Florida’s July 1 legal update: why it matters
July 1 is one of the most important legal update dates in Florida. Each year, many new laws become effective at the beginning of Florida’s fiscal year. According to the Florida Legislature’s official Chapter Number/Effective Date Report, numerous 2026 Florida chapter laws became effective on July 1, 2026. Official Florida Legislature Chapter Number/Effective Date Report.
For most people, the practical question is not simply “what changed in Tallahassee?” The better question is: does this change what my business, family, property, lawsuit, contract, insurance claim, or legal deadline requires me to do now?
At The Law Firm of Douglas G. Jackson, P.A., we help individuals and businesses in St. Petersburg and throughout Florida evaluate legal problems before they become larger disputes. Our firm’s services include business law, civil litigation, commercial real estate, estate planning and probate, personal injury, and proactive legal support for small businesses through fractional general counsel.
This article does not cover every Florida law effective today. Instead, it focuses on several new laws most likely to create real-world legal questions for businesses, property owners, families, nonprofits, consumers, landlords, contractors, and injured persons.
1. New deadlines for certain Florida civil rights lawsuits
One of the most important litigation-related changes is Chapter 2026-116, from CS/HB 1407, relating to the commencement of civil actions under the Florida Civil Rights Act.
Official links:
Chapter 2026-116, Laws of Florida — Commencement of Civil Actions
Florida Senate Bill Page — HB 1407
Affected statute: Section 760.11, Florida Statutes
The new law amends section 760.11, Florida Statutes. A person aggrieved by certain violations of the Florida Civil Rights Act must still file an administrative complaint within 365 days of the alleged violation. The new law adds specific civil-action deadlines. A civil action must generally be filed no later than one year after the Florida Commission on Human Relations determines reasonable cause or the EEOC issues a Notice of Right to Sue, whichever occurs first. If no reasonable-cause determination or EEOC Notice of Right to Sue is issued within 180 days after the complaint is filed, a civil action may be commenced no later than 18 months after the filing of the complaint.
This matters for both employees and employers. Employees should not assume an administrative complaint protects their rights indefinitely. Employers should not assume that an unresolved administrative complaint will simply disappear. These deadlines can affect litigation strategy, settlement discussions, insurance notice, document preservation, and risk analysis.
For businesses, this is a good time to review employee handbooks, anti-discrimination policies, complaint procedures, disciplinary records, termination documentation, and employment-related insurance coverage. If your business receives an EEOC charge, Florida Commission on Human Relations complaint, demand letter, or lawsuit, legal review should happen early. Our firm’s business law, civil litigation, and pre-litigation resources may be helpful starting points.
2. Restaurants, caterers, bars, and hospitality businesses must disclose “operations charges”
Florida’s restaurant fee-disclosure law is also effective today, although it comes from a 2025 law with a delayed effective date for this section. The relevant law is Chapter 2025-113, from SB 606, which amends section 509.214, Florida Statutes, effective July 1, 2026.
Official links:
Enrolled SB 606 Text — Florida Senate
Florida Senate Bill Page — SB 606
Affected statute: Section 509.214, Florida Statutes
The law defines an “operations charge” as an automatic fee or charge, other than a government-imposed tax, that a customer must pay in addition to the cost of food and beverages. The definition includes service charges, automatic gratuities, credit card surcharges, and delivery fees. Public food service establishments that charge an operations charge must include notice of the amount or percentage of the charge and the purpose of the charge on the food menu, written contract, and website or mobile application where orders are placed, as applicable. The notice must be in a font equal to or larger than the menu item descriptions or the general provisions of the written contract. Bills and receipts must also clearly state operations charges, and receipts must contain separate lines for gratuity, operations charges, and sales tax. The statute expressly states that it does not create a private cause of action related to compliance.
This is an immediate compliance issue for restaurants, bars, caterers, hotels, event venues, food trucks, banquet facilities, and other food-service businesses. Even where a statute does not create a private lawsuit, unclear pricing can still lead to customer disputes, chargebacks, regulatory complaints, negative reviews, contract problems, and reputational harm.
Businesses should review menus, catering contracts, banquet agreements, event contracts, point-of-sale systems, receipts, websites, mobile ordering pages, third-party delivery descriptions, and employee scripts. This is a strong example of a legal issue that can often be addressed through proactive business counsel before it becomes a dispute. For more on preventive legal guidance, see our article on when to call a lawyer before there is a problem and our page on business law services.
