SB 1262- Relating to Emergency Management & HB 1133- Relating to Applicability of Revenue Laws to Out-of-state Businesses During Disaster-Response Periods
On Tuesday, March 1st, SB 1262, relating to Emergency Management, by Senator Wilton Simpson (R-Trilby) was heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee and unanimously passed by a vote of 19 yeas to 0 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this bill.

On Thursday, March 3rd, HB 1133, relating to relating to Applicability of Revenue Laws to Out-of-state Businesses During Disaster-Response Periods, by Rep. Dana Young (R-Tampa) was read for a third time on the House floor and passed by a vote of 115 yeas to 0 nays. 

On Friday, March 4th, SB 1262 was laid on the table and substituted by its House companion, HB 1133. This measure withdrew HB 1133 from its additional committees of reference and was then placed on third reading. A vote on HB 1133 is expected to be taken on Monday, March 7th.

This legislation would remove hindrances, such as taxes and regulations that in any other situation would be the normal course of business for out of state companies coming to Florida to assist with emergency response during a disaster situation.

AIF supports legislation that will remove the loop holes’ businesses would ordinarily have to go through when coming to Florida to aide in a state of emergency.