CS/CS/CS/HB 987 - Affordable Housing Summary

• Requires counties and municipalities to prepare inventory lists every 3 years of county and municipal property suitable for affordable housing, evaluated on criteria including environmental suitability, zoning, infrastructure, and proximity to employment and public transportation.

• Establishes expedited local permit approval process for affordable housing with 15-day initial review period and automatic approval if local government fails to act within 60 days of receiving complete application.

• Creates process for state agencies (Department of Environmental Protection, Department of Transportation, water management districts) to offer nonconservation surplus lands to counties and municipalities for affordable housing before making available to other entities.

• Establishes Hurricane Housing Recovery Program administered by Florida Housing Finance Corporation to provide funds to local governments for affordable housing recovery, with at least 65% for homeownership and income-based allocations for recovery efforts.

• Prohibits Florida Housing Finance Corporation from awarding funds to applicants convicted of or settled charges relating to material misrepresentation or fraudulent action in connection with prior corporation program applications; effective July 1, 2018.