FAA Ready to Advocate for 2018 Legislative Priorities

Affordable housing, renters insurance, and doorstep trash collection are the legislative issues members of the Florida Apartment Association established as top priorities for the 2018 legislative session. The legislative priorities were decided at FAA’s legislative platform meeting in October. The annual platform meeting is an opportunity for apartment owners, managers, and other industry professionals to meet and discuss the legislative and regulatory issues that affect their business, and decide on what priorities to pursue in the coming legislative session.

Renters Insurance

FAA supports Senate Bill 678 and House Bill 467, which mandate that apartment communities specify whether or not they require their residents to carry renters insurance and what types of coverage must be included. Although more than 2.4 million Americans are renters, less than 40 percent of residents leasing their homes have any form of renters insurance. Many renters mistakenly assume their possessions are protected under their apartment owner’s insurance policy. Passing the bill would clear up confusion between renters and apartment owners and protect against future litigation problems.

Affordable Housing

The Florida Apartment Association urges the Florida Legislature to use all of Florida’s housing trust fund monies for Florida’s housing programs. The Sadowski Act, passed in 1992, created a revenue source to fund Florida’s affordable housing programs through document stamp taxes paid on all real estate transactions. Affordable housing helps to house Florida’s most vulnerable populations, including veterans and the elderly. The appropriation of the estimated $314.08 million in the state and local housing trust funds in fiscal year 2018-19 into Florida’s housing programs would create 30,000 jobs and $5 billion in positive economic impact in Florida.

Doorstep Trash Collection

FAA supports doorstep trash collection services to continue normally, and is seeking clarification of the Florida Fire Prevention Code, which is unclear with regard to allowing trash containers to be placed temporarily in hallways. Doorstep trash collection services give residents an easy and cost-effective way to dispose of trash by simply placing trash outside at a specified time, where it’s picked up by a local company. The doorstep waste removal industry is made up of several independent businesses which provide more than 1,200 jobs across Florida and generate an economic impact of more than $68 million annually. Doorstep trash service helps keep apartments clean and communities more marketable to residents. Passing SB 746 and HB 529 will allow trash collection services to operate normally.

Legislative Conference

FAA members will travel to the state Capitol next week to learn more about these issues and to meet with legislators and their staffs to advocate on behalf of the multifamily industry. Online registration is closed, but members may still register on-site. Details are available at faahq.org/legislative-conference.

FAA is committed to member-driven advocacy and will continue to monitor any issues affecting the apartment industry in Florida. If you have any questions regarding FAA legislative priorities, please contact Courtney Barnard, FAA government affairs director, at courtney@faahq.org.