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Legislative Status Report
February 21, 2020
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The Daytona Regional Chamber works closely with our Volusia delegation and others to relay the local business viewpoint on matters that come before State government. In an effort to keep you, our members, informed of the Session in Tallahassee, we present our Legislative Status Report. If you have any questions regarding its content, please contact
Jim Cameron
at 386.566.2140.
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FY 2020-21 Budget Details
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House Appropriations Committee is proposing a $91.4 billion budget while Senate Appropriations Committee is recommending a $92.8 billion budget.
Click here
to see some of the local House/Senate budget allocations .
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Click
H 5001
for House version
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Insurance –
H 359
by
Rep David Santiago
– is a comprehensive bill that addresses numerous areas pertaining to insurance including….
Motor Vehicle Salvage; Workers’ Compensation Payments to Injured Workers; Insurer Trade Secrets; Insurance Ratemaking and Form Filings Deadlines; Hurricane Modeling; Use of Secondary Legal Authority; Time for Filing Property Insurance Claims; Property Insurance Mediation Notice Requirements; Residential Condominium Loss Assessment.
It passed the
Commerce Committee
and now goes to
Rules Committee
and then House floor vote.
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Insurance
H 895
by
Rep David Santiago
is another comprehensive bill that addresses Hurricane Catastrophe Fund; Motor Vehicle Insurance; Travel Insurance; Surplus Lines Agent Affidavits, and Agent Licensing.
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Another Run at Tourism Bed Tax Dollars?
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Last week, the proposed House budget included a clause that would allow counties to use bed taxes on “water quality improvement projects” - septic to sewer conversions, efforts to combat toxic algae, flood-control projects related to rising sea levels.
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This week……
Tourist Development Tax
S 334
by Sen Stewart
— allows counties to use bed tax revenues to promote or incentivize film or television productions; It requires all productions using tourist development tax revenues to include either “Created in Florida” or “Filmed in Florida” in the production credits.
Again…the Chamber supports water quality projects as well as film projects but not at the expense of tourism advertising. Attracting tourists is becoming more competitive which is why bed tax dollars should be used for tourism advertising.
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Vacation Rental Units -
H 1011
by
Rep Fisher
strips local entities of regulation authority to regulate these units. It was approved by the
Commerce Committee
(Rep David Santiago voted YES).
The Chamber remains opposed because it wants all hospitality accommodations regulated equally.
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Tax Packages
- the
House Ways & Means Committee
approved
H 7097
a comprehensive tax plans which included communications services tax, business rent tax as well as back-to-school sales tax holidays.
The Senate Finance and Tax Committee approved bills for an 18-day “disaster preparedness” sales-tax holiday and a 10-day back-to-school sales-tax holiday.
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Clean Waterways Act - S 712
by
Sen Mayfield
– the Senate's main environmental measure.....would en
act
blue-green algae task force
recommendations and giving the Dept of Environmental Protection (DEP) more authority to reduce pollutants in waterways.
It passed the Appropriations Committee (
Sens Travis Hutson, David Simmons voted YES
). Next stop -
Rules Committee
then Senate floor vote.
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Testing for and Treatment of Influenza and Streptococcus
S 714
by
Sen. Travis Hutson
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allows specified pharmacists to test for/treat influenza and streptococcus;
r
equires them to report certain information to the Dept of Health.
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House version by
H 389
by Rep Sirois
was temporarily postponed
by the
Health/Human Services Committee.
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Automated Pharmacy Systems -
S 708
by Sen Travis Hutson
– would permit a licensed community pharmacy to provide outpatient pharmacy services i.e. dispense drugs via an automated pharmacy system (vending machine) inside a community pharmacy.
House version
H 59
by Rep Willhite
passed the
Health & Human Services Committee (Rep Tom Leek
voted
YES
) and is set for a House floor vote).
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Economic Development/Brownfields
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S 1350
by Sen Baxley revises
conditions under which an applicant that has rehabilitated a contaminated site may submit and claim certain tax credits.
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H 1001
Brownfields by Rep Stone
specifies how a developer may claim the sales tax exemption for building materials used to construct affordable housing in a designated brownfield area.
H 1001
was approved by the
Ways & Means Committee (Rep David Santiago voted YES). Next stop State Affairs Committee.
The Chamber supports H 1001 and S 1350.
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Impact Fees
S 1066
by
Sen Gruters
- imposes new requirements related to impact fees:
- requires impact fee calculations be based on the most recent 36 months and exclude any costs not meeting definitions for infrastructure/public facility.
- maximizes cost per student station calculated for capital outlay projects;
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Gambling Issue Back on the Table?
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House and Senate leaders appear unable to reach agreement in regard to gambling.
Apparently, they have broached ideas minus the Seminole Tribe. After House/Senate leaders were unable to reach agreement with the Seminoles last Session, the Tribe ceased their annual $300 million-plus payments to the state.
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However,
Gov DeSantis
hopes to soon broker a deal.
However there are several factors that come into play…sports betting, pari-mutuels, the Seminole Tribe, and Amendment 3 which
provides voters, through citizen-initiated ballot measures, with the exclusive right to decide whether to authorize casino gambling in Florida.
The House
Gaming Control Subcommittee
(
Rep David Santiago – Chair
) was to have met this morning but the meeting was cancelled. Stay tuned…
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Verification of Employment Eligibility
S 664
by
Sens Lee, Gruters
would require E-Verify be used for governmental employees and employees of contractors.
Several amendments were added to the bill that could jeopardize it moving forward.
Committee
(Sens Travis Hutson, Tom Wright voted YES).
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House version
H 1265 Rep Byrd
is not moving….
Gov DeSantis
wants to make E-Verify a mandate for all workers in the state.
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Drug Free Workplace -
H 1297
by Rep Robinson
- updates drugs which drugs would be included under the drug-free workplace act.
However, there is an issue of medical cannabis in Florida constitution allowing it while the federal government still listed as an illegal drug was the subject.
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Chamber's 2020 Legislative Priorities
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Click
2020 Legislative Priorities
to see the Chamber's recommendations for the Session. Compiled by our Legislative Action Committee - Phil Maroney, Chair (Root Company), this list was presented to the Volusia delegation at their November 20 meeting.
Chamber 2020 Legislative Priorities Bill Tracker
These recommendations will be tracked throughout the session and reported each week in the Chamber's Legislative Status Report.
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Contact Your House and Senate Members
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Click here
to see Volusia's House/Senate contact information
as well as new committee assignment.
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Price is $17 for Chamber members with advance registration, $22 day of event, and $35 for non-members.
Click here
for Xpress RSVP..no waiting.
Call Jim Cameron 566-2140 if you have any questions.
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Send in your 2020 Census Form!!
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An accurate census count is important to Volusia County for a number of reasons.....
- It helps determine the number of seats that Florida is allotted in Congress
- It determines the amount of federal funds that the county and cities will receive for the next 10 years,
- It spells out how legislative, county and city districts will be set for future elections.
Once you receive your form, return if as soon as possible....
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Daytona Regional Chamber of Commerce
126 E. Orange Avenue, Daytona Beach, FL 32114
386.255.0981 | info@daytonachamber.com
DaytonaChamber.com
Your Chamber of Influence
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