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
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
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.