The Regulated Industries Committee took up a series of bills and reported them favorably after debate, amendments and witness testimony. The bills and key provisions are summarized below.

SB 1298 — Building construction licensure (Senator Simon): The bill tightens continuing‑education requirements for building professionals, removes the continued‑education exemption for licensees with more than 10 years’ experience, clarifies sharing of building officials via interagency agreements to help rural jurisdictions, limits residential inspectors to single‑ and two‑family homes under the Florida Building Code, and creates a paid residential planning examiner internship. The committee reported SB 1298 favorably.

SB 638 — Home inspectors (Senator Martin): The bill raises the minimum education requirement for home inspectors from 120 to 200 hours, specifies examination topic areas (building code, wind mitigation, 4‑point and insurance inspections), requires at least eight hours covering Florida Building Code basics and eight hours of report writing (including a practical component), and requires errors and omissions insurance of at least $300,000. The committee reported SB 638 favorably; the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors submitted a supportive appearance form.

SB 960 — Elevator interior support rails (Senator Bernard): The bill allows additional shorter support rails while maintaining the existing requirement of a 42‑inch interior support rail. The National Elevator Industry waived in support and the committee reported SB 960 favorably.

SB 196 — Foods containing vaccines and cosmetics amendments (Senator Gruters): The bill adds food containing a vaccine or vaccine materials to the definition of a drug for labeling purposes and, as amended, included language defining mRNA vaccines and prohibiting their use on fruit and vegetables. Additional amendments addressed restrictions on certain chemicals in cosmetics and required state agency risk assessment and transition assistance for businesses; the committee adopted the amendments and reported CS for SB 196 favorably.

SB 1418 — Heated tobacco products tax treatment (Senator Digley): The bill clarifies the tax treatment of heated tobacco products (HTPs), specifying they are distinct from cigarettes and would not be subject to the state's tobacco excise tax under the definitions in the bill; the committee adopted a clarifying amendment and reported CS for SB 1418 favorably.

SB 1262 — Construction contracting continuing education and consumer protections (Senator Burgess): The strike‑all amendment expanded contractor continuing‑education topics to include financial literacy and consumer‑protection principles, enhanced penalties for unlicensed contracting, directed DBPR to create a standardized disciplinary reporting form and database, mandated refund timelines for rescinded deposits and required contractors to address unreasonable 90‑day delays. The Florida Homebuilders Association and other industry representatives testified in support; CS for SB 1262 was reported favorably.

Confirmation block vote: The committee recommended confirmation of a group of appointees to boards and commissions by block vote and the motion to recommend confirmation was reported favorably.

Votes: Each of the bills above was reported favorably by the committee and will proceed to the next stage of the legislative process. Committee sponsors and witnesses indicated follow‑up drafting and stakeholder engagement will continue on several items.