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SJR 1064 (Detert) and HJR 1003 (Eisnaugle) propose an amendment to the state constitution that allows the Legislature by general law to increase the value of the exemption on tangible personal property; to exempt tangible property from taxation; and to waive the requirement to file a return if the value of the property is less than the exemption. SJR 1064 will be considered by the Senate Community Affairs Committee on Monday, February 6. HJR 1003 passed the House Finance and Tax Committee and is now in the House Economic Affairs Committee. (Hughes). MORE>

HB 7051 (House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee) and SB 2060 (Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee) allow the Legislature to exempt from ratification the promulgation of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) numeric nutrient criteria program. The exemption from ratification is limited to this rule only. The bills require the DEP to send the state’s program to the federal Environmental Protection Agency for review. HB 7051 was considered by the full House and will be placed on the House Third Reading Calendar. MORE>

CS/HB 639 (Young) and SB 1086 (Garcia) revise the definition of reclaimed water to ensure that it is not subject to regulation by a water management district until it has been discharged into waters of the state as defined in Florida statute. The bills were amended to remove the provision that changed the definition of what a “water of the state” consisted of. The bills state that reclaimed water is eligible for alternative water supply funding and may not be excluded from regional water supply planning. A water management district may not require a permit for the use of reclaimed water. MORE>

SB 538 (Bogdanoff) and HB 153 (Hooper) require state and local governments to grant a 5 percent bid preference to in-state printers when the lowest responsible bid is submitted by an out-of-state printer. They also require state and local governments to grant a 5 percent bid preference to in-state vendors of commodities when the low bid is submitted by a vendor from a state that does not grant a preference. The bills also require state and local governments to grant a preference to in-state vendors of commodities in an amount equal to the preference granted by the state of the out-of-state vendor that submits the low bid. SB 538 passed the Senate Budget Subcommittee on General Government Appropriations and is now in the Senate Budget Committee. MORE>

SB 576 (Bennett) and HB 337 (Williams, T.) provide that certain qualifying projects may be fulfilled by public-private partnerships. When a qualifying project is approved and negotiated by a local government, a private entity can construct the project and charge user fees, lease payments or service payments. SB 576 passed the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee and is now in the Senate Community Affairs Committee. HB 337 passed the House Government Operations Subcommittee and is now in the House Government Operations Appropriations Subcommittee. MORE>

SB1472 (Richter) and HB 1491 (Eisnaugle) create the Florida Infrastructure Fund Partnership. The legislation provides for a unique way to bring private capital to Florida in order to build much-needed infrastructure around the state that both local governments and the state cannot afford. SB 1472 passed the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee on and is now in the Senate Budget Committee. HB 1491 passed the House Finance and Tax Committee and is now in the House Economic Affairs Committee. MORE>

SB 770 (Hays) and HB 361 (Roberson) would exempt real estate brokers and sales associates from paying the local business tax or obtaining a local business tax receipt. SB 770 is in the Senate Community Affairs Committee. HB 361 passed the House Finance and Tax Committee and is in the House Business and Consumer Affairs Subcommittee. (Hughes). MORE>

CS/SB 292 (Bennett) and CS/HB 937 (Workman) address legal notice requirements for local governments. The bills require legal notices published in the newspaper to also be placed on the newspaper’s website. In addition, the bills require the Florida Press Association to create a website where legal notices from every paper in the state must also be published. Finally, the bills limit the amount that can be charged for legal notices under certain conditions. MORE>

CS/SB 1132 (Hays) and HB 1197 (Horner) preempt local governments from adopting any ordinance dealing with the practice of beekeeping. The bills also exempt farm signs from local municipal sign ordinances. A farm sign is defined as any sign that displays a message exclusively relating to farm produce, merchandise, services, sold, produced, manufactured or furnished on the farm. SB 1132 passed the Senate Budget Subcommittee on General Government Appropriations and is now in the Senate Budget Committee. MORE>

