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Tallahassee, FL – Rep. Steve Precourt applauded the Florida Legislature today for unanimously passing SB 1730, Biodiesel Fuel. Precourt’s House companion bill, HB 1065 passed the House on Wednesday; this legislation exempts secondary schools from certain filing requirements.
This legislation was brought to sponsors Representative Steve Precourt and Senator Steve Oelrich by several incredibly bright high school students who attend The Oak Hall School in Gainesville, Florida.
“This legislation will remove the bureaucratic red tape that was slowing down an innovative biofuel project conceived by some of Florida’s brightest students,” said Representative Steve Precourt. “We should be doing everything we can to encourage our youth to pursue clean energy projects, and it’s rewarding to see this much needed fix come to fruition.”
The Oak Hall students started a project where they built a biodiesel processor to turn everyday household cooking products, such as used vegetable oil, into biodiesel fuel that can run in the school’s lawn equipment. Currently, the students are required to submit a monthly report to the Florida Department of Revenue regardless if any biodiesel is produced or not, according to Chapter 206 in Florida Statute. Furthermore, the school must pay a tax on each gallon produced. The school is permitted to file for an annual refund on the taxes collected during the previous year. This legislation exempts secondary schools that produce 1,000 gallons or less of biodiesel fuel per year, for the sole use of the school, from the monthly filing requirement and the tax payment. This exemption will allow high school students to produce new, clean energy without being continually burdened by too much government.
This bill now goes to the Governor for signing.
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Friday, April 30, 2010
PRESS RELEASE - Rep. Precourt Applauds Passage of Florida Film & Entertainment Tax Credit - Urges Governor to Sign
Tax Credit Will Lead to Immediate Job Growth for Floridians
Tallahassee, FL – Today, the Florida Legislature passed SB 1752, Economic Development, the companion bill to the Entertainment Industry Economic Development Act (HB 697) which passed the House unanimously. Sponsored by Representative Steve Precourt along with prime co-sponsors Representatives Kevin Ambler and Jennifer Carroll, the bill is a centerpiece of the Legislature’s jobs package and enjoys wide bipartisan support.
“Floridians are hurting, and the Legislature has taken a bold step forward in putting people back to work by passing this bill,” said Rep. Steve Precourt. “It’s rare that a piece of legislation can have an immediate impact, but this innovative proposal will immediately put Floridians to work in film and digital media at little cost to the taxpayer.”
In recent years, Florida’s existing film incentive program has been cut dramatically, resulting in a sharp decline in production projects lost to competing states. The bill creates a film and digital media tax credit that has a proven track record of attracting and growing the industry in other states. The production company will only receive the credit after all its payments have been verified. With the investment occurring before a credit is issued, this is a true performance-based credit.
Other key provisions include an annual cap on total credits of $53.5M for fiscal year 2010-2011, $74.5M for fiscal year 2011-2012, $38M for fiscal years 2012-2013, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015, an increase in the base incentive amount from the 15% to 20% for major film, TV and digital media productions and an increase in the “family friendly” project enhancement from 2% to 5%. Only Florida expenditures such as hiring local residents and contracting with Florida-based companies qualify.
This bill now goes to the Governor for signing.
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Tallahassee, FL – Today, the Florida Legislature passed SB 1752, Economic Development, the companion bill to the Entertainment Industry Economic Development Act (HB 697) which passed the House unanimously. Sponsored by Representative Steve Precourt along with prime co-sponsors Representatives Kevin Ambler and Jennifer Carroll, the bill is a centerpiece of the Legislature’s jobs package and enjoys wide bipartisan support.
“Floridians are hurting, and the Legislature has taken a bold step forward in putting people back to work by passing this bill,” said Rep. Steve Precourt. “It’s rare that a piece of legislation can have an immediate impact, but this innovative proposal will immediately put Floridians to work in film and digital media at little cost to the taxpayer.”
In recent years, Florida’s existing film incentive program has been cut dramatically, resulting in a sharp decline in production projects lost to competing states. The bill creates a film and digital media tax credit that has a proven track record of attracting and growing the industry in other states. The production company will only receive the credit after all its payments have been verified. With the investment occurring before a credit is issued, this is a true performance-based credit.
Other key provisions include an annual cap on total credits of $53.5M for fiscal year 2010-2011, $74.5M for fiscal year 2011-2012, $38M for fiscal years 2012-2013, 2013-2014, and 2014-2015, an increase in the base incentive amount from the 15% to 20% for major film, TV and digital media productions and an increase in the “family friendly” project enhancement from 2% to 5%. Only Florida expenditures such as hiring local residents and contracting with Florida-based companies qualify.
This bill now goes to the Governor for signing.
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Monday, April 26, 2010
Session Update
Legislators received an updated economic forecast from the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference. State economists revealed in their forecast of tax collections that for the year ahead that while the state economy is showing a slight improvement, Florida will continue to face a budget shortfall of as much as $3.2 billion. The good news from the report was that for the first time in three years we expect to see positive economic growth in the weeks ahead. But that growth is nowhere near the level we saw just a few years ago meaning we will continue to face difficult economic challenges here in Florida.
With those facts in mind, my House colleagues and I remain committed to continuing to work hard on crafting a responsible, common-sense budget that reflects Florida’s economic realities without burdening Florida’s families or businesses with new taxes.
