Latest news with #HouseBill1221
Miami Herald
01-05-2025
- Business
- Miami Herald
Tourism leaders say end of hotel tax revenue would damage Miami-Dade's economy
Tourism surrounds me every day — whether meeting with visitors who come to Miami for vacation or business, working with our highly skilled team members or partnering with local small business owners who support our hotel or entertain our guests. I see firsthand that tourism goes beyond my doors and extends into our community. It isn't just a part of Miami-Dade's economy; it's essential to our livelihood. That's why House Bill 1221 and House Bill 7033 are so concerning. The proposed legislation would reallocate Tourism Development Taxes (TDT) — paid by visitors and designated to fund tourism marketing and other industry programs — toward legislation that could shift funding away from advertising to non-tourism uses. That not only means less visibility for Greater Miami and Miami Beach on the global stage — ceding visitors to other destinations who will be happy to welcome them — but less funding for institutions and programs across Miami-Dade's 34 municipalities that celebrate local cultures. The bill is currently in the senate. We must remain top-of-mind in promoting our destination and protecting the communities that make our destination unique. When visitor numbers drop, the fallout hits real people: the taxi driver, concierge, elevator mechanic, tour guide and shop owner. No TDT means a direct threat to the 200,000 people employed because of the industry. No TDT also means a possible lessening of quality of life for all Miami-Dade residents because a robust tourism industry creates tax revenues that help pay for improvements in education, public safety, transportation and other community services that residents would otherwise have to pay for. And no TDT means a possible hit to everyone's finances. Miami-Dade visitors pay more than $1.1 billion in sales taxes annually, which translates into more than $2,200 in annual savings for each household. Simply, Tourist Development Taxes, or bed taxes, are a benefit, not a burden, to Miami-Dade residents. The TDT is one of the reasons Florida doesn't have a state income tax. Visitors pay their way and it's a tax mechanism that works, creating jobs and real economic impact. And the alternative if the TDT is reallocated? It would become a property tax break, applied as a credit against Miami-Dade County's property tax roll; the projected property tax savings per resident would only amount to approximately $60. Compared to the fact that every dollar invested in tourism marketing yields $63 of economic impact and $3.24 of additional tax revenue, which goes to funding resident services, the answer is clear. HB 1221 and HB 7033 threaten one of our most powerful economic drivers. I urge lawmakers to protect Tourism Development Taxes. Let's not hurt locals and jeopardize an industry for an experiment with minimal upside. Tourism helps us today and will help our economy remain resilient in the future. The TDT is tourism's fuel, so why stop putting gas in the engine now? Julissa Kepner is board chair at the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau.
Newsweek
29-04-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Florida Tourism Change Sparks Warning: 'Sounding the Alarm'
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Florida's tourism industry leaders are raising concerns over proposed legislation that could dismantle the existing tourism promotion infrastructure. Newsweek reached out to state Rep. Monique Miller, one of the sponsors of the bill, via email on Tuesday. Why It Matters Florida's tourism industry is one of the largest drivers of the state's economy, generating billions in tax revenue and supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs. Industry leaders are warning that redirecting funding away from tourism promotion could reduce visitor numbers and weaken a vital stream of income for the state. What To Know In Florida the Tourist Development Tax, a levy collected from visitors staying at short-term rentals, has traditionally been used to fund local tourism marketing efforts through Tourist Development Councils. However, two new bills—House Bill 1221 and House Bill 7033—aim to dissolve the Tourist Development Councils and instead redirect the tax revenue to offset property taxes. Tourists relax on the beach in Miami Beach, Florida, on March 18, 2020. Florida's tourism industry is raising concerns over proposed legislation that could affect the industry. Tourists relax on the beach in Miami Beach, Florida, on March 18, 2020. Florida's tourism industry is raising concerns over proposed legislation that could affect the industry. CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images Under HB 1221, counties would have to reapprove their Tourist Development Tax every eight years or lose it, making funding for tourism promotion more unstable or uncertain. Supporters of the proposal argue that shifting the revenue toward property tax relief would ease the financial burden on residents. But tourism industry leaders warn that cutting funding for tourism promotion could hurt the industry and threaten a critical source of income for the state. One industry leader said they are "sounding the alarm" over the bill, while another said the changes could put Florida's tourism economy "on a never-ending treadmill of uncertainty." What People Are Saying Robert Skrob, executive director of the Florida Attractions Association, said: "For weeks, we've been sounding the alarm about House Bill 1221 by Representative Monique Miller (R)—a proposal that would force all Tourist Development Taxes (TDTs) to expire every eight years, placing Florida's tourism economy on a never-ending treadmill of uncertainty." He added that a new amendment "not only maintains the damaging 8-year sunset provision—it completely eliminates the ability of counties to use TDTs for their intended purpose: promoting tourism." Milton Segarra, President and CEO of Discover The Palm Beaches, said: "If we disrupt that balance to the level of what this particular legislation is proposing, to really defund this model, it will have very negative impacts, including the loss of thousands of jobs, not only here in Palm Beach County, but across the state." Rep. Monique Miller told the House State Affairs Committee: "Tourists flock here to spend their money. This bill gives local governments more control over these taxes and the power to use tax revenues to make Florida more affordable for its residents." "People are losing their homes. We have to bring them relief. This is a way to bring them immediate relief." What Happens Next The proposal has been passed by the state House and now faces deliberation by the state Senate. Tourism industry leaders are likely to continue lobbying against the bills and warning lawmakers about the long-term economic risks.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bills pass in the House that threaten Tourism Development Tax and the community