3. Building permits, inspections, contractors, HOAs, and construction disputes
Chapter 2026-63, from CS/CS/HB 803, makes significant changes to building permits and inspections.
Official links:
Chapter 2026-63, Laws of Florida — Building Permits and Inspections
Florida Senate Bill Page — HB 803
Affected statute: Section 553.79, Florida Statutes
Affected statute: Section 553.791, Florida Statutes
Affected statute: Section 720.3035, Florida Statutes
The law requires the Florida Building Commission to develop uniform commercial and residential building permit applications. It also makes several changes to building permit procedures, inspection fees, private-provider inspections, permit-expiration rules, and local enforcement. One practical change is that local governments issuing building permits must exempt certain single-family dwelling work valued below $7,500 from building-permit requirements. However, the exemption does not apply to work on property located partially or entirely in a flood hazard area, and it does not apply to electrical, plumbing, structural, mechanical, or gas work. A project also may not be divided into smaller projects to avoid permitting.
The same chapter law also amends section 720.3035, Florida Statutes, to prohibit a homeowners’ association or architectural review committee from requiring a building permit as a prerequisite to reviewing construction or improvement applications.
This area can create confusion. “No permit required” does not necessarily mean “no rules apply.” A project may still involve contract obligations, HOA restrictions, insurance concerns, building-code issues, workmanship standards, lien rights, local zoning issues, safety concerns, and liability for defective work.
Contractors should review proposal forms, customer communications, permit assumptions, change-order language, and payment procedures. HOAs should review architectural review procedures. Property owners should confirm the rules before starting work. For property and construction-related issues, our firm’s commercial real estate, business law, civil litigation, and business contracts resources may be relevant.
4. Development applications, local land planning, and real estate projects
Chapter 2026-64, from CS/CS/CS/HB 927, addresses local land planning and development.
Official links:
Chapter 2026-64, Laws of Florida — Local Land Planning and Development
Florida Senate Bill Page — HB 927
Affected statute: Section 125.022, Florida Statutes
Affected statute: Section 166.033, Florida Statutes
The law requires certain counties and municipalities to create development preapplication consultation programs. It addresses preapplication consultation services, qualified contractors, timeframes for approval or denial of certain completed applications, and circumstances in which applications may be deemed approved by operation of law.
For developers, property owners, contractors, commercial landlords, and businesses seeking build-outs or location approvals, this law may affect project timelines and strategy. It may also create disputes over whether a local government complied with statutory deadlines, whether an application was complete, whether conditions were lawful, or whether a project was deemed approved.
Businesses and property owners should document communications with local governments, preserve application materials, track deadlines, and obtain guidance before assuming that silence or delay means approval. This is particularly important for commercial projects, mixed-use projects, franchise locations, build-outs, and development disputes.
5. Affordable housing, mixed-use development, and land-use disputes
Chapter 2026-179, from CS/CS/HB 1389, makes changes to Florida affordable housing law, including provisions involving multifamily and mixed-use residential development.
Official links:
Chapter 2026-179, Laws of Florida — Affordable Housing
Florida Senate Bill Page — HB 1389
Affected statute: Section 125.01055, Florida Statutes
Affected statute: Section 166.04151, Florida Statutes
The law requires counties and municipalities to authorize multifamily and mixed-use residential uses as allowable uses for certain property, including specified commercial, industrial, mixed-use, government-owned, school-district-owned, and religious-institution-owned property, if statutory requirements are satisfied. It also addresses height, setbacks, application procedures, ad valorem tax issues, housing discrimination, and related matters.
This may matter to developers, religious institutions, commercial property owners, municipalities, investors, contractors, landlords, and nearby property owners. It may also generate disputes over zoning, allowable uses, development rights, density, project eligibility, local-government compliance, and opposition from neighboring property owners.
Real estate and development issues often combine business law, property law, administrative procedure, litigation strategy, and negotiation. Anyone considering a development project, opposing a project, or responding to local government action should obtain advice before deadlines pass or positions become fixed.
6. Florida trademark registration is being modernized
Chapter 2026-31, from CS/CS/HB 679, updates Florida trademark registration law.
Official links:
Chapter 2026-31, Laws of Florida — Registration of Trademarks
Florida Senate Bill Page — HB 679
Affected statute: Chapter 495, Florida Statutes
The new law requires the Florida Department of State to use the international schedule of classes of goods and services used by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. It also requires the Department of State to create and maintain a secure website for online trademark registration and renewal applications, with the online system to be available by a specified date.
