SB 250: Rural Communities

GENERAL BILL by Simon; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Bradley

Rural Communities; Requiring the state land planning agency to give preference for technical assistance funding to local governments located in a rural area of opportunity; revising the conditions required for a county to be considered a fiscally constrained county; creating the Office of Rural Prosperity within the Department of Commerce; requiring the Office of Rural Prosperity to administer the Renaissance Grants Program to provide block grants to eligible communities; creating the Public Infrastructure Smart Technology Grant Program within the Office of Rural Prosperity; creating the Florida Arterial Road Modernization Program within the Department of Transportation, etc. APPROPRIATION: $144,813,977

Effective Date: 7/1/2026

Last Action: 1/14/2026 House - In Messages

Bill Text [pdf]

Current Bill Version Posted: 1/14/2026 05:10 PM

Senate Committee References (1)
1. Appropriations (AP)

Related Bills (3)

Bill Number Subject Filed By Last Action and Location	Relationship Learn more about bill relationships
H 723 by Abbott Rural Counties Last Action: 1/13/2026 H 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)	Compare
S 2502 by Appropriations Implementing the 2026-2027 General Appropriations Act Last Action: 2/20/2026 S Laid on Table, refer to HB 5003 -SJ 382	Compare
S 7046 by Finance and Tax Taxation Last Action: 3/2/2026 S CS by- Appropriations; YEAS 12 NAYS 5	Compare

Citations - Statute (71)

