HB 739 – Relating to Rural Communities
On Tuesday, March 26, HB 739 by Representative Mike Hill (R-Pensacola) was heard in the House Workforce Development and Tourism Subcommittee and was reported favorably with 12 yeas and 0 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.
Florida imposes an annual tax on premiums collected by insurance companies doing business in the state. This tax applies to life, health, property and casualty, title insurance, and most other types of policies at a rate of 1.75%. This bill creates s. 288.062, F.S., the “Florida Rural Jobs and Business Recovery Act,” which offers incentives in the form of tax credits against the state insurance premium tax. The Program prohibits more than $5 million in tax credits to be taken annually.
HB 739 will now move to the House Ways and Means Committee.
AIF supports this bill which updates and improves Florida’s Rural Economic Development programs which allows rural communities to get assistance for economic development projects designed to create jobs and improve our rural communities.
HB 73 – Relating to High School Graduation Requirements
On Tuesday, March 26, HB 73 by Representative Elizabeth Fetterhoff (R-DeLand) was heard in the House PreK-12 Quality Subcommittee and was reported favorably with 14 yeas and 0 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this legislation.
Current law requires financial literacy to be taught as a part of a one-half credit economics course, which falls under the three required social studies credits a student must achieve to earn a standard high school diploma. The bill increases the number of social studies credits needed to earn a standard high school diploma to three and one-half credits to include one-half-credit in financial literacy as a separate course.
HB 73 will now move to the PreK-12 Appropriations Subcommittee.
AIF supports legislation that gives students tools to learn about relevant, and real life subjects that will prepare them for the workforce in the future.