CS/CS/SB 820 (Dean) and CS/HB 999 (Dorworth) delete the requirement of the Department of Health to administer a septic tank evaluation program to assess the conditions and failures of residential septic tanks based on a five-year evaluation cycle. The bills state that effective July 1, 2012, a county or municipality containing a first magnitude spring that has not adopted a septic tank evaluation and assessment program, or that does not opt out of that mandate, shall develop an assessment program within its geographic area. A local ordinance may not deviate or exceed the substantive requirements of the bills. The adopted ordinance shall provide: once every five years, the condition of each septic tank is assessed; the location of each system is identified; a tank and drainfield is evaluated and a written assessment is given; and the evaluation must be performed by a septic tank contractor registered with the state. MORE>

CS/HB 7045 (House Select Committee on Water Policy) and CS/SB 1178 (Hays) allow permits approved for the development of alternative water supplies to be granted for at least 30 years if there is sufficient data to provide reasonable assurance that condition for permit issuance will be met for the duration of the permit. CS/HB 7045 is headed to the House floor. CS/SB 1178 passed the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee and will be considered by the Senate Community Affairs Committee on Monday, February 6. (Matthews). MORE>

CS/CS/CS/CS/HB 503 (Patronis) and CS/SB 716 (Bennett) are regulatory streamlining bills. The bills prohibit a municipality from requiring, as a condition of processing a development permit, that an applicant obtain a state or federal permit prior to the local permit. The bills reduce and/or waive Department of Environmental Protection and water management district permit processing fees for municipalities with a population of 25,000 or less, or for an entity created by special act, local ordinance or interlocal agreement. The bills reduce permit approval time from 90 days to 60 days after receipt of the original application. MORE>

CS/SB 1354 (Detert) and HB 7003 (House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee) require the Department of Environmental Protection, along with the water management districts, to adopt statewide environmental resource permitting rules for activities relating to the management and storage of surface waters. The department shall oversee regular assessment and training of its staff and the staffs of the water management districts and local governments delegated local pollution control program authority. The bill passed the Senate Governmental Appropriations Subcommittee and was amended to allow local governments to adopt stricter standards than those set out in the statewide environmental resource permit. CS/SB 1354 passed the Senate Budget Subcommittee on General Government Appropriations and is now in the Senate Budget Committee. MORE>

CS/HB 1389 (Perman) and CS/SB 1858 (Altman) establish a baseline determination of the extent of the wetlands and other surface waters located on a property when a public-private partnership is entered into between a water management district and a private agricultural landowner. The baseline condition documented in the agreement shall consider the extent of the wetlands and other surface waters on the property for the purpose of regulation for the duration of the agreement and after its expiration. CS/HB 1389 passed the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee and is currently in the House State Affairs Committee. CS/SB 1858 passed the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee and is currently in the Senate Agriculture Committee. MORE>

SB 2094 (Senate Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities Committee) alters review of 10-year site plans by the Public Service Commission by including the amount of renewable energy resources the provider purchases or produces as well as the amount of renewable energy resources the provider plans to produce or purchase over the 10-year planning horizon. The bill offers a tax exemption on renewable materials (biodiesel, ethanol and renewable fuels) to a purchaser only through a refund of previously paid taxes. Applications to receive these refunds can be made to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and expires July 1, 2016. The bill amends the renewable energy technologies investment tax credit, which allows corporations to receive a 75 percent rebate on all capital costs, operation and maintenance costs, and research and development costs incurred between July 1, 2012, and July 1, 2016. MORE>

SB 1032 (Benacquisto) and HB 987 (Abruzzo) require the Department of Environmental Protection and applicable water management districts to grant a general permit for the construction, alteration and maintenance of stormwater management systems if the project serves a total project area of up to 15 acres. If the total project involves less than 10 acres and less than two acres of impervious surface, or the total project involves less than 15 acres and less than three acres of impervious surface, a general permit will be granted. HB 987 is currently in the House Energy and Utilities Subcommittee. SB 1032 will be considered by the Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee on Monday, February 6. MORE>

