Bill > S1614

This bill modifies how local governments in Florida can receive state funding and spend excess funds. Firstly, it amends a law concerning the Legislative Auditing Committee, which is a legislative body that oversees audits. Under the new provision, a local government entity, such as a city or county, will be ineligible to receive state money through a "local funding initiative request" – a request for specific state funds for local projects – if it has been audited by the Legislative Auditing Committee within the past year. However, there's an exception: if the local government can affirm that the audit is no longer ongoing when it submits its funding request, it may still be eligible. The bill also requires the Legislative Auditing Committee to inform the chairs of the legislative appropriations committees, which are responsible for allocating state money, whenever they vote to direct an audit of a local government. Secondly, the bill revises how local governments can spend excess funds collected from fees related to enforcing the Florida Building Code, which is a set of standards for construction. Previously, excess funds could be used for various purposes, including constructing buildings for their code enforcement agencies. This bill removes the ability to use excess funds for constructing such buildings and instead mandates that any excess funds beyond a certain limit must be used to rebate and reduce fees, upgrade technology to improve service delivery, or for training programs for building officials and inspectors. Finally, these changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Budget and Finance

Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government (Senate), Community Affairs (Senate)

https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2026/1614