Florida’s DeSantis vetoes bill that would’ve regulated vacation rentals – Washington Examiner
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis vetoed several bills from the 2024 legislative session. Key bills vetoed include:
1. **Senate Bill 280 (SB 280)**: This bill intended to mandate vacation rental platforms like Airbnb to collect certain taxes and add regulations for lodging and food establishments. DeSantis argued that this bill would increase red tape and restrict local government powers in dealing with local ordinances.
2. **Senate Bill 62 (SB 62)**: Proposed that Florida residents should not lose their classification for tuition purposes due to incarceration. DeSantis countered, stating that the state should not provide the same educational benefits to inmates as it does to law-abiding citizens.
3. **Senate Bill 494 (SB 494)**: Aimed to waive graduate record and management admission tests for service members applying to state graduate programs. DeSantis maintained that standardized tests are vital for the admission process and saw no benefit in waiving these requirements for institutions or students.
4. **House Bill 821 (HB 821)**: Sought to revise stormwater management user fees in the Melbourne-Tillman Water Control District, Brevard County. DeSantis vetoed this due to concerns over increased taxpayer fees.
5. **House Bill 473 (HB 473)**: Would have offered broad liability protections for state, local governments, and private companies adhering to minimum cybersecurity standards after a cyberattack or data breach. DeSantis rejected it, suggesting concerns about the implications of minimum standard compliance.
These vetoes reflect DeSantis’s positions on maintaining current educational standards for all, reducing regulatory burdens, and cautious fiscal management concerning taxpayer contributions.
(The Center Square) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has vetoed a number of bills from the 2024 legislative session, including one that would’ve mandated changes to vacation rentals.
Senate Bill 280 would’ve required vacation rental advertising platforms to collect and remit specific taxes while adding regulations for lodging and food establishments. DeSantis said in his veto message this would create more red tape for locals and prevent local governments from enacting existing ordinances or passing any new local measures.
SB 62 would’ve provided that individuals classified as residents for tuition purposes may not lose their resident status solely because they have been incarcerated in a correctional facility in Florida. DeSantis said the state should “not reward criminal activity by providing inmates with the same benefits as law-abiding citizens.”
SB 494 would’ve waived both the graduate record examination and the grade management admission test for service members applying for admission into graduate programs at state institutions that require the examinations. DeSantis said standardized tests are a necessary component of the admissions process, adding he does not see how dropping the examinations would benefit the institutions or the students.
House Bill 821 would’ve revised the maximum stormwater management user fees for residential, agricultural and commercial parcels of land in the Melbourne-Tillman Water Control District in Brevard County. DeSantis vetoed the bill due to the likelihood that taxpayers would pay higher fees.
HB 473 would’ve provided broad liability protections for state and local governments and private companies that only comply with minimum cybersecurity standards in the event of a cyberattack or data breach. DeSantis said the bill would result in less data security because it incentivizes entities to do the minimum to protect consumer data.
SB 1078 would’ve exempted insurance agents, agencies and service representatives from submitting cellular telephone numbers to the Department of Financial Services as part of the licensure process. DeSantis said Florida’s insurance market is becoming increasingly competitive and he does not see how the bill would serve the public interest.
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HB 165 would’ve granted the Florida Department of Health authority to close beaches, waterways and swimming pools. DeSantis said the DOH should not have the power to supersede local jurisdictions.
HB 133 would’ve provided a period of time when convictions for crimes may not be grounds for denial of licensure as a barber or cosmetologist. DeSantis said it prohibits the licensing board from accessing an applicant’s criminal history and added there may be a good reason for the board to have such information before approval.
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