Americans for Prosperity-Florida releases priority list for 2018 Legislative Session

Conservative group Americans for Prosperity-Florida released its priority list for the 2018 Legislative Session, giving favorable marks to legislation that would cut “corporate welfare” and regulations and voicing strong opposition to proposals that would add new regulations or incentives silos.

“We believe that Florida lawmakers have an unprecedented opportunity to push through policy objectives that can deliver more open, transparent, and efficient government. Our staff and volunteers are eager to engage on policies that will help make Florida the best state to raise a family and start a business,” said AFP-FL Director Chris Hudson in a press release.

“As Congress has just passed historic tax reform, Florida lawmakers should also seek to reduce the tax burden on citizens and businesses. We should also pursue commonsense solutions to our critical health care needs. Lawmakers should repeal certificate of need (CON) laws once and for all, and pass meaningful reforms to expand scope of practice and direct primary care. And, both chambers should pursue a clear vision to cut red tape and free Florida entrepreneurs to pursue their American Dream.”

AFP-FL gave it’s opinion on dozens of bills filed for 2018, and plans to update it regularly through session as bills change during the legislative process.

A sampling of the “support” column of the 97-bill priority list: Rep. Danny Burgess and Sen. Tom Lee’s plan to stop direct primary care agreements from being regulated as insurance (HB 37/SB 80); another of Lee’s bills, sponsored by Rep. Bryan Avila in the House, that would ban pro sports teams from building stadiums on public land (HB 13/SB 352); and a proposal from Rep. Manny Diaz and Sen. Keith Perry that would add a “one-in, one-out” rule when it comes to new rules in the Florida Administrative Code (HB 791/SB 1268).

And a handful from the “oppose” list: Rep. David Silvers’ and Sen. Annette Taddeo’s bills to create a new film incentives program (HB 341/SB 1606); A measure by Sen. Lauren Book that would require 75% of the students in a “School of Hope” to come in from a low-performing school (SB 216); and Sen. Kevin Rader’s “Florida Teacher Fair Pay Act,” which would bump the minimum salary for teachers up to $50,000 a year (SB 586).

Hudson said that AFP-FL “is looking forward to engaging in meaningful debate with lawmakers, and hope that we can continue to serve as a valuable source for how to propel policies that can make Florida a more open and free society.”

When the 2018 Legislative Session comes to a close, AFP-FL will tally up lawmakers votes and publish score cards grading how individual lawmakers fared.