Florida HB 699: Pub. Rec./Homelessness Counts and Databases

Bill Text

HB 699 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb699-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to design professional contracts; 2
amending s. 725.08, F.S.; making editorial changes; 3
creating s. 725.09, F.S.; providing definitions; 4
providing that certain professional services contracts 5
entered into with design professionals on or after a 6
specified date are void and unenforceable; providing 7
applicability; requiring a specified standard of care 8
in professional services contracts entered into with 9
design professionals; providing applicability; 10
providing construction; providing an effective date. 11
12
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13
14
Section 1. Subsection (5) of section 725.08, Florida 15
Statutes, is amended to read: 16
725.08 Design professional contracts entered into with 17
public agencies; limitation in indemnification.— 18
(5) This section does not affect contracts or agreements 19
entered into before May 25, 2000 the effective date of this 20
section. 21
Section 2. Section 725.09, Florida Statutes, is created to 22
read: 23
725.09 Design professional contracts; limitation in 24
indemnification; standard of care.— 25

HB 699 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

(1) As used in this section, the term: 26
(a) "Design professional" means a person, as defined in s. 27
1.01, who is licensed in this state under chapter 481 as an 28
architect or landscape architect, under chapter 472 as a 29
surveyor, under chapter 471 as an engineer, or a geologist or 30
who is a registered interior designer, as defined in s. 481.203. 31
(b) "Professional services contract" means a written or 32
oral agreement relating to the planning, design, construction, 33
administration, study, evaluation, consulting, or other 34
professional and technical support services furnished in 35
connection with any actual or proposed construction, 36
improvement, alteration, repair, maintenance, operation, 37
management, relocation, demolition, excavation, or other 38
facility, land, air, water, or utility development or 39
improvement. 40
(2) Notwithstanding ss. 725.06 and 725.08, a professional 41
services contract entered into with a design professional on or 42
after July 1, 2026, is void and unenforceable if it: 43
(a) Requires the design professional to indemnify and hold 44
harmless a contracting party, an indemnitee, or a third party 45
from liability for damage other than liability for damage to the 46
extent caused by, or in proportion to the extent the design 47
professional participates in resolution of a claim based on 48
negligence, recklessness, intentional tort, intellectual 49
property infringement, or failure to pay a sub-consultant or 50

HB 699 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

supplier that is committed by the design professional or the 51
design professional's agent, consultant under contract, or other 52
entity for which the design professional is legally liable. 53
(b) Requires the design professional to defend a 54
contracting party, an indemnitee, or a third party against a 55
claim arising out of the rendering of or failure to render 56
professional services by the design professional or its agents 57
that is not otherwise covered by the design professional's 58
policy of professional liability insurance. 59
(c) Requires the design professional to list a party or 60
any other person or entity as an additional insured on the 61
design professional's policy of professional liability 62
insurance. 63
(d) Subjects the design professional to a standard of care 64
that differs from that provided under subsection (4). 65
(3) This section does not apply to the following 66
provisions in a professional services contract entered into with 67
a design professional on or after July 1, 2026: 68
(a) A requirement that the design professional list an 69
additional insured on the design professional's general 70
liability insurance policy, automobile liability insurance 71
policy, or both, and provide coverage and any defense provided 72
by those policies. 73
(b) A provision for the reimbursement of a contracting 74
party's or an indemnitee's reasonable attorney fees, damages, 75

HB 699 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

losses, injuries, or other litigation costs in proportion to the 76
design professional's liability, or in proportion to the extent 77
the design professional participates in resolution of a claim 78
also made against the contracting party or indemnitee. 79
(c) A provision or requirement not otherwise in confl