Solar Energy Industries Association 2018 Session Report Week 3 January 26, 2018

Building Commission HB 299 by Representative Stan McClain, reduces the size of the Florida Building Commission from its current 27 members, down to 11 members.

Despite HB 299 still waiting for its final hearing in the House Commerce Committee, there has been no movement on this bill since November 15th. And because there is no senate companion measure filed, it is unlikely HB 299 will even pass this Session.

HB 295 by Representative Amy Mercado and its companion measure, SB 446 by Senator Audrey Gibson, is the perennial attempt to allow local governments to require an electrical journeyman contractor to be present and oversee very large electrical contracting projects.

Neither the House nor Senate bill have been scheduled for a hearing to-date.

Electric Utilities SB 656 by Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez, authorizes a municipality or a county operating under a home rule charter to file a request with the Public Service Commission for a hearing for a determination of prudence on environmental damage caused by a public utility. The bill would also prohibit the commission from conducting any hearing regarding recovery for remediation of such environmental damage until after the commission makes such a determination or until the request is dismissed.

SB 656 has not been scheduled for a hearing and there is no House companion measure.

Renewable Energy SB 292 by Senator Jose Javier Rodriguez, would exempt a property owner, such as a shopping center or apartment building, from the definition of “public utility” in circumstances in which they own and operate a renewable energy source device and produce renewable energy from that device for the purpose of extending that renewable energy to their tenants located on their property.

SB 292 has not been scheduled for a hearing and there is no House companion measure.

SB 1038 by Senator Jeff Brandes, and its companion measure, HB 1411 by Representative , creates the Energy 2040 Task Force within the Public Service Commission requiring the task force to make recommendations, by the year 2020 regarding what the state's energy needs and future portfolio should look like.

SB 1038 is still waiting to be heard in its second committee stop, the Senate Governmental Oversight and Accountability Committee.

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HB 1411 is still waiting for its first hearing in the House Energy Committee.

HB 769 by Representative Jay Trumbull, would preempt the current Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs established by local governments by placing a mortgage lender in "first position" rather than the current law which places the local government in first position through its lien authority.

HB 769 has not been scheduled for a hearing to-date and there is no senate companion bill filed.

HB 1225 by Representative Kristen Jacobs, and its senate companion measure, SB 1858 by Senator Kathleen Passidomo, is a basic Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) consumer protection bill. It specifies information that must be sought before a financing agreement is approved. It also requires local governments to develop written disclosure forms.

Neither HB 1225 nor SB 1858 have been scheduled for a hearing. If HB 1225 is not heard in a House Committee next week, which is highly unlikely, HB 1225 will die, making it virtually impossible to take up or pass SB 1858.

Fracking Three anti-fracking bills have been filed. HB 237 by Representative ; SB 834 by Senator Gary Farmer; and SB 462 by Senator Dana Young.

It is doubtful that any of the Fracking bills will get a hearing during the 2018 Session.

Public Service Commission No bills or amendments specifically amending the operation or make-up of the PSC have been filed to date.

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