Latest news with #NickDiCeglie
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Where's the budget?' Floridians grow impatient over state budget battle
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — As Florida eyes the skies for hurricane season, there's another storm brewing over at the statehouse, Lawmakers have yet to hammer out a budget plan and the clock is ticking. State senators and representatives have been back home in their districts for about a month now, and their constituents have one big question: where's the state budget? DUI driver who killed Lake Placid teen drove 5x the legal limit 'They're wondering when we're going to complete the budget; there's, there's a lot of that more than I anticipated,' said State Senator Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach. With weeks to go before the new fiscal year kicks off, 8 On Your Side spoke to several local leaders in the bay area to get to the bottom of the budget battle. 'What I assured them is a number of things, #1 is that there will be a state budget,' said State Representative Berny Jacques, R-Seminole. 'There will be no state government shutdown. They can take that to the bank. Secondly, I make sure that they know that we are going to cut wasteful spending in state government. That's not negotiable. There will be cuts to wasteful spending. And third, I let them know that the key functions of government will be funded everything from public safety to education. Those things will be funded in an adequate and a strong manner.' 'I do anticipate us getting this budget done by June 30,' said Senator DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach. 'We will eventually get our heads together and hash this out, come to an agreement, and pass a budget that I think all of us would be very proud of.' 'The work is still ongoing,' said State Representative Adam Anderson, R-Palm Harbor. 'We still need to get our budget done, it's the one thing that we're constitutionally required to do when the legislature meets and we're still working on that. It's a process that involves a little bit of a shift from where we've been in the past.' So, what's the hold up? According to lawmakers, it's the tax reform package.'We're trying to decide, you know, the tax package,' DiCeglie said. 'There are sales tax elements to it. We've got sales tax holidays that are element.' DiCeglie said they want to tackle this issue carefully and make sure that two, three years down the road, they aren't putting future legislatures in a position to have to raise taxes. House members agree, hoping this time around they can shift the narrative of past sessions, saying it's not just about the year ahead.'Whenever we go through a change from what the status quo is, you know, sometimes it could look a little bit messy from the outside, but everyone's on the same page to be able to get to the arrival point,' Anderson said. 'There might be a little difference of opinion of how we get there, but those things are getting flushed out and the conversations are ongoing.' The governor continues to flag major issues with budget delays, saying budget delays are already affecting Floridians back home from getting sales tax relief — like his 2nd Amendment tax holiday, a hurricane preparation sales holiday, and a boater fuel sales tax.'You only have one job, one real job in the legislature, and that's to do the appropriations and the budget,' DeSantis members extended the budget deadline until June 6, which is only one week away. So, can they pass a budget before then? Some lawmakers are not too hopeful, waiting for the governor to step in. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
27-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Florida Bill Could See Higher Flood Insurance Costs This Year
A bill trying to "bolster hurricane relief and recovery" in Florida could end up increasing the cost of flood insurance for thousands of homeowners in the state, experts warned, adding more weight to their growing financial burden. Senate Bill 180, which has already passed both the Florida House and Senate with nearly unanimous support, is now heading to Governor Ron DeSantis' desk. The bill aims to help homeowners in the Sunshine State rebuild more quickly after natural disasters, which are becoming more frequent and destructive due to climate change. However, in its attempt to expedite these efforts, critics argue that the legislation may hinder residents from implementing key changes that would enhance their homes' resilience to extreme weather events. Florida homeowners have seen the cost of home insurance skyrocket in recent years due to a combination of more frequent and severe natural disasters, widespread fraud, and excessive litigation. Although the market has stabilized over the past year, homeowners in the state continue to pay some of the highest premiums in the country. At $2,625 per year, the average cost of home insurance in the state is 24 percent higher than the national average of $2,110, according to NerdWallet. Flood insurance, which is not required by law, is an additional cost on top of the standard property insurance policy for homeowners in the state. According to NerdWallet, the average annual cost of flood insurance in the state is $865 for a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy. Changes introduced by SB 180 could increase the cost of flood insurance even further for Florida homeowners, potentially discouraging some from obtaining coverage for their homes at all-a risky proposition in such a disaster-prone state. SB 180 has been celebrated by sponsor Nick DiCeglie, a Republican state senator representing Indian Rocks Beach, as legislation that would offer Florida homeowners "a clear path to recovery" after being hit by a storm. "We're fighting for families to focus on rebuilding without additional delays or burdens, especially for those who sustained damage or lost their homes," the senator said in a press release. "Working with our state and local emergency responders, we can streamline restoration efforts and improve emergency response