Week Three of Session Wrap-Up
As week three comes to a close, the Florida Trust needs your help to protect Florida's history and heritage. Please pay special attention to our ask for the Local Regulation of Nonconforming or Unsafe Structures legislation.
FY2024 Historic Preservation Special Category Grant List
Check out our FY2024 Historic Preservation Special Category Grant booklet and explore the 33 statewide projects that are requesting grant funding. The Florida Division of Historic Resources Historic Preservation Grant Program provides funding to preserve significant historic and archaeological resources, to assist major archaeological excavations or research projects and to assist in the development and fabrication of major museum exhibits that will promote knowledge and appreciation of the history of Florida.
Showing your support for Florida's historic places is easy! Simply reach out to your representatives and share with them how important providing for Florida's history is to you.
Call or email your state representative and senator. Find their contact information here.
If you'd like, copy and paste the preservation grant messaging and ask below.
Or, share this one-pager with information on preservation grants
Click here to view the preservation grant messaging and ask to send your state representative
Florida's historic preservation grant program gives Florida's historic places a future. I am asking you to please support historic places in your community, and statewide, by fully funding the FY2024 Historic Preservation Special Category Grant list.
Over 137 years ago, a Resilient Little Red Schoolhouse was the first oasis of education in southeast Florida and needs help in preserving its educational legacy. A 132 year old Opera House in Monticello needs structural support to stay standing. Both of these places are on the FY2024 Special Category Historic Preservation Grant list, which, if funded, could provide a future for 33 important pieces of Florida's unique history. Last year, the FY2023 Special Category Historic Preservation Grant list was fully funded and many important pieces of Florida's unique history were finally prioritized and protected. This year, we are ask that funding continues to assist in reviving Florida's most vulnerable places.
The Florida Division of Historical Resources Historic Preservation Grant program is one of the most significant ways the state protects our irreplaceable historic places, strengthens communities and supports local economies. The purpose of these grants is to provide funding to assist major local, regional and state-wide efforts to preserve significant historic and archaeological resources, to assist major archaeological excavations or research projects, and assist in the development and fabrication of major museum exhibits that will promote knowledge and appreciation of the history of Florida.
The Florida Historical Commission reviews and ranks Special Category grants to create the annual list, which is then approved by the Florida Secretary of State before being sent to the legislature to determine funding. This year, fully fund the Historic Preservation Special Category Grant list, and give Florida's historic places a future.
Protect Florida's Abandoned Cemeteries
House Bill 49, Abandoned and Historic Cemeteries, moved favorably through its second committee stop in the House! It was unanimously voted in favor at the Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee on Tuesday, March 21. Further, a crucial amendment was filed and adopted to the bill. The amendment, introduced by the bill's sponsor Representative Fentrice Driskell, attaches appropriations to the bill in order to establish and fund the Office of Historical Cemeteries and three full-time employees and provide $1 million in a grant program to communities who may need resources in upkeeping and maintaining cemeteries. The Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations committee members expressed strong support of HB 49. Representative Dan Daley (D-96) provided Representative Driskell with a sincere remark, pointing out the power and importance of bipartisan support:
"I figured I would help make the comments today bipartisan. I just want to thank you, Representative Driskell, for all you have done. Over the last four years, I have watched you pour your heart and soul into this issue and into this bill for so many people. You have been a leader on this issue and I am proud to support it today."
Senate Bill 430 is waiting to be put on the Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development. Please reach out to Senator Ed Hooper, the committee chair, and ask him to put this bill on the agenda!
State Historic Tax Credit
House Bill 499, The Main Street Historic Tourism and Revitalization Act, was referred to the House Ways & Means Committee and is still currently awaiting action. Please reach out to your local Representative, or any you may know, and encourage them to co-sponsor this bill. The more interest and support this bill receives from other lawmakers, the more likely it is for a State Historic Tax Credit to be promulgated. You can find your local Representative here.
Senate Bill 288 is now in Appropriations and is waiting to be put on the agenda. Please contact Chairman Doug Broxson and urge him to agenda the bill. Further, don't forget to reach out to any member of the committee and request them to support this bill. You can find the list of the Appropriations Committee members, here.
Local Regulation of Nonconforming or Unsafe Structures
Senate Bill 1346, The Local Regulation of Nonconforming or Unsafe Structures, passed its
first committee stop on Wednesday, March 22 at the Community Affairs Committee, by a vote of 8 yeas and 1 nay. It is now waiting to be put on the Committee on Environmental and Natural Resource's agenda.
House Bill 1317, the Resiliency and Safe Structures Act, was voted on favorably at its first stop at the Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee. It now is waiting to be put on the Local Administration, Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee's agenda.
It is paramount that the appropriate amendments are filed to these bills. Both SB 1346 and HB 1317 received amendments that partially address our concerns for the sanctity of historic structures throughout the State. The amendments, as is, will only exempt structures individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places from demolition sanctioned by the bill. But, there is additional language that must be included to secure the intent of the amendment to preserve historic places.
PLEASE reach out to the bill sponsors and urge them to add the following additional language to the legislation before it's too late.
Suggested language for amendment:
3) QUALIFYING STRUCTURES AND BUILDINGS.-This section applies to all of the following structures, unless the structure is individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places, located within a National Register Historic District, individually designated as a local historic site, located within a local historic district, within a Florida Main Street district,or is a single-family home:
Bill | Bill Sponsor | Next Committee Stop |
Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee |
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