March 31, 2023 | Legislative Reporter
This is the end of the session’s fourth week, and bills are moving through the process. The Bill Tracking Report, as of March 31, can be viewed here. Please review it to see the bills filed that APA Florida is tracking. Note that these tracking reports contain a new feature; if you click on the bill number, you are linked to more information about the bill.
If you would like any bills added to this report or would like more information about a specific bill, please contact Stefanie Svisco at ssvisco@floridaplanning.org
Please note: Not all bills are covered in all legislative reports. If a bill was covered in a previous reporter, and no action has taken place since that reporter, the bill will not be discussed until further action has occurred. Thank you.
The following bills of interest had action this week:
Please note: These summaries are based on a review of the bill language and legislative staff analysis. You are encouraged to read the actual bill language of bills that interest you.
GROWTH MANAGEMENT
Local Government Comprehensive Plans: CS/SB 540 (DiCeglie) was reported favorably by its second of three committees of reference, the Senate Judiciary Committee, on March 29 and now moves to the Senate Rules Committee. (See below.)
The bill amends s.163.3184(3)(C), F.S., related to the expedited review process, to provide that if an amendment is not adopted at the second public hearing, the amendment shall be formally adopted within 180 days after holding the second hearing or else it is deemed withdrawn. This amendment is stated to be remedial in nature and applies retroactively to Jan. 1, 2022.
It also amends ss.163.3184(5) and 163.3187(5), F.S., to provide that the prevailing party in administrative challenges to a comprehensive plan or amendment, including small-scale amendments, is entitled to recover attorney fees and costs in challenging or defending the order, including reasonable appellate attorney fees and costs.
The bill authorizes administrative approval of modifications to update the capital improvements component of a comprehensive plan if all the projects are adopted by the appropriate board by amending s.163.3177, F.S. An amendment added language to s.163.3202, F.S. to state that land development regulations related to any characteristic of development other than use, or intensity or density of use, may not be applied to the Florida College System institutions as defined in s.1000.21, F.S.
Finally, the bill amends s.163.3215, F.S., to resolve a split among Florida district courts of appeal by clarifying that the scope of review for a challenge to a local government decision to grant or deny a development order is limited to whether the development order would materially alter the use, density, or intensity of a property in a manner not consistent with the comprehensive plan.
APA Florida has sent a letter to Senate President Passidomo asking her to stop the bill from moving forward. Click on the image to read our letter and to help us stop SB 540.
CS/CS/HB 359 (Rep. Duggan) is similar to SB 540, was reported favorably with two amendments by the House State of Affairs Committee, its final committee of reference, on March 23. This bill is now in its second reading in the House. These amendments include:
• The bill amends s.163.3184(3)(C), F.S., related to the expedited review process, to provide that if an amendment is not adopted at the second public hearing, the amendment shall be formally adopted within 180 days after holding the second hearing or else it is deemed withdrawn. This amendment is stated to be remedial in nature and applies retroactively to Jan. 1, 2022.
• The bill amendment added language to s.163.3202, F.S., to state that land development regulations related to any characteristic of development other than use, or intensity or density of use, may not be applied to the Florida College System institutions as defined in s.1000.21, F.S.
Local Tax Referenda Requirements: CS/SB 698 (Sen. Ingoglia) was reported favorably by its first of three committees of reference, the Senate Community Affairs Committee, on March 29 and is now in its second, the Senate Finance and Tax Committee.
The bill adds a provision for a referendum to reenact an expiring local government discretionary sales surtax and an expiring tax on motor and diesel fuel which must be held at the general election immediately preceding the expiration date of the surtax. A referendum may be held only once during the 48-month period preceding the effective date of the referendum.
It also provides for a referendum to reenact an expiring tourist impact tax that must be held at a general election. Such a referendum may be held only once during the 48-month period preceding the effective date of the referendum.
Additionally, the bill adds terms for a referendum to increase the millage rate previously approved by the electors that must be held at a general election. Such a referendum may be held only once during the 48-month period preceding the effective date of the referendum.
The bill adds a provision for a referendum for mileage in excess of limits. Such a referendum may be held only once during the 48-month period preceding the effective date of the referendum.
It also amends s.336.021(7), F.S., to include that a referendum to adopt, amend, or reenact a tax under this subsection must be held at a general election, as defined in s.97.021. Such a referendum may be held only once during the 48month period preceding the effective date of the referendum.
