Community Redevelopment Agencies; Revising the structure of community redevelopment agencies to require a governing body to declare itself to be an agency; prohibiting a governing body from adopting any modification to a community redevelopment plan which expands the boundaries of the community redevelopment area or extends the time certain set forth in the redevelopment plan; revising the authorized activities of community redevelopment agencies; prohibiting community redevelopment agencies from paying for or financing by increment revenues certain projects; revising the date on which community redevelopment agencies must terminate, etc.
Large-scale County Destination Marketing Organizations; Defining the term “large-scale county destination marketing organization”; requiring a large-scale county destination marketing organization to register with the Department of State; requiring the department to maintain a list of large-scale county destination marketing organizations on its website; requiring a one-to-one match of private to public contributions to fund large-scale county destination marketing organizations, etc.
HB 673 establishes a fee structure for recreational fishing vessel licenses on freshwater bodies. It directly affects individuals who operate boats for non-commercial fishing on lakes, rivers, and ponds within the state. The bill specifies the required license fees but does not detail additional requirements or exemptions. This is a procedural fee-setting measure with no other described policy mechanisms.
Revenue Administration; Replacing the term “tax assessor” with the term “property appraiser”; revising the definitions of the terms “ad valorem tax” and “assessed value of property”; prohibiting the levy of non-ad valorem assessments on agricultural lands under certain circumstances; specifying that non-ad valorem assessments may become delinquent and bear penalties in the same manner as county taxes; authorizing non-ad valorem assessments to be levied to pay certain bonds issued, etc.
Manufacturing; Revising the duties of the Department of Commerce; establishing the Chief Manufacturing Officer among the senior leadership of the department; providing that the Chief Manufacturing Officer is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of the Secretary of Commerce; requiring the department to prepare a report regarding manufacturing efforts in this state; creating the Florida Manufacturers’ Workforce Development Grant Program; requiring the department, in coordination with the Chief Manufacturing Officer and the State Manufacturing Extension Partnership organization, to review applications submitted and to select specified projects, etc.
Manufacturing ; Revises duties of Department of Commerce; establishes Chief Manufacturing Officer for certain purpose; provides organizational structure & responsibilities for Chief Manufacturing Officer; directs all state & local governmental entities to assist Chief Manufacturing Officer; requires department to prepare & submit to Governor & Legislature specified report regarding manufacturing efforts in this state by specified date; creates Florida Manufacturing Promotional Campaign for specified purpose; requires department to take certain actions in promoting campaign; requires persons that participate in campaign to register annually with department.
Florida State Guard; Authorizing leaves of absence for members of the Florida State Guard when they are engaged in certain ordered training; providing a discount on annual entrance passes to state parks for current members of the Florida State Guard; creating and specifying the annual fee for the Florida State Guard gold sportsman’s license for hunting and fishing; creating the Florida State Guard Scholarship Program for a specified purpose, etc.
SB 946 prohibits state and local governments from approving permits for specific types of waste facilities. This bill directly affects local planning departments, environmental agencies, and waste management companies seeking new facility permits. The key provision is a blanket ban on permit approvals for the designated waste facilities outlined in the bill, though the abstract does not specify which facility types are covered. The bill creates a clear regulatory restriction on government permitting actions without detailing the exact facilities or environmental standards involved.
Recreational Fishing Vessel Licenses; Requiring licensure to operate a freshwater fishing vessel under certain circumstances; providing freshwater fishing vessel licensure fees, etc.
Florida Public Service Commission; Revising the membership of the Florida Public Service Commission; requiring that orders issued by the commission contain adequate support for any conclusions made by the commission; requiring the commission to keep the allowable return on equity for public utilities close to the risk-free rate of return and require that upward deviations away from the risk-free rate be specifically justified by the public utility seeking a tariff modification; requiring that improvements included in certain transmission and distribution storm protection plans have forecasted customer benefits exceeding their forecasted cost, etc.
Ad Valorem Taxation; Authorizes taxpayers to rescind homestead exemption applications; provides requirements for rescinding such applications; requires property appraiser to adjust tax rolls; revises conditions under which property is entitled to certain exemptions.
Florida Health Choices Program; Renames "Florida Health Choices Program" as "Florida Employee Health Choices Program"; revises program purpose & components to provide for sale & purchase of individual health insurance plans to employees enrolled in individual coverage health reimbursement arrangements; removes provisions relating to certain health care service providers, organizations, entities, & vendors, vendor procedures, products available for purchase through program, pricing, risk pooling, & exemptions; revises marketplace process; creates Florida Employee Health Choices, Inc.; provides requirements for DMS; providing for board of directors & membership & terms of office; authorizes corporation to exercise certain powers; provides requirements for board & corporation; revises fiscal year in which corporation's annual report is due.
