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Legislative Priorities
Licensure and Regulation
Legislation
HB 607 by Rep. Yarkosky would eliminate the Board of Architecture and Interior Design (BOAID) and continuing education requirements for architects.
Summary
BOAID operates as a balanced, efficient, and accountable regulatory board composed of licensed professionals and public members. Its 11-member structure—five architects, three interior designers, and three public members—prevents any single profession from holding a majority, minimizing antitrust risk and ensuring informed, fair decision-making. Florida’s model aligns with national norms, as all U.S. jurisdictions rely on licensed professionals for regulation, and Florida is among 26 states that combine related professions on one board.
Since 2002, BOAID’s fee-funded, privatized enforcement model has strengthened oversight, generating more than $3.4 million in fines and costs, including significant collections from unlicensed activity. The Board consistently ranks among Florida’s top regulatory boards for collection effectiveness.
BOAID’s complaint review process is highly effective, with 98% of complaints in FY 2023–2024 found legally sufficient and advanced to investigation—the highest rate under DBPR. This front-end review ensures meaningful attention to complaints and efficient enforcement prioritization.
Licensure in Florida is accessible and efficient, with applications typically processed within weeks. In FY 2023–2024, 96% of licensure-by-endorsement applications were approved with none denied[1]. More than half of Florida’s licensed architects reside out of state, demonstrating the absence of unnecessary barriers.
The Florida Building Code is updated every three years, and architects must complete 24 hours of continuing education every two years in health, safety, and welfare, including advanced Florida Building Code instruction. This requirement—averaging just one hour per month and achievable at no cost—ensures architects remain current in evolving codes, materials, and methods. Only three states lack continuing education requirements; Florida’s standards allow architects to maintain licensure eligibility in 47 states and Washington, D.C., reinforcing both public safety and professional mobility.
Explanation and Justification
BOAID is a balanced and accountable regulatory board composed of licensed professionals and public members, structured to prevent undue influence and align with national regulatory norms. Its fee-funded enforcement and front-end complaint review processes are highly effective, generating strong compliance outcomes and ranking among Florida’s top boards. Florida’s accessible licensure system and robust continuing-education requirements tied to regular Florida Building Code updates protect public health and safety while supporting the ability for Florida architects to practice in multiple states.
Action Sought
Oppose HB 607 eliminating BOAID and continuing education requirements.
- The board is structured so no single profession holds a majority, reducing antitrust risk.
- Privatized prosecutorial services have collected $3.4 million in fines, consistently among the state’s highest collection rates.
- In FY 23–24, 98% of complaints were found legally sufficient, ensuring nearly all receive full review.
- 53% of Florida-licensed architects live out of state, showing there are no barriers to qualified professionals practicing here.
- Licensure and endorsement applications are processed promptly and efficiently.
- The Florida Building Code is updated every three years; ongoing education is essential to keep architects current especially when 53% of licensees are not living in Florida.
- The required 24 CE hours over two years are manageable, available at no cost, and not burdensome.
- Two hours must be Advanced Florida Building Code, independently accredited and approved by the Florida Building Commission.
- Florida’s code is among the nation’s strongest and is effective only when professionals remain well trained.
- Florida’s CE standard satisfies requirements in 45 states; removing it would limit reciprocity to only three.
- Of the attendees who took continuing education from AIA Florida during the 2023 and 2024 cycle, 85% attended live courses and 61% were at no cost courses showing that cost and the perceived “clicking through” is not an issue.
[1] Because of the possible adverse ramifications if an applicant is denied licensure, the Board has a practice of informing the applicant of the potential denial and affording the applicant the opportunity to withdraw the application.
Statute of Repose
Legislation
SB 638 by Sen. Trumbull and HB 255 by Rep. Snyder clarify that the statute of repose applies to condominium associations in the same terms as any other building owner.
Summary
Florida’s statute of repose allows for action against design and construction defects within seven years after the date of the issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy, certificate of completion or date of abandonment of construction if not completed, whichever date is earliest.
For causes of action that may be brought by a condominium and cooperative associations, the statute of limitations and statute of repose does not begin to run until the unit owners have elected a majority of the members of the board of administration.
