SB 102- Relating to Housing

On Wednesday, March 29, SB 102 by Senator Alexis Calatayud, (R-Miami) and Representatives Demi Busatta-Cabrera (R-Coral Gables) and Vicki Lopez (R-Miami) was signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis.

This bill seeks to address Florida’s backlog of affordable and attainable workforce housing in the state. SB 102 will not only maintain the high level of funding for Florida’s SHIP (State Housing Initiatives Partnership) and SAIL (State Apartment Incentive Loan) programs, but it will provide additional funding for SAIL and work to increase attainable and affordable housing options for Floridians throughout the state. These programs provide long-term, sustainable access to affordable housing.

SB 102 will take effect on July 1, 2023.

AIF supports legislation which allows for continued and more reliable access to affordable housing in underdeveloped communities. These proposals create jobs and broaden the economic impact of communities with historically low economic returns.

SB 1162 – Relating to Renewable Energy Cost Recovery

On Wednesday, March 29, SB 1162 by Senator Nick DiCeglie (R- St. Petersburg) was heard by the Senate Community Affairs Committee and was reported favorable with 7 yeas and 0 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

The bill allows electric and natural gas public utilities to recover through rates the costs for renewable natural gas (RNG) and hydrogen infrastructure projects. This will help encourage the production and use of RNG and provides for fuel diversification.

SB 1162 will now go to the Senate Rules Committee for consideration. The House companion, HB 821, awaits further approval by the House Commerce Committee.

AIF supports legislation that will enable utilities to develop renewable energy resources using the technology and scale that makes most sense for those utilities and their customers.

HB 593 – Relating to Criminal History Information

On Wednesday, March 29, HB 593 by Representative Spencer Roach (R-Fort Myers) was heard by the House Ethics, Elections & Open Government Subcommittee and was reported favorable with 16 yeas and 1 nay. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

The bill revises the process for a court-ordered sealing of a criminal record to allow a person to petition a court to seal a criminal history record if the record has been automatically sealed by the State of Florida and the subject of the sealed record presents a certificate of sealing issued by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

HB 593 will now go to the House Judiciary Committee for consideration. The Senate counterpart, SB 376, has been referred but awaits placement on committee agenda.

In order to prevent confusion and difficulty for employers and employees, AIF supports legislative efforts that allows individuals with sealed records at the State level to petition local government be sealed at the local level as well.

SB 1708 – Relating to Cybersecurity

On Wednesday, March 29, SB 1708 by Senator Nick DiCeglie (R-St. Petersburg) was heard by the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee and was reported favorable with 8 yeas and 0 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

Cybersecurity is a significant and growing concern and recent cyberattacks have continued to place a focus on the harmful issue that impacts Florida businesses. Among other things, SB 1708 provides liability protection for businesses that have adopted a cybersecurity program that complies with industry-recognized cybersecurity standards. This helps to encourage businesses to take the proper cybersecurity safeguards while protecting them from liability if they have taken the proper precautions. The bill also allows the Florida Digital Service to operate more independently with respect to technology and cybersecurity.

SB 1708 will now go to the House State Administration & Technology Appropriations Subcommittee for consideration. The House counterpart, HB 1511, cleared its first committee stop last week and awaits further consideration. 

AIF supports measures that help aid the prevention of cyberattacks and data breaches in a way that does not create a new cause of action.

SB 908- Unmanned Aircraft Systems Act of 2023

On Wednesday, March 29, SB 908 by Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez (R-Miami) was heard by the Senate Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security Committee and was reported favorably with 6 yeas and 0 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

The bill amends the definition of “critical infrastructure facility” to include a deepwater port or a railroad switching yard.

SB 908 will now go to the Senate Rules Committee for consideration. The House counterpart, HB 645, passed its final committee stop on Monday, March 27, and will now go to the House Floor for consideration.

AIF supports adding greater protection for Florida’s deepwater ports and railyards by including them and their facilities as critical infrastructure in Florida law.