Legislative Affairs
Every day, lawmakers are considering legislation that could impact the apartment industry and affect your bottom line. Your association monitors, advocates and lobbies on your behalf 
on a national, state and local level to represent and protect your business interests.
2010 NAA National Priority Issues/Activities
2010 FAA State Priority Issues/Activities
At its August 26, 2009 meeting in Orlando, the FAA Legislative Committee established the following ambitious 2010 Government Affairs Plan of Work. Here are the initial issues and activities the association will address during the next twelve months:
Affordable Housing – Repeal the Cap on the State Housing Trust Fund
FAA will monitor and support any legislation introduced by the Florida Housing Coalition and/or Sadowski Workforce Housing Coalition to repeal the cap on the appropriation of State monies for housing.
Defeat Amendment 4 (Hometown Democracy)
Work with Floridians for Smarter Growth coalition to defeat this anti-growth, proposed constitutional amendment which will appear on the November 2010 ballot.
Domestic Violence Victims
Work with the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence to determine if there is legislation that can achieve the goals of the Coalition while respecting landlord/tenant law and current business practices in the apartment industry
Expedited Evictions
Two legislators have approached FAA to consider legislation to speed-up the eviction process. FAA will watch for any legislative initiatives and provide industry perspective to the sponsors.
Foreclosure Actions and Protection of Tenants
FAA will continue to provide the perspective of the multi-family rental housing industry on any legislation providing protections for tenants in foreclosure actions. (Senate Judiciary Committee interim project)
Lead-Based Paint
FAA will monitor the Florida Department of Health initiative to authorize the State to implement the Federal (EPA) Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair, and Painting program.
Multi-Family Representatives – Hotels & Restaurants Advisory Council
FAA will seek volunteers willing to serve on DBPR’s Hotels & Restaurants Advisory Council in order to add a second representative for the multi-family housing industry.
Property Tax Relief – Amendment 3
A proposed constitutional amendment will appear on the November 2010 ballot which would reduce Florida’s current property assessment cap on non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%. Amendment 3 would also provide an additional homestead exemption for persons who have not owned a principal residence during the preceding 8 years. FAA will consider the potential tax inequities created by the property assessment cap reduction as well as the competitive impact of the incentive to first-time homebuyers in order to take a position on Amendment 3.
Recycling Mandates
FAA will provide apartment industry perspective as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) develops recommendations for implementing the 75% statewide recycling goal. DEP is charged, by statute, to develop by January 1 a comprehensive recycling program and submit it to the Legislature for review and approval. The DEP has indicated “it is time for the State to require recycling from both the commercial sector as well as multi-family residential units.”
Source of Income Protection
On June 30, the Miami-Dade County Commission approved a precedent-setting ordinance to eliminate and prevent discrimination in housing based on Source of Income. The creation of this new protected class effectively mandates that a rental property must accept Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers as payment of rent. FAA will work to amend the Miami-Dade ordinance to remove the requirement to accept Section 8 vouchers as payment … before other local governments enact similar laws.
2010 Legislative Accomplishments
Governor Charlie Crist signed both SB 1196 and HB 663. SB 1196 contains the association promoted provision providing relief for existing multi-family buildings from expensive fire alarm system retrofits. SB 1196 includes the following language: "A condominium, cooperative, or multifamily residential building that is less than four stories in height and has a corridor providing an exterior means of egress is exempt from the requirement to install a manual fire alarm system under s.9.6 of the Life Safety Code adopted in the Florida Fire Prevention Code." HB 663 includes a more limited fire alarm system exemption. Read Complete 2010 Legislative Affairs Final Report.
2009 Legislative Accomplishments
Your association achieved its #1 legislative priority in 2009 as the Florida Legislature reduced the eviction filing fee by $85.00. The 32% reduction from $265 to $180 takes effect on July 1, 2009. As a result, rental property owners will save $12.4 million annually. Read Complete 2009 Legislative Affairs Final Report
2008 Legislative Accomplishments
Thanks to your association, the Governor signed the Early Lease Termination Bill (HB 489). The passing of this legislation is the culmination of years of persistence, diligence and patience. The law change allows the landlord to offer tenants two options: 1. Limiting damages if the tenant skips (liquidated damages) or giving the required notice and paying a fee to terminate early (termination fee) and 2. Paying rent until the unit is re-rented or the end of the lease, whichever occurs first. The landlord benefits because if the tenant skips, the landlord can charge the liquidated damages. The tenant benefits because, if the tenant provides the required notice and pays the termination fee, the tenant can leave without breaching the lease. Read information addressing the background of the law, how it effects leasing practices, frequently asked questions and an action plan.
Apartment Political Action Committee
Your contribution to APAC, the Apartment Political Action Committee, helps your association and its Tallahassee lobbying team gain access to key legislators and provide the opportunity to explain why initiatives, like the eviction filing fee reduction, are important to the health of the apartment industry. APAC contributed more than $50,000 to legislative candidates prior to the November 2008 election. Seventy-five of those candidates were successful and were in the Legislature this spring to enact FAA's eviction filing fee reduction.
Beginning July 1, 2009 rental owners and managers will save $85 each time they file with a court for an eviction. The apartment industry will save $12.4 million a year. Please consider investing some of your savings in APAC to assist your association in its political and legislative efforts. Now is the time to rebuild APAC's resources for the important 2010 elections.
Can APAC count on you and your company for support? Simply contact SEFAA to make your contribution with a credit card. Thank you.
SEFAA Legislative Support
The local affiliate office serves as a conduit between national and state government affairs representatives and provides support on a local level.
- OrdinanceWatch™
- Local E-mail Advisory Alerts
- Newsroom
- Member Issue Submission
- Access to National and State Government Affairs Representatives
- Access to Local Legal Affairs Members
- Legislative Committee
- Annual Legislative Conferences in Tallahassee and Washington DC
