Your Political Advocate Newsletter

February 27, 2014

Governmental Links

Florida GovernorRick Scott

Florida Senate

Florida Houseof Representatives

Orange County

Osceola County

Seminole County

City of Orlando

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LEGISLATIVE SESSION

The 60-day Florida Legislative Session begins Tuesday, March4! CFHLA is scheduled to send a delegation of hospitality leadersto Tallahassee for the annual Florida Tourism Day onWednesday, March 12 to discuss industry legislative prioritieswith elected leaders including:

Preservation of the integrity of the Tourist DevelopmentTax (TDT)

1.

Increased funding for Visit Florida2.Opposition to gambling expansion3.

Click here for a list of CFHLA's 2014 Legislative Priorities

If you are interested in attending the 2014 CFHLA LegislativeDay please contact: Richard Maladecki - president@cfhla.org

More specifically, please see below for updates on certain issuesthat CFHLA is monitoring:

City of Kissimmee

City of Sanford

GAMBLING Orlando Business Journal - It's official: Florida's SenateCommittee on Gaming has filed proposed legislation - SPB 7050,SPB 7052 and SPB 7054 - that could open Florida to theexpansion of gaming this year.... The bills would establishstatewide rules on the types of gaming allowed, including: Tworesort casinos in South Florida; a state constitutional amendmentthat says any additional gambling would go to a statewide vote;and Legislation to protect gaming companies, granting a publicrecords exemption for proprietary confidential businessinformation. The proposed bills will be discussed in the March 3Senate committee meeting, but there will be no vote, saidSen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, chairman of the committee, in aletter to other members. The bills will continue to be discussedover several meetings afterward, as well. To read more, click here.

Orlando Business Journal - House and Senate leaders arereaching consensus on a plan that would allow stand-alonecasinos in South Florida, if voters approve. But the proposalhinges on whether Gov. Rick Scott, who's playing his cards closeto his vest, seals a deal with the Seminole Tribe.

To read more, click here.

FILM INCENTIVE

Orlando Business Journal - A bill has been filed that can reshapethe way Florida's film industry does business and attracts outsideprojects. Florida House Bill 983, filed by Rep. Manny Diaz Jr.,R-Hialeah, proposes additions to the Entertainment IndustryFinancial Incentive Program that would provide an annual $200million pot of state tax credits film projects can tap into through2020. If passed, the bill could draw more film, TV and digitalmedia projects to the state resulting in upward of 50,000 new jobsand $500 million a year in economic impact.

To read more, click here.

VACATION RENTALS

Jacksonville Business Journal - Local governments want backsome control over short-term vacation rentals, contending that anearly 3-year-old state law has allowed little-regulated mini-hotelsto grow amid residential communities. But supporters of the 2011law say Florida has achieved three consecutive years of record-setting tourism numbers in part by allowing homeowners toseasonally rent their properties.

To read more, click here.

STADIUM TAX CREDITS

The Miami Herald - House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-WesleyChapel, indicated Wednesday he's not in favor of the state settingaside money for any professional sports stadium projects thisyear, after also opposing a high-profile effort in 2013 to direct taxdollars to improvements at the home of the Miami Dolphins.Instead, Weatherford expects the House to craft legislation thisyear that would redefine the process for the owners of themultimillion-dollar facilities to apply for money. The new process isbeing drafted by the House Economic Affairs committee. As astep toward potentially seeking state money, Rep. Erik Fresen,R-Miami, and Sen. David Simmons, R-Altamonte Springs, havefiled measures (HB 887 and SB 618) that would require theDepartment of Economic Opportunity to set aside two facilitycertifications for Major League Soccer franchises.

To read more, click here.

ORLANDO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

Commissioner Robert Stuart

Orlando Business Journal - Florida Gov. Rick Scott showed he isall in on Orlando International Airport's chances to be a hub forboth air and rail travel by announcing the state will contribute$213.5 million for an intermodal rail facility over the next threeyears. Scott announced the award on Feb. 17 for the facility thatwould marry the airport's air, ground and rail transportationoptions, but it still will take some deliberations up in Tallahasseeto get the money earmarked for the airport.

To read more, click here.

CONGRATULATIONS

CFHLA PC-endorsed candidateRobert Stuartearned another 4 years asCommissioner forCity of Orlando's District 3 afterfailing to draw any opponents bythe February 7 qualifying deadline. Congratulations, CommissionerStuart!

VISITOR RECORD

Tampa Tribune - Visit Florida, the state's tourism marketingcorporation, said Friday in a preliminary report a record 94.7million visitors came to Florida in 2013, an increase of 3.5percent over 2012. For fourth quarter 2013, preliminary estimatesshow a record 21.9 million people visited the Sunshine State fromOctober through December, a 2.2 percent gain over the year-agoperiod.... Preliminary data from Tennessee-based travel researchfirm STR showed Florida tourism has regained market sharesince January 2013, outpacing the rest of the nation by 1.3percentage points. STR said room revenue in Florida for 2013was up 8.2 percent, compared with a 6.2 percent U.S. increase.

To read more, click here.

ALL ABOARD FLORIDA

Orlando Business Journal - Folks in Miami may not be fans of thisthought process, but statewide rail will likely lure tourists out ofSouth Beach and bring them to Blizzard Beach. At least that's thethought process behind what All Aboard President and COODon Robinson said Feb. 14. Specifically, Robinson said heexpects vacationers to make up 75 percent of the ridership on themassive rail system, especially those traveling to Central Florida.In addition, he said vacation planners may be able to sellpackages that use the rail if they fly into South Florida's airports tobring them to Central Florida. If so, that would provide CentralFlorida's tourism industry with a direct line to South Florida majorairports like Miami International Airport that caters to LatinAmerican countries like Brazil - a booming travel market forOrlando.

To read more, click here.

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