FL H0789

Defines "small business" as a company with no more than 100 employees and creates new protections for small businesses affected by state agency actions.

Requires state agencies to provide written notification to small-business owners of proposed or implemented actions affecting their businesses, including information about appeal rights and fair-hearing procedures, published in the Florida Administrative Weekly and posted on agency websites.

Allows small-business owners to petition state agencies for hearings if agency actions significantly interfere with their ability to compete or continue operations, with petitions processed expeditiously.

Permits small-business owners to submit sworn testimony from employees, customers, and advocates documenting economic impacts as prima facie evidence, and allows post-hearing evidence submission relating to economic hardship or loss of income, employment, or market share.

Empowers administrative hearing officers to order mediation, grant relief including rule waivers or modifications that do not reduce public safety, and refer rules to the Administrative Procedures Committee and Small Business Regulatory Advisory Council for review.