SB 1390 – Relating to Capital Investment Tax Credit

On Wednesday, April 14, SB 1390 by Senator Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) was heard by the Senate Finance and Tax Committee and was reported favorable with 8 yeas and 0 nays. AIF’s Legislative Affairs Assistant, BD Jogerst, stood in support of this legislation.

The bill allows eligible projects that create or develop intellectual property to qualify for the Capital Investment Tax Credit. Under the bill, a project that creates intellectual property is eligible for a tax credit equal to 20% of the project’s eligible capital costs if the capital costs of one or more projects is in aggregate of at least $50 million per year for 3 consecutive years. A qualifying business that establishes a “strategic priority project,” an intellectual property project that demonstrates the potential for measurable value to the state, is eligible for a tax credit equal to 20% of the eligible capital costs if the costs are at least $75 million.

SB 1390 will now go to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

AIF supports legislative efforts to modernize the Capital Investment Tax Credit program to help Florida compete for sustainable high wage jobs for the development of leading-edge intellectual property projects.

 

SB 1444 – Relating to Florida Small Manufacturing Business Recovery Act

On Wednesday, April 14, SB 1444 by Senator Tom Wright (R-Port Orange) was heard by the Senate Finance and Tax Committee and was reported favorable with 8 yeas and 0 nays. AIF’s Legislative Affairs Assistant, BD Jogerst, stood in support of this legislation.

The bill creates the Florida Small Manufacturing Business Recovery Act, to be administered by the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). The bill uses tax credits against the state insurance premium tax to incentivize investors to give funds, known as “relief contributions,” to certified relief funds that will make capital or equity investments or loans with a maturity date of at least 2 years in an impact business. The total relief investment authorities are capped at $100 million and relief contributions are capped at $80 million.

An impact business is one that:

• Has fewer than 200 employees;
• Has its principal business operations in Florida; and
• Is engaged in manufacturing under North American Industry Classification System code 31-33. A business not engaged in manufacturing is considered an impact business under the bill if the DEO has determined that an investment in such a business will benefit the state’s recovery.

SB 1444 will now go to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

AIF supports legislation that supports Florida manufacturers who provide over 380,000 high wage jobs which drives the economy and furthers economic development in the state.

 

SB 148 – Relating to Beverage Law

On Tuesday, April 13, SB 148 by Senator Jennifer Bradley (R-Orange Park) was substituted for HB 329 by Representative Josie Tomkow (R-Auburndale) on the House floor and was read a second time and was amended.

On Wednesday, April 14, SB 148 was read a third time on the House floor and passed with 115 yeas and 1 nay.

Under current law, qualifying restaurants may be licensed to sell beer, wine, and liquor for consumption on the premises only. This bill repeals the prohibition of sale for off-premises consumption of alcohol, thereby allowing restaurants to sell sealed containers of “alcohol-to-go” in conjunction with the sale of food on the same order. The amended bill requires food and nonalcoholic beverages to account for at least 25% of the order.

SB 148 will now go back to the Senate for consideration.

AIF supports legislation removing antiquated regulations on restaurant and lodging establishments to encourage the development of new businesses and increase the financial success of existing businesses, especially during the pandemic.

HB 839 – Relating to Express Preemption of Fuel Retailers and Related Transportation Infrastructure

On Wednesday, April 14, HB 839 by Representative Tom Fabricio (R-Hialeah) was heard by the House Commerce Committee and was reported favorable with 17 yeas and 3 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this legislation.

The bill preempts the regulation of transportation energy infrastructure to the state, and specifies that any existing or future law, ordinance, regulation, policy, or resolution that is contrary to the preemption is void. Specifically, the bill prohibits local governments from:

• Prohibiting the redevelopment of a fuel retailer or the necessary related transportation infrastructure within that specific local government’s entire jurisdiction;
• Any action resulting in a de facto jurisdiction-wide prohibition against a fuel retailer or related and necessary transportation infrastructure; and
• Mandating any required infrastructure on a fuel retailer, including electric vehicle charging stations.

The bill does not preempt a municipality, county, special district, or political subdivision from adopting and implementing ordinances, regulations, policies, or resolutions on the siting, development, or redevelopment of fuel retailers or necessary related transportation infrastructure that are consistent with other allowable uses and general law.

HB 839 will now go to the House floor for consideration.

AIF supports legislation that removes onerous regulations on Florida businesses that will streamline operations and allow these entities to operate on a statewide regulation basis rather than a patchwork of local ordinances.

 

HB 919 – Relating to Preemption Over Restriction of Utility Services

On Wednesday, April 14, HB 919 by Representative Josie Tomkow (R-Auburndale) was heard by the House Commerce Committee and was reported favorable with 16 yeas and 6 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this legislation.

The bill preempts municipalities, counties, special districts, or other political subdivisions of the state from restricting utility service choice, regardless of fuel source. The bill prohibits these entities from enacting or enforcing any resolutions, ordinances, rules, codes, or policies that restrict a property owner, tenant, or utility service customer’s choice of utility service type from a utility service provider.

HB 919 will now go to the House floor for consideration.

AIF supports legislation that enhances free market decisions by consumers and allows Florida businesses equal opportunity to serve and operate in the various corners of the state.

HB 969 – Relating to Consumer Data Privacy

On Wednesday, April 14, HB 969 by Representative Fiona McFarland (R-Sarasota) was heard by the House Commerce Committee and passed with 22 yeas and 0 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, spoke in opposition to this legislation.

The bill gives consumers certain rights related to personal information collected by a business. It requires businesses to comply with consumer requests on stored information and make the information available on the businesses’ website. The bill allows the Department of Legal Affairs to bring an action against, and collect civil penalties from, a business who violates these requirements.

The bill also creates a new private right of action that will open up employers to class action lawsuits.

To businesses, the bill has an estimated total cost of compliance of $36.5 billion.

HB 969 will now go to the House floor for consideration.

AIF opposes legislation that imposes onerous and costly mandates on private businesses. The expense created by this legislation will be passed on to the consumer. This legislation casts a wide net that will catch and harm small businesses that drive Florida's economy.