Florida’s 2014 legislative session begins Tuesday, March 4. The 60-day session is expected to be a busy one. Here is a convenient summary of what to expect.

For additional information on the 2014 legislative session, specific bills of interest and the potential impact on your business, or for information on any state agency initiatives, please contact a member of Gunster’s Government Affairs practice.

Republicans’ 5-point plan

Senate President Don Gaetz (R-Niceville) and House Speaker Will Weatherford (R-Wesley Chapel) recently announced their joint Work Plan 2014 Agenda.

Thousands of bills have been filed covering various topics, but the Legislature’s Republican leaders are committed to focusing on this five-point plan, which covers:

  1. Economic opportunity through education: to “expand pathways out of poverty through education and jobs.”
  2. Florida GI bill: to “establish Florida as the top ‘welcome home’ state for the military, veterans and their families.”
  3. Protect vulnerable Floridians: to “increase safeguards for Florida’s children and seniors.”
  4. $500 million tax cut: to “reduce the amount of money government takes from Floridians who earn it.”
  5. Improve government accountability and efficiency: to “achieve reform of the Florida Retirement System and continue to improve ethics laws”

Hot topics

Additional timely and/or controversial issues sure to be discussed this session include:

  • State budget
  • Gaming expansion in Florida
  • Business lease taxes (reducing or eliminating)
  • Back-to-school sales tax holiday extensions, and the addition of a hurricane preparedness sales tax holiday
  • In-state tuition for children of illegal immigrants
  • Legalization of beer growlers, and the selling of hard liquor by supermarkets
  • Raising the speed limit to 75 mph in some areas

Democrats’ position

Democratic leaders in both chambers indicate they will not support changes to the Florida’s pension system or expanding corporate vouchers. They plan to focus on efforts to expand health care and raising the minimum wage.

The Democrats will support proposals to reduce automobile registration fees and the sales tax holidays for school and hurricane preparedness.

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This publication is for general information only. It is not legal advice, and legal counsel should be contacted before any action is taken that might be influenced by this publication.

Gunster, Florida’s law firm for business, provides full-service legal counsel to leading organizations and individuals from its 11 offices statewide. Established in 1925, the firm has expanded, diversified and evolved, but always with a singular focus: Florida and its clients’ stake in it. A magnet for business-savvy attorneys who embrace collaboration for the greatest advantage of clients, Gunster’s growth has not been at the expense of personalized service but because of it. The firm serves clients from its offices in Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Palm Beach, Stuart, Tallahassee, Tampa, The Florida Keys, Vero Beach and its headquarters in West Palm Beach. With more than 170 attorneys and 200 committed support staff, Gunster is ranked among the National Law Journal’s list of the 350 largest law firms. More information about its practice areas, offices and insider’s view newsletters is available at www.gunster.com.

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