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

On Wednesday, April 10, HB 905 by Representative Alex Andrade (R-Pensacola) was heard in the House State Affairs Committee and was voted favorably with 23 yeas and 0 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, 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 two, $15 million 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 floor.

AIF supports legislation that streamlines DOT regulations and provides quality infrastructure for the businesses operating on our roads.

SB 770 – Relating to Education

On Wednesday, April 10, SB 770 by Senator Travis Hutson (R-Palm Coast) was heard in the Senate Innovation, Industry, and Technology Committee and was reported favorably with 9 yeas and 0 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this legislation.

This bill promotes career education and readiness opportunities for students in public schools by creating an alternative pathway, namely the career and technical education (CTE) graduation pathway option, for students to earn a standard high school diploma, and specifies related requirements. Specifically, the bill:

• Requires students to successfully complete at least 18 credits to receive a standard high school diploma under the CTE graduation pathway option;
• Modifies the 24-credit pathway for earning a standard high school diploma by revising computer science credit substitution for mathematics or science credits;
• Revises the acceleration mechanism component for the school grade calculation for high schools by specifying that dual enrollment courses include career clock-hour dual enrollment courses;
• Creates the Florida Pathways to Career Opportunities Grant Program to enable high school and Florida College System institutions to offer applied learning opportunities for students in high-demand career pathways linked to occupations that will provide students with mid-level and high-level wages;
• Requires district school boards to declare a “College and Career Decision Day” to recognize high school seniors and encourage them to prepare for college and pursue advanced career pathways.

SB 770 will now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

AIF supports efforts to grow the talent pipeline to maintain the competitive edge Florida businesses have come to expect in the state.

HB 7103 – Relating to Property Development

On Wednesday, April 10, HB 7103 by the House Judiciary Committee, was heard in the House State Affairs Committee and was reported favorably with 14 yeas and 8 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this legislation.

Property development in Florida is governed in part by both the Community Planning Act and the Florida Building Code. The Community Planning Act governs how local governments create and adopt local comprehensive plans, implement land development regulations, and issue development orders and permits. Every local government must enforce the Building Code and issue building permits. Local governments impose impact fees to fund local infrastructure needed to expand local services to meet the demands of population growth caused by development.

This bill changes property development regulations by:

• Restricting counties and municipalities from adopting or imposing certain mandatory affordable housing ordinances;
• Imposing time limits for a county or municipality to review a development order or permit application;
• Reducing the time period building departments have to review a permit application when a private provider approves the plans;
• Prohibiting a building official from replicating plan reviews or inspections performed by a private provider;
• Amending how a local government may impose impact fees.

HB 7103 will now move to the House floor.

AIF supports legislative efforts to remove onerous regulations imposed on any part of Florida’s business community.