Read the full stored bill text
Florida Senate
-
2026
CS for SB 934
By
the Committee on Community Affairs; and Senator Rodriguez
578-02728-26 2026934c1
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to areas of critical state concern;
3 amending s. 255.05, F.S.; providing an exemption from
4 specified payment and performance bond requirements
5 for specified entities under specified conditions;
6 amending s. 259.105, F.S.; extending the time period
7 specific Florida Forever appropriations must be spent
8 on land acquisition in the Florida Keys Area of
9 Critical State Concern; providing an effective date.
10
11 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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13 Section 1. Paragraph (h) is added to subsection (1) of
14 section 255.05, Florida Statutes, to read:
15 255.05 Bond of contractor constructing public buildings;
16 form; action by claimants.—
17 (1) A person entering into a formal contract with the state
18 or any county, city, or political subdivision thereof, or other
19 public authority or private entity, for the construction of a
20 public building, for the prosecution and completion of a public
21 work, or for repairs upon a public building or public work shall
22 be required, before commencing the work or before recommencing
23 the work after a default or abandonment, to execute and record
24 in the public records of the county where the improvement is
25 located, a payment and performance bond with a surety insurer
26 authorized to do business in this state as surety. A public
27 entity may not require a contractor to secure a surety bond
28 under this section from a specific agent or bonding company.
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(h)
A person may be exempted from executing the payment and
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performance bond required under this subsection if the following
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conditions are met:
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1.
The work is done on property located within an area of
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critical state concern which is subject to a long-term ground
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lease of 99 years or more with Habitat for Humanity
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International, Inc., or any of its local affiliates, at the
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discretion of the official or board that owns the subject
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underlying property in fee simple.
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2.
The leasehold interest created by the ground lease of 99
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years or more is subject to any claims by claimants who are
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lienors as defined in s. 713.01 and applicable lien provisions
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in chapter 713. The underlying real property owned by the state,
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or any county, city, or political subdivision thereof, or other
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public authority is not subject to any lien rights created under
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chapter 713.
45 Section 2. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
46 259.105, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
47 259.105 The Florida Forever Act.—
48 (3) Less the costs of issuing and the costs of funding
49 reserve accounts and other costs associated with bonds, the
50 proceeds of cash payments or bonds issued pursuant to this
51 section shall be deposited into the Florida Forever Trust Fund
52 created by s. 259.1051. The proceeds shall be distributed by the
53 Department of Environmental Protection in the following manner:
54 (b) Thirty-five percent to the Department of Environmental
55 Protection for the acquisition of lands and capital project
56 expenditures described in this section. Of the proceeds
57 distributed pursuant to this paragraph, it is the intent of the
58 Legislature that an increased priority be given to those
59 acquisitions which achieve a combination of conservation goals,
60 including protecting Florida’s water resources and natural
61 groundwater recharge. At a minimum, 3 percent, and no more than
62 10 percent, of the funds allocated pursuant to this paragraph
63 shall be spent on capital project expenditures identified during
64 the time of acquisition which meet land management planning
65 activities necessary for public access. Beginning in the 2017
66 2018 fiscal year and continuing through the
2035-2036
2026-2027
67 fiscal year, at least $5 million of the funds allocated pursuant
68 to this paragraph shall be spent on land acquisition within the
69 Florida Keys Area of Critical State Concern as authorized
70 pursuant to s. 259.045.
71 Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.