As the 2026 Florida legislative session comes to an end and the calendar turns to a new month, Florida is rolling out new rules on everything from land use and criminal justice to public health. Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a wave of laws, some of which took effect immediately while others go into effect later in the year. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect.
1. Land Use and Development Regulations (HB 399)
Now in effect, this legislation makes changes to a range of local development rules. It requires local governments to tie development permit fees directly to the actual cost of processing applications and creates pathways for certain “large destination resorts” (like the Fontainebleau Miami Beach) to bypass traditional local historical and zoning review boards. You can read more about it here.
2. Commercial Service Airports (HB 919)
This bill gives state government the authority to rename major commercial service airports throughout Florida. It specifically renames Palm Beach International Airport to “President Donald J. Trump International Airport” (subject to FAA approval), while keeping the names of other major hubs the same for now. Effective July 1 and you can read it in full here.
3. “Missy’s Law” (HB 445)
This law requires courts to immediately remand individuals found guilty of a dangerous, violent or sexual crime pending sentencing, without letting them out on bond. It’s named after Missy Mogle, a 5-year-old girl Tallahassee girl killed by her stepfather last year as he awaited sentencing for another charge. You can read more about the law here.
4. Parkinson’s Disease Registry (HB 1443 & HB 1445)
These bills work to require the Florida Institute for Parkinson’s Disease at USF to establish a statewide Parkinson’s disease registry for diagnosing physicians to report to, while exempting the registry’s data from public records laws to protect patient privacy. The law is set to take effect July 1.
Read about HB 1443 here. And HB 1445 here.
5. Coastal Resiliency (SB 302)
SB 302 blocks developers from building a cruise terminal at Manatee County’s Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve to protect mangrove forests and wetlands. It also orders the Department of Environmental Protection to develop clearer statewide standards for nature-based coastal protections, such as living shorelines, by 2027. You can read more about this here.
6. Farm Equipment (SB 386)
This measure provides right to repair protections to Florida farmers by requiring manufacturers to fix, replace or refund defective farm equipment within a year of delivery or during the warranty period. In the bill, Farm equipment is defined as “power-drawn, power-driven or self-propelled equipment used on a farm or to transport farm products.” It will take effect on July 1, and you can read more about it here.
7. Sickle Cell Disease (SB 844)
SB 844 requires that the mandatory two-hour continuing education course for professionals authorized to prescribe controlled substances now include specific training on proper pain management for patients with sickle cell disease. Effective July 1, and you can read more here.
