Florida HB 229: Taxation of Affordable Housing

Bill Text

HB 229 2026

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hb229-00
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A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to violation of state immigration law; 2
providing a short title; amending s. 908.11, F.S.; 3
requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to impose 4
a fine for certain violations; requiring the moneys be 5
used for a specified purpose; creating s. 908.14, 6
F.S.; defining the term "unauthorized alien"; 7
authorizing the department to develop a program to 8
compensate certain persons; providing requirements to 9
receive compensation; requiring the department to 10
develop rules; creating s. 908.15, F.S.; defining the 11
term "unauthorized alien"; creating a cause of action 12
against certain local governmental entities and law 13
enforcement agencies; requiring the plaintiff to prove 14
certain elements by a preponderance of the evidence; 15
providing that the state waives sovereign immunity for 16
liability in certain circumstances; amending s. 17
768.28, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by 18
the act; providing an effective date. 19
20
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 21
22
Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Shane Jones Act." 23
Section 2. Subsection (3) is added to section 908.11, 24
Florida Statutes, to read: 25

HB 229 2026

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908.11 Immigration enforcement assistance agreements; 26
reporting requirement; penalty.— 27
(3) The Department of Law Enforcement shall impose a fine 28
of $10,000 against a law enforcement agency for each violation 29
of this section. The department shall use the moneys collected 30
from these fines to provide compensation to victims of 31
unauthorized aliens pursuant to s. 908.14. 32
Section 3. Section 908.14, Florida Statutes, is created to 33
read: 34
908.14 Compensation for victims of unauthorized aliens.— 35
(1) As used in this section, the term "unauthorized alien" 36
has the same meaning as in s. 908.111(1). 37
(2) The Department of Law Enforcement may develop a 38
program to compensate residents of this state who have suffered 39
harm caused by an unauthorized alien. 40
(3) In order to be eligible for compensation under this 41
section: 42
(a) The act or omission which caused the harm must have 43
occurred in this state on or after July 1, 2026. 44
(b) The preponderance of the evidence must show that an 45
unauthorized alien materially contributed to the harm for which 46
compensation is sought. 47
(c) The person seeking compensation must complete a form 48
prescribed by the Department of Law Enforcement. 49
(4) The Department of Law Enforcement shall develop rules 50

HB 229 2026

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to administer this section. 51
Section 4. Section 908.15, Florida Statutes, is created to 52
read: 53
908.15 Cause of action for wrongful death caused by an 54
unauthorized alien.— 55
(1) As used in this section, the term "unauthorized alien" 56
has the same meaning as in s. 908.111(1). 57
(2) The estate of a person killed by an unauthorized alien 58
has a cause of action against: 59
(a) A local governmental entity or law enforcement agency 60
that has a sanctuary policy in violation of s. 908.103. 61
(b) A law enforcement agency in violation of s. 908.11 or 62
in violation of the agreement required under that section. 63
(3) A plaintiff must show by a preponderance of the 64
evidence that a failure by a local governmental entity or law 65
enforcement agency to cooperate or fully comply with federal 66
immigration authorities or with an immigration detainer allowed 67
an unauthorized alien to have materially contributed to the 68
decedent's death. 69
(4) Notwithstanding s. 768.28, and in accordance with s. 70
13, Art. X of the State Constitution, the state waives sovereign 71
immunity for liability for torts under this section. 72
Section 5. Subsection (21) is added to section 768.28, 73
Florida Statutes, to read: 74
768.28 Waiver of sovereign immunity in tort actions; 75

HB 229 2026

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recovery limits; civil liability for damages caused during a 76
riot; limitation on attorney fees; statute of limitations; 77
exclusions; indemnification; risk management programs.— 78
(21) This section does not apply to actions brought under 79
s. 908.15. 80
Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 81