HB 1111 – Relating to Vehicles for Rent or Lease

On Tuesday, March 26, HB 1111 by Representative Chris Latvala (R-Clearwater) was heard in the House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee and was reported favorably with 10 yeas and 3 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this legislation.

Currently rental car companies and car sharing services collect the rental car surcharge and sales tax from persons renting vehicles. App based car rental services called “peer to peer car sharing companies” are growing throughout the country, and AIF supports the new ways Floridians can access transportation. However, the P2P companies do not remit either tax required by the state. The proceeds from the rental car surcharge paid by consumers who rent vehicles goes to build and maintain the state’s infrastructure, which is very important to Florida businesses statewide. This bill ensures the entities renting vehicles in the State of Florida play by the same “rules of the road.”

HB 1111 will now move to the Transportation and Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee.

AIF supports the proposed measures in this bill to hold all rental car services accountable, regardless of how the vehicle is accessed.

HB 905 – Relating to the Department of Transportation (DOT)

On Tuesday, March 26, HB 905 by Representative Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola) was heard in the House Transportation and Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee and was voted favorably with 11 yeas and 0 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

This bill:

• Prohibits local governments from adopting standards or specifications for the permissible use of aggregates that are contrary to DOT’s standards or specifications.
• Requires any contractor desiring to bid on DOT contracts in excess of $50 million to have satisfactorily completed certain projects prior to being eligible to bid.
• Increases the dollar threshold for certain contract claims that may go before the State Arbitration Board.
  
  

HB 905 will now move to the House State Affairs Committee.

AIF supports legislation that streamlines DOT regulations and holds, to a high standard, contractors providing infrastructure improvements to our state.