SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. HB 489

Terminology Associated with Florida Housing Finance Corporation
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SPONSOR
Owen
FILED BY
Michael Owen — District 70, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
upon becoming a law
DIED IN
Housing

Filed under Housing.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Terminology Associated with Florida Housing Finance Corporation; Revises & provides definitions pertaining to corporation.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Adds a three-project completion requirement for affordable housing developers.

The bill creates a new legal definition of "demonstrated capacity" for affordable housing providers. To qualify, a provider must have completed at least three affordable housing projects in the U.S. within the last five years.

One of those three required projects must have been completed in Florida. This standard applies to for-profit developers, nonprofits, and community housing development organizations seeking to build or rehabilitate affordable housing.

The bill also defines a "qualifying principal" as a person owning at least 25% of a housing entity. Sponsors must now have a qualifying principal with the required demonstrated capacity to participate in state housing programs.

These changes update the Florida Housing Finance Corporation's definitions to set specific, measurable experience thresholds for developers and sponsors working on affordable housing projects.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 New Definition of Demonstrated Capacity majors. 420.503(13)

AIAdds a specific legal standard for proving a housing provider's ability to build or rehabilitate affordable housing.

“completion of at least three affordable housing projects in the United States, one of which must have been completed in this state, within the preceding 5 years” bill text, line 29 →
§ 2 New Definition of Qualifying Principal majors. 420.503(38)

AICreates a new legal category for individuals who must own a minimum stake in a housing entity to be considered responsible for its projects.

“one or more persons owning at least 25 percent of a legally formed corporation, association, joint venture, or partnership” bill text, line 46 →
§ 3 Eligible Housing Provider Requirements majors. 420.503(17)

AIRequires for-profit and nonprofit developers to have at least one qualifying principal to be eligible for housing finance corporation support.

“with at least one qualifying principal having the demonstrated capacity to construct or rehabilitate affordable housing” bill text, line 43 →
§ 4 Sponsor Capacity Requirement moderates. 420.503(41)(a)

AIMandates that any entity seeking to sponsor a project must possess the demonstrated capacity to construct or rehabilitate affordable housing.

“Has the demonstrated capacity to construct or rehabilitate affordable housing” bill text, line 53 →
§ 5 Foster Care Youth Eligibility Cross-Reference moderates. 420.628(2)

AIUpdates the statutory citation for the definition of eligible persons to reflect the renumbering of the affordable housing definitions.

“meet the definition of eligible persons under ss. 420.503(19) and 420.9071(11)” bill text, line 64 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
11/24/2025
Now in Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee
11/24/2025
Referred to Commerce Committee
11/24/2025
Referred to Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee
11/19/2025
Filed
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 420.503
+136 / −8
s. 420.628
+4 / −4
s. 420.503
+0 / −0