be time-barred. The legislation aims to provide more clarity and flexibility in how and when construction-related legal actions can be initiated while still maintaining reasonable time limitations.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/944