The political world is turning faster than the earth rotates on its axis. That is 1,000 miles per hour. So many issues, campaigns, rumors and just plain ole guessing going on these days. Which makes it very hard to keep up and really have a factual understanding of global, United States, Florida and local political issues. That is the very reason I write this article each week. I hope that by giving you “The Straight Truth” it will bring an understanding of the issues and incentivize you to vote and cast a vote which is educated and within your political beliefs.
This week is a continuation of the remaining 8 bills that Senator Trumbull has filed this legislative session. Also this week we will cover House Bill (HB) 9-B, Reedy Creek Improvement District, Orange, and Osceola Counties signed by Governor Ron DeSantis. If you are not familiar with a special tax district you might want to look below at the special privileges given with one.
Senator Jay Trumbull’s Bills
SB 1254: Specialty License Plates/Recycle Florida/Florida Association of Realtors
“Specialty License Plates/Recycle Florida/Florida Association of Realtors; Directing the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to develop a Recycle Florida license plate and a Florida Association of Realtors license plate; providing for distribution and use of fees collected from the sale of the plates, etc.”
SB 1258: Use of Phosphogypsum
“Use of Phosphogypsum; Authorizing the Department of Transportation to undertake demonstration projects using phosphogypsum in road construction aggregate material to determine its feasibility as a paving material; requiring the department to conduct a study on the suitability of using phosphogypsum as a construction aggregate material; prohibiting phosphogypsum placed in specified stack systems from being regulated as solid waste under certain circumstances, etc.”
SB 1260: Asbestos and Silica Claims
“Asbestos and Silica Claims; Requiring a claimant to file a sworn information form containing certain information within a certain time period after filing an asbestos or silica claim; authorizing a court to dismiss certain claims upon a motion by a defendant; providing that certain defendants are not liable for certain asbestos or silica exposures, etc.”
SB 1404: Movable Tiny Homes
“Movable Tiny Homes; Providing for taxation of a movable tiny home according to its classification; including movable tiny homes in provisions relating to expiration and renewal of registration; including movable tiny home dealers and manufacturers in provisions relating to license taxes for dealer and manufacturer license plates; defining the terms “dealer” and “movable tiny home broker”; providing conditions under which a licensed dealer may transact business in movable tiny homes; establishing uniform standards for manufacturing, inspection, and certification of movable tiny homes, etc.”
SB 1406: Fees/Movable Tiny Homes
“Fees/Movable Tiny Homes; Imposing an annual license tax to be collected upon registration or renewal of registration of a movable tiny home; providing for payment and disposition of fees relating to licensure as a movable tiny home dealer, etc.”
SB 1432: Communications Services Tax
“Communications Services Tax; Decreasing the tax rate on the retail sale of communications services; requiring a certain tax remain the same rate as it was on a specified past date until a specified future date; specifying the fees, taxes, charges, and other impositions that the a specified tax replaces, etc.” Reduction in tax rate from 4.92% to 3.48%.
SB 1580: Protections of Medical Conscience
“Protections of Medical Conscience; Providing that health care providers and health care payors have the right to opt out of participation in or payment for certain health care services on the basis of conscience-based objections; providing requirements for a health care provider’s notice and documentation of such objection; providing whistle-blower protections for health care providers and health care payors that take certain actions or disclose certain information relating to the reporting of certain violations; prohibiting boards, or the Department of Health if there is no board, from taking disciplinary action against or denying a license to an individual based solely on specified conduct, etc.”
SB 1586: Residential Tenancies
“Residential Tenancies; Preempting the regulation of residential tenancies and the landlord-tenant relationship to the state; specifying that the act supersedes certain local regulations; revising how much notice is required to terminate certain tenancies, etc.” Extending month to month tenancy, by giving not less than 30 days, a change from 15 days, notice prior to the end of any monthly period. A rental agreement may not require less than 60 days’ notice, a change from more than, from either the tenant or the landlord.
Senator Trumbull is hard at work, proposing laws to protect Florida Citizens and proposing tax cuts to ease Floridians short budgets caused by soaring inflation, and the high cost of gas and food. He is also hard at work voting to pass bills which will bring transparency to Florida’s taxpayers.
The American Legislative Exchange Council defines transparency: “Transparency is government’s obligation to share information with citizens that is needed to make informed decisions and hold officials accountable for the conduct of the people’s business.” Transparency is often excluded when special districts are created. You might ask what is a special district? The Florida Constitution states that a special district is a “unit of local government” created by the Legislature or another branch of local government, for a specific purpose. Walt Disney World has operated under a special district since 1967 when the Reddy Creek Improvement District was established. Basically The Reddy Creek Improvement Special District allowed Walt Disney World to operate as an autonomous government, only answering to itself with little or no transparency to Florida laws or taxpayers.
On February 27, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB 9-B, Reedy Creek Improvement District, Orange, and Osceola Counties. This bill ends Walt Disney World’s self-governing status and special privileges which were established by the Reddy Creek Improvement District. This bill ends Disney’s exemptions from the Florida Building Code and Florida Fire Prevention Code, ends exemptions from state regulatory reviews, and ensures Disney’s billion-dollar bond debt will be paid by Disney and not Florida Taxpayers. Disney will no longer be given any preferential treatment and will be paying their share of taxes. The bill established a state-controlled district with a five member state control board which is appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Senate. Governor Ron DeSantis said “Allowing a corporation to control its own government is bad policy, especially when the corporation makes decisions that impact an entire region. “This legislation ends Disney’s self-governing status, makes Disney live under the same laws as everybody else, and ensures that Disney pays its debts and fair share of taxes.”
I will keep you posted as the legislative session continues and more bills are signed. Remember Democracy works best if the voters are informed and cast votes.