Florida Realtors unveils Session priorities

The state’s largest professional trade association, Florida Realtors, wants to secure more opportunities for vacation rentals, affordable housing, and business growth, while also resolving issues impacting property insurance.

Each Legislative Session, the association acts as a strong advocate for homeownership initiatives and private property rights.

This Session is no different. In detail, here’s what Florida Realtors will be tackling in the Legislature:

Reforming assignment of benefits (AOB)

According to Florida Realtors, a “growing number of contractors, such as water remediation companies and roofers, have been inflating the cost of repairs.” If contested, the contractors file a lawsuit — a cost that eventually shifts to policyholders. Tim Weiysheyer, vice chair of public policy at Florida Realtors, said, “Realtors are going to make it clear that drastic reform of the Assignment of Benefits process is needed to cut down on the abuse that drives up insurance premiums for property owners.”

Lawmakers are toying with alternative dispute resolution (ADR) as a solution to the problems created by AOB.

Reducing business rent tax

Last year, the Legislature lowered the sales tax on rent to 5.8 percent. But there is more work to be done. Florida Realtors believes that further reductions can only lead to “providing businesses with the capital needed to expand, hire, improve benefits, and raise salaries.”

More vacation rentals

“We are urging the Legislature to step in and prevent property rights from being undermined,” said Florida Realtors President-Elect Eric Sain. The ability for homeowners to use vacation rental websites — like Airbnb — should be protected by property rights.

More affordable housing

According to Florida Realtors, “To encourage people to move to Florida, build lives here and contribute to the economy, the state housing trust funds need to be directed to as many programs as possible to help people buy homes.”

Naples Republican Sen. Kathleen Passidomo and Rep. Sean Shaw, a Tampa Democrat, have filed legislation that would prevent affordable housing trust funds from being used for other budget items.