SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. HB 239

Standards for Storm Water Systems
Send via email
SPONSOR
Grow
FILED BY
J.J. Grow — District 23, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee

Filed under Local Government.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Standards for Storm Water Systems; Requires storm water systems in counties & municipalities, respectively, to comply with specified DOT standards; provides inspection requirements for such systems; specifies that certain local standards are superseded; provides finding of important state interest.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Requires counties and cities to build storm pipes to one state standard.

Counties and municipalities installing new storm pipe or storm structures must now follow the Department of Transportation's annual road-and-bridge construction specifications for pipe culverts and pipe liners.

Final inspections must be done by a certified technician from a third-party engineering firm with no controlling interest in the company that installed the system.

These new installation and inspection rules override every existing state and local standard that counties and municipalities were previously using for storm pipe and structures.

The Legislature separately declares this an important state interest, the finding Florida's constitution requires to impose this kind of mandate on local governments.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 New storm pipe and structures must follow DOT road-and-bridge specs majors. 125.5695(1)

AIWhen installing new storm pipe or storm structures, counties and municipalities must follow the Department of Transportation's annual Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, specifically its Pipe Culverts and Pipe Liner sections.

“must follow the annual Department of Transportation's Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction contained in the sections” bill text, line 19 →
§ 2 Independent PACP-certified technician must do final inspections majors. 125.5695(2)

AIFinal inspections must be performed by a NASSCO PACP-certified technician employed by a third-party engineering firm with no controlling interest in the company that installed the storm system -- the installer cannot inspect its own work.

“employed by a third-party licensed engineering firm that does not have a controlling interest in the company that installed the storm system” bill text, line 26 →
§ 3 State standard overrides every existing local requirement majors. 125.5695(3)

AIThe new installation and inspection standards supersede all existing and local standards in counties and municipalities, displacing whatever construction or inspection rules local governments previously applied.

“supersede all existing and local standards in counties” bill text, line 33 →
§ 4 Legislature declares an important state interest to justify the mandate moderates. 3 (uncodified)

AIThe Legislature makes a formal finding under article VII, section 18 of the Florida Constitution that this act fulfills an important state interest -- the mechanism the constitution requires before this kind of mandate can bind local governments without state funding.

“the Legislature hereby determines and declares that this act fulfills an important state interest” bill text, line 57 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
10/28/2025
Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
10/28/2025
Referred to State Affairs Committee
10/28/2025
Referred to Economic Infrastructure Subcommittee
10/28/2025
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
10/21/2025
Filed
1 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 125.5695
+152 / −0
s. 166.04815
+152 / −0