SB 818 – Utility Relocation

On Wednesday, April 16, SB 818 by Senator Stan McClain (R-Ocala) was heard by the Senate Rules Committee and was reported favorably with 23 yeas and 0 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

This bill modifies the process of relocating utility facilities on a public right of way. It helps to ease some scheduling pressure that certain utilities may have in the relocation process as well as shifts the cost burden from the utility owner to the owner of the right of way that is requiring the relocation. These expenses often add up when developments, road projects, and other local structures require broadband facilities to be moved. As Florida becomes increasingly more developed, these relocations will become ever more frequent.

SB 818 will now go to the Senate Floor for consideration.

AIF supports initiatives that ease burdens for utility providers who are forced to move facilities from a right of way by local governments.

 

SB 1002 – Utility Service Restrictions

On Wednesday, April 16, SB 1002 by Senator Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) was read for a second time on the Senate Floor and was temporarily postponed.

SB 1002 preempts local governments from enacting restrictions against how the source of energy is produced, used, delivered, converted or supplied by utility providers. The bill has several housekeeping provisions that eliminates any current local ordinance conflicting with the proposed preemption.

SB 1002 awaits further action on the Senate Floor.

AIF supports legislation that relieves tensions between utility providers and local governments that impose restrictions against different energy sources.

SB 922 – Employment Agreements

On Wednesday, April 16, SB 922 by Senator Tom Leek (R-Ormond Beach) was heard by the Senate Rules Committee and was reported favorably with 21 yeas and 2 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

In highly competitive business environments, companies are often required to keep innovations and intellectual property developments confidential. SB 922 strengthens non-compete and confidential employment agreement guidelines by establishing a framework that protects confidential trade secret information. The framework sets new rules for covered garden leave agreements for covered employers and covered employees, as current laws allow for several loopholes that employees can use to contest these agreements through litigation while also working for a competing business.

SB 922 will now go to the Senate Floor for consideration.

AIF supports legislation that protects a business’s sensitive information and drives more innovation through clarified rulemaking. These standards will allow more businesses who rely heavily on research & development to invest in Florida and create new jobs in various industry sectors.

SB 1822 – Waste Management

On Wednesday, April 16, SB 1822 by Senator Jonathan Martin (R-Fort Myers) was heard by the Senate Rules Committee and was reported favorably with 16 yeas and 6 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

SB 1822 establishes a preemption on local governments who currently have the ability to regulate auxiliary containers. The bill adds definitions that clarify auxiliary containers as “reusable or single-use bag, cup, bottle, can, or other packaging that is made of cloth, paper, plastic, and other frequently recycled materials. The definitions also include materials used for food consumption or delivery by a restaurant or retailer.

AIF stood in support of an amendment that focuses enforcement the of auxiliary containers to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and grants local governments the ability to pass ordinances that relate strictly to auxiliary container usage on beaches.

AIF supports legislation that unifies regulatory measures to a uniform standard that applies to all of Florida’s 67 counties. These measures will ease compliance difficulties on Florida businesses and consumers.