Florida HB 705: Sentencing and Incarceration

Bill Text

HB 705 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb705-00
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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 causes of action based on 2
improvements to real property; amending s. 95.11, 3
F.S.; revising the time in which an action founded on 4
the design, planning, or construction of an 5
improvement to real property shall be commenced; 6
revising the date on which the statute of limitations 7
period for such action begins; revising the latest 8
date by which an action shall be commenced; defining 9
the terms "completion of the improvement" and 10
"completion of the contract"; providing an effective 11
date. 12
13
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 14
15
Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section 16
95.11, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 17
95.11 Limitations other than for the recovery of real 18
property.—Actions other than for recovery of real property shall 19
be commenced as follows: 20
(3) WITHIN FOUR YEARS.— 21
(b)1. An action founded on the design, planning, or 22
construction of an improvement to real property, with the time 23
running from the earliest date of: 24
a. Completion of the improvement; 25

HB 705 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb705-00
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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

b. The date of abandonment of construction, if not 26
completed; 27
c. The date of termination of the contract between the 28
architect, landscape architect, interior designer, engineer, 29
surveyor and mapper, or licensed contractor and his or her 30
employer, but only as to the architect, landscape architect, 31
interior designer, engineer, surveyor and mapper, or licensed 32
contractor who has abandoned construction or whose contract is 33
terminated; or 34
d. If sub-subparagraphs a., b., and c. do not apply, 35
completion of the contract between the architect, landscape 36
architect, interior designer, engineer, surveyor and mapper, or 37
licensed contractor and his or her employer. the authority 38
having jurisdiction issues a temporary certificate of occupancy, 39
a certificate of occupancy, or a certificate of completion, or 40
the date of abandonment of construction if not completed, 41
whichever date is earliest; except that, 42
2. An when the action involving involves a latent defect, 43
with the time running runs from the time the defect is 44
discovered or should have been discovered with the exercise of 45
due diligence. 46
3. In any event, the action must be commenced within 7 47
years after the earliest date of: 48
a. Completion of the improvement; 49
b. The date of abandonment of construction, if not 50

HB 705 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb705-00
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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

completed; 51
c. The date of termination of the contract between the 52
architect, landscape architect, interior designer, engineer, 53
surveyor and mapper, or licensed contractor and his or her 54
employer, but only as to the architect, landscape architect, 55
interior designer, engineer, surveyor or mapper, or licensed 56
contractor who has abandoned construction or whose contract is 57
terminated; or 58
d. If sub-subparagraphs a., b., and c. do not apply, 59
completion of the contract between the architect, landscape 60
architect, interior designer, engineer, surveyor and mapper, or 61
licensed contractor and his or her employer the authority having 62
jurisdiction issues a temporary certificate of occupancy, a 63
certificate of occupancy, or a certificate of completion, or the 64
date of abandonment of construction if not completed, whichever 65
date is earliest. 66
4. For purposes of this paragraph, "completion of the 67
improvement" means the earliest of: 68
a. For an improvement in which the authority having 69
jurisdiction is required to issue a certificate of occupancy, 70
the issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy or 71
certificate of occupancy, whichever date is earlier; 72
b. For an improvement that is required to comply with the 73
Florida Building Code but does not require the authority having 74
jurisdiction to issue a certificate of occupancy, completion of 75

HB 705 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb705-00
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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

all required inspections under the Florida Building Code or 76
issuance of a certificate of completion, whichever date is 77
earlier; or 78
c. For an improvement made pursuant to chapters 334-349, 79
final acceptance, as defined in s. 337.185(2)(c). 80
5. For purposes of this paragraph, "completion of the 81
contract" means the later of the date of final performance of 82
all the contracted services or the date that final payment for 83
such services becomes due without regard to the date