Latest news with #DebraTendrich
Yahoo
31-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Florida bill would ban these rent hikes for affordable housing. What to know
Have you ever had a landlord tell you your rent was going up in the middle of your lease? If a bill working its way through the Florida Legislature passes, they may not be able to, but only for low-income households. House Bill 365 blocks landlords who receive federal, state or local incentives for affordable housing from raising rents mid-lease. The restriction applies only to rental agreements of 13 months or less that begin on or after July 1, 2026. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Debra Tendrich, D-Lake Worth, has been approved by the House Housing, Agriculture & Tourism and Civil Justice and Claims subcommittees. It now goes to the House Commerce Committee and then the floor. The Senate version, SB 382, from Sen. Mack Bernard, D-by West Palm Beach, is in the Community Affairs committee. Rents and home prices in Florida have shot up in the last decade, although they have stabilized somewhat in the last couple of years, and housing remains a problem. "Affordable housing" is defined in Florida statutes as housing where monthly rents or mortgage payments — including taxes, insurance, and utilities — do not exceed 30% of area median annual adjusted gross income for low-income households within the state. These rates are determined annually by HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) by county or Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs). In Florida, the current statewide area median income (AMI) for a family of four is $88,600. Over 2.4 million low-income Florida households pay more than 30% of their incomes towards housing, according to a 2024 report from the Florida Housing Coalition. Over half of them — or 1.3 million low-income households — spend more than 50% of their income toward housing costs. "This makes it difficult for those households to save for retirement or emergencies and difficult to afford other necessities such as food and childcare," read an analysis of the bill. Under HB 365, which is only two pages, landlords of units that qualify as affordable housing who have received federal, state, or local funding or tax incentives because of that are prohibited from raising the rent during the term of a rental agreement. Landlords may still raise the rent if: A tenant is renewing their rental agreement The increase is required for compliance with federal laws, rules, or regulations If the Legislature passes it and Gov. Ron DeSantis signs it, the law would go into effect July 1, 2025 for rental contracts that begin on or after July 1, 2026. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Rent-hike ban in Florida for certain leases may become new law
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
‘Our food is literally killing us': FL lawmakers propose warning labels for certain foods
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA) — Concerns around ultra-processed foods and synthetic dyes have state lawmakers pushing legislation to ban chemical additives and require stronger warning labels. Florida lawmakers are demanding change in the food found in schools and what you buy in grocery stores. In a bipartisan move, lawmakers at the statehouse have filed several bills to tackle concerns around harmful chemicals found in Floridians' everyday diets. One bill looks to make nutrition labels a little bit more like warning labels, highlighting the negative impacts it has on children. Fired workers return to federal agencies — but are put on paid leave 'We cannot continue to ignore the truth about what is found in our food,' said State Rep. Debra Tendrich, D-Lake Worth. In a step toward a healthier Florida, lawmakers across chambers have several bills aimed at holding businesses accountable in the food industry and protecting the health of all Floridians.'Let's just be real, it's time we clean up our food system here in Florida,' said State Representative Lindsay Cross, D-St. Petersburg. Senate Republicans are diving into the chemicals found in our food, while House Democrats are fighting for transparency on food labels. House Bill 641 seeks to require clear warning labels on food and beverages containing harmful dyes and also looks to task the state's department of agriculture and consumer services with inspections to ensure compliance.'Our food is literally killing us, but it's a slow tortured death that first robs us of you, of your health… And then eventually robs you of your life span, which is, by the way, shorter than it's ever been in our history,' said Todd Wagner, Co-founder of FoodFight USA. Florida could ban these chemical additives in foods by 2028 if bill passes The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently banned the use of red dye No. 3, and as food additive concerns rise on the federal stage, some Florida lawmakers are asking, 'What's the rush to speed past those efforts here on the state level?''Should we wait until the federal government completes their work so there's a uniform regulation?' said State Senator Darryl Ervin Rouson, D-St. Petersburg. In response, State Senator Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, said, 'I think waiting on the federal government has proven to be not beneficial to Floridians in a number of respects.' In a separate bill, Senator Martin's efforts to ban chemical additives in foods by 2028 passed out of its first committee, which gives lawmakers across the chamber hope that their bill will do the advocates and lawmakers note major food companies have reformulated their products for other countries, while it remains unclear if they will do that here at home in the Sunshine State. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
