Panel advances bill to define 'plan‑based methodology' and cap extraordinary impact‑fee increases

Representative Gentry told the committee HB 11 39 seeks to clarify several provisions from 2024 growth‑management reforms and to define a state standard for a 'plan‑based methodology' that local governments must use in certain interlocal agreements.

Gentry said the bill "creates a definition of extraordinary circumstances" and limits such declarations, capping allowable extraordinary‑circumstance fee increases at 100% to be collected over a four‑year period "if the data and plan based methodology supports it." He noted an Attorney General opinion had recently questioned a county's prior extraordinary‑circumstance declaration, leaving ambiguity that the bill intends to resolve.

Courtney Mooney of the Florida Association of Counties expressed opposition to changes in the strike amendment and said the association needed more time to assess how the clarifications would affect county authority and existing interlocal agreements. Industry groups including the Florida Home Builders Association and the Florida Chamber waived in support of the bill.

The committee adopted the strike call and then reported HB 11 39 favorably after limited debate; sponsors said they will continue conversations with cities and counties as the bill proceeds.

Quote

Representative Gentry: "It creates a definition of extraordinary circumstances ... and caps such declarations at an allowable 100% fee increase only to be collected over a period of 4 years if the data and plan based methodology supports it."

Next steps

HB 11 39 will proceed to the next committee stop. Sponsors indicated they will continue stakeholder discussions to refine language, particularly around interlocal agreements that predate October 2024.