2025 Legislative Update #4

Wins for local business

On Friday, May 30, Florida House and Senate leaders announced an “agreement in principle” between the earlier proffered House and Senate budgets that were billions of dollars apart. Final budget documents are expected shortly. In a big win for St. Johns County businesses, the agreement eliminates the sales tax on commercial rents estimated to cost $900 million. The Chamber has worked with other organizations across Florida for many years to eliminate this unreasonable tax burden. In another tentative win for local tourism businesses, the agreement makes no mention of weakening the current "bed tax" authority used by the county’s Tourist Development Council to promote St. Johns County tourism. 

Budget overview

As outlined by the Senate president and House speaker, the budget agreement contains the following: 

• Guarantee $2.25 billion shifted into tax cuts and reserves.
• Does not include a permanent reduction in the overall sales tax rate.
• Includes $750 million for the state’s main budget reserve while also setting aside $250 million a year to pay off outstanding debt.
• Provides for a number of sales tax holidays as in past years.
• Does not include statewide property tax reductions.

Deadlines approaching

Earlier in May, the House passed a resolution keeping the chamber in session through June 30, while the Senate approved an extension only through June 6. The latest schedule is for House and Senate conferees to meet this week to iron out a final budget agreement with final action scheduled for June 16. In the unlikely scenario that the legislature does not approve a balanced budget and have it to the governor for his signature by June 30, the State of Florida will shut down July 1.  

All the St. Johns County budget requests are currently in limbo pending the outcome of budget negotiations. House and Senate appropriators have been named to a conference committee to work out the differences between the two bodies.

City looks for feedback on Nights of Lights impacts

The City of St. Augustine held Nights of Lights workshops for the business community and residents late last month to discuss City Manager David Birchim’s proposals to deal with mobility issues including parking, street vendors and street closures to vehicular traffic. Scott Maynard, the Chamber's senior vice president of economic development and public policy, attended one of these meetings to represent the St. Johns County business community.

City of St. Augustine Vice Mayor Barbara Blonder attended the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee at its June 5 meeting to discuss the city’s Nights of Lights mobility plans for 2025 as well as other major events throughout the year.

Comp Plan discussion at commission meeting

The St. Johns County Board of County Commissioners discussed the County’s 2050 Comprehensive Plan at its May 20 meeting and voted down a motion to move it forward as presented. Vice Chair Clay Murphy indicated his desire to have the County Commission meet regularly in workshops through June to hammer out a new version of the Comprehensive Plan. On June 2, the BCC is expected to hold its first workshop to discuss amendments to the Comprehensive Plan including: 

• Removing the proposed 85-foot height limit for new construction
• Incorporate “missing middle and affordable housing” into the density bonus developers can ask for when proposing new developments.

Hutson joins county clerk's office

Former state Sen. Travis Hutson has taken the position of Intergovernmental Affairs Consultant for the St. Johns County Clerk of Courts to help guide the office through various budgetary and appropriations issues facing them in Tallahassee.

Legislative Update Breakfast scheduled for July 11

The Chamber’s Legislative Update Breakfast has been rescheduled for Friday, July 11, at Embassy Suites in St. Augustine Beach. This widely attended annual event features members of the state legislative delegation and local officials discussing goals and accomplishments in 2025.