The Florida Building Commission (FBC) has overturned a recommendation from the Florida Plumbing Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) aimed at strengthening the Florida Building Code to clarify a technical definition that certain contractors have exploited to use a flawed and non-compliant pipe repair method known as CIPP “gapping.”

The TAC recommendation confirmed that only continuous cured-in-place pipe (CIPP) installations — with no “gaps” left at branch or service connections — meet Florida Building Code standards. The decision protected future condominium and commercial property owners who choose to use CIPP as a cost-effective rehabilitation solution and also gave support to legal warranty claims by thousands of Florida property owners who are being identified as CIPP “gapping” victims suffering from premature pipe failures and deficiencies caused by the CIPP “gapping” installation shortcut.

Without the recommendation, homeowners will continue facing financial harm, local governments will be susceptible to enforcement challenges, and the state risks increased litigation.

The “gapping method” involves leaving unlined sections of aged, corroded pipe where branch lines connect, rather than creating a fully sealed, continuous CIPP liner. Over time, these gaps can cause leaks, blockages, and hidden structural damage — leaving owners with expensive repair bills for work they previously paid to rehabilitate.

Despite those recommendations, which had support from affected property owners and Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) building officials, the FBC overturned the decision at its meeting Dec. 9 by a 9-5 vote.

Critics of the vote argue the FBC’s decision creates continued confusion and inconsistency in how existing building codes related to CIPP material installation are interpreted and enforced in Florida. Additionally, its failure to support thoroughly vetted TAC recommendations exposes property owners to failures associated with non-compliant “gapped” CIPP installations, leaving homeowners at risk of paying for repairs on work that may not meet the performance standards required by material manufacturers, Florida law or American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) standards. The decision also jeopardizes warranty protections consumers rely on.

Legally, the vote not to uphold TAC recommendations also undermines the intent of legislation (SB 4-D) passed in 2022, which calls for accurate assessment and code-compliant remediation of aging cast iron drainage systems. With inspections mandated under the legislation now well underway and ongoing, more deficiencies associated with “gapped” installations are being discovered, increasing the likelihood of building system failures and costly litigation.

And perhaps worse, the decision contradicts expert consensus, which defines “continuous” as having no “gaps” in CIPP material coverage.

AHJ representatives who attended the meeting last month expressed concern that the action will prolong confusion and rob residents of protections the recommendations were designed to ensure.

And one of the speakers supporting the TAC recommendations at the December meeting was from the Highland Towers Condominium Association speaking on behalf of “gapping” victims, underscoring threats to finances and safety without implementation.

Pipeline Technologies, Inc. founder Michael Wilson and his company have been leading the fight for CIPP installation clarification for more than a decade. In 2015, Wilson secured a Declaratory Statement from the State affirming that continuous CIPP was the only code-compliant method, requiring a permit to ensure proper inspection oversight and consumer protection. Still, inconsistent enforcement allowed some contractors to continue using shortcuts, leaving many property owners vulnerable.

The TAC recommendations would have put an end to that, ensuring that any CIPP system showing material gaps during a final video inspection will automatically fail — giving building officials statewide a clear and straightforward way to enforce the code and prevent future consumer exploitation.

Wilson is now re-committing to continuing efforts to work with state and local AHJ officials to establish uniform statewide interpretation and understanding of existing CIPP code requirements.

With unanimous bipartisan support, the Senate passed SB 250 that would make sweeping investments to support rural communities from roads to economic development, education and health care as part of a $152 million state investment.

The Rural Renaissance bill is one of Senate President Ben Albritton’s top priorities.

Sen. Corey Simon, the sponsor, called the 138-page bill “a game changer” and said it surpassed his expectations when he began working with Albritton on the legislation.

“My hope is that we continue to push this agenda forward. This won’t be the last time that I’m asking for rural Florida. I represent 12 fiscally constrained counties out of the 13,” said Simon, whose district covers parts of the Panhandle and Big Bend, as he spoke on the Senate floor during the second day of the 2026 Legislative Session. “As a matter of fact, I’ve got a part of my district that’s called the ‘Forgotten Coast’ because they don’t think people see them. This piece of legislation is showing them that we see them and we’re here to try and help them as best as possible.”

In addition to state investments, Florida was awarded about $210 million annually over five years by the federal government for a rural health transformation grant. The state cited many provisions from SB 205 in its application for the federal grant, Simon said.

Joining Republicans in support of the investment to help some of Florida’s poorest rural areas were Senate Democrats.

“As Senate Democratic leader, I want to be clear. Rural prosperity is not a partisan issue,” said Sen. Lori Berman during debate. “It’s a statewide responsibility. When any Floridian is left behind, we are all weakened.”

SB 205 will create the Office of Rural Prosperity within the Department of Commerce to help local governments connect with state and federal resources and to provide statewide planning assistance.

The bill establishes a $1 million block grant for each of the counties of Gadsden, Hardee, Hamilton, Taylor, Jackson, Calhoun, and Liberty to help grow their populations. 

The bill appropriates $1 million to support small-business growth.

It also raises the minimum allocation for the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) Program from $350,000 to $1 million per county to expand rural housing options.

The bill also increases the recurring appropriation for the Rural Infrastructure Fund (RIF) from $5 million to $10 million to support infrastructure projects in rural communities. Corey’s bill also increases the fund’s balance by an additional $40 million. 

Other components of the bill include investments to support rural public transit and rural hospitals, and to build farms-to-market roads to help farmers deliver their produce to distribution centers.

“As we celebrate America’s 250th Anniversary, there is no better time to celebrate and renew our focus on heritage farming communities across our state and nation,” Albritton said in a statement after the vote. “The hard work and patriotism of small family farm communities not only helped win our independence but also created and maintained a robust agricultural supply chain vital to our national security. It’s a time-honored way of life worth preserving.”

Former U.S. Rep. David jolly holds a narrow lead in the Democratic Primary for Governor, according to a new poll.

A new Mason-Dixon poll of registered Democrats shows 23% would support Jolly if a Primary were held today. By comparison, 19% favor Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings. The remaining 58% of voters list themselves as undecided.

Pollsters conducted the phone survey of 400 registered Democratic voters Jan. 8-13.

While Jolly holds the edge, it falls within the poll’s 5% margin of error.

Both candidates have been campaigning for months. Jolly filed for Governor in June last year, while Demings threw his hat in the ring in November.

But a majority of Democrats remain unfamiliar with either candidate.

Pollsters also measured favorability ratings for both candidates. About 55% didn’t recognize Jolly’s name, while 60% were unfamiliar with Demings.

Both remain above water among voters who are familiar with them.

About 19% of voters have a favorable view of Jolly, who has appeared regularly on MS Now, formerly MSNBC. Only 4% of respondents had a negative view of Jolly, while 22% recognized him but considered themselves neutral about him.

As for Demings, 15% of Democrats hold a positive view, according to the poll, compared to just 2% with negative feelings about him. Another 23% of respondents said they knew who Demings was but felt neutral about him as a candidate.

The Primary for Governor, scheduled for Aug. 18, will be open to only registered Democrats.

Democrats hope for a strong backlash to President Donald Trump’s policies in the 2026 Midterms. But it could be an uphill race for Democrats as Florida Republicans continue to grow their edge in voter registrations in the Sunshine State.

The last Governor’s race without an incumbent running was in 2018, when Republican Ron DeSantis won by a recount margin over Democrat Andrew Gillum. But DeSantis won re-election in 2022 by a landslide.