SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/CS/CS/HB 299

Blue Ribbon Projects
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SPONSOR
State Affairs Committee; Commerce Committee; Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee; Melo
FILED BY
Lauren Melo — District 82, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
DIED IN
Second Reading Calendar

Filed under Development & Land Use.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Blue Ribbon Projects ; Requires that development project meet certain requirements to qualify as blue ribbon project; requires blue ribbon project to have blue ribbon plan; requires project to receive dollar-for-dollar credits from local government; provides that certain easements or property must be granted without charge; requires landowner to apply to local government for approval of plan; provides local government review requirements; provides that blue ribbon plan governs use of property upon approval of plan application by local government; provides that project may be located on land with any future land use designation or zoning designation; provides appeal procedures for denial & approval of blue ribbon plan application; provides environmental review requirements.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Grants 15,000-acre landowners a 50-year development right and fee credits.

Eligible landowners may develop up to 40% of their property under a new state-approved plan, bypassing local zoning and comprehensive plan limits for 50 years.

Local governments must grant dollar-for-dollar fee credits for public facilities the project builds, and must accept free land or easements for state conservation purposes.

The plan is presumed consistent with local comprehensive plans, shifting the burden to local governments to prove substantial inconsistency before denying the application.

Development rights vest for 50 years, extendable to 75 years if 50% of the development area is built, insulating the project from future local regulatory changes.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Free Easements to State and Local Entities majors. 163.3249(5)(e)

AILandowners must grant conservation easements and property to state agencies, water management districts, and local governments at no cost.

“the easement or property shall be granted without charge” bill text, line 243 →
§ 2 Comprehensive Plan Superseded by Blue Ribbon Plan majors. 163.3249(6)(d)

AIOnce approved, the blue ribbon plan replaces all local comprehensive plan and land development regulations for the property.

“the plan shall govern use of the property in lieu of applicable comprehensive plan future land use requirements” bill text, line 287 →
§ 3 Presumption of Comprehensive Plan Consistency majors. 163.3249(6)(a)

AILocal governments must presume the plan is consistent with their comprehensive plan unless they find it substantially inconsistent.

“is presumed, subject to rebuttal, to be consistent with the local government's comprehensive plan” bill text, line 28 →
§ 4 50-Year Vested Development Rights majors. 163.3249(4)(c)

AIDevelopment rights and impact mitigation are vested for 50 years, extendable to 75 years if 50% of the development area is built.

“Development rights and mitigation of project impacts shall be vested for 50 years” bill text, line 174 →
§ 5 Dollar-for-Dollar Fee Credits moderates. 163.3249(5)(c)

AIProjects that fund public facilities receive dollar-for-dollar credits against local impact and mobility fees.

“the project must receive dollar-for-dollar credits against impact, mobility, proportionate share, or other fee credits” bill text, line 225 →
§ 6 De Novo Judicial Review of Denials moderates. 163.3249(7)(a)

AIApplicants may appeal denials in court, and the court is prohibited from using a deferential standard for the local government.

“The court may not use a deferential standard for the benefit of the local government” bill text, line 316 →
§ 7 Minimum 15,000-Acre Contiguous Property moderates. 163.3249(3)(a)

AIOnly properties of at least 15,000 contiguous acres owned by a single person or controlled entities qualify.

“The property must contain a minimum of 15,000 acres of land which are contiguous” bill text, line 117 →
§ 8 60 Percent Reserve Area Requirement moderates. 163.3249(3)(b)

AIAt least 60 percent of the project land must be designated as reserve area for conservation, agriculture, or public benefit.

“At least 60 percent of the land contained in the project must be reserve area” bill text, line 122 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died on Second Reading Calendar
3/2/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
3/2/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/26/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 3)
2/26/2026
CS Filed
2/26/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/26/2026
Reported out of State Affairs Committee
2/26/2026
Favorable with CS by State Affairs Committee
2/24/2026
Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
2/20/2026
Now in State Affairs Committee
2/20/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
2/19/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
2/19/2026
CS Filed
2/19/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/19/2026
Reported out of Commerce Committee
2/18/2026
Favorable with CS by Commerce Committee
2/16/2026
Added to Commerce Committee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
12/16/2025
Now in Commerce Committee
12/16/2025
Referred to State Affairs Committee
12/16/2025
Referred to Commerce Committee
12/12/2025
CS Filed
12/12/2025
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
12/12/2025
Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
12/11/2025
Favorable with CS by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
12/4/2025
Added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda
11/12/2025
Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
11/12/2025
Referred to State Affairs Committee
11/12/2025
Referred to Commerce Committee
11/12/2025
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
11/3/2025
Filed
26 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 163.3249
+2249 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES