Tax package includes ‘holidays,' insurance breaks

The Florida Senate on Thursday rolled out a wide-ranging tax package that includes offering sales-tax “holidays” and modest discounts on property-insurance policies. The tax package, which would trim state and local revenue by $439.6 million in the 2024-2025 fiscal year, is a companion to a proposed $117.46 billion budget that lawmakers are expected to pass Friday. The 60-day legislative session is scheduled to end Friday, and the fiscal year will begin July 1. [Source: News Service of Florida]

Business Beat - Week of March 8th

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Florida lawmakers vote to limit powers of local watchdog commissions

Without citing specific examples, Florida lawmakers passed legislation on Thursday that would prohibit local watchdog commissions from launching their own investigations into public corruption and ethics violations, arguing that some local cases have been “weaponized” for political gain. It is not entirely clear why lawmakers sought to make the change, but the provision impacting local ethics panels has worried officials in various jurisdictions. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Judge rules Florida can’t ban noncitizens from voter drives

A federal court overturned a provision of a Florida state law aimed at preventing noncitizens from registering new voters. The provision imposed a $50,000 fine on any organization for each noncitizen or permanent resident who collects or handles voter registration forms for noncitizens. In his ruling, Chief U.S. District Judge Mark Walker found that the “citizenship requirement” provision violates plaintiffs’ right to equal protection under the law. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Florida homeowners are trying to offload their damaged properties

Florida has more damaged properties up for sale than any other state in the country, according to data available on Zillow, revealing that homeowners in the Sunshine State are eager to unburden themselves from homes whose repairs could cost them greatly. As of Thursday morning, there were a total of 202,545 properties listed on Zillow (including all types of properties from single-family and multi-family homes, to condos and lots of land) by agents in Florida. Of these, 963 were described as having some damage. [Source: Newsweek]

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Naples museum named No. 5 in world, No. 1 in Florida [Naples Daily News]
An automotive online marketplace has found what Southwest Florida car enthusiasts have known for years: Revs Institute is among the top auto museums in the U.S. and the world. Auto Trader recently rated Revs the No. 5 best auto museum in the world and No. 1 in Florida. The Great Britain-based Auto Trader analyzed Google review scores and annual global Google searches for more than 180 auto museums across the globe.

› With South Florida ‘breaking up’ with spring breakers, will more come to Tampa Bay? [Tampa Bay Times]
Local officials are expecting yet another record-breaking spring break this year. Last week, Tampa International Airport broke its single-day passenger record after 93,334 passengers went through the airport on Feb. 25. Up to 100,000 passengers each day are expected in the airport over the following weekends. As a result, local law enforcement is gearing up for a month of packed beaches.

› Aldi completes acquisition of Winn-Dixie parent company Southeastern Grocers [Jacksonville Daily Record]
Aldi said March 7 it completed the acquisition of Jacksonville-based Southeastern Grocers Inc., the parent company of the Winn-Dixie and Harveys supermarket chains. The discount grocer said in a news release it will convert some of the 400 stores in those two chains to Aldi, beginning in the second half of 2024, but it intends for “a meaningful amount of Winn-Dixie and Harveys Supermarkets to continue to operate under their current banners.”

› UFC is here to stay: This year’s event solidifies Miami’s place on the fight card [Miami Herald]
South Florida’s pull as a sports tourism magnet strengthens this weekend as one of the world’s largest sports and entertainment entities, a mixed martial arts group, comes back to Kaseya Center in downtown Miami. And all indications are the UFC, or the Ultimate Fighting Championship, will not be leaving anytime soon.

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› Fanatics’ CEO Michael Rubin: MLB uniform flak unfair [Jacksonville Daily Record]
As Fanatics Inc. expands its sports products empire, the company has been a target of critics over the years. However, CEO Michael Rubin thinks Fanatics is taking too much blame for the latest issue: new uniforms made by the company, which raised the ire of Major League Baseball players.

› Orlando Ballet parts ways with executive director Cheryl Collins [Orlando Sentinel]
As its 50th-anniversary season draws to a close and hot on the heels of its successful debut of a $3.6 million “Nutcracker,” Orlando Ballet is looking for a new executive director. A statement provided to the Orlando Sentinel this week announced the company would not renew its contract with Cheryl Collins, who has led the organization as executive director since 2020.

› MarineMax closes deal for Pompano Beach boat distributor and retailer [Business Observer]
Clearwater’s MarineMax has finalized the purchase of a British boat company’s U.S. retail and distribution operation based in Pompano Beach. In a note to investors, MarineMax says its purchase of William Tenders USA has been completed and should begin to show positive results in its first full year of operations.

› Central Florida simulation firms among those awarded big military contracts in February [Orlando Inno]
Department of Defense work continues to be a big chunk of the local economy, with local companies winning up to $500 million in awards in February 2024 alone. With the largest contract, Oviedo-based Shock Stream Technologies and Orlando firmPhoenix Defensejointly will deliver on a $307.2 million deal from the U.S. Army for simulation hardware.