FL S0998

Repeals multiple sections of the Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program Act and consolidates authority, designating the Department of Commerce to receive and administer federal HUD funding for community development block grants, disaster recovery, and related programs

Revises the definition of "rural community" to include unincorporated areas with populations of 25,000 or fewer that meet at least three economic distress factors, replacing the previous reference to federal enterprise communities

Strengthens E-Verify employment verification requirements by mandating employers with 25+ employees maintain visible E-Verify case results for each employee showing work authorization status, with $1,000 fines per unverified employee for noncompliance

Establishes detailed enforcement procedures for employment verification violations, including initial notification, 30-day cure periods, administrative hearings before an administrative law judge, and license suspension for repeat violations

Creates an exemption allowing federal military agencies (Department of Defense, Coast Guard) to retain conveyed state lands as military installation buffers even if the specific military mission changes, as long as the buffer purpose remains