[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6122713,"mediaKeyId","2694385-4d01258695150dc7e2101962341b0b42","parentId",2694385,"title","Committee round‑up: action on contractors, home inspectors, elevators, cosmetics, tobacco and confirmations","audioSeconds",2385,"startMs",65000,"endMs",2450000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694385-4d01258695150dc7e2101962341b0b42&start=65&end=2450","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694385-4d01258695150dc7e2101962341b0b42/thumbnail_65000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6122713/Florida/Committee-roundup-action-on-contractors-home-inspectors-elevators-cosmetics-tobacco-and-confirmations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122713-8c2e1d0ec0ffc435d444bea76f8ed398/orig.mp4?Expires=1771011611&Signature=Wwo62ceWEH3iag08HRbGvoKrQC3neNk4eH2vEwRrfCvEeBqDInWNYRYQ4HbucCaA5i-6Gmu7qk6q5ERvv9ysrc4DYO5o3P93gd-OYKG0mdW7oe6oqUkDEzUYKBjBS9sToWE3UQQhw9BseU41Wk3i2yea4vDDWjmR1~jreYQMytHc9UxEmzK6wD2zY-0eAZiRgLt8pQt9Driyjes70qYpiEjenGBxNCbznZnFph4n9k4bKB6QFlhu1Ftq-iorvdX9OrOLd-kS83sQ1KA9KqmFGHVNYDcuBVReLIJrB7E4-OW7UEYFQLau2KpYOOLQuExxOZwZ8XkciE-s7g-oznuaEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Florida State Legislature","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Regulated Industries Committee took up a series of bills and reported them favorably after debate, amendments and witness testimony. The bills and key provisions are summarized below.

SB 1298 — Building construction licensure (Senator Simon): The bill tightens continuing‑education requirements for building professionals, removes the continued‑education exemption for licensees with more than 10 years’ experience, clarifies sharing of building officials via interagency agreements to help rural jurisdictions, limits residential inspectors to single‑ and two‑family homes under the Florida Building Code, and creates a paid residential planning examiner internship. The committee reported SB 1298 favorably.

SB 638 — Home inspectors (Senator Martin): The bill raises the minimum education requirement for home inspectors from 120 to 200 hours, specifies examination topic areas (building code, wind mitigation, 4‑point and insurance inspections), requires at least eight hours covering Florida Building Code basics and eight hours of report writing (including a practical component), and requires errors and omissions insurance of at least $300,000. The committee reported SB 638 favorably; the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors submitted a supportive appearance form.

SB 960 — Elevator interior support rails (Senator Bernard): The bill allows additional shorter support rails while maintaining the existing requirement of a 42‑inch interior support rail. The National Elevator Industry waived in support and the committee reported SB 960 favorably.

SB 196 — Foods containing vaccines and cosmetics amendments (Senator Gruters): The bill adds food containing a vaccine or vaccine materials to the definition of a drug for labeling purposes and, as amended, included language defining mRNA vaccines and prohibiting their use on fruit and vegetables. Additional amendments addressed restrictions on certain chemicals in cosmetics and required state agency risk assessment and transition assistance for businesses; the committee adopted the amendments and reported CS for SB 196 favorably.

SB 1418 — Heated tobacco products tax treatment (Senator Digley): The bill clarifies the tax treatment of heated tobacco products (HTPs), specifying they are distinct from cigarettes and would not be subject to the state's tobacco excise tax under the definitions in the bill; the committee adopted a clarifying amendment and reported CS for SB 1418 favorably.

SB 1262 — Construction contracting continuing education and consumer protections (Senator Burgess): The strike‑all amendment expanded contractor continuing‑education topics to include financial literacy and consumer‑protection principles, enhanced penalties for unlicensed contracting, directed DBPR to create a standardized disciplinary reporting form and database, mandated refund timelines for rescinded deposits and required contractors to address unreasonable 90‑day delays. The Florida Homebuilders Association and other industry representatives testified in support; CS for SB 1262 was reported favorably.

Confirmation block vote: The committee recommended confirmation of a group of appointees to boards and commissions by block vote and the motion to recommend confirmation was reported favorably.

