SB 510 – Relating to State Funds

On Thursday, February 18, SB 510 by Senator Ed Hooper (R-Palm Harbor) was heard by the Senate Finance and Tax Committee and was reported favorable with 7 yeas and 1 nay. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this legislation.

This bill exempts the State Housing Trust Fund and the Local Government Housing Trust Fund from a provision authorizing the Legislature to transfer unappropriated cash balances to the Budget Stabilization Fund and General Revenue Fund.

SB 510 will now go to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

AIF supports legislation that shields funding allocated for the development of affordable housing which enables communities to grow, businesses to hire local workers, and continued economic growth in the state.

HB 329 – Relating to Alcoholic Beverage Licenses

On Thursday, February 18, HB 329 by Representative Josie Tomkow (R-Auburndale) was heard by the House Regulatory Reform Subcommittee and was reported favorable with 14 yeas and 0 nays. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this legislation.

Under current law, qualifying restaurants may be licensed to sell beer, wine, and liquor for consumption on the premises only.

This bill :

• Allows restaurants to sell or deliver alcoholic beverages to-go in a sealed container if accompanied by food;
• Allows restaurant patrons to take home a partially consumed bottle of wine with the purchase of a meal;
• Allows a restaurant licensed to sell wine to sell or deliver wine bottles, individual servings of wine, and wine-based beverages in a sealed container if accompanied by food;
• Removes the “full course” part of the meal requirement for taking home an unfinished bottle of wine; and
• Allows bars to sell or deliver liquor bottles, individual servings of liquor, or liquor-based beverages in a sealed container if accompanied by food.

HB 329 will now go to the House Commerce Committee.

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.

SB 58 – Relating to Hospitals’ Community Benefit Reporting

On Thursday, February 18, SB 58 by Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez (R-Doral) was heard by the Senate Finance and Tax Committee and was reported favorable with 7 yeas and 1 nay. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this legislation.

Florida’s constitution grants various exemptions that exempt all or part of a property’s assessed value from taxation, including exemptions for charitable purposes by hospitals.

This bill repeals the requirement for charitable hospitals to submit to the Department of Revenue the amount of community benefit expense the hospital reported to the IRS. If the hospital’s net community benefit expense does not equal or exceed the value of its tax exemption for two consecutive years, the Department of Revenue will notify the property appraiser to limit the hospital’s property tax exemption to the value of the hospital’s community benefit expense.

SB 58 will now go to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

AIF supports removing unnecessary and burdensome administrative regulations that will allow health care providers to redirect resources and continue to provide greater access to care.

SB 50 – Relating to Sales and Use Tax

On Thursday, February 18, SB 50 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 Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in support of this legislation.

This bill requires marketplace providers and out-of-state retailers with no physical presence in Florida (such as online retailers) to collect Florida’s sales tax on sales of taxable items delivered to purchasers in Florida if the marketplace provider or out-of-state retailer makes a substantial number of sales into Florida. A substantial number of remote sales means conducting any number of taxable remote sales in an amount exceeding $100,000 during the previous calendar year.

SB 50 will now go to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

AIF supports legislation that provides a level playing field for Florida's brick and mortar stores and online retailers.