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HB 589FLORIDA · STATEWIDESession 2026passed_both
Passed

HB 589: Changes to Septic and Sewage System Permitting

Original title: Onsite Sewage Treatment and Disposal System Permits

May 7, 2026

sewagepermittingconstructionlocal governmentbuilding codes

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Where This Stands

Introduced
Committee
Floor Vote
Passed
Signed

Currently passed_both. The next step in the legislative lifecycle is Signed.

Last action
Ordered engrossed, then enrolledMar 12, 2026

Version history

Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.

View official text →

The Frame

What this does

This bill changes the administrative process for new residential construction by removing the requirement for state-level sewage permits before local building permits can be issued, affecting how quickly and through which agencies builders and homeowners secure construction approval.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Homeowners and Builders

They are no longer required to obtain a DEP permit as a prerequisite for local building or plumbing permits and must provide alternative proof of compliance to local authorities.

Municipalities and Political Subdivisions

They are prohibited from mandating DEP permits as a condition for issuing local building or plumbing permits.

Department of Environmental Protection

The agency's role in the local building permit issuance process is restricted by this legislation.

What changed

Current stage: passed_both.

What's next

Signed.

Summary

This bill prevents local governments from requiring homeowners or builders to obtain a state-level sewage permit from the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) as a prerequisite for getting local building or plumbing permits. Instead, it mandates that applicants provide alternative proof of compliance to the local municipality.

Key Facts

You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will I still need a sewage permit to build a home?
The bill removes the requirement to get a DEP permit as a condition for your local building or plumbing permit, but it requires you to provide other proof of compliance to your local government.
Does this bill apply to all construction?
The bill specifies it applies to 'certain residences,' though it does not define the specific criteria for those residences in the provided text.

Why It Matters

This bill changes the administrative process for new residential construction by removing the requirement for state-level sewage permits before local building permits can be issued, affecting how quickly and through which agencies builders and homeowners secure construction approval.

News Coverage

No news coverage found yet. Articles are indexed twice daily.

Voting Record

Motion succeededlower3/12/2026openstates_bulkOfficial roll call ↗

Passage

Total

117

Yes

109

No

0

Present

0

Not Voting

8

Abstain

0

Motion succeededupper3/11/2026openstates_bulkOfficial roll call ↗

Third Reading

Total

39

Yes

38

No

0

Present

0

Not Voting

0

Abstain

0

Motion succeededlower2/25/2026openstates_bulkOfficial roll call ↗

Passage, Third Reading

Total

117

Yes

113

No

0

Present

0

Not Voting

4

Abstain

0

Full roll-call analysis →

Sponsors

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Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Decentralization of Permitting

The bill represents a shift toward reducing state-level agency involvement in the local building permit issuance process.

Department of Environmental Protection

Connected Entities

organizationDepartment of Environmental ProtectionMap →
organizationFlorida Onsite Wastewater AssociationMap →
organizationFlorida Association of RealtorsMap →
organizationFlorida Engineering SocietyMap →
organizationFlorida Home Builders AssociationMap →

Sources

Open source document

openstates.org

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy40
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz20
    Current news / social attention level

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