HB 339 - Advertisement of a Harmful Vaccine
On Wednesday, February 11, HB 339 by Representative Monique Miller (R-Palm Bay) was heard by the House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee and was reported favorably. AIF stood in opposition of this legislation.
The bill would create a new personal injury cause of action targeting vaccine manufacturers that advertise in Florida, subjecting them to strict liability regardless of whether a vaccine is defective. Existing federal law already limits manufacturer liability and provides compensation programs for injuries associated with most vaccines. For the limited number of vaccines not covered by these programs, individuals who allege injury currently retain the right to bring a direct lawsuit against the manufacturer in court.
HB 339 will now go to the House Health Professions & Programs Subcommittee for consideration.
AIF opposes any legislation that allows for frivolous lawsuits to be filed against companies, especially when there are already federal laws and regulations in place. Frivolous lawsuits continue to drive up healthcare costs for Floridians.
HB 405 - Commercial Construction Projects
On Wednesday, February 11, HB 405 by Representative Griff Griffitts (R-Panama City) was heard on the House Floor and was temporarily postponed. AIF supports this legislation.
The bill makes reforms to Florida’s home construction process by regulating Florida’s permitting process and mitigating delays by local governments. The bill preempts certain building design elements that are purely aesthetic without any functional purposes. The bill will standardize construction processes and make it easier for responsible developers to build on the land they own.
HB 405 will stay on the House Floor for consideration.
AIF supports legislation that encourages responsible development and limits local government’s ability to deter development via permits and fees. Responsible development is key to assisting in mitigating the affordability issues in Florida.
SB 806 – Consumers’ Right to Repair Certain Equipment
On Wednesday, February 11, SB 806 by Senator Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) was heard on the Senate Floor and passed. AIF opposes this legislation.
SB 806 establishes new guidelines to mandate manufacturers share documentation, tools, and parts to device owners and independent repair providers to use on devices. The bill creates the Agriculture Equipment Fair Repair Act which mandates certain repair and manufacturing information be available to independent providers and owners. The bill prohibits original equipment manufacturers from excluding some security related functions.
SB 806 will now go to the House for consideration.
In its current form, AIF opposes SB 806 as it would allow intellectual property that is developed and owned by manufacturers, to be readily available for distribution by entities that are not associated with the manufacturer. These reforms could result in higher repair costs for products ranging from smartphones to heavy machinery.
HB 951 – One-Cent Piece
On Wednesday, February 11, HB 951 by Representative Fiona McFarland (R-Sarasota) was heard by the House Insurance & Banking Subcommittee and was reported favorably. AIF stood in support of this legislation.
This bill clarifies the rounding rules for cash change in the future after the Federal Government stopped production of the penny. Depending on the change owed, the business may round up or down to avoid using a penny.
HB 951 will now go to the House Commerce Committee for consideration.
AIF supports clarifying language in Florida Statutes for the business community to follow while dispensing cash change. As the penny becomes less common, making sure the state has clear and concise procedures will become increasingly important.
