Florida Politics - Campaigns & Elections. Lobbying & Government.

Drew WilsonJune 7, 2018

The mayors of Pinellas County’s beach communities want to find a way to reclaim their power to restrict short-term rentals in their towns. The first step will be to organize a roundtable discussion involving state legislators and others involved in the short-term rental business. The mayors who make up the Big-C, the Barrier Islands Government […]

Drew WilsonApril 28, 2018

Airbnb this week touted a new report showing Florida seniors are cashing checks thanks to its platform, and the Florida League of Cities said that announcement is proof the company doesn’t need to bypass local governments in the vacation rental food fight. The report showed Florida Airbnb hosts aged 55 and older made more than […]

Peter SchorschMarch 28, 2018

States that embrace short-term rentals and other segments of the burgeoning “sharing economy” tend to be better innovation incubators than states that don’t, according to new research from a consumer electronics trade group. The Consumer Technology Association, the trade group that puts on the annual International Consumer Electronics Show, included a category on state policies […]

Danny McAuliffeMarch 27, 2018

Philip Levine, former mayor of Miami Beach, holds the ideology that local governments should be in charge. And if he’s elected to the statewide office of Governor, he said those beliefs won’t change. Tailing off a suggested early lead in the four-way Democratic gubernatorial primary, Levine spoke Tuesday to Tallahassee’s Tiger Bay Club, a group […]

Guest AuthorMarch 16, 2018

In the final weeks of the 2018 Legislative Session, immense tragedy struck a quiet community right here in our state. Our elected officials rightfully focused their remaining time and energy on ensuring school safety and addressing mental health issues in the wake of the Parkland school shooting. While legislators appropriately turned their attention to addressing […]

Scott PowersFebruary 22, 2018

The vacation rentals deregulation bill cleared its first stop in the Florida House of Representatives Thursday with a close approval won in the House Government Accountability Committee. House Bill 773, sponsored by St. Cloud Republican state Rep. Mike La Rosa, now heads toward the commerce committee in this year’s legislative efforts to roll back and […]

Drew WilsonFebruary 12, 2018

Vacation rental business Airbnb collected and remitted $45.7 million in tax revenue for Florida and local governments across the Sunshine State last year, more than double what it collected in 2016. “In 2015, Airbnb collaborated with the Florida Department of Revenue on a historic agreement allowing the company to collect and remit the state sales […]

Drew WilsonJanuary 17, 2018

The Senate Commerce and Tourism Committee voted unanimously Tuesday for a bill by Sen. Lauren Book (SB 376) that would include in the Worker’s Compensation Law benefits for first responders who sustain mental or nervous injuries such as PTSD in the line of duty. The forward momentum for the bill got the attention of CFO […]

Guest AuthorJanuary 17, 2018

It’s always nice to get away. No matter how much you enjoy your job, a vacation is a chance to relax with family and friends, experience new cultures and places, or check off an item on your bucket list. The wonder of Florida travel means the tourism and hospitality industry will always have a vital […]

Peter SchorschMay 9, 2017

Florida Realtors really want you to know what a successful Legislative Session looks like. To celebrate the close of a “triumphant” 2017 Session – including passage of the state’s $82.4 billion budget – Florida Realtors released a recap of its major victories, bills and budgetary items of interest to real estate professionals statewide. Florida Realtors […]

Tag: vacation rentals

‘Leave us the heck alone’: Beach towns seek meeting with state lawmakers on short-term rentals

League of Cities gives Airbnb a dose of snark

Florida short-term rental policies hurt innovation, trade group says

Philip Levine: Minimum wage, vacation rentals should be local decisions

Jennifer Frankenstein-Harris: Fight to protect property rights far from over

House vacation rentals bill clears Government Accountability Committee

Airbnb collected $45M in Florida tax revenue in 2017

Capitol Reax: Workers’ comp, payday loans, vacation rentals, train safety, AOB

Amanda Pedigo: Traditional vacation rentals part of Florida tourism DNA

Florida Realtors legislative recap shows what successful Session looks like