FAC News Clips – February 23, 2024

LEGISLATION 

Tampa Bay Times 

Thousands of workers could see changes to their wages under Florida bill  

The measure would block local governments from controlling what their contractors pay their employees. 

 

WOKV 

Florida bill that could force local counties to spend millions on homeless camps  

ORLANDO, Fla. — Action News Jax’s sister station WFTV reports that a plan some advocates say will only make homelessness worse looks likely to pass in the state legislature, and it is set to have a major impact on how local counties approach homelessness. 

 

Florida Phoenix 

This year’s version of a short-term vacation rental bill now goes to the full House  

The Senate has already passed its version of the bill, but there are differences between the two chambers 

 

Florida Phoenix 

Despite FL’s scorching heat, lawmakers want to eliminate local heat protection rules  

A measure that will ban local governments from passing heat-protection ordinances inspired strong emotions from the public Thursday, but lawmakers approved the bill backed by big business interests. 

 

Clay Today 

Commissioner Mike Cella opposes bill that threatens to reduce tax revenue to county  

GREEN COVE SPRINGS – Vice Chair Mike Cella spoke out in opposition to a proposed state bill during a Board of County Commissioners meeting last week. 

 

COUNTY 

Tallahassee Reports 

Leon County Commissioners Discuss Positions on Trespassing Ordinance  

On February 20th, the Leon County Commissioners held a lengthy discussion during their business meeting regarding an ordinance that would prohibit unauthorized solicitation on private property and allow law enforcement to enforce the prohibition on private property with signage posted. 

 

Herald-Tribune 

Manatee County sets plans to raise impact fees by 50% in motion  

Manatee County is raising impact fees levied on new development to keep up with the rising price of infrastructure associated with rapid population growth. 

FAC News Clips – February 21, 2024

LEGISLATION 

Florida Politics  

TDT is a ‘pot of gold’ as lawmakers consider changes to tax  

Several TDT-related bills are advancing this Session. 

 

Click Orlando 

Property insurance premium tax break could make Florida tax package  

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A tax package that began moving forward Tuesday in the Senate and a revised tax proposal in the House could provide some assistance to homeowners with property insurance costs. 

 

Florida Phoenix 

Negligence claims against FL government could get easier, but not as much as in many other states  

Lawmakers still working on snags on ‘sovereign immunity’ bills as Legislature begins to wind down 

 

COUNTY 

WDBO 

Orange County set to become first Florida county using COVID-19 cash to clear medical debt  

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Orange County is on track to become the first county in the state to clear medical debt with leftover COVID-19 cash. 

 

Fox 35 

Orange County first responders honored for Hurricane Ian efforts  

ORLANDO, Fla. – Orange County first responders were honored for their efforts to rescue people during Hurricane Ian. 

 

The Palm Beach Post 

Sales-tax increase in Martin County would help buy sensitive conservation lands  

MARTIN COUNTY — An environmental group wants to protect 45,700 acres of environmentally sensitive land and waterfront and wants the sales tax increased by a half-percent to help the county pay for it. 

 

WFTV 

Seminole County Government receives safety grant aimed at preventing drownings  

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — The Seminole County Government recently received a grant of nearly $200,000 meant to improve pool safety and reduce the occurrence of drownings locally. 

 

WESH 

Flagler County considers defunding school resource deputies  

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. — Flagler County commissioners are considering ending an agreement with the school district that would defund school resource deputies. 

 

Florida Today 

Brevard County Commission declines to move on term limits for constitutional officers  

Term limits for constitutional officers in Brevard County will not come to a vote this year after the proposal failed at Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. 

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING 

Sun Sentinel  

‘Tell us what to do’: Broward unveils ways for its cities to tackle affordable housing  

Broward County commissioners are close to adopting a 10-year Master Plan that they said could tackle the affordable housing crisis, which experts say is hurting the disenfranchised, who spend most of their income just to have a place to live. 

FAC News Clips – February 20, 2024

LEGISLATION  

Tampa Bay Times 

Let Florida voters decide on term limits 

It’s wrong for the Florida Legislature to strip voters of their rightful power — and it’s wrong to treat every community like it’s the same community. 

 

Business Observer  

One year later, Florida legislators are updating the $711 million Live Local Act  

Two pieces of legislation are making their way through the Florida Legislature aimed at tweaking and updating the affordable housing legislation passed with wide bipartisan support last year. 

 

Florida Politics 

Senate Appropriations Committee schedules vote on sovereign immunity bill  

House Speaker Paul Renner said he supports increasing the amount that can be recovered under the caps. 

 

Florida Politics 

Florida has $562M meant for Hillsborough County. How will lawmakers return it?  

Money from a defunct sales surtax has been sitting with the state since 2022. 

 

COUNTY 

WFTV 

Orange County considers plan to use federal money to help residents pay off medical debt  

ORLANDO, Fla. — Leaders in Orange County are set to meet Tuesday to look over a plan that could help people pay off their medical debt. 

