Florida businesses to see 7.5-percent slash in 2020 workers’ comp rates

Florida businesses will see a third consecutive cut in annual workers compensation rates in 2020 – a 7.5 percent slash that exceeds a national insurance bureau’s recommended decrease by more than 2 percent. Florida Insurance Commissioner David Altmaier issued an order cutting workers’ compensation insurance rates by a 7.5 percent beginning Jan. 1. More from The Center Square and WJCT.

Florida Chamber kicks off 2019 Future of Florida Forum

The Florida Chamber of Commerce’s Future of Florida Forum starts today in Orlando. From infrastructure and workforce education, to tourism and criminal justice, the annual event promises a comprehensive look at all the challenges Florida will face in the coming years. Over the course of two days, attendees will hear from statewide elected leaders on a wide array of developing issues. [Source: Florida Politics]

As Florida grows, low-impact development could offer protection for waterways

The University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Extension is working with local communities to educate and encourage sustainable water runoff solutions amidst Florida’s rapid growth. Low-impact development (LID) is a design approach for real estate developers to manage future stormwater runoff needs. [Source: Flagler Live]

Lobbyists lining up on Florida’s contentious alimony issue

The messy issue of overhauling Florida’s alimony laws could be making a political comeback, based on a lineup of high-powered lobbyists engaged to wage the 2020 legislative session’s iteration of divorce wars. The lobbying recruitment comes before any bills have been filed, but it could telegraph the end of a brief legislative respite on the issue, which three years ago resulted in a near-fracas outside then-Gov. Rick Scott’s office over a proposed alimony revamp. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

Florida’s free pre-K was supposed to be providing an educational head start. It may not be

Gov. Ron DeSantis sounded the alarm this summer when the state released test results showing 42% of toddlers who participated in the prekindergarten program were not ready for kindergarten, a number not far off from previous years. He said the results were “not defensible” and called upon the Florida Department of Education to develop an improvement plan. [Source: Miami Herald]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Strength in numbers has Florida agriculture on solid ground [Growing Produce]
The Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association (FFVA) welcomed a record crowd of nearly 500 to its 76th annual convention at The Breakers in Palm Beach last month. Attendees heard from top-notch speakers and industry experts on a variety of key topics. They also networked with colleagues and an outstanding roster of sponsors, while enjoying the beautiful beach venue with chamber-of-commerce weather.

› Daytona retailers search for hard to find holiday workers [Daytona Beach News-Journal]
Daytona retailers search for holiday workers that are harder to find amid low unemployment in Volusia County. Some companies offering incentives to entice temporary workers.

› Hotels near Orlando International Airport see growth in pursuit of business travelers [Orlando Sentinel]
A new, full-service bar at the Hampton Inn & Suites near the Orlando International Airport could seem to be little more than a minor facelift. But hotel officials hope the lounge will keep customers in the building, spending more time and money there rather than at nearby establishments. It’s an effort to compete in what has become a growing hotel and restaurant community in and around the airport.

› JEA executives’ retention bonuses seen by some as incentive to sell utility [Florida Times-Union]
Thirteen senior administrators at JEA, including CEO Aaron Zahn, who has led the charge to explore privatization, are all in line to receive six-figure bonuses if JEA is sold. The bonuses are equal to each member’s salary, putting Zahn’s at $524,000.

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› Lake Nona to get indoor athletic facility XL Soccer World next year [Orlando Sentinel]
An indoor athletic facility for soccer, lacrosse, flag football and volleyball is expected to open in Lake Nona in the summer of 2020. The $8 million, 50,000-square-foot XL Soccer World recently broke ground off Narcoossee Road behind Valencia College’s Lake Nona campus.

› Florida’s highway performance is a mixed bag [Business Observer]
Every year, the Reason Foundation uses data reported by state departments of transportation to the federal government to show and rank the performance of state highway systems relative to one another. This is the 24th year of the Annual Highway Report, and Florida came in 40th.

› FAA revokes license of Florida company that repaired Boeing 737 Max sensor before Lion Air crash [WTSP]
The FAA on Friday revoked the license of the company that repaired the sensor, Xtra Aerospace of Miramar, Florida. The FAA said the company handled parts that it was not authorized to repair and had record-keeping problems. The company said the revocation was separate from the Lion Air investigation.

› Medical marijuana retailer MedMen opens first Orlando store, and it’s in the tourist district [Orlando Sentinel]
Cannabis retailer MedMen on Friday opened its first Orlando store for medical marijuana patients. It is at 6600 International Drive in the tourist district, north of Sand Lake Road. MedMen has seven locations in Florida and is licensed for 35 in the state.