Laws going into effect January 01, 2025
By: Sheila Mader
The 2025 new year will bring new laws to Florida residents. The new laws range from
social media control to added protection for first responders and building permits
guidelines. Review the following changes and/or new laws to be informed for the
coming year.
HB3 – Online protection for Minors
Social media restrictions are tightened. Children under 14 will be prohibited from
creating social media accounts. Those ages 14 and 15 will be required to have parental
consent to have an account. This measure is aimed to protect minors from potential
online harm. This bill also requires regulated social media platforms to close accounts
belonging to anyone younger than 14.
Also, under HB3 is a new requirement for users to verify their age for adult websites.
Websites hosting adult content will require users to verify their age, typically by
uploading a government-issued ID, to confirm they are 18 or older. This is for prevention
of minors accessing explicit material.
SB 184 – Protection for First Responders
This law is geared specifically for anyone who is told by a working first responder not to
approach must stay 25 feet away.
They must not impede or interfere with the first responder’s ability to perform such duty;
threaten the first responder with physical harm; or harass or intimidate the first
responder. First responders refer to police officers, firefighters and paramedics.
Any violation of this bill will be a second-degree misdemeanor.
HB 267 – Building permit processing
Florida House Bill 267 was originally enacted in 2024 and beginning January 1 will add
several changes to building permit regulations to streamline the process and enhance
efficiency.
The biggest change involves restrictions on timeframes for permit processing.
Local governments are now required to approve, approve with conditions, or deny
complete a sufficient building permit applications within specific timeframes.
For permits involving structures 7,500 square feet, such as single-family residential
units, accessory structures, and systems including alarm, electrical, irrigation,
landscaping, mechanical, plumbing or roofing, permits should be approved or
disapproved within 30 business days.
For the above-mentioned permits concerning structures 7,500 square feet or larger,
signs and nonresidential buildings under 25,000 square feet; multifamily residential
projects not exceeding 50 units; certain site-plan approvals and subdivision plats; and
lot grading and site alterations, permits should be approved or disapproved within 60
business days.
There will be 12 business days allowed for master building permits seeking site-specific
building permits.
There will be 10 business days allowed for single-family dwellings utilizing the
Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Program.
Failure to meet these deadlines obligates local governments to reduce building permit
fees by 10% for each business day the deadline is missed, with certain exceptions.
Private provider provisions
Property owners and contractors can hire licensed professionals, known as private
provides, for plan reviews and inspections. HB 267 stipulates that if a private provider
who is a licensed engineer or architect affixes their professional seal to an affidavit, the
local building official must issue the permit or provide written notice detailing any
noncompliance issues within 10 business days. If the official fails to do so, the permit
application is automatically approved, and the permit must be issued the following
business day.
Window and door replacements
The Florida Building Commission is directed to amend the Florida Building Code to
state that sealed drawings by a design professional are not required for replacing
windows, doors, or garage doors in existing one-family or two-family dwellings or
townhouses, provided:
The replacements are installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions for the
appropriate wind zone. They meet the design pressure requirements of the latest
Florida Building Code, Residential.
The replacements are the same size and installed in the same opening as the existing
components.
HB 135 Voter registration applications
Under the new law, the bill prohibits changing the party affiliation of a voter registration
applicant who is updating his or her voter registration record unless the applicant
designates and consents in writing to the change.
The bill revises voter-registration duties of the Florida Department of Highway Safety
and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) by:
Prohibiting the DHSMV from changing the party affiliation of an applicant who is
updating his or her voter registration record unless the applicant designates and
consents in writing to change his or her party affiliation.
Requiring the DHSMV to, after verifying voter registration information and receiving the
applicant’s electronic signature, provide the applicant with a printed receipt that includes
the submitted voter registration information and documents any changes in party
affiliation.
Requiring the DHSMV to ensure that technology processes and updates do not alter an
applicant’s party affiliation without the written consent of the applicant.
The bill requires the DHSMV to be in full compliance with the bill’s requirements within
three months after the bill becomes law.
SB 892 Dental insurance claims
Dental Insurance Claims: Prohibiting a contract between a health insurer and a dentist
from containing certain restrictions on payment methods; prohibiting a health insurer
from charging a fee to transmit a payment to a dentist through Automated Clearing
House (ACH) transfer unless the dentist has consented to such fee; prohibiting a health
insurer from denying claims for procedures included in a prior authorization; prohibiting
a contract between a prepaid limited health service organization and a dentist from
containing certain restrictions on payment methods, etcetera.
SB 556 Protecting specified adults
This bill is designed to protect specified adults from financial exploitation. The bill was
passed in May 2024 and will go into effect on January 1, 2025. It allows financial
institutions to delay transactions or disbursements from an account if they believe the
account holder is being financially exploited. The financial institution must provide
written notice to all parties authorized to transact business on the account within three
business days of the delay.
Hurricane protection for condominium associations
This bill defines hurricane protection for condominium associations and gives boards
the authority to install or require unit owners to install hurricane protection. The bill also
requires declarations to specify who is responsible for the installation, maintenance,
repair, or replacement of hurricane protection.
SB 362 Medical treatment under Workers’ Compensation Law
This bill was introduced by the Fiscal Policy Committee and Senator Jennifer Bradley. It
passed the Senate on February 28, 2024, and the House on March 6, 2024. On June 7,
2024, the bill was signed by officers and presented to the Governor.
The bill was created to address the low physician participation rate in Florida’s workers’
compensation system. The combination of high costs and low reimbursement has led to
many physicians leaving the system, making it difficult for injured workers to access
medical care.
The bill increases limits on witness fees charged by certain witnesses, increasing the
maximum reimbursement allowances for physicians and surgical procedures, etcetera.