HB 743 (Rehwinkel Vasilinda) and SB 1074 (Altman) provide that a portion of the local government infrastructure surtax may be used to provide loans, grants or rebates to residential property owners, with preferences for the elderly, disabled and veterans, who make energy efficiency improvements to their homes. The program or ordinance approving such a program must be adopted by referendum. HB 743 passed the House Energy and Utilities Subcommittee and is currently in the House Economic Affairs Committee. SB 1074 is currently in the Senate Community Affairs Committee. MORE>

CS/SB 738 (Altman) and CS/CS/HB 663 (Goodson) require that a solid waste management facility designed with a leachate control system that meets Department of Environmental Protection requirements be issued a permit for a term of 20 years, unless an applicant requests a shorter time frame. The bills affect solid waste management facilities that apply for an operating or construction permit on or after July 1, 2012. CS/SB 738 is in the Senate Budget Subcommittee on General Government Appropriations. CS/CS/HB 663 passed the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee and is now in the House State Affairs Committee. MORE>

CS/SB 758 (Jones) and CS/HB 691 (Frishe) streamline the permitting process for coastal construction permits, including beach restoration and nourishment projects. The bills establish new reporting requirements of active, state-funded beach erosion projects in an effort to increase the transparency of the beach management funding program. CS/SB 758 is in the Senate Budget Committee. CS/HB 691 passed the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Appropriations Subcommittee and is now in the House State Affairs Committee. MORE>

CS/HB 313 (Bembry) and SB 802 (Senate Environmental Preservation and Conservation Committee) specify that an owner or lessee that provides the public with an area for outdoor recreational purposes (hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing) owes no duty of care to keep the area safe for entry, or give warning for hazardous conditions located on the premises. The owner or lessee of such land is entitled to this limitation on liability so long as the owner/lessee gives notice of this provision to people who enter the property. The bills do not relieve any person of liability if he or she acts in a willful, deliberate or malicious manner to injure a person or piece of property. CS/HB 313 is in the House Judiciary Committee. MORE>

HB 1063 (O'Toole) and SB 760 (Hays) repeal the authority of municipalities to levy the Local Business Tax. HB 1063 includes a provision that allows cities that impose the Local Business Tax and have specifically pledged those revenues to bonds issued to continue to levy the tax, but only in the amount that is needed to repay the bonds. SB 760 was temporary postponed by the Senate Community Affairs Committee. HB 1063 was temporary postponed by the House Finance and Tax Committee. MORE>

CS/SJR 314 (Simmons) and HJR 1289 (Brodeur) propose amendments to the state constitution that create an additional exemption for homesteaded properties. CS/SJR 314 also reduces the current assessment limitation on non-homestead real property from 10 percent to 7 percent (which will sunset in 2023) and allows the Legislature by general law to prohibit increases in the assessed value of homestead property if the just value of the property decreases. If approved by 60 percent of the voters in the 2012 general election, it will be effective January 1, 2013. CS/SJR 314 was workshopped in the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Finance and Tax, but no vote was taken. MORE>

SB 1062 (Detert) and CS/HB 1005 (Eisnaugle) waive the requirement to file a tangible personal property tax return when taxable value does not exceed a specific amount. SB 1062 will be considered by the Senate Community Affairs Committee on Monday, February 6. CS/HB 1005 passed the House Finance and Tax Committee and is now in the House Economic Affairs Committee. (Hughes). MORE>

SB 1022 (Garcia) and CS/HB 595 (Nuñez) authorize a governing body to create a sales tax increment redevelopment district within a municipality that is part of an enterprise zone. The designated redevelopment agency for the sales tax increment redevelopment district is eligible for a distribution of a percentage of the increased collections of sales tax over the previous year. The Department of Revenue will determine the amount of increased sales tax collections to be distributed to each eligible designated redevelopment agency. SB 1022 passed the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee and is now in the Senate Community Affairs Committee. MORE>

