By Kevin Hogencamp, Contributing Writer
While Florida Realtors won some and lost some in the state legislative session, one thing’s for sure: Sen. Aaron Bean was advocating for them in Tallahassee.
A licensed broker himself, Bean said supporting real estate professionals and preserving homeownership are high priorities for him.
And there’s a lot at stake for the industry in Tallahassee, the Fernandina Beach Republican said.
“The Legislature controls and writes the rules for every aspect of your profession,” the second-term senator and longtime legislator reminded the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors in May.
In a humor-packed, enthusiastic and sometimes auctioneer-style address at the Jacksonville Marriott, he thanked the NEFAR-supported Realtors Political Action Committee for supporting him.
“You are one of the reasons I am here,” he said.
Elected to the Florida House of Representatives in 2000 and the Senate in 2012, Bean is unopposed in his 2016 re-election bid. He represents all of Nassau County and much of Duval County.
In addition to owning High Energy Auction Co., Bean is a relationship development officer at UF Health Jacksonville.
He chairs the Senate Health Policy Committee.
At their monthly luncheon, Bean encouraged Realtors to remain politically vigilant, particularly in regard to the proposed business rent tax reduction and other legislation that failed in 2016.
Bean said dramatically reducing the business rent tax is a matter of being fair to landlords — and would create jobs, to boot.
“I think (the Legislature) thought that other tax reductions were more important,” he said. “We got as close as we’ve gotten. … We’ve got to put the pedal to the metal moving forward.”
RPAC estimates the commercial landlord tax costs small businesses $1.7 billion a year. The effort to incrementally reduce and ultimately eliminate the tax is an annual battle in Tallahassee.
During one segment of his presentation, Bean pretended to create a “Realtors Legislature” among audience members and surveyed them on current legislative topics.
The group overwhelmingly favored the 2016 legislation that allocated $500,000 to combat unlicensed real estate activity in the state.
“When the economy picks up, everybody thinks they can do what you can do under-the-table or whatnot. But there are rules to follow,” Bean said.
He encouraged Realtors to report violators to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
“In terms of enforcement, they are only as good as information you are giving them,” Bean said.
The Realtors also supported Bean’s advocacy for stricter penalties for certain crimes committed against real estate professionals during property showings.
The bill died in committee, with legislators questioning why real estate agents should receive special protections.
William Watson Jr., Watson Realty Corp.’s founder and chairman, noted that real estate agents who deliver superior service “must go out to where the property is.”
That sometimes puts them in a vulnerable position, he said.
“I think it will send a very strong message to the other element that you don’t mess with real estate associates,” Watson said of the failed legislation.
During a spirited mini-debate encouraged by Bean, NEFAR’s members were split on the Republican-led Legislature’s preference of school choice alternatives, which opponents say takes funding and resources from conventional public schools.
“I think every parent should have the right to put their child in whatever school they feel is best for their child. I don’t care what the boundary is,” Realtor Millie Kanyar argued.
In other real estate-related matters during its 2016 session, the Legislature:
• Approved Bean-sponsored legislation to require landlords to approve or deny rental applications submitted by active-duty military personnel within seven days.
• Approved constitutional amendment referendums proposing tax exemptions for solar energy, senior citizens and first responders. Voters will consider the measures Nov. 8.
• Added real estate appraisers and brokers to the list of representatives that landowners can have as agents when they challenge property assessments.
• Funded affordable housing initiatives at their highest level since 2007.
• Laid the foundation for a comprehensive state water management program.
• Rejected Florida Realtors-supported legislation to ban discrimination in the workplace and housing based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Also at the NEFAR luncheon, Bean discussed efforts he helped lead to overhaul civil asset forfeiture in Florida by requiring law enforcement officers to arrest a person before seizing that person’s assets.
“We said, ‘No. If you take our money, arrest me and charge me,’” Bean said.