Amendments made to Senate Bill 188 effectively gutted the state’s ability to prevent municipalities from regulating vacation rentals, according to state Sen. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota, who filed the bill.
The bill prohibited local ordinances from regulating or restricting vacation rentals and would have stripped local governments of vacation rental regulations adopted after June 2011.
As amended, SB 188 specifies local governments still may not prohibit vacation rentals or legislate the frequency or length of stays, the same as the current law.
Local ordinances that regulate vacation rentals, including licenses, taxes or restricted building codes and occupancy limits also would be allowed.
The original bill would have rendered Anna Maria’s 2015 vacation rental ordinance and Holmes Beach’s 2016 vacation rental ordinance obsolete and would have prevented Bradenton Beach from developing a similar vacation rental ordinance.
Under the amended language, SB 188 passed through the Senate Community Affairs subcommittee April 17 by a 5-3 vote, the second of three committees that must approve it before it gets sent to the Senate floor for a vote.
“Just to be clear,” Steube told the Community Affairs subcommittee April 17, the amended bill allows cities to continue as they currently do.
The measure was scheduled to be heard in the Rules subcommittee, the final hurdle, at 2 p.m. April 25, after The Islander went to press.
SB 188’s sister bill, HB 425, submitted by state Rep. Mike La Rosa, R-Osceala, also was scheduled to be heard April 25 by the second of three committees.
HB 425 also was amended. According to the House bill, regulations may not limit or prohibit the use of vacation rentals, but can regulate the length and duration of vacation rentals, in direct contrast to SB 188.
The cities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach have all hired lobbyists in response to the vacation rental bills.
In a Bradenton Beach City Commission meeting April 20, city attorney Ricinda Perry said Bradenton Beach will determine whether lobbyist Dave Ramba will need to continue his efforts. However, Perry said the primary bills of concern appear to be dead.
Bradenton Beach Mayor Bill Shearon said there’s “technically still hope” for the bills’ supporters, but he believes the measures are unlikely to pass. However, he added that he remains concerned that a similar bill could be introduced next year.
Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson did not respond to phone calls April 20 and April 21 about how the city will proceed strategically with its lobbyist.
Holmes Beach’s contract with Cari Roth calls for a payment of $15,000 between March and April for work through July 31.
Anna Maria, the first to hire a lobbyist, recruited Chip Case in January on a $5,000 monthly retainer through June.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said the city would continue lobbying. “It’s not over ’til it’s over,” he said, pointing out that the bills can be amended on the Senate and House floors.
The Florida legislative session is scheduled to end May 5. Committee meetings wrapped up April 25.
Glad to hear a sensible amended bill is likely. Cities need the ability to exercise control, through their local elected officials,what affects their residents. Thanks to everyone involved in this process who worked so hard.