Legislative Update
Philip L. Leary, AICP Fairs Lobbyist
pleary@LearyGAC.com www.LearyGAC.com
Legislative Update Phil Leary, AICP
2016-17 Budget The 2016-17 fiscal year’s budget marks a nearly $3 billion increase
from the 2015-16 budget. The $82.3 billion plan surpasses what was first proposed by both the House and Senate. The House’s original pro- posal was under $80 billion and the Senate’s was just under $82 billion. Amendment 1 Dollars Directed to Environmental Project Despite objections from the environmental community and former Gov.
With the end of the 2016 legislative session, the House
and Senate passed a budget that has been signed into law by the Governor, which includes $300,000 for Agriculture Leadership and Education, which includes Premium Funding for Fairs under the DACS budget. Additionally several Capital Outlay Projects were included in the final budget and spared the Governor’s veto pen. Here is a summary of several key pieces of legislation that passed and failed: Taxes - HB 7099 (PASSED): Establishes a $129 million tax cut package that includes a shortened, three-day back- to-school sales tax holiday. HB 751/SB1332(FAILED) Requires Legislature and school districts to use term "tax increase" in ads telling taxpayers annual increase in property taxes to fund public schools. Education - School Choice HB 7029 (PASSED): Changes capital funding eligibility for charter schools and spending limits for traditional schools; allows public school students to attend any school in the state that has space available; increases financial transparency of charter schools; allows high school athletes to transfer schools and have immedi- ate eligibility; codifies in law performance funding for state colleges and universities; among other provisions. Business – Solar Tax Break HJR 193 (PASSED): Asks voters to amend state Constitution on Aug. 30 primary ballot to give businesses tax breaks for solar and renewable energy devices. Environment – Water Policy SB 552 (Signed into Law): Overhauls state water policy to focus on best management practices for agricultural businesses and heavy water users. (SB 552) Fracking SB 318/HB 191 (FAILED): Establish a tempo- rary ban and then a state permitting process for the meth- od of drilling that involves injecting water, sand and chemi- cals underground to create fractures in rock formations to release natural gas and oil. (SB 318/HB 191).
Contact your legislators:
https://www.flsenate.gov/senators http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/sections/representatives Regular sessions of the Legislature begin on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in March and continue for 60 consecu- tive days, which may be extended by a three-fifths vote of each house. Special sessions may be called by the Governor, or may be convened by joint proclamation of the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Special sessions may not exceed 20 days, unless extended by a three-fifths vote of each house.
Bob Graham, the Legislature again rightfully allocated Amendment 1 funds to water projects and environmental protection and restoration instead of spending money on unnecessary land acquisition. Amendment 1, passed in 2014, allocates 33 percent of documentary stamp tax revenues to water and land conservation. For the 2016-2017 fiscal year, more than $930 million is available for Amendment 1 spend- ing, nearly $200 million more than last year. And the budget includes $92 million for land conservation, including
$35 million for (Rural & Family Lands Program) conservation payments to agricultural landowners, $27.7 million for Everglades land acquisition and $15.2 million for Florida Forever. The rest of the funds are directed at specific water and environmental projects and land management, in- cluding $144.5 million for environmental site clean-up. Overall it was a very productive session, in which we were successful in both budget and policy legislation. And now the election and campaigning season is well under way as all 160 seats in the legislature are up for election. Please make an effort to know your State Senator and Representative and or candidates running for open seats and support those who support Fairs in their campaigns.
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FAIRCRACKER-SUMMER 2016
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