A similar bill, CS/HB 731 (Rep. Temple), was reported favorably by its first of three committees of reference, the House Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee, on March 21 and is now in its second, the House Ways & Means Committee.
Vacation Rentals: CS/HB 833 (Rep. Duggan) was reported favorably in its first of three committees of reference, the House Regulatory Reform & Economic Development Subcommittee, on March 28 and now moves to its second, the House Ways & Means Committee.
The bill adds to the scope of the state preemption of public lodging establishments and public food service establishments, by also preempting “licensing.”
It also revises the scope of the express state preemption on vacation rentals to allow local jurisdictions to adopt local regulations:
• As long as the regulation is less restrictive; or
• To comply with local registration requirements.
The bill also preempts the regulation of advertising platforms to the state and maintains the exemption to the preemption that allows only local ordinances adopted on or before June 1, 2011, to remain in effect. Additionally, the bill allows a local government to pass such regulations after June 1, 2011, if they are less restrictive than what was in effect on June 1, 2011.
The bill maintains the exemption to the preemption for areas of critical state concern so that these areas remain fully exempted from the preemption and may have existing ordinances that were adopted after June 1, 2011.
The bill also defines and/or clarifies regulation abilities:
Local Vacation Rental Registration Program: Authorizes local laws, ordinances, or regulations to require the registration of vacation rentals with a local vacation rental registration program.
Authorizes local governments to adopt such a program and impose a fine for failure to register under the program. However, the bill requires a local government to waive the fine if the vacation rental is registered under a vacation rental registration program within 30 days after receiving notice of the fine and deficiency.
Allows local governments to charge a registration fee not to exceed $50 for processing an individual registration application or $100 for processing a collective registration application.
Prohibits a local law, ordinance, or regulation from requiring the renewal of registration more than once per year. However, if there is a change of ownership, the new owner may be required to submit a new application for registration.
Provides that as a condition of registration, the local law, ordinance, or regulation may only require the owner or operator of a vacation rental to:
• Submit identifying information about the owner or the owner’s agents and the subject vacation rental property;
• Obtain a license as a transient public lodging establishment issued by the Division of Hotels and Restaurants (Division) within 60 days after local registration;
• Obtain all required tax registrations, receipts, or certificates issued by the Department of Revenue, a county, or a municipal government;
• Update required information on a continuing basis to ensure it is current;
• Comply with parking standards and solid waste handling and containment requirements, so long as such standards and requirements are not imposed solely on vacation rentals;
• Designate and maintain at all times a responsible party who is capable of responding to complaints and other immediate problems related to the vacation rental, including being available by telephone at a listed phone number; and
• Pay in full all recorded municipal or county code liens against the subject property
The local government may withdraw its acceptance of a registration based on an unsatisfied recorded municipal or county code lien.
Requires that within 15 business days after receiving an application for registration of a vacation rental, the local government must review the application for completeness and accept the registration of the vacation rental or issue a written notice specifying with particularity any areas that are deficient, which may be provided by U.S. mail or electronically.
Provides that a vacation rental owner or operator and the local government may agree to a reasonable request to extend the timeframes, particularly in the event of a force majeure or other extraordinary circumstances. Requires a local government that denies an application for registration of a vacation rental to give written notice to the applicant as follows:
• The notice may be provided by United States mail or electronically; and
• The notice must specify with particularity the factual reasons for the denial and include a citation to the applicable portions of an ordinance, a rule, a statute, or other legal authority for the denial of the registration.
The bill:
• Prohibits local governments from denying an applicant from reapplying if the applicant cures the identified deficiencies;
• Provides that if the local government fails to accept or deny the registration within the timeframes provided, the application is deemed accepted;
• Provides that upon an accepted registration of a vacation rental, a local government must assign a unique registration number to the vacation rental or other indicia of registration and provide the registration number or other indicia of registration to the owner or operator of the vacation rental in writing or electronically;
• Authorizes local governments to terminate or refuse to issue or renew a vacation rental registration when:
The operation of the subject premises violates a registration requirement authorized pursuant to this paragraph or a local law, ordinance, or regulation that does not apply solely to vacation rentals; or
The premises and its owner are the subject of a final order or judgment lawfully directing the termination of the premises’ use as a vacation rental.
Vacation Rental Licenses: Effective Jan. 1, 2024, the bill makes the following revisions to the license application process for vacation rentals:
• Requires all applications for a vacation rental license to, if applicable, include the local registration number or other proof of registration required by local law, ordinance, or regulation;
• Authorizes the Division upon receiving an application for a vacation rental license to grant a temporary license that authorizes the vacation rental to begin operation while the application is pending and to post the information required under s.509.243(1)(c), F.S.
The temporary license automatically expires upon final agency action regarding the license application;
• Requires any license issued by the Division to be displayed conspicuously to the public inside the licensed establishment, instead of “in the office or lobby”;
• Requires the owner or operator of a vacation rental offered for transient occupancy through an advertising platform to display the vacation rental license number and the applicable local registration number.
Advertising Platforms Definition: Defines the term “advertising platform” as a person as defined in s.1.01, F.S., who:
• Provides an online application, software, website, or a system: through which a vacation rental located in this state is advertised or held out to the public as available to rent for transient occupancy;
• Provides or maintains a marketplace: for the renting of a vacation rental for transient occupancy; and
• Provides a reservation or payment system: that facilitates a transaction for the renting of a vacation rental for transient occupancy and for which the person collects or receives, directly or indirectly, a fee in connection with the reservation or payment service provided for the rental transaction.
Advertising Platform Requirements: Effective Jan. 1, 2024, the bill provides that advertising platforms must:
• Require that a person who places an advertisement for the rental of a vacation rental to:
Include in the advertisement the vacation rental license number and, if applicable, the local registration number; and
Attest to the best of the person’s knowledge that the license number for the vacation rental property and the local registration are current, valid, and accurately stated in the advertisement.
• Display the vacation rental license number and, if applicable, the local registration number;
• By July 1, 2024, check that the vacation rental license number provided by the owner or operator appears as current in the information posted by the Division and applies to the subject vacation rental before publishing the advertisement on its platform and again on a quarterly basis;
• Remove from public view an advertisement or listing from its online application, software, website, or system within 15 business days after being notified by the Division in writing that the subject advertisement or listing for the rental of a vacation rental located in this state fails to display a valid license number issued by the Division; and
• Adopt an anti-discrimination plan to help prevent discrimination, and inform its users of the public lodging discrimination prohibition found in s.509.092, F.S.
Advertising Platform Tax Requirements: Requires advertising platforms to collect and remit taxes due under a certain provision of Florida’s tax code resulting from the reservation and payment of a vacation rental property through an advertising platform.
Requires advertising platforms to collect and remit taxes due under ss.125.0104, 125.0108, 212.03, 212.0305, and 212.055, F.S., resulting from the reservation of a vacation rental property and payment therefor through an advertising platform.
The bill also includes the tax collection and remittance requirements for advertising platforms within Ch. 212, F.S., and to:
• Provide that the taxes an advertising platform must collect and remit are based on the total rental amount charged by the owner or operator for use of the vacation rental;
• Exclude service fees from the calculation of taxes remitted by an advertising platform to the Department of Revenue (DOR), unless the advertising platform owns, is related to, operates, or manages the vacation rental; and
• Require the DOR and other jurisdictions to allow advertising platforms to register, collect, and remit such taxes.
Provides that advertising platforms that comply with the requirements are deemed to be complying. Also provides that it does not create and is not intended to create a private cause of action against advertising platforms, and an advertising platform may not be held liable for any action it takes voluntarily in good faith in relation to its users to comply with Ch. 509, F.S., or the advertising platform’s terms of service.
Division Requirements: By July 1, 2024, the bill requires the Division to maintain vacation rental license information in a readily accessible electronic format.
Provides enforcement processes for the Division to issue a cease and desist order for any person who violates Ch. 509, F.S., the chapter of law governing “lodging and food service establishments.” Also authorizes the Division to seek an injunction or a writ of mandamus to enforce a cease and desist order. If the Division is required to seek enforcement of the notice for a penalty pursuant to s.120.69, F.S., it is entitled to collect its attorney fees and costs, together with any cost of collection.
The bill:
• Authorizes the Division to fine an advertising platform up to $1,000 per offense for violations of its new requirements or of the rules of the Division;
• Authorizes the Division to regard as a separate offense each day or portion of a day in which an advertising platform is operated in violation;
• Requires the Division to issue a written warning or notice and provide the advertising platform 15 days to cure such violation before commencing any legal proceeding.
Authorizes the Division to revoke, refuse to issue or renew, or suspend for a period of not more than 30 days a vacation rental license when:
• The operation of the subject premises violates the terms of an applicable lease or property restriction, including any property restriction adopted pursuant to Chs. 718, 719, or 720, F.S., as determined by a final order of a court of competent jurisdiction or a written decision by an arbitrator authorized to arbitrate a dispute relating to the subject property and a lease or property restriction;
• The owner or operator fails to provide proof of registration, if required by local law, ordinance, or regulation;
• The registration of the vacation rental is terminated by a local government as provided in s.509.032(7)(b)5., F.S.; or
• The premises and its owner are the subject of a final order or judgment lawfully directing the termination of the premises’ use as a vacation rental.
Authorizes the Division to suspend, for a period of not more than 30 days, a vacation rental license when the owner or operator has been cited for two or more code violations related to the vacation rental during a period of 90 days. The Division is required to issue a written warning or notice and provide an opportunity to cure a violation before commencing a legal proceeding.
Condominiums, Cooperatives, and Homeowners’ Associations: Specifies that the application of the provisions in the bill shall not supersede any current or future declaration or declaration of condominium adopted pursuant to Ch. 718, F.S., cooperative documents adopted pursuant to Ch. 719, F.S., or declaration or declaration of covenants adopted pursuant to Ch. 720, F.S.
Department of Revenue Rulemaking: Grants DOR emergency rulemaking authority to implement the changes made by the bill relating to the collection of taxes, including establishing procedures to facilitate the remittance of taxes. The emergency rules will be effective for 6 months after adoption and may be renewed while DOR adopts permanent rules. The bill’s section authorizing the emergency rules will expire on Jan. 1, 2025.
Sexual Offenders and Predators: Amends s.775.21, F.S., to require sexual offenders and sexual predators to register with the local sheriff’s office if they stay in a vacation rental for 24 hours or more (currently set at stays of three days or more).
Becomes effective upon becoming law, except for the provisions otherwise expressly provided in the bill. The requirements for vacation rental owners or operators to display license and registration information become effective on Jan. 1, 2024. The bill requires the Division to maintain vacation rental license information in a readily accessible electronic format by July 1, 2024. The provisions governing advertising platforms become effective on Jan. 1, 2024.
A similar bill, CS/SB 714, was reported favorably as amended by the Senate Regulated Industries Committee on March 14 and now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government, its second of three committees of reference.
Agricultural Lands: CS/HB 1343 (Rep. Tuck) was reported favorably by its first of three committees of reference, the House Agriculture, Conservation & Resiliency Subcommittee, on March 27 and is now in its second, the House Ways & Means Committee.
The bill specifies that the construction or installation of housing for migrant farmworkers, who are legally eligible for participation in the workforce, is authorized on land zoned for agricultural use and operated as a bona fide farm.
Such construction or installation of housing may not exceed 7,500 square feet per parcel of land; must meet all local and state building standards for securing a residential certificate of occupancy; and does not require approval by ordinance or resolution of the governmental entity where the land is located.
The bill specifies that if agricultural operations are discontinued on the property for a minimum of three years and the agricultural land classification of the property is no longer valid, then the farmworker housing is no longer eligible for residential use unless and until approved by the local jurisdiction under its zoning and land use regulations for the intended non-agricultural use.
The bill prohibits a county or municipality from requiring the removal or relinquishment of an agricultural classification for land that is subject to a contract for sale that requires a development permit as a condition precedent of sale if the landowner notifies the county or municipality in writing at the time of application for the development permit that the reclassification is requested as a condition precedent for a pending sale of land. The agricultural classification for the land may not be removed or relinquished until such time that the landowner provides written notice to the county or municipality that the contract has closed, and the property has been conveyed to the contract purchaser.
A similar bill, CS/SB 1184 (Sen. Collins), is in its second of three committees, the Senate Finance and Tax Committee.
HOUSING:
Disposal of Department of Transportation Property: HB 763 (Rep. Edmonds) was reported favorably by its second of three committees of reference, the House Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee, on March 29 and is now in its last, the House Infrastructure Strategies Committee.
The bill provides that the use of property as affordable housing qualifies as use for a public purpose in the context of the authorization of the Florida Department of Transportation to convey property without consideration to a government entity.
An identical bill, SB 678, (Sen. Powell), is in its third committee of reference, the Senate Rules Committee.
Affordable Housing in Areas of Critical State Concern: HB 1293 (Rep. Mooney, Jr.) was reported favorably by its second of three committees of reference, the House Agriculture, Conservation & Resiliency Subcommittee, on March 27 and now moves to its last, the House State Affairs Committee.
The bill amends ss.125.01055 and 166.04151, F.S., to exclude land designated as an area of critical state concern from county and municipality provisions that allow them to approve the development of affordable housing on any parcel zoned for residential, commercial, or industrial use.
It also amends ss.420.9075, F.S., to provide that if a county or municipality is in an area designated within the previous five years as an area of critical state concern by the Legislature for which the Legislature has declared its intent to provide affordable housing, that county or municipality is exempt from the requirement to spend at least 30 percent of SHIP program funds on awards for very-low-income persons and another 30 percent on awards for lowincome persons. This provision applies retroactively and expires on July 1, 2028.
SB 1212 (Sen. Rodriguez), a similar bill, is in the Senate Community Affairs Committee, its first of three committees of reference.
Residential Tenancies: CS/SB 1586 (Sen. Trumbull and Sen. Rodriguez) was moved favorably by its first of three committees of reference, the Senate Judiciary Committee, on March 29, and is now in its second, the Senate Community Affairs Committee.
The bill creates s.83.425, F.S., to expressly preempt to the state the regulation of residential tenancies, the landlordtenant relationship, and all other matters covered by the Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Act). The bill also specifies that it supersedes any local government regulations on matters covered under the Act, including, but not limited to:
• The screening process used by landlords in approving tenancies;
• Security deposits;
• Rental agreement applications and fees associated therewith;
• Terms and conditions of rental agreements;
• The rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants; disclosures concerning the premises, dwelling unit, rental agreement, or rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants;
• Fees charged by the landlord; and
• Notice requirements.
The bill also increases the notice period for terminating a:
• Month-to-month tenancy from 15 days’ notice to 30 days’ notice.
• Tenancy with a specific duration, providing that the applicable rental agreement cannot require less than 60 days’ notice of termination, instead of more than 60 days’ notice as required in current law.
An identical bill, HB 1417, (Rep. Esposito) was reported favorably by its first of three committees of reference, the House Civil Justice Subcommittee, on March 20 and is now in its second, the House Local Administration, Federal Affairs & Special Districts Subcommittee.
ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Everglades Protection Area: CS/CS/SB 192 (Sen. Avila) is on the Senate Rules Committee Agenda, its last committee of reference, for March 30. **At the time of publication this committee had not yet concluded.**
The bill amends s.163.3184, F.S., to require that proposed plans and plan amendments by a county as defined in s.125.011(1), F.S., or any municipality located therein, that apply to any land within, or within 2 miles of, the Everglades Protection Area as defined in ss.373.4592 must follow the state-coordinated review process:
• The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) must determine whether the proposed plan or plan amendment by a county as defined in s.125.011(1), F.S., or any municipality located therein, or any portion thereof, will adversely impact the Everglades Protection Area or the Everglades restoration and protection objectives identified in s.373.4592, F.S. DEP must issue a written determination to the Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), the local government, and all federally recognized Indian tribes in the state within 30 days after receipt of the proposed plan or plan amendment. The determination must identify any adverse impacts and may be provided as part of DEP’s reviewing comment;
• Before adoption of the proposed plan or plan amendment, DEP must coordinate with DEO, the local government, and all federally recognized Indian tribes in the state to identify any planning strategies or measures that the local government could include in the proposed plan or plan amendment to eliminate or mitigate any adverse impacts to the Everglades Protection Area or the Everglades restoration and protection objectives identified in s.373.4592, F.S.;
• If DEP determines that any portion of the proposed plan or plan amendment will adversely impact the Everglades Protection Area or the Everglades restoration and protection objectives identified in s.373.4592, F.S., the local government must modify that portion of the proposed plan or plan amendment to include planning strategies or measures to eliminate or mitigate such adverse impacts before adopting the proposed plan or plan amendment, or that portion of the proposed plan or plan amendment may not be adopted;
• During the review process for a plan amendment by a county as defined in s.125.011(1), F.S., or any municipality located therein, a local government may consider an application for a development permit or development order that is contingent upon adoption of the plan amendment. (This was amended into the bill by the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee);
• Comprehensive plan amendments by a county as defined in s.125.011(1), F.S., or any municipality located therein that apply to any land within, or within 2 miles of, the Everglades Protection Area must be transmitted within 10 working days after the second public hearing to Department of Environmental Protection; and
• The Department of Economic Opportunity’s compliance determination must be limited not only to the objections raised in the objections, recommendations, and comments report (consistent with existing law), but also a review of planning strategies or measures adopted pursuant to the new provision.
It further amends ss.163.3187 F.S. to:
• Clarify that text changes that relate directly to, and are adopted simultaneously with, a small-scale future land use amendment must be site specific;
• Provide that property that is the subject of a small-scale amendment by a county as defined in s.125.011(1) or many municipalities located therein cannot be located in whole or in part within, or within 2 miles of, the Everglades Protection Area; and
• Provide that within 10 days after the adoption of a small-scale development amendment by a county as defined in s.125.011(1), F.S., or any municipality located therein, a county whose boundaries include any portion of the Everglades Protection Area as defined under state law, and the municipalities within the county, must transmit a copy of the amendment to DEO for recordkeeping purposes.
A similar bill, HB 175 (Rep. Busatta Cabrera), is in its first of three committees of reference, the House Agriculture, Conservation & Resiliency Subcommittee.
TRANSPORTATION
Tampa Bay Regional Transit Authority: CS/HB 155 (Rep. Holcomb), was passed by the House on March 24 and was referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee on March 27.
The bill repeals Chapter 343, Part III, F.S., relating to TBARTA. The bill dissolves TBARTA effective June 30, 2024. TBARTA must:
• Provide for the discharge of its liabilities. Any liabilities in excess of its assets will be assumed by each county represented on TBARTA’s board in proportion to what each county contributed to TBARTA in the 2021-2022 fiscal year;
• Settle and close its affairs, and transfer any pending activities, including, but not limited to, the administration of its vanpool program;
• Close and appropriately dispense any applicable federal or state grants or funds;
• Provide for distribution of any remaining assets such that each county represented on TBARTA’s board receives an amount in proportion to what each county contributed to TBARTA in the 2021-2022 fiscal year;
• Provide written notice of final dissolution to the Department of Economic Opportunity and each entity represented on TBARTA’s board; and
• Forward its records to the Department of State upon final dissolution.
A similar bill, CS/SB 198 (Sen. DiCeglie), is now in its last committee, the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Department of Transportation: CS/HB 1305 (Rep. Abbott) was reported favorably by its first of three committees of reference, the House Transportation & Modals Subcommittee, March 29, and is now in its second, the House Infrastructure & Tourism Appropriations Subcommittee.
This bill contains the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) 2023 legislative proposals. Among these proposals, the bill:
• Authorizes the Florida Development Finance Corporation to finance certain FDOT-related public private partnership projects;
• Authorizes installation of automated license plate recognition systems within the rights-of-way of the State Highway System at FDOT’s discretion when installed at the request of a law enforcement agency for the purpose of collecting active criminal intelligence or investigative information;
• Authorizes FDOT to acquire promotional items and materials to promote electric vehicle use and charging and autonomous vehicles;
• Authorizes FDOT, at its discretion, to expend funds for training, testing, and licensing for full-time DOT employees who are required to have a valid Class A or Class B commercial driver license as a condition of employment with DOT;
• Increases FDOT’s contracting cap where it is not required to receive competitive bids in certain circumstance from $250,000 to $500,000;
• Extends for 1 year a provision allowing the chair and vice-chair of the Legislative Budget Commission approve FDOT work program amendments if specified conditions are met;
• Requires a public transit provider’s transportation development plan to be consistent, to the maximum extent feasible, with the long-range transportation plan of the local metropolitan planning organization;
• Removes the requirement that each public transit provider’s productivity and performance report specifically address potential enhancements to productivity and performance that would have the effect of increasing the farebox recovery ratio;
• Requires public transit providers to publish productivity and performance information on its website, instead of in the local newspaper;
• Transfers the Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority’s bridge system to FDOT and authorizes FDOT to transfer it to the Florida Turnpike Enterprise; and
• Repeals the Santa Rosa Bay Bridge Authority in statute.
A similar bill, CS/SB 1250 (Sen. DiCeglie), is now in its second of three committees of reference, the Senate Appropriations Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development.
NEWS CLIPS
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