SB 528 – Manufacturing

On Tuesday, January 13th, SB 528 by Senator Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) was heard by the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee and was reported favorably. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

This bill restructures Florida’s approach to encouraging manufacturing investments. At the Department of Commerce, the bill creates the role of “Chief Manufacturing Officer” to provide additional resources for manufacturers across the state. Additionally, the bill provides for a Florida Manufacturers’ Workforce Development Program designed to encourage small manufacturers with new technologies, cybersecurity protocols, and workforce training. The bill also creates a promotional campaign that promotes state-manufactured products to consumers.

SB 528 will now go to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development for consideration.

AIF supports initiatives that drive new manufacturing investment to the state and the promotion of “Made in Florida” products.

SB 250 – Rural Communities

On Wednesday, January 14th, SB 250 by Senator Corey Simon (R-Tallahassee) was heard on the Senate Floor and passed. AIF supports this legislation.

SB 250 is a piece of Senate President Ben Albritton’s (R-Wauchula) “Rural Renaissance” plan to strengthen Florida’s rural communities by investing and restructuring Florida’s approach to rural community management. This bill creates grant programs designed to promote new economic opportunities and growth by providing broadband infrastructure to underserved populations. The bill also develops roadmaps to expand healthcare access and modernization tools for rural counties in need of economic stimulation.

SB 250 will now go to the Florida House of Representatives for consideration.

AIF supports legislative efforts to boost economic vitality in Florida’s rural communities. These efforts will create jobs and allow businesses more opportunities for investment in the Sunshine State.

SB 806 – Consumers’ Right to Repair Certain Equipment

On Tuesday, January 13th, SB 806 by Senator Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) was heard by the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee and was reported favorably. AIF spoke in opposition to 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 Senate Agriculture Committee 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.

SB 266 – Public Adjuster Contracts

On Tuesday, January 13th, SB 266 by Senator Colleen Burton (R – Lakeland) was heard in the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee and was reported favorably. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

SB 266 strengthens consumer protections around public adjuster contracts by expanding cancellation and rescission rights for vulnerable adults. The bill allows vulnerable adults or their legal representatives to cancel a public adjuster contract at any time without penalty. The bill also extends the cancellation period for insureds or claimants following a declared state of emergency and require clear contract language on these rights while clarifying disciplinary grounds for public adjusters who exploit vulnerable adults or violate other standards of practice.

SB 266 will now go to the Senate Children, Families and Elder Affairs Committee for consideration.

AIF supports strengthening consumer protections, increasing accountability in the public adjuster industry, and reducing fraud-driven costs in the insurance marketplace to drive costs down.

HB 167 – Former Phosphate Mining Lands

On Thursday, January 15, HB 167 by Representative Lawrence McClure (R-Plant City) was heard on the House floor and passed with 87 yeas and 24 nays. AIF supports this legislation.

Phosphate mining is a critical industry in Florida and is essential to providing sufficient fertilizers and agrichemicals for agricultural operations around the globe. HB 167 provides protections against bad actors who bring claims against producers and property owners of land previously used for phosphate mining. The bill requires the Florida Department of Health (DOH) to perform radiation surveys on land previously used for phosphate mining operations at the request of the landowner. Plaintiffs would be required to submit DOH reports as discovery evidence in causes of action against landowners.

HB 167 will now go to the Senate.

AIF supports legislation that adds a transparent good faith clause to the strict liability statute to protect businesses and landowners following environmental guidelines from being held liable in frivolous lawsuits, allowing businesses to utilize thousands of acres of land for needed projects.

HB 6003 – Recovery of Damages for Medical Negligence Resulting in Death

On Thursday, January 15, HB 6003 by Representative Dana Trabulsy (R-Fort Pierce) was heard on the House floor and passed with 88 yeas and 17 nays. AIF opposes this legislation.

This bill repeals sections of the existing wrongful death law pertaining to adult children and parents of adult children recovery of damages stemming from claims of medical malpractice. The bill would allow for claims to be filed for non-economic damages, more commonly known as “pain and suffering,” to be filed for larger sums. Previously, the legislature passed laws that provided guardrails against these practices in the effort to reduce premiums and frivolous lawsuits.

HB 6003 will now go to the Senate.

AIF opposes any bill that expands litigation to noneconomic damages for medical malpractice, which will destabilize insurance markets and raise costs of malpractice premiums throughout the state.

SB 290 – Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

On Wednesday, January 14th, SB 290 by Senator Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) was heard by the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee and was reported favorably with 17 yeas and 3 nays. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

The bill enhances Florida’s approach on regulating the agriculture industry. The bill creates the Farmers Feeding Florida Program to ensure native, local ingredients are broadly available around the state. The bill also preempts local governments from passing ordinances that prohibit or restrict gas powered equipment used on lawns or agriculture lands.

SB 290 will now go to the Senate Rules Committee for consideration.

AIF supports promoting Florida’s agricultural community and protecting those who choose to work on agriculture lands from unfair local ordinances that can change business practices and make working lands unaffordable.