Latest news with #SB1008
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas restaurants cheer changes to permits, fees from new law
AUSTIN (KXAN) — On Monday, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill intended to standardized the regulation of the state's food service industry. Senate Bill 1008 passed in the Senate on April 9 and in the House of Representatives on May 5, with bipartisan support in both chambers. The Texas Restaurant Association (TRA) called its 'signature bill' of the legislative session in a Tuesday press release. 'This new law…improves transparency and predictability for our industry, which is regulated by about 200 different health departments across Texas,' said the TRA in its release. For restaurants and other food service, the bill creates a cap on permitting fees, removes sound regulation permits and fees, and also requires local public health agencies notify via email 60 days prior to changing its permitting or health inspection procedures. The fee cap is set to what a restaurant would pay if it were under the Texas Department of State Health Services' jurisdiction. Travis County businesses likely won't see a drop in their operating permit fees, which are well below DSHS levels. For other businesses under Austin Public Health, this law will likely decrease those fees. The APH fee schedule can be read below. EHSD-Fee-Schedule-FY2024-Tabloid-eff-5-8-2024Download Texas' largest counties, including Travis County, will be allowed to charge up to 120% more if 'necessary to protect public safety and maintain adequate food safety staffing levels in the county, municipality, or district.' 'Each of these reforms matter, and together they bring real relief, especially for the small businesses that make up 90% of our foodservice industry,' the TRA said. 'Today's economy is marked with tremendous uncertainty and cost pressures, but SB 1008 is an example of the bipartisan work the Texas Restaurant Association leads to mitigate these pressures, helping local restaurants save money and focus on what really matters—serving their communities.' Beyond the TRA, the bill also received support from the Texas Trucking Association, wholesale food distributor Sysco and restaurant owners during a March 18 public hearing of the Senate Business & Commerce committee, according to legislative records. No one testified against the bill during the March hearing, but officials with the Bexar County Commissioners Court, Tarrant County Administrator's Office and the City of Irving registered their opposition to the bill. The Legislative Budget Board said in its fiscal note on SB 1008 that implementation will cost Texas' budget at least $140,000 annually. This money would be used to employ a person 'to maintain and monitor the fee registry.' However, the cost could increase rapidly if DSHS also has to take on health inspections, the board warned. 'DSHS is unable to estimate how many local jurisdictions would opt to cease inspection and permitting for retail foods establishments. If these activities were turned over to DSHS, the agency would need additional support for inspection and permitting activities,' the fiscal note reads. The law takes effect at the start of September. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Axios
04-03-2025
- Politics
- Axios
Florida bills to watch: Condo insurance, election changes and guns
Florida lawmakers reconvene tomorrow to kick off this year's legislative session, with bills filed to enshrine " Gulf of America" in state statutes and to allow guns but not undocumented immigrants on college campuses. Why it matters: There are more than 1,300 bills for the Legislature to wade through, each with the potential to reshape our daily lives. Here are a few we're monitoring: Condo insurance: Miami Republican Rep. Vicki Lopez filed a bill (HB 913) that would revoke state-run Citizens Property Insurance coverage for condominium associations that have failed to conduct building safety inspections or structural integrity reserve studies. Most of the over 11,000 Florida condo buildings required to conduct the studies under a Dec. 31 2024 deadline haven't done so. Waste management: Amid the debate over how Miami-Dade County will replace the burned-down Doral waste-to-energy facility, state Sen. Bryan Ávila (R-Hialeah Gardens) filed SB 1008, which would prohibit building trash incinerators or waste-to-energy facilities within a half-mile of any residential property, commercial property or school. State Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez (R-Doral) filed SB 946 to prohibit a local government from building a waste management facility within two miles of the Everglades Protection Area. Gun regulation rollback: State Sen. Randy Fine (R-Melbourne Beach) filed bills to lower the state's gun-buying age limit to 18 years old and allow concealed firearm carry on college campuses. State Sen. Blaise Ingoglia (R-Spring Hill), meanwhile, introduced legislation to ban the use of artificial intelligence to detect firearms in public areas; it would be a first-degree misdemeanor to do so. Election changes: Ingoglia also proposed a sweeping elections bill (SB 1414) that includes changes experts say would likely eliminate citizen-led ballot campaigns to amend the state constitution. It would also prohibit the use of student ID cards when voting, among other provisions. Another immigration crackdown: Fine's bill (SB 244) would prohibit state universities with acceptance rates below 85% from accepting applications from or admitting undocumented students. State Sen. Joe Gruters (R-Sarasota) filed legislation to revoke the law licenses of undocumented immigrants on Nov. 1, 2028, unless proof of U.S. citizenship is provided on or before that date. State Sen. Jason Pizzo (D-Hollywood) filed a bill to expand E-Verify – a system that verifies employees' immigration status – to all employers, with penalties of up to $10,000 in fines. State Rep. Berny Jacques (R-Seminole) filed a similar bill without the penalties. Gulf of America: State Sen. Nick DiCeglie (R-Indian Rocks Beach) wants to change all references to the Gulf of Mexico in state statutes to the Gulf of America after President Trump renamed the body of water. Insurer of first resort: A bipartisan bill (HB 13) aims to require Citizens Property Insurance Corp. to make windstorm coverage available to all homeowners statewide. How to watch: You can watch the House, Senate and committee hearings online at the Florida Channel. Plus, you can visit to track bills and receive email alerts.
