<br><div><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em__fp gnt_em_vp__tp gnt_em__el" aria-label="Video - 2024 hurricane season: See the list of names for the Atlantic hurricane season"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Bad news, Florida homeowners: the Florida Legislature did not pass <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2024/02/20/my-florida-safe-home-new-funding-applications-when/72668278007/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">the bill adding $100 million in additional funding and $7 million for administrative costs</a> for the extremely popular My Florida Safe Home program to help residents harden their homes against hurricanes.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Great news: The day before the 2024 legislative session ended, they doubled it to $200 million instead, and <em>then</em> passed it.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">On Wednesday, nearly a month after the Florida House passed <a target="_blank" href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2024/7028" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">SB 7028</a> with a unanimous vote, the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Media/PressReleases/Show/454" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">Senate</a> adopted an amendment dramatically increasing the initial provisional funding before they unanimously passed it on Thursday. It now goes to Gov. Ron DeSantis' desk for his signature.</p><aside aria-label="advertisement" class="gnt_m gnt_x gnt_x__lbl gnt_x__al"/><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The My Safe Florida Home (MSFH) program, which <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tallahassee.com/story/money/2023/11/08/my-safe-florida-home-program-to-get-176m-heres-what-to-know/71503382007/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">matches up to $10,000 of the costs</a> Florida homeowners pay for home improvements designed to protect against tropical storms and hurricanes, has run through funding nearly as quickly as legislators could provide it. The new bill's request nearly matches the total $215 million spent on the program since it was relaunched in 2022.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">Under the new bill, new applications will be weighted toward residents aged 60 and older, and residents who qualify as low- or moderate-income.</p><p class="gnt_ar_b_p"><strong>Prep for the polls:</strong> <a target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":body nav (vg)|e|auto spike click:6|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a" href="http://www.tallahassee.com/elections/voter-guide/">See who is running for president and compare where they stand on key issues in our Voter Guide</a></p><aside class="gnt_em gnt_em_vp gnt_em_vp__yt" data-g-r="vp_tp" data-c-vt="youtube" aria-label="YouTube video" aria-live="polite"><a target="_blank" class="gnt_em_vp_a gnt_em_vp__yt_a" href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiXC4lC1Pi4" rel="nofollow noopener" data-g-r="vp_tg" data-c-vpattrs="{"videoId":"RiXC4lC1Pi4", "id":"72669043007"}" aria-label="Play YouTube video"><img alt="" class="gnt_em_vp_img gnt_em_vp_img__yn" data-g-r="lazy" data-gl-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/RiXC4lC1Pi4/maxresdefault.jpg" onload="if(this.naturalWidth<200){this.setAttribute('onload','this.classList.remove(\'gnt_em_vp_img__yn\')');this.src=" https:="" decoding="async"/><svg class="gnt_em_vp_svg"><use xlink:href="#gnt_svg_video_play"/></svg></a></aside><p class="gnt_ar_b_p">The My Safe Florida Home Program, originally <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2006/11/20/state-rushing-to-check-homes/31503230007/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">started in 2006</a> and brought back during a <a target="_blank" href="http://www.tallahassee.com/story/lifestyle/2022/07/23/few-see-quick-relief-property-insurance-crisis/10103827002/" rel="noopener" data-t-l=":b|e|k|${u}" class="gnt_ar_b_a">2022 legislative special session</a> on the state's insurance crisis, provides eligible Florida...</p></div> <style> .wrapper { text-align: center; } </style> <div class="wrapper"> <a class="button" href ="https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/politics/2024/03/08/my-safe-florida-home-bill-increased-to-200-million-goes-to-gov-ron-desantis/72893512007/">Read more <span>➤</span></a> </div>