CS/SB 1060 (Bogdanoff) and CS/HB 809 (Grant) modify definitions related to the Communication Services Tax. The bills have an exception to the provision holding a dealer of communications services harmless from liability when the dealer fails to correct a customer’s local taxing jurisdiction following notice by the Department of Revenue under certain provisions. CS/SB 1060 passed the Senate Communications, Energy, and Public Utilities Committee and will be considered by Senate Community Affairs Committee on Monday, February 6. CS/HB 809 passed the House Energy and Utilities Subcommittee and is now in the House State Affairs Committee. MORE>

CS/SB 368 (Gaetz) and HB 7031 (Hukill) provide that governing board members who fail to resolve a financial emergency may be suspended from office by the governor. The bills also allow municipalities in a state of financial emergency to consult with other local governments. The bills require a plan to end a financial emergency to include the implementation of consolidation or discontinuance of specific services. CS/SB 368 passed the Senate and is now in House messages. MORE>

CS/HJR 55 (Nuñez) and SJR 838 (Diaz de la Portilla) propose an amendment to the state constitution that would authorize the Legislature to allow municipalities to limit the assessed value of homesteads of certain low-income senior citizens. CS/HJR 55 passed the House Finance and Tax Committee and is now in the House Community and Military Affairs Subcommittee. CS/SJR 838 passed the Senate Community Affairs Committee and is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee. (Hughes). MORE>

SJR 1740 (Garcia) and HJR 169 (Oliva) propose an amendment to the state constitution that would authorize the Legislature to allow municipalities to offer an additional homestead exemption to low-income senior citizens. SJR 1740 passed the Senate Community Affairs Committee and is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee. HJR 169 is in the House Finance and Tax Committee. (Hughes). MORE>

SB 1738 (Garcia) and HB 357 (Oliva) allow municipalities to adopt an ordinance granting an additional homestead exemption to low-income seniors. The bills are contingent on the approval of a constitutional amendment similar to HJR 169 or SJR 1740. SB 1738 passed the Senate Community Affairs Committee and is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee. HB 357 is in the House Finance and Tax Committee. MORE>

SB 840 (Diaz de la Portilla) and HB 547 (Fresen) provide for the termination of community redevelopment agencies (CRAs) by the Board of County Commissioners of Miami-Dade County. The Board of County Commissioners may terminate a CRA operating within its boundaries if the agency has been inefficient in removing slum/blight, neglected its duties, engaged in financial misconduct or is no longer needed as determined by the county. The bills will require CRAs to complete a forensic audit every five years at the request of the County Commission. SB 840 is in the Senate Community Affairs Committee. MORE>

CS/SB 842 (Bennett) and HB 7081 (Workman) address non-substantive modifications from last session’s comprehensive growth management legislation. Modifications include fixing cross-references, updating outdated language, and removing provisions throughout the statutes that were made obsolete. CS/SB 842 differs from the House version by also requiring regional planning councils to determine, before accepting a grant, if the grant is in furtherance of its functions. Additionally, CS/SB 842 prohibits a regional planning council from providing consulting services for a fee to any local government for a project for which the council will serve in a review capacity. MORE>

CS/SB 1392 (Benacquisto) and HB 1201 (Nunez) require all airports within the Florida airport system and deepwater ports to provide “accessible taxicabs,” along with priority access, to passengers seeking accessible taxicab services. SB 1392 was amended because of airport and Florida League of Cities’ concerns and now is limited to requiring the state OPPAGA to study the availability of accessible taxicabs operating in certain metropolitan areas. SB 1392 is now in the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Finance and Tax. HB 1201 is in the House Transportation and Highway Safety Subcommittee. MORE>

SB 1866 (Latvala) and CS/HB 1399 (Brandes) are the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) comprehensive legislative package. Provisions impacting cities and currently under review relate to indemnification for DOT removal of nonconforming bus benches, bridge closure requirements, and permitting of stormwater management facilities serving state transportation projects. SB 1866 was heard by the Senate Transportation Committee and is now in the Senate Budget Committee. CS/HB 1399 passed the House Transportation and Highway Safety Subcommittee and is now in the House Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations Subcommittee. MORE>

