CS/CS/HB 569 - Local Business Protection Act

• Creates section 70.91, Florida Statutes, allowing private for-profit businesses to claim compensation from counties or municipalities if new or amended ordinances reduce business profits by at least 15 percent, provided the business operated lawfully in the jurisdiction for 3 years before the ordinance was enacted.

• Limits recoverable damages to the present value of the business' future lost profits for the lesser of 7 years or the number of years the business operated in the jurisdiction before the ordinance was enacted.

• Exempts ordinances related to state or federal law compliance, emergencies, growth management, building codes, fire codes, contracts/grants, debt, budgets, procurement, and economic competition from liability.

• Requires businesses to submit a written settlement offer within 180 days of an ordinance's effective date, with counties or municipalities having 120 days to accept, reject, or make a counteroffer; counters filed without negotiation are inadmissible as evidence except for determining attorney fees.

• Eliminates liability if a county or municipality repeals or amends the ordinance within 120 days, grants a waiver, or publishes notice and amends the ordinance within 30 days; courts may award reasonable attorney fees and costs to prevailing parties.