Votes: Each of the bills above was reported favorably by the committee and will proceed to the next stage of the legislative process. Committee sponsors and witnesses indicated follow‑up drafting and stakeholder engagement will continue on several items.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee on Regulated Industries 3/19/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Regulated Industries Committee reported multiple bills favorably, including measures on building construction licensure, contractor continuing education and consumer protections, home inspector requirements, elevator support rails, cosmetics restrictions and heated tobacco tax treatment; a block of appointees was recommended for confirmation.","taxTitle","Regulated Industries , Standing Committees, Senate, Legislative, Florida","taxId",26955,"location","Florida","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6122718,"Panel backs bill letting counties require decommissioning plans for utility‑scale solar",0,2353000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694385-4d01258695150dc7e2101962341b0b42&start=2353&end=2353","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694385-4d01258695150dc7e2101962341b0b42/thumbnail_2353000.jpg","/articles/6122718/Florida/Panel-backs-bill-letting-counties-require-decommissioning-plans-for-utilityscale-solar","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122718-ff0e1943566a7b8d3e82f3092f9efb2d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771011610&Signature=IUP-dH4jfxiOLI2svYaRJd7JrnPXIDgMjPaAPYPL9iUVYOq-2ECaEnfBW~MXN3zwxUTB9nW9Nei1TD4q5a9FdEFwANUNd21n0443d12iPzDG3IDp11370VYCsSAyDmV8Otsh4j3dX8fNohCfiXR6Us~otOEvFOwMwYg6X87vl1UK1RA7N9GCO9iZvW-RJOHe9o8~FtXTs8P0OGMcPEne00O5x6DhOLGVeW-2KpwrC2vEJFoSNZxV3Bq3lUirPklLfjGTv972PKQvKTK0jgJnBWeF25ALcAtubUcqF-Ln7gwAKsKSq4AGI8oSoFnLT~YlK~jvLiRr8BcSqFaTgvUopQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Regulated Industries Committee voted to report CS for SB 1304 favorably after debate and public comment from multiple rural county commissioners who urged giving counties more local oversight over utility‑scale solar facilities and requiring decommissioning plans.

Senator Bradley, the sponsor, told the committee that a 2021 law allowed solar facilities as a permitted use on agricultural land and prohibited local governments from imposing larger setbacks or buffers than other agricultural uses. Bradley said counties now face a rapid increase in utility‑scale solar projects and lack authority to manage setbacks, cumulative concentration of facilities, property‑value impacts, aesthetics and the eventual end‑of‑life disposal of panels and equipment.

To address those concerns, SB 1304 removes the current statutory provision that categorically allows solar by right on agricultural land and authorizes — but does not mandate — counties to adopt ordinances requiring decommissioning plans that would require a facility owner to remove infrastructure and remediate land at the end of the project’s useful life. Bradley said the goal is to give counties “a voice” about location and cumulative impacts and to ensure remediation after a facility is retired.

Several county commissioners and local officials testified in support. Columbia County Commissioner Rocky Ford said constituents worry about what happens when panels reach the end of their useful life and asked for local oversight and decommissioning safeguards. DeSoto County Commissioner Elton Lankford, Clay County Commissioner Betsy Condon, Lafayette County representative Patrick Bell and Gilchrist County Commissioner Daryl Smith all said their counties face multiple existing or proposed large installations and that decommissioning rules and local input are important for rural communities that rely on agriculture and forestry.

Bradley told the committee she is open to negotiations with utilities and stakeholders to find a balanced approach that allows renewable development while giving counties meaningful oversight. The panel adopted a technical amendment (barcode 450692) and then reported CS for SB 1304 favorably.

The bill’s sponsor and supporters framed the measure as a first step to allow counties to require decommissioning and to address cumulative impacts; they did not seek a statewide mandate requiring decommissioning, and the bill permits local governments to adopt their own rules under the statutory outline.

