Two Alerts Contained in This Notice
Urge Senate Committee to Oppose SB 824 - Short-Term Rentals (STR)
On Tuesday, March 26 at 1:30 p.m., the Senate Innovation, Industry and Technology Committee will consider SB 824 ( Diaz ) re latin g to short-term rentals. 
SB 824 would do the following:
  • Preempt to the state the regulation of vacation rentals
  • Require that any ordinances (noise, parking, trash, etc.), must apply to all residential properties, regardless of how the property is being used 
  • Restrict local governments from prohibiting rentals (not just STRs), imposing occupancy limits on rental properties, or requiring inspections or licensing of rentals (specific to STRs)
  • Create a process where a city must prove by clear and convincing evidence that their ordinance or regulation complies with this section
  • Remove the grandfather clause; also potentially jeopardizes HOA restrictions
  • Require applicants for STR licenses to provide name, address, phone number, and email to Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR), who must make this available to the public on the division’s website.

Click here to view the Issue Brief.
Talking Points
  • This is a local zoning issue. Commercial activity in residential neighborhoods is regulated for good reason: to protect residents and ensure adequate infrastructure is in place.
  • A solution is needed that balances the property rights of all. Issues with unruly behavior, parking and public safety are destroying the residential character of traditional neighborhoods. Residents suffer while corporations profit.
  • The ripple effect of unregulated short-term rentals is exacerbating the affordable housing crisis. Homes are being converted into mini-hotels, thereby reducing long-term rental stock available in communities and causing a workforce housing shortage.
Contact Casey Cook with any questions or call (850) 222-9684.
Please contact committee members ASAP and urge them to OPPOSE SB 824!
Wilton Simpson (R-10), Chair       
(850) 487-5010 
@WiltonSimpson

Lizbeth Benacquisto (R-27), Vice Chair  
(850) 487-5027 
@lizbethkb

Randolph Bracy (D-11)   
(850) 487-5011 
@rbracy30

Rob Bradley (R-5)             
(850) 487-5005 
bradley.rob@flsenate.gov           
@Rob_Bradley

Jeff Brandes (R-24)          
(850) 487-5024 
brandes.jeff@flsenate.gov          
@JeffreyBrandes
Oscar Braynon (D-35)     
(850) 487-5035 
@oscarjb2

Gary Farmer (D-34)         
(850) 487-5034 
farmer.gary@flsenate.gov           
@garymfarmer

Audrey Gibson (D-6)       
(850) 487-5006 
@SenAudrey2eet

Travis Hutson (R-7)          
(850) 487-5007 
@TravisJHutson

Kathleen Passidomo (R-28)          
(850) 487-5028 
@Kathleen4SWFL
Click here to download a spreadsheet with committee contact information. You can also use the League’s Contact Your Legislator advocacy tool to email your legislators.
Urge House Subcommittee to Oppose HB 1383 - Bert Harris Act / Property Rights
On Monday, March 25, the House Civil Justice Subcommittee will consider HB 1383 ( J. Grant ), which amends the Bert J. Harris Act. 
This bill significantly amends the Bert J. Harris Act and substantially handicaps local government ability to resolve these claims.

  • The bill requires any settlement reached on a Harris claim that involves the issuance of a variance or exception to a regulation on a residential property be automatically applied by the government entity to all similarly situated residential properties that are subject to the same rules or regulations. Similarly situated is not defined in the bill. In essence, the bill will make an exception to a rule, the new rule. Variances are not handed out carte blanche by government entities.
  • The bill fails to take into account notice provisions, hearings, or even impacts on neighboring property owners when giving an across the board variance. Therefore, the legislation will have a severe chilling effect on the settlement of Harris claims.
  • The bill is a thinly veiled attack to cities and counties who have been dealing with Harris claims due to the enactment of vacation rental ordinances. However, the bill has a far reaching impacts on land use regulations, environmental regulations and code enforcement regulations.
  • Additionally, the bill limits the time frame for government entities to respond to Harris claims from 150 days to 90 days, and increases the likelihood of paying the property owners attorney fees.

Click here to view the Issue Brief.
Talking Points
  • Protect residents, not special interests. Special interest groups are attempting to manipulate the Bert J. Harris Property Rights Protection Act to affect universal policy change for personal gain leaving taxpayers to pay the bill. The Legislature should prioritize what communities need, not what special interests want.
  • The process is deliberate by design. Bert Harris claims purposefully follow a well-detailed process, to ensure each claim meets the standards set forth in Florida law and does not adversely affect the property rights of other property owners. A variance is designed to be an exception to the rule with just cause, not become the rule itself.
  • Universal application of a variance has unintended consequences. If you apply a variance to all similarly situated properties, you run the risk of increased strain on supporting infrastructure, exacerbating environmental concerns and creating a knock-on effect affecting adjacent properties.
  • Changes to current law will hinder development. The Bert Harris Act currently provides a timeline for potential claims. This timeline allows cities to work with affected parties before commencing with a growth or redevelopment project contained in a community’s comprehensive plan. Changes to that timeline could dramatically impact the ability of a community to forge ahead with smart growth.
  • Changing the intent of the Bert J. Harris Act is short sighted and dangerous. Prioritize community needs.
Please contact subcommittee members ASAP and urge them to OPPOSE HB 1383!
Bob Rommel, Chair (R-106)
(850) 717-5106 Bob.Rommel@myfloridahouse.gov @bob_rommel

Jackie Toledo, Vice Chair (R-60)
(850) 717-5060 Jackie.Toledo@myfloridahouse.gov @ToledoForTampa

Anika Tene Omphroy, Minority Ranking Member (D-95)
(850) 717-5095 Anika.Omphroy@myfloridahouse.gov @AnikaOmphroy

Bruce Antone (D-46)

Melony Bell (R-56)
(850) 717-5056 Melony.Bell@myfloridahouse.gov @vote4melonybell

Mike Beltran (R-57)

Ben Diamond (D-68)
(850) 717-5068 Ben.Diamond@myfloridahouse.gov @BenDiamondFL

Nick DiCeglie (R-66)
(850) 717-5066 Nick.DiCeglie@myfloridahouse.gov @NickDiCeglie
Tommy Gregory (R-73)
(850) 717-5073 Tommy.Gregory@myfloridahouse.gov @tommygregoryFL

Mike Hill (R-1)
(850) 717-5001 mike.hill@myfloridahouse.gov @MikeHillfl

Amy Mercado (D-48)
(850) 717-5048 Amy.Mercado@myfloridahouse.gov @AmyMercado

Bobby Payne (R-19)
(850) 717-5019 bobby.payne@myfloridahouse.gov @bobbypaynefl

Ana Maria Rodriguez (R-105)
@RepAnaMaria

Charlie Stone (R-22)
(850) 717-5022

Geraldine Thompson (D-44)
@RepGThompson
Click here to download a spreadsheet with committee contact information. You can also use the League’s Contact Your Legislator advocacy tool to email your legislators.
Watch Live on The Florida Channel
To watch these committee hearings, go to https://thefloridachannel.org , click on Live Streams and look for the House Civil Justice Subcommittee (Monday at 3 p.m.) and the Senate Innovation, Industry and Technology Committee hearing (Tuesday at 1:30 p.m.).
Thank You for Your Advocacy Efforts!