Florida Senate - 2025 SB 324
By Senator Smith
17-00704A-25 2025324__
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to construction disruption assistance;
3 creating part XIII of ch. 288, F.S., to be entitled
4 the “Construction Disruption Assistance Act”; creating
5 s. 288.9991, F.S.; providing a short title; creating
6 s. 288.9992, F.S.; providing legislative findings and
7 purpose; creating s. 288.9993, F.S.; defining terms;
8 creating s. 288.9994, F.S.; establishing rulemaking
9 authority; creating s. 288.9995, F.S.; establishing
10 the Construction Impact Relief Program within the
11 Department of Commerce pursuant to the Florida Job
12 Growth Grant Fund; requiring the department to provide
13 specified financial assistance to eligible small
14 businesses within construction zones; requiring the
15 department to develop a public awareness and marketing
16 campaign to promote the program in partnership with
17 specified entities; providing requirements for the
18 campaign; requiring applicants to submit specified
19 information with their applications; creating s.
20 288.9996, F.S.; directing the department to establish
21 a hotline to provide information about the program;
22 creating s. 288.9997, F.S.; requiring the department
23 to submit an annual report by a specified date to the
24 Governor and the Legislature; providing an effective
25 date.
26
27 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
28
29 Section 1. Part XIII of chapter 288, Florida Statutes,
30 consisting of ss. 288.9991-288.9997, Florida Statutes, is
31 created and entitled the “Construction Disruption Assistance
32 Act.”
33 Section 2. Section 288.9991, Florida Statutes, is created
34 to read:
35 288.9991 Short title.—This part shall be known and may be
36 cited as the “Construction Disruption Assistance Act.”
37 Section 3. Section 288.9992, Florida Statutes, is created
38 to read:
39 288.9992 Legislative findings; purpose.—The Legislature
40 finds and declares that:
41 (1) Prolonged state and local government construction
42 projects that directly block access to small businesses cause
43 significant financial and operational hardships that negatively
44 impact local economies and threaten the livelihoods of business
45 owners and employees.
46 (2) It is the purpose of this act to establish a program to
47 provide financial relief, promotional support, and loss coverage
48 to small businesses adversely impacted by state and local
49 government construction projects, ensuring their resilience and
50 viability during essential infrastructure improvements.
51 Section 4. Section 288.9993, Florida Statutes, is created
52 to read:
53 288.9993 Definitions.—As used in this part, the term:
54 (1) “Construction zone” means the immediate area where
55 construction activities directly restrict physical or visual
56 access to a small business, including partial or complete
57 obstruction of entryways, parking, or signage visibility.
58 (2) “Demonstrable loss” means a verifiable reduction in
59 revenue, property damage, or increased operational costs
60 directly attributed to state or local government construction
61 activities.
62 (3) “Department” means the Department of Commerce.
63 (4) “Eligible small business” means a business with 50 or
64 fewer employees whose primary access points are obstructed by
65 state or local government construction activities directly
66 adjacent to or in front of the business, as determined by the
67 department.
68 (5) “Program” means the Construction Impact Relief Program
69 established in s. 288.9995.
70 Section 5. Section 288.9994, Florida Statutes, is created
71 to read:
72 288.9994 Rulemaking authority.—By October 1, 2025, the
73 department shall adopt rules to implement this part, including,
74 but not limited to, the development of guidelines for the award
75 of grants and loans under the Florida Job Growth Grant Fund
76 established under s. 288.101.
77 Section 6. Section 288.9995, Florida Statutes, is created
78 to read:
79 288.9995 Construction Impact Relief Program.—
80 (1) The Construction Impact Relief Program is created
81 within the department pursuant to the Florida Job Growth Grant
82 Fund established under s. 288.101. Under the program, the
83 department shall:
84 (a) Provide financial assistance to eligible small
85 businesses within construction zones, including:
86 1. Grants of up to $25,000 per construction phase for
87 demonstrable loss.
88 2. Low-interest loans of up to $100,000, not to exceed 3
89 percent per year, for the operational costs of eligible small
90 businesses during construction disruptions.
91 (b) Develop a public awareness and marketing campaign to
92 promote the program in partnership with local chambers of
93 commerce and other business organizations and to encourage
94 customer support for small businesses adversely impacted by
95 state and local government construction activities. Such
96 marketing campaign efforts must include, but are not limited to,
97 all of the following:
98 1. Digital advertising campaigns.
99 2. Local event sponsorships and promotions.
100 3. Signage and outreach.
101 (2) An applicant seeking to obtain financial assistance
102 under paragraph (1)(a) must submit an application to the
103 department. The application must require documentation of
104 demonstrable loss and a plan for the use of funds.
105 Section 7. Section 288.9996, Florida Statutes, is created
106 to read:
107 288.9996 Program hotline.—The department is directed to
108 establish a hotline to provide information about the program to
109 small business owners.
110 Section 8. Section 288.9997, Florida Statutes, is created
111 to read:
112 288.9997 Annual reporting requirement.—The department
113 shall, by November 1 of each year, submit an annual report to
114 the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
115 the House of Representatives which summarizes the performance of
116 the program, including the total number of small businesses and
117 residents served, the total funds disbursed, and the program
118 outcomes.
119 Section 9. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025.