SB 1626 (Gaetz, D.) and HB 1409 (Albritton) require additional transparency requirements of all executed local government contracts. Of specific concern, is the requirement in Section three of the bills, that requires local governments to report all executed contracts to a state contract tracking system. The legislation provides an extensive list of required information for each contract, and that an electronic copy of the contract is posted on a state website. The League is seeking feedback on how the requirements in Section three of the bills will impact your City. MORE>

CS/SB 1868 (Gardiner) requires local governments to disclose to the state the unfunded, long-term costs of a project funded by a federal grant. The legislation does not provide the funding to investigate and calculate those costs. The bill authorizes a person to file a civil action to enforce the disclosure. CS/SB 1868 passed the Senate Community Affairs Committee and is now in the Senate Judiciary Committee. MORE>

SB 1852 (Wise) and CS/HB 903 (Adkins) require a district school board to share the revenue generated by its capital outlay millage levy with charter schools in the school district on a per-student basis. If a district school board does not share the revenue generated by the millage levy, the Florida Education Finance Program allocation for that district will be recalculated so that the charter school still receives funding. The legislation allows high-performing charter schools to increase student enrollment, expand grade levels, submit quarterly financial reports (instead of monthly), and establish up to three virtual charter schools per year. SB 1852 will be considered by the Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee on Monday, February 6. MORE>

CS/SB 192 (Bennett) and CS/CS/CS/HB 107 (Caldwell) address the merger and consolidation of special districts by allowing inactive, independent special districts that were created by a municipality to merge or dissolve through the same procedure by which they were created. Two or more contiguous independent special districts that were created by the Legislature may now merge under certain circumstances. The involuntary dissolution or merger of an independent special district is subject to legislative and referendum approval. The legislation is specifically targeting independent fire districts. MORE>

CS/CS/SB 704 (Bennett) amends a number of provisions related to building construction and inspection. The bill modifies how local government code enforcement boards serve notices on property owners and authorizes building code administrators to accept electronically filed construction plans for permit approval. The bill also shortens the time length of a provisional certificate for newly employed or promoted inspectors. Finally, the bill directs the Florida Building Commission to adopt a rule outlining an alternative method of screen enclosure design and establish a workgroup to assist the commission in developing a rule for implementing an alternative screen design. MORE>

SB 1460 (Simmons) and CS/CS/HB 673 (Brodeur) preempt and supersede local ordinances that grant preferences to vendors in a competitive solicitation for construction services when the property or services is paid for with state funds SB 1460 also includes the same preemption to vendors in a competitive solicitation for personal property. The bills preempt ordinances that give preference to vendors maintaining an office or place of business within a local jurisdiction; hiring employees or subcontractors from within a local jurisdiction; or prior payment of local taxes, assessments or duties within a particular local jurisdiction. The bills also require local governments (including school districts) to disclose whether payment will come from state funds and account for the amount of such funds. SB 1460 passed the Senate Community Affairs Committee and is now in Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee. MORE>

CS/SB 488 (Rich) and HB 527 (Randolph) authorize cities with animal control or cruelty ordinances to impose up to a $15 surcharge on the civil penalty for violations of the ordinance. Proceeds go toward training animal control officers, to clerks of the court, and to spay/neuter programs in that city. CS/SB 488 passed the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Criminal and Civil Justice Appropriations and is now in the Senate Budget Committee. HB 527 is in the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee. MORE>

CS/CS/HB 521 (Artiles) and CS/SB 992 (Dean) preempt local ordinances that pertain to the regulation of hoisting equipment and hoisting equipment operators. CS/CS/HB 521 passed the House Community and Military Affairs Subcommittee and is now in the House Economic Affairs Committee. CS/SB 992 is in the Senate Regulated Industries Committee. (Cook). MORE>

