Florida
The Florida Home Builders Association released its 2014 legislative priority issues list. FHBA will be working this session to repeal the documentary tax levied for the Sadowski Affordable Housing Act, to secure state funding for Future Builders of America and to have the annual building code bill skip a code cycle to reduce code changes. FHBA is working to develop a statewide water policy plan that assures the industry's interests are protected.
Nassau County
Sen. Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach) has sponsored SB 714, which would create the Florida Builder's specialty license plate. Funds from the sale of the plate would benefit builders associations statewide.
NEFBA members and staff met with local officials to discuss concerns over a recently added "personal guarantee" to new service contracts with Nassau Amelia Utility. NEFBA expressed a desire to see the guarantee, which overrides incorporation protection, replaced with a more traditional method of insuring payment, such as deposits.
Implementation of new USDA Rural Development Loans maps was delayed until Sept. 30. NEFBA members had expressed concerns to U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw's office about the new maps, which would make much of east Nassau County, including Yulee, ineligible for the loans. Long term, the Senate-passed farm bill would keep all the county in the USDA program until the 2020 Census.
Builders Council
Corey Hacker
[email protected] and (904) 725-4355
Clay County
The Clay Builders Council's monthly membership meeting is 8:30 a.m., March 12 at the Island Life Grill (2245 Plantation Center Drive, Fleming Island). Cost is $8 per person. NEFBA President Daniel Blanchard will be the guest speaker. The council will host a social at Ronnie's Wings and Oyster Bar and Grill in Green Cove Springs 5 to 8 p.m., March 13.
Builders Council
Jessie Spradley
[email protected] and (904) 725-4355
Duval County
The Duval County mobility fee temporary partial waiver was reduced to 50 percent Jan. 19. The next step down to 25 percent will occur in six months and the temporary waiver will end Oct. 18.
Meeting notices: NEFBA Codes and Standard Committee will meet at 8:30 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 20, and NEFBA Government Affairs Committee will meet at 8:30 a.m., Friday, Feb. 21. The meetings are at the NEFBA office, 103 Century 21 Drive, Suite 100.
Duval County issues
Jessie Spradley
[email protected] and (904) 725-4355
Baker County issues
Jessie Spradley
[email protected] and (904) 725-4355
St. Johns County
Members of the NEFBA Government Affairs Committee and the St. Johns Builders Council attended the fourth in a series of special meetings to discuss transportation concurrency this month. The meeting was hosted by the St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners in order to help improve commercial concurrency laws in the county. Prior to the meeting, Government Affairs Chair Greg Matovina, with the input of other committee members, sent a letter to John Metcalf, chairman of the workshop, detailing NEFBA's position on the proposed changes and providing several options on ways to improve concurrency within the county.
Builders Council
Leona Brown
[email protected] and (904) 725-4355