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20.60	Department of Commerce; creation; powers and duties.	Page 17 (pdf)
125.0104	Tourist development tax; procedure for levying; authorized uses; referendum; enforcement.	Page 113 (pdf)
163.3168	Planning innovations and technical assistance.	Page 21 (pdf)
163.3177	Required and optional elements of comprehensive plan; studies and surveys.	Page 121 (pdf)
163.3187	Process for adoption of small scale comprehensive plan amendment.	Page 104 (pdf)
193.624	Assessment of renewable energy source devices.	Page 114 (pdf)
196.182	Exemption of renewable energy source devices.	Page 115 (pdf)
201.15	Distribution of taxes collected.	Page 22 (pdf)
202.18	Allocation and disposition of tax proceeds.	Page 23 (pdf)
212.20	Funds collected, disposition; additional powers of department; operational expense; refund of taxes adjudicated unconstitutionally collected.	Page 24 (pdf)
212.205	Sales tax distribution reporting.	Page 104 (pdf)
215.211	Service charge; elimination or reduction for specified proceeds.	Page 123 (pdf)
215.971	Agreements funded with federal or state assistance.	Page 28 (pdf)
218.12	Appropriations to offset reductions in ad valorem tax revenue in fiscally constrained counties.	Page 115 (pdf)
218.125	Offset for tax loss associated with certain constitutional amendments affecting fiscally constrained counties.	Page 116 (pdf)
218.135	Offset for tax loss associated with reductions in value of certain citrus fruit packing and processing equipment.	Page 116 (pdf)
218.136	Offset for ad valorem revenue loss affecting fiscally constrained counties.	Page 117 (pdf)
218.67	Distribution for fiscally constrained counties.	Page 30 (pdf)
252.35	Emergency management powers; Division of Emergency Management.	Page 117 (pdf)
257.191	Construction grants.	Page 105 (pdf)
257.193	Community Libraries in Caring Program.	Page 105 (pdf)
265.283	Definitions.	Page 106 (pdf)
288.001	The Florida Small Business Development Center Network.	Page 33 (pdf)
288.007	Inventory of communities seeking to recruit businesses.	Page 34 (pdf)
288.013		Page 35 (pdf)
288.014		Page 39 (pdf)
288.0175		Page 44 (pdf)
288.018	Regional Rural Development Grants Program.	Page 45 (pdf)
288.019	Rural considerations in grant review and evaluation processes.	Page 47 (pdf)
288.021	Economic development liaison.	Page 49 (pdf)
288.065	Rural Community Development Revolving Loan Fund.	Page 49 (pdf)
288.0655	Rural Infrastructure Fund.	Page 52 (pdf)
288.0656	Rural Economic Development Initiative.	Page 56 (pdf)
288.06561	Reduction or waiver of financial match requirements.	Page 61 (pdf)
288.0657	Florida rural economic development strategy grants.	Page 62 (pdf)
288.102	Supply Chain Innovation Grant Program.	Page 118 (pdf)
288.11621	Spring training baseball franchises.	Page 106 (pdf)
288.11631	Retention of Major League Baseball spring training baseball franchises.	Page 107 (pdf)
288.1226	Florida Tourism Industry Marketing Corporation; use of property; board of directors; duties; audit.	Page 63 (pdf)
288.12266	Targeted Marketing Assistance Program.	Page 64 (pdf)
288.9935	Microfinance Guarantee Program.	Page 112 (pdf)
288.9961	Promotion of broadband adoption; Florida Office of Broadband.	Page 64 (pdf)
288.9962	Broadband Opportunity Program.	Page 122 (pdf)
290.06561	Designation of rural enterprise zone as catalyst site.	Page 67 (pdf)
319.32	Fees; service charges; disposition.	Page 67 (pdf)
334.044	Powers and duties of the department.	Page 68 (pdf)
339.0801	Allocation of increased revenues derived from amendments to s. 319.32(5)(a) by ch. 2012-128.	Page 68 (pdf)
339.2816	Small County Road Assistance Program.	Page 71 (pdf)
339.2817	County Incentive Grant Program.	Page 72 (pdf)
339.2818	Small County Outreach Program.	Page 73 (pdf)
339.66	Upgrade of arterial highways with controlled access facilities.	Page 123 (pdf)
339.68	Arterial rural highway projects.	Page 74 (pdf)
341.0525		Page 77 (pdf)
381.402	Florida Reimbursement Assistance for Medical Education Program.	Page 80 (pdf)
403.064	Reuse of reclaimed water.	Page 118 (pdf)
403.0741	Grease waste removal and disposal.	Page 121 (pdf)
420.9072	State Housing Initiatives Partnership Program.	Page 124 (pdf)
420.9073	Local housing distributions.	Page 81 (pdf)
420.9075	Local housing assistance plans; partnerships.	Page 82 (pdf)
420.9076	Adoption of affordable housing incentive strategies; committees.	Page 125 (pdf)
420.9079	Local Government Housing Trust Fund.	Page 126 (pdf)
443.191	Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund; establishment and control.	Page 110 (pdf)
571.26	Florida Agricultural Promotional Campaign Trust Fund.	Page 111 (pdf)
571.265	Promotion of Florida thoroughbred breeding and of thoroughbred racing at Florida thoroughbred tracks; distribution of funds.	Page 111 (pdf)
589.08	Land acquisition restrictions.	Page 119 (pdf)
1001.451	Regional consortium service organizations.	Page 85 (pdf)
1001.4511		Page 89 (pdf)
1009.635		Page 90 (pdf)
1011.62	Funds for operation of schools.	Page 120 (pdf)
1013.62	Charter schools capital outlay funding.	Page 92 (pdf)
1013.64	Funds for comprehensive educational plant needs; construction cost maximums for school district capital projects.	Page 94 (pdf)

Bill History

S = Senate, H = House

11/20/2025	S	• Filed
11/21/2025	S	• Referred to Appropriations
12/1/2025	S	• On Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 12/10/25, 9:00 am, 412 Knott Building
12/10/2025	S	• Favorable by- Appropriations; YEAS 16 NAYS 0 • Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
1/12/2026	S	• Placed on Special Order Calendar, 01/14/26
1/13/2026	S	• Introduced
1/14/2026	S	• Read 2nd time -SJ 153 • Amendment(s) adopted (211610, 655052) -SJ 153 • Read 3rd time -SJ 153 • Passed as amended; YEAS 39 NAYS 0 -SJ 153 • Immediately certified -SJ 155
1/14/2026	H	• In Messages

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