CS/HB 387 (Ahern) and CS/CS/SB 600 (Bennett) allow for the electronic filing of construction plans with the building code administrator’s permission. This language is also contained in CS/HB 651 (Davis) and CS/CS/SB 704 (Bennett). CS/HB 387 has been placed on the House Special Order Calendar and is ready for consideration by the full House. CS/CS/SB 600 has been placed on the Senate Calendar. MORE>

CS/CS/HB 3 (Plakon) and SB 428 (Oelrich) make Internet sweepstakes cafes illegal in the state. CS/SB 380 (Diaz de la Portilla) and HB 467 (Gonzalez) allow local governments to regulate or prohibit these establishments. SB 468 (Fasano) contains similar provisions, but also requires the operators of these facilities to follow rules established by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. CS/CS/HB 3 passed the House Economic Affairs Committee and now goes to the House floor. MORE>

SB 1322 (Norman) and HB 997 (Trujillo) remove the provision that exempts local ordinances adopted before a specified date from the prohibition on ordinances that are breed specific (Miami-Dade county). SB 1322 passed the Senate Community Affairs Committee and will be considered by the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee on Tuesday, February 7. HB 997 passed the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee and is now in the House Community and Military Affairs Subcommittee. (Cook). MORE>

CS/CS/CS/SB 540 (Smith) and CS/HB 885 (Ford) preempt local ordinances regulating secondary metals recyclers adopted after March 1, 2012. The bill language is modeled after an ordinance adopted in Orange County. The bills provide restrictions on secondary metals recyclers and the sale of secondary metals. Both bills have been amended to allow cities to amend ordinances that are on the books prior to March 1, 2012. MORE>

CS/CS/CS/SB 206 (Negron) and CS/HB 355 (Kiar) require local governments to provide members of the public with an opportunity to be heard on a proposition before the board or commission. The opportunity to be heard does not have to occur at the same meeting at which the board or commission takes official action on the item, if the opportunity occurs at a properly noticed meeting, occurs at a meeting that is during the decision-making process, and is within reasonable proximity to the meeting at which the board takes the official action. The bills allow local governments to adopt policies or rules to ensure the orderly conduct of the meeting, while putting into place criteria that these policies must meet. There is an exemption for certain emergency situations, for ministerial acts, or when a board or commission is acting in a quasi-judicial capacity with respect to the rights of a person. MORE>

CS/HB 525 (Workman) and CS/SB 2024 (Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee) make various changes to the Florida Retirement System (FRS). The bills revise the normal retirement dates for members of the “special risk class”. The bills alter the “vesting” period for people hired after July 1, 2012, in the defined benefit pension plan to either 10 years (CS/SB 2024) or 11 years (CS/HB 525). New hires are placed into the investment plan unless within a specified time frame the new hire elects to participate in the pension plan. MORE>

CS/HB 671 (Wood) and CS/SB 670 (Ring) provide that a lien imposed on real property by a governmental or quasi-governmental entity for an improvement, service, fine or penalty, except a lien for taxes, special assessments or utilities, is not valid against a creditor or subsequent purchaser unless the lien is recorded in the official records of the county in which the property is located. The recorded notice of lien must contain specified information on the property. CS/HB 671 passed the House Community and Military Affairs Subcommittee and is now in the House Judiciary Committee. CS/SB 670 passed the Senate Community Affairs Committee and is now in the Senate Budget Subcommittee on Finance and Tax. MORE>

CS/CS/HB 711 (Hooper) and CS/CS/SB 1568 (Gaetz) provide various conditions for the sale or lease of a county, district or municipal hospital. The bills require that the sale or lease of the hospital be subject to approval by registered voters or by the circuit court, and require the hospital governing board to determine by certain public advertisements whether there are qualified purchasers or lessees before the sale or lease of the hospital may occur. CS/CS/SB 1568 requires the governing board of hospitals to consider either selling or leasing the hospital. CS/CS/HB 711 passed the House Civil Justice Subcommittee and is now in the House Health and Human Services Committee. MORE>