DeSantis signs laws on red light cameras, Florida Keys evacuation times, HOA, more
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Gov. Ron DeSantis signed multiple pieces of legislation on Friday relating to red light traffic cameras, hurricane evacuation times and Homeowners Associations.
HB 1363 – Traffic Enforcement
The bill requires county governments be more transparent about the process to implement the use of red light cameras to monitor drivers. After July 1, 2025, municipalities seeking to use the devices must first pass an ordinance to authorize the installation of the cameras. The county will also have to submit an annual report on the results of the camera detectors at a public meeting.
If governments do not comply with the new legislation, their jurisdictions will be suspended from using the cameras.
Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera, R-Coral Gables, sponsored the bill during Florida’s Legislative Session.
SB 1456 – Counties Designated as Areas of Critical State Concern
The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, R-Doral, modifies evacuation changes for impending hurricanes to the Florida Keys.
The law specifically changes the evacuation time to 24 hours for permanent residents, with non-residents evacuating earlier. It also authorizes land authorities require compliance with income limitations on land conveyed for affordable housing by memorializing the original land authority funding or contribution in a recordable perpetual deed restriction.
HB 1203 – Homeowners’ Association
The bill makes several changes to Florida’s Homeowners’ Association.
Among its revisions, an HOA with 100 or more documents must post records on its website by Jan 1, 2025. An HOA also will be barred from creating rules for the interior of a home not visible from the street, which include reviews of heating and cooling systems, refrigeration, and ventilation systems.
HB 1203 was filed by Reps. Tiffany Esposito, R-Fort Myers, Adam Anderson, R-Palm Harbor, and Juan Carlos Porras, R- Miami.
HB 7085 – Sickle Cell Disease
The legislation, championed by Reps. Kelly Skidmore, D-Boca Raton and Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, launches the Sickle Cell Disease Research and Treatment Grant Program. Under the Florida Department of Health, or FDOH, the law authorizes the agency to award grants to sickle cell research and treatment centers.
SB 1350 – Salvage
Sponsored by Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-St. Petersburg, the bill details the salvage of of motor vehicles, mobile homes and vessels.
Under the law, an owner to who maintains possession of a total loss motor vehicle or mobile home must notify the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
It also defines “major component parts” for electric, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid motor vehicles for the purpose of verifying the sources of these parts during the rebuilt inspection process.
SB 7054 – Private Activity Bonds
The bill aims to revise state statute for private activity bonds, which are given to firms undertaking projects of public interest.
Moreover, the law maximizes the annual use of private activity bonds to finance improvements, projects, and programs largely of socioeconomic interest to the public.
The legislation was sponsored by the Senate committees on Appropriations and Community Affairs.
HB 7009 – OGSR/Mental Health Treatment and Services
Sponsored by Griff Griffits, R-Panama City Beach, the law pertains to the Open Government Sunset Review Act, which requires the state legislature to review each public record exemption and each public meeting exemption five years after reenactment.
If the Legislature does not reenact the exemption, it automatically repeals on October 2nd of the fifth year after enactment.
HB 7009 is streamlined partly through the Florida Mental Health Act, or Baker Act, which provides legal procedures for voluntary and involuntary mental health examination and treatment. Specifically, an individual can be admitted for mental health treatment on a voluntary or involuntary basis.
The law will prevent these public records exemptions from being repealed.
HB 1259 – Cardiovascular Services
The bill will amend licensing requirements for Level I Adult Cardiovascular Service programs, or ACS.
It specifically can perform adult percutaneous cardiac intervention to include rotational or other atherectomy devices, electrophysiology, and treatment of chronic total occlusions.
The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola.
