Bills impacting business

Key to understanding the bill numbers: HB=House Bill; SB=Senate Bill; HJR=House Joint Resolution; SJR=Senate Joint Resolution; SR=Senate Resolution Note: Many bills are committee substitutes. Bill details may be found at www.leg.state.fl.us.

HB 73 — Expedited Permitting Process for Economic Development Projects
Sponsors: Rep. Rob Schenck, R-Spring Hill and Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey
Designates “Mike McHugh Act”; requires Department of Environmental Protection and water management districts to adopt programs to expedite processing of permits for certain economic development projects; provides timeframe for permit application approval or denial; provides that projects designated as target industry businesses and located in charter counties that meet certain criteria are eligible for expedited permitting.
Last action: Passed House 118-0 and Senate 37-0
Effective Date: July 1, 2009

HB 227 — Impact Fees
Sponsor: Rep. Gary Aubuchon, R-Cape Coral
Requires government to prove certain elements of impact fee by preponderance of evidence; prohibits courts from using the lower deferential standard in court action.
Last action: Passed House 107-10 and Senate 26-11
Effective Date: July 1, 2009