By Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
TALLAHASSEE — Moving quickly on priorities of Senate President Kathleen Passidomo, Florida senators Wednesday passed measures aimed at spurring more affordable housing for workers and boosting a trail network and wildlife corridor.
Senators unanimously approved what has been dubbed the “Live Local Act” (SB 102), which includes providing incentives for investment in affordable housing and seeking more mixed-use developments in struggling commercial areas. They also unanimously passed a bill (SB 106) designed to help link a statewide hiking and biking trail network to a wildlife corridor planned to stretch from the Florida Keys to the Panhandle.
House panels started moving forward Wednesday with the House versions of the housing bill (HB 627) and the trail bill (HB 915).
The Senate housing bill carries a $711 million price tag. Among other things, it would pre-empt local-government rules on density and building heights in certain circumstances, create tax exemptions for developments that set aside at least 70 units for affordable housing, speed permits and development orders for affordable housing projects and bar local rent controls.
Bill sponsor Alexis Calatayud, R-Miami, said the range of affordable housing strategies would make development financially viable.
“We are in a housing crisis and we are engaging through this policy a menu of tools, both for local government, both for developers, to increase the amount of affordable housing stock immediately and in three to five years,” Calatayud said.
Democrats raised concerns about issues such as prohibiting local rent controls and including industrial zoning as areas for mixed-use development.
Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, said the bill won’t end talk on the need to address the state’s affordable-housing problems, but it will change the way the shortage is viewed.
“What this bill does is it creates an environment in our state where decent, safe and affordable housing can be a reality for more Floridians,” Rouson said.
While the Senate would have to vote again on the bill if the House makes changes, Sen. Bobby Powell, D-West Palm Beach, said he expects the final version will change housing in the state.
“I believe once it is in statute, and it’s implemented, we will see how it works practically, and we may still have to make some adjustments. But I believe what we’re doing today is groundbreaking,” Powell said.
The bill would provide money for a series of programs, including $252 million for the longstanding State Housing Initiatives Partnership, or SHIP, program, $150 million a year to the State Apartment Incentive Loan, or SAIL, program, and an additional $100 million for the Hometown Heroes program, which is designed to help teachers, health-care workers and police officers buy homes.
The state budget for the current year includes $362.7 million for affordable housing.
The Senate passed the bills on the second day of the 60-day legislative session, a clear sign of Passidomo, R-Naples, prioritizing the issues.
The bill involving the trails and the wildlife corridor calls for a one-time $200 million expenditure to further work on the Shared-Use Nonmotorized (SUN) Trail Network.
The proposal also would increase from $25 million to $50 million an annual amount that goes to the trail network from vehicle-registration fees. In addition, it seeks to boost communities along the trail network — dubbed “trail towns.”
“It stipulates that the trails are developed within the wildlife corridor to maximize previously disturbed lands, such as drainage ditches, canal basins, abandoned roads and railways, and it recognizes trail town designation,” bill sponsor Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, said. “So, this will provide entertainment and respite for those who decide to use the trail.”
The wildlife corridor, which is expected to cost billions of dollars and take decades to complete, is envisioned as connecting 18 million acres of land from the Keys to the Panhandle. About 8 million of those acres need to be secured.
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The 2023 Florida Legislative Session is a joke. IMO, the prominent Republicans decided exactly what bills would be introduce and passed into law without *any* input from constituents. If only the Republicans had a “Super Majority”.
Instead of expediting the execution of the Death Penalty, typically a 28-year process in Florida, the Gov wants to lessen the number of jurors required to award the death penalty. Too close minded on this issue.
The Gov wants to remove soda pop from the list of items you can buy with your EBT card. Really? I’ve seen an EBT card used to purchase a box of Snow Crab Claws. And it is well known that EBT cards are sold for 50 cents on the dollar. Plus, you can withdraw cash from an ATM using your EBT card. Let’s be honest. The poor with an EBT card eat better than the working man.
Permit less carry. Not having a CCW license will lead you into committing a Federal Crime/Felony the moment you drive across a “School Zone” painted on the road. And the Federal Gov has unlimited resources to charge you and get you convicted.
Abortion. Really, who does limiting abortion effect? It is already limited to 15 weeks. Now, he wants to lower it to 6 weeks. Why?
If you watch the legislation in action, you have to wonder, who elected those wacko Democrats to office.
Governor Desantis, read your email. Answer letters from your base. And Corry Simon…do the same. It doesn’t matter that all your legislative efforts have absolutely no positive impact on me. Not a one. My tax bill will grow because nothing you intend to accomplish will protect me from the liberals running Gadsden and Leon County.
Guns. We do not have a gun problem. We have a black crime problem. But that isn’t politically correct to mention.
I worry we are headed toward another 4 years of a Democrat President.
The Florida Republican Party reminds me of the Democrat Party of the late sixties.
The wildlife corridor was a great idea. It was for preserving land for wildlife. Period. The feel good trail for humans? No now is not the time and it actually changes the intent of the origional wildlife corridor by throwing humans into the mix. No Passidomo just no.
The housing market? Not your business Passidomo. NO. Believe it or dont but the open market, free from government intrusion, will totally find it’s balance.
Gov. Desantis: your girl Passidomo and many so called “Republican” Senators need a “Come To Desantis” talk as soon as possable. Those that need the talk are showing bold and early signs of mutany and dangerous dabbling into “all things leftist or RINO” if you like that term better.
Many wont speak the truth Snidely will
~ “We are in a housing crisis and we are engaging through this policy a menu of tools, both for local government, both for developers, to increase the amount of affordable housing stock…”
~ Sen. Darryl Rouson, D-St. Petersburg, said the bill won’t end talk on the need to address the state’s affordable-housing problems, but it will change the way the shortage is viewed.
~ “I believe once it is in statute, and it’s implemented, we will see how it works practically, and we may still have to make some adjustments…”
Translation: “Always more; Never enough”… the cry of the Nanny State Marxicrats and Marxicans. The return of the taxpayer funded projects, and the never ending slow walk to socialism.
I own 24 acres immediately adjacent to the Lake Butler to Palataka Rails to Trails paved trail. It’s in the deepwoods, lots of live oaks, wildlife.
There are many people who hike and bike this trail.
The only issues we’ve had in 11 years are idiots on motorized vehicles, which aren’t allowed, and deer poaching, and a general lack of trailside maintenance by the state parks and trails department.
The game wardens are supposed to deal with poachers and motorized vehicles. They’re quick to respond to poaching, slow on vehicles.
But we like to see people enjoying our beautiful wooded trail.
I’m for the wildlife conservation corridor but definitely not for putting bike paths through them. Human activities will negatively affect it. Leave the wildlife to their homes and territory without us riding through it if we were serios sbout protecting and conserving. The Miccosukee Greenway used to be a wildlife corridor, now look at it – horribly congested with people and bikes, and the wildlife suffers because of it.
Income redistribution…making the taxpayer pay someone else’s rent.
“The wildlife corridor, which is expected to cost billions of dollars and take decades to complete, is envisioned as connecting 18 million acres of land from the Keys to the Panhandle. About 8 million of those acres need to be secured.”
How about paving a Bike / Walking Plath along side the Interstates that way you wont have to secure more Land, just widen the break Down Lanes by 4 Feet.