In these times when big government continues to invade the private lives of our citizens, it is critical that we explore the constitutionality of big government’s actions. With this goal in mind, House Joint Resolution (HJR) 37, known as the Health Care Freedom Act, continues to move through the legislative process. The measure is a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to ensure that Floridians' rights are not abridged by overreaching and invasive government mandates on their private health care decisions as mandated by the recent Federal Health Care Reform legislation passed in Washington and signed by President Obama. HJR 37 passed the House Floor on Thursday.
In order to provide a first-rate learning experience for our children, we must have policies that are practical and applicable. I voted to pass Senate Joint Resolution 2, Class Size Requirements for Public Schools. This legislation will change the way class size limits are calculated; providing school districts with the flexibility as it relates to the Class Size Amendment. By right sizing the Class Size Amendment, school districts will have the flexibility to focus on student gains and reward excellent teachers as we endeavor to provide our children with a world-class education taught by world-class teachers.
The Florida House of Representatives website, http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/, is a useful tool to track and research filed legislation.
Please do not hesitate to contact me at Steve.Precourt@myfloridahouse.gov with any questions on legislation or policy.
With those facts in mind, my House colleagues and I remain committed to continuing to work hard on crafting a responsible, common-sense budget that reflects Florida’s economic realities without burdening Florida’s families or businesses with new taxes.
In these times when big government continues to invade the private lives of our citizens, it is critical that we explore the constitutionality of big government’s actions. With this goal in mind, House Joint Resolution (HJR) 37, known as the Health Care Freedom Act, continues to move through the legislative process. The measure is a proposed constitutional amendment that seeks to ensure that Floridians' rights are not abridged by overreaching and invasive government mandates on their private health care decisions as mandated by the recent Federal Health Care Reform legislation passed in Washington and signed by President Obama. HJR 37 passed the House Floor on Thursday.
In order to provide a first-rate learning experience for our children, we must have policies that are practical and applicable. I voted to pass Senate Joint Resolution 2, Class Size Requirements for Public Schools. This legislation will change the way class size limits are calculated; providing school districts with the flexibility as it relates to the Class Size Amendment. By right sizing the Class Size Amendment, school districts will have the flexibility to focus on student gains and reward excellent teachers as we endeavor to provide our children with a world-class education taught by world-class teachers.
The Florida House of Representatives website, http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/, is a useful tool to track and research filed legislation.
Please do not hesitate to contact me at Steve.Precourt@myfloridahouse.gov with any questions on legislation or policy.
My Florida Census
With the 2010 Census underway, the Florida House of Representatives has launched http://www.myfloridacensus.gov/ to assist with Florida’s efforts to obtain a complete count of every person in Florida, and we need your help.
You are probably well aware of the many positive impacts of a complete and accurate count. For example, the Census helps to shape the future of child care, senior care, schools, job training centers, hospitals, emergency services and more.
MyFloridaCensus.gov is a simple online tool that allows anyone in Florida to tell us whether or not they have been counted in the 2010 Census. With that information in hand, the Florida House of Representatives is able to work with other Census partners to help analyze (and thereby minimize) which streets, neighborhoods and communities may go missed in the 2010 Census.
In order to make MyFloridaCensus.gov a valuable tool in our efforts to count everyone in Florida, we are asking that you do three simple things:
1. Visit http://www.myfloridacensus.gov/;
2. Tell us whether or not have you have been counted; and
3. Help spread the word by telling others to visit http://www.myfloridacensus.gov/.
You are probably well aware of the many positive impacts of a complete and accurate count. For example, the Census helps to shape the future of child care, senior care, schools, job training centers, hospitals, emergency services and more.
MyFloridaCensus.gov is a simple online tool that allows anyone in Florida to tell us whether or not they have been counted in the 2010 Census. With that information in hand, the Florida House of Representatives is able to work with other Census partners to help analyze (and thereby minimize) which streets, neighborhoods and communities may go missed in the 2010 Census.
In order to make MyFloridaCensus.gov a valuable tool in our efforts to count everyone in Florida, we are asking that you do three simple things:
1. Visit http://www.myfloridacensus.gov/;
2. Tell us whether or not have you have been counted; and
3. Help spread the word by telling others to visit http://www.myfloridacensus.gov/.
Constituent Corner - DOR
The Agency I would like to familiarize you with this week is the Department of Revenue (DOR).
The Florida Department of Revenue has three primary lines of business:
Child Support Enforcement Help parents provide the financial support their children need and deserve.
General Tax Administration Collect state taxes fairly and efficiently, and make complying with Florida’s tax laws as simple and convenient as possible.
Property Tax Oversight Oversee Florida’s property tax system to ensure accuracy and fairness in property valuation throughout the state.
For more information on DOR, please visit www.myflorida.com/dor/
The Florida Department of Revenue has three primary lines of business:
Child Support Enforcement Help parents provide the financial support their children need and deserve.
General Tax Administration Collect state taxes fairly and efficiently, and make complying with Florida’s tax laws as simple and convenient as possible.
Property Tax Oversight Oversee Florida’s property tax system to ensure accuracy and fairness in property valuation throughout the state.
For more information on DOR, please visit www.myflorida.com/dor/
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