Last week closed out a big week for FLTA and Florida. For all intense purposes the 2019 legislative session closed out on Friday and officially adjourned with approval of the State budget on Saturday. During the past 60 plus days the association focused on several initiatives including Remote Online Notary, Public Records for Law Enforcement Personnel, closing out expired building permits, implementation of a blockchain working group and a long standing initiative of removing inter spousal doc stamps. Here are where things stand today:

Electronic Legal Documents

HB 409 by Rep. Perez (R-Miami) and SB 548 by Sen. Brandes (R-St. Petersburg)

Authorizes online notarizations; specifies requirements & standards for performance of such online notarizations; requires DOS to adopt rules by specified date. Effective Date:January 1, 2020

HB 409 passed the House by a vote of 87-28 and the State Senate by a vote of 39-0 and will now head to Governor DeSantis for his consideration.

Taxation - Intraspousal Transfer of Homestead Property

HB 7123 by Rep. Avila

This bill is tax relief legislation that includes language eliminating DOC stamps for intraspousal transfer of property.   

HB 7123 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 81-25 and the State Senate by a vote of  23-17.  The bill will now head to Governor DeSantis for his consideration.

Building Permits

HB 447 by Rep. Diamond (D-St. Petersburg) and Sen. Perry (R-Gainesville)

Authorizes counties & local government to provide notice to certain persons; authorizes counties & local governments to charge person one search fee in certain amount; provides exemptions to certain contracting requirements; authorizes local enforcement agency to close permit; provides that contractor is not liable in certain circumstances; prohibits local enforcement agency from penalizing certain purchasers of property.

HB 447 passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 109-0 and the State Senate by a vote of 40-0 and will now head to Governor DeSantis for his consideration.

Blockchain Workgroup

SB 1024 by Sen. Gruters (R-Sarasota) and Rep. Santiago (R-Deltona)

Establishes Florida Blockchain Working Group in DFS; provides for membership & duties of working group; requires working group to submit report to Governor & Legislature & make presentations; requires department to provide support staff & other assistance to working group; provides for termination of working group.

SB 1024 passed the Senate by a vote of 39-0 and the House of Representatives by a vote of 113-0 and will now head to Governor DeSantis for his consideration.

Public Records Exemption Expansion – Law Enforcement Home Address

CS/CS/CS/SB 248 by Sen. Hooper (R-Palm Harbor) and Rep. Zika (R-Miami)

This legislation expands a current public records exemption for law enforcement personnel’s home address and removes information critical to the title industry, specifically the legal property description, parcel identification number or any other property information that could reveal the home address of the law enforcement personnel.  Both bills include language to authorize the protected employee to waive the confidentiality so the title industry can complete their work.

SB 248 passed the State Senate by a vote of 39-0 and the House of Representatives by a vote of 116-0.  Governor DeSantis has approved this legislation as Chapter Law 2019-12.