SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/HB 481

Public Nuisance Abatement
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SPONSOR
Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee; Booth
FILED BY
Erika Booth — District 35, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
7/1/2026
COMPANION
SB 168 — CS/HB 481 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Criminal Justice.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Public Nuisance Abatement; Revises provisions relating to assessment & collection of fines for public nuisances; removes limit on total amount of fines that may be imposed on public nuisance.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Removes the $15,000 cap on public nuisance fines.

Local governments can now impose unlimited fines for public nuisances, as the previous $15,000 total limit is deleted.

Fines increase from $250 to $500 per day if a nuisance is not abated within one year.

Boards must award attorney fees to the government if requested, including costs for supervised legal assistants.

Boards must authorize foreclosure on unpaid liens if nuisance activity remains unabated after two years.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Removal of the $15,000 fine cap majors. 893.138(11)

AILocal governments can now impose unlimited daily fines for public nuisances, removing the previous statutory ceiling on total penalties.

“The total fines imposed pursuant to the authority of this section shall not exceed $15,000.” bill text, line 67 →
§ 2 Mandatory foreclosure after two years majors. 893.138(11)

AIIf a public nuisance remains unabated for two years, the abatement board is required to force foreclosure on the property, removing local discretion.

“If the nuisance abatement activity is unabated after 2 years, the nuisance abatement board shall authorize and require the appropriate entity to foreclose on the lien.” bill text, line 52 →
§ 3 Expanded attorney fee awards moderates. 893.138(11)

AIBoards must award attorney fees to local governments, including compensation for nonclerical work performed by legal assistants under attorney supervision.

“the nuisance abatement board shall award attorney fees after considering, among other things, time and labor of any legal assistants” bill text, line 29 →
§ 4 Continuing jurisdiction until abatement moderates. 893.138(11)

AILocal governments retain jurisdiction over declared nuisances indefinitely until the activity stops, rather than for a fixed one-year period.

“Continuing jurisdiction for a period of 1 year over any place or premises that has been or is declared to be a public nuisance until the public nuisance is abated.” bill text, line 37 →
TIMELINE
3/11/2026
Laid on Table; Companion bill(s) passed, see SB 168 (Ch. 2026-145 )
1/27/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
1/27/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
1/27/2026
Reported out of State Affairs Committee
1/27/2026
Favorable by State Affairs Committee
1/23/2026
Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
1/22/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
1/22/2026
Now in State Affairs Committee
1/22/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
1/21/2026
CS Filed
1/21/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/21/2026
Reported out of Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/21/2026
Favorable with CS by Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/16/2026
Added to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
12/11/2025
Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
12/11/2025
Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
12/11/2025
Favorable by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
12/4/2025
Added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda
11/24/2025
Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
11/24/2025
Referred to State Affairs Committee
11/24/2025
Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
11/24/2025
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
11/19/2025
Filed
18 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 893.138
+192 / −106
STAFF ANALYSES