Historical Monuments and Memorials Protection Act (FL CS for SB 1096)

• Establishes civil liability of treble (3x) the full cost to return, repair, or replace any monument or memorial on publicly owned property that is damaged, defaced, destroyed, or removed, with potential additional punitive damages
• Grants standing to bring civil action to any public entity owning the monument, any legal resident of Florida, or any historic preservation entity in the circuit court of the county where the damage occurred
• Defines "memorial" broadly to include plaques, statues, markers, flags, banners, religious symbols, paintings, tombstones, and structure names dedicated to historical persons, events, or military/public service
• Prohibits placement of any plaque, sign, picture, notice, or other informational object on or near a monument or memorial that existed on or before January 1, 2022, without express written approval of the Secretary of State
• Allows relocation of monuments only when necessary for construction or transportation projects, requiring placement at a site of similar prominence, honor, visibility, and access within the same county or municipality