SESSION WATCH
Became law HOUSE · SESSION 2026 · CHAPTER 2026-62

No. CS/CS/CS/HB 589

Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal System Permits
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SPONSOR
State Affairs Committee; Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee; Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee; Nix
FILED BY
Danny Nix — District 75, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
Except as otherwise expressly provided in this act, this act shall take effect May 6, 2026.

Filed under Healthcare.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal System Permits; Prohibits municipality or political subdivision of state from requiring owners & builders of certain residences to receive construction permits from DEP as condition of issuing building or plumbing permits; requires such owners & builders to provide certain proof to municipality or political subdivision.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Lets builders get a building permit before DEP approves the septic permit.

For single-family homes, a municipality can no longer require the owner or builder to have already received a septic system construction permit from the department before issuing a building or plumbing permit.

Instead, the owner or builder only has to show a municipality proof that a septic permit application was submitted when applying for the building or plumbing permit.

If septic construction begins before the department issues that permit, the property owner or applicant, not the local government, assumes all legal, financial, and safety liability for it.

Separately, once the department adopts a new septic system rule, that rule cannot be applied to permit applications already submitted within the 90 days right after adoption.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Removes the pre-approved septic permit requirement for single-family homes majors. 381.0065

AIFor a single-family residence needing a septic system, a municipality or political subdivision can no longer make an already-approved department construction permit a condition of issuing the building or plumbing permit.

“may not require the owner or builder to receive a construction permit from the department” bill text, line 83 →
§ 2 Requires proof of a submitted septic application instead majors. 381.0065

AIIn place of the approved permit, the owner or builder must show the municipality proof that a septic system permit application was submitted at the time of applying for the building or plumbing permit.

“must provide to a municipality or political subdivision proof that the owner or builder submitted an application for the onsite sewage treatment and disposal system” bill text, line 86 →
§ 3 Shifts liability to the owner for early septic construction moderates. 381.0065

AIIf work on the septic system begins before its own construction permit is issued, the property owner or applicant, not the municipality or the department, must assume all legal, financial, and safety liability that results.

“the property owner or the applicant must assume all legal, financial, and safety liabilities arising therefrom” bill text, line 93 →
§ 4 Gives pending applications a 90-day grace period against new rules moderates. 381.0065

AIOnce the department adopts a new rule for the use and installation of septic systems, that rule cannot be applied to a permit application submitted within 90 days after the rule's adoption; this part takes effect July 1, 2026.

“does not apply to permit applications submitted within 90 days after the date such rule is adopted” bill text, line 682 →
TIMELINE
5/7/2026
Chapter No. 2026-62
5/6/2026
Approved by Governor
4/30/2026
Signed by Officers and presented to Governor
3/12/2026
Ordered engrossed, then enrolled
3/12/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 109, NAYS 0
3/12/2026
Amendment 596626 Concur
3/12/2026
Added to Senate Message List
3/11/2026
In Messages
3/11/2026
CS passed as amended; YEAS 38 NAYS 0 -SJ 762
3/11/2026
Read 3rd time -SJ 762
3/11/2026
Amendment(s) adopted (596626) -SJ 756
3/11/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 756
3/11/2026
Substituted for CS/CS/SB 698 -SJ 756
3/11/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
3/11/2026
Withdrawn from Rules -SJ 756
2/26/2026
Received
2/26/2026
Referred to Rules
2/25/2026
In Messages
2/25/2026
CS passed; YEAS 113, NAYS 0
2/25/2026
Read 3rd time
2/25/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
2/25/2026
Read 2nd time
2/19/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
2/11/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/11/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/10/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 3)
2/10/2026
CS Filed
2/10/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/10/2026
Reported out of State Affairs Committee
2/10/2026
Favorable with CS by State Affairs Committee
2/6/2026
Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
1/29/2026
Now in State Affairs Committee
1/29/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
1/28/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
1/28/2026
CS Filed
1/28/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/28/2026
Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/28/2026
Favorable with CS by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/26/2026
Added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda
1/22/2026
Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/22/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
1/22/2026
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/21/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
1/21/2026
CS Filed
1/21/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
1/20/2026
Reported out of Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
1/20/2026
Favorable with CS by Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
1/15/2026
Added to Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
12/12/2025
Now in Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Referred to State Affairs Committee
12/12/2025
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
12/12/2025
Referred to Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
12/2/2025
Filed
48 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 381.0065
+180 / −10
s. 381.0065
+44 / −0
s. 380.0552
+12 / −12
s. 381.00651
+2 / −2
STAFF ANALYSES