 

Tallahassee Democrat 

Leon County Commission to hold only public h

FAC News Clips – February 19, 2024

LEGISLATION 

Tallahassee Democrat  

Orlando Sentinel 

Let local voters decide term limits, not Florida legislators 

If there’s one thing most Americans agree on, it’s that grandstanding, and gridlock have crippled Washington. Too often, those we send to our nation’s capital forget where they come from and why they were elected.   

 

WMNF 

County commissioner 8-year term limits are teed up in the Florida House 

A bill calling for term limits for county commissioners across the state is headed to the full Florida House. 

 

Florida Politics 

House panel OKs elimination of local wage, heat protection rules for contractors 

Local governments wouldn’t be able to set minimum wages for their contractors and subcontractors, and couldn’t require businesses to protect their workers from heat exposure, under a bill passed by the House State Affairs Committee. 

 

COUNTY 

Florida Today 

Term limits for Brevard County constitutional officers could be on the ballot this year  

Brevard County Commission Vice Chair Rita Pritchett has submitted a proposal allowing voters to establish term limits for the county’s constitutional officers — the clerk of courts, property appraiser, sheriff, supervisor of elections and tax collector. 

FAC News Clips – February 7, 2024

LEGISLATION 

Pensacola News Journal  

Escambia County, Pensacola homeless may be removed under SB 1530 

“Tom Tom” is from Pensacola and said he has been living on the streets since he was 18 years old. Now 42 and unemployed, his home for the past six years has been a tent off Beggs Lane in Brent. 

 

Florida Politics 

Confederate monument protection bill keeps moving in Senate despite intense debate  

Defenders of monuments may have recourse against cities that take them down soon. 

 

Orlando Sentinel 

Could the legislature block Winter Park’s leaf blower ban? 

Sen. Jason Brodeur, R-Lake Mary, filed an amendment Monday that would prevent cities and counties across the state from regulating gas-powered leaf blowers any differently than electric ones. 

 

Tampa Bay Times 

Pasco tells state they don’t need the housing the Live Local bill targets  

Pasco’s elected leaders say their county doesn’t need the apartment housing that state lawmakers are incentivizing with taxbreaks through the Live Local Act they approved last year. 

 

Florida Politics 

Ban on traffic cameras with Chinese parts captures full support in first Senate stop  

The measure follows several laws the Legislature passed last year to crack down on China’s influence in the Sunshine State. 

 

COUNTY 

Naples Daily News 

Bill of Rights sanctuaries vs. Second Amendment sanctuaries in Florida  

Last August, Florida’s Collier County declared itself a “Bill of Rights sanctuary.” 

 

Islander News 

Miami-Dade breaks ground on a $1.2 billion wastewater plant project on Virginia Key to recycle millions of gallons of water  

Water is one of life’s most precious commodities, which is why Miami-Dade County is investing about $1.2 billion in an infrastructure upgrade designed to reuse more than 100 millions gallons of water per day at the Central District Wastewater Treatment Plant on Virginia Key. 

 

Herald-Tribune 

Manatee County set to consider speed limit cameras in school zones  

Those who speed in school zones may soon be caught on camera in Manatee County and subject to penalty if a new initiative by officials is approved next week. 

 

WFTV 

Orange County to consider clearing $8.7 million in medical debt 

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A quarter million people in Orange County are still dealing with medical debt left behind by the Covid-19 pandemic, but there could be a solution. 

 

FAC News Clips – February 5, 2024

LEGISLATION 

WOKV 

Florida lawmakers look into ways to regulate vacation-rental properties 

TALLAHASSEE — Taking another run at one of the Legislature’s thorniest issues, the House and Senate on Thursday advanced disparate plans about regulating vacation-rental properties. 

 

WUWF 

Florida lawmakers discuss a possible study into eliminating property taxes 

A proposal that would start the ball rolling toward eliminating property taxes in Florida was heard this week in a House committee. It seeks a study to determine how much money would disappear and how local governments might recoup that revenue elsewhere. 

 

Tampa Bay Times 

Florida bill would abolish local civilian police review boards  

A bill moving toward passage last week in the Florida Legislature would abolish all local civilian review boards statewide that investigate complaints of police misconduct, including those in Tampa and St. Petersburg. 

 

Florida Politics 

Home-hardening grants for condo owners win preliminary House OK  

‘Condominium residents in Florida deserve to live in competently managed and structurally safe buildings.’ 

 

COUNTY 

Florida Today 

Brevard County to consider land purchase options under EEL program  

Brevard County commissioners Tuesday will consider options on how to start spending $50 million that voters approved to protect sensitive environmental land in the county. 

 

WCJB 

Columbia County celebrates 191 years  

LAKE CITY, Fla. (WCJB) – Columbia County is turning 191 years old on Feb. 4.