Topic: Economic Development

A $1.2 billion surplus enabled lawmakers to boost spending in several areas including transportation projects boost in funding. Also, the Senate confirmed the head of the Department of Economic Opportunity and lawmakers nixed a requirement that jobless benefit seekers must take a skills test . Read more . . .

The defense contractor giant, which posted net earnings of $1.95 billion last year, was already eligible for $10.1 million in state taxpayer incentives for a separate project when a budget panel approved another $20.8 million in March for a new project. The two projects are expected to bring a combined 2,800 jobs to Melbourne.

HB 7095 provides a process for sports teams and venues to apply for tax rebates to build new stadiums or upgrade current facilities.

On the final day of the 2014 legislative session, several environmental bills are ready for a vote in the Senate. But in the House, the question remains whether the springs bill passed by the Senate will be heard. "It's got as good a shot as any bill that's coming over from the Senate," House Speaker Will Weatherford said, before mentioning that a two-thirds vote will be needed to hear it on the House floor.

HB 7023 was rewritten without a an exemption from impact fees after Sen. Nancy Detert withdrew an amendment in the face of critical questioning. A two-year extension of state environmental permits was added.

Remember the House auto-reader in 2013? Or the epic early morning end to the 2011 session? Rep. Perry Thurston, House Democratic leader, says a meltdown is possible if the Senate doesn't pass the in-state tuition bill. AP Writer Gary Fineout points to other bills that could cause problems. But others say they don't see it happening. "Nah -- all is well," House Speaker Will Weatherford said.

The Senate, however, is sticking to its version with a provision making an online skills test for unemployment benefits voluntary.

The House and Senate versions of an economic development omnibus package contains clashing provisions on development fee exemptions and a skills test requirement to receive jobless benefits.

Despite the struggles with CONNECT, a new unemployment benefits system that caused delays for thousands of Floridians looking for work when the switch was made to the system in October, Jesse Panuccio did not receive a single negative vote for confirmation as the executive director of the Department of Economic Opportunity.

Legislation to push more policies out of state-run Citizens Property Insurance Corp. sailed through the Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee on Monday, but key provisions don't match up with the House version.

The taxpayer money involved represents nearly 30 percent of all the economic incentives appropriated for the current fiscal year.

The executive director of the Department of Economic Opportunity sailed through another Senate confirmation hearing Monday, but key parts of Gov. Rick Scott's budget proposal for his agency didn't make it into an initial Senate budget plan.

HB 7023 would exempt smaller developments from transportation concurrency fees and is part of an economic development package. It is drawing objections from local governments who rely on the fees to pay for infrastructure improvements and it doesn't match up well with a similar bill in the Senate.

They include support for Gov. Scott's tax cuts, enforcement of the sales tax for Internet purchases and words of caution for casino proposals.