Votes and next steps: the committee adopted the technical amendment and reported CS for SB 1304 favorably; sponsors said they will continue to work with utilities and counties on detailed standards for decommissioning and local oversight.","The committee advanced CS for SB 1304, a bill that removes a state preemption and authorizes counties to adopt decommissioning ordinances for solar facilities and to exercise local oversight over placement and cumulative impacts.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6122723,"Committee advances bill to curb resale of scraped restaurant reservations",844,272000,1116000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2694385-4d01258695150dc7e2101962341b0b42&start=272&end=1116","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2694385-4d01258695150dc7e2101962341b0b42/thumbnail_272000.jpg","/articles/6122723/Florida/Committee-advances-bill-to-curb-resale-of-scraped-restaurant-reservations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6122723-ae3d3fd6595ced1a9c064f4a7f0e9483/orig.mp4?Expires=1771011610&Signature=Kaojs2K73V939fhENdltiVeJtR3cRNjJErGcnn5-LIkEdGtRm2rT8HayMUSyy3RzqId-U-6zxjyWEjZ6rf2wrdkRvsyXweOSq6ZPXacJWu2xEA6MWob08YRhoYUNrVanHPr3ehKo3Aai7KO7JQsTMNK8WC0D-z~kXDyKpxulSPxAEDGLQV1vVkQqp1d9e89MXn7a8yu-6KFSiCqqO8I3hs1vxa1taZrqxyXTLx1dMViPkR495e-~QpK6Asd2wV4efDNrLFwvXNAcd5zGiHORkFoBgbM9y2jlozWzIUgHNq9JU9miPiU4FTiJZR6i2wYyhzW0SUQcrrHlkwgbG9xFOA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Regulated Industries Committee on [date not specified] adopted a delete‑all amendment and reported CS for SB 940 — the proposed Restaurant Reservation Anti‑Piracy Act — favorably, moving a measure aimed at stopping third‑party marketplaces from reselling restaurant reservations they obtain through automated scraping programs.

The bill, explained by Senator McLean, targets marketplaces that “scrape” reservation systems with automated programs (bots), obtain available reservations and then resell those reservations at marked‑up prices. McLean said the amendment recasts certain definitions, replaces “food service establishment” with “public food service establishment,” and broadens the definition of “third‑party reservation platform” to include platforms that do not have a contractual agreement with a restaurant but nonetheless take or resell reservations.

The amendment also requires third‑party platforms that lack a contractual relationship with a restaurant to provide the restaurant the contact information for the consumer who made the reservation when the reservation is collected through the platform. McLean and committee members discussed whether major platforms that integrate via API (for example, OpenTable or Resy) would remain covered under the statutory exception when the restaurant has a direct contractual or integration relationship; McLean said that is the intent of the amendment.

Samantha Padgett, vice president of government relations and general counsel for the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association, testified in support and described the bill as targeting the marketplace rather than trying to police overseas bots. Padgett said platforms that have a direct relationship with restaurants (Resy, OpenTable and similar services) share reservation information with the restaurant and would not be the target of the prohibition on resale; the bill is directed at third‑party marketplaces that “scrape” and resell reservations without the restaurant’s permission.

Committee members questioned how the bill would operate when bots originate overseas and whether the bill would impose undue burdens on restaurants that use third‑party booking tools. McLean said the legislation addresses the marketplace conduct that is practically regulable rather than the origins of scraping programs.

The committee adopted the delete‑all amendment (barcode 307066) and then voted to report CS for SB 940 favorably. The committee vote was recorded as favorable and CS for SB 940 will proceed for further consideration.

The bill as amended leaves open some definitional questions members asked to be clarified in future drafting — notably how the statute distinguishes integrated booking partners from noncontractual resale marketplaces and the mechanics for sharing consumer contact information — and sponsors said they will continue to refine the language.

Votes and next steps: the amendment was adopted and CS for SB 940 was reported favorably by the committee and will move on in the legislative process.","The Regulated Industries Committee adopted a delete-all amendment and reported CS for SB 940 favorably after debate over automated bots and third‑party marketplaces that resell reservations at high prices.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee round‑up: action on contractors, home inspectors, elevators, cosmetics, tobacco and confirmations

Panel backs bill letting counties require decommissioning plans for utility‑scale solar

Committee advances bill to curb resale of scraped restaurant reservations