DeSantis signs bills revising regulations for consumer finance loans, stormwater protections, more
TALLAHASEE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed five bills into law on Friday, including revising regulations of consumer finance loans and additional rules to increase the removal of nutrients from stormwater to protect Florida’s waterways.
HB 1347: The bill will revise the governance of consumer finance loans, which are loans of $25,000 or less for which a lender charges an interest rate greater than 18 percent per annum. In addition, the legislation will also increase the maximum limits of consumer finance loan interest rates to no more than 36% per annum, calculated on the first $10,000 of the principal amount.
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Robert Brackett, R-Vero Beach.
SB 1600: The bill will streamline the state’s licensure process for individuals licensed in similar professions by other U.S. states or territories. Moreover, the legislation requires a regulatory board within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, or DBPR if there is no board, must make a finding that the basis license in another area is or is not substantially equivalent to or is otherwise insufficient for a license in Florida.
The legislation was sponsored by Sen. Jay Collins, R-Tampa.
SB 7040: Per the Clean Waterways Act, the bill will authorize the Department of Environmental Protection, or DEP, to initiate rulemaking to update the stormwater design and operation regulations for environmental resource permitting. Specifically, the bill was designed to increase the removal of nutrients from stormwater to protect the state’s waterways.
It was introduced by Sens. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart and Debbie Mayfield, R-Melbourne. It took effect on June 28, 2024.
SB 736: The bill sets to revise various services and programs administered by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, or DHSMV, and its agents. The bill changes a requirement for a rightful heir to transfer ownership of a motor vehicle or mobile home if the previous owner died. The legislation took effect on June 28, 2024.
The bill was sponsored by Sen. Jay Trumbull, R-Panama City.
SB 770: The bill vastly amends a program authorized in current law, commonly known as the “Property Assessed Clean Energy” or “PACE” program, which authorizes property owners to make qualifying improvements to real property and finance the cost through annual non-ad valorem tax assessments.
The legislation was sponsored by Sen. Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers.
Unless otherwise noted, all bills signed by DeSantis took effect on Monday.