coordination, fortifying and strengthening our communities before the next storm." Newsweek reached out to DiCeglie via email for comment on Monday. The bill's efforts to streamline rebuilding after a hurricane, however, include a two-year freeze on the adoption of stricter building codes that could strengthen Florida homes, a measure that critics say would prevent local governments from introducing important reforms. It would also make it easier for homeowners whose properties have been destroyed or damaged in a natural disaster to avoid elevating their homes once they rebuild-an improvement that experts consider crucial to strengthen residences against more frequent and more severe extreme weather events. Under the proposed legislation, only homes that have suffered storm damage equal to more than 50 percent of their value must be demolished and rebuilt entirely-the minimum requirement set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Strengthening a home exposed to potentially devastating natural disasters not only makes this property more resilient, protecting the owner and their assets, but it also makes coverage more affordable. Insurers often offer discounts to policyholders who make efforts to strengthen their homes against extreme weather events under programs such as FEMA's Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant and the Sunshine State's Elevate Florida. This state-run program, launched last year, offers to cover at least 75 percent of the cost of mitigation projects, including elevating a home damaged in a storm, which promises to lower insurance costs and increase the property's value. A study conducted by the state and cited by several local newspapers found that 44 out of the 122 communities that currently elevate their homes after an impactful natural disaster would lose points toward discounts on flood insurance premiums due to SB 180. Twelve would no longer qualify for the level of discount they currently benefit from: Bay County, Leon County, Orange County, Dania Beach, Jupiter Beach, Palm Springs, Estero, Lake Mary, Hialeah, Bonita Springs, Hollywood and the Pensacola Beach Santa Rosa Island Authority. According to the study's estimates, approximately 44,000 Florida homeowners would end up paying more for flood insurance coverage as a result of the bill taking effect, resulting in a total annual increase of $1.6 million statewide, or $36 per person. Florida state Senator Nick DiCeglie, who sponsored the bill, in a statement: "If we can keep one more person in their home to keep them out of the 50 percent rule, that's one person that does not have to deal with the incredibly stressful situation of tearing down their home and elevating." Del Schwalls, a floodplain management consultant, told the Tampa Bay Times: "It's really frustrating. It prevents anyone from trying to fix this flood, repair, flood, repair cycle." Kimberleigh Dinkins, policy and planning director of advocacy group 1000 Friends of Florida, in a statement: "A lot of times, a local government can evaluate the impact that a storm has on their community, and make adjustments to their land development code to make themselves more resilient. Under this scenario, they wouldn't be able to do that." She added: "It's removing one of the tools in the toolbox to increase resiliency. It basically is saying: okay, you have more opportunities to build back in a way that's resulting in flooding." The bill is now awaiting the governor's signature, but DeSantis has not yet indicated whether he will sign the legislation. If signed, the bill's provisions could take effect during the upcoming hurricane season, potentially affecting insurance premiums and building standards statewide amid ongoing market volatility. Related Articles Florida Homeowners 'Living Nightmare' As Construction Company Goes BankruptHow Donald Trump Could Boost US High-Speed RailFlorida Man Dies in Police Shooting After Surviving Apparent Gator AttackFlorida Boat Explosion: 11 Reported Hospitalized After Blast in Waterway 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
27-05-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Florida Bill Could See Higher Flood Insurance Costs This Year
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A bill trying to "bolster hurricane relief and recovery" in Florida could end up increasing the cost of flood insurance for thousands of homeowners in the state, experts warned, adding more weight to their growing financial burden. Senate Bill 180, which has already passed both the Florida House and Senate with nearly unanimous support, is now heading to Governor Ron DeSantis' desk. The bill aims to help homeowners in the Sunshine State rebuild more quickly after natural disasters, which are becoming more frequent and destructive due to climate change. However, in its attempt to expedite these efforts, critics argue that the legislation may hinder residents from implementing key changes that would enhance their homes' resilience to extreme weather events. Why It Matters Florida homeowners have seen the cost of home insurance skyrocket in recent years due to a combination of more frequent and severe natural disasters, widespread fraud, and excessive litigation. Although the market has stabilized over the past year, homeowners in the state continue to pay some of the highest premiums in the country. At $2,625 per year, the average cost of home insurance in the state is 24 percent higher than the national average of $2,110, according to NerdWallet. Flood insurance, which is not required by law, is an additional cost on top of the standard property insurance policy for homeowners in the state. According to NerdWallet, the average annual cost of flood insurance in the state is $865 for a National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policy. Changes introduced by SB 180 could increase the cost of flood insurance even further for Florida homeowners, potentially discouraging some from obtaining coverage for their homes at all—a risky proposition in such a disaster-prone state. What To Know SB 180 has been celebrated by sponsor Nick DiCeglie, a