Explanation and Justification
Architects design to protect health, safety and welfare meeting or exceeding the standards of the Florida Building Code. Architects are among the professions authorized by statute to conduct mandatory milestone inspections and structural integrity reserve studies. Architects design and work to protect the life safety of the residents of multi-family housing.
Architects and design professionals should not be subject to indefinite liability for the design of condominiums and cooperatives. The statute of repose provides a uniform timeline for owners to bring claims for design and construction defects and clearly defines when the clock for those claims begins.
Action Sought
Support SB 638 and HB 255 creating fairness in liability for design professionals for all building types.
Construction Requirements
Legislation
SB 1218 by Sen. Rodriguez and HB 911 by Rep. Mooney require that the 9th Edition (2026) of the Florida Building Code adopt that the entire building envelope of certain structures to be built to withstand windspeeds of at least 160 miles per hour.
Summary
The building envelope includes exterior walls and doors, roofs, skylights, glazing and glass blocks. This requirement would apply to multi-story residential occupancies (R1 and R2), new residential construction located within five miles of the mean high-water line, new residential construction in high-velocity hurricane zones, structures used as emergency shelters and the rebuilding of such structures.
Explanation and Justification
Recent hurricanes impacting our state have had increased windspeeds and billions in damage. NOAA data shows that category 4 and 5 hurricanes have become more frequent over the past 40. Rapid intensification of windspeeds increasing more than 35 mph in 24 hours has also become more common.
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Hurricane Milton (2024) – 180 mph with $34 billion in damage.
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Hurricane Ian (2022) – 155 mph with $119 billion in damage.
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Hurricane Irma (2017) – 185 mph with $64 billion in damage.
According to the National Institute of Building Sciences, above code wind resistant improvements only adds 1% to 3% to costs while returning $5 or more in avoided losses for every dollar spent.
Action Sought
Support SB 1218 and HB 911 adopting building codes to protect the threats from hurricanes and natural disasters.
Legislation
SB 992 by Sen. Rodriguez and HB 1303 by Rep. Barnaby create tax credits for resilient building and form the Florida Resilient Building Advisory Council with an architect as a potential member.
Summary
Florida faces ever-increasing threats from water intrusion due to rainfall, storm surge, seasonal high groundwater, urban runoff and tidal flooding. Regardless of inland or coastal location, all of Florida is or will be directly affected by flooding in some form, threatening property values and habitation. Our state continues to be threatened by rapidly intensifying hurricanes.
Explanation and Justification
Impacts of water intrusion can be mitigated through a stringent review of current laws, rules, codes and development practices to ensure their sufficiency with updates that protect our communities. Designing and building to mitigate the risks of hurricanes, high wind speeds and water intrusion protects people and property. Resilient homes and businesses survive storms and allow communities to recover faster after storms.
We encourage the Florida Resilient Building Advisory Council to have an architect as a designated member.
We also encourage the integration of all sustainable rating systems approved in section of 255.253, Florida Statutes addition to the United States Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Desing (LEED) which include:
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The Green Building Initiative’s Green Globes rating system
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The Florida Green Building Coalition rating system
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The International Green Construction Code (IGCC)
Action Sought
Support SB 992 and HB 1305 creating the Florida Resilient Building Advisory Council and establishing tax credits for resilient building.
Professional Services Contracts
Legislation
SB 888 by Sen. Martin and HB 699 by Rep. Conerly extend existing limits on design professional indemnification to all contracts, not just those with public agencies. Contracts may only require architects, landscape architects, surveyors, or engineers to be liable for their own negligence or that of those they employ or control. Any broader indemnification requirement is void. The bill also requires contracts to use the standard professional level of skill and care and prohibits requiring design professionals to name other parties as additional insureds.
Summary
Architects are educated, licensed and insured to perform to a reasonable professional level of care.
Explanation and Justification
Architects should not be subject to additional liability or different standard of care in contracts.
Action Sought
Support SB 888 and HB 699 fairly defining standard of care and indemnification in contracts.
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