SB 1178 – Foreign Influence

On Monday, March 2, SB 1178 by Senator Erin Grall (R-Vero Beach) was heard by the Senate Appropriations Committee and was reported favorably. AIF spoke in opposition to this legislation.
 
This bill creates new rules for agents of foreign countries of concern and foreign-supported political organizations. It requires such entities to register with the Division of Elections and regularly update the state about their activities. The bill also clearly defines what counts as a “foreign country of concern” and a “foreign terrorist organization.” In addition, it stops state and local governments from signing certain contracts with businesses that are owned, partly owned, or closely connected to those foreign countries.
 
SB 1178 will now go to the Senate Floor for consideration.

AIF opposes this bill as it creates uncertainty and adds compliance burdens for businesses operating in the global economy. Companies with even minor or indirect foreign investment could face restrictions on public contracts, increasing costs, slowing projects, and making it harder for Florida businesses to compete and grow.

SB 7046 – Taxation

On Monday, March 2, SB 7046 was heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee and was reported favorably. AIF continues to gather feedback from members on the tax packages.

This bill makes several tax and regulatory changes that affect how local governments raise revenue and how businesses are taxed. It limits how counties, cities, and special districts calculate special assessments on RV parks by capping the square footage per site and requiring they be treated as commercial properties instead of residential units. The measure also revises parts of the affordable housing property tax exemption process, updates millage rules, and restructures how certain communications services tax and sales tax revenues are distributed, including expanded support for fiscally constrained counties. In addition, it prohibits state and local governments from adopting or funding net-zero mandates, carbon taxes, or cap-and-trade style programs. The latest amendment further expands homestead property tax exemptions for certain totally and permanently disabled individuals and adds a sales tax exemption for small portable propane tanks, along with broader outdoor-related exemptions, providing targeted tax relief for consumers and related industries.

SB 7046 will now head to the Senate for further consideration.

AIF continues to be involved in promoting policies that provide tax predictability, protect energy reliability, strengthen fiscally constrained counties, and prevent additional regulatory costs that could negatively impact Florida’s businesses and consumers.