SESSION WATCH
Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-179

No. CS/CS/HB 1389

Affordable Housing
Send via email
SPONSOR
Commerce Committee; Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee; Redondo
FILED BY
Mike Redondo — District 118, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026

Filed under Local Government.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Affordable Housing; Requiring counties and municipalities, respectively, to authorize multifamily and mixed-use residential uses as allowable uses for specified property; providing requirements for certain proposed developments; prohibiting counties and municipalities, respectively, from restricting the height of certain proposed developments through other dimensional means and from requiring certain setbacks or stepbacks; requiring counties and municipalities to allow certain applicants to submit revised applications, written requests, and notices of intent to account for changes made by the act; .; authorizing a local government to provide a density bonus incentive to landowners who make certain real property donations to assist in the provision of affordable housing for military families; requiring the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability to evaluate the efficacy of using mezzanine finance and the potential of tiny homes for specified purposes, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates local approval of affordable housing in commercial zones.

Counties and municipalities must now allow multifamily and mixed-use residential developments in commercial, industrial, and mixed-use zones if 40% of units are affordable for 30 years.

Local governments are prohibited from restricting the height of these developments through setbacks or stepbacks that are more restrictive than the minimum permitted in the proposal.

The bill expands the definition of industrial use to exclude farms and farm operations, preventing localities from classifying agricultural activities as industrial for zoning purposes.

It authorizes local governments to provide density bonus incentives to landowners who donate real property to assist in providing affordable housing for military families.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Multifamily and Mixed-Use Zoning majors. 125.01055(7)(a)

AICounties and municipalities must allow multifamily and mixed-use residential in commercial, industrial, and mixed-use zones, as well as on county, municipal, school district, and certain religious properties, provided 40% of units are affordable for 30 years.

“A county must authorize multifamily and mixed-use residential as allowable uses in any area zoned for commercial, industrial, or mixed use” bill text, line 58 →
§ 2 Height and Setback Restrictions Prohibited majors. 125.01055(7)(d)

AILocal governments may not restrict the height of these developments below the highest allowed nearby height or three stories, and may not use setbacks or stepbacks to circumvent this height limit.

“A county may not restrict height below the height authorized under this paragraph through other dimensional means, such as establishing setbacks or stepbacks by height” bill text, line 103 →
§ 3 Exemptions for Open Space and Conservation Areas moderates. 125.01055(7)(n)

AIThe mandatory zoning requirements do not apply to areas with land development regulations intended to retain open character, areas of critical state concern, or properties with recorded conservation easements.

“Areas subject to land development regulations, as defined in s. 163.3164, which are in existence before July 1, 2026, and are intended to retain the open character of land” bill text, line 202 →
§ 4 Sovereign Immunity Waiver for Discrimination Claims moderates. 760.35(4)

AIThe state waives sovereign immunity for civil actions alleging discriminatory housing practices under the land use discrimination statute, allowing lawsuits against state agencies and political subdivisions.

“the state, for itself and its agencies or political subdivisions, waives sovereign immunity for a cause of action based upon the application of this section” bill text, line 521 →
§ 5 Religious Property Development Requirements moderates. 125.01055(7)(a)

AIDevelopments on religious property must be applied for by both the applicant and the institution, and the house of public worship must continue to operate on the property after construction.

“the house of public worship must continue to operate on the property after the proposed development is constructed” bill text, line 90 →
TIMELINE
6/29/2026
Chapter No. 2026-179 ; Companion bill(s) passed, see SB 962 (Ch. 2026-163 )
6/26/2026
Approved by Governor
6/15/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/13/2026
Ordered engrossed, then enrolled
3/13/2026
In Messages
3/13/2026
CS passed; YEAS 35 NAYS 0 -SJ 892
3/13/2026
Concurred in House amendment(s) to Senate amendment(s) (680391) -SJ 892
3/12/2026
In returning messages
3/12/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 98, NAYS 4
3/12/2026
Concurred in Senate amendment 668106 as amended
3/12/2026
Amendment 680391 adopted
3/12/2026
Added to Senate Message List
3/6/2026
In Messages
3/6/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 34 NAYS 0 -SJ 682
3/6/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 682
3/6/2026
Amendment(s) adopted (668106) -SJ 678
3/6/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 678
3/6/2026
Substituted for SB 1548 -SJ 678
3/6/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/6/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 678
3/4/2026
Received
3/4/2026
Referred to Rules
3/4/2026
In Messages
3/4/2026
CS passed; YEAS 76, NAYS 29
3/4/2026
Read 3rd time
3/4/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
3/4/2026
Read 2nd time
2/26/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/4/2026)
2/26/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/25/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
2/25/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/25/2026
CS Filed
2/25/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/25/2026
Reported out of Commerce Committee
2/24/2026
Favorable with CS by Commerce Committee
2/20/2026
Added to Commerce Committee agenda
2/18/2026
Now in Commerce Committee
2/18/2026
Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
2/18/2026
Favorable by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
2/16/2026
Added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda
2/13/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2/13/2026
Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
2/13/2026
Referred to Commerce Committee
2/13/2026
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
2/12/2026
CS Filed
2/12/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/12/2026
Reported out of Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee
2/11/2026
Favorable with CS by Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee
2/9/2026
Added to Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee agenda
1/15/2026
Now in Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee
1/15/2026
Referred to Commerce Committee
1/15/2026
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/15/2026
Referred to Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/9/2026
Filed
49 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 125.01055
+379 / −14
s. 166.04151
+379 / −14
s. 196.1978
+170 / −7
s. 333.03
+19 / −0
s. 333.03
+13 / −0
s. 760.22
+9 / −1
STAFF ANALYSES