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Despite local lawmakers speaking out against House Bill 7033 and House Bill 1221, they both passed in the House Friday morning. Representative Griff Griffitts took to Facebook to publicly share his opposition. HB Bill 1221 passed in a 62-45 vote. HB 7033 passed with a 78-29 vote. The reality of the bills' impacts on the tourism development tax continues to weigh on tourism organizations. 'The House of Representatives voted to put forward two bills. One was a local option sales tax bill. And the second one was the overall House tax package that included provisions that pretty much wipe out, first of all, councils as they exist now. I mean, TDCs would be abandoned or dissolved by the end of the year,' Bay County TDC Executive Director Dan Rowe said. You can see the TDC's impact in Bay County just about everywhere you look, especially in recent months. With projects such as updating Econofina Creek amenities, the beach re-nourishment project in Mexico Beach, extra funding for Panama City Beach Police to battle spring break, the Ed Hickey, ADA beach access, and countless others. Tarpon Dock Bridge Update All of the projects have enhanced the Bay County experience for visitors and locals alike. 'It's about the 30,000 people in Bay County that are employed either directly or indirectly by the tourism industry. I mean it's their livelihoods, it's their businesses. I mean, we're trying to make sure we're doing our part just to keep, you know, Panama City Beach and Bay County's best foot forward. So that we will continue to attract people on a year-round basis because getting people here throughout the year really does, you know, helps us to stabilize our local economy and employment also allows us to attract new things,' Rowe said. The TDC is also involved in the turtle monitoring efforts, the Publix Sports Park, public safety, and countless signature events. While the push from legislation includes redirecting tourism development taxes to offset residents' property taxes, residents could still face other financial burdens. 'There will be future storm events, and beach renourishment helps us protect against those. So that was on the backs of our local residents, you know, people across Bay County, whether or not just people living on the beach, but everywhere in Bay County, would be forced to pay that bill. The same with lifeguards, the same with a lot of other things,' Rowe said. House bills do need companion Senate bills to move along. Rowe says he has faith in the Senate. 'But the one that did pass this, you know, the House is, you know, the tax package in the Senate has a tax package. It does not include, you know, the devastating impacts to the tourist development tax that the House did. And so when they pass the final version of their tax package, then you know, both the Senate President and the Speaker of the House will appoint, you know, representatives to negotiate the deal,' Rowe added. Until the House and Senate agree on the tax package bill, nothing is certain. Which is why it's important to monitor the legislative process and voice any concerns to your senators and representatives. The legislative session was originally intended to end next Friday. It's still unclear how much longer the session will last, but with the potential economic impacts these bills would have on Bay County, we will continue to provide updates. Learn more about HB 7033 and HB 1221. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Business Journals
25-04-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Proposed law threatens billions in tourism revenue, industry leaders warn
Tourism leaders are sounding the alarm over a proposed bill that could dramatically alter how visitor taxes are spent, potentially impacting everything from beach maintenance to major sporting events. On Friday, Florida lawmakers approved House Bill 1221. The bill calls for completely restructuring how tourist development or bed taxes are spent. Visitors pay these taxes, which hotels or other rental properties collect. Florida is a tourism state at its core. For decades, Florida has used money collected from tourists to fund billions of dollars' worth of projects across the state. In a matter of weeks, that strategy could be dead, which tourism officials warn could be the beginning of a statewide catastrophe. Part of the bill eradicates the pathways counties could take when spending the collected taxes. Instead of being spent to promote tourism, the funds would go entirely toward a credit against county residents' property tax bills. It also requires TDTs to expire every eight years, meaning that counties would forever be uncertain whether they will continue to be able to collect the funds. The bill will soon go to the Florida Senate, and if it receives further approval, it will land on the governor's desk to be signed into law. If counties are now responsible for finding alternative means to fund the assets that have attracted visitors to their area, citizens will more than likely pay the price. 