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Bill

HB 851

Trust Funds/My Safe Florida Home Trust Fund/Department of Financial Services

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chip LaMarca

Failed bill would have created a state trust fund offering financial assistance to Florida homeowners for hurricane and disaster-resistant home improvements.

Died in Natural Resources & Disasters Subcommittee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 851

Legislative bill overview

HB 851 would have established a "My Safe Florida Home Trust Fund" under the Department of Financial Services to provide financial support for home hardening and disaster mitigation measures. The bill aimed to help Florida residents, particularly those in high-risk areas, prepare homes against hurricanes and other natural disasters through grants or low-interest financing mechanisms.

Why is this important

Florida faces escalating hurricane and flood risks due to its geography and climate patterns, making home resilience increasingly critical for residents and insurance markets. Such a trust fund could reduce property damage, lower insurance costs, and decrease post-disaster recovery burden on state and federal resources—though it also represents significant public expenditure during a period of insurance market strain in the state.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding source: The bill's financing mechanism was not publicly detailed in available summaries, raising questions about whether it would draw from general revenue, insurance assessment taxes, or federal funds
  • Equity and access: Questions about whether the program would effectively reach lower-income residents or primarily benefit homeowners able to navigate the application process
  • Program scope: Uncertainty about coverage limits, eligible mitigation measures, and whether funding would stretch adequately across Florida's millions of at-risk homes

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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