For Immediate Release
Monday, March 14, 2022

Contact:
Sarah Bascom, sarah@bascomllc.com, 850.294.6636
Kristen Grissom, kgrissom@bascomllc.com, 850.814.9454

 

AIF Highlights 2022 Legislative Accomplishments in Support of Florida’s Business Community

Tallahassee, Fla.—This legislative session, the Florida Legislature passed a number of measures championed by the Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) to support Florida job creators, strengthen the state’s economy and improve the quality of life of Floridians.

“For more than 100 years, AIF has served as the leading voice for Florida’s business community in Tallahassee, working hard each legislative session to advocate for the best interests of job creators and ensure lawmakers are well-informed about how proposed policies would impact employers, employees and the state’s economy overall,” said Brewster Bevis, president and CEO of AIF. “We congratulate the Florida Legislature on another successful session and appreciate their continued efforts to ensure Florida remains one of the best states in the nation for business.”

In addition to working on behalf of Florida businesses to support pro-business policies this session, AIF played an integral role in opposing consumer data privacy legislation and educating lawmakers on the significant financial burden the onerous mandates would have imposed on private companies. The legislation, House Bill 9, ultimately was not passed this session.

“While AIF and its members support the privacy of consumers and protecting their personal data, House Bill 9 would have resulted in up to $21 billion in compliance, operational, and potential private litigation costs for Florida businesses that are already reeling from the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, a minimum wage increase, a broken supply chain, hyperinflation, skyrocketing gas prices and a staffing shortage crisis,” added Bevis. “Consumer data privacy is an issue that would ultimately be best addressed at the federal level to avoid a patchwork of regulations across every state.”

AIF’s top priorities passed by the Florida Legislature this session include:

• HB 741 – Instituting a metering and billing methodology where customer-owned renewable generation, such as rooftop solar panels, is allowed to offset a customer’s electricity consumption from utility providers. Under net metering, customers are credited for excess energy produced which flows back to the grid. AIF supports legislation that allows Florida’s utility providers to best serve the state and the businesses located here while reducing the financial burden passed on to the general customer base.
• SB 620 – Allowing businesses to take action to recoup losses from a local government when the enactment or amendment of an ordinance or charter provision causes at least a 15% loss of profits to the business, if the business has been legally operating for at least 3 years preceding the ordinance. AIF supports legislation bolstering the rights of businesses to recoup undue losses at the hands of local governments to maintain a prosperous business climate in Florida.
• SB 2508 – Providing a framework to ensure that the South Florida Water Management District continues to fulfill each of its statutory responsibilities of flood control, water supply, water quality, and natural systems while implementing large scale ecosystem restoration projects. AIF supports legislation that addresses the existing water quality and quantity issues as Florida’s businesses and citizens alike rely on access to clean, uncontaminated water.
• SB 1000 – Providing a mechanism for agricultural producers to utilize “rate tailoring” for fertilizer application rates when developed in concert with a 4R Certified Crop Advisor. In order to utilize the rate tailoring option, the producer has to be enrolled in the commodity appropriate Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services best management practices (BMP) manual. In addition, the legislation maintains the Presumption of Compliance for growers who are enrolled in the BMP program and utilizing rate tailoring.
• SB 7014 – Extending the length of time that health care providers receive liability protections from COVID-19-related claims, making them applicable to claims accruing before June 1, 2023. AIF supports legislation that protects the Florida health care community, who has been on the frontline during the pandemic, from frivolous and costly litigation by plaintiffs suing to settle.
• SB 1374 – Exempting individuals who perform alternate-site testing outside of a central laboratory of a hospital or at a hospital-based, off-campus emergency department from clinical laboratory personnel licensure requirements. This allows all individuals, not just licensed clinical laboratory personnel, to perform alternate-site testing within a hospital or in a freestanding emergency department. AIF supports permitting registered nurses to perform moderately complex lab tests, outside of a clinical lab, but within a hospital department or an off-site hospital-based emergency department, to ensure greater access to quality care.

“AIF and its members applaud Senate President Wilton Simpson and House Speaker Chris Sprowls for the leadership they have exhibited over the last two years, helping support and protect Florida businesses during a particularly challenging time and ensuring Florida remains on a path of prosperity,” added Adam Basford, vice president of governmental affairs for AIF. “We thank the entire Florida Legislature for their hard work this session, their dedication to serving all Floridians and their continued support of Florida businesses.”

Known as “The Voice of Florida Business” in the Sunshine State, AIF has represented the principles of prosperity and free enterprise before the three branches of state government since 1920. A voluntary association of diversified businesses, AIF was created to foster an economic climate in Florida conducive to the growth, development, and welfare of industry and business and the people of the state.

For more information on AIF, please visit AIF.com and follow @VoiceofFLBiz.

 

# # #