Topic: Concurrency Fix

Bills eliminating state-level reviews of large development projects in more counties and environmental permitting regulations didn't make it out of the legislature but a bill favored by the real estate industry to entice insurers to write more flood insurance policies will go to Gov. Rick Scott's desk. Read more . . .

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.

Two growth management bills are headed to governor while a third is hung up in Senate. Read more ..

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

Lawmakers are pushing bills this year to limit local governments' ability to charge transportation concurrency fees, reduce state reviews of local growth management decisions, require written notice to retain subsurface mineral rights and require Citizens Property Insurance Corp. customers to repair sinkhole damage only through approved contractors.

Last year similar bill language passed the House despite opposition from the Florida League of Cities, the Florida Association of Counties and 1000 Friends of Florida. Those groups are lining up in opposition again this year while the Florida Chamber of Commerce again is supporting the measure. ... Related Research: 2014 Florida League of Cities Legislative Action Agenda, and Sept. 2007 "Transportation Concurrency: Best Practices Guide," by the former Florida DCA.

HB 999 dealing faced the most opposition from environmental groups while business and industry groups supported the environmental permitting measure. There also were some noncontroversial bills that were signed including HB 277, which partially implements a 2008 constitutional amendment by exempting renewable energy devices from property tax assessments. ... Related Research: Various veto requests, praise for signing, and a list of all bills signed into law Thursday.

Developers were back this year asking the Legislature to address growth management again after county attorneys said 2011 law changes didn't apply to some counties with mobility fee systems. Lawmakers also had more resources this year to deal with the backlog of foreclosure cases.

HB 321 would waive collection of development some fees for new development unless cities and counties opt out. HB 357 would cut the review times for permits in counties with state-designated programs to attract new manufacturing plants. ... Related Research: Amendment 306553 by Rep. Boyd to H 0357 - Relating to Manufacturing Development, and Amendment 704047 by Rep. La Rosa to H 0321 - Relating to Growth Management.

Legislation was prompted by an opinion from the Florida Association of County Attorneys saying that local mobility fee systems are not subject to state law requirements that developers be allowed to pay only their "proportionate share" for road improvements.

There isn't much appetite for changing growth management laws, but developers and their allies see the need for fixing legal questions that have arisen. Florida Realtors is backing a foreclosure bill and is pushing for the elimination of the sales tax on commercial rents.

The Legislature made sweeping changes to growth management law in 2011 with HB 7207. Now some developers are furious that some counties are saying they don't have to allow developers to pay only their "proportionate share" to get projects approved. ... Related Research: Read the March 2, 2012 Florida Association of County Attorneys Growth Management Committee Memo re: HB 7207 (2011 session).

"The state government has gotten out of local issues" since the 2011 growth law changes, DEO's Tom Beck told a Senate committee this month. But Charles Pattison of 1000 Friends of Florida said it's too early to tell whether the law changes were appropriate or will create new growth problems.