HB 433 – Employment Regulations

On Thursday, February 22, HB 433 by Representative Tiffany Esposito (R-Fort Myers) was heard by the House Commerce Committee and was reported favorably with 14 yeas and 3 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

HB 433 was filed as a bill that would preempt local governments from adding additional ordinances relating to workplace heat exposure requirements. It was amended to include preemptions relating to local wage requirements.

Employers are already required under OSHA to provide a place of employment that is free from recognized standards including heat. There are clear standards employers must meet and this bill will prevent another level of regulation in this area and an unlevel regulatory playing field.

Some local governments have enacted ordinances that require businesses to pay mandated wage rates higher than the minimum wage and meet other employment requirements. HB 433 promotes free market principles and ensures consistency by only recognizing the constitutionally mandated state minimum wage.

HB 433 will now go to the House Floor for consideration.

AIF supports regulatory consistency in workplace safety regulations that prevents a patchwork of local regulations that could include unattainable standards which do little to protect employees while opening an onslaught of fines penalties, and other punitive measures.

 

HB 1289 – Verification of Reemployment Assistance Benefit Eligibility

On Thursday, February 22, HB 1289 by Representative Shane Abbott (R-DeFuniak Springs) was heard by the House Commerce Committee and was reported favorably with 10 yeas and 6 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

HB 1289 adds guidelines to the existing standards for individuals seeking unemployment assistance. The bill would disqualify an individual who does not take significant steps towards obtaining employment. Under this bill, an individual, unless given special exemption for medical or other barriers outside of their control, would be disqualified from receiving unemployment assistance for the following:

• Failure to contact at least 5 employers for job opportunities in a week.
• Failure to appear on three or more occasions for a scheduled job interview.
• Failure to accept a job offer within 2 business days of receiving one.
• Failure to return to a previous job if recalled by the former employer.

HB 1289 will now go to the House Floor for consideration.

AIF supports legislation that sets clear guidelines for individuals to follow when seeking unemployment assistance. Florida employers are still dealing with increased workforce shortages; these measures will help more individuals gain employment while alleviating the stalled talent pipeline facing Florida businesses.

HB 1099 – Food Delivery Platforms

On Thursday, February 22, HB 1099 by Representative Lauren Melo (R-Naples) was heard by the House Commerce Committee and was reported favorably with 18 yeas and 0 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

HB 1099 preempts the regulation of food delivery platforms to the State and provides regulatory safeguards for the business relationship between a Food Delivery Platform and a Food Service Establishment. Among the provisions, the bill prohibits a food delivery platform from taking and arranging for the delivery or pickup of orders from a food service establishment without the express consent of that food service establishment. The bill also allows for some guidelines for a restaurant or establishment to be removed from a Food Delivery Platform and creates a channel for better communication between the food service establishment and the consumer themselves.

HB 1099 will now go to the House Floor for consideration.

AIF supports streamlining regulations and creating a level regulatory platform that allows businesses to compete fairly.

 

HB 1021 – Community Associations

On Thursday, February 22, HB 1021 by Representative Vicki Lopez (R-Miami) was heard, amended, and reported favorably by the House Commerce Committee with 16 yeas and 0 nays. AIF stood in support of an amendment to this legislation.

HB 1021 reworks several current provisions in Florida law that govern neighborhood community associations and how they are managed. The amendment AIF supported adds language to set new disclosure requirements for the creation of condominium space in buildings with multiple units. These requirements require a building association to be notified of what section of the building is going to be new condominium space and who is responsible for the maintenance and upkeep for “shared facilities” in the building. This allows for clearly defined roles and allows for consistency in how shared spaces between businesses and condominium owners operate.

SB 1021 will now go to the House Floor for consideration.

AIF supports legislation that provides clarity and consistency in the relationship between businesses and owners of condominiums.

HB 275 – Offenses Involving Critical Infrastructure

On Thursday, February 22, HB 275 by Representative Jennifer Canady (R-Lakeland) was read for a third time on the House Floor and was passed with 110 yeas and 5 nays.

This bill provides for increased penalties for those who “improperly tamper” with anything defined as “critical infrastructure.” Some examples of “critical infrastructure” include electrical power stations, chemical storage facilities, liquid natural gas storage facilities, deep-water ports, or railyards.

HB 275 will now go to the Florida Senate for consideration.

AIF supports legislation that deters vandalism, theft, or any form of criminal activity in or around areas of critical infrastructure.

SB 7040 - Ratification of the Department of Environmental Protection’s Rules Relating to Stormwater

On Thursday, February 22, SB 7040 by Senator Debbie Mayfield (R-Melbourne) and the Senate Environment and Resources Committee was read for a third time on the Senate Floor and was reported favorably with 37 yeas and 0 nays.

In 2021, the Florida Legislature directed DEP to begin rulemaking on stormwater management’s design and operations throughout the state. This rule sets standards for reducing pollution from stormwater runoff and DEP estimates that it will increase the cost of development by more than $2,600 per acre.

SB 7040 will now go to the Florida House for consideration.

As originally drafted, there was concern that the permit application process in the rule could result in protracted delays in receiving permits. AIF worked with DEP and legislative leaders to craft clarifying language that provides a significant amount of certainty in the process.

 

HB 1073 – Mitigation

On Thursday, February 22, HB 1073 by Representative Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) was heard by the House Infrastructure Strategies Committee and was reported favorably with 22 yeas and 0 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.  

HB 1073 addresses the unavailability of wetland mitigation bank credits by allowing mitigation banking on public lands when no mitigation bank credits are available. The bill also expands the availability of water quality enhancement areas to private sector end-users. Current law only allows public entities with such access. By doing so, this legislation would add additional tools in the mitigation and compliance “toolbox” for Florida business.

HB 1073 will now go to the House Floor for consideration.

AIF supports legislation that expands private-sector involvement in water quality mitigation projects. These measures would allow businesses to operate effectively while working alongside regulators on lands/waterways categorized as mitigation banks.

On Thursday, February 22, HB 1051 by Representative Kaylee Tuck (R-Lake Placid) was heard by the House Infrastructure Strategies Committee and was reported favorably with 21 yeas and 0 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

HB 1051 addresses several housing issues that directly impact agricultural operations in the state. The bill would make it unlawful for a local government to inhibit the construction or installment of housing for H-2A program workers.

HB 1051 will now go to the House Floor for consideration.

AIF supports legislation that provides protections for farmers against authoritative local governments that impose regulations that are overbearing and impede the functionality of agricultural producers.

HB 1147 – Broadband

On Thursday, February 22, HB 1147 by Representative Josie Tomkow (R-Polk City) was read for a third time on the Senate Floor and was passed with 36 yeas and 0 nays.

In 2021, the legislature passed a law that mandates pole access by local municipal utilities to broadband providers for a fee of one dollar, per pole, per year. The goal of this measure was to broaden rural Florida’s access to high-speed internet. However, the 2021 law included a provision that would do away with pole access for broadband providers on July 1, 2024. HB 1147 extends this deadline until December 31, 2028.

HB 1147 will now go to the Governor for approval.

AIF supports the expansion of broadband services to all Floridians and supports legislation that seeks to promote that goal.