SB 1390 – Relating to Capital Investment Tax Credit

On Monday, March 29, SB 1390 by Senator Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) was heard by the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee and was reported favorable with 11 yeas and 0 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this legislation.

The bill allows eligible projects that create or develop intellectual property to qualify for the Capital Investment Tax Credit. Under the bill, a project that creates intellectual property is eligible for a tax credit equal to 20% of the project’s eligible capital costs if the capital costs of one or more projects is in aggregate of at least $50 million per year for 3 consecutive years. A qualifying business that establishes a “strategic priority project,” an intellectual property project that demonstrates the potential for measurable value to the state, is eligible for a tax credit equal to 20% of the eligible capital costs if the costs are at least $75 million.

SB 1390 will now go to the Senate Finance and Tax Committee.

AIF supports legislative efforts to modernize the Capital Investment Tax Credit program to help Florida compete for sustainable high wage jobs for the development of leading-edge intellectual property projects.

 

HB 859 – Relating to Expiration of Permits and Agreements During Natural Emergencies

On Monday, March 29, HB 859 by Representative Michael Grant (R-Port Charlotte) was heard by the House Commerce Committee and was reported favorable with 22 yeas and 0 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

The bill adds certain permits and development agreements, including consumptive use permits and local government development agreements, to the current emergency tolling statute. The tolling statute allows for the tolling of the time of the state of emergency plus an additional six months. For example, if a state of emergency is declared for a hurricane that lasts for two months, at the end of the state of emergency, a permit holding entity can exercise the tolling option and receive those two months back to the permitted time allotment and add on an additional six months. The bill is retroactive to include the entirety of the COVID-19 state of emergency.

HB 859 will now go to the House State Affairs Committee.

AIF supports legislation that prevents Florida businesses from being penalized on permitted time due to a state of emergency that is out of their control. Economic recovery after an emergency is imperative and businesses drive recovery via employment and production, none of which is possible if an operating permit has expired.

SB 386 – Relating to Payments to the Clerk of the Circuit Courts

On Monday, March 29, SB 386 by Senator Tom Wright (R-Port Orange) was heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee and was reported favorable with 11 yeas and 0 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this legislation.

The bill requires clerks of court to establish uniform payment plans for court-related fees, service charges, costs, and fines for persons who apply for a payment plan. When a person seeks to be enrolled in a payment plan, the clerk must require the person to set up automatic withdrawals, if the person has such capability. If the person is unable to comply with the payment plan terms, a court may modify the plan or convert the outstanding amount to community service. The bill provides a 30-day grace period for certain payments prior to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles being notified to suspend a person's driver license. The bill also removes the clerk's authority to suspend a driver license based on a failure to pay fines or fees if the underlying offense is not driving-related. The bill allows a person whose driver license is suspended for nonpayment of such fines and fees to reinstate his or her license upon payment of a reinstatement fee.

SB 386 will now go to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice.

AIF supports legislation that clarifies regulations and helps protect jobs by preventing employees from losing their means to get to and from work.