Last Call for 2.26.26 – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida

Last Call – A prime-time read of what’s going down in Florida politics.

First Shot

A bill to restrict where large-scale data centers could be built and what costs they would shoulder advanced through its second Committee stop in as many days.

HB 1007 cleared the House Commerce Committee after removing a controversial provision that blocked data centers from building within five miles of residential property. A tweak by Rep. Mike Giallombardo, who cast the lone no vote in the bill’s first Committee stop, would apply the radius only to data centers pulling 50 megawatts or more.

Under the amendment, if a qualifying data center is proposed within five miles of a residential property or school, the applicant must demonstrate compliance with federal and state radiofrequency rules, local noise ordinances and other land-use regulations, and must submit an independently prepared noise impact study.

Beyond siting, the bill prohibits government agencies from entering into nondisclosure agreements that prevent the public release of information about potential data center projects, directs the Public Service Commission to develop minimum tariff and service requirements for large load customers, and establishes a permitting framework for large-scale data centers under Florida’s consumptive use permitting program.

While AIF’s Adam Basford said the amendment alleviated one of the business lobby’s major concerns, the group is still flagging the NDA restrictions, arguing they could chill economic development. Supporters countered that the bill creates guardrails to protect ratepayers, water resources and transparency without banning data centers outright.

The Committee ultimately advanced the bill, which now heads to the full chamber. While HB 1007 was being heard in Commerce, the Senate unanimously approved similar legislation by Sen. Bryan Ávila (SB 484).

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A sweeping overhaul of Florida’s HOA and condo association laws cleared the House Commerce Committee on Thursday, setting it up for a vote by the full chamber.

HB 657, by Rep. Juan Porras, addresses long-standing concerns of homeowners in associations. The bill’s centerpiece is the creation of a Community Association Court program, which would establish a specialty court framework allowing condo and HOA disputes to go directly before a Judge rather than through the current pre-suit mediation process.

The initial rollout is expected in the 11th, 13th and 17th Judicial Circuits, with state funding allocated for new judgeships in those jurisdictions.

The bill also sets formal procedures for dissolving associations, including petition requirements, an election process and final judicial approval. In addition, it mandates that governing documents include Kaufman language to ensure association bylaws automatically conform to changes in state law.

A strike-all amendment adopted in Committee aligned the bill more closely with a similar Senate bill (SB 1498) and added provisions relating to record maintenance and access. It also created criminal penalties for board members or community association managers who willfully fail to provide records to law enforcement. Under the proposal, the offense would be charged as a second-degree misdemeanor.

The amendment also further refines structural integrity reserve study requirements for condo buildings that are three or more stories tall and strengthens conflict-of-interest standards for Board members.

HB 657 advanced through Commerce with a unanimous vote. SB 1498 is awaiting its second of three committee hearings after earning approval in Regulated Industries earlier this month.

Evening Reads

—“New ACA plans could increase family deductibles to $31,000” via Reed Abelson of The New York Times

—“Donald Trump stirred rumors for years. Now, it’s the Clintons’ turn to speak about Jeffrey Epstein.” via Karen Tumulty and Yasmeen Abutaleb of The Washington Post

—“The missing Epstein files” via Judd Legum of Popular Information

—”The ‘cataclysmic’ reality behind Trump and the GOP’s Voter ID bill” via Nikki McCann Ramirez of Rolling Stone

—”Big Oil is urging Trump to stop battle on offshore wind” via Benoît Morenne of The Wall Street Journal

—”Meet the toymaker who helped take down Trump’s tariffs” via Kelli Wessinger and Noel King of Vox

—”Republicans’ worst-case scenario is playing out in the Texas Senate race” via Chris Cillizza of So What

—”Excess DOGE? Or informing the public? House panel debates local government budget bill” via Gabrielle Russon of Florida Politics

—”Supporters say ‘Blue Ribbons Project’ is smart growth — critics fear it will spur sprawl” via Mitch Perry of the Florida Phoenix

—”Glyphosate in bread? It’s sprayed by the pound in Florida waters” via Lawrence Mower and Max Chesnes of the Tampa Bay Times

—”How Florida property insurers keep secrets from policyholders — with the state’s help” via Ron Hurtibise of the Orlando Sentinel

Quote of the Day

“I’m a little bit in shock that you almost agreed with President Trump. I just still … I’m kind of taken aback.”

— Rep. Griff Griffitts, joking about Rep. Michelle Rayner’s debate on the House data center bill.

Put it on the Tab

Look to your left, then look to your right. If you see one of these people at your happy hour haunt, flag down the bartender and put one of these on your tab. Recipes included, just in case the Cocktail Codex fell into the well.

Order 37 Military Grade Manhattans for the Senators who voted for Rep. Patt Maney’s bill expanding the state’s Veterans Treatment Courts.

Send a PanaGEL Tonic to Rep. Monique Miller for shepherding her local government cybersecurity bill through its final committee.

The only Five Finger Discount for Floridians includes a healthy dose of tequila … the other kind is fodder for an Attorney General arrest announcement.

Breakthrough Insights

Tune In

UCF looks to improve resume for Big Dance

After knocking off No. 19 BYU, UCF hosts Baylor in a nationally televised game on Saturday (8 p.m. ET, FS1).

The Knights (20-7, 9-6 in Big 12) beat a ranked team for the third time this season in the 97-84 victory in Provo, Utah, on Tuesday. Themus Fulks and Jordan Burks each scored 24 points in the win. UCF beat then-No. 17 Kansas and then-No. 11 Texas Tech in January.

UCF is projected to be a 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament in the most recent ESPN Bracketology, just ahead of the last four at-large teams to get in. After facing Baylor, UCF has a home game scheduled against Oklahoma State on Tuesday and a game at West Virginia next Friday to close out the regular season. Then it’s the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City.

The Knights are sixth in the Big 12 standings. If they remain in that spot, they will receive a first-round bye in the conference tournament. The top eight seeds enter the second round of the tournament, with teams seeded 9-16 playing on day one.

UCF has made five trips to the NCAA Tournament in program history, including winning the first March Madness game in program history in 2019. Since joining the Big 12 in 2023, UCF has not made the Big Dance.

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Last Call is published by Peter Schorsch, assembled and edited by Phil Ammann and Drew Wilson, with contributions from the staff of Florida Politics.