FL S0944

Revises the statute of limitations trigger date for lawsuits related to design, planning, or construction of real property improvements from certificate of occupancy/completion issuance to the earliest of: completion of the improvement, abandonment of construction, contract termination, or contract completion

Maintains the 4-year limitation period for standard actions and retains the discovery rule for latent defects, where the clock starts when the defect is discovered or should have been discovered with due diligence

Establishes a 7-year absolute deadline (statute of repose) for filing any action, measured from the same triggering events as the 4-year period

Defines "completion of the improvement" based on project type: certificate of occupancy for buildings requiring one; final inspection or certificate of completion for Florida Building Code projects not requiring occupancy certificates; or final acceptance for transportation projects under chapters 334-349

Defines "completion of the contract" as the later of final performance of all contracted services or the date final payment becomes due, regardless of when payment is actually made