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2015 AIF Session Priorities

February 25, 2015

AIF is the collective voice of businesses all over Florida involved in a multitude of industries fueling our economy. During the upcoming 2015 Legislative Session, we are proud to stand up for the issues relevant to our members and work to create a business-friendly climate to benefit our state. Each year, Florida’s business community faces a variety of tough issues and this year will be no exception.

This publication highlights our 2015 legislative priorities, and will be distributed to all 160 members of the Florida Legislature, the Florida Cabinet and Agency Secretaries, as well as AIF membership.

During the 2015 Legislative Session, we can expect water policy to make waves. Florida’s water supply is vital to the economic engine of our state, as its impact on business and tourism is significant; and, as such, AIF will be heavily engaged on legislative proposals impacting Florida’s water policy through our H2O Coalition. AIF’s H2O Coalition is governed by a set of guiding principles when lending support to proposed water legislation or rules, including:

  • Supporting solutions based on the best science for that particular problem or site.
  • Supporting an annual dedicated source of funding for water quantity and water quality projects.
  • Supporting alternative water supply projects that enlarge Florida’s “water pie.”
  • Supporting regional projects that use a menu of water quantity and quality options.
  • Supporting funding and projects that provide adequate water supply for public supply, agriculture and the environment.

We can also, once again, anticipate health care to be a topic that continues to be make headlines; and, AIF is dedicated to reducing the cost of quality health care for employers and Floridians, while increasing accessibility. To accomplish this, AIF supports looking at ways to customize and tailor health care that is high in quality, low in cost and uniquely meets the needs of Florida’s unique population. AIF is also supportive of looking at ways, if done appropriately, to revolutionize health care through technological advances, such as a telehealth and telemedicine proposal that will likely be hotly debated this session.

AIF will also be advocating this session for Governor Scott’s proposed tax cuts, including a reduction of the communications services tax (CST), which the Governor hopes will be realized through cutting the tax on cell phone and TV service. The Governor’s tax cut package that AIF supports also seeks to reduce the tax on commercial leases by one half of a percentage point, which would save Florida businesses more than $104 million annually.

These, and the other issues laid out in greater detail within this publication, summarize the guiding principles which shape AIF’s legislative positions and are what AIF’s Lobby Team will work diligently to support, in collaboration with AIF staff and our Board. AIF has long been known as a tireless advocate and powerful ally for the business community.

Since 1920, it has been our privilege to represent Florida businesses; and we look forward to continuing our history of success in 2015.

VIEW the 2015 Session Priorities (pdf)

VIEW the 2015 Session Priorities (web site)