SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/CS/HB 979

Infill Redevelopment
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SPONSOR
State Affairs Committee; Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee; Borrero
FILED BY
David Borrero — District 111, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
upon becoming a law
COMPANION
CS/CS/SB 1434 — CS/CS/HB 979 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Development & Land Use.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Infill Redevelopment; Requires local government to permit development of certain qualifying parcels up to certain density & intensity; requires developers of qualifying parcels to maintain specified buffer between new developments & single-family homes & townhouses; requires developers of qualifying parcels to establish that certain recreational facilities & areas reserved for recreational use have not been in operation or use for certain timeframe, to pay double parks & recreational facilities impact fees, & to provide written notice to certain property owners; requires property owners who receive such written notice to exercise option to purchase certain parcels or portions thereof within specified timeframe or forfeit option; requires development on qualifying parcels to meet concurrency requirements.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Mandates local approval of residential development on large, environmentally impacted urban parcels.

Local governments must permit residential development on qualifying parcels, overriding any local laws that would restrict density or intensity below the average of adjacent residential zones.

Developers must maintain a 20-foot buffer of open space or passive recreation between new projects and existing single-family homes or townhouses on all sides.

If a parcel includes unused recreational facilities, developers must pay double impact fees and offer adjacent owners a 90-day window to buy the land at a capped price.

Local governments are prohibited from adopting or enforcing any local law that imposes more restrictive requirements on the administrative approval of these developments.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Mandatory Permitting of Residential Development majors. 163.2525(5)

AILocal governments are legally required to permit residential development on qualifying parcels, overriding any conflicting local laws or regulations.

“a local government must permit a qualifying parcel to be developed with residential uses” bill text, line 120 →
§ 2 Density and Intensity Caps moderates. 163.2525(5)

AIDevelopment density is capped at the average of adjacent residential zoning districts, and intensity must comply with adjacent district standards.

“density of development pursuant to this section shall not exceed the average density of all zoning districts” bill text, line 122 →
§ 3 Mandatory Buffer from Single-Family Homes moderates. 163.2525(7)

AIDevelopers must provide a 20-foot buffer of open space or passive recreation between new development and adjacent single-family homes or townhomes.

“the developer must provide a buffer of at least 20 feet between the new development and the existing single-family homes” bill text, line 136 →
§ 4 Double Impact Fees for Recreational Loss moderates. 163.2525(8)(a)

AIDevelopers must pay double the standard parks or recreational facilities impact fee if the parcel includes recreational areas adjacent to single-family homes.

“Pay double the applicable parks or recreational facilities impact fee that would otherwise apply” bill text, line 151 →
§ 5 Administrative Approval Only majors. 163.2525(9)

AICompliant developments must be administratively approved without further action by the local governing body, bypassing typical legislative review.

“must be administratively approved, and no further action by the governing body of a local government is required” bill text, line 186 →
§ 6 Preemption of Local Regulations majors. 163.2525(11)

AILocal governments are prohibited from adopting or enforcing any law or regulation that imposes more restrictive requirements on qualifying parcels.

“A local government may not adopt or enforce a local law, an ordinance, or a regulation that applies or has the effect of applying a more restrictive” bill text, line 204 →
TIMELINE
3/10/2026
Laid on Table; Companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/SB 1434 (Ch. 2026-84 )
3/5/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
3/5/2026
Temporarily postponed, on 2nd Reading
3/4/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/5/2026)
3/4/2026
Temporarily postponed, on 2nd Reading
3/2/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/4/2026)
3/2/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/5/2026)
3/2/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/26/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (3/4/2026)
2/26/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/25/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 2)
2/25/2026
Bill referred to House Calendar
2/25/2026
CS Filed
2/25/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/25/2026
Reported out of State Affairs Committee
2/24/2026
Favorable with CS by State Affairs Committee
2/20/2026
Added to State Affairs Committee agenda
2/19/2026
Now in State Affairs Committee
2/19/2026
Reported out of Commerce Committee
2/18/2026
Favorable by Commerce Committee
2/16/2026
Added to Commerce Committee agenda
2/9/2026
Now in Commerce Committee
2/9/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
2/9/2026
Referred to Commerce Committee
2/9/2026
1st Reading (Committee Substitute 1)
2/6/2026
CS Filed
2/6/2026
Laid on Table under Rule 7.18(a)
2/6/2026
Reported out of Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
2/5/2026
Favorable with CS by Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
2/3/2026
Added to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/12/2026
Now in Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/12/2026
Referred to State Affairs Committee
1/12/2026
Referred to Housing, Agriculture & Tourism Subcommittee
1/12/2026
Referred to Intergovernmental Affairs Subcommittee
1/5/2026
Filed
30 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 163.2525
+1374 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES