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Legislative Update
May 16, 2025
The House met earlier this week in Tallahassee to extend session until June 30. The Senate did not meet, and their extension still stands until June 6. Both chamber leaders have notified members they will not be returning to Tallahassee until after Memorial Day, as the budget stalemate continues. The budget is the one thing the Legislature must adopt each year with a new fiscal year beginning July 1.
May 9, 2025
The Legislature did not adjourn sine die last Friday as would usually happen on the 60th day of session. The chambers could not agree upon a budget, the only thing the Legislature is required to adopt each session. Lawmakers will return to Tallahassee on May 12 to finalize the budget and consider other bills in an extended session. They will have until June 6.However, according to a communication from the Speaker of the House released this morning, these dates may now be in question as the two chambers continue to negotiate.During the extended session, 16 bills will still be alive for consideration, includingCS/SB 110. Currently, CS/SB 110 has been sent back to the House after the Senate refused to concur on an amendment that eliminated the Board of Architecture and Interior Design and mandatory continuing education for architects. This action by the Senate should mark the end of the deregulation language and only the unamended bill addressing rural communities should be considered during this extended time. However, AIA Florida's advocacy team will be following the bill closely should there be any further attempts to amend or find another place for deregulation language. Thank you to all who answered previous calls to action and please be prepared to answer any futures calls to action, should they be necessary, to remind lawmakers of the importance of keeping Florida's architects regulated by a board of experts and not lowering continuing education requirements.
May 2, 2025
Today is the 60th and final day of the 2025 regular legislative session. However, since no budget has been agreed upon, lawmakers will be called back to Tallahassee for a special session which has not yet been scheduled. The last week delivered ups and downs as CS/SB 110 was heard last Friday afternoon by the House and amended to include language eliminating the Board of Architecture and Interior Design and continuing education requirements for architects. The amended version of the bill was adopted with a vote of 69 yeas and 42 nays and sent back to the Senate. Thanks to AIA Florida members who contacted their legislators, lawmakers noted the importance of architects remaining regulated. On Wednesday, the Senate refused to concur on the amendment, sending the bill back to the House requesting they recede on the amendment. At the time of publication, the bill remains in messages and will appear to die in this year's legislative session. If the bill dies, the current regulation and continuing education requirements for architects remain in place. Thank you to everyone who answered the calls to action and contacted legislators to impart the importance of keeping Florida's architects regulated by a board of experts and by the continuance of continuing education requirements, keeping the health, safety and welfare of Floridians at the forefront.
CS/CS/CS/HB 683, which addresses construction regulations, was passed by both chambers. The legislation no longer includes language the Florida Building Commission to update the Florida Building Code to allow mass timber for certain building types as a version of this bill in the Senate had previously done. Both chambers also agreed upon condo safety legislation adopting CS/CS/HB 913. The bill requires architects who bid on structural integrity reserve studies (SIRS) or milestone inspections to disclose if they intend to bid on work related to the SIRS.
April 25, 2025
The language eliminating the Board of Architecture and continuing education requirements for architects took several turns this week. After last week's meeting with the sponsor of CS/HB 1461, it was expected that the bill would be heard in the Commerce Committee Tuesday with the hope of potentially being amended to address concerns of the professions impacted.
At 5 p.m. Monday, the Commerce Committee agenda was released without CS/HB 1461. Instead the language had been moved to a committee substitute for HB 991. The bill was heard at the very end of the Commerce Committee meeting Tuesday morning with limited time for testimony. The meeting may be viewed HERE with PCS for HB 991 beginning at 4:15. The same language was filed as an amendment to SB 110 late Wednesday. CS/HB 991, SB 110 and its filed amendments are scheduled to be heard by the House today. At the time of publication, the bills had not been considered. This week's Advocacy Minute will report on the outcome of today's proceedings. Any action taken by the House on these bills must still go to the Senate with only one week left until the Legislature is scheduled to adjourn on May 2. . Thank you to everyone who has answered this week's call to action.