'This is about killing the goose that lays golden eggs for Florida,' Santiago Corrada, president and CEO of Visit Tampa Bay, said. Will residents feel a tax break? Florida collected more than $2.9 billion TDT in the past fiscal year, Corrada said. Those funds are not evenly divided among all 67 counties but are distributed to the counties from which they are gathered. Orange County alone generated nearly $793 million, Broward County brought in $142 million and Pinellas County brought in $107 million. Every other county brought in less than $100 million — Hillsborough brought in $71 million — so the savings will vary across the state. Some smaller county residents would see $5 to $20 credits, while Hillsborough taxpayers would see around $130 in property tax relief. However, counties with economies primarily based on tourism will face painful choices. They either have to let their assets degrade— stop work to replenish beaches, stop renovations to stadiums and stop competing to host conferences like national conventions or sporting events—or find alternative funds. Raising the millage rate is one of the few levers governments can pull to generate more funds. Residents could be forced to pay more taxes than they would make back with these savings. Statewide, the result could be even more ominous, Corrada warned. If tourism numbers drop, Florida's budget will face unprecedented hurdles. Corrada said one path forward could be to implement a state income tax. 'There are communities and states that don't have state income tax because of their strong visitor economy,"Corrada said. 'If you opened the dictionary and looked up income tax-free states, you would see a picture of Florida. What happens when that's no longer the case?' expand Santiago Corrada, CEO, Visit Tampa Bay. PEZZ PHOTO What's at risk? Visit Tampa Bay numbers show that Hillsborough County has set tourism records over the past three years, with over $1 billion in taxable hotel revenue each year. A large part of its success is the strategic advertising highlighting the county in other parts of the country and across the globe, Corrada said. TDTs collected in the county could be used for stadium upkeep, including work at Raymond James Stadium and Amalie Arena. Without well-maintained facilities, Tampa Bay would not see Beyoncé or Taylor Swift concerts, a Super Bowl, or an NCAA basketball championship, Corrada said. Hillsborough invests in airline recruitment to help Tampa International Airport bring new international direct flights. Travel in and out of Tampa Bay could look very different without its strong tourism market. Airlines will also be less keen to support routes out of Tampa Bay if the appetite for tourism in the region slows. Hillsborough supports 61,326 tourism-based jobs, according to Corrada. Hoteliers, caterers, florists and limo drivers are all at risk. "There's a lot of gamble in this; there's a lot of risk in this," Corrada said. "I'm surprised that it's so short-sighted and so ill-fated. If this damage happens, I hope people will remember. I hope they won't have short memories and they'll remember exactly how this happened." Beaches especially vulnerable In Pinellas, losing TDT would spell devastation. After Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused widespread devastation in Pinellas County — eradicating roughly 1 million cubic yards of sand from its beaches — the county created a plan to restore its waterfront using TDT. The plan calls for spending $102 million on beach renourishment in fiscal year 2026 and $144 million in fiscal year 2032, with less than $1 million set aside for each year. The county has also expressed hope for federal assistance. Without pristine beaches, tourism will suffer, and the county's economy will face a rocky future. Some argue that Florida will always attract tourists. However, other states that made similar gambles lost. By the 1990s, Colorado had become a premier destination, drawing billions in tourism revenue annually. In 1993, the state eliminated its tourism marketing function, which cost roughly $12 million a year. Within two years, its domestic market plunged 30%, losing more than $1.4 billion in tourism revenue annually. As time passed, that number climbed to an average of more than $2 billion a year as visitors went to Utah, Montana, and other neighboring states instead. 'Florida does not have a monopoly on tourists,' Corrada said. 'Look at what happened during Covid, what happens during hurricanes or economic recessions and depressions, and what happened during 9/11. No one has a monopoly on visitors. If you want to keep that edge and be the number one state for tourists, there's a reason that happens. It's because of marketing.'
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Final day of the 2025 legislative session
The 2025 legislative session is coming to an end, and the Indiana Capital Chronicle team will be chronicling its last day here. (Getty Images) The 2025 legislative session is coming to an end (hopefully within the next 24 hours!), and the Indiana Capital Chronicle team will be bringing you everything from the final day here. 39 mins ago 39 mins ago As the legislative session enters its final hours, tweaks and overhauls alike are coming rapid-fire. Indiana's retired public employees are likely to nab pension bonuses intended to boost benefits that don't otherwise keep up with inflation — but with a 5% cut — under a final draft for House Bill 1221. That's after a finance-focused Senate committee cut the 13th check and 1% cost-of-living-adjustment entirely. House lawmakers, however, sought years of bonuses. Elsewhere, several contentious provisions were dropped from less-controversial underlying legislation. But some authors are hoping to re-home them. It appears a ban on sleeping or sheltering on public property has been removed from Senate Bill 197, prompting rumors it would be inserted into legislation dealing with juvenile justice. But the final version of that bill is still outstanding. Another prohibition, this one on government-supported 'obscene performances,' wasn't in a conference committee report filed on Senate Bill 326. But that report was quickly withdrawn and is still in flux. Asked where the language might go, Rep. Andrew Ireland, R-Indianapolis, told the Capital Chronicle, 'I don't know any better than anyone else.' And detailed language cracking down on illicit massage parlors was cut from the negotiated draft of House Bill 1416, which would require human trafficking awareness posters in gas stations and rest stops. Rep. Wendy McNamara, R-Evansville, repeatedly called it too 'prescriptive.' Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores, authored the language after law enforcement raided parlors in his district. He told the Capital Chronicle that he aims to find a new place for a recast version that offers local governments greater decision-making powers. Last updated: 9:05 AM
