by Edie Ousley
Special to Realty/Builder
The 2008 Legislative Session ended earlier this month, but not before lawmakers had passed a bevy of bills that position Florida’s home builders for success.
Despite the tough economic woes that forced lawmakers to cut more than $3 billion from the state’s budget, the Florida Home Builders Association successfully advocated for the passage of its 2008 member-identified priority issues.
Affordable housing, building code/mitigation, impact fees, onsite and springshed protection, and property insurance – all member-identified priority issues – were victorious during the 2008 Legislative Session.
These priority issues, along with growth management and property taxes, were selected as the association’s Top Legislative Priorities when the Florida Home Builders Association’s Governmental Affairs Committee hosted its annual pre-session meeting in late 2007.
While FHBA members found tremendous success on its top priorities, growth management and property taxes were the only two items that didn’t survive the 60-day Legislative Session.
“FHBA members should be very proud of our Governmental Affairs team,” said J. Emmett Reed, CAE, FHBA chief executive officer. “Because of their hard work, six of FHBA’s seven priority issues were addressed. We have made tremendous progress and I look forward to what the future will bring.”
FHBA’s lobbying team, under the direction of David Hart, Vice President of Legislative and Governmental Affairs, successfully secured legislation on the following issues:
• Affordable/Workforce Housing.
• Building Code/Mitigation (Energy).
• Impact Fees.
• Onsite & Springshed Protection.
• Administrative Procedures Act.
• Florida Forever.
• Property Insurance/Mitigation.
• Property Taxes.
• Growth Management.
“The entire FHBA Governmental Affairs team proved to be outstanding advocates for our members throughout session. I simply couldn’t be more pleased,” said David Hart, FHBA Vice President of Legislative and Governmental Affairs. “With the exception of growth management, I’m very happy with the results we’ve received on all of our priority issues.”
Joining Hart for the association’s successful 2008 Legislative Session, were: Douglas Buck, Keith Hetrick, Jennifer Wittstock and Robin Erb. Outside consultants, including Ken Plante, David Ramba, Wayne Bertsch and Lori Killinger also assisted with legislative efforts.
— Edie Ousley is the Communications Director for the Florida Home Builders Association.