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We hope you will join us for FLC Legislative Action Days on January 29-31, 2024. To RSVP, click HERE. Contact Mary Edenfield if you have any questions.
The following is a brief synopsis of the key legislative actions and bill summaries for this week.
REMINDER: Due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, the Monday Morning Call-In will NOT be held on Monday, January 15 and instead will be held at 9:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 16.
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Stay Informed: A Recap of This Week's Top Stories: | |
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Bills Increasing Homestead Tax Exemptions Move Through First Committee
On Monday, the House Ways and Means Committee passed two bills on a vote of 16-8 that will negatively impact homestead property tax revenues for cities.
HJR 7015 (Buchanan) would increase the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $75,000, reducing homestead property tax assessments. HJR 7017 (Buchanan) would apply an annual increase in exemption values by the Consumer Price Index percentages. Both bills will further reduce the taxable valuation on homestead properties.
HJR 7017 and HJR 7015 are constitutional amendments and would require the approval of the Florida Legislature and the voters of Florida.
These bills will have a negative fiscal impact on your city, and we need your help! Click HERE to learn what you can do to engage on this issue. (Chapman)
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Bill Dealing with Municipal Water and Sewer Rates Passes First Committee
On Wednesday, CS/HB 777 (Brackett) was heard in the House Energy, Communications & Cybersecurity Subcommittee and passed on a vote of 12-3. The bill would prohibit local governments from charging extraterritorial surcharges for water and sewer services outside of their municipal boundaries. The bill would require rates, fees and charges for extraterritorial customers to be the same as those for customers inside the municipality. To watch this bill in committee and to hear Rebecca O’Hara’s testimony, click HERE. Discussion of the bill begins at approximately 20:02. The Senate companion, SB 1088 (Martin), is still waiting to be heard in its first committee. (O’Hara)
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House Sovereign Immunity Bill Passes First Committee
SB 472 (Brodeur) and CS/HB 569 (McFarland) revise the statutory limits on liability for tort claims against the state and its agencies and subdivisions (which include cities). The bills seek to increase the current statutory limits for claims to $400,000 per person and $600,000 per-incident cap. On Thursday, CS/HB 569 was heard in its first committee of reference and passed on a vote of 17-1. The Senate companion, SB 472, is still waiting to be heard in its first committee of reference. (Cruz)
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Bills to Provide Safety Protections for Municipal Attorneys Moves Forward
SB 712 (Powell) and CS/HB 103 (Arrington) would create a public records exemption for personal identifying information of current county and city attorneys. Both bills passed unanimously through their first committees of reference. (Wagoner)
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Complaints Against Law Enforcement Officers Passes First Committee
On Wednesday, HB 601 (Duggan) was heard in its first committee of reference and passed on a vote of 14-3. The bill would preempt local governments from adopting regulations relating to the receipt, processing or investigation of complaints of misconduct by law enforcement and correctional officers. The Senate companion, SB 576 (Ingoglia), has yet to be heard in committee. (Wagoner)
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Several Bills to Take Center Stage Next Week: | |
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FLC Priority: Bills Relating to Alternative Mobility Funding Systems Fly Through First Committees
This week, SB 688 (Martin) and HB 479 (Robinson, W.) were both heard in their first committees of reference and passed unanimously. The bills attempt to clarify current law regarding mobility plans and mobility fees by stating that only one local government may charge for transportation impacts and that local government must be the one that is issuing the building permit. The bills are now waiting to be heard in their second committees of reference. HB 479 will be heard in the House Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday, January 17. (Cruz)
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Senate Short-Term Rental Bill Up Next Week
Next Thursday, January 18, SB 280 (DiCeglie), relating to short-term rentals, will be heard in its second and final committee of reference, Senate Fiscal Policy. The bill would standardize what local governments can require as part of a local registration program and provide new enforcement measures to suspend or revoke licenses for noncompliance. The bill also contains additional accountability measures for advertising platforms and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation. The bill maintains the grandfather for ordinances adopted prior to June 1, 2011. The House companion, HB 1537 (Griffitts), is waiting to be heard in its first committee of reference. (Wagoner)
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Bill Dealing with Advanced Community Permitting Up Next Week
HB 665 (McClain) and SB 812 (Ingoglia) are comprehensive bills dealing with the expedited approval of residential building permits. The bills would require counties with a population of 75,000 or more and municipalities with a population of 30,000 or more to create a program to expedite the process of issuing building permits for residential subdivisions by August 15, 2024. The bills do include a few protections for cities, including an indemnification clause and requiring applicants to have a performance bond for up to 130%. HB 665 will be heard in the House Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee on Wednesday, January 17. (Chapman)
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Changes to the Live Local Act Move Forward
This week, CS/SB 328 (Calatayud) passed unanimously in its first committee of reference. CS/SB 328 is a comprehensive bill that makes several revisions to the Live Local Act from the 2023 Session. The bill amends sections of the Live Local Act that deal with zoning, height and density. The bill also appropriates $100 million to the Florida Hometown Hero Program. On Thursday, January 18, CS/SB 328 will be heard in its second and final committee of reference, Senate Fiscal Policy. The House companion, HB 1239 (Lopez, V.), is still awaiting committee references. (Branch)
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