April 18, 2025
With only two weeks left in session, the Florida House moved CS/HB 1461 forward. The bill was amended last week to remove the Board of Architecture and Interior Design and continuing education requirements for architects. The regulation of architecture would be handled by the Department of Building and Professional Regulation under this proposed legislation. Several other professions, including engineers and accountants, face the same changes in this bill. AIA Florida's lobbying team and CEO met with the bill's sponsor to voice the importance of continuing education for architects as they are licensed to protect health, safety and welfare.The team also emphasized the need for the architecture profession to remain regulated by a board which includes licensed architects. With The Florida Building Code updated every three years and rapid changes in building technology, continuing education requirements should remain for architects. The bill will move to its last committee stop in the House where it is expected to be amended to perhaps carve out certain professions such as architecture. With little time left in session, it is unlikely that the Senate will be able to pass this amended version of proposed legislation.
Other bills continued their journey this week. CS/CS/HB 209 was passed by the House while the Senate version, CS/SB 80, continued to move through its committee references. The legislation, commonly referred to as the State Park Preservation Act, prohibits golf courses, hotel and similar developments in state parks. There are still differences between the two bills. Both chambers must agree on the same language for the legislation to be adopted.
CS/CS/SB 712 was passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment and General Government. The bill requires The Florida Building Code to recognize tall mass timber as an allowable material for certain construction types.
April 11, 2025
The implications of HB 1461 were drastically changed this week. At the close of business Monday, Rep. Yarkosky (R - Clermont) and Rep. Esposito (R - Fort Myers) filed aproposed committee substitute. The new language eliminates the Board of Architecture and Interior Design, leaving the regulation of architecture to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. It also eliminates all continuing education requirements for architects. The legislation does the same for many professions, including engineers and accountants. The new language was heard first thing Wednesday morning by the House Industries and Professional Activities Committee. AIA Florida, as well as several other professions, testified in opposition. Many members of the committee voiced concern about removing continuing education requirements, particularly for design and construction professions who deal with the Florida Building Code and life-safety. However, the bill was still passed with a vote 11 to 4. Thank you to the members who answered the call to action and contacted their representatives who serve on the House Industries and Professional Activities Committee. CS/HB 1461 currently has two more committee references in the House before going to the House floor and then on to the Senate. The Senate version of this bill,SB 1452, has not been amended to match the House version. AIA Florida's CEO and lobbying team will be meeting with the House bill sponsors next week to continue to voice concern about the proposed changes. Please stay tuned for further calls to action to contact your lawmakers and for updates on this legislation.
April 4, 2025
With about a month left until the end of session, the Legislature wrapped up week five. This week the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee moved the appointments of Charlie Clary, FAIA, Beverly Frank, AIA and Peter Jones, AIA, to the Board of Architecture and Interior Design forward to the full Senate. The appointment of John Garra, AIA, to the Florida Building Commission was also moved forward.
SB 184 by Sen. Gaetz (R - Pensacola), which attempts to create more affordable housing by allowing accessory dwelling units without increased parking and density bonuses, was passed by its final committee of reference. SB 712 by Sen. Grall (R - Fort Pierce) was passed by the Senate Community Affairs Committee. The bill addresses construction regulations and was amended at this committee stop to require the Florida Building Commission to amend the Florida Building Code to be consistent with the 2024 International Building Code, recognizing tall mass timber as allowable material for construction type IV-A, IV-B, IV-C and IV-HT. The bill's House companion, HB 683 by (Rep. Griffitts R - Panama City), was passed by the House Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee where it was also amended with the same mass timber language.
SB 1452by Sen. Truenow (R - Tavares) and its companion, HB 1461by Rep. Yarkosky (R - Clermont), seem to be stalled in the process. These bills impact the regulation of architecture. If adopted, this legislation would create the Board of Architecture and Landscape Architecture to regulate architecture and landscape architecture. The board would have five architect members, three landscape architects and two laypersons. The legislation also empowers the regulatory board to recognize MOUs NCARB has with foreign jurisdictions for licensure. All regulation of interior designers is removed by this legislation. Neither bill has been heard by any of its committees of reference, making their path to adoption difficult. However, nothing is definite until the Legislature adjourns sine die on May 2. If this legislation is not adopted, the regulation of architecture would remain unchanged.
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