Additionally, CFHLA opposes the dissolution of county Tourist Development Councils and using TDT revenues to offset local residential property tax relief. 

Thanks to your advocacy, all of the standalone bills regarding TDT are now officially dead due to time constraints. Additionally, there was no language regarding TDT included in the tax packages, for either chamber.  

CFHLA will continue to monitor for any language that appears as an amendment to any bills that are still moving through the process.  

CFHLA also opposed SB 446 related to Large-Scale County Destination Marketing Organizations by Senator Smith. All county DMOs are already governed by and report to each respective County Commission. Requiring that certain DMOs register with the Department of State would be redundant and unnecessary. Requiring a public-private match for every dollar spent by these organizations would also risk limiting the amount of funds that can be spent on marketing efforts that have a direct impact on tourism across the state. This bill is dead due to time constraints. 

CFHLA supports any efforts by the Legislature to update statutes to reflect the open carry ruling and clarify that private property owners, including hotels, restaurants, theme parks, and other privately owned venues, retain the right to prohibit weapons of any kind, including firearms, on their property. 

With no bills filed this session, this issue is dead due to time constraints.

Currently, the Senate has proposed $1.75 billion ($90 Million increase for workload) and the House has proposed $1.8 billion in their initial proposal. The differences will be negotiated and resolved during the upcoming Budget Conference.

Currently, the Sadowksi Trust Fund is fully funded in both Senate and House initial budget proposals. The Senate budget proposal included $220.8 million for SAIL and other state-level affordable housing programs, $184.5 million for SHIP, and $100 million for the Hometown Heroes Housing Program. The House's budget proposal included $70.8 million for SAIL and other state-level affordable housing programs, $165.7 million for SHIP, and $50 million for the Hometown Heroes Housing Program. These differences will be negotiated and resolved during the upcoming Budget Conference.

CS/CS/SB 48 | CS/HB 313: Housing, by Gaetz/Nix – SUPPORT 

No action was taken in the House last week.

HB 1389 | SB 1548: Affordable Housing, by Redondo/Calatayud – SUPPORT The House bill was passed by a vote of 76 – 29 by the full House on Wednesday, March 4th. However, the Senate substituted the bill for HB 1389, amended it, and passed it on the floor by a vote of 34 – 0 on Friday, March 6th. HB 1389 now heads back to the House for reconsideration.

CS/CS/HJR 203: Phased Out Elimination of Non-school Property Taxes for Homesteads, by Miller – MONITOR

The House joint resolution was approved by a vote of 80-30 on Thursday, February 19th. The joint resolution is now in Senate Messages.

The cost of labor, goods, and equipment continues to rise, while margins continue to remain tight. Florida merchants pay over $288 million annually in interchange fees on the sales taxes and bed taxes they are required to collect. Credit card companies and banks should not be permitted to profit from merchants’ required performance of a public duty. Interchange fees should not be paid on sales taxes collected by Florida merchants.

Interchange fees are being increased yet again, and more merchants are turning to surcharging as a means of absorbing this cost, which impacts consumers directly.

CFHLA supported prohibiting the collection of interchange on sales tax, which will provide relief to businesses, which will in turn provide relief to consumers.

With no bills filed this session, this issue is dead due to time constraints.

The cost of insurance has increased significantly – not just for residents, but also for Florida businesses. The cost increases for commercial payers are often so large that they impact customers, guests, and employees. As the Florida Legislature continues its work to make insurance more affordable for residential and individual customers, so too do commercial insureds need the attention of the Legislature so that Florida’s businesses can continue to thrive. 

CFHLA supports any legislative efforts that are aimed at reducing the cost of commercial insurance in Florida. 

CS/HB 943 | CS/SB 1028: Citizens Property Insurance Corporation, by Redondo/Gruters – SUPPORT 

The Senate Bill was passed by a vote of 33 – 1 by the full Senate on Wednesday, March 4th. No action was taken in the House last week and the bill is now in House Messages.