’08 Session Comes In For Quiet Landing!
Without a lot of fanfare, the 2008 Legislative Session adjourned “Sine Die,” on Friday May 2nd.  Clouded by the recent economic downturn and a $4 billion revenue shortfall there was not much cause for celebration this year.  Looking back, it’s what the legislature didn’t pass this year that turned out to be the real win for Florida’s forest industry.

Legislation That Passed

Renewable Energy – HB 7135 by Rep’s Mayfield and Kreegel
Directs DEP to develop a cap and trade proposal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and allowing the sale of credits for reductions, with legislative ratification; directs the Public Service Commission to develop a renewable portfolio standard for electric utilities (by 2/1/09), with legislative ratification; creates the Florida Energy and Climate Commission within the Office of the Governor; requires improved energy efficiency in new state buildings; creates a renewable fuel standard mandating 10 percent ethanol blended gasoline by 12/31/10; requires legislative ratification before Florida can adopt the California auto emission standards; and directs Department of Agriculture and DEP to conduct an economic analysis of providing financial incentives to new users of woody biomass, as it relates to, wood supply, prices, existing markets, and sustainability (by 3/1/10).

Ad Valorem Taxation / Greenbelt – HB 909 by Rep. Nehr
Provides that no minimum acreage be required to qualify for the greenbelt agricultural assessment; changes the make-up of the value adjustment board to include two non-governmental citizen members; and provides legislative intent language which eliminates a property appraisers presumption of correctness, when an appraisal is contested.

Florida Forever Successor Program – SB 542 by Sen. Saunders
Provides for the continuation of the Florida Forever land purchase program through the year 2020 and increases bonding authority from $3 to $5.3 billion.  The bill also provides funding for the purchase of perpetual conservation easements on working Ag lands through the Rural & Family Lands Program.

Fees & Assessments – SB 1702 by Sen. Alexander
This legislation increases many fees and assessments, among them is a fire assessment fee paid by each county to the state for wildland fire protection.  Each County is required to pay the state 3-cents per acre for privately owned burnable acres.  This fee was increased from 3 to 7 cents per acre.

Property Rights Day – HR 9157
Designates April 24, 2008 as “Property Rights Day” in Florida.  

Budget Issues
DOF                        Agency Request              Final Compromise
Firefighting Equipment            $6 M (GR)             $4 M (TF)
Firefighter Pay Increase            $1.2 M (GR)        $0
Aircraft Acquisition and Modification    $418,000   $0

UF/IFAS
While any cut is difficult, the UF/IFAS received a proportional cut of 6-percent from the previous year, which is much lower than was anticipated a few months ago.

Legislation That Failed to Pass

Truck Weight Increase – Legislation was amended by the Association to increase truck weights for agriculture and forestry loads, from 80 to 84,000 pounds.  Subsequently a written request was made to the Governor urging an Executive Order be issued to increase the truck weights in light of the skyrocketing price of fuel.

Ag Industry Bill – Legislation was filed and supported by the Association, which included language making the Ag Lands Practices Act retroactive; and provided an exemption for Silviculture from local government stormwater permits, fees or assessments.

Private Property Rights – Legislation was filed and supported by the Association, to streamline the process of a private property owner to file a claim under the Bert Harris Private Property Rights Protection Act.

Public Land Management – Legislation was filed and supported by the Association, to consolidate the management of all public lands under the DOF. 

Springs Protection Act – Legislation was filed to create the FL Springs Stewardship Task Force, charged with identifying the spring sheds of the 33 first magnitude springs, encouraging BMP’s in these areas and report to the legislature.

Sales Tax Exemptions – Legislation was filed and recommendations were made to review and repeal certain sales tax exemptions to help offset the budget shortfall, many of which greatly benefit the agricultural and forest industries

Overweight Truck Penalties – As part of the Governors recommended balanced budget, he encouraged the legislature to increase overweight fines, from 5-cents up to 58-cents per pound, to help offset the budget shortfall.

Severance Tax on Timber – Recommendations were made, citing a former study conducted by the Office of Program Policy and Government Accountability (OPPAGA), to adopt a severance tax on timber harvesting as a way to help offset the budget shortfall.