HB 1291– Relating to Nutrient Application Rates

On Tuesday,February 8, HB 1291 by Representative Lawrence McClure(R-Plant City) was heard by the House Environment, Agriculture and FloodingSubcommittee and was reported favorable with 14 yeas and 4 nays. AIF’s VicePresident of Governmental Affairs, Adam Basford, stood in support of thislegislation.

The billallows certified crop advisors to recommend preferred fertilizer rates totailor nutrient application rates. The bill provides that producers using rate tailoring are requiredto enroll in and implement applicable best management practices (BMPs) adoptedby the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

HB 1291 will now go to the House Appropriations Committee.

AIF supports legislation which protects an agricultural producers’ enrollment in the Best Management Practices program while providing the ability to specifically tailor nutrient rates based upon variables such as crop variety, site-specific conditions, meteorological events, or pest and disease pressures.

SB 1564– Relating to Telephone Solicitation

On Tuesday,February 8, SB 1564 by Senator Travis Hutson (R-PalmCoast) was heard by the Senate Regulated Industries Committee and was reportedfavorable with 6 yeas and 0 nays. AIF’s Vice President of GovernmentalAffairs, Adam Basford, stood in support of this legislation.

In 2021, SB1120 was passed and prevented telephonic sales calls using automated systemsthat select numbers OR the usage of automated systems that dialthe numbers. This bill further clarifies that telephonic sales calls may not bemade using automated number generators AND automated dialers,i.e., robocalls. The bill allows telephonic sales calls with human interactionand therefore clarifies the intent of the original 2021 bill to preventrobocalls to called parties that have not made an inquiry.

SB 1564will now go to the Senate Rules Committee.

AIF supports legislative efforts that address some of the issues created by the 2021 passage of SB 1120 dealing with telephone solicitation to allow businesses to use certain systems to conduct legitimate telephone solicitation.

SB 1024– Relating to Renewable Energy Generation

On Tuesday,February 8, SB 1024 by Senator Jennifer Bradley(R-Orange Park) was heard by the Senate Community Affairs Committee and wasreported favorable with 6 yeas and 3 nays. AIF’s Vice President ofGovernmental Affairs, Adam Basford, stood in support of this legislation.

Netmetering is a metering and billing methodology where customer-owned renewablegeneration (such as rooftop solar panels) is allowed to offset the customer’selectricity consumption from utility providers. Under net metering, customersare credited for excess energy produced which flows back to the grid. A meteris used to record both electricity drawn from the grid and excess electricitythat flows to the grid from the customer.

SB 1024will now go to the Senate Rules Committee.

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.

HB 1259– Relating to Criminal History Information

On Tuesday,February 8, HB 1259 by Representative Spencer Roach(R-Fort Meyers) was heard by the House Regulatory Reform Subcommittee and was reportedfavorable with 16 yeas and 0 nays. AIF’s Legislative Affairs Assistant, BDJogerst, stood in support of this legislation.

The billrevises the process by which a regulatory board within the Department ofBusiness and Professional Regulation (DBPR) may consider the criminalbackground of license applicants. The bill revises the process for acourt-ordered sealing of a criminal record to allow a person to petition acourt to seal a criminal history record if the record has been automaticallysealed by the State of Florida and the subject of the sealed record presents acertificate of sealing issued by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

HB 1259will now go to the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Subcommittee.

AIF supports legislative efforts that allows individuals with sealed records at the State level to petition local government to further seal their records. Businesses in Florida drive the economy and employers need employees. A sealed record at the state level is indicative of amends made, and therefore these subjects should have access to well-paying jobs that keep Florida moving forward.