After hurricanes Helene and Milton struck Florida last year, countless Tampa Bay residents found themselves caught in a maze of delays—waiting for permits, answers on substantial damage letters, and direction on who was responsible for getting them back in their homes.

Eight months later, many of those same homeowners are still displaced, stuck in limbo.

“Let’s not forget there are six months outside of hurricane season when cities can be preparing,” said State Senator Nick DiCeglie (R–Indian Rocks Beach). “This really should be one of their top priorities.”

DiCeglie expressed frustration that some residents still haven’t received building permits to begin repairs—a delay he called “unacceptable.”

In response, state lawmakers passed new legislation requiring local governments to publish detailed post-hurricane permitting plans by May 1 each year. The goal: end the bureaucratic back-and-forth and speed up the recovery process.

“It’s still a long and frustrating road, but if we can cut the timeline in half, it’s going to make a huge difference,” DiCeglie said.

The bill also aims to stop the administrative “ping-pong” between local agencies and FEMA—confusion that left many residents unsure where to turn for guidance.

“I’ve heard folks say, ‘FEMA told me to do this,’ but FEMA is really just a funding mechanism,” DiCeglie explained. “Homeowners should be getting answers directly from their local governments—not bounced around.”

He hopes the new rules will simplify communication and help residents work directly with the agencies responsible for issuing permits.

Meanwhile in Washington, the federal role in disaster response could soon shift. Former President Donald Trump has signaled his intention to “phase out” FEMA, proposing cuts to its funding and a greater reliance on state-led responses.

“What we’ve got to do is re-envision what FEMA does,” said U.S. Senator Rick Scott (R–Florida).

As hurricane season ramps up, Florida’s permitting reform bill (SB 180) now sits on Governor Ron DeSantis’ desk, awaiting his signature.

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