Republican state senator representing Indian Rocks Beach, as legislation that would offer Florida homeowners "a clear path to recovery" after being hit by a storm. "We're fighting for families to focus on rebuilding without additional delays or burdens, especially for those who sustained damage or lost their homes," the senator said in a press release. "Working with our state and local emergency responders, we can streamline restoration efforts and improve emergency response coordination, fortifying and strengthening our communities before the next storm." Newsweek reached out to DiCeglie via email for comment on Monday. A worker helps raise a home with jacks and framing material in Treasure Island, Florida, on May 23, 2025. A worker helps raise a home with jacks and framing material in Treasure Island, Florida, on May 23, bill's efforts to streamline rebuilding after a hurricane, however, include a two-year freeze on the adoption of stricter building codes that could strengthen Florida homes, a measure that critics say would prevent local governments from introducing important reforms. It would also make it easier for homeowners whose properties have been destroyed or damaged in a natural disaster to avoid elevating their homes once they rebuild—an improvement that experts consider crucial to strengthen residences against more frequent and more severe extreme weather events. Under the proposed legislation, only homes that have suffered storm damage equal to more than 50 percent of their value must be demolished and rebuilt entirely—the minimum requirement set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Strengthening a home exposed to potentially devastating natural disasters not only makes this property more resilient, protecting the owner and their assets, but it also makes coverage more affordable. Insurers often offer discounts to policyholders who make efforts to strengthen their homes against extreme weather events under programs such as FEMA's Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant and the Sunshine State's Elevate Florida. This state-run program, launched last year, offers to cover at least 75 percent of the cost of mitigation projects, including elevating a home damaged in a storm, which promises to lower insurance costs and increase the property's value. A study conducted by the state and cited by several local newspapers found that 44 out of the 122 communities that currently elevate their homes after an impactful natural disaster would lose points toward discounts on flood insurance premiums due to SB 180. Twelve would no longer qualify for the level of discount they currently benefit from: Bay County, Leon County, Orange County, Dania Beach, Jupiter Beach, Palm Springs, Estero, Lake Mary, Hialeah, Bonita Springs, Hollywood and the Pensacola Beach Santa Rosa Island Authority. According to the study's estimates, approximately 44,000 Florida homeowners would end up paying more for flood insurance coverage as a result of the bill taking effect, resulting in a total annual increase of $1.6 million statewide, or $36 per person. What People Are Saying Florida state Senator Nick DiCeglie, who sponsored the bill, in a statement: "If we can keep one more person in their home to keep them out of the 50 percent rule, that's one person that does not have to deal with the incredibly stressful situation of tearing down their home and elevating." Del Schwalls, a floodplain management consultant, told the Tampa Bay Times: "It's really frustrating. It prevents anyone from trying to fix this flood, repair, flood, repair cycle." Kimberleigh Dinkins, policy and planning director of advocacy group 1000 Friends of Florida, in a statement: "A lot of times, a local government can evaluate the impact that a storm has on their community, and make adjustments to their land development code to make themselves more resilient. Under this scenario, they wouldn't be able to do that." She added: "It's removing one of the tools in the toolbox to increase resiliency. It basically is saying: okay, you have more opportunities to build back in a way that's resulting in flooding." What Happens Next The bill is now awaiting the governor's signature, but DeSantis has not yet indicated whether he will sign the legislation. If signed, the bill's provisions could take effect during the upcoming hurricane season, potentially affecting insurance premiums and building standards statewide amid ongoing market volatility.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
League of Cities brief local officials on new hurricane-response legislation
The Florida League of Cities briefed local government officials on May 15, 2025, about the implications of a new law controlling post-storm planning. Local government officials are attempting to come to terms with recent legislation (SB 180) intended to make sure they are better prepared to handle the aftermath of a a major storm or hurricane. Pinellas County Republican Sen. Nick DiCeglie sponsored the measure. He said it was 'personal' for him, having observed homeowners' frustrations dealing with their local governments in the aftermaths of Hurricanes Helene and Milton last fall. After the Senate initially passed the bill last month, he issued a statement saying that, following a major storm, citizens need a 'clear path to recovery, not roadblocks.' 'When local bureaucracy overshadows the needs of citizens, Floridians are left picking up the pieces,' he said. 'We're fighting for families to focus on rebuilding without additional delays or burdens, especially for those who sustained damage or lost their homes. Working with our state and local responders, we can streamline restoration efforts and improve emergency response coordination, fortifying and strengthening our communities before the next storm.' The bill contains more than a dozen provisions affecting everything to do with emergency management preparedness and response, as described during a Zoom conference call Thursday organized by the Florida League of Cities, Perhaps most controversially for local governments is that it prohibits a county or a city located entirely or partially within 100 miles of a hurricane's track from proposing or adopting moratoriums on construction, reconstruction, or redevelopment of any property. It also prohibits adopting a 'more restrictive or burdensome amendment' or 'burdensome procedure' to their comprehensive plans or land development regulations concerning review, approval, or issuance of a site plan, development permit, or development order until Oct. 1, 2027, applied retroactively to Aug. 1, 2024. 'You may be asking what is 'burdensome' and what is 'more restrictive?' said Matt Singer with the League, who cited a lack of a clear definition as the reason the League opposed the measure. The bill allows for a 'cause of action,' meaning citizens and/or business owners would be able to challenge any local update on the ground that it is burdensome or more restrictive to them. 'And so it's really, really important that you check this language and see if any of your local updates that have already been made would be affected, and whether's there's any liability created there,' Singer said. 'As a result of that, there's a lot of legal uncertainty,' he said, adding that the League worked closely with DiCeglie and the House bill (HB 1535) sponsor, Sarasota Republican Fiona McFarland, to have that provision removed, but it was ultimately placed back in the House bill. That provision is already drawing attention from local lawmakers who say that it could prevent them from making changes to prevent future flooding from storms. 'It affects every county and every city in the state that you can't control the way that you're developing and the way that you're managing your own land,' Volusia County Commission Chairman Jeff Brower told WESH-TV in Orlando this week. 'And local governments should be doing that.' The bill requires local governments to develop post-storm permitting plans to expedite recovery and rebuilding by providing for special building permitting and inspection procedures following a hurricane or tropical storm. Plans must include adequate staffing for building inspection, permitting, and enforcement and provide multiple locations offering building permit services. The measure says that local governments participating in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) may not adopt what is known as a 'lookback' period. That means any work completed on a house within a specified period (which can be as long as 5+ years) when determining what counts towards FEMA's 50% rule. The NFIP's 50% Rule states that repairs made to a home in a designated flood zone cannot exceed 50% of the home's market value unless the entire structure is brought into full compliance with current flood regulations. Singer did tell members of the League that 'there are positive things in this bill,' specifically a $5,000 penalty for breach of contract for goods and services during a storm. 'This is in response to some local perspectives that we were able to share with the legislators where cities have had contracts in place with debris removal, and contractors unfortunately just no-show, no-call, and go to another place where they can get some more money,' he said. 'The bottom line here is that Senate bill 180 would reshape many aspects to municipal emergency response across the board, and it imposes a lot of new planning and publication duties,' Singer added. The measure has yet to be sent to Gov. DeSantis desk. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bipartisan 'no wake bill' awaits governor's signature as part of Florida transportation package
The Brief Florida lawmakers have passed a bipartisan measure that would penalize people who drive fast enough through flooded streets to create an excessive wake. It's part of a larger Senate transportation package. If Gov. Ron DeSantis signs the bill into law, it would take effect July 1. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Newly-passed legislation would make it illegal in Florida for people to drive fast enough through flooded streets to create an excessive wake. It was a joint, bipartisan effort by two lawmakers from Pinellas County: Sen. Nick DiCeglie, R-Indian Rocks Beach, and Rep. Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg. They both say they've heard the outcry from their constituents for years, and most recently after Hurricanes Helene and Milton, about what Sen. DiCeglie calls reckless drivers, causing waves that then flood people's property. Lawmakers had to amend the legislation and add it to a bigger Senate transportation package to push it through. What they're saying "Thank you for including language policies about slower speed zones when we have flooded streets," Rep. Cross said to her colleagues at the end of April. "This is something that has impacted many communities during hurricanes or heavy rainfall when people are driving too fast on flooded roads, and pushing wakes into homes and businesses, causing damage to personal and business property. This is going to help our law enforcement. It's going to help our communities to message about this, keeping drivers and homeowners safer." FOX 13 talked to the president of the Shore Acres Civic Association when the bill was drafted. "You have what we call joyriders," Kevin Batdorf, President of the Shore Acres Civic Association, said. "Some of us call them clowns, idiots, morons." "We've been fighting for this for years, and, yeah, I'm glad to see it finally coming through," Batdorf said. READ: Alligator kills 61-year-old Davenport woman canoeing with husband on Lake Kissimmee Dig deeper The legislation would make it a non-criminal traffic violation. St. Petersburg city leaders supported the state legislation with a resolution earlier this year. Louisiana and South Carolina have similar laws on the books. What's next Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign it into law, and if that happens, it would go into effect July 1. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source Information for this story was gathered by FOX 13's Kailey Tracy. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
