Interim Committee Week #4

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS

Interim Committee Week #4 | January 23-27, 2023

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Dear Colleagues and Friends,

Last week, the Legislature held their fourth week of interim committee meetings. House and Senate committees received presentations from various stakeholders on a variety of topics. With less than 40 days before session begins on March 7th, legislators have already filed 450 bills. Below are some highlights from the past week of committee meetings.

Affordable Housing – Senate President Kathleen Passidomo announced the filing of SB 120 related to affordable housing. This is expected to be her top priority this session. The bill addresses the affordability crisis in Florida by increasing state funding of current housing programs, increasing incentives for developers and reducing regulations to promote more housing options. For an overview of this sweeping legislation please read the recent alert by our Affordable Housing group. A companion House bill has not yet been filed.
School choice – The House Choice and Innovation Subcommittee heard HB 1 related to school choice. The bill expands the eligibility for the state’s scholarship programs that allow parents of eligible students to register and attend private schools that may better serve a student’s particular needs or to provide educational options for students with disabilities. The bill was reported favorably and will next be heard by the House Pre K-12 Appropriations Subcommittee. A Senate companion bill has yet to be filed.
Construction defects – The House Civil Justice Subcommittee heard HB 85. The bill would modify the time periods within which a construction defect cause of action must be brought. The bill would also limit the statutory Building Code violation cause of action to a “material” violation. The bill was reported favorably and will next be heard by the House Regulatory Reform and Economic Development Subcommittee. SB 360, the Senate companion, has not yet been referred to committee.
Local preemption bill returns – SB 170 was filed this week by Senator Jay Trumbull. The bill would require a the governing body of a local government to prepare a business impact statement before enacting an ordinance. The bill also creates a cause of action for a business challenging a local ordinance on the grounds that it is arbitrary or unreasonable. A similar bill was passed by the Legislature last year but vetoed by Governor DeSantis. The House has not yet filed a companion measure.

The Legislature will return for their fifth week of interim committee meetings on February 6th. I would be happy to speak with you about any of the issues discussed.

I would be happy to speak with you about any of the issues above. For more information, please contact me.

Warmly,

Our Government Affairs practice group closely monitors both the legislative and executive branches to keep our clients well-informed of emerging legislative and regulatory developments. By regularly analyzing and tracking the progress of significant legislation and agency actions that will impact our clients, we are able to protect their interests and provide them with critical insights into avoiding regulatory obstacles. Additionally, we proactively advocate for clients’ positions, enabling them to take advantage of new opportunities. Our representation is ongoing, advising clients before, during and after changes occur. We are committed to relentlessly championing for our clients to ensure they are well-represented before the Florida legislature, executive agencies, and local governments year-round. For more information on our Government Affairs group, please visit our website.