The first half of 2026 has brought a significant amount of legal activity in Florida, across areas ranging from state immigration legislation to HOA reform, rising foreclosure filings, and continued demand in family law and criminal defense. Here is a look at the issues Borell Law is tracking as the year progresses, and what Florida families and individuals should be aware of heading into the second half of 2026.
The Florida legislature considered significant immigration enforcement legislation this session, but the key bills did not advance past committee. What has changed is the federal picture. ICE enforcement activity across Florida's Southern, Middle, and Northern Districts increased substantially in 2025 and has remained elevated into 2026. For Florida residents navigating uncertain immigration status, for mixed-status families, and for employers trying to understand their verification obligations, the environment is considerably more demanding than it was a year ago. The failed state legislation also signals where Florida lawmakers are focused, and similar proposals are likely to return in future sessions.
The 2026 legislative session included proposals that would have added new governance requirements for HOAs, including a formal duty of loyalty for board members and the elimination of presuit mediation for community association disputes. Those bills did not pass. What is in effect are the significant reforms enacted in 2024 under HB 1203, which imposed criminal penalties on board members who knowingly violate the law, required mandatory records access for homeowners, and gave prevailing homeowners the right to recover attorney fees. Borell Law continues to see HOA-related civil disputes across Florida as homeowners become more aware of these protections.
Florida has ranked among the states with the highest foreclosure filing rates in recent months, with the Orlando metro, South Florida, and several coastal markets seeing continued activity. The cause is a combination of factors: rising insurance premiums, elevated property taxes, and the unwinding of pandemic-era forbearance arrangements. Because Florida uses a judicial foreclosure process under Chapter 702 of the Florida Statutes, homeowners have procedural rights and a defined period to respond. For homeowners currently in default, that window matters.
Summer in Florida often brings increased DUI enforcement, concentrated around holidays, outdoor events, and the state's waterways. Law enforcement presence on Florida roads rises during this period, and DUI arrests tend to follow. Drug possession cases remain among the most frequently filed charges in Florida circuit courts, with consequences that vary significantly depending on substance, quantity, and prior record. For anyone facing a DUI or drug-related charge in the second half of 2026, the structure of Florida's penalties and the available defenses make early legal representation a material factor in how those cases resolve.
Borell Law is seeing consistent activity in family law and debt defense. Parental relocation disputes, parenting plan modifications tied to upcoming school-year changes, and post-divorce financial conflicts are generating a steady volume of family law matters. On the debt side, the firm is fielding a higher-than-typical volume of consultations around debt collection disputes and judgment enforcement. Across all five of these areas, the pattern Borell Law has observed over more than 36 years holds: individuals who engage legal counsel before a deadline passes have more options and better outcomes than those who wait.
This is general information, not legal advice. Every case is unique; consult your Florida attorney first.
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