SB 806 – Consumers’ Right to Repair Certain Equipment
On Tuesday, February 3, SB 806 by Senator Keith Truenow (R-Tavares) was heard by the Senate Rules Committee and was reported favorably. AIF stood in opposition of this legislation.

SB 806 establishes new guidelines to mandate manufacturers share documentation, tools, and parts to device owners and independent repair providers to use on devices. The bill creates the Agriculture Equipment Fair Repair Act which mandates certain repair and manufacturing information be available to independent providers and owners. The bill prohibits original equipment manufacturers from excluding some security related functions.

SB 806 will now go to the Senate Floor for consideration.

In its current form, AIF opposes SB 806 as it would allow intellectual property that is developed and owned by manufacturers, to be readily available for distribution by entities that are not associated with the manufacturer. These reforms could result in higher repair costs for products ranging from smartphones to heavy machinery.

SB 1396 – Litigation Financing Consumer Protection

On Tuesday, February 3, SB 1396 by Senator Colleen Burton (R-Winter Haven) was heard by the Senate Rules Committee and was reported favorably. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

This bill will prohibit harmful lawsuit investing practices by establishing the Litigation Investment Safeguards and Transparency Act. Third Party Litigation Financing (TPLF) allows hedge funds and other financiers to invest in lawsuits in exchange for a portion of any settlement or verdict, effectively turning litigation into a profit-driven enterprise. Currently, these financers operate largely unregulated, creating serious risks without commonsense safeguards or transparency.

SB 1396 will now go to the Senate Floor for consideration.

AIF supports any legislation that will continue to improve the litigious climate in Florida and end frivolous, unnecessary lawsuits. Businesses and consumers continue to pay a “tort tax”, or a higher price of goods, to mitigate frivolous lawsuits.

HB 635 – Cybersecurity Standards and Liability

On Tuesday, February 3, HB 635 by Representative Mike Giallombardo (R-Cape Coral) was heard by the House Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee and was reported favorably. AIF stood in support of this legislation.

This bill tackles civil liability from the cybersecurity perspective. As businesses, large and small, continue to rely on data and software to effectively service their customers, frivolous litigation has been on the rise following cyber-attacks on businesses. The bill sets standards for businesses to follow, so if a breach occurs, they are protected from frivolous litigation. Additionally, the bill creates a structure for companies using consumer data to better protect the data from cyberattacks.

HB 635 will now go to the House State Affairs Committee for consideration.

AIF supports legislation that creates a clear and consistent framework for businesses to follow in order to safeguard consumer privacy and to reduce the risk of frivolous litigation. These measures will create a fair playing field and encourage more businesses to invest in Florida.

SB 484 – Data Centers

On Tuesday, February 3, SB 484 by Senator Bryan Avila (R-Hialeah Gardens) was heard by the Senate Community Affairs Committee and was reported favorably. AIF spoke for information purposes only.

Senate Bill 484 establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework for large-scale data centers and other large electric load customers in Florida, focusing on transparency, local land-use authority, utility ratepayer protections, and water resource management. Additionally, the bill creates detailed permitting standards for large-scale data centers’ water use, emphasizing conservation, reclaimed water utilization, public hearings, and protection of Florida’s water resources. The bill also prohibits government agencies from entering into nondisclosure agreements that limit public disclosure of data center developments.

SB 484 will now go to the Senate Rules Committee for consideration.

AIF supports most of the language throughout SB 484 as it sets reasonable guardrails and direction for the development of a data center in Florida. AIF does have concerns regarding a portion of the language limiting NDA use. NDA's, or Non-Disclosure Agreements, especially in the pre-development stages of large projects, are extremely important in protecting proprietary information. AIF will continue to work with the sponsor to improve the bill and continue to push pro-business policies for Florida. 

SB 1122 - Activities of Special Districts

On Tuesday, February 3, SB 1122 by Senator Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) was heard in the Senate Community Affairs Committee and was reported favorably. The bill was temporarily postponed. 

SB 1122 allows Florida hospital special districts to formally collaborate with one another by jointly creating or participating in shared ventures, such as partnerships, networks, facilities, or other business entities anywhere within their combined district boundaries. The bill declares these collaborations a public necessity to improve access to healthcare. The bill also grants these districts and their partners state action immunity, meaning their cooperative activities are protected from state and federal antitrust challenges.

AIF opposes this bill because it allows major operational consolidation without the usual regulatory review or transparency, creating uncertainty in the healthcare marketplace. Reduced competition and unclear financial accountability could lead to higher costs and long-term impacts on employers, taxpayers, and the overall business climate