TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Governor Ron DeSantis signed eight more bills into law on Friday, June 27, as more than 100 new Florida statutes prepare to take effect July 1. The latest measures cover cryptocurrency regulation, law enforcement procedures, affordable housing, and financial services oversight.
Among the new laws is a regulatory framework for payment stablecoins under CS/CS/HB 175, substantially similar to the federal GENIUS Act, which takes effect October 1. The bill requires issuers to be licensed as money services businesses and mandates federal oversight for those with consolidated issuance exceeding $10 billion. Another measure, CS/HB 505, establishes rules for virtual currency kiosks — the crypto ATMs found in convenience stores and gas stations — capping transactions at $2,000 per day for new customers and requiring fraud warnings and refunds for fraudulent transactions.
Law enforcement gains expanded search warrant authority under CS/HB 359, effective July 1. Judges may authorize officers to appear remotely via audio-video technology when seeking warrants, and police may obtain warrants to search areas using drones for evidence. The bill also extends the return window for seized electronic devices to 365 days.
Affordable housing gets a significant boost through CS/CS/HB 1389, which expands the Live Local Act to require local governments to authorize certain affordable housing developments. The law extends preemptions to properties owned by counties, municipalities, and school districts, and bars local governments from using setbacks or stepbacks to constructively restrict project height. Farming operations are excluded from the commercial zoning definitions that trigger the affordable housing requirements.
The Department of Financial Services also sees revisions under CS/CS/CS/SB 1452. The My Safe Florida Home program is expanded to include attached residential properties up to three stories, and grants are prioritized for low- and moderate-income applicants, especially those aged 60 and older. The bill also adjusts workers’ compensation reporting requirements and funeral and cemetery licensure standards.
Nocatee, located about 20 miles southeast of Jacksonville in St. Johns County, has a population of approximately 25,000. The master-planned community sits near the PGA TOUR headquarters, and as one of Northeast Florida’s fastest-growing residential areas, the new affordable housing and insurance-related measures signed into law carry direct relevance for prospective homebuyers and existing residents alike.
