Florida's Latest News

House advances tax package as tourism leaders fear repercussions from hotel tax changes

The bill passes with a 78-29 vote on the House Floor after going through one committee stop this week.

The House passed a tax package Friday that could shake up counties’ hotel tax funding.

Republicans said the significant changes would save taxpayers money and offer immediate property tax relief, while many lawmakers argued the proposed reform would defund local counties. The bill also faces staunch opposition from the tourism and hospitality industry.

Under the latest version of HB 7033, 75% of a county’s tourist development tax (TDT) would be redirected to lower property taxes starting in 2026, while counties could decide how to spend the remaining 25% on tourism advertising, public transit, and any other needs, said House Ways and Means Committee Chair Rep. Wyman Duggan during Friday’s debate.

Counties would also choose whether the state-mandated property tax relief was aimed at residential or commercial properties, or both, said Duggan, a Jacksonville Republican.

House approves Rural Renaissance language, but splits it across 3 bills

Will the Senate accept legislation attaching language focused on agrarian counties to other controversial policies?

The House has passed “Rural Renaissance” legislation aimed at revitalizing agrarian counties — but split it up into three bills.

Portions of the legislative package were attached to other legislation, most of it controversial, before passing the measures in the lower chamber.

The House passed economic provisions in a bill (HB 991) that would also eliminate community redevelopment agencies. Shortly after, the House passed a health care bill (HB 1427) that seeks to increase medical services in rural areas but now also includes changes to scope of practice and other health care policy. That came more than a week after passing an education bill (HB 1267) that also dealt with civics curricula.

That has a lot of lawmakers anxious about whether the Senate, which already passed its own Rural Renaissance bill (SB 110) on a unanimous vote more than a month ago, will go along with the divided framework.

‘Transparency and accountability’: House passes protections against ‘notario fraud’

'We have to make sure that our vulnerable communities are protected.'

Legislation to protect Spanish-speaking immigrants from scamsters pretending to have legal expertise is heading to the Senate after passing with near unanimity in the Legislature’s lower chamber.

House members voted 114-1 for HB 915, which would establish clear guidelines for how notaries public can describe themselves and advertise their services in the state of Florida.

“This bill is about protecting vulnerable communities about misleading advertisement and unauthorized practices. It’s about transparency and accountability,” said Hollywood Rep. Marie Woodson, who sponsored the bill with Orlando Rep. Johanna López, a fellow Democrat.

“We have to make sure that our vulnerable communities are protected, so we are going to do the right thing by voting up on this bill.”

All but Jacksonville Republican Rep. Kiyan Michael, who voted “no” Thursday, agreed.

House approves measure designed to enhance education about disabled students in Florida schools

The Evin B. Hartsell Act aims to end bullying of disabled students in public schools.

The House has approved a proposed measure that would teach Florida public school students about disabilities as part of their lessons.

The proposed “Evin B. Hartsell Act” (HB 447) was unanimously approved on the floor of the House last week. It still needs to go to the Senate floor for a full vote in that chamber, but several Senate committees have already given preliminary approval.

Under the proposal students would receive specific instruction on several topics relating to disabilities through the course of each grade. District school boards would be authorized to consult with the Evin B. Hartsell Foundation to help with the development of the curriculum.

The House measure was sponsored by Rep. Michelle Salzman, an Escambia County Republican, who said the measure, also known as the “Disability History and Awareness Instruction” bill, is about providing a sense of decency in schools for students who deal with disabilities.