Governor DeSantis allowed Executive Order No. 20-51 to expire on April 27, 2021. Permit holders must now notify the responsible agency or local government within 90 days of the termination of the order (no later than...more
On June 29, 2021, Governor DeSantis signed into law HB 487, which increases the maximum acreage of a small-scale comprehensive plan amendment from 10 acres to 50 acres. It also increases the maximum acreage for a small-scale...more
On June 29, 2021, Governor DeSantis signed HB 1647 allowing smaller restaurants to be eligible for Special Food Service (4COP SFS) liquor licenses. Owners with businesses and properties that fall within the Orlando Main...more
On June 29, 2021, Governor DeSantis signed an amendment to the Bert Harris Act, CS/CS for HB 421 & HB 1101, making it easier for property owners to challenge local government regulation that burdens, restricts, or limits...more
Local governments may face challenges as a new proposed legislation regarding relief from burdens on real property rights awaits the approval of Governor DeSantis. An amendment to the Bert Harris Act, CS/CS for HB 421 & HB...more
Want a margarita with your Mexican dinner to-go? Then you’re in luck. What started out as a COVID-era ease on businesses was signed into law yesterday. CS/SB 148, a bill that allows restaurants with liquor licenses to...more
On December 1, 2020, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) voted unanimously to adopt an ordinance updating the County’s school impact fees for residential development....more
County and city governments will have one more month to hold meetings remotely after Governor DeSantis—through Executive Order 20-246—issued a final extension to the social distancing precaution before in-person meetings must...more
On August 14, 2020, the Orange County Public Schools ("OCPS") School Impact Fee Study Advisory Committee ("the Committee") held its final meeting. The Committee, which first convened in October 2018, was tasked with making...more
On August 5, 2020, the Seminole County Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously voted to table the public hearing on the Mobility Fee Ordinance to its next regularly-scheduled meeting. If adopted, the new mobility fee...more
8/6/2020
/ Construction Project ,
Florida ,
Impact Fees ,
Infrastructure ,
Land Use Restrictions ,
Local Ordinance ,
Public Hearing ,
Real Estate Development ,
Rural Development ,
State and Local Government ,
Urban Planning & Development
On July 28, 2020, the Orange County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved an ordinance aimed at “preventing further damage to the local economy.” The ordinance amended the county’s impact fee code and will allow...more
On July 1, 2020, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation issued Amended Emergency Order 2020-09 to provide additional detail about when, and under what circumstances, vendors may sell alcoholic...more
7/4/2020
/ Alcohol Beverage Control ,
Amended Rules ,
Bars ,
Business & Professions Code ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Emergency Orders ,
Florida ,
Public Safety ,
Resorts & Restaurants ,
Restaurant Industry ,
Social Distancing ,
Vendors ,
Wine & Alcohol
Governor Ron DeSantis has extended Executive Order 20-69, which permits local governments to conduct meetings remotely by utilizing “communications media technology, such as telephonic and video conferencing.”...more
On June 26, 2020, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation issued Emergency Order 2020-09, which orders “vendors who derive more than 50% of gross revenue” from on-premises alcohol sales to suspend the...more
6/29/2020
/ Business Closures ,
Business Interruption ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Critical Infrastructure Sectors ,
Direct to Consumer Sales ,
Emergency Management Plans ,
Florida ,
Public Health ,
State and Local Government ,
Virus Testing ,
Wine & Alcohol
In 2018, when the Farm Bill was signed into law, hemp cultivators and extract producers were hopeful that the federal pressure on their industry might begin to ease. The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the Controlled...more
6/25/2020
/ Agribusiness ,
Dietary Supplements ,
Farm Bill ,
Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) ,
Hemp ,
Medical Foods ,
Plant Based Products ,
Trademark Application ,
Trademark Trial and Appeal Board ,
Trademarks ,
USPTO
Seminole County has commissioned a study to replace the county's road impact fee with a mobility fee. If adopted, the new mobility fee program would result in a substantial increase in impact fees for most developments....more
As of June 8, Orange County has officially opened (and partially closed) its application portals for the Orange CARES initiative. The program will allow approximately 6,500 qualifying small businesses access to a grant of...more
The government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in federal assistance to numerous industries and individual taxpayers, but notably has left the state legalized marijuana industry out in the cold....more
5/31/2020
/ Agribusiness ,
Assignment of Benefits (AOB) ,
Bankruptcy Plans ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Chapter 7 ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Financial Distress ,
Hemp Related Businesses ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Receivership
On May 22, 2020, the State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) approved Orange County’s plan to safely reopen vacation rental operations within the County....more
On Wednesday, April 29, 2020, Governor Ron DeSantis held a press conference to announce the first step of his multi-step plan for reopening the State of Florida in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing statewide...more
On April 24, President Trump signed into law the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act (the “Act”). The Act allocates an additional $484 billion to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) and...more
As noted in our prior publication, on April 16, 2020, the Small Business Administration (“SBA”) announced that it would no longer be accepting new applications for the Emergency Injury Disaster Loan Program (“EIDLP”) or the...more
4/22/2020
/ Agribusiness ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
CARES Act ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Dispensaries ,
Federal Loans ,
Financial Stimulus ,
Hemp Related Businesses ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) ,
Relief Measures ,
SBA ,
SBA Lending Programs ,
Small Business
On April 1, 2020, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis issued Executive Order 20-91. The State’s order, which will become effective on Friday, April 3 at 12:01 a.m. and will expire on April 30, sets statewide standards for the...more
4/2/2020
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, Governor DeSantis has issued Executive Order No. 20-51 declaring a state of emergency for all 67 counties in the state of Florida....more
On Wednesday afternoon, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis announced that President Trump has granted Florida’s request for a FEMA disaster declaration....more