On Jan. 4, Representative Vicki Lopez and Senator Alexis Calatayud filed House Bill 1239 and Senate Bill 328, respectively, to amend the affordable housing land use preemption and missing middle property tax exemption created by the Live Local Act.
The bills, if passed, would exclude “industrial” zones from the preemption, amend the tool’s height allowances, establish several new exceptions and clarify a number of outstanding implementation questions. It also provides $100 million in funding to the State Housing Trust Fund for use by Florida Housing Finance Corporation (FHFC) to implement the Florida Hometown Hero Program, that provides down payment and closing cost assistance to first-time, income-qualified homebuyers so they can purchase a primary residence in the community where they work and serve.
Both bills are expected to move through the Legislative process.