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Florida Legislature to Consider Wide-Ranging Affordable Housing Bill

January 30, 2023

Joseph Kovecses

The Florida Senate will consider a proposal to increase the availability of affordable housing statewide through the Live Local Act (SB 102) during its 2023 Regular Session, which starts on March 7. The current version of SB 102 includes monetary incentives for developers and mechanisms for waiving various zoning and future land use restrictions that could impede development. SB 102 also increases and protects funding to the State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) program, which provides low-interest loans to developers seeking to build or rehabilitate affordable housing.

The Senate President’s office issued a press release that described SB 102 as “a comprehensive, statewide workforce housing strategy designed to increase the availability of attainable housing options for Florida workers who seek to live in the communities they serve.”

The bill’s sponsor, Florida Senator Alexis Calatayud of Miami, explained that “[b]y super funding SAIL and providing additional financial incentives, such as the ad valorem exemptions [for] the missing middle units as well as the building materials sales tax exemption for affordable units, this important legislation will help address market issues that make new construction financially challenging for multifamily developers, leading to an increase in the number of Florida workers who can afford to live local in the communities they know, love and serve.”

The Lowndes Affordable Housing Team will continue to monitor and follow SB 102 as it makes its way through the legislature during the 2023 Regular Session. Please contact a member of our team with any questions.


This article is informational only. You should consult an attorney before acting or failing to act. The law may change rapidly and no warranty is given. LOWNDES DISCLAIMS ALL IMPLIED WARRANTIES AND WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY WARRANTY OF FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. ALL ARTICLES ARE PROVIDED AS IS AND WITH ALL FAULTS. Consult a Lowndes attorney if you wish to establish an attorney/client relationship.
Joseph

Joe Kovecses focuses his practice on land use, zoning and real estate development matters throughout Florida. Florida’s complicated regulatory environment can be difficult to navigate. Joe guides property owners, developers and business owners each step of the way through the maze of ever-changing state and local requirements, helping them to obtain and defend land use and development approvals. An experienced litigator, Joe has successfully handled disputes arising from land use matters, including issues related to zoning, comprehensive plan amendments, and ingress and egress easements.

Joe also handles a variety of complex real estate and business litigation cases in state and federal courts, spanning areas such as partnership disputes, commercial real estate litigation, commercial lien foreclosures and evictions, property insurance matters, and general commercial disputes. His extensive experience covers all aspects of litigation, including depositions, evidentiary hearings, mediation, arbitration, and both jury and non-jury trials.

Joe is a member of The Florida Bar and is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida. He is also a member of the George C. Young American Inn of Court.
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