For business owners, this is a reminder that brand protection should not be an afterthought. A business name, logo, slogan, product name, or service name can become one of the company’s most valuable assets. Before spending money on websites, signs, packaging, social media, advertising, merchandise, or expansion, a business should consider whether its brand is available, protectable, owned by the business, and properly documented.
This is also a good time to review fictitious names, corporate names, logo ownership, vendor contracts, marketing agreements, website ownership, licensing arrangements, and potential competitor conflicts. Our business law page and our article on why small businesses need legal support may be useful resources.
7. Nonprofits should review bylaws, meetings, conflicts, records, and governance
Chapter 2026-168, from CS/CS/HB 797, substantially revises Chapter 617, Florida Statutes, now referred to as the Florida Nonprofit Corporation Act.
Official links:
Chapter 2026-168, Laws of Florida — Nonprofit Corporations
Florida Senate Bill Page — HB 797
Affected statute: Chapter 617, Florida Statutes
The law makes broad changes to nonprofit governance, filings, registered agents, membership rights, meetings, voting, director and officer duties, conflicts of interest, corporate records, mergers, conversions, dissolutions, and other nonprofit corporate procedures.
For nonprofits, this is not merely a technical update. Boards should review bylaws, articles of incorporation, membership provisions, notice procedures, meeting procedures, voting rules, proxy procedures, conflict-of-interest policies, records-access policies, officer duties, director standards, and dissolution or restructuring plans.
Nonprofits often wait too long to involve counsel because they are mission-focused and trying to keep expenses low. However, unclear governance can lead to board disputes, donor concerns, grant issues, leadership conflict, public-records questions, contract problems, and litigation. A targeted governance review can often prevent larger problems.
8. Pet sellers and buyers have new consumer-protection rules
Chapter 2026-76, from CS/SB 1004, addresses domestic animals and changes several rules related to the sale of dogs and cats by pet dealers.
Official links:
Chapter 2026-76, Laws of Florida — Domestic Animals
Florida Senate Bill Page — SB 1004
Affected statute: Section 828.29, Florida Statutes
The law extends the timeframe for certain consumer remedies when a licensed veterinarian certifies that an animal was unfit for purchase due to illness, disease, contagious or infectious symptoms, or parasites. The timeframe is expanded from 14 days to 30 days after sale for certain conditions. The law also requires financing terms to be disclosed before sale, requires pet dealers to provide medical-examination and medication records before sale, expands notice timing, and allows consumers to pursue disputes in county court small claims division in certain circumstances. The law also allows punitive damages of at least $2,500 in certain cases at the court’s discretion.
This matters for pet stores, breeders, pet dealers, financing companies, and consumers. Sellers should review contracts, disclosures, financing forms, medical-record procedures, refund policies, exchange policies, and staff training. Consumers should keep copies of purchase documents, financing agreements, receipts, veterinary records, text messages, emails, and notices.
For businesses, this is also a reminder that consumer-facing contracts and disclosures should be clear, current, and consistent with Florida law. Our article on the importance of business contracts explains why proactive contract review can reduce risk.
9. Probate and estate administration thresholds have changed
Chapter 2026-57, from CS/HB 1337, makes important changes to estate administration.
Official links:
Chapter 2026-57, Laws of Florida — Estates
Florida Senate Bill Page — HB 1337
Affected statute: Section 735.201, Florida Statutes — Summary Administration
Affected statute: Section 733.6125, Florida Statutes — Proceedings to Enforce Authority
Affected statute: Section 733.6171, Florida Statutes — Compensation of Attorney for Personal Representative
The law increases the value threshold for Florida summary administration from $75,000 to $150,000, excluding property exempt from creditor claims, or when the decedent has been dead for more than two years. It also increases the amount of certain federal income tax refunds that may be paid in simplified circumstances and changes rules involving personal representatives, safe-deposit boxes, proceedings to enforce personal representative authority, and attorney’s fees.
This may make probate more efficient for some families. But “simpler” does not always mean “simple.” Families still need to identify probate and non-probate assets, address homestead, evaluate creditors, review beneficiary designations, handle family disputes, and comply with court requirements. Personal representatives should also be careful before distributing assets because mistakes can create personal risk.
Families may want to review wills, trusts, beneficiary designations, payable-on-death accounts, lady bird deeds, business succession documents, and probate options. Our firm provides estate planning and probate services, and our articles on wills, estate planning, and probate and what personal representatives do may be helpful.
10. Curators of estates have clarified duties and reporting obligations
Chapter 2026-85, from CS/HB 131, addresses curators of estates.
Official links:
Chapter 2026-85, Laws of Florida — Curators of Estates
Florida Senate Bill Page — HB 131
Affected statute: Section 733.501, Florida Statutes — Curators
A curator may be appointed by the probate court when needed to protect estate property or the interests of the estate or heirs. The new law revises the appointment provisions, bond requirements, removal and surcharge provisions, and court-review provisions. It also requires curator reports when the court deems them necessary, and those reports must detail actions taken in managing the estate.
This may matter in probate disputes, emergency estate situations, contested estates, property-preservation issues, and cases where assets may be wasted, destroyed, or removed before a personal representative is appointed.
11. Drowning prevention and water-safety education expand
Chapter 2026-38, from SB 428, expands Florida’s drowning-prevention efforts.
Official links:
Chapter 2026-38, Laws of Florida — Drowning Prevention
Florida Senate Bill Page — SB 428
Affected statute: Section 514.073, Florida Statutes — Swimming Lesson Voucher Program
New statute: Section 383.3363, Florida Statutes — Education on Drowning Prevention Safety Measures and Safe Bathing Practices
The law expands the Swimming Lesson Voucher Program to include eligible children between 1 and 7 years of age, rather than only children 4 years old or younger. It also requires the Florida Department of Health to develop educational materials on drowning prevention safety measures and safe bathing practices. Hospitals, birth centers, home birth providers, and childbirth educators must provide those materials to parents or caregivers as part of postpartum or childbirth education.
This law is focused on prevention, not litigation. Still, safety rules and education matter. Florida families, childcare providers, apartment complexes, HOAs, hotels, schools, camps, and property owners should take water safety seriously. Drowning and near-drowning incidents can result in catastrophic injury or death. Premises liability cases often turn on what precautions were reasonable under the circumstances.
Property owners and businesses responsible for pools, waterfront areas, childcare settings, rental properties, or residential communities should review supervision rules, warning signs, barriers, locks, staff training, incident documentation, and insurance coverage. Our firm’s personal injury page explains our work for injured persons, and our article on personal injury representation provides additional information.
12. Habitual traffic offender law now includes driving without a valid license
Chapter 2026-53, from CS/HB 35, also known as “Isaiah’s Law,” changes Florida’s habitual traffic offender statute.
Official links:
Chapter 2026-53, Laws of Florida — Habitual Traffic Offender Designation
Florida Senate Bill Page — HB 35
Affected statute: Section 322.264, Florida Statutes — Habitual Traffic Offender Defined
The law adds driving a motor vehicle without a valid license, in violation of section 322.03, Florida Statutes, to the list of offenses that can contribute to a habitual traffic offender designation when a person has the required number of convictions within a five-year period.
For personal injury and accident cases, this type of change can matter during investigation. If a crash involves an unlicensed driver, suspended driver, commercial driver, or driver with a significant traffic history, those facts may affect insurance analysis, negligent entrustment questions, settlement value, and litigation strategy. A traffic violation does not automatically determine civil liability, but it may become important evidence depending on the facts.
13. Data centers, utilities, water use, and local land-use authority
Chapter 2026-65, from CS/CS/SB 484, addresses data centers and large-load utility customers.
Official links:
Chapter 2026-65, Laws of Florida — Data Centers
Florida Senate Bill Page — SB 484
Affected statute: Section 163.326, Florida Statutes — Large Load Customer Considerations
Affected statute: Section 366.043, Florida Statutes — Large Load Customer Tariff and Service Requirements
The law preserves local government authority over comprehensive planning and land-development regulation for large-load customers, including data centers. It also requires tariff and service requirements designed to ensure that large-load customers bear their costs of service and that those costs are not shifted to the general body of ratepayers. The law also addresses water-use permitting for large-scale data centers.
Most small businesses will not directly permit a data center. However, utility rates, land-use decisions, infrastructure capacity, water use, environmental issues, and development approvals can affect commercial property, nearby businesses, local governments, and ratepayers. Developers, property owners, municipalities, utilities, and businesses near proposed large-scale facilities should monitor this area.
14. Engineering enforcement and construction-related professional risk
Chapter 2026-98, from CS/CS/SB 800, increases penalties for repeated unlicensed practice of engineering.
Official links:
Chapter 2026-98, Laws of Florida — Engineering
Florida Senate Bill Page — SB 800
Affected statute: Section 471.033, Florida Statutes — Disciplinary Proceedings
The law provides escalating fines for repeated unlicensed practice of engineering: $10,000 for a second violation, $15,000 for a third violation, $20,000 for a fourth violation, and $25,000 for a fifth or subsequent violation.
This may matter in construction disputes, design disputes, permitting issues, expert-review issues, professional licensing matters, and property-damage claims. Business owners, contractors, property owners, and developers should be careful about who is providing design, engineering, inspection, and consulting services.
15. Background screenings, youth sports, and sensitive-position hiring
Chapter 2026-114, from CS/CS/HB 1069, addresses background screenings.
Official links:
Chapter 2026-114, Laws of Florida — Background Screenings
Florida Senate Bill Page — HB 1069
Affected statute: Section 943.0438, Florida Statutes — Athletic Coaches for Independent Sanctioning Authorities
The law revises background-screening requirements for athletic coaches and referees working with youth athletic teams based in Florida. It also affects qualified entities, sealed and expunged records, and Care Provider Background Screening Clearinghouse procedures.
This may matter to youth sports organizations, nonprofits, schools, camps, churches, vendors, independent sanctioning authorities, and businesses or organizations that work with children. Organizations should review volunteer policies, coach onboarding procedures, background-screening workflows, document retention, insurance requirements, and child-safety policies.
What Florida business owners should do now
For Florida business owners, July 1 is a good reminder to perform a legal checkup. A practical review may include:
- Updating customer contracts, vendor agreements, invoices, receipts, and disclosure language.
- Reviewing employment policies, discrimination-complaint procedures, and document-retention practices.
- Checking whether service fees, credit card surcharges, delivery charges, automatic gratuities, and operations charges are clearly disclosed.
- Reviewing construction contracts, permit assumptions, change orders, lien-risk procedures, and contractor communications.
- Updating nonprofit bylaws, membership provisions, voting procedures, meeting rules, and conflict-of-interest policies.
- Reviewing trademarks, fictitious names, brand ownership, website content, marketing materials, and vendor-created logos.
- Reviewing background-screening procedures for employees, volunteers, contractors, coaches, and sensitive positions.
- Confirming that business disputes are addressed early through negotiation, demand letters, mediation, arbitration, or litigation strategy.
The Law Firm of Douglas G. Jackson helps businesses with contracts, disputes, litigation, risk management, compliance, transactions, and proactive legal planning. A business that waits until a dispute becomes urgent may have fewer options and higher costs. A business that uses counsel proactively can often avoid the emergency. For more, see our pages on business law, fractional general counsel, legal risk tolerance, business contracts, and how we help small businesses.
What individuals and families should do now
Individuals and families should also consider whether the July 1 changes affect them. Probate thresholds have changed. Water-safety education has expanded. Pet-purchase remedies have changed. Traffic-law changes may affect drivers and accident investigations. Property owners may face new questions about permits, HOAs, contractors, affordable housing, and development activity.
If you are dealing with an estate, contract issue, injury, property dispute, consumer dispute, probate matter, business problem, construction issue, or legal deadline, it is usually better to ask questions early. Our resources on pre-litigation in Florida, civil litigation, the civil litigation process, personal injury, and estate planning and probate may help explain the legal process.
When to call a lawyer
You should consider contacting a lawyer if:
- You received a lawsuit, demand letter, agency complaint, code notice, right-to-sue letter, insurance denial, or contract dispute.
- Your business charges service fees, credit card surcharges, automatic gratuities, delivery fees, or other mandatory charges.
- Your nonprofit has not reviewed its bylaws, voting procedures, meeting rules, or conflict policies in years.
- You are starting construction, renovating property, dealing with an HOA, or facing a contractor dispute.
- You are buying, selling, expanding, naming, branding, or restructuring a business.
- You were injured in an accident involving a driver, business, property owner, pool, animal, unsafe condition, or commercial vehicle.
- You are serving as a personal representative, trustee, beneficiary, heir, or family member in a Florida estate or probate matter.
The best legal strategy is often proactive. A short legal review can prevent confusion, reduce risk, preserve leverage, and help you make better decisions before a dispute escalates.
Contact The Law Firm of Douglas G. Jackson, P.A.
The Law Firm of Douglas G. Jackson, P.A. is a full-service law firm in St. Petersburg, Florida. The firm assists clients with business law, civil litigation, commercial real estate, estate planning and probate, personal injury, and other legal matters.
To schedule a consultation, call 1-800-704-6045 or use the firm’s contact page.
Disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws may apply differently depending on the facts of your situation. You should consult with an attorney about your specific legal issue.
