Government Affairs
Bills We Are Tracking: Week Six
Tourist Development Tax
SB 1502 is a bill that would authorize Okaloosa, Bay and Walton Counties reimbursement, of up to 10%, of the tourist development tax revenue to provide public safety services, including emergency medical service and law enforcement services. The bill, sponsored by Sen. Don Gaetz (R – Destin) passed out of the Senate Community Affairs Committee on Tuesday.
Alcoholic Beverages: SRX Requirement Modification
HB 1433 is a bill that amends the local exception in Martin County, reducing the square foot requirement from 4,000 square feet to no less than 2,500 of overall floor capacity and to allow the sale of nonalcoholic beverages to be included with food from which the restaurant needs to derive at least 51% of its gross revenue. Sponsored by Rep. MaryLynn Magar (R – Hobe Sound), the bill was voted favorably in its final stop on Wednesday.
Alcoholic Beverages: Kegs
SB 698 is a bill that requires a distributor selling an alcoholic beverage in bulk to a vendor that uses a recyclable keg or other similar reusable container to charge the vendor a keg deposit, in an amount not less than the deposit that is charged to the distributor by the manufacturer. Sponsored by Sen. Rob Bradley, (R – Orange Park), the bill was temporarily postponed on the Senate floor.
Gaming
A Senate panel Wednesday approved a sweeping gambling deal with the Seminole Tribe of Florida, but the panel also voted 8-4 for a measure that would allow dog and horse tracks to add slot machines with the approval of local voters. Read more from the Associated Press.
For a full list of bills